DeWayne Carter Has Led NFL in Run-Stop Win Rate
The Buffalo Bills defensive tackle has anchored the front line with a 56% win rate early in the season.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Do you feel your local professional sports team is successfully improving their defensive play this season?
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle DeWayne Carter has emerged as a force, leading the NFL with a 56% run-stop win rate through the first three weeks of play. His performance has helped the Bills defense remain undefeated against 100-yard rushers.
Why it matters
The team made run defense a priority after last year's struggles, and Carter's emergence as an every-down contributor across the defensive front has directly addressed that weakness. His ability to force quarterbacks to step up in the pocket has also been instrumental to the team's pass-rushing success.
Carter maintains a 56% run-stop win rate and ranks 11th among defensive tackles with a 69.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. He has recorded 22 total run stops while contributing to a defensive unit that has tallied 10 sacks.
The players
DeWayne Carter
He is a defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills who has established himself as an elite run stopper.
Greg Rousseau
He is a defensive end for the Buffalo Bills who was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Month in September 2026.
The details
DeWayne Carter has reclaimed a key role on the Buffalo defense after missing the entire 2025 season with a torn Achilles. By lining up across different positions, he creates disruption that has helped teammates like Greg Rousseau, who recorded six sacks and earned September Defensive Player of the Month honors.
Timeline
DeWayne Carter missed the entire 2025 season due to a torn Achilles.
Greg Rousseau earned NFL Defensive Player of the Month for September 2026.
The team is entering Week 4 of the 2026 season in October.
Season Trajectory
The defensive improvement directly elevates the team's standing as they look to maintain their status as a top contender in the league. This shift stabilizes the interior front, providing the unit with the balance needed to sustain a deep playoff push.
Carter's emergence as an every-down run stopper provides significant value for fantasy managers tracking team defensive efficiency and forced turnovers. His role in forcing quarterbacks to shift in the pocket correlates directly with the high sack output recorded by the Bills front seven.
The takeaway
Carter's return to form highlights the importance of interior defensive line depth in modern NFL schemes. His ability to anchor the run game while enabling edge rushers demonstrates how specialized roles can turn a team's defensive weakness into a consistent strength.
Further reading
For more updates on the team's defensive progress, visit the Buffalo Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Syracuse.
Live Poll
Do you feel your local professional sports team is successfully improving their defensive play this season?
