Best and Worst QB, RB and WR Matchups: Week 4

Saturday Injury Updates and Impacts to Skill Position Matchups in Week 4:

• Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens injury report is once again the most extensive in the league – they’ll be without WR’s Odell Beckham Jr and Rashod Bateman, OLB’s Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo and CB Marlon Humphrey. OT Ronnie Stanley is listed as doubtful, while RB Justice Hill, C Tyler Linderbaum and Safeties Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton both listed as questionable.
• Houston Texans: The Texans will be without both starting tackles in Week 4 against Pittsburgh’s top ranked pass rush. They are starting a player off their practice squad at LT, which does not bode well for CJ Stroud who will likely be under pressure all day.
• Buffalo Bills: S Jordan Poyer is out against Miami, which leaves a big void in the back end of Buffalo’s secondary against a high-powered Miami passing attack.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs’ will be without CB Jamel Dean, while their other starting CB Carlton Davis is questionable. Vita Vea and LB Devin White are both questionable as well. If Carr can play, Olave and Michael Thomas should be in line for some strong production.
• Chicago Bears: The Bears are down CB Jaylon Johnson and Josh Blackwell and S Eddie Jackson – this secondary is in-line to get torched by the Broncos’ passing attack.
• LA Chargers: The Chargers are extremely banged up across the board – C Corey Linsley is out, whiel RB Austin Ekeler and S Derwin James are listed as doubtful and Joey Bosa listed as questionable.
• Dallas Cowboys: Dallas could be without three starters on the offensive line – OT Tyron Smith has already been ruled out, while G Zack Marin and C Tyler Viadasz are listed as questionable.
• SF 49ers: RB Elijah Mitchell and WR Deebo Samuel are listed as questionable – Mitchell DNP on Friday, while Deebo was limited. If either or both are out, McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk are in-line for increased production against a suspect Arizona defense.

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Best and Worst QB Matchups

Best QB Matchups

• Russell Wilson (O241.5 passing yards, DKNG): Russ enters this game ranked 8th in the league in passing YPG and 9th in YPA, with an excellent matchup against a Bears’ secondary that ranks 28th in passing YPG allowed and 31st in YPA and a defensive line that ranks 32nd in sacks with just 3 in total. The Bears lost their defensive coordinator to a resignation heading into Week 3 and are extremely banged up in the secondary – CB Jaylon Johnson (hamstring), S Eddie Jackson (foot) and CB Josh Blackwell DNP on Thursday. CB Kyler Gordon (hand) is already on IR – Jaquan Brisker and Tyrique Stevenson are only healthy DB’s on the roster. Pat Mahomes threw for 272 yards before exiting the game early in the 3rd quarter, while Baker Mayfield exceeded the 300+ yard mark in Week 2, throwing for 317 yards and 1 TD on 26-34 passing.
• Matthew Stafford (O252.5 passing yards): Stafford ranks 4th in passing YPG, 10th in YPA and 2nd in passes of 10+ yards through 3 weeks with an excellent matchup against a Colts’ secondary that held Lamar to just 202 yards through the air in rainy conditions in Week 3 yet still ranks 26th in passing YPG allowed and 23rd in YPA on the season. CJ Stroud passed for 384 yards against this secondary in Week 2, while Stafford is averaging over 303 yards per game through the air and has thrown for at least 269 in every game in 2023.
• Joe Burrow (O/U 265.5 passing yards): Burrow has not had great timing or accuracy through the first three weeks after missing basically all of training camp, but will be facing a Titans’ secondary that is among the worst in the league, ranking 30th in passing YPG allowed, 29th in YPA and 25th in passes of 10+ yards. Tennessee defends the run very well, so expect the Bengals to rely on Burrow, Chase and Higgins through the air in this matchup – Chase DNP when these two teams faced off in December. Burrow threw for 270 yards and connected with Tee Higgins 7 times for 114 yards.

