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Football

Solomon Thomas Arrives

Standout Performers

David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • Sixth season

DeCastro logged another strong performance in Pittsburgh's 26-9 win over Baltimore, starting and playing every snap at right guard. He helped the Steelers gain 173 yards on the ground, including 144 by Le'Veon Bell, while earning an 80.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. DeCastro has not missed a snap this season, and has allowed zero sacks, zero quarterback hits and only three total pressures on 148 pass blocking plays. His 91.7 season grade from Pro Football Focus leads the NFL, and his absurd 94.1 grade in run blocking tops guards by seven points (Marshal Yanda, 87.1).

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

Hogan appeared for 14 snaps late in Cleveland's 31-7 loss against Cincinnati, coming on in relief of DeShon Kizer with the Browns trailing 31-0. Hogan engineered a 12-play, 4:36 touchdown drive to put the Browns on the board, finishing 5 of 8 passing for 65 yards, including a 31-yard pass to Ricardo Louis to put Cleveland in the red zone. Whether or not Hogan will start against the New York Jets in Week 5 is unknown, but he has looked promising in limited action this season.

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

Martinez's breakout season continued in Green Bay's 35-14 win against Chicago on Thursday night. He finished with seven tackles, including five solo, and one forced fumble, helping limit the Bears to 3.4 yards per carry. Martinez's 14.6 run stop percentage leads all NFL linebackers who have appeared on at least 50 percent of their teams run snaps, and he already has 16 run stops after registering 29 in all of 2016. His 83.3 season grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 12th in the league out of 82 eligible inside linebackers, and he has missed just one tackle on the season while playing 73 percent of defensive snaps.

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

McCaffrey showed off his versatility in Carolina's 33-30 win at New England on Sunday. McCaffrey played 76 percent of the Panthers' offensive snaps, 20 more than Jonathan Stewart, and was involved in all aspects of Carolina's attack. He caught four of six targets for 33 yards, returned three kickoffs for 58 yards, returned two punts for 25 yards and carried the ball six times for 16 yards. The attention McCaffrey demands from defenses was apparent on Carolina's first touchdown – McCaffrey motioned to one side of the field, drawing several defenders and opening the opposite side for Fozzy Whittaker's 28-yard scoring catch.

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

Thomas' improvement continued on Sunday in an 18-15 loss at Arizona. Appearing on 69 defense snaps (80 percent), 22 more than he had in his previous three games, Thomas was disruptive all day against Arizona's offensive line. He finished with five solo tackles, including two for loss, his first career sack, one pass batted, four quarterback hits and six pressures. Thomas also helped limit the Cardinals to 51 rushing yards on 22 attempts (2.3 average) – last season, San Francisco allowed 165.9 rushing yards per game, the most in the league by over 23 yards per game. Thomas is growing into his role on arguably the most improved front seven in the league, which includes 2016 first-rounder DeForrest Buckner.

NFL Week 4 Roundup

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

Anderson appeared on 51 percent of defensive snaps and nine special teams plays (30 percent) in Indianapolis' 46-18 loss at Seattle on Sunday night. He finished the game with two tackles, one run stop and one quarterback hurry.

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

Bademosi played 15 special teams snaps in New England's 33-30 loss against Carolina on Sunday.

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

Baldwin had a quiet evening in Seattle's 46-18 win over Indianapolis on Sunday. He caught all three targets for 35 yards, appearing on 68 percent of offensive snaps. Baldwin's low snap count and limited output was no surprise – he entered the game nursing a groin injury sustained in Week 3.

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

Ertz was once again Carson Wentz's favorite target in Philadelphia's 26-24 win at the Los Angeles Chargers. Appearing on 76 percent of offensive snaps, Ertz led the Eagles in targets (8), receptions (5) and receiving yards (81). In run blocking, Ertz also helped the Eagles gain 214 yards on 42 carries (5.1 average). Entering Week 5, Ertz leads NFL tight ends in targets (36), catches (26) and receiving yards (326) – he is on pace for 104 catches and 1,304 yards.

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

Fleener came off the bench to play on 59 percent of New Orleans' offensive snaps in a 20-0 win at Miami on Sunday. He was targeted four times, catching two balls for 21 yards.

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

Fleming played six special teams snaps in New England's 33-30 loss against Carolina on Sunday.

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

Hewitt started and played seven offensive snaps and nine special teams snaps in Cincinnati's 31-7 win at Cleveland. Hewitt was targeted for the first time this season, catching Andy Dalton's first throw of the second half for 16 yards.

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

Hooper appeared on 79 percent of Atlanta's offensive snaps in a 23-17 loss against Buffalo on Sunday. He was Matt Ryan's most-targeted receiver (7), leading the team in catches (5) with 50 receiving yards. Hooper also helped the Falcons rush for 149 yards on 29 carries (5.1 average) in run blocking. Hooper's 80.6 run blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranks seventh in the league out of 69 eligible tight ends.

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

After undergoing offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder, Luck has yet to fully participate in Colts' practices. No timetable has been given for Luck's return to practice and, eventually, to starting games.

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

Mauro started Arizona's 18-15 win against San Francisco on Sunday. He appeared on 38 percent of defensive snaps and five special teams plays, finishing the day with one tackle.

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

Montgomery exited Thursday's 35-14 win against Chicago with a rib injury, but the injury is not as damaging as initially feared. Five of Green Bay's first six plays went to Montgomery, who carried the ball five times for 28 yards before exiting the game. Montgomery's loss is a big hit to the Packers' offense, with Montgomery leading NFL running backs in snaps played entering Week 4. Green Bay lists Montgomery as day-to-day.

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

Peat started and played every snap in New Orleans' 20-0 win at Miami on Sunday. He started the game at left guard, but moved to left tackle after injuries on the Saints' offensive line. On 72 snaps, Peat surrendered just two hurries and no sacks of Drew Brees.

Jordan Richards • S • New England Patriots • Third season

Richards played one defensive snap and 16 special teams snaps (57 percent) in New England's 33-30 loss against Carolina on Sunday, finishing the day with one special teams tackle.

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

Scarlett made the most of limited action in Houston's 57-14 demolition of Tennessee on Sunday. He appeared on five defensive snaps and 21 special teams plays, finishing the day with one tackle on both defense and special teams.

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

Sherman played the most defensive snaps of any Seattle player in a 46-18 win against Indianapolis on Sunday night. He finished the game with two tackles and broke up the only pass in his direction. Only eight cornerbacks to appear on at least half of their teams snaps have allowed fewer catches than Sherman, who has allowed 76 receiving yards in 2017, including only 26 after the catch. On passes thrown in Sherman's direction this season, quarterbacks have a 63.5 passer rating.

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

Thomas played four defensive snaps at strong safety and every special teams snap in Miami's 20-0 loss against New Orleans on Sunday.

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

Toilolo started in Atlanta's 23-17 loss against Buffalo on Sunday, appearing on 39 percent of offensive snaps and six special teams snaps (24 percent). He caught all three of his targets, finishing the day with 21 receiving yards while helping the Falcons rush for 149 yards on 29 carries (5.1 average).