There He Goes AgainThere He Goes Again
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There He Goes Again

Standout Performers

David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • Eighth season

DeCastro started and played all 67 offensive snaps in Pittsburgh's 33-3 loss at New England on Sunday night. On a pass-happy night for the Steelers, DeCastro did not allow a single quarterback pressure on 55 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

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

Hooper was a bright spot for Atlanta in a 28-12 loss at Minnesota on Sunday, catching every ball thrown his way to lead the team in receptions (9) and receiving yards (77) while playing 79 percent of the Falcons' offensive snaps, 40 more than any other tight end on the roster.

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

Martinez and the Green Bay defense shut down Chicago in the league opener on Thursday in a 10-3 win on the road. One of five Packers to play all 73 defensive snaps, Martinez finished with a team-high seven tackles and his eighth career sack on two total pressures. Martinez and the Packers' defense limited Chicago to just 254 yards of offense, including a 3-of-15 third-down conversion rate.

Christian McCaffrey • RB • Carolina Panthers • Third season • @run__cmc

McCaffrey picked up where he left off in 2018 with a scintillating performance in Carolina's 30-27 loss against the Los Angeles Rams. Accounting for 61 percent of Carolina's net offense while on the field for all 67 offensive snaps, McCaffrey gained 128 yards on 19 attempts with two scores on the ground while catching 10-of-11 targets for 81 yards, including 48 after the catch. McCaffrey, who forced six missed tackles on the day, is one of five players in NFL history with 10 or more receptions and 120 or more rushing yards in a game – Sunday was the second such performance of his career in just his 33rd career game.

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

One of the standout rookies in the league on defense in 2018, Reid led Houston with nine tackles in a 30-28 loss at New Orleans on Monday Night Football. One of four Texans defenders to play all 66 defensive snaps, Reid added three run stops and allowed just five yards after the catch while allowing three receptions for 22 yards when targeted.

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

Sherman's first interception with San Francisco proved to be a deciding factor in the 49ers' 31-17 win at Tampa Bay on Sunday. In a game which was closer than the score indicated, Sherman brought back an interception to the house in the third quarter to put San Francisco up, 20-7, eventually finishing with five tackles and a pair of pass breakups. Appearing on all 70 defensive snaps, Sherman was targeted five times by Jameis Winston, surrendering three catches for 27 yards, including just one yard after the catch.

Quick Hitters

  • Henry Anderson and the New York Jets dropped a 17-16 decision against Buffalo on Sunday to open the 2019 season. Making his first appearance since inking a three-year, $25.5 million extension during the offseason, Anderson finished with three quarterback hits and two tackles on 71 percent of the Jets' defensive snaps.
  • J.J. Arcega-Whiteside made his NFL debut in Philadelphia's 32-27 win against Washington on Sunday, appearing on five offensive snaps and five special teams snaps.
  • The recently-acquired Johnson Bademosi appeared on eight special teams snaps in Miami's 59-10 loss against Baltimore on Sunday.
  • Jake Bailey became the first-ever right-footed punter to strike a kick under head coach Bill Belichick in New England's 33-3 win against Pittsburgh on Sunday night. Bailey finished with three punts for 123 yards (41.0 net average), blasting his first career NFL punt for 53 yards to the Steelers' 12-yard line on the Patriots' opening drive.
  • Zach Ertz caught 5-of-7 targets for 54 yards in Philadelphia's 32-27 win against Washington on Sunday – his 62 offensive snaps (83 percent) were the most of any Eagles skill position player.
  • Cameron Fleming appeared on three offensive snaps and five special teams snaps in Dallas' 35-17 win against the New York Giants.
  • Nate Herbig was inactive for Philadelphia's 32-27 win against Washington on Sunday.
  • Peter Kalambayi appeared on 17 special teams snaps in Houston's 30-28 loss at New Orleans on Monday night.
  • Josh Mauro started and made four solo tackles in Oakland's 24-16 win over Denver to open the season on Monday Night Football. Appearing on 42 percent of defensive snaps, he finished with one tackle for loss and one pass defensed.
  • Ty Montgomery carried twice for four yards in the New York Jets' 17-16 loss against Buffalo on Sunday, appearing on five offensive snaps and two special teams snaps.
  • Trent Murphy started and played 79 percent of Buffalo's defensive snaps in a 17-16, comeback win at the New York Jets. Murphy was consistently in the Jets' backfield, registering four quarterback pressures and one batted pass – his fumble recovery with eight seconds to go in the game sealed the win for the Bills. 
  • Bobby Okereke made his debut off the bench in Indianapolis' 30-24, overtime loss at the Los Angeles Chargers, making one tackle while appearing on 23 percent of defensive snaps and eight special teams plays.
  • Andrus Peat played every snap of New Orleans' 30-28 win against Houston on Monday night, helping pave the way for the Saints' 148 rushing yards on 21 attempts (7.0 average).
  • Harrison Phillips appeared on 33 percent of defensive snaps in Buffalo's 17-16 win at the New York Jets.
  • Brennan Scarlett appeared on 18 defensive snaps and 19 special teams snaps in Houston's 30-28 loss at New Orleans on Monday night.
  • Dalton Schultz appeared on nine offensive snaps and three special teams snaps in Dallas' 35-17 win against the New York Giants on Sunday.
  • Kaden Smith was inactive for San Francisco's 31-17 win at Tampa Bay on Sunday.
  • Michael Thomas made one tackle while appearing on 12 defensive snaps and a game-high 23 special teams snaps in the New York Giants' 35-17 loss at Dallas.
  • Solomon Thomas started in San Francisco's 31-17 win at Tampa Bay, playing 12 defensive snaps and four special teams snaps.
  • Levine Toilolo appeared on 11 offensive snaps and 11 special teams snaps in San Francisco's 31-17 win at Tampa Bay.