Fantasy Football: Matchup Breakdown for Week 4
We expected volatility at running back in 2014, but there were supposed to be some safe fantasy options, those backs taken in the first round of drafts.
How is that working out?
With Adrian Peterson's suspension from the Vikings, Jamaal Charles's ankle injury with the Chiefs and LeSean McCoy's uninspired outings for the Eagles, not that well.
Additionally, the fantasy performance of Packers running back Eddie Lacy through Week 3 has been nothing short of disappointing.
A first-round fantasy pick, he is averaging 38 yards rushing per game and has a total of only 14 fantasy points, but he has also faced three of the toughest run defenses in the N.F.L. in the Seahawks, the Jets and the Lions.
Week 4 offers Lacy a much softer run defense in the Bears, who were the second best run defense to face in fantasy leagues last season and have just been average so far in 2014. If Green Bay cannot get its ground game going this week, it'll be time for Lacy owners to worry.
We will also be taking your lineup questions all season on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy.
Favorable Matchups Quarterback
Eli Manning (NYG) vs. Washington - Manning finally appeared competent in the Giants' new West Coast offense, going 21 of 28 for 234 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions against what was the second best defense the previous two weeks. His completion percentage increased from 66.7 percent in Week 2 to 75 percent Sunday, which is notable because Manning is 58.6 percent for his career. The Redskins' secondary showed in Week 3 that it is the same poor unit it was last season, with Nick Foles of the Eagles shredding them for 325 yards and 3 touchdowns. It is even thinner heading into Week 4 with the loss of cornerback DeAngelo Hall (ruptured Achilles' tendon) for the season.
Colin Kaepernick (SF) vs. Philadelphia - Kaepernick's 29 completions and 78.4 completion percentage against Arizona were career highs, and that was without one of his favorite targets, tight end Vernon Davis, who is likely to play this week. In Week 3, Kirk Cousins set a career high of 427 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Eagles, who qualify as the second best quarterback matchup so far this season.
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) vs. Tampa Bay - ProFootballFocus.com has graded the Buccaneers' pass defense as the worst in the league after a horrendous performance against Matt Ryan and the Falcons. We're still deciding if Thursday night's game was played in real life or on a PlayStation video game console with the final score of 56-14. Through three games, Tampa Bay has allowed 20.6 F.P.P.G. to quarterbacks.
Running BackAhmad Bradshaw (IND) vs. Tennessee - Bradshaw has averaged 14 standard fantasy points per game despite sharing carries with the underwhelming Trent Richardson. He remains a must start against a paper thin Titans run defense that has been shredded for 321 yards and 3 touchdowns over the last two games.
Wide Receiver
Andre Johnson (HOU) vs. Buffalo - Credit Johnson's down day against the Giants (4 of 11 targets, 24 yards) to an entire offense that struggled without Arian Foster and solid coverage from Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. He remains a must start against Buffalo's struggling secondary, which has allowed 32 receptions, 144 yards and 2 touchdowns to opposing WR1s.
Rueben Randle (NYG) vs. Washington - Victor Cruz did his first salsa dance in 357 days Sunday, but Randle is a Giants receiver who should be in fantasy lineups as well. As mentioned earlier, Hall is down, which leaves David Amerson as the man to fill his shoes at left cornerback, and either safety E.J. Biggers or the fourth-round rookie Bashaud Breeland to handle right cornerback. Amerson has struggled in two of the first three games this season, allowing five catches for 59 yards on six targets in Week 1 against Houston and six catches for 67 yards on eight targets against Philadelphia in Week 3.
Michael Crabtree (SF) vs. Philadelphia - Crabtree secured 10 of his 11 targets for 80 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals and has reached the end zone in consecutive games. Pierre Garcon put together an 11-catch, 138-yard, one-touchdown performance against Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher in Week 3. Williams and Fletcher rank in the top 15 for most yards and receptions allowed, and the Eagles are the third best fantasy matchup for wide receivers (28.6 F.P.P.G.).
Tight End Defense/Special TeamsSan Diego vs. Jacksonville, Carolina vs. Baltimore, Miami vs. Oakland, Detroit vs. Jets.
