Zonovan Knight Player Props: Expert Pick for Jets vs Bills

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Zonovan Knight Longest Rush

Let me introduce you to Zonovan Knight.

The undrafted rookie out of NC State ranked fifth amongst all college backs in missed tackles per carry in 2020 and acted as the team’s punt-return specialist with a career average of 26.6 yards per return, which was second most in school history.

After Breece Hall’s injury, the Jets, in search of fresh legs and quick solutions, signed Knight to their practice squad ahead of their Week 12 game against the Bears.

His debut was a success as he rushed 14 times for 69 yards. The following week, he continued getting touches with both James Robinson (healthy scratch) and second-year back Michael Carter (ankle) inactive.

Over those two weeks, Knight averaged 7.8 yards per carry and ranked second among all NFL backs in missed tackles (15) and missed tackles rate (41%). Additionally, those missed tackles translated to a ninth-ranked breakaway % amongst running backs (minimum 25 carries) in the Pro Football Focus model.

In a press conference ahead of the Bills showdown, New York head coach Robert Salah praised Knight, saying he is “pure gas.” Salah added, “If you have a guy who can clock [speed] on the GPS, it’s going to show differently. He runs with a physical mindset. When he turns a corner and sticks his foot in the ground, it’s special”.

Carter returns in Week 14, but he was never a bell-cow back, even in college. And with Robinson a healthy scratch again, I expect at least 9-11 attempts from Knight out of the backfield.

Longest rush attempt props are great for backs that display speed, missed tackles and breakaway% upside. In a small sample size, Knight qualifies for all those and has hit his longest rush attempt prop (48, 19) in two straight weeks.

A running back has had a 14-plus yard carry in five of the last six games against Buffalo. I see that continuing today.