A running back’s name and rushing total are easy to spot in an NFL box score. The work of the offensive linemen who create those yards is less visible. Yet the difference between a three-yard gain and a run that breaks for 30 often begins with a block, a defender’s reaction, or a small opening in the defense.
This week, several matchups could turn on how teams use their running backs and how opponents respond. Baltimore’s struggling offense may have trouble giving Derrick Henry enough opportunities to build momentum. Kansas City could use the threat of Kenneth Walker III as a setup for short passes. Carolina, meanwhile, may lean on extra tight ends to help Chuba Hubbard attack a New Orleans defensive front that has recently lost a starting lineman.
## Derrick Henry to finish with fewer than 35 rushing yards against the Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers may be able to limit Derrick Henry’s impact by disrupting his opportunities early. If they contain Baltimore’s first handoffs and force the Ravens into third-and-long situations, they can try to get off the field before Henry has repeated chances to find a crease.
Baltimore has scored 33 points across its last three games. Henry rushed for 45, 53 and 57 yards in those losses, even while receiving 17 carries in two of them. Those totals suggest that simply giving him the ball repeatedly has not been enough to produce a major rushing performance. The Chargers’ challenge will be to prevent the next series of carries from building into a more productive night.
Jacoby Brissett is slated to make his Ravens debut with Lamar Jackson on injured reserve. Without Jackson’s threat as a runner, Los Angeles can focus more attention on Henry’s rushing lanes. The Chargers can squeeze the space available to him and make Brissett prove he can move the offense through the air.
There is still a risk in concentrating too heavily on stopping Henry. The Chargers have been vulnerable to explosive runs, and a clean opening could allow him to break away for a big gain. Their best path is to limit Baltimore’s chances to run the ball in the first place. If the Ravens are forced to throw before Henry gets enough attempts to settle in, Los Angeles may be able to keep his rushing total low. A modest second-half lead could also help the Chargers dictate the game’s pace if Baltimore continues to punt.
## Kenneth Walker III to catch eight passes against the Falcons
Kansas City can use Kenneth Walker III as a receiving option to make Atlanta defend the run without repeatedly sending him into the middle of the defensive line. A short pass to Walker can serve a similar purpose to a handoff, while also taking advantage of linebackers who move forward to account for the rushing threat.
Through Atlanta’s first eight games, opposing backfields averaged 7.6 targets per game, nearly two more than the league average. That tendency gives the Chiefs a reason to look for Walker on screens and quick releases, particularly early in the game. If the Falcons have to respect him as a runner, those short throws may be available when he slips into space.
Walker has caught exactly four passes in each of his last three games. His six-catch game against the Colts offers a clearer example of the receiving workload Kansas City could aim to recreate: Patrick Mahomes targeted him 10 times in that contest.
Emmett Johnson’s role is another factor in the backfield rotation. Johnson received as many targets as Walker in Denver, but he had none against the Jets. In that game, Walker ran 14 routes compared with Johnson’s eight. Johnson can remain part of the rotation while Kansas City creates more receiving opportunities for Walker. A few designed short passes early could make Atlanta account for him in multiple ways while still guarding against the handoff.
## Chuba Hubbard to rush for 175 yards against the Saints
Carolina may have an opportunity to test New Orleans’ interior defense after the Saints traded Davon Godchaux on Monday. The 330-pound defensive lineman started five games for the team this season, and his departure leaves the Panthers a spot to challenge.
Carolina has also had to adjust its own blocking. Torricelli Simpkins III played every snap in place of Damien Lewis against Denver, and the Panthers used their tight ends to provide additional help. Keeping that extra blocking support on the field could allow Hubbard to press the middle of the defense before looking for a cutback lane. If the linebackers commit to the initial point of attack, Hubbard may be able to take advantage of space elsewhere.
Hubbard played 89 percent of Carolina’s snaps against Denver and has already carried the ball 28 times in a game this season. His career high is 153 rushing yards, so reaching 175 would require a new personal best. Carolina has reason to continue giving him carries in a close divisional matchup, even if Jonathon Brooks returns.
New Orleans should not be treated as an easy opponent on the ground. The Saints held Cleveland to 95 team rushing yards last week, and Hubbard will still need Carolina’s blocking to create an initial opening. But if the Panthers can keep him involved and give him repeated opportunities late in the game, a few successful runs could build into a much larger afternoon.
