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What is Carry Share? Rushing Workload Explained

Carry Share measures the percentage of a team’s rushing attempts handled by one player. It helps show who truly controls a backfield and how stable that player’s rushing opportunity may be.

Carry Share Definition

Measuring a player’s portion of team rushing volume.

Definition

Carry Share = player rushing attempts divided by total team rushing attempts.

A running back with 18 carries on a day when the team records 24 total rushing attempts has a 75% carry share.

Why Carry Share Matters for Props

Backfield control is often more useful than raw rushing yards alone.

01

Workload Stability

A high carry share shows that a player consistently receives most of the available rushing work.

02

Backfield Control

Carry share helps distinguish a true lead back from a player operating in a committee.

03

Projection Floor

Stable rushing volume can support a player’s baseline even when efficiency changes from week to week.

04

Game Script Sensitivity

Teams playing with a lead may increase rushing volume, creating additional carries for the primary back.

Carry Share Example

Why total team rushing attempts matter.

Example

Running Back A: 18 of 24 team carries

Running Back A owns a 75% carry share. Even if another back scores a touchdown, the larger workload suggests Running Back A has the more repeatable rushing opportunity.

What Can Change Carry Share?

Rushing workload can move quickly when team context changes.

01

Injuries

An injured or inactive teammate can immediately increase another player’s expected rushing workload.

02

Coaching Rotation

Some teams divide early-down, passing-down, and goal-line work between multiple running backs.

03

Quarterback Rushing

Mobile quarterbacks can reduce running back carry share by taking designed runs and scrambling opportunities.

04

Score and Pace

Trailing teams may abandon the run, while slower positive game scripts can produce more backfield volume.

How PlayMaker Uses Carry Share

Carry share helps establish a player’s rushing opportunity baseline.

01

Recent Workload

PlayMaker reviews recent rushing attempts and team carry distribution to identify current backfield roles.

02

Injury Adjustment

Player availability can shift projected carries and change the expected distribution of rushing work.

03

Matchup Context

Defensive rushing strength and expected game flow help determine whether the workload is likely to remain useful.

04

Prop Evaluation

Carry share is combined with efficiency, red-zone usage, receiving work, and the listed rushing line.

How Carry Share Connects in PlayMaker

See how rushing workload defines running back production and prop value.

Player Volume

Review individual players and their recent usage trends.

View Players →

RB Intelligence

Combine carry share with red-zone usage and receiving work.

View RB Intelligence →

Game Script

Learn how scoring margin and expected game flow affect rushing volume.

Learn About Game Script →

Red Zone Usage

Separate total rushing volume from scoring-area opportunity.

View Red Zone Usage →

Put rushing workload into context.

Compare player volume, matchup quality, injuries, and expected game flow before evaluating a rushing prop.

View Matchups