Christian Comes AliveChristian Comes Alive
Football

Christian Comes Alive

David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • Sixth season

DeCastro cemented his All-Pro candidacy with an outstanding performance in Pittsburgh's 27-24 loss against New England on Sunday. He allowed just one pressure on 34 pass-blocking plays, helping Le'Veon Bell rush for 117 yards and one score while earning a team-high 87.5 grade from Pro Football Focus. Bell leads running backs with 1,222 yards on the season, due in large part to DeCastro's skillset at right guard. According to PFF, DeCastro owns a 98.0 pass-blocking efficiency rating this season with 15 pressures, including zero sacks, allowed on 559 pass-blocking snaps.

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

Ertz was targeted nine times in Philadelphia's 34-29 win at the New York Giants, catching six passes for 56 yards and one touchdown. With teammates Alshon Jeffrey and Nelson Agholor, Ertz helps form the first trio of players in franchise history with eight or more touchdowns in the same season. Ertz ranks second among tight ends in touchdowns, fifth in receptions (63) and fourth in yards. Ertz's 81.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranks fifth in the league while his 86.1 receiving grade trails only All-Pros Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce.

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

McCaffrey had one of his best games of the season in a 31-24 win over Green Bay on Sunday. He carried the ball 12 times for a team-high 63 yards, adding six catches on seven targets for 72 yards and one touchdown. It was McCaffrey's fifth touchdown in six appearances, and he became the first rookie tailback in NFL history with 70 or more catches and five or more touchdowns. His five receiving touchdowns lead NFL running backs, and his nine touches on Carolina's opening drive (which ended in a McCaffrey score) tied for the most touches on an opening drive by any player this season. Among all rookies, McCaffrey's 592 receiving yards ranks sixth, while his steadily-rising 84.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranks ninth among 55 qualified backs.

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

San Francisco's 2017 first overall pick made three tackles, including one for loss, and registered three quarterback hurries in a 25-23 win over Tennessee on Sunday. Thomas and San Francisco's improving defense limited Tennessee's potent rushing attack to just 90 yards on 28 carries. Thomas helps form a promising core of young 49ers that includes Jimmy Garoppolo, Reuben Foster and DeForest Buckner.

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

Bademosi appeared on 19 special teams plays in New England's 27-24 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday, finishing with one special teams tackle.

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

Baldwin caught one of four targets for six yards in Seattle's 42-7 loss against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. He appeared on 84 percent of the Seahawks' offensive snaps, the most of any skill position player.

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

Fleming started at right tackle and appeared on 77 percent of New England's offensive snaps in a 27-24 win at Pittsburgh. He performed well, allowing just two quarterback hurries on 46 snaps. Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle will continue to compete for the right tackle job with Marcus Cannon done for the season.

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

Hewitt appeared on nine offensive snaps and 16 special teams snaps in Cincinnati's 34-7 loss at Minnesota, finishing the game with one special teams tackle.

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

Hogan dressed for but did not appear in Cleveland's 27-10 loss against Baltimore on Sunday. Hogan's future in Cleveland could be clearer than expected – recently-hired general manager John Dorsey was instrumental in drafting Hogan in the fifth round while with Kansas City in 2016.

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

Hooper caught both of his targets for 12 yards in Atlanta's 24-21 win at Tampa Bay on Monday night. He appeared on 76 percent of the Falcons' offensive snaps and five special teams snaps, helping the team rush for 201 yards on 35 attempts (5.7 average).

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

Martinez made a team-high eight tackles, including four solo, in a 31-24 loss at Carolina on Sunday. Two of his tackles were on former teammate Christian McCaffrey, while McCaffrey's lone target under Martinez's coverage was incomplete. On 369 run snaps, Martinez has missed just three tackles with a 9.2 run stop percentage, which ties for 11th in the league among inside linebackers. His 34 run stops ranks third among inside linebackers, and his 127 tackles ties for the league lead with two regular-season games to play.

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

Mauro was inactive for Arizona's 20-15 loss at the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

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

Peat played one offensive snap and two special teams snaps in New Orleans' 31-19 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. He dressed as an emergency option as he continues to rehab a groin injury.

Jordan Richards • S • New England Patriots • Third season

Richards was credited with one solo tackle in New England's dramatic 27-24 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday. He appeared on 21 percent of defensive snaps and 21 special teams snaps (84 percent).

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

Thomas was inactive with a knee injury for Miami's 24-16 loss at Buffalo.

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

Toilolo recovered a fumble in the end zone during Atlanta's 24-21 win at Tampa Bay on Monday night. He appeared on 56 percent of offensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps while helping Falcons running backs gain 201 yards on 35 carries (5.7 average).