The Read Optional Rushing Indexes — Week 5

Alongside my team RODS ratings and Passing ROPE and ROPED Index ratings, I have additionally developed some metrics for measuring the efficiency of each team’s rushing offense (RORO) and rushing defense (RORD) efficiencies. The RORO and RORD Indexes are based on a similar approach to the passing indexes, taking into account a number of factors affecting rushing performance. Each of these factors is graded to give an overall efficiency percentage that can be measured against the rest of the league.

RORO Index — 2017 Season to Date

The Chiefs have been overtaken at the top of the rushing index by the Jaguars who put the hurt on the Steelers in week 5 with over 230 rushing yards at over 6 yards per carry. Leonard Fournette broke off a 90 yard run for the longest rushing touchdown of the season so far and the Jaguars played their perfect game in terms of the run/pass balance they ideally want (37 rushes/14 passes). The Jaguars are by far the most run heavy team in the league and one of only two teams (the Bills are the other) with greater than 50% of their plays as rush attempts.

There’s a new worst rushing offense in the league and it resides in the desert. The Cardinals have dropped one place into last after the Giants put up their best rushing performance of the season against the Chargers, who were a bottom 5 rush defense. Their 2.6 yards per carry is the lowest in the league and they have this week made the trade with New Orleans to acquire Adrian Peterson to help with that part of their offense. The one thing the Cardinals will be able to do is give Peterson the volume he wasn’t getting with the Saints. Whether he can still run the ball remains to be seen.

RORD Index — 2017 Season to Date

The Broncos remain on top after their bye week and in week 6 face a bottom three rushing offense in the Giants who have been decimated at wide receiver and will probably look to try and lean on the run in the absence of receiving talent. The Eagles have jumped up from 6th to second in rushing defense this week after holding the Cardinals and their 32nd rated rushing offense to just 31 rushing yards. The Eagles retain the highest tackle for loss percenatge and have increased it week on week to 20% so one in five rushing attempts is stuffed behind the line of scrimmage when facing the Eagles.

The Chargers now have the worst rushing defense in the league after giving up 150 yards on the ground to the Giants. Tied with the Raiders, the Chargers have faced the highest percentage of running plays in the league this year, and have allowed the most rushing yards (806).

I’ll be back next week with the updated week 6 rankings. You can find me on

Twitter @PaddiCooper or @ReadOptional.