Week 5 NFL Advanced Analytics Superstars

Running Back: Devonta Freeman

Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons
27 Rushes, 153 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 7 Receptions, 44 Yards, 8 Targets
NEP: +13.83

As someone with a ton of Tevin Coleman stock everywhere, it's getting really difficult to keep writing Devonta Freeman's name in this weekly column, as he's now led all running backs the last three weeks straight with the highest NEP.

Against one of the league's toughest run defenses -- Washington had allowed an average of only 78 rushing yards to opposing teams prior to this week -- Freeman carried the offense, picking up 153 yards on 27 carries while scoring a touchdown. He also caught 7 receptions for 44 yards off 8 targets, once again displaying his versatility.

Freeman's 32.7 PPR fantasy points trailed only Doug Martin for the week, as he's finished the last three weeks as the overall RB1, RB1, and RB2. He has become Atlanta's true workhorse, averaging 180 yards per game and seemingly scoring at will.

Kyle Shanahan continues to find ways to open lanes for Freeman with some creative blocking. Freeman's shown excellent vision in the hole, making decisive cuts after reading his offensive line which has allowed him to lead all running backs in rushes of five or more yards on the season.

Freeman's +13.83 NEP swing is the largest to date this season among all running backs. He has continued to outproduce expectations week after week, as his last three weeks in NEP -- Week 3's +11.08, Week 4's +12.76, and now Week 5's +13.83 -- are head and shoulders above the rest of the league's running backs. On the season, Freeman has now nearly doubled that of the second place running back (Karlos Williams) outproducing him with a total Rushing NEP of 19.39 to 10.41. Even more impressive is that Freeman nearly does the same feat in Total NEP -- which factors in both rushing and receiving -- as he nearly doubles second-place Dion Lewis' 21.39 with his 37.14.

The rest of this week's running backs were led by a re-surging Doug Martin, who has now eclipsed the 100-yard mark the last two games in a row. Martin and teammate Charles Sims were able to make this list due largely to their offense putting up 38 points. An ankle injury forced Justin Forsett out of his game, or he could've ranked even higher, as he was picking up 6.8 yards per touch in a shootout with Cleveland.

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