Ruckert
TE · NYJ vs LV
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points1.8ptsUsage estimate
Whiteheart
TE · CLE @ PIT
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points1.9ptsUsage estimate
Toss-up
Bench
Blake Whiteheart or Jeremy Ruckert: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Jeremy Ruckert gets the nod over Blake Whiteheart.
- Confidence
- Lower
- Toss-up
- Started
- 15%
- of leagues
Case for Whiteheart
The case for Whiteheart is a defense that gives up more deep shots (0.9 a game to 0.4).
Flips if
Start Blake Whiteheart instead if you want a defense that gives up more deep shots (0.9 a game to 0.4).
Risk
The risk: Whiteheart faces a Steelers defense without defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day.
Highlights
RuckertToss-upTE · NYJ vs LVUsually 2.7−0.9pts this week
Helps him
- LVvs TEsEdgeLV is the 5th softest defense for tight ends.
Hurts him
- −0.8ptsroleHe’s expected to play fewer snaps this week than he has lately.
- 3%targetsHe draws only 3% of his team’s targets.
- 1.1per gameHe sees only 1.1 targets a game.
WhiteheartFirst outTE · CLE @ PITUsually 1.8+0.0pts this week
Helps him
- +0.6ptspaceMost players at his position produce more than he has, so we expect him to bounce back some.
Hurts him
- −0.6ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran below this year’s pace.
- 2%targetsHe draws only 2% of his team’s targets.
- 0.6per gameHe sees only 0.6 targets a game.
Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.
Stat comparison
Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.
Stat
Scoring
ProjectionRuckert: 1.8Whiteheart: 1.9 (best)
Projected team pointsRuckert: 23.5 (best)Whiteheart: 18.0
Red zone targetsper gameRuckert: 0.3 (best)Whiteheart: 0.1
Role
Snap shareRuckert: 37% (best)Whiteheart: 34%
Usage worthptsRuckert: 1.9 (best)Whiteheart: 1.0
Target shareRuckert: 3% (best)Whiteheart: 2%
Targets / gameRuckert: 1.1 (best)Whiteheart: 0.6
Air yards shareRuckert: 0.4%Whiteheart: 1% (best)
Vacated targets this weekRuckert: 0.5 (best)Whiteheart: 0.0
RZ target shareRuckert: 9% (best)Whiteheart: 6%
Inside 10 target shareRuckert: 25% (best)Whiteheart: 0%
Catch rateRuckert: 100%Whiteheart: 4 targets
SeparationRuckert: 4.9 ydsWhiteheart: Not tracked
YAC over expectedRuckert: +0.1Whiteheart: Not tracked
Usage worth vs scoredRuckert: Earned by usage 1.9Scored 2.7Whiteheart: Earned by usage 1.0Scored 1.8
WOPRRuckert: 0.05 (best)Whiteheart: 0.04
Range
FloorRuckert: 0.5 (best)Whiteheart: 0.4
CeilingRuckert: 3.1Whiteheart: 3.2 (best)
Points from TDssteadier when lowerRuckert: 32%Whiteheart: 47%
Big weeks (15+ pts)Ruckert: 0%Whiteheart: 0%
Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is betterRuckert: 83% (best)Whiteheart: 90%
SteadinessRuckert: Volatile±5.9 pts · 6 gamesWhiteheart: Volatile (best)±2.7 pts
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmRuckert: A- (best)Whiteheart: C
Game scriptRuckert: Expected to lead (best)Whiteheart: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterRuckert: 1.7Whiteheart: 1.6 (best)
Defense funnelRuckert: NeutralWhiteheart: Neutral
Opp pass yds allowedRuckert: 22nd (soft) (best)Whiteheart: 13th (average)
Starting QBRuckert: Smith (Active)Whiteheart: Watson (Active)
Opp defender outRuckert: Johnson (DE)Whiteheart: Joseph-Day (DT)
Roof / surfaceRuckert: OpenturfWhiteheart: Opengrass
Rest / scheduleRuckert: NormalWhiteheart: Normal
Opp paceRuckert: 9th (fast) (best)Whiteheart: 13th (average)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameRuckert: 0.411th (average)Whiteheart: 0.9 (best)30th (soft)
Opp catch rate allowedRuckert: 82% (best)31st (soft)Whiteheart: 73%18th (average)
Form
Last 3 avgRuckert: 0.0Whiteheart: 0.6 (best)
Last 5 avgRuckert: 3.0 (best)Whiteheart: 0.4
vs seasonRuckert: −2.7 (Cooling)Whiteheart: −1.2 (Cooling) (best)
Yards per route runRuckert: 0.91 (best)Whiteheart: 0.87
Receiving aDOTRuckert: 0.8Whiteheart: 4 targets
Target share trendRuckert: No usage yetWhiteheart: Steady
Crowd
Started in leaguesRuckert: 16%Whiteheart: Not widely started
Nuvela position ranklower is betterRuckert: TE58Whiteheart: TE57 (best)
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.