Matchups To Look At In Week 3
Welcome, #4EYEDfans!
You want the edge in your fantasy football matchups each week? Then you’ve come to the right place!
In these articles, we’ll highlight the players that are poised to exploit key matchups on offense that you should pickup off your waiver wire or acquire via trade!
I promise each week to give you my very best analysis based on empirical evidence supplied by the many research outlets available to us here at Fantasy In Frames such as:
- FantasyData.com
- PFF.com
- ProFootballReference.com
- PlayerProfiler.com
- NFL NextGenStats
Quarterbacks
Mitch Trubisky
Last week, Mitch Trubisky played awful against what we expected to be a solid looking matchup against the Giants. This week he gets Atlanta, so I’m going to have to give him a second chance. No team has allowed more fantasy points to quarterbacks than the Atlanta Falcons. Mitch is not Dak or Russell Wilson but this defense is bad enough to make Trubisky a possible Top 12 quarterback in week 3.
Sam Darnold
The Indianapolis Colts have allowed the least amount of passing yards to opposing quarterbacks than any other team in the league. The Colts take on the Jets this weekend and they may be the most banged-up team in the NFL. No other team has allowed less than 400 passing yards to opposing quarterbacks. Sam Darnold is a sit this week! On 67 attempts, he has only thrown for 394 yards on the year. He has two touchdowns and an interception. Granted he has played Buffalo and San Francisco, but it gets no easier this week!
Running Backs
Kenyan Drake
Kenyan Drake had a rough go at things last week. I actually mentioned him in last week’s article as a guy you start because of the investment you made, but the Washington front would put up a serious fight. Through two weeks Kenyan Drake has racked up 36 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown. Drake has caught all four of his targets on the season, but the fact that Drake is not being utilized in the passing game as we expected is a bit worrisome. Running mate Chase Edmonds has nine targets on the season. Cardinals get a weak Detroit defense that has already allowed 353 rushing yards on the year. This matchup is setting the table for Drake to be a Top 5 back in Week 3.
The Browns
Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb have their hands full this weekend against Washington. In weeks 1 and 2, Washington held Boston Scott and Kenyan Drake to 121 yards on 29 carries. Kenyan Drake made the article last week for his tough match up, and I have similar worries for Chubb and Hunt this week.
Antonio Gibson
Give me some Anotnio Gibson this week. Gibson finally started taking control of the backfield in Week 2 after Peyton Barber ran for 29 yards on 17 carries Week 1. In Week 2, Gibson turned 15 touches into 52 yards and a score. While the Browns have been solid against the run this year, the potential for 15 touches cannot be ignored. We may be seeing Antonio Gibson sooner, rather than later!
Week 2 Washington RB usage:
- Gibson: 65% snaps, 13 carries, 2 targets
- McKissic: 44% snaps, 8 carries, 0 targets
- Barber: 2% snaps, 1 carry, 0 targets
Wide Receivers
John Brown
My fade this week is John Brown. They play the Rams this week and that secondary is absolutely balling out. They are allowing the third fewest fantasy points on the season to opposing wide receivers. Darious Williams has allowed the eighth lowest passer rating on the season at 41.1 and the Rams have played Carson Wents and Dak Prescott.
Dallas Wide Receivers
Boy, oh boy, is this a fantastic matchup for the entire Dallas wide receiver group. Seattle has allowed a league high 731 receiving yards to wide receivers on the season. Amari Cooper is tied for second in the league with 23 targets. CeeDee Lamb has actually out targeted Michael Gallup 15-10 through two weeks. None of the three have found the end zone yet, but this has to be the week someone does.
Adam Humpries
Tennessee has a favorable matchup this week against a Vikings secondary that has allowed 405 receiving yards and a league worst five touchdowns to wide receivers. Adam Humphries leads the team with 11 receptions. He’s put up 95 yards and a touchdown through two weeks. Humphries is a flex option against this Vikings secondary.
Allen Robinson
Allen Robinson is averaging nine targets per game. He plays Atlanta this week who has allowed only one touchdown to wide receivers this year, but they have allowed five through the air. Atlanta has also allowed four wide receivers to go for over 90 yards in two games on the year. Start with confidence this week.
Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp should be ready to have a field day against the Bills on Sunday. Week 1, Jamison Crowder caught seven balls for 115 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. Mike Gesicki and Isaiah Ford combined for 15 catches, 207 yards, and a score last week while playing the Bills who have struggled against slot receivers on the season. They will have their hands full against maybe the best slot receiver in football on Sunday.
Tight End
Mo Allie-Cox
Mo Allie-Cox is a solid play this week after he just went for over 100 yards in Week 2. Jack Doyle is questionable heading into the Week 3 matchup against the Jets. Last week, Cox, Pittman, and Pascal were the only players to receive red-zone targets. Jets have allowed two touchdowns to tight ends on the year as well.
Drew Sample
Drew Sample takes on the Eagles this week who have allowed a league-high four touchdowns to opposing tight ends. Sample caught seven of nine targets last week for 45 yards against Cleveland after CJ Uzomuh left with a season-ending injury. Joe Burrow has shown tendencies to favor the slot and tight ends in his career. This could be a potential Top 10 week for Drew Sample.