East Carolina at Memphis Breakdown: Week 8, Oct. 22, 2026

The story

Memphis enters at 5-2 and had been rolling before a 31-17 loss at Tulane on Oct. 16. East Carolina sits at 3-3 after winning two straight at home and then losing at UAB on Oct. 15. For fantasy, the more interesting changes are on the East Carolina side, where the backfield and the quarterback's workload have both moved in the last three games.

The angle

Memphis is tougher on the pass than the run, so the ground game is East Carolina's softer path, and that points straight at its busiest back. Neither offense's scoring suggests a shootout or a slog, so usage and matchups decide most calls here. Both defenses rate above average against the pass, which tempers the receivers more than the runners.

Start 'em

TJ Engleman (East Carolina) has taken over a backfield that used to be shared. He has 16.7 carries a game over his last three games, up from 7 a game before that, and that has pushed him to 45 percent of East Carolina's carries in that span. He is averaging 24.6 points over his last three games against 14.3 for the season, with a high of 36.2. Memphis is about average against running backs and softer on the ground than through the air, which suits his workload. Start him, because his carries are climbing into a matchup that should not slow them.

Marcus Stokes gives Memphis a passing game and a running game at the same time. As the starting QB he is throwing for 263 yards a game over his last three games while adding 11 carries a game, up from 6.8 before that. He averages 21.5 points this season and 23 over his last three games, with a high of 38.8. East Carolina is an above-average defense against quarterbacks, in the top 30 percent of FBS, so a huge week is not a given. Call him a safe floor, since his legs keep him productive even when the passing lanes tighten.

Jaylin Carter heads a Memphis committee and his workload is growing. He has 19 carries a game over his last three games, up from 13.8 a game before that, and he holds 39 percent of the team's carries. He averages 20.9 points this season and 17.5 over his last three games, and his 45.1-point high shows the ceiling. East Carolina is about average against running backs, a matchup that does little to slow that volume. Start him, because that many carries in a neutral spot is a sturdy foundation.

Risky plays

Hunter Tipton (Memphis) has shown he can carry a lineup, averaging 13.8 points this season with a high of 37.9. The issue is his part in the passing game: his share fell to 11 percent of Memphis's catches over his last three games, down from 22 percent earlier in the season, and he has averaged 10.6 points in that span. East Carolina is an above-average defense against tight ends, in the top 25 percent of FBS, which leaves little room to make up for fewer chances. He is risky, because a shrinking role meets a defense that limits his position.

Sit 'em

Ashton Gray has played five of East Carolina's six games, and the backfield has moved away from him. His share fell to 18 percent of the team's carries over his last three games, down from 40 percent earlier in the season, while East Carolina running back Engleman's rose. At $10.8M he costs the most of anyone in this game for a reduced role. Fade him, since the carries he once had now belong to someone else.

Value

Emory Williams has played five of East Carolina's six games, and his role has grown. He is averaging 18.7 points over his last three games, with 7 carries a game in that span, up from 3.5 before. Memphis is above average against quarterbacks, but at $5.3M and projected for about 12, his rushing gives him a path past his price.

Stonka Burnside has become a real part of Memphis's passing game. Over his last three games he is catching 4.7 passes a game, up from 1.3 a game before that, and he has averaged 16.9 points in that span. East Carolina is above average against receivers, but at $5.4M that kind of rise in work is hard to find.

TL;DR

Start Engleman and Carter for their carries, lean on Stokes for a steady floor, and take Williams and Burnside as the value plays.