This article takes a look at players from each of the positions in your starting lineup who have interesting matchups. Not all players covered are your classic sleepers who might outperform expectations. Some are nominal starters with tricky matchups or players who might be starters in smaller leagues, but deep sleepers in larger leagues. Realizing that leagues and roster sizes vary wildly; your mileage could vary, too.
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady, NE vs. NYJ
Things change quickly in the fantasy football world. Two weeks ago, Tom Brady was on waivers in some leagues, but after dropping 653 yards, 6 TDs and no interceptions on the Bengals and Bills he’s back on the QB1 radar. The Jets were already one of the best matchups for opposing quarterbacks but now they’re without their top corner, Dee Milliner, for the year. Through six games the Jets have allowed 2 or more touchdowns to all six quarterbacks and 20+ fantasy points in their last five.
Kirk Cousins, WAS vs. Ten
Cousins is a riskier choice, even in deeper leagues, but his matchup against the Titans is difficult to ignore. In their last three games, they’ve allowed 336/1/1 to Blake Bortles, 292/3/1 to Brian Hoyer and 393/4/1 to Andrew Luck. Cousins should throw for 275+ yards and a couple of touchdowns, but he’s just as likely to throw 2 or 3 interceptions with a potential to self-destruct giving Colt McCoy a shot to see the field.
Ryan Tannehill, Mia at CHI
Tannehill is hard to trust right now in any QB1 capacity due to his inconsistent play and what appears to be a lack of progression from his rookie season. He continues to show flashes, though, and he’s far from a lost cause. The matchup this week is enough to give us pause, and consider giving Tannehill a shot against a Charles Tillman-less Bears secondary that has allowed 20 or more fantasy points in five of their six games and four straight games of 250+ passing yards allowed.
Brian Hoyer, Cle at JAC
The Jaguars are allowing the fifth most points to opposing quarterbacks – 314 yards, 2 TDs and 0.2 INTs per game. Hoyer’s biggest drawback this week could be the same thing that limited his production last week – volume. With a large lead against the Steelers, Hoyer attempted only 17 passes, but still managed 217 yards and a TD. This comes after back-to-back games with 292 and 290 yards and a combined 4 TDs. Prior to facing Charlie Whitehurst on Sunday, the Titans allowed 250+ yards in each of their five previous games and 12 TDs over that five game span with only one interception.
Two other reaches that you might consider in deeper/2-QB leagues are Derek Cark (vs. Ari) and Jake Locker (at Was). Both are difficult to trust in any capacity, but these two have excellent matchups against injury-riddled defenses. Carr surprised everyone last week with 282 yards, 4 TDs against a decent Charger defense. The Cardinals have allowed four straight 20+ fantasy point performances and all five quarterbacks have thrown for at least 238 yards and a TD against them. Meanwhile, Locker is on the verge of returning to face a Washington defense that has allowed the most points in the league to QBs. Keep him in mind if he’s on waivers and you need that 2nd quarterback for your lineup.
Running Backs
Ben Tate, Cle at JAC
In his two starts since returning from injury, Tate has rushed for 201 yards and 2 TDs against Tennessee and Pittsburgh. This week, the matchup is decidedly better against a Jaguar defense allowing the third most points to RBs. Tate continues to have a firm grasp on the starting job despite having plenty of talent behind him on the depth chart in rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West. As long as Tate remains healthy he’s squarely in the RB2 mix for smaller leagues, with RB1 value in deeper leagues.
Justin Forsett, BAL vs. Atl
Nine different backs have scored double digit PPR points against the Falcons through their first six games making them the most favorable matchup. Three different backs produced 150+ yards and scored against them while three different backs also produced multiple touchdowns against them. Forsett remains the lead back in the Ravens’ backfield and he makes for a solid RB2 PPR option this week. Bernard Pierce appears to have regained the No. 2 spot behind Forsett and he also deserves a look in deeper league as a flex option.
Branden Oliver, SD vs. KC
With Ryan Mathews not practicing yet, Oliver will continue to perform as a true feature back for a high-powered Chargers attack. The Chiefs are among the tougher matchups for opposing RBs since they haven’t allowed any touchdowns yet, but they are giving up an average of 22 carries for 117 yards on the ground and 4-34-0 receiving. With Oliver’s project volume, he remains firmly in the RB1/RB2 realm with little to no competition for snaps.
