Standout Performers
Doug Baldwin • WR • Seattle Seahawks • Seventh season • @DougBaldwinJr
Baldwin continues to produce despite Seattle's lackluster start to the season, which continued with a 33-27 loss at Tennessee on Sunday. He caught 10 of 15 targets for 105 yards and one touchdown on 70 percent of offensive plays, earning an 87.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest of any Seahawk. Baldwin's PFF season grade of 84.9 ranks seventh in the league out of 109 eligible receivers, while his 20 receptions and 212 yards are nearly twice as much as any teammate.
Following tests on the groin he strained in yesterday's game, #Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin is day-to-day, I'm told. Could even play this week.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 26, 2017
David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • Sixth season
DeCastro started and played all 64 offensive snaps in a 23-17 loss at Chicago on Sunday. He was as solid as ever, surrendering no quarterback pressures while earning a positive (+1.4) grade in run blocking, per Pro Football Focus. On the season, DeCastro's 90.8 overall grade from PFF leads NFL guards, while his 92.0 run blocking grade is the highest by more than two percentage points (Shaq Mason, 89.9).
David DeCastro's 90.8 @PFF grade in 2017 leads all NFL guards, as does his 92.0 grade in run blocking. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/kwlwKT2h0B
— Nick Sako (@CardinalTaco) September 26, 2017
Zach Ertz • TE • Philadelphia Eagles • Fifth season • @ZErtz_86
Ertz continued his productive start to 2017 with another solid outing in a 27-24 win against the New York Giants. Ertz was targeted 10 times, catching eight balls for 55 yards and one touchdown. Appearing on 75 offensive snaps (99 percent), Ertz also helped the Eagles rush for 193 yards on 39 carries (4.9 average) against the Giants' strong front seven. Ertz has seen at least eight targets in all three games this year, and he leads the club in receptions (21) and yards (245) by a wide margin.
Zach Ertz is on ??????
— Jeff Skversky 6abc (@JeffSkversky) September 25, 2017
•Ertz is #1 TE in NFL with•
?? 245 - Receiving Yards
?? 28 - targets
?? 21 - catches#ZachErtz #Eagles #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/n8UGxKv7V7
Only four players have been among the top 12 at their position each of the first three weeks:
— Ryan McDowell (@RyanMc23) September 26, 2017
Dak Prescott
Kareem Hunt
Todd Gurley
Zach Ertz
Blake Martinez • ILB • Green Bay Packers • Second season • @Big__Blake50
Martinez was all over the field during Green Bay's 27-24 win against Cincinnati on Sunday. Appearing on 77 percent of defensive snaps, Martinez made 11 tackles, including seven solo and one for loss, six run stops and zero missed tackles, as evidenced by his outstanding +4.4 Pro Football Focus rating against the run. He was awarded an 82.5 overall grade from PFF, while his 12 run stops on the season rank fifth in the league out of 56 eligible inside linebackers.
McCarthy on Blake Martinez: When the season's over I think he's gong to be one of those second-year guys that we look (to make big gains).
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) September 26, 2017
Damn. Blake Martinez is here, everybody.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) September 24, 2017
Christian McCaffrey • RB • Carolina Panthers • First season • @run_cmc
McCaffrey was involved early and often in Carolina's 34-13 loss against New Orleans on Sunday. He finished the game with four carries for 16 yards, but did most of his damage in the passing game. Cam Newton targeted McCaffrey 11 times, completing nine passes for 101 yards – the first-year man accounted for 55 percent of the Panthers' receiving yards and was targeted on 33 percent of all passing plays. McCaffrey's 28 routes run were the fourth most of any running back for Week 3 (out of 97), while his terrific 3.61 yards per route run ranked eighth. His 2.16 yards per route run for the season leads the league, according to Pro Football Focus, which awarded McCaffrey a solid 79.1 grade for the game.
#Panthers catches through Week 3:
— CAR Panthers News (@CarPanthersNews) September 25, 2017
All WRs combined: 26
Christian McCaffrey: 18 pic.twitter.com/9D9BY9iz6X
Christian McCaffrey is on pace for 96 catches this season, which would be the most ever for a rookie running back.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) September 24, 2017
Richard Sherman • CB • Seattle Seahawks • Seventh season @R_Sherman25
Like Baldwin, Sherman was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing afternoon with Seattle losing 33-27 at Tennessee. He surrendered one catch for 17 yards on four targets, finishing with three tackles, one pass defended and a passer rating of 44.8 on throws in his direction. On the season, Sherman has been targeted 14 times, allowing just seven catches for 71 yards, including 26 yards after the catch.
Other good news: Richard Sherman is still elite. Only allowed 1 reception on 5 targets for 17 receiving yards. Pretty damn good. #Seahawks
— Samuel Gold (@SamuelRGold) September 25, 2017
NFL Week 3 Roundup
Henry Anderson • DE • Indianapolis Colts • Third season • @HenryAnderson91
Anderson started in Indianapolis' 31-28 win against Cleveland on Sunday. He finished the game with one tackle while playing 43 defensive snaps (56 percent), the most this season after a limited 2016 campaign while recovering from knee surgery.
Another sign Henry Anderson is back to full health. Gave good pursuit of Kizer on second down. #Colts
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) September 24, 2017
Johnson Bademosi • CB/ST • New England Patriots • Sixth season • @J_Bademosi24
Bademosi appeared on 69 percent of special teams snaps in New England's 36-33 win against Houston on Sunday. He showed why New England unloaded a draft pick to acquire him, making two special teams stop, including one where he beat a Texans' double team to reach punt returner Tyler Ervin.