Unfavorable Matchups Quarterback
Alex Smith (KC) vs. New England - Smith is coming off a resilient 186-yard, 3-touchdown performance against a tough Miami defense, but cannot be considered anything more than a QB2 against the Patriots on Monday night. Quarterbacks are averaging just 186 yards per game against the Patriots and have yielded just three touchdowns (worst fantasy quarterback matchup, 9.9 F.P.P.G.).
Geno Smith (NYJ) vs. Detroit - His 316-yard, one-touchdown outing against the Bears Monday night looks fine on a box score, but Smith looked a lot like the rookie he was last season, tossing up a pair of game-killing interceptions. Detroit shut down Aaron Rodgers last week and has allowed just 13.4 F.P.P.G. to the position this season.
Cam Newton (CAR) vs. Baltimore - Newton endured three sacks and constant pressure against the Steelers behind his flimsy offensive line and was pulled late in the fourth quarter after aggravating his ankle injury. He rushed only twice for 7 yards and is now on a pace to rush 45 times for 195 yards this season. He'll be a low-end QB1 against a Ravens unit that has yielded 14.3 fantasy points to the position (sixth worst fantasy matchup).
Ryan Tannehill vs. Oakland - He failed to capitalize on a plus matchup last week against the Chiefs, going 21 of 43 for 203 yards and a touchdown, which prompted a meeting from staff about their quarterback situation. While Tannehill is likely to remain the starter for Miami's game against the Raiders in London, expect a scaled-back passing attack with Miller coming off 7 yards per carry against Buffalo.
Running BackAlfred Morris (WAS) vs. Giants - The Jets have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, but it is New York's other team with the top-ranked run defense in the N.F.L., according to PFF.com. The Giants are allowing just 3.8 yards per carry and may get a boost if linebacker Jon Beason returns.
Rashad Jennings (NYG) vs. Washington - Jennings heads into Thursday night's road game coming off a heavy workload (34 carries) and on short rest. The Redskins rank third in the league against the run and are the worst fantasy matchup for running backs (5.7 F.P.P.G.).
Chris Johnson (NYJ) vs. Detroit - Johnson may be the starter, but Chris Ivory has performed better, outscoring him in fantasy, 36-20, on two fewer carries entering Week 4. Both backs have a big hill to climb this week against the Lions, who have yielded just 2.8 yards per carry and just 39.6 yards per game to starting running backs this year.
Wide Receiver
Pierre Garcon (WAS) vs. Giants - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara are one of the better cornerback duos in the league. They have helped limit Michael Floyd and Andre Johnson to just five catches and 43 yards combined over the last two games. Garcon averaged 56 yards and no touchdowns against the Giants in two games last season.
Mike Wallace (MIA) vs. Oakland - The issues at quarterback can only hurt Wallace, who is still startable as a midrange WR2, but a big performance is not likely as the Raiders have held their own against WR1s. Eric Decker, Andre Johnson and Julian Edelman averaged six receptions for 74 yards and no touchdowns over the first three games.
Sammy Watkins (BUF) vs. Houston - His quarterback, E.J. Manuel, is struggling, and Watkins is likely to draw Houston's top corner, Johnathan Joseph, who ranks as PFF.com's sixth best cover man this year.
Cecil Shorts (JAC) vs. San Diego - Shorts could draw the Chargers' top cover man, Brandon Flowers, who shadowed him last season when he was a member of the Chiefs and held him to three catches for 40 yards on 11 targets. Flowers appears to be back to form after a down year, ranking fourth in coverage with 10 receptions, 95 total yards and no scores allowed through three games.
Eric Decker (NYJ) vs. Detroit - Assuming he plays through his hamstring injury, he will be up against Detroit's Darius Slay, who held Jordy Nelson to 59 yards last week and has allowed nine receptions on 21 targets (44 percent completion rate) this season.
Tight End
Travis Kelce (KC) vs. New England - As we proudly predicted this preseason, Kelce is emerging as a strong fantasy option. But this might be a week to be weary of him against the Patriots, who allow just 4.6 F.P.P.G. to opposing tight ends.
Defense/Special Teams Green Bay vs. Chicago, Jets vs. Detroit, New Orleans vs. Dallas, Giants vs. Washington.
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