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Football

Bademosi Steps Up

Standout Performers

Johnson Bademosi • CB/ST • New England Patriots • Sixth season • @J_Bademosi24

On short notice, Bademosi sprung into a key role on the Patriots defense for a 24-17 win at the New York Jets. Big-money signing Stephon Gilmore was ruled out with a concussion late in the day on Saturday, and Bademosi, appearing on all but one defensive snap, stepped up and delivered off the bench. He allowed just three catches for 39 yards, finishing with an exceptional 0.75 yards per cover snap after not playing a single defensive snap over the first five weeks. He finished with five tackles, four of which were solo, and zero missed tackles while playing 14 special teams snaps.

David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • Sixth season

After a less than ideal outing in Week 5, DeCastro was back to his elite self in Sunday's 19-13 win at Kansas City. Surrendering one hurry on 26 pass-blocking snaps, he helped Le'Veon Bell rush for 179 yards on 32 carries (5.6). Pittsburgh was particularly successful with its counter run to the left, led by the pulling right guard DeCastro. DeCastro's overall 89.9 and 93.1 run blocking grades lead the league, per Pro Football Focus.

Zach Ertz • TE • Philadelphia Eagles • Fifth season • @ZErtz_86

Ertz caught two of five targets for 18 yards and two touchdowns in Philadelphia's 28-23 win at Carolina on Thursday night. Appearing on 79 percent of offensive snaps, Ertz became the first Eagles tight end in franchise history with four touchdowns in the first six games. He leads NFL tight ends with 34 receptions and 405 yards, and is tied with Cameron Brate and Rob Gronkowski for the lead in touchdowns with four. Ertz's 84.7 receiving grade from Pro Football Focus ranks second in the league behind Travis Kelce, and he has also contributed to the Eagles' 795 rushing yards, fifth-most in the league.

Christian McCaffrey • RB • Carolina Panthers • First season • @run_cmc

McCaffrey caught his second touchdown in as many games during Carolina's 28-23 loss against Philadelphia on Thursday night. Cam Newton targeted McCaffrey a team-high 14 times for a club-leading 10 catches and 56 yards. He also rushed four times for eight yards and returned three punts for 35 yards. McCaffrey's 50 targets lead all running backs by eight (James White, New England) and his 37 receptions are tied for fifth with All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins.

Solomon Thomas • DL • San Francisco 49ers • First season • @SollyThomas90

Thomas was a force to be reckoned with in San Francisco's narrow 26-24 defeat at Washington on Sunday. He led the 49ers with nine tackles and seven solo tackles, recording his second career sack with two tackles for loss. In the run game, Thomas finished with five run stops and an outstanding +6.0 rating against the run, per Pro Football Focus. His sack came against five-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams.

Week 6 Roundup

Henry Anderson • DE • Indianapolis Colts • Third season • @HenryAnderson91

Anderson started at defensive end in Indianapolis' 36-22 loss at Tennessee on Monday night. Appearing on 73 percent of defensive snaps, he finished the game with one tackle.

Doug Baldwin • WR • Seattle Seahawks • Seventh season • @DougBaldwinJr

Bye week.

Alex Carter • DB • New England Patriots • Third Season • @AlexCarter

New England signed Carter to its practice squad ahead of Week 6. Carter worked out for the team on Oct. 9 and signed a contract before leaving the facility – in the offseason, Carter made the switch from cornerback to safety while still with the Detroit Lions.

Coby Fleener • TE • New Orleans Saints • Sixth season • @Coby

Fleener played 25 percent of New Orleans' offensive snaps in a 52-38 win against Detroit on Sunday, and was targeted once in the passing game.

Cameron Fleming • T • New England Patriots • Fourth season • @CammyJFresh

Fleming was inactive for New England's 24-17 win at the New York Jets on Sunday.

Ryan Hewitt • TE/FB • Cincinnati Bengals • Fourth season @Huey_85

Bye week.

Kevin Hogan • QB • Cleveland Browns • Second season • @KHoagie8

Hogan struggled in his first career start, completing 20 of 37 pass attempts for 140 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a 33-17 loss at Houston. He also carried the ball five times for 36 yards, while the Browns' offensive line surrendered 14 pressures in front of Hogan. Should he keep the starting job, Hogan would face Tennessee in Week 7.

