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 pick up 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
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Seahawks
If there ever was a week that Ryan Fitzpatrick could help you win your fantasy matchup, this is the week! Through three weeks the Seattle Seahawks have been absolutely scorched by the opposing quarterback. Seattle is allowing a whopping 430.7 passing yards per game this season.
Fitzmagic is coming off back to back solid fantasy performances after a three-interception game to begin the year. Last week, he led Miami to a win and found the end zone with his legs while rushing for 38 yards on seven carries. Don’t be shocked when Fitz finishes as a Top 10 QB play this week try to keep up with Russ and company.
Colts vs. Bears
This is a quarterback match up to completely avoid. Both teams are elite against quarterbacks this season. The Colts are allowing 8.69 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, while the Bears are allowing just 11.78 FPPG. Nick Foles has attempted just 29 passes on the season. This is not the defense to face when still getting back in the groove of things. Rivers on the other hand has three touchdowns and three interceptions through three weeks. Over the last two weeks, he’s failed to top 220 passing yards. These quarterbacks will need all the luck they can get Week 4.
Running Backs
Darrell Henderson vs. Giants
Darrell Henderson led the backfield with 20 carries in Week 3. The Giants have allowed 280 rushing yards on 75 attempts. Those 75 attempts rank 7th most in the NFL and one of the main reasons Henderson is intriguing this week. The Rams are the much better team and the game script should fully lean in favor of Henderson. He also has received three targets in each of the last two weeks and scores in both games. The second-year back has yet to stay on the field for more than 50% of the snaps this year, but that hasn’t stopped him from rushing for 201 yards on 35 attempts. Henderson out-touched Malcolm Brown 6-1 in the red zone last week. Good shot of Darrell Henderson finding the endzone for a third straight week.
Latavius Murray vs. Lions
Latavius Murray has a favorable matchup this week against the Lions who have allowed the third-most rushing yards to running backs on the season. Murray has been targeted in each game this season and received double-digit rushing attempts in two of three games on the year. Granted his highest snap share through three weeks is 35%, but this is a defense that has allowed 439 rushing yards on the year to running backs. Yes, this is the same Lions defense that let Aaron Jones run completely crazy for 168 yards in Week 2. Murray is for sure a deeper play this week, but 10 plus touches are not always easy to come by at this position.
Wide Receivers
Hunter Renfrow vs. Bills
Last week, I banged the drum for Cooped Kupp to destroy a Bills secondary who just can’t slow down opposing slot receivers. In Week 1, Jamison Crowder caught seven balls for 115 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. Mike Gesicki and Isaiah Ford followed that up to combine for 15 catches, 207 yards, and a score in Week 2. Kupp put on a show Week 3 for 107 yards and a score while hauling in nine balls. After injuries piled up for the Raiders last week, Renfrow tallied 84 yards and a score by catching six of nine targets. Bryan Edwards and Henry Ruggs Look to miss Week 4 which should result in Renfrow being peppered with targets.
Lazard and MVS vs. Falcons
The Falcons have allowed 736 receiving yards and three touchdowns to wide receivers on the season. Only Dallas and Seattle have allowed more fantasy points to wide receivers. Atlanta has now allowed five different wide receivers to rack up over 90 yards in three games. Davante Adams’ status for Sunday is still up in the air and if he does play he won’t be at 100%. Allen Lazard now has two touchdowns this year and piled on 146 yards on six catches last week. MVS on the other hand only caught one ball for five yards last week while playing a season-high 92% of snaps. That was a big disappointment for a player who tacked on seven receptions for over 150 yards and a score through the first two weeks. Let us not forget, MVS is 11th at the position with 310 air yards this season.
Darius Slayton vs. Jalen Ramsey
Slayton’s last two games have been pretty rough and it gets no easier heading into Week 4. Over the last two weeks, Slayton has registered six receptions for 86 yards without finding the end zone. Although the Rams only run man coverage about 20% of the time, Slayton looks to see a healthy dose of Jalen Ramsey. Last week, Ramsey matched up with Stefon Diggs five times while in man coverage and held him to one catch for four yards and a score. That was the only score he has allowed this season. When Ramsey has been targeted this year, he has allowed 11 receptions for 97 yards on 19 opportunities. Stay away from Slay Week 4.
Tight Ends
T.J. Hockenson
T.J. Hockenson should have himself a week. The Saints have given up more receptions and receiving yards to the tight end than any other team in the league. Not only have the Saints given up a league-worst 17 fantasy points to the position, but they have allowed four touchdowns to tight ends on the season. Week 3 saw Hockenson with season-high marks with seven targets, 54 snaps, and 35 routes. He has yet to find the end zone on the year, but the matchup screams this could be his week.
Jimmy Graham
Once Nick Foles entered the game on Sunday for the Bears, the seven targets Jimmy Graham saw thrown his way led the team. Unfortunately, Graham has his hands full against a Colts defense who has been stout against opposing tight ends. The Colts have yet to allow a tight end to find their way into the endzone in 2020. Through three weeks, they’ve only allowed six receptions for 32 yards! Good Luck, Jimmy Grandpa!
