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TOP RUN BLOCKING DISADVANTAGE
(WORST RUSHING MATCHUPS)
Eagles -1 vs 49ers Run Stop
Philadelphia Eagles -1 vs San Francisco 49ers
Technically the Eagles are at the biggest disadvantage this week according to our NFL Betting/Props Cheat Sheet. The Eagles rank as high as second overall at run blocking per ESPN's run block win rate and rank as low as seventh per Football Outsiders. Pro Football Focus grades Philadelphia fifth. With a ranking of second overall per ESPN it's no surprise that the Eagles have three offensive linemen in the top ten at each position. Guard Landon Dickinson is #1 at RBWR for his position, Jordan Mailata is ranked second at tackle, and Jason Kelce is the third ranked center on the list. Pro Football Focus grades all five of the Eagles offensive linemen above average at run blocking, led by center Jason Kelce who grades second out of 35.
Out of the four teams left, San Francisco has the top rated run defense. ESPN's run stop win rate ranking has the 49ers ranked the lowest at sixth, Pro Football Focus grades San Francisco fourth, and Football Outsiders ranks the 49ers #1 overall. Led by edge rusher Nick Bosa who ranks fifth out of 119 and linebacker Fred Warner who ranks third out of 85, six of the 49ers front seven grade average to above average at run defense. Not one 49er defender ranks on ESPN's run stop win rate top ten.
TOP RUN BLOCKING ADVANTAGES
(BEST RUSHING MATCHUPS)
Chiefs Run Blocking +6 vs Bengals
Kansas City Chiefs +6 vs Cincinnati Bengals
Pro Football Focus and ESPN ranks the Chiefs' offensive line as one of the best at run blocking. Football Outsiders disagrees with the third and fourth overall ranking by PFF and ESPN, ranking Kansas City 31st at run blocking. Center Creed Humphries ranks second and guard Joe Thuney ranks fifth on ESPN's run block win rate ranking at their respective positions. PFF has center Creed Humphries #1 at run blocking out of 35 and guard Trey Smith 10th out of 76 while the other three offensive linemen grade above average at run blocking.
Cincinnati’s ranks are scattered, all over the place. Football Outsiders ranks Cincinnati’s run defense seventh, which according to Football Outsiders gives the Bengals a +24 advantage against the Chiefs 31st ranked run block ranking. However Pro Football Focus grades the Bengals 19th and ESPN ranks Cincinnati 30th at run defense giving the Chiefs offensive line the advantage. Despite the 19th ranking by PFF, five of the Bengals front seven grade average to above average at stopping the run. Led by defensive tackle D.J. Reader who grades 15th out of 141 and edge rusher Sam Hubbard who grades 19th out of 119, the Bengals have some talented run stopping defenders.
By Ben Martinez & Chris Dell
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