NFL Week 7
10:09 - 2nd
NE50.57
CHI-310
SUN · 8:30 AM
PIT-3.54-2
NO44.52-4
SUN · 12:00 PM
CIN-1.53-2
BAL48.54-2
SUN · 12:00 PM
CLE-1.54-2
TEN37.51-5
SUN · 12:00 PM
IND41.52-4
MIN-6.55-0
SUN · 12:00 PM
MIA39.50-5
NYJ-4.52-4
SUN · 12:00 PM1 Pick
NYG42.53-2-1
HOU-10.52-4
SUN · 12:00 PM2 Picks
SF-36-0
ATL49.52-4
SUN · 12:00 PM
TB44.51-5
CAR-33-2
SUN · 3:05 PM
DEN-4.54-2
ARI43.52-4
SUN · 3:25 PM1 Pick
GB53.54-2
DET-33-2
SUN · 3:25 PM
LA-4.52-4
LV48.53-3
SUN · 7:20 PM
KC42.55-0
SEA-2.53-3
MON · 7:15 PM
DAL-4.52-4
PHI44.52-4
← Models / Rush Attempts Model — Backtest

Reading the Backtest

Accuracy vs actual carries

Each season from 2018 to 2025 was predicted by a model that only saw earlier seasons. Each week of the current season was predicted by a model that only saw earlier weeks. MAE is the average miss in carries, and RMSE punishes big misses more. Both are measured on RB and QB player-games (WR and TE carries are near zero and would flatter every model).

Factor ablation

To judge each factor family from the original design (game script, run rate over expected, situational tendencies, drive-sustain rates, RB workload, defensive fronts, trench grades), the model is refit without that family on 2022–2025. "Delta" is how much worse the held-out error gets without it. A bigger positive delta means the family matters more. Near zero means the other inputs already carry that information.

Over / under the closing line

For every player-game since 2023 with a posted rush-attempts prop, the closing line (45 minutes before kickoff, The Odds API historical snapshot) is compared with the official carries. Consensus is the most common line across books; Pinnacle is the sharpest book; Hard Rock exists from September 2026. Over% and Under% exclude pushes. Only players who recorded a box-score line are counted. A player listed with a line who then sat is a void at the book, not an under.

Model vs the close

The model never sees betting lines. The diagnostic compares its out-of-sample P(Over) with the de-vigged closing price on the same rows (Brier score, lower is better). If the market's Brier is lower, the closing line is the better forecast and the model is a projection tool, not a betting signal.

Accuracy vs actual carries

Held-out seasons 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, plus 2026 week by week. RB and QB player-games with at least one prior game. Live model: Team × share + trees. It beats every baseline on both MAE and RMSE: yes.

Model MAE
2.69
carries per player-game, n=18,961
Last-4 avg MAE
2.91
7.6% worse than the model
2026 MAE
2.52
week-by-week, bias -0.18
80% range coverage
80.5%
held-out, target 80%
ModelnMAERMSEMean predMean actual 2026 MAE2026 RMSE
Team × share + trees18,961 2.6943.853 5.965.99 2.5163.625
Team × share + trees (bias-corrected)18,961 2.6983.855 5.995.99 2.5173.624
Team carries × share18,961 2.6943.855 5.975.99 2.5183.622
One-stage trees (LightGBM)18,961 2.7073.872 5.965.99 2.5353.643
Average of all three18,961 2.7263.880 6.095.99 2.5303.638
One-stage Poisson regression18,961 2.8954.140 6.365.99 2.5933.732
Last-4-game average18,961 2.9154.254 6.015.99 2.9234.173
Team L4 carries × L4 share18,961 2.9184.262 6.005.99 2.9144.156
Season average18,961 2.9134.270 5.875.99 2.9204.236

Per season (MAE, RB + QB)

