Matchups To Look At In Week 9

November 5, 2020 Todd Barns

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 may or may not have the best matchups to exploit this week in order to help you know how to set your lineups with confidence!

Let’s examine some important matchups on offense in Week 9!

After eight long weeks, the Jets keep bringing Adam Gase back as the head coach. And after eight long weeks, Jorge keeps bringing me back to write this matchup article! Just like a Javon Wims sucker punch, I’m ready to knock this out so here’s what I got for y’all this week!

Quarterbacks

Drew Lock vs. Atlanta

Only the Seahawks give up more fantasy points to the position than the Falcons. The Falcons have given up the most passing yards (2,590) and touchdowns (20) to quarterbacks this season. Lock has back to back games with 40-plus pass attempts and over 240 passing yards. He has a habit of throwing interceptions but loves taking shots as his 9.5 air yards per attempt ranks second in the NFL. Drew Lock can be found on waivers almost everywhere and has the best matchup a quarterback could ask for!

 

Ryan Tannehill vs. Chicago

It took eight weeks for a quarterback to crack a Top 10 finish against Chicago. Drew Brees finished 10th among quarterbacks last week with 18.6 FP after throwing for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Tannehill has only thrown for more than 250 yards just twice this season and the Bear’s defense is Top 5 against quarterbacks this season, allowing just 15.6 FP/G. The Bears have also allowed just eight passing touchdowns on the season which is a league-low. This matchup screams Tanny to the bench!

 

Running Backs

Damien Harris vs. New York Jets

Over the last four weeks, Cam Newton is averaging just 14.5 pass attempts per game. Cam finally made it through a game without a pick last week after throwing three on just 15 pass attempts in Week 7. The Jets allow nearly 24 FP to running backs on the season and the Pats run the third-most run plays per game in the league. Damien Harris should be heavily involved once again after running for 160 yards and a touchdown on 26 attempts over the last two weeks. According to PlayerProfiler, Harris is seventh in yards per carry as well as yards per touch. This backfield is always a headache to figure out, but Sony Michel is still out this week which makes things a bit easier.

Jonathon Taylor vs. Baltimore

Jonathon Taylor goes up against a Baltimore defense that is allowing just 16.2 FP/G to the position. I swore this was supposed to be JT SZN, yet this dude has 100 total yards in just two games this year? Over the last three weeks, he hasn’t had more than a dozen carries or 60 rushing yards. With Baltimore tied for the league-low in total touchdowns to running backs (3), JT goes to the bench for me this week.

49er’s backs vs. Green Bay

Just like wide receivers against Seattle, running backs against Green Bay will continue to be a staple in this article!

Wide Receiver

Bill’s Wide Receivers vs. Seattle

Only the Seattle secondary is giving up more than 40 fantasy points a game to wide receivers. They give up a whopping 47.0 FP/G to opposing wide receivers and allow almost 270 receiving yards per game to the position. Seattle has allowed the fifth-most touchdowns to wide receivers (11) and are allowing over 20 receptions a game. This game offers enough points to go around for Diggs, Brown, and Beasley!

Tyler Lockett vs. Buffalo

Buffalo has struggled against the slot all year long. Tyler Lockett is Top 12 among wide receivers from the slot in snaps, targets, receptions, and yards. Lockett carries a 25.7% target share and has nine red-zone targets on the season. He averages 7.0 receptions per game and 82.1 receiving yards. Hard to admit, but I have Lockett over D.K. this week.

Kendrick Bourne vs. Green Bay

Green Bay is making its second appearance in the article, but this time because they are allowing just 137.6 receiving yards per game to wide receivers. Before last week, Bourne had not eclipsed 70 yards or four receptions. COVID-19 hit the Niners hard this week leaving Bourne to deal with the likes of Jaire Alexander for the majority of a game. Bourne may be the top option this week but avoid this matchup with the Green Bay secondary.

Tight End

Mark Andrews vs. Indianapolis

This is more of an anti-Lamar thing than anything else! Mark Andrews is still an elite tight end in this league, but it is hard to perform when your quarterback has not eclipsed 210 passing yards since Week 1. Andrews has more than three receptions in just two games this year and has become touchdown-dependent. It does not help that he faces a Colt’s defense that is allowing a league-low 5.0 FP to tight ends. The Colts are the only team in football yet to allow a touchdown to tight ends and are allowing a league-low 31.7 receiving yards to the position.

Dalton Shultz vs. Pittsburgh

Shultz is coming off a solid six catch, 53-yard game, but now faces a Steelers defense that has only allowed two tight ends to surpass the 30-yard threshold all year. The Steelers are allowing just 6.8 FP/G to the position and have only allowed one touchdown thus far. With so many injuries on the offensive side of the ball, Shultz is a no go in Week 9.

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About Todd Barns 23 Articles
Fantasy Baseball and Football Contributor/ Co-host of @Perfect1yFramed Podcast
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