We provide you with impartial matchup analysis to navigate each week and make informed, data-driven decisions with the latest information at hand. We rely on our game and player matchup analysis dashboards that provide a concise overview of a team’s strengths and weaknesses at every level of the game and produce advantage insights by identifying key mismatches in the trenches, at the skill positions and in the secondary that will have a significant impact on game results across the league each week.
Mismatches that Will Impact Game Results
NO (-2.5) vs PHI; O/U 49.5
Game Matchup Dashboard: NO vs PHI; Dashboards available with 2023 YE stats as well.
- New Orleans has had a perennially excellent defense over the trailing 2-3 years, but their offense has been stagnant as they transitioned into the Derek Carr era in 2023. Their offense has been excellent through two weeks, posting 432 total yards (7.7 YPP) on Dallas, including 190 yards (4.9 YPC) in Week 2. They will now face a Philly run defense that ranks 25th in rushing YPG that was carved up by both GB and Atlanta and has question marks at DT. NO has allowed just 1 sack and ranks 4th in runs of 10+ yards, which bodes well for Alvin Kamara in an offense that ranks 1st in EPA/play and 2nd in YPP against a Philly defense that ranks 29th in EPA/play and 31st in YPP allowed. Kamara ran for 115 yards and 3 TD’s on 20 carries against Dallas in Week 2, and now faces a Philly run defense that ranks 32nd in the league in YPC allowed at 6.6.
- Philly’s offense was significantly less dynamic in Week 2 without their top target in AJ Brown, and now faces a New Orleans defense that ranks 4th in YPP allowed and 3rd in rushing YPG allowed through 2 weeks without Brown once again. New Orleans’ pass rush has been excellent through 2 weeks, and Jalen Hurts has struggled over the last two seasons handling pressure and standing in the pocket. New Orleans forced 2 INT’s and held a more than capable Dallas offense last week to just 68 yards rushing (3.2 YPC) and held Dallas to 0-3 on RZ trips
MIN (+1.5) vs HOU; O/U 45.5
Game Matchup Dashboard: MIN vs HOU; Dashboards available with 2023 YE stats as well.
- Minnesota has an excellent coordinator in Brian Flores and a defense that ranks 3rd in EPA/play and 8th in YPP allowed through 2 weeks, but they will face a tough test against CJ Stroud and the Texans, who rank 8th in passing YPG and passes of 10+ yards in 2024 in Week 3 at home. Brock Purdy finished with 319 yards on 28-36 passing with 1 TD and 1 INT in Week 2, but was also sacked 6 times; Stroud will face a Vikings’ secondary that is young and lacks depth.
- This matchup will ultimately feature two defenses that rank in the league’s top 5 in EPA/play through the first two weeks of the season. Sam Darnold has been efficient at the helm in Minnesota’s offense, but he’ll face a tougher challenge against a Houston defense that is excellent stopping the run, sacked Caleb Williams 7 times on SNF and held the Bears to just 3.1 yards per play.
DAL (+1.5) vs BAL; O/U 47.5
Game Matchup Dashboard: DAL vs BAL; Dashboards available with 2023 YE stats as well.
- Dallas has struggled to establish the run game through two weeks, in part because they played from behind for a significant portion of the game against NO and against a high-powered Cleveland defense in Week 1. That said, Baltimore just held LV to 27 yards rushing (1.6 YPC) in Week 2 but allowed Gardner Minshew to finish with 276 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT on 30-38 passing (7.3 YPA). If the Ravens continue to remain stout against the run, Dak will need to take advantage of a Baltimore defense that ranks 32nd in the league in passing YPG allowed thus far in 2024.
LAR (+6.5) vs SF; O/U 43.5
Game Matchup Dashboard: SF vs LAR; Dashboards available with 2023 YE stats as well.
- San Fran lost outright on the road against Minnesota in Week 2, but still grades as an efficient offensive unit, ranking 8th in EPA/play, 9th in YPP, 2nd in passing YPG and 1st in passes of 10+. They will face a Rams’ defense that just allowed Arizona to post 489 yards of total offense and 231 yards on the ground behind James Conner, who finished with 122 yards (5.8 YPC) and 1 TD. SF should be able to move the ball with efficiency and ease in Week 3 against a Rams’ unit that ranks 32nd in both EPA/play and YPP allowed and 30th in rushing YPG allowed; though they are going to be without both Deebo Samuel and George Kittle.
