NFL Photos | NFL Photography Gallery | NFL.com
Next Gen Stats
Next Gen Stats: Compelling figures that could shape Week 9
In Week 9's Next Gen Stats Photo Essay, NFL Research's Zach Feldman dissects the numbers behind the most intriguing storylines near the midway point of the season.
NOTE: All stats and rankings were current heading into Week 9.

DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett have both been putting on a show this season. In total receiving EPA (expected points added), Lockett ranks third at 41.6, while Metcalf ranks fifth at 34.8 -- and that's despite the fact that the Seahawks already had their buy, so they've played one less game than many teams. Seattle is the only team in the NFL with two receivers in the top five of total receiving EPA. The way in which Metcalf and Lockett have enjoyed success this season is also very impressive. They are tied with each other for the most different route types with a receiving TD (six). Metcalf (five scores) and Lockett (four) also rank 1-2 when it comes to touchdowns on in-breaking routes (in, slant, cross, post). On top of being diverse in their route tree, Metcalf and Lockett are first and second in receiving yards by a player on one specific route. No one this season has as many receiving yards on one pattern as Metcalf's 266 on go routes, which is the only instance of more yards on one pattern than Lockett's 229 on crossing routes. Just a sensational WR duo in 2020.

The Steelers' pass rush has been bringing the heat for the entire season. Pittsburgh ranks second in the NFL in blitz rate (42.5%) and leads the league in QB pressure rate (42.1%) and sack rate (11.6%). But the Steelers' high pressure and sack rates are not solely due to their high blitz rate. When rushing four or fewer pass rushers, Pittsburgh also leads the NFL in QB pressure rate (34.9%) and sack rate (10.1%). The Steelers' dominant pass rush is led by four defenders who rank in the top 20 in QB pressure rate (min. 150 pass rushes): T.J. Watt (19.1, 1st), Stephon Tuitt (14.1, 7th), Bud Dupree (13.9, 9th), Cameron Heyward (10.6, 20th). Not only is Watt leading in QB pressure rate, but he's doing so in eye-catching fashion: Watt's 0.65-second average get-off from the edge this season is the fastest by any defender since 2018 (min. 150 pass rushes off the edge) and is the only average get-off under 0.70 seconds.

After a down 2019 season in which Alvin Kamara dealt with knee and ankle injuries, we have seen a revival from the star RB. Kamara has run for +0.55 average rushing yards over expected this season, up from a mediocre +0.04 in 2019. He's also seen his stuff percentage -- percent of runs that go for 0 or fewer yards -- fall from 16.2 to 14.1. Meanwhile, his 10-plus yard run percentage has risen from 10.8 to 14.1. But it doesn't stop there. With Michael Thomas missing all but Week 1 due to injury and a team suspension, Kamara has been the Saints' top receiving option. His 36.3 percent target rate is the highest in the NFL for any player with 100 routes run. He's also been doing work after the catch this season. His +2.8 average yards after the catch over expected is the highest in the NFL for any player with at least 20 receptions, and is way up from his +0.6 mark last season.

Myles Garrett has been on another level in 2020, reminding us why he was selected first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. With seven turnovers caused by pressure, Garrett has already tied the single-season high since Next Gen Stats started tracking this figure in 2016. Garrett is also tied for third in QB pressures (34), ranks first in hurries (27) and is tied for first in sacks (nine). Of all players with at least 10 pressures this season, Garrett's average time to hurry (2.91 seconds) is seventh-fastest. Among players with 150 pass rushes off the edge, Garrett's average get-off (0.72 seconds) is third-fastest. Garrett has helped lead the Browns defense to the fourth-most QB pressures (94) and seventh-most sacks (20) so far this season.