Taylor
RB · IND @ JAX
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points14.5pts
Pollard
RB · TEN @ CIN
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ETLatest report: Rest day
Projected points13.8pts
Toss-up
Bench
Jonathan Taylor or Tony Pollard: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Jonathan Taylor gets the nod over Tony Pollard.
- Ahead by
- +0.7pts
- over Pollard
- Confidence
- Lower
- Toss-up
- Started
- 98%
- of leagues
Case for Pollard
The case for Pollard is a softer run defense (4.1 yards a carry allowed to 3.0) and more carries that keep drives going (43% to 40%).
Flips if
Start Tony Pollard instead if you want a softer run defense (4.1 yards a carry allowed to 3.0).
Risk
The risk: Taylor faces the Jaguars, the 5th toughest defense for running backs.
Highlights
TaylorToss-upRB · IND @ JAXUsually 19.6−5.1pts this week
Helps him
- 46%touchesHe handles 46% of his team’s touches, a lead back’s share.
- 40%big weeks40% of his games have been big weeks.
Hurts him
- −2.5ptstouchdownsHis lines put him at 0.72 touchdowns, below his usual 1.14.
- −2.3ptsrush yardsHis lines put him at 60.5 rushing yards, below his usual 83.9.
- −0.9ptsrec yardsHis lines put him at 16.5 receiving yards, below his usual 25.4.
- 18.3team totalEdgeHis team is expected to score only 18.3 points.
PollardFirst outRB · TEN @ CINUsually 12.5+1.3pts this week
Helps him
- 36.5last weekHe ran for 129 yards, caught 3 for 26 and scored three touchdowns last week (36.5 points).
- 56%touch shareHis share of the backfield touches rose to 56% in Week 7, against 42% for the season.
Hurts him
- 17.0team totalEdgeHis team is expected to score only 17.0 points.
- 44%dud weeks44% of his games have been dud weeks.
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
ProjectionTaylor: 14.5 (best)Pollard: 13.8
TD pointsof the projectionTaylor: 4.3 (best)Pollard: 3.5
Expected TDsthis weekTaylor: 0.72 (best)Pollard: 0.58
Projected team pointsTaylor: 18.3 (best)Pollard: 17.0
Goal line carriesper gameTaylor: 1.9 (best)Pollard: 1.3
Red zone carriesper gameTaylor: 3.7Pollard: 3.7
Red zone targetsper gameTaylor: 0.3 (best)Pollard: 0.0
Role
Snap shareTaylor: 80% (best)Pollard: 59%
Usage worthptsTaylor: 19.1 (best)Pollard: 14.2
Touch shareTaylor: 46% (best)Pollard: 42%
Target shareTaylor: 12% (best)Pollard: 8%
Touches / gameTaylor: 22.4 (best)Pollard: 17.6
Targets / gameTaylor: 3.7 (best)Pollard: 2.3
Air yards shareTaylor: Behind the linePollard: 2%
Vacated touches this weekTaylor: 0.0Pollard: 0.0
High value touches / gameTaylor: 4.6 (best)Pollard: 4.0
Goal line carry shareTaylor: 81% (best)Pollard: 69%
Red zone touches / gameTaylor: 4.0 (best)Pollard: 3.7
Rush success rateTaylor: 40%Pollard: 43% (best)
Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)Taylor: 3.6% (best)Pollard: 0.9%
Usage worth vs scoredTaylor: Earned by usage 19.1Scored 19.6Pollard: Earned by usage 14.2Scored 12.5
Rush yards / gameTaylor: 83.9 (best)Pollard: 68.3
Points from rushingTaylor: 78%Pollard: 82%
WOPRTaylor: 0.16 (best)Pollard: 0.13
RZ target shareTaylor: 9% (best)Pollard: 0%
Inside 10 target shareTaylor: 10% (best)Pollard: 0%
Catch rateTaylor: 65%Pollard: 69% (best)
Rushing points / gameTaylor: 15.2 pts / game (best)Pollard: 10.3 pts / game
Rushing floorTaylor: 12.7 pts / game (best)Pollard: 7.5 pts / game
Range
FloorTaylor: 8.8 (best)Pollard: 8.2
CeilingTaylor: 21.3 (best)Pollard: 21.0
Points from TDssteadier when lowerTaylor: 35%Pollard: 27%
Big weeks (20+ pts)Taylor: 40% (best)Pollard: 13%
Dud weeks (under 8 pts)lower is betterTaylor: 8% (best)Pollard: 44%
SteadinessTaylor: Steady (best)±9.8 ptsPollard: Up & down±9.5 pts
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 6 gmTaylor: D+Pollard: C (best)
Game scriptTaylor: Expected to trail (best)Pollard: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterTaylor: 1.5Pollard: 1.5
Defense funnelTaylor: NeutralPollard: Neutral
Opp rush yds allowedTaylor: 1st (tough)Pollard: 19th (average) (best)
Backfield roleTaylor: LeadPollard: Lead
Roof / surfaceTaylor: OpengrassPollard: Openturf
Rest / scheduleTaylor: NormalPollard: Normal
Opp paceTaylor: 23rd (slow)Pollard: 20th (average) (best)
Opp stuff rateTaylor: 17% (best)19th (average)Pollard: 25%1st (tough)
Opp yards per carry allowedTaylor: 3.01st (tough)Pollard: 4.1 (best)12th (average)
Opp pass yds allowedTaylor: 30th (soft) (best)Pollard: 26th (soft)
Opp deep targets allowed / game1st (tough)Taylor: 0.0Pollard: 0.0
Opp catch rate allowedTaylor: 82%22nd (soft)Pollard: 86% (best)27th (soft)
Starting QBTaylor: Jones (Active)Pollard: Ward (Active)
Form
Last 3 avgTaylor: 17.1 (best)Pollard: 16.4
Last 5 avgTaylor: 16.6 (best)Pollard: 15.2
vs seasonTaylor: −2.5 (Cooling)Pollard: +3.9 (Rising) (best)
Yards per carryTaylor: 4.2Pollard: 4.3 (best)
Carries / gameTaylor: 20.0 (best)Pollard: 16.0
Yards per route runTaylor: 1.21 (best)Pollard: 0.86
Receiving aDOTTaylor: −1.3Pollard: 1.4
Touch share trendTaylor: SteadyPollard: Steady
Crowd
Started in leaguesTaylor: 99% (best)Pollard: 76%
Nuvela position ranklower is betterTaylor: RB17 (best)Pollard: RB19
Yards linerushingTaylor: 60.5Pollard: 65.5 (best)
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.