Under of the Week
PIT VS LAC – UNDER 34.5 – FD
Game Matchup Dashboard: PIT vs LAC; Dashboards available with 2023 YE stats as well.
- The Chargers and Steelers will face off in a matchup that will feature defenses that rank 1st and 2nd in the league in EPA/play through two weeks; Pittsburgh’s offense once again lacks efficiency in 2024 with Fields now at the helm, ranking 29th in passing YPG and 30th in passes of 10+, facing a Chargers’ defense that held Bryce Young to just 84 yards and 1 INT on 18-26 passing in Week 2.
- QB Justin Herbert is dealing with a high ankle sprain that’s kept him out of practice all week; he is currently listed as questionable. If he can’t go, the Chargers will turn to Easton Stick. Whether or not Herbert is a significant question mark, but what Jim Harbaugh has shown is that the Chargers are committed to running the football. They’ll face a tough test against Pittsburgh’s front 7 that ranks 4th in the league in rushing YPG allowed that just held Denver in Week 2 to 64 yards rushing (3.4 YPC), 6 points in total and 0-3 on RZ trips.
- The Steelers will be without starting G Isaac Seumalo, while starting RT Troy Fautanu suffered an injury on Friday and is currently listed as questionable. Their offensive line is a question mark and will face a Chargers defense that has been stout thus far in 2024, ranking 3rd in YPP allowed, 6th in rushing YPG and 1st in RZ trips allowed.
- This game is likely going to be a defensive slugfest with two of the most effective defensive units in football matching up against offensive units that are not explosive in the passing game and heavily committed to running the football. Expect points to come at a premium and take the UNDER 34.5.
Player Props of the Week
Player Matchup Dashboard: Passing YPG
Joe Burrow O261.5 Passing Yards – FD
- Burrow bounced in a big way in Week 2 against a KC defense that has been excellent over the last two seasons, finishing with 258 yards passing and 2 TD’s against a secondary that finished 2023 ranking 4th in passing YPG allowed.
- Tee Higgins will return to the lineup on MNF, which is a significant development for a Cincy passing attack that is inexperienced behind Jamar Chase.
- The Bengals will line up against a Washington secondary that finished 2023 ranking 32nd in the league in passing YPG allowed, 31st in YPA and 28th in passes of 10+ yards. Washington faced Daniel Jones and the Giants in Week 2 and kept their offense in check, but Baker Mayfield and the Bucs had significant success through the air in Week 1, posting 289 yards through the air and 4 TD’s.
- With his top WR’s back together on the field, Burrow should have plenty of opportunities to move the ball through the air against a secondary that ranks 28th in YPA and 25th in passes of 10+ yards. Expect Burrow to find success in the passing game on MNF and take O261.5 passing yards.
Player Matchup Dashboard: Rushing YPG
- Alvin Kamara has explosive out of the backfield for the Saints through two weeks and now faces a Philly run defense that ranks 32nd in the league in YPC that allowed Atlanta to run for 152 yards on the ground on MNF and Green Bay to go for 163 yards in the season opener.
- Kamara was efficient against Carolina in Week 1 (15 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD) and even moreso in Week 2 against Dallas (20 carries, 115 yards, 3 TD’s). Philly has issues on the defensive line with the departure of both Hasson Reddick and Fletcher Cox in the offseason; DT Jordan Davis has struggled to fill the void left by their departures. The Eagles rank 29th in the league in runs of 10+ yards allowed and will now face a Saints’ rushing attack that ranks 3rd in rushing YPG in 2024 and 4th in runs of 10+ yards. Expect Kamara to have opportunities to pick up yards in bulk and take Kamara O67.5 rushing yards.
Head over to our Dashboard section of the site to comb through game matchup dashboards for every game on the board in Week 2 of the 2024 season, and browse our Player Matchup Analysis dashboards to optimize your DFS / FF lineups and target the player prop markets.
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