SeasonnModelLast-4Season avgVolume
20182,295 2.69 2.83 2.83 2.83
20192,280 2.55 2.73 2.71 2.73
20202,374 2.72 2.98 2.98 3.00
20212,452 2.80 3.11 3.11 3.11
20222,416 2.76 2.95 2.93 2.96
20232,405 2.68 2.94 2.95 2.93
20242,365 2.73 2.96 2.97 2.96
20252,374 2.61 2.82 2.80 2.82
2026752 2.52 2.92 2.92 2.91

Calibration (held-out RB + QB)

ProjectednMean predMean actual
0-12,256 0.360.42
1-35,106 2.082.16
3-65,021 4.234.17
6-92,116 7.367.41
9-121,611 10.4810.66
12-151,707 13.4513.59
15-181,153 16.2916.03
18+383 19.5619.35

Team stage: team carries per game

ModelnMAERMSE
Team model 4,4545.827.21
Last-4 average 4,4546.458.01
Season average 4,4546.317.85

Over / under the closing line

Every player-game since 2023 with a posted rush-attempts prop, closing line vs official carries. Over% and Under% exclude pushes. Players without a box-score line (did not play) are excluded.

Consensus close (all books) (4,345) Pinnacle close (1,005) Hard Rock close (704)
Over
47.1%
2,048 of 4,345
Under
52.9%
2,297 unders · 0 pushes
Avg line / actual
9.1 / 9.2
carries
Brier: model / market
0.257 / 0.248
the close is sharper · n=4,341

By season

SeasonnOver%Under%PushAvg lineAvg actual
20231,08149.4% 50.6%0 9.7510.01
20241,30547.3% 52.7%0 9.209.23
20251,49545.6% 54.4%0 8.628.55
202646446.3% 53.7%0 8.928.92

By position and line size

GroupnOver%Under%Avg lineAvg actual
QB1,499 47.7%52.3% 4.244.25
RB2,778 47.4%52.6% 11.9111.99
WR/TE68 25.0%75.0% 1.941.40
Line 0.5–3.51,040 48.7%51.3% 2.702.89
Line 4.5–7.51,078 44.7%55.3% 5.805.73
Line 8.5–11.5691 47.6%52.4% 9.9310.09
Line 12.5–15.5990 47.5%52.5% 14.0314.13
Line 16.5+546 47.8%52.2% 17.8617.65

Model vs the close (Consensus close (all books))

Out-of-sample model on the same player-games. The model's average miss is 3.20 carries vs 3.07 for the closing line itself. When the model is above the line, the over hit 53.6% of the time it leaned (both directions combined). By the gap between the model's and the market's over probability:

|Model − no-vig|nOvers / undersModel's side hitFlat-stake ROI at the close
0.00-0.03737 330 / 407 53.5% +0.1% ± 3.5
0.03-0.06705 256 / 449 48.9% -8.3% ± 3.5
0.06-0.10839 248 / 591 53.2% -0.4% ± 3.2
0.10-1.002,060 334 / 1726 55.0% +3.8% ± 2.1
Break-even at standard −110 juice is 52.4%. ROI uses the closing price of the side the model favors (± one standard error). For reference, betting every under at the close returned -1.2%. These are out-of-sample model numbers, but the closes cover only 2023 onward. Treat a bucket as real only if it holds season after season. It is not a guarantee.

Players vs their closing line

Consensus close, since 2023, at least 8 lines. Sorted by over rate.

