Barkley
RB · PHI @ WAS
Kickoff Sun 8:20 PM ETLatest report: DNP · Hamstring
Projected points6.0ptsUsage estimate
13.2 if he plays · 46% to play
Perine
RB · CIN vs TEN
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points6.7pts
Start if active
Bench
Samaje Perine or Saquon Barkley: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Saquon Barkley gets the nod over Samaje Perine.
- Confidence
- Lower
- The two projections come from different sources; one is a Nuvela estimate
- Started
- 64%
- of leagues
Barkley's number is our own estimate because his prop lines aren't posted yet, so this call is less sure than the gap looks.
Case for Perine
The case for Perine is a softer run defense (4.1 yards a carry allowed to 3.8) and more carries that keep drives going (45% to 42%).
Flips if
If Saquon Barkley is ruled out before Samaje Perine's game starts, start Samaje Perine.
Risk
Saquon Barkley missed practice (hamstring): check the inactives, posted about 90 minutes before kickoff. Saquon Barkley has played 1 game since missing time, so his recent numbers lean on his 2025 games. As of Fri 2:00 PM ET
Highlights
BarkleyStart if activeRB · PHI @ WASUsually 12.5−6.5pts this week
Helps him
- +5.8ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.
- +5.0ptsroleWith Pierce out, his expected role grows this week.
Hurts him
- −9.5ptsinjuryHis questionable tag takes 9.5 points off his projection.
- −3.5ptsgames left hurtHis projection still counts the games he left hurt, which his usual week leaves out.
- −3.2ptsrecent workHis work has dropped off in his last few games.
- −0.7ptspaceFew players at his position keep up numbers like his, so we expect a little less.
PerineFirst outRB · CIN vs TENUsually 6.3+0.4pts this week
Helps him
- 29.5team totalEdgeHis team is expected to score 29.5 points, a high scoring spot.
- TENvs RBsEdgeTEN is the 7th softest defense for running backs.
Hurts him
- 13%touchesHe handles only 13% of his team’s touches, so the work is shared.
- 3.5floorA quiet week could drop to about 3.5 points.
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
ProjectionBarkley: 6.0Perine: 6.7 (best)
TD pointsof the projectionBarkley: Our estimatePerine: 2.2
Expected TDsthis weekBarkley: Our estimatePerine: 0.36
Projected team pointsBarkley: 17.0Perine: 29.5 (best)
Goal line carriesper gameBarkley: 0.4 (best)Perine: 0.2
Red zone carriesper gameBarkley: 1.6 (best)Perine: 1.5
Red zone targetsper gameBarkley: 0.0Perine: 0.2 (best)
Role
Snap shareBarkley: 36% (best)Perine: 35%
Usage worthptsBarkley: 7.6 (best)Perine: 5.5
Touch shareBarkley: 22% (best)Perine: 13%
Target shareBarkley: 7% (best)Perine: 5%
Touches / gameBarkley: 9.8 (best)Perine: 6.3
Targets / gameBarkley: 1.8 (best)Perine: 1.7
Air yards shareBarkley: Behind the linePerine: 1%
Vacated touches this weekBarkley: 29.6 (best)Perine: 0.0
High value touches / gameBarkley: 2.0 (best)Perine: 1.7
Goal line carry shareBarkley: 29% (best)Perine: 17%
Red zone touches / gameBarkley: 1.6Perine: 1.7 (best)
Rush success rateBarkley: 42%Perine: 45% (best)
Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)Barkley: 4.7% (best)Perine: 0%
Usage worth vs scoredBarkley: Earned by usage 7.6Scored 7.6Perine: Earned by usage 5.5Scored 6.3
Rush yards / gameBarkley: 48.8 (best)Perine: 21.0
Points from rushingBarkley: 80%Perine: 49%
WOPRBarkley: 0.09 (best)Perine: 0.08
RZ target shareBarkley: 0%Perine: 3% (best)
Inside 10 target shareBarkley: 0%Perine: 6% (best)
Catch rateBarkley: 67%Perine: 70% (best)
Rushing points / gameBarkley: 6.1 pts / game (best)Perine: 3.1 pts / game
Rushing floorBarkley: 3.3 pts / game (best)Perine: 2.1 pts / game
Range
FloorBarkley: 0.0Perine: 3.5 (best)
CeilingBarkley: 8.8Perine: 12.5 (best)
Points from TDssteadier when lowerBarkley: 16%Perine: 32%
Big weeks (20+ pts)Barkley: 10% (best)Perine: 0%
Dud weeks (under 8 pts)lower is betterBarkley: 14% (best)Perine: 62%
SteadinessBarkley: Steady (best)±6.7 ptsPerine: Up & down±5.2 pts
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his positionBarkley: C2026, 6 gmPerine: B+ (best)2026, 7 gm
Game scriptBarkley: Expected to trailPerine: Expected to lead (best)
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterBarkley: 1.3Perine: 1.0 (best)
Defense funnelBarkley: NeutralPerine: Neutral
Opp rush yds allowedBarkley: 14th (average)Perine: 26th (soft) (best)
Backfield roleBarkley: LeadPerine: Backup
Opp defender outBarkley: Kinlaw (DT)Perine: None listed
Roof / surfaceBarkley: OpengrassPerine: Openturf
Rest / scheduleBarkley: NormalPerine: Normal
Opp paceBarkley: 12th (average) (best)Perine: 32nd (slow)
Opp stuff rateBarkley: 18% (best)17th (average)Perine: 19%13th (average)
Opp yards per carry allowedBarkley: 3.88th (tough)Perine: 4.1 (best)12th (average)
Opp pass yds allowedBarkley: 28th (soft) (best)Perine: 23rd (soft)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameBarkley: 0.2 (best)31st (soft)Perine: 0.124th (soft)
Opp catch rate allowedBarkley: 73%10th (tough)Perine: 80% (best)18th (average)
Starting QBBarkley: McKee (Active)Perine: Burrow (Active)
Form
Last 3 avgBarkley: 8.7 (best)Perine: 8.0
Last 5 avgBarkley: 7.6 (best)Perine: 5.9
vs seasonBarkley: +1.1 (Rising)Perine: +1.8 (Rising) (best)
Yards per carryBarkley: 5.7 (best)Perine: 4.1
Carries / gameBarkley: 8.6 (best)Perine: 5.2
Yards per route runBarkley: 0.65Perine: 1.05 (best)
Receiving aDOTBarkley: −0.6Perine: 1.3
Touch share trendBarkley: Left 2 games hurtPerine: Steady
Games since injuryBarkley: 1Perine: None recently
Crowd
Started in leaguesBarkley: 65%Perine: Not widely started
Nuvela position ranklower is betterBarkley: RB38Perine: RB33 (best)
Yards linerushingBarkley: Our estimatePerine: 22.5
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.