PFF Analysts

Timo Riske

Senior Data Scientist • View all analysts

Recent Articles

NFL
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nfl-week-2-trench-matchups-cleveland-browns-cincinnati-bengals-thursday-night-football

Highlighting the best and worst trench matchups ahead of Week 2. The Packers are set to win their matchup with the Detroit Lions pass rush, while the Browns' defensive line should keep Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow on his toes on Thursday Night Football.

NFL
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nfl-mvp-2020-russell-wilson-aaron-rodgers-patrick-mahomes-week-2

Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Josh Allen all creep up our 2020 MVP projections after strong performances in Week 1.

By Timo Riske Sep 16, 2020 7:45 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-week-1-trench-matchups-of-the-week-colts-offensive-line-and-steelers-defensive-line-set-to-dominate

Highlighting the best and worst trench matchups ahead of Week 1. The Colts are set to dominate their matchup with the Jacksonville pass rush, while the Steelers' defensive line should keep New York's Daniel Jones on his toes throughout.

By Timo Riske Sep 10, 2020 11:00 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-mvp-2020-patrick-mahomes-enters-week-1-as-the-favorite-to-take-home-mvp-honors

PFF's Timo Riske explains exactly what will go into his weekly column, which will keep tabs on the NFL's MVP candidates throughout the 2020 NFL season.

By Timo Riske Sep 9, 2020 8:30 am EDT Kansas City Chiefs
NFL
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nfl-pff-data-study-how-to-not-overreact-to-early-season-action

Investigating how predictive the performance of the first two weeks is compared to performance at later points in the season.

By Timo Riske Sep 8, 2020 7:45 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-how-the-indianapolis-colts-defense-can-get-back-to-its-best-in-2020

If the Indianapolis Colts are to be competitive in the AFC South this year, the team's defense needs to go back to the zone-heavy scheme that helped them find success two years ago.

By Timo Riske Sep 7, 2020 10:30 am EDT Indianapolis Colts
NFL
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nfl-qb-kyler-murray-aside-isaiah-simmons-is-the-most-important-player-on-the-2020-arizona-cardinals

No. 8 overall draft pick Isaiah Simmons — a positionless defensive weapon — is the key to a much-needed defensive turnaround in Arizona. It's a role that makes him the team's most important player behind Kyler Murray.

By Timo Riske Sep 2, 2020 9:30 am EDT Arizona Cardinals
nfl-ranking-all-32-backup-quarterbacks-going-into-the-2020-nfl-season

New Orleans' Jameis Winston and Chicago's Mitchell Trubisky headline PFF's backup quarterback rankings.

By Timo Riske Aug 27, 2020 9:30 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-how-important-is-rookie-performance-when-it-comes-to-predicting-career-performance

PFF's Timo Riske dives into the data to see just how important rookie seasons are when it comes to predicting future performance.

By Timo Riske Aug 26, 2020 7:15 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-investigating-strength-of-schedule-for-nfl-edge-rushers-further-analyzing-the-matchup-in-the-trenches

PFF's Timo Riske investigates the strength of schedule for the NFL's pass-rushers, not only detailing the players who faced the toughest competition last year but also examining the relationship between offensive tackles and pass-rushers.

By Timo Riske Aug 24, 2020 9:45 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-investigating-strength-of-schedule-for-nfl-offensive-tackles

PFF's Timo Riske looks back at the strength of schedule for the NFL's offensive tackles, not only detailing the tackles who faced the toughest competition last year but also identifying the league's best blockers when it came to facing above-average pass-rushers.

By Timo Riske Aug 14, 2020 8:30 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-splits-that-matter-receiving-performance-out-of-the-slot-and-from-out-wide

PFF's Timo Riske continues his Splits That Matter series by comparing the predictive power of performance from the slot compared to performance from out wide.

By Timo Riske Aug 12, 2020 8:15 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-splits-that-matter-do-red-zone-monsters-exist

PFF's Timo Riske kicks off a series of articles called Splits That Matter, where he will investigate different performance splits in the NFL. Here, he continues to investigate wide receivers and starts with red-zone performance.

By Timo Riske Jul 30, 2020 8:45 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-best-wide-receivers-by-route-type-rob-gronkowski-michael-thomas-george-kittle

PFF's Timo Riske dives into the route data to identify the NFL's best wide receivers by route type.

By Timo Riske Jul 17, 2020 8:15 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-pff-data-study-luck-not-skill-pass-rushers-career-year-2020

What's better for an NFL pass-rusher, being lucky or being good? PFF's Timo Riske dives into the data to explain why luck can have a massive impact on a player's career.

By Timo Riske Jul 8, 2020 10:15 am EDT
NFL
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nfl-pff-data-study-sack-artist-pass-rushers

PFF's Timo Riske takes a deep dive into the data and explains why the ability to turn pressures into sacks isn't a repeatable skill for NFL pass-rushers. He also uncovers an interesting finding when it comes to the quarterback position.

By Timo Riske Jul 2, 2020 10:00 am EDT
nfl-ranking-the-best-offensive-lines-on-longer-passing-plays-las-vegas-raiders-tennessee-titans

An offensive line that can hold up on long-developing pass plays can be the difference between a successful deep throw and a throwaway, sack, or even a turnover. Here are the league's best offensive lines on these plays heading into 2020.

By Timo Riske Jul 1, 2020 9:15 am EDT
NFL
Premium Content
nfl-cam-newton-new-england-patriots-afc-east-favorites-buffalo-bills

According to PFF's 2020 NFL season simulations, the signing of Cam Newton has taken the New England Patriots from second place to 2020 AFC East Champions.

By Timo Riske Jun 29, 2020 2:00 pm EDT
NFL
Premium Content
nfl-pff-data-study-how-hits-coverage-sacks-and-other-pressure-affect-nfl-offenses

Pressuring a quarterback matters, but how much of its benefit is tied to the huge negative impact of sacks, and how important are other varieties of pressure in impacting NFL offenses?

By Timo Riske and Sam Monson Jun 29, 2020 12:09 pm EDT
nfl-colin-kaepernick-return-nfl-afc-east-buffalo-bills-new-york-jets

Now that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has encouraged teams to sign Colin Kaepernick, it is time to make the on-field case for his return. Here, PFF looks at where Kaepernick fits in today's QB landscape and offers a few potential landing spots for the former starter.

By Timo Riske Jun 25, 2020 10:45 am EDT
Bio

Timo Riske is a mathematician and American football enthusiast. He joined PFF in 2019 as a Data Scientist from Germany and will tell you the odds.

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