All seasons 2026202520242023
PlayerPosTeamLinesO-U-POver%Avg lineAvg carriesAvg diff
Woody MarksRBHOU 2215-7-0 68.2% 11.812.6 +0.9
Jameis WinstonQBNYG 96-3-0 66.7% 2.63.0 +0.4
Tyler HuntleyQBBAL 96-3-0 66.7% 6.35.9 -0.4
Deshaun WatsonQBCLE 1711-6-0 64.7% 5.05.5 +0.6
Joshua DobbsQBSF 117-4-0 63.6% 5.05.7 +0.8
Cam SkatteboRBNYG 117-4-0 63.6% 14.115.4 +1.2
Jonathan TaylorRBIND 4527-18-0 60.0% 18.619.9 +1.3
Bucky IrvingRBTB 3018-12-0 60.0% 13.815.3 +1.5
Kyle MonangaiRBCHI 2012-8-0 60.0% 8.911.5 +2.6
AJ DillonRBCAR 159-6-0 60.0% 10.711.5 +0.8
Zach WilsonQBNYJ 106-4-0 60.0% 2.82.8 +0.0
Sean TuckerRBTB 106-4-0 60.0% 6.17.0 +0.9
Mac JonesQBSF 1710-7-0 58.8% 2.63.0 +0.4
Kimani VidalRBLAC 1710-7-0 58.8% 9.911.2 +1.3
D'Andre SwiftRBCHI 5834-24-0 58.6% 13.514.5 +1.0
Austin EkelerRBWAS 2917-12-0 58.6% 9.59.5 +0.1
Tyrone Tracy Jr.RBNYG 2615-11-0 57.7% 12.412.8 +0.4
Aaron JonesRBMIN 4727-20-0 57.4% 13.214.0 +0.8
Brock PurdyQBSF 4727-20-0 57.4% 3.53.9 +0.4
Justin HerbertQBLAC 5129-22-0 56.9% 3.94.6 +0.7
Tyler AllgeierRBARI 5129-22-0 56.9% 8.19.0 +0.9
Derrick HenryRBBAL 5732-25-0 56.1% 17.818.3 +0.5
Jahmyr GibbsRBDET 5732-25-0 56.1% 13.314.2 +0.9
Rachaad WhiteRBWAS 5631-25-0 55.4% 10.610.8 +0.1
Zach CharbonnetRBSEA 3821-17-0 55.3% 9.69.8 +0.2
CJ StroudQBHOU 4424-20-0 54.5% 3.03.2 +0.2
Derek CarrQBNO 116-5-0 54.5% 1.71.6 -0.0
D'Onta ForemanRBCLE 116-5-0 54.5% 10.810.8 +0.0
Jamaal WilliamsRBNO 116-5-0 54.5% 8.09.6 +1.7
Josh JacobsRBGB 4625-21-0 54.3% 17.117.4 +0.3
Blake CorumRBLA 2413-11-0 54.2% 8.48.2 -0.2
James CookRBBUF 6133-28-0 54.1% 15.016.2 +1.2
Chuba HubbardRBCAR 5027-23-0 54.0% 12.513.6 +1.2
Desmond RidderQBLV 137-6-0 53.8% 3.34.1 +0.7
Spencer RattlerQBNO 137-6-0 53.8% 4.03.7 -0.3
Kareem HuntRBKC 4122-19-0 53.7% 10.411.5 +1.1
Najee HarrisRBNYG 4122-19-0 53.7% 13.213.8 +0.5
Baker MayfieldQBTB 4725-22-0 53.2% 3.33.5 +0.2
Drake MayeQBNE 3820-18-0 52.6% 5.35.7 +0.4
Kirk CousinsQBLV 1910-9-0 52.6% 1.61.8 +0.3
Saquon BarkleyRBPHI 5428-26-0 51.9% 18.418.5 +0.2
Russell WilsonQBNYG 2714-13-0 51.9% 4.24.5 +0.3
Jayden DanielsQBWAS 2915-14-0 51.7% 8.48.8 +0.4
J.K. DobbinsRBDEN 3116-15-0 51.6% 14.014.4 +0.4
Sam DarnoldQBSEA 3719-18-0 51.4% 3.02.9 -0.0