Austin Hooper • TE • Atlanta Falcons • Second season • @AustinHooper18

Hooper led Atlanta receivers in targets (9) and receptions (7) in a 20-17 loss against Miami on Sunday. Appearing on 91 percent of offensive snaps, more than any other receiver, running back or tight end, Hooper turned his receptions into 48 yards while helping the Falcons rush for 100 yards on 19 carries (5.3 average).

Andrew Luck • QB • Indianapolis Colts • Sixth season • @ALBookClub

Luck remains sidelined after undergoing offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder. He returned to practice on a limited basis on Oct. 4, and increased his workload to 7-on-7 drills on Oct. 11. However, no timetable has been given for Luck's return to the field.

Blake Martinez • ILB • Green Bay Packers • Second season • @Big__Blake50

Martinez appeared on a career-high 76 defensive snaps (99 percent) in Green Bay's 23-10 loss at Minnesota. He finished with a game-high 11 tackles, including eight solo and two for loss, also defending one pass which led to an interception. He ranks ninth in the league with 48 tackles on the season, and is Pro Football Focus' second-highest graded linebacker against the run with an 88.2 grade (Telvin Smith, 88.5).

Josh Mauro • DE/DL • Arizona Cardinals • Fourth season • @JustJoshin90

Mauro started and played 53 percent of defensive snaps in Arizona's 38-33 win against Tampa Bay on Sunday. He finished the day with two tackles, one run stop and one quarterback hurry.

Ty Montgomery • RB • Green Bay Packers • Third season • @TyMontgomery2

Montgomery returned from a rib injury to play 30 percent of snaps in Green Bay's 23-10 loss at Minnesota on Sunday. He carried the ball 10 times for 28 yards and caught one of three targets for three yards. With Aaron Rodgers' long-term injury, Montgomery's importance to the Packers' offense has never been higher.

Andrus Peat • T/G • New Orleans Saints • Third season • @AndrusPeat

Peat started at left guard and played every snap of New Orleans' 52-38 win against Detroit on Sunday. He was strong in run blocking, earning a +1.2 rating from Pro Football Focus and helping the Saints gain 193 rushing yards on 37 carries (5.2 average). He allowed just two pressures on 31 pass-blocking snaps, while the New Orleans line did not allow a sack – for the first time in 2017, the Saints' five first-choice linemen were healthy, and as a result, Peat shined.

Jordan Richards • S • New England Patriots • Third season

Richards started alongside Johnson Bademosi in New England's 24-17 win at the New York Jets, appearing on 46 percent of the Patriots' defensive snaps. He finished the game with three tackles and one run stop, often playing strong safety in the Patriots' sub packages.

Brennan Scarlett • OLB • Houston Texans • Second season • @BScarlett17

Scarlett made his first career start in Houston's 33-17 win against Cleveland on Sunday. He appeared on 75 percent of defensive snaps, finishing the game with four tackles and two quarterback hurries. Against the run, Scarlett's 82.1 season grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 19th in the league out of 98 eligible edge defenders. With J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus done for the season, Scarlett will continue to play starters' snap counts.

Shayne Skov • LB • New Orleans Saints • Third season • @ShayneSkov

Skov was signed to New Orleans' practice squad ahead of the team's 52-38 win against Detroit on Sunday. Backup linebacker and special teamer Nick Stupar suffered a torn ACL in the fourth quarter on Sunday, perhaps opening the door for Skov to join the 53-man roster.

Richard Sherman • CB • Seattle Seahawks • Seventh season @R_Sherman25

Bye week.

Michael Thomas • S • Miami Dolphins • Fifth season • @Michael31Thomas

Thomas appeared on four defensive snaps and 19 special teams snaps (83 percent) in Miami's 20-17 win at Atlanta on Sunday. He made the most of his limited time on defense, recording one tackle for loss on those four snaps.

Levine Toilolo • TE • Atlanta Falcons • Fourth season • @LevineToilolo

Toilolo started and played 26 percent of offensive snaps in Atlanta's 20-17 loss against Miami on Sunday.