Worst QB Matchups

• Mac Jones: Jones will be facing a Dallas defense that excels in rushing the QB (2nd in sacks, 7th in QB hits) and ranks 2nd in passing YPG allowed, 5th in YPA and 1st in passes of 10+ yards allowed.New England’s best bet to sustain offense will be to turn to the run game against a Dallas defense that ranks 25th in rushing YPG and 30th in YPC through three weeks.
• CJ Stroud: Stroud has looked really good through three weeks, but is playing behind an extremely banged up offensive line that ranks 28th in sacks allowed and 26th in QB hits that’s going to be without T’s Josh Jones and Laremy Tunsil against a Steelers’ pass rush that leads the league in sacks and QB hits. Houston is starting Austin Deculus off the practice squad at LT. Houston cannot run the ball, so Stroud may put up yards simply due to volume of dropbacks.
• Baker Mayfield (O/U 218.5 passing yards, FD): Mayfield has been steady in TB’s offense through three weeks but had the benefit of facing a bad Vikings’ secondary in Week 1 and an awful unit all around in Chicago in Week 2. He came back down to earth in Week 3 against Philly, posting just 145 yards through the air on 15-25 passing. He’ll be facing a Saints defense that ranks 8th in passing YPG allowed and 4th in YPA that forced Tannehill to throw 3 INT’s in Week 1, stifled Bryce Young in Week 2 and had Jordan Love’s number in the first half before falling apart in the second half after Carr went down.
• Lamar Jackson (O/U 192.5 passing yards, FD): Jackson will be without WR’s Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr. this week against a Browns’ defense that leads the league in passing YPG, YPA and passes of 10+ yards. The Ravens will likely have issues sustaining offense of any sort against a Browns’ defense that has allowed just 1 TD this season and 6 total points at home.

Best and Worst RB Matchups

Best RB Matchups

• De’Andre Swift (O64.5 rushing yards, FD): Swift ran for 175 yards and 1 TD on 28 carries (6.2 YPC) against Minny and 130 yards on 16 carries (8.1 YPC) against TB. Philly ranks 2nd in the league in rushing YPG and 5th in YPC heading into a matchup on Sunday against a Commanders’ defense that ranks 26th in YPC and 25th in runs of 10+ yards. The Eagles rank 2nd in run play percentage, and their offense is predicated on establishing the run to establish play action.
• Kenneth Walker III (O64.5 rushing yards, FD): Walker has 4 rushing TD’s through three weeks and will be facing a Giants’ defense that ranks 28th in rushing yards allowed and 27th in runs of 10+ yards and have allowed 6 rushing TD’s – 29th in the league. Walker ranks 5th in the league in RZ carries and 9th in carry share, getting nearly 62% of Seattle touches on the ground.
• Christian McCaffrey (O/U 78.5 rushing yards, FD): McCaffrey leads the league in rushing yards and is averaging nearly 118 per game on the ground – he has an excellent matchup in Week 4 against a defense that ranks 26th in rushing YPG allowed. Deebo and Elijah Mitchell are both listed as questionable heading into this matchup. Mitchell specifically did not practice on Friday, which is typically not a good sign for your status on Sunday. If that’s the case, McCaffrey is going to handle the significant share of touches in the ground game against a Cardinals defense that’s been taken advantage of on the ground through three weeks.

Worst RB Matchups

• James Conner (O/U 55.5 rushing yards, DKNG): Conner has been great for Arizona this year, averaging 89 yards per game on the ground and leading the Cardinals rushing attack to 5.6 YPC, good for 2nd in the league. Arizona is matching up with the 49ers 2nd ranked rushing defense that’s allowing just 53 yards on the ground per game, ranks 8th in YPC and 1st in runs of 10+ yards. The Giants rushed for just 24 yards on the ground in Week 3, while the Steelers managed just 41 yards on the ground in Week 1.
• Brian Robinson (O/U 51.5 rushing yards, DKNG): Robinson will be facing the league’s top run defense on Sunday in Philly that’s allowing opponents to run for 48 yards on average, ranks 3rd in YPC allowed and 1st in runs of 10+ yards allowed. Tampa managed just 41 yards on the ground on MNF, while Minny managed 28 yards in total in Week 2. DT Jordan Davis is destroying people in the middle of this defensive line alongside Jalen Carter.
• Joe Mixon (O/U 52.5 rushing yards, FD): Cincy’s offense has been sleepwalking through the month of September, but they have an opportunity to right the ship in the passing game in Week 4 against a Titans’ secondary that is among the worst in the league defending the pass. The Titans’ offense is also a wreck – their only redeeming quality this season is their run defense, which ranks 4th in rushing YPG allowed, 1st in YPC allowed and 3rd in runs of 10+ yards. No individual back has run for more than 45 yards on TEN through 3 weeks – Jamaal Williams managed to go for 45 yards in Week 1 on 18 carries (2.5 YPC).