Kenneth Walker IIIRBKC 5126-25-0 51.0% 14.915.0 +0.0
Patrick MahomesQBKC 5628-28-0 50.0% 4.34.5 +0.2
Tony PollardRBTEN 5628-28-0 50.0% 14.614.9 +0.3
Jared GoffQBDET 3216-16-0 50.0% 1.61.8 +0.2
TreVeyon HendersonRBNE 2613-13-0 50.0% 10.010.0 -0.0
Keaton MitchellRBLAC 147-7-0 50.0% 6.16.7 +0.6
Chris Rodriguez Jr.RBJAX 147-7-0 50.0% 8.08.4 +0.4
Dameon PierceRBPHI 126-6-0 50.0% 11.813.0 +1.2
Kendre MillerRBNO 105-5-0 50.0% 8.78.0 -0.7
J.J. McCarthyQBMIN 105-5-0 50.0% 4.03.7 -0.3
Josh AllenQBBUF 6130-31-0 49.2% 6.97.1 +0.2
Kyren WilliamsRBLA 5527-28-0 49.1% 16.417.2 +0.8
Travis Etienne Jr.RBNO 5326-27-0 49.1% 13.713.5 -0.2
Isiah PachecoRBKC 4120-21-0 48.8% 12.212.2 +0.0
Caleb WilliamsQBCHI 3919-20-0 48.7% 4.64.8 +0.2
Gus EdwardsRBLAC 2914-15-0 48.3% 10.610.3 -0.3
Raheem MostertRBLV 2512-13-0 48.0% 10.510.7 +0.2
Christian McCaffreyRBSF 4823-25-0 47.9% 16.916.6 -0.4
Brian Robinson Jr.RBATL 4622-24-0 47.8% 11.010.2 -0.7
Ashton JeantyRBLV 2311-12-0 47.8% 16.315.8 -0.5
Trevor LawrenceQBJAX 4220-22-0 47.6% 3.94.0 +0.1
Geno SmithQBNYJ 3818-20-0 47.4% 2.82.8 +0.1
Chase BrownRBCIN 3818-20-0 47.4% 13.814.0 +0.2
Jacoby BrissettQBARI 199-10-0 47.4% 3.03.1 +0.1
Quinshon JudkinsRBCLE 199-10-0 47.4% 16.715.9 -0.7
Javonte WilliamsRBDAL 5325-28-0 47.2% 13.412.8 -0.7
Daniel JonesQBIND 3416-18-0 47.1% 5.14.9 -0.2
Devin SingletaryRBNYG 3215-17-0 46.9% 10.810.9 +0.1
Alvin KamaraRBNO 4320-23-0 46.5% 13.613.3 -0.3
Bryce YoungQBCAR 4119-22-0 46.3% 2.92.9 +0.0
Rico DowdleRBPIT 3918-21-0 46.2% 11.912.3 +0.4
Tyler ShoughQBNO 136-7-0 46.2% 4.24.2 -0.0
Rhamondre StevensonRBNE 5023-27-0 46.0% 12.112.3 +0.2
Bijan RobinsonRBATL 5726-31-0 45.6% 16.016.1 +0.0
Ty ChandlerRBMIN 115-6-0 45.5% 10.09.9 -0.1
Joe MixonRBHOU 3114-17-0 45.2% 16.317.0 +0.7
Jacory Croskey-MerrittRBWAS 209-11-0 45.0% 10.911.0 +0.1
Justin FieldsQBNYJ 2712-15-0 44.4% 8.99.1 +0.1
Zamir WhiteRBLV 94-5-0 44.4% 12.612.4 -0.2
Jaylen WarrenRBPIT 5223-29-0 44.2% 10.610.3 -0.2
James ConnerRBARI 3214-18-0 43.8% 15.114.9 -0.2
Samaje PerineRBCIN 167-9-0 43.8% 5.35.9 +0.7
Omarion HamptonRBLAC 167-9-0 43.8% 13.512.8 -0.7
David MontgomeryRBHOU 5323-30-0 43.4% 12.712.3 -0.4
Jordan LoveQBGB 4921-28-0 42.9% 2.82.6 -0.2
