Woods
TE · NYJ vs LV
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points1.1ptsUsage estimate
Rucci
TE · LAC @ LA
Kickoff Sun 4:05 PM ET
Projected points1.2ptsUsage estimate
Toss-up
Bench
Hayden Rucci or Jelani Woods: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Jelani Woods gets the nod over Hayden Rucci.
- Confidence
- Lower
- Toss-up
Case for Rucci
The case for Rucci is his projection: he projects 0.1 more.
Flips if
Start Hayden Rucci instead if you go by the projection: he projects 0.1 more.
Risk
The risk: Woods has been held under 6 points in 5 straight games.
Highlights
WoodsToss-upTE · NYJ vs LVUsually 1.1+0.0pts this week
Helps him
- +1.4ptspaceMost players at his position produce more than he has, so we expect him to bounce back some.
- LVvs TEsEdgeLV is the 5th softest defense for tight ends.
Hurts him
- −1.1ptsroleHe’s expected to play fewer snaps this week than he has lately.
- 3%targetsHe draws only 3% of his team’s targets.
- 0.7per gameHe sees only 0.7 targets a game.
RucciFirst outTE · LAC @ LAUsually 1.9−0.7pts this week
Helps him
- +1.3ptspaceMost players at his position produce more than he has, so we expect him to bounce back some.
Hurts him
- −1.6ptsroleHe’s expected to play fewer snaps this week than he has lately.
- 1%targetsHe draws only 1% of his team’s targets.
- 0.2per gameHe sees only 0.2 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
ProjectionWoods: 1.1Rucci: 1.2 (best)
Projected team pointsWoods: 23.5 (best)Rucci: 19.3
Red zone targetsper gameWoods: 0.1Rucci: 0.3 (best)
Role
Snap shareWoods: 30%Rucci: 30%
Usage worthptsWoods: 1.2 (best)Rucci: 0.6
Target shareWoods: 3% (best)Rucci: 1%
Targets / gameWoods: 0.7 (best)Rucci: 0.3
Air yards shareWoods: 2% (best)Rucci: 1%
Vacated targets this weekWoods: 0.5Rucci: 7.0 (best)
RZ target shareWoods: 4%Rucci: 6% (best)
Inside 10 target shareWoods: 0%Rucci: 11% (best)
Catch rateWoods: 80%Rucci: 1 target
Usage worth vs scoredWoods: Earned by usage 1.2Scored 1.1Rucci: Earned by usage 0.6Scored 1.9
WOPRWoods: 0.05 (best)Rucci: 0.03
Range
FloorWoods: 0.4Rucci: 0.6 (best)
CeilingWoods: 2.1 (best)Rucci: 2.0
Points from TDssteadier when lowerWoods: 0%Rucci: 78%
Big weeks (15+ pts)Woods: 0%Rucci: 2 games
Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is betterWoods: 100%Rucci: 2 games
SteadinessWoods: Volatile±1.5 pts · 4 gamesRucci: 2 games
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmWoods: A- (best)Rucci: D-
Game scriptWoods: Expected to lead (best)Rucci: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterWoods: 1.7Rucci: 0.9 (best)
Defense funnelWoods: NeutralRucci: Neutral
Opp pass yds allowedWoods: 22nd (soft) (best)Rucci: 4th (tough)
Starting QBWoods: Smith (Active)Rucci: Herbert (Active)
Opp defender outWoods: Johnson (DE)Rucci: None listed
Roof / surfaceturfWoods: OpenRucci: Dome
Rest / scheduleWoods: NormalRucci: Off a bye
Opp paceWoods: 9th (fast)Rucci: 3rd (fast) (best)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameWoods: 0.411th (average)Rucci: 0.6 (best)18th (average)
Opp catch rate allowedWoods: 82% (best)31st (soft)Rucci: 59%2nd (tough)
Form
Last 3 avgWoods: 0.9Rucci: 2.6 (best)
Last 5 avgWoods: 1.6Rucci: 1.9 (best)
vs seasonWoods: −0.2 (Cooling)Rucci: +0.6 (best)
Yards per route runWoods: 1.34 (best)Rucci: 0.88
Receiving aDOTWoods: 4.8Rucci: 1 target
Target share trendWoods: SteadyRucci: Steady
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterWoods: TE73Rucci: TE72 (best)
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.