Fred Jackson, BUF vs. Min
Jackson continues to be the most under-rated yet productive back in the NFL. Jackson wasn’t terribly productive against the Patriots on Sunday with only 43 yards, but he scored to bail out his owners. This week, his matchup is decidedly better against a Minnesota defense allowing 160 combined yards and 1 TD per game to opposing running backs, or the 5th most fantasy points.
Chris Ivory, NYJ at NE
The Jets have been gradually phasing Chris Johnson out of the offense. Ivory runs with more juice and he’s simply more productive. The Jets are struggling offensively and Ivory might be their best weapon against a Patriot defense allowing the 10th most points to RBs – and that was before losing Jerrod Mayo for the season.
Wide Receivers
Andre Holmes, OAK vs. Ari
Holmes has come on strong in the last two games with 9 catches, 195 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Dolphins and Chargers. He and Derek Carr seem to have a good rapport and they face a Cardinal defense this week allowing more points to opposing receivers than any defense in the league. Holmes has WR1 upside with a WR3/flex floor.
Mohamed Sanu, Cin at IND
Sanu and the Bengals don’t necessarily have a great matchup this week, but with A.J. Green (toe) sidelined and Marvin Jones now on the shelf for the rest of the year, Sanu remains Andy Dalton’s No. 1 target. With 28 targets in the last three games and touchdowns in his last two, Sanu has developed into a WR2 with staying power since Jones suffered a setback and won’t return to the field this year. The Colts have done a good job against opposing receivers, but it’s hard not to like Sanu with the number of targets coming his way.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Min at BUF
Before you get too down on Patterson consider that he has been playing through a sore hip that limited his snaps on Sunday against a surprisingly good Lions pass defense that limited him to two catches for 15 yards despite seeing 8 targets. Patterson remains a high-ceiling, breakout candidate, especially if he’s able to get healthier going into this week’s game against a suddenly shaky Bills secondary allowing the 6th most points to opposing WRs. We’re talking about a talented, but vulnerable group that has been beaten by Brandon LaFell (4-97-2), Brian Tyms (43-yard TD catch in his first game of the season), Golden Tate (7-134-1), DeAndre Hopkins (5-64-1) and Eddie Royal (4-42-2) for touchdown catches over the last month.
Justin Hunter, Ten at WAS
Washington’s secondary has struggled to stay healthy in recent week losing DeAngelo Hall for the year, David Amerson to a concussion, and nearly losing Brandon Meriweather to the same on Sunday. Hunter is now getting the snaps he needs to be a productive fantasy receiver, but he remains painfully inconsistent. After popping for 3-99-1 two weeks ago, he teased owners with a 3-77-0 line on Sunday while catching one pass at the one-yard line. Washington has allowed the 10th most PPR points to opposing WRs and in three of their last four games both starting receivers on their opponents produced double digit PPR points, and four of those eight caught TDs.
Odell Beckham, Jr., NYG at DAL
With Victor Cruz out for the year, Beckham Jr. moves into a starting role where he’s expected to play in 2-WR and 3-WR sets. Beckham slides into Cruz’s spot in the lineup where he should see plenty of targets along with teams focusing their coverage and attention even more towards Randle. Beckham has tons of talent and a first round pedigree to match. He should be in lineups immediately.
Markus Wheaton, PIT vs. Hou
Wheaton has been a terrible disappointment through the first six weeks. Sunday’s performance made it even harder to consider starting him after he was unable to catch one touchdown pass that went through his hands and on several other plays he and Ben Roethlisberger were clearly not on the same page. The talent is there and the opportunities have been there, too. He faces a Texan defense that has allowed the fifth most points to opposing WRs. Five of the last six starting receivers to play Houston have caught touchdown passes. Wheaton will emerge eventually, but until then he remains a risky play.
