I’m always overly excited – perhaps like a 12-year-old kid getting ready to eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving – to take a look at our updated data each week. I watch as much football as humanly possible on Sundays, but seeing how each player impacted their teams’ bottom line is always interesting to see – you think one thing at times, yet see another.
But quite honestly, things aren’t changing as dramatically as they did earlier in the season. It’s due to sample size – players have more games under their belt, so one bad performance isn’t going to radically alter their season-long advanced metrics.
Things are becoming more consistent. While Flacco is complaining about Tyrod Taylor getting playing time, perhaps he should look at himself and start playing a little more effectively.
Andre Brown has the second-highest Success Rate among running backs.
Just like quarterbacks, running backs have a Success Rate as well. Because rushing is less effective than throwing the ball though, it’s more difficult for runners to have rates above the 50% mark.
But not for Andre Brown.
Brown has 69 rushes so far this year, and has been successful on 38 of them, giving him a 55.07% Success Rate. That’s better than everyone not named – wait for it – Donald Brown.
The Colts’ Brown has benefitted from not being a lead back though, making Andre’s rate a little more impressive. If the Giants’ Brown can keep this up, he’s going to be one of the fantasy football saviors of 2013.
Detroit has the third-best rush defense in the NFL.
Because Detroit Lions’ football is a staple of our Thanksgiving Thursdays, I figured it’d be worth pointing out one of the most underrated aspects of this team: their rush defense.
When adjusted for strength of schedule, the Lions rank only behind Denver and New York (Jets) against the run. Compared to a team in a similar situation, the Lions have prevented over 31 points from being scored on them this season via the ground.
That’s translated into fantasy football, too. Detroit ranks sixth in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and haven’t allowed a single rushing touchdown to a running back since Week 4. And over their past three contests, the Lions have allowed a total of 107 rushing yards to backs. Eddie Lacy owners beware.