5 NFL Stats to Know Through Week 11
Week 11 was marred with running back injuries, and the backups stole the show.
Devonta Freeman exited his game early in the first quarter and was replaced by Tevin Coleman who finished with a disappointing 17 rushes for 48 yards. The rest of the backups took better advantage of the opportunity presented to them.
Javorius Allen took over for the injured Justin Forsett and didn't look back on his way to a career high 67 rushing yards.
Spencer Ware turned 11 carries into 96 yards and 2 touchdowns, proving that Charcandrick West isn't the only capable backup in Kansas City.
But the best performance of any running back came from Thomas Rawls while filling in for an injured Marshawn Lynch.
Here are five stats to know -- both traditional stats and Net Expected Points (NEP) marks, which compare team's or player's performance relative to expectation-level -- through Week 10.
1. Thomas Rawls' 37.50 fantasy points is the third highest weekly total of this year
Rawls rushed 30 times for 209 yards and a touchdown and caught 3 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown to lead the NFL in fantasy scoring in Week 11.
Drew Brees (44.30) and Eli Manning (38.00) are the only players with a weekly total greater than Rawls. Both of those quarterbacks reached their season high fantasy output during their Week 8 shootout against each other.
Rawls, who has now started three games for the Seahawks this season, leads all running backs (with 75 or more carries) with 0.15 Rushing NEP per rush. His teammate Marshawn Lynch currently ranks 31st at -0.06.
With Lynch likely out for a month, Rawls looks more than capable of handling the load while he is sidelined.
2. DeAndre Hopkins has 5 or more catches for at least 50 yards in each game this season
In the same year that Antonio Brown’s streak ended, DeAndre Hopkins has started one of his own.
Hopkins caught 5 passes for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns while being covered by Darrelle Revis on Sunday and had him beat for another long touchdown, but T.J. Yates didn’t connect with him.
It’s the first time an opposing team’s number one receiver has caught a touchdown pass against the Jets since Pierre Garcon did it in Week 6.
Hopkins also joined Allen Robinson (Week 9) as the only number one receiver to top 100 yards against the Jets this season.
Even the Jets, who rank eighth (10.27) in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP, could not slow down Hopkins, whose 103.80 Reception NEP currently leads the NFL.
Next week presents a much easier matchup for Hopkins and the Texans' passing attack against the Saints, who rank dead last (135.92) in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP.
3. Tom Brady’s 137.95 Passing NEP is best in the NFL
Tom Brady is 14 points ahead of Carson Palmer (123.95) as the top ranked quarterback in terms of Passing NEP this season. Through 10 games, Brady already has a higher Passing NEP value than he had over a full season in all but four years of his career.
His 0.32 Passing NEP per drop back is better than every season except for 2007 (0.43) and 2011 (0.33). Both of those seasons ended in a Super Bowl appearance.
He also leads the league in Passing Yards (3,320) and fantasy points (235.60), and he is second behind Palmer (27) with 25 passing touchdowns.
4. J.J. Nelson led the NFL with 13.54 Reception NEP in Week 11
With Michael Floyd out, J.J. Nelson turned his opportunity for increased playing time into 4 catches for a team-high 142 yards and a touchdown. Previously, the rookie only had three catches this season.
The Cardinals now have three players in the top 35 in Reception NEP per target among the 143 wide receivers with at least 10 targets.
| Player | Rec NEP | Rank | Rec NEP/P | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Fitzgerald | 75.62 | 5th | 0.77 | 34th |
| John Brown | 50.73 | 27th | 0.89 | 9th |
| Michael Floyd | 43.82 | 35th | 0.95 | 7th |
| J.J. Nelson | 20.29 | 84th | 1.45 | 1st |
| Jaron Brown | 9.50 | 113th | 0.47 | 114th |
If Floyd is forced to miss another week, Nelson will have a great opportunity for another big game against the 49ers defense that ranks 30th (87.17) in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP.
5. Jameis Winston led the NFL in Week 11 with five touchdown passes
Well, he tied with Cam Newton. But after being held scoreless over in his previous two games, Jameis Winston joined Matthew Stafford as the only rookies since 1960 to throw five touchdown passes and zero interceptions in a game.
All five touchdowns were thrown to different receivers.
He accomplished this against an Eagles defense that ranks eighth in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP and has held opposing quarterbacks to one touchdown or fewer in five games this season.
Winston (34.66) currently ranks 15th in Passing NEP and this week will take on the Colts (66.99) who rank 25th in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP.