Andrew Hawkins, Cle at JAC
Hawkins’ production hit a speed bump last week due to Brian Hoyer attempting only 17 passes. That’s unlikely to happen two weeks in a row and let’s remember that Hawkins was targeted 9, 10, 12 and 10 times in the Browns first four games. The Jaguars did a decent job against the Titans last week, but it’s hard to get over the moon about their performance against a Charlie Whitehurst-led offense. For PPR league owners, Hawkins remains a solid WR3/flex play with more favorable matchups on the horizon against Oakland and Tampa Bay.
Other reaches worth a look include rookies Jarvis Landry, Davante Adams and Allen Robinson. Landry is gaining momentum and playing time while Brandon Gibson nurses a hamstring injury. Similarly, Adams playing time has been on the rise as he passed an injured Jarrett Boykins on the depth chart. Both Adams and Landry are seeing enough targets to warrant flex consideration in deeper leagues. Robinson has earned a starting spot opposite Cecil Shorts, sending Allen Hurns to the bench as he continues to be frequently targeted, offering enough appeal in PPR leagues to be a what-the-heck flex option. All three rookies have favorable matchups to boot.
Tight Ends
Dwayne Allen, IND vs. Cin
Allen isn’t much of a sleeper in normal sized leagues, but for those of you in smaller leagues, please consider inserting him into your lineup this week against a Bengal defense allowing the most points to opposing tight ends. In deeper leagues, keep Coby Fleener on speed dial for the same reasons. Either one, or both, could find themselves with a touchdown reception this week.
Jordan Reed, WAS vs. Ten
Now that Reed is back in the lineup, he should be a serious option to rejoin your lineup against a Titans defense that has allowed four touchdowns in their last three games to opposing TEs (Clay Harbor, Jim Dray, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener).
Larry Donnell, NYG at DAL
Donnell came crashing back to Earth over the last couple of weeks after a torrid start that had him among the top fantasy tight ends in the league heading into October. With Victor Cruz out, Donnell has a chance to get a few more targets, but it’s worth noting that he’s also run fewer routes of late after being asked to stay in as a blocker more frequently. The Cowboys have done a stellar job against tight ends in their last two games, but they allowed 14+ (PPR) fantasy points to four different tight ends in their first three games. Donnell is a solid, if not slight reach this week as we look for a rebound game out of him.
Jared Cook, STL vs. Sea
Cook might be a hard one to trust for most of us and it’s disconcerting to see Lance Kendricks steal all of the red zone love when Cook has been so productive otherwise. Cooks had what would’ve been a big play come back against the 49ers thanks to a penalty this week, but he has been consistently targeted and reasonably productive with Austin Davis at the helm. He has 42 targets in 5 games and at least four catches in every game. The Seahawks have been a decent matchup, too, allowing 7 touchdown catches in their last four games to TEs (Jason Witten, Gavin Escobar, Julius Thomas, Jacob Tamme and 3 to Antonio Gates).
Two other options for owners in deeper leagues are Clay Harbor (vs. Cle) and Tim Wright (vs. NYJ). Harbor’s utilization is as high as any tight end in the league with Marcedes Lewis sidelined for another month or so. Harbor was only targeted four times in each of his last two games, but he saw 8 targets prior to that. He has low TE1, high TE2 upside as an athletic, pass-catching tight end in an offense that has to throw to move the ball. Wright doesn’t have nearly the snap count but he’s been productive regardless. The Jets have allowed the 8th most points to tight ends with 7 TD receptions going to tight ends in their last four games.
Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo vs. Minnesota
The Bills have a huge matchup this week against a struggling Viking offense that was beaten down by the Lions at home last week with 8 sacks, 3 interceptions and just 3 points scored. The Vikings have allowed 10+ fantasy points to opposing defenses in three of their six games. Look for a big bounce back from the Bills at home this week after their beat down from Tom Brady last week. They’ll also welcome DL Kyle Williams back to help solidify things up front.
Cleveland at Jacksonville
The Browns turned in an excellent performance at home against the Steelers, but the defense only registered a pair of sacks and one turnover and they lost DE Armonty Bryant with a knee injury. The Jaguars are next on the docket, though, and with that comes the 2nd best matchup for defenses. Jacksonville has allowed an average of 4.5 sacks per game, scored only 13.5 PPG and averaged only 290 yards per game