Breakout PerformanceBreakout Performance
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Football

Breakout Performance

Standout Performers

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

Ertz's historic pace continued with another huge day in Philadelphia's 23-21 loss against Minnesota. He caught his first touchdown of the season and led the Eagles in targets (11), receptions (10) and receiving yards (110) on 97 percent of offensive snaps with Carson Wentz targeting him on 35 percent of pass attempts. Since 2001, there have been three instances where a tight end has caught 10 or more passes three times in a game during a full season – Ertz has accomplished the feat in the last four weeks. Ertz, who is on pace for 131 catches and nearly 1,400 yards, is one of four players in the league with at least 10 targets in every game so far, joining the likes of Adam Thielen, Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins.

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

Hooper had a career-high nine receptions in Atlanta's 41-17 loss at Pittsburgh, also leading the Falcons in targets (12) and receiving yards (77) on 76 percent of offensive snaps. Hooper's 21 receptions rank second on the Falcons and ninth in the league among tight ends.

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

Martinez finished with a career-high two sacks in Green Bay's 31-23 loss at Detroit. Yet to miss a defensive snap this season, he finished with four solo tackles, four run stops and a 78.8 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. According to PFF, Martinez ranks third in total defensive rating (86.8) and fifth in run stops (18) among qualified linebackers. 

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

Reid made his first career interception in Houston's 19-16 win against Dallas on Sunday night. The rookie finished with two quarterback hurries and six tackles on 90 percent of defensive snaps, helping limit the Cowboys to 292 total yards in the overtime win. The third-round draft pick has been one of the top rookie defensive backs in the league after five weeks. 

Jordan Richards • S • Atlanta Falcons • Fourth season

Jordan Richards tied a career high with a team-high seven tackles on 77 percent of defensive snaps in Atlanta's 41-17 loss at Pittsburgh. According to Pro Football Focus, Richards finished with three run stops while allowing two catches for 19 yards on four targets.

Richard Sherman • CB • San Francisco 49ers • Eighth season • @R_Sherman25

Sherman continued his stellar season with another shutout performance in San Francisco's 28-18 loss against Arizona. He did not allow a catch on two targets while appearing on every defensive snap – Sherman missed Week 4 with a calf injury sustained in Week 3. On 146 coverage snaps in 2018, Sherman leads qualifying cornerbacks in fewest catches allowed (1) and passer rating allowed (39.6). 

Quick Hitters

  • Henry Anderson finished with one tackle and two pressures in the New York Jets' 34-16 win against Denver while appearing on a season-high 49 defensive snaps (64 percent).
  • Johnson Bademosi appeared on 62 percent of special teams snaps in Houston's 19-16 win against Dallas.
  • Doug Baldwin caught his only target for one yard in Seattle's 33-31 loss against the Los Angeles Rams. He appeared on 88 percent of offensive snaps, the most of any Seahawks' position player.
  • David DeCastro played every offensive snap of a 41-17 win against Atlanta.
  • Cameron Fleming played four special teams snaps in Dallas' 19-16 loss at Houston.
  • Joshua Garnett was inactive for San Francisco's 28-18 loss against Arizona with a toe injury sustained in Week 1.
  • Ryan Hewitt made one special teams tackle on 52 percent of special teams snaps and 16 offensive snaps in Indianapolis' 38-24 loss at New England.
  • Kevin Hogan was inactive for Denver's 34-16 loss at the New York Jets.
  • Peter Kalambayi appeared on three defensive snaps and a team-high 23 special teams snaps in Houston's 19-16 win against Dallas.
  • Andrew Luck threw for three touchdowns and two interceptions on 38 of 59 passing in Indianapolis' 38-24 loss at New England.
  • Christian McCaffrey scored his first touchdown of the season in Sunday's 33-31 win against the New York Giants, an 18-yard reception from Cam Newton. He finished with 17 carries for 58 yards and five carries for 35 yards.
  • Ty Montgomery carried the ball four times for 15 yards and caught one of three targets for 23 yards in Green Bay's 31-23 loss at Detroit while appearing on 36 percent of offensive snaps.
  • Trent Murphy tied a season high with three pressures in Buffalo's 13-12 win against Tennessee, registering his third sack of the season while playing a 67 percent of the Bills' defensive snaps.
  • Andrus Peat played every snap of New Orleans' 43-19 win against Washington.
  • Harrison Phillips finished with one tackle and two pressures on 44 percent of defensive snaps in Buffalo's 13-12 win against Tennessee.
  • Brennan Scarlett appeared on a team-high 23 special teams snaps in Houston's 19-16 win against Dallas.
  • Dalton Schultz was inactive for Dallas' 19-16 loss at Houston.
  • Michael Thomas broke up one pass on 27 percent of defensive snaps and 81 percent of special teams snaps in the New York Giants' 33-31 loss at Carolina.
  • Solomon Thomas made one tackle on 71 percent of defensive snaps in San Francisco's 28-18 loss against Arizona.
  • Levine Toilolo was targeted once on 52 percent of offensive snaps in Detroit's 31-23 win against Green Bay.