Bo NixQBDEN 4218-24-0 42.9% 5.05.1 +0.1
Joe BurrowQBCIN 3515-20-0 42.9% 2.82.6 -0.2
Tank BigsbyRBPHI 219-12-0 42.9% 7.48.2 +0.8
Will LevisQBTEN 146-8-0 42.9% 3.63.3 -0.3
Jaxson DartQBNYG 146-8-0 42.9% 6.66.8 +0.1
Kyler MurrayQBMIN 3314-19-0 42.4% 5.45.0 -0.4
Lamar JacksonQBBAL 5222-30-0 42.3% 8.27.7 -0.5
Dak PrescottQBDAL 4519-26-0 42.2% 3.02.8 -0.2
Deebo Samuel Sr.WRSF 125-7-0 41.7% 2.32.0 -0.2
Khalil HerbertRBCHI 125-7-0 41.7% 10.010.2 +0.2
Ezekiel ElliottRBDAL 177-10-0 41.2% 9.99.2 -0.7
Justice HillRBBAL 229-13-0 40.9% 3.93.8 -0.1
Matthew StaffordQBLA 2510-15-0 40.0% 1.51.4 -0.1
Jaleel McLaughlinRBDEN 208-12-0 40.0% 6.06.6 +0.6
Cam WardQBTEN 208-12-0 40.0% 2.82.3 -0.5
Bhayshul TutenRBJAX 208-12-0 40.0% 8.28.2 -0.1
Marcus MariotaQBWAS 104-6-0 40.0% 5.85.2 -0.6
Cam AkersRBMIN 104-6-0 40.0% 9.88.9 -0.9
Tua TagovailoaQBMIA 2811-17-0 39.3% 2.01.7 -0.3
Jalen HurtsQBPHI 5722-35-0 38.6% 8.88.1 -0.6
Breece HallRBNYJ 5019-31-0 38.0% 14.313.7 -0.6
Alexander MattisonRBLV 249-15-0 37.5% 11.711.4 -0.2
Malik WillisQBMIA 83-5-0 37.5% 6.56.0 -0.5
Devon AchaneRBMIA 4316-27-0 37.2% 13.312.7 -0.6
Emanuel WilsonRBSEA 197-12-0 36.8% 7.78.3 +0.6
RJ HarveyRBDEN 228-14-0 36.4% 9.08.0 -1.0
Antonio GibsonRBNE 114-7-0 36.4% 7.76.5 -1.2
Ray DavisRBBUF 114-7-0 36.4% 5.24.4 -0.9
Nick ChubbRBHOU 259-16-0 36.0% 11.39.8 -1.4
Jordan MasonRBMIN 259-16-0 36.0% 13.612.3 -1.3
Anthony RichardsonQBIND 145-9-0 35.7% 8.17.2 -0.9
Tyjae SpearsRBTEN 3612-24-0 33.3% 6.25.8 -0.5
Miles SandersRBDAL 217-14-0 33.3% 8.17.2 -0.9
Zack MossRBCIN 155-10-0 33.3% 13.012.9 -0.1
Braelon AllenRBNYJ 196-13-0 31.6% 8.37.6 -0.7
Kenny GainwellRBTB 3210-22-0 31.3% 5.95.1 -0.8
Aaron RodgersQBPIT 206-14-0 30.0% 1.51.5 +0.0
Michael Penix Jr.QBATL 103-7-0 30.0% 2.42.5 +0.1
Ollie Gordon IIRBMIA 103-7-0 30.0% 6.25.0 -1.2
Sam HowellQBWAS 144-10-0 28.6% 3.42.8 -0.6
Jerome FordRBCLE 308-22-0 26.7% 11.09.7 -1.3
Gardner Minshew IIQBKC 154-11-0 26.7% 2.41.9 -0.6
Roschon JohnsonRBCHI 154-11-0 26.7% 6.05.1 -1.0
Michael CarterRBARI 82-6-0 25.0% 9.18.4 -0.8
Isaiah DavisRBNYJ 82-6-0 25.0% 4.02.5 -1.5
Kenny PickettQBLV 92-7-0 22.2% 3.22.3 -0.8
Taysom HillTENO 122-10-0 16.7% 4.94.0 -0.9