Johnson Bademosi, who has played a little over 60 percent of the Patriots' special-teams snaps this season, has two tackles there today.
— Oliver Thomas (@OliverBThomas) September 24, 2017
Coby Fleener • TE • New Orleans Saints • Sixth season • @Coby
Fleener was used sparingly in New Orleans' 34-13 win at Carolina on Sunday. He appeared on 24 percent of offensive snaps, and caught his only target for 21 yards in the Saints' first win of the season.
With starter Marcus Cannon (concussion) inactive, Cameron Fleming likely next man up. "I have a lot of respect for him," Bill Belichick said https://t.co/zm3v5d55Ii
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 24, 2017
Cameron Fleming • T • New England Patriots • Fourth season • @CammyJFresh
Fleming started the game at left tackle but appeared on only two offensive snaps in New England's 36-33 win against Houston on Sunday.
Ryan Hewitt • TE/FB • Cincinnati Bengals • Fourth season @Huey_85
Hewitt played four offensive snaps and 23 special teams snaps (70 percent) in Cincinnati's 27-24 loss at Green Bay, finishing with one special teams tackle.
Kevin Hogan • QB • Cleveland Browns • Second season • @KHoagie8
Hogan did not play in Cleveland's 31-28 loss at Indianapolis on Sunday.
Austin Hooper • TE • Atlanta Falcons • Second season • @AustinHooper18
Hooper started and played 72 percent of offensive snaps in Atlanta's 30-26 win at Detroit on Sunday. He caught one of two targets for nine yards, making one tackle following a Matt Ryan interception. Hooper's strongest contribution through three games has been his run blocking – he helped Falcon running backs gain 151 yards on 28 attempts yesterday (5.4 average), while his 82.3 season grade in run blocking ranks sixth out of 68 eligible tight ends, per Pro Football Focus.
Andrew Luck • QB • Indianapolis Colts • Sixth season • @ALBookClub
Head coach Chuck Pagano announced on Tuesday Luck could return to practice this week, but no timetable has been offered for when he might be able to play. Luck continues to rehabilitate from offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder.
Nothing that's happened with #Colts QB Andrew Luck has given anyone doubt that he plays this year. ... And keep an eye on Week 6 vs. #Titans pic.twitter.com/Zh1SzlJ2WF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 24, 2017
Josh Mauro • DE/DL • Arizona Cardinals • Fourth season • @JustJoshin90
Mauro started at defensive tackle in Arizona's 28-17 loss against Dallas on Monday night, appearing on 40 percent of defensive snaps and finishing with two tackles.
Ty Montgomery • RB • Green Bay Packers • Third season • @TyMontgomery2
Montgomery was Green Bay's most used running back and receiver in a 27-24 win against Cincinnati on Sunday. He carried the ball 12 times for 35 yards, and was Aaron Rodgers' most targeted receiver (12). He caught eight of those passes for 15 yards, playing all but five (93 percent) offensive snaps. Montgomery and the Packers host Chicago next week, which ranks 31st in defensive rating, according to Pro Football Focus.
Will this be the week the Packers use their rookie running backs more and take some workload off Ty Montgomery?... https://t.co/gPrt8kCYhf
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) September 26, 2017
Kyle Murphy • T • Green Bay Packers • Second season • @KyleMurphy78
Murphy started his second consecutive game at left tackle in Green Bay's 27-24 win against Cincinnati on Sunday. Bryan Bulaga returned to play at right tackle, but starting left tackle David Bakhtiari (hamstring) remains sidelined. Murphy will likely continue to start as long as either starting tackle is out.
David Parry • DT/NG • Indianapolis Colts • Third season • @DavidParry58
Parry was signed off the practice squad on Sept. 20 to give added depth on New Orleans' defensive line. He made one tackle in the Saints' 34-13 win at Carolina, but limped off the field with an injury after just three defensive snaps.
Andrus Peat • T/G • New Orleans Saints • Third season • @AndrusPeat
Peat returned to left guard in New Orleans' 34-13 win at Carolina on Sunday, playing all 58 offensive snaps. He earned his highest single-game rating of the season (+1.3) from Pro Football Focus, which included a +2.0 rating in run blocking. Peat helped the Saints rush 27 times for 149 yards (5.5 average) and one touchdown.
Jordan Richards • S • New England Patriots • Third season
Richards appeared on three defensive snaps and 21 special teams snaps (60 percent) in New England's 36-33 win against Houston on Sunday.
Brennan Scarlett • OLB • Houston Texans • Second season • @BScarlett17
Scarlett appeared on a season-high 10 defensive snaps for Houston's 36-33 loss at New England on Sunday, finishing with one tackle and one run stop.
Michael Thomas • S • Miami Dolphins • Fifth season • @Michael31Thomas
Thomas played 29 percent of defensive snaps and all but one special teams snap in Miami's 20-6 loss at the New York Jets on Sunday. He finished the game with two tackles and one special teams tackle.
Solomon Thomas • DL • San Francisco 49ers • First season • @SollyThomas90
Thomas played 57 percent of San Francisco's defensive snaps in a 41-39 loss against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Thomas finished with one solo tackle and one run stop, earning his best Pro Football Focus rating (+0.9) of the season, up from Weeks 1 (-3.6) and 2 (-0.6).
Solomon Thomas running down Todd Gurley is something. #49ers pic.twitter.com/hRlFHcyWmO
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) September 22, 2017
Levine Toilolo • TE • Atlanta Falcons • Fourth season • @LevineToilolo
Toilolo appeared on 51 percent of offensive snaps in Atlanta's 30-26 win at Detroit on Sunday. He helped the Falcons' running backs gain 151 yards on 28 carries in run blocking (5.4 average).