Ranking the NFL’s highest-graded run blockers and defenders in Week 5
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- Teair Tart dominated against the Commanders: The NFL’s highest-graded interior defender forced a fumble and added two more stops on the ground.
- Andrew Thomas is back: The Giants tackle ended Week 5 with a 91.8 PFF run-blocking grade, his best since 2023.
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Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
At PFF, the run game matters just as much as the pass game, and every play is meticulously graded. Each week, we’ll be looking at the highest-graded run blockers and run defenders from each position.
OFFENSE
Tackle: Andrew Thomas, New York Giants – 91.8
Andrew Thomas is healthy again, and he’s back to dominating. Thomas’s 91.8 PFF run-blocking grade was the highest for any Giants offensive lineman this season and his highest since 2023. Thomas being healthy could be a huge boost for a young Giants offense. In 2022, his last season with at least 600 snaps, Thomas was the NFL’s third-highest-graded tackle.
Honorable Mention: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions – 89.8
Guard: Dylan Parham, Las Vegas Raiders – 92.1
Dylan Parham stepped up in a big way for the Las Vegas Raiders’ running game on Sunday. Patham’s 92.1 run-blocking grade was the highest of any offensive lineman in Week 5. Despite the blowout loss, both of the Raiders’ guards finished with 90.0-plus run-blocking grades, paving the way for rookie Ashton Jeanty. It took a while for the Raiders’ ground game to get going, but over the past few weeks, they’ve started to have some success.
Honorable Mention: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Las Vegas Raiders – 90.6
Center: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs – 82.1
This is back-to-back weeks that Creed Humphrey has been the highest-graded run-blocking center. After finishing last season with the second-highest run-blocking grade among all centers, Humphrey has worked himself back into the top three this season with his 79.8 run-blocking grade.
Honorable Mention: Lloyd Cushenberry III, Tennessee Titans – 77.5
DEFENSE
Linebacker: Marist Liufau, Dallas Cowboys – 91.0
Marist Liufau’s 91.0 PFF run-defense grade was not only the highest in Week 5, but it was also the best run-defense mark of his career. Liufau’s snaps might’ve been sparse, but he made them count. He had a huge forced fumble and added another run stop to help lead the Cowboys to victory.
Honorable Mention: Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs – 90.9
Edge Defender: Isaiah McGuire, Cleveland Browns – 91.1
Both Cleveland edge rushers found themselves at the top of the list for highest-graded run defenders in Week 5, but it was Isaiah McGuire who just slightly edged out his teammate, Alex Wright. McGuire finished the game with two run stops and a forced fumble. His 91.1 run-defense grade was the highest of his season and the third-highest of his career.
Honorable Mention: Alex Wright, Cleveland Browns – 89.1
Defensive Tackle: Teair Tart, Los Angeles Chargers – 94.9
Teair Tart finished Week 5 as the highest-graded run-defender among all positions. His 94.9 PFF run-defense grade was the highest any interior defensive lineman has generated this season. Tart finished the game with a forced fumble and added two more defensive stops. Tart continued his strong year, and his 91.4 run-defense grade in 2025 is the second-highest among all interior defensive lineman.
