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Football

Taking Charge

Standout Performers

David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • Seventh season

David DeCastro played every snap of a 33-18 win against Cleveland, helping pave the way for James Conner's 146 yards and two scores on 24 carries. DeCastro also nearly pitched a shutout in pass protection, allowing one pressure on 38 pass-blocking snaps. On the season, the All-Pro guard has surrendered five pressures on 222 pass-blocking snaps.

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

Luck put forth another stellar performance in a comeback 42-28 win at Oakland on Sunday, completing 22 of 31 passes for 239 yards with three touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 125.6 passer rating. Luck has thrown a touchdown to 11 different receivers, while his 23 touchdowns rank second in the NFL. Luck is also benefitting from a much-improved offensive front – the Colts have had a rusher with 100 or more yards in back-to-back weeks and Luck has not been sacked in three weeks.

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

Blake Martinez's excellent 2018 season continued in Green Bay's 29-27 loss at the Los Angeles Rams. The third-year linebacker finished with 12 tackles, four more than any other player on the field, including two for loss and one sack. According to Pro Football Focus, Martinez also registered a season-high four pressures and tied a season high with five run stops. Per PFF, Martinez's 80.5 season grade ranks seventh among qualified linebackers while his 63 total tackles tie for 11th in the league.

Christian McCaffrey • RB • Carolina Panthers • Second season • @CMcCaffrey5

McCaffrey had his second career two-touchdown performance in Carolina's 36-21 win against Baltimore, which leads the league in total defense (293.8 yards allowed per game). Playing all but one offensive snap, McCaffrey carried the ball 14 times for 45 yards and one touchdown while catching four of six targets for 11 yards and one score. In just his second season, McCaffrey already co-owns the franchise record for receiving touchdowns by a running back (8) with Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams.

Justin Reid • S • Houston Texans • First season • @jreid_viii

Reid's star continues to rise after another exceptional performance in Houston's fifth straight win, a 42-23 triumph over Miami. He made his second career interception, finishing with two passes defensed, eight tackles and one special teams stop while earning the highest Pro Football Focus grade of any Texan defender (90.3). Reid, Houston's first selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, has not missed a tackle in eight games, allowing just seven catches for 120 yards in coverage while appearing on 252 of Houston's last 258 defensive snaps.

Quick Hitters

  • Henry Anderson finished with two tackles, two quarterback hurries and one run stop in the New York Jets' 24-10 loss at Chicago while appearing on 58 percent of defensive snaps.
  • Johnson Bademosi appeared on six defensive snaps and 24 special teams snaps in Houston's 42-23 win against Miami on Thursday night.
  • Doug Baldwin caught two of three targets for 26 yards in Seattle's 28-14 win at Detroit, playing 86 percent of offensive snaps.
  • Even on slow day for Zach Ertz's lofty standards in 2018, he found the end zone in Philadelphia's 24-18 win against Jacksonville in London. He led the Eagles in targets (6), finishing with four catches for 26 yards – Ertz leads NFL tight ends in receptions (61) by 17 and receiving yards (644).
  • Joshua Garnett appeared on three special teams snaps in San Francisco's 18-15 loss at Arizona. It was his first appearance since Week 1 after missing time with a foot injury.
  • Ryan Hewitt appeared on 21 offensive snaps and 12 special teams snaps in Indianapolis' 42-28 win at Oakland.
  • Kevin Hogan suited up for Denver for the first time in a 30-23 loss at Kansas City but did not play.
  • Peter Kalambayi finished with a career-high three defensive tackles and added two special teams stops while playing a career-high 17 defensive snaps and 24 special teams snaps in Houston's 42-23 win against Miami.
  • Josh Mauro made one tackle on 17 defensive snaps in the New York Giants' 20-13 loss against Washington.
  • Quenton Meeks made his first career start in Jacksonville's 24-18 loss against Philadelphia, finishing with three tackles and two passes defended on 73 percent of defensive snaps. He expected to miss a few weeks after exiting the game with a knee injury.
  • Ty Montgomery carried the ball twice for six yards, caught one pass for two yards and returned three kicks for 68 yards in Green Bay's 29-27 loss at the Los Angeles Rams while appearing on six offensive snaps.
  • Trent Murphy was inactive for Buffalo's 25-6 loss against New England with a knee injury.
  • Andrus Peat played every offensive snap of a 30-20 win at Minnesota.
  • Harrison Phillips made two tackles in Buffalo's 25-6 loss against New England on Monday night.
  • Brennan Scarlett made two tackles on eight defensive snaps and a game-high 29 special teams snaps in Houston's 42-23 win against Miami.
  • Richard Sherman made his second career sack, had one pass breakup and finished with a team-high seven tackles in San Francisco's 18-15 loss at Arizona while appearing on all 66 defensive snaps.
  • Michael Thomas made two tackles on 11 defensive snaps in the New York Giants' 20-13 loss against Washington.
  • Solomon Thomas finished with two tackles on 35 defensive snaps in San Francisco's 18-15 loss at Arizona.
  • Appearing on 14 offensive snaps, Levine Toilolo caught his only target for 12 yards in Detroit's 28-14 loss against Seattle.

Byes: Atlanta (Austin Hooper, Jordan Richards), Dallas (Cameron Fleming, Dalton Schultz)