Best and Worst WR Matchups

Best WR Matchups

• Keenan Allen (O/U 86.5 receiving yards, DKNG): The cat is out of the bag regarding Allen’s prominent role in this offense, as his receiving yardage has run up to the 86/87 range from the high 60’s in Week 1, but the loss of Mike Williams should lead to even more targets for Keenan Allen, who ranks 2nd in the league in targets, 3rd in receiving YPG through 3 weeks with 134 as it is. Allen caught 18 balls for 215 yards on a ridiculous 20 targets in Week 3. The Raiders added Marcus Peters on the offseason, but he starts alongside a rookie in Jakorian Bennett. Expect Kellen Moore to move Keenan Allen around and target him through the air early and often, as the Chargers are likely without RB Austin Ekeler in Week 4 – they ran the ball just 13 times for 19 yards in Week 3 in his absence.
• Jamar Chase (O/U 84.5 receiving yards, DKNG): Chase caught 12 balls for 141 yards on 15 targets in Week 3 against LA with a juicy matchup against the Titan’s secondary on the docket Sunday. Cincy has looked disjointed on offense, ranking 32nd in YPP, 30th in early down success rate and 27th in passing YPG, but Burrow and Chase improved their timing in Week 3 against the Rams. Burrow threw for 270 yards on 22-37 passing against Tennessee in December 2022, while Tee Higgins caught 7 balls for 114 yards; Jamar Chase DNP in that matchup. Deshaun Watson threw for 289 yards in Week 3 vs TEN – he has averaged 215 passing YPG in his last 5 games dating back to 2022.
• Davante Adams / Jakobi Meyers: Adams and Meyers account for 60% of LV’s production through the air and 63% of targets. They’re facing a Chargers secondary this week that ranks 32nd in passing YPG allowed, 30th in YPA and 28th in passes of 10+ yards. Jimmy G returned to practice has not cleared concussion protocol as of Saturday but practiced on Friday – if he can’t go, it sounds like Josh McDaniels is leaning toward starting Aidan O’Connell, who was effective in the preseason through the air.
• Puka Nacua (O/U 71.5 receiving yards, DKNG): Nacua came back down to earth in Week 3 against Cincy, but has a great opportunity turn it back on in Week 4 against a young, unproven Colts’ secondary that Stafford should be able to expose. Indy held Lamar to just 202 yards through the air in rainy conditions in Week 3 yet still ranks 26th in passing YPG allowed and 23rd in YPA with an upcoming matchup in their dome against Stafford, who ranks 4th in passing YPG, 10th in YPA and 2nd in passes of 10+ yards. Calvin Ridley caught 8 balls for 101 yards and a TD in Week 1, while Nico Collins caught 7 balls for 146 yards in Week 2 where CJ Stroud threw for a total of 384 yards on 30-47 passing.

Worst WR Matchups

• Mike Evans (O/U 60.5 receiving yards, DKNG): Evans and the Bucs are facing a Saints’ defense that ranks 8th in passing YPG allowed and 4th in YPA. They’ve benefitted from a soft schedule of passing defenses early with matchups against the Vikings and Bears in Weeks 1 and 2, but this should be a different story in New Orleans on Sunday. Mike Evans does not have a strong relationship with Saints CB Marshon Lattimore. They fight every time they see each other. Evans’ last three games against the Bucs (s/o Statmuse):

• Ceedee Lamb (O/U 66.5 receiving yards, DKNG): Lamb should be in for a tough day against a Patriots’ secondary that ranks 6th in passing YPG allowed, 8th in YPA and 3rd in passes of 10+ yards allowed through 3 weeks that should be getting CB Jonathan Jones back on Sunday. Dallas looks like they may be down 3 starters on the offensive line on Sunday, which would create issues against an NE defense that ranks 8th in our defensive efficiency metric, 10th in EPA/play and 4th in YPP allowed.

Head over to our Dashboard section of the site to comb through game matchup dashboards for every game on the board in Week 4, and browse our Player Matchup Analysis dashboards to optimize your DFS / FF lineups and target the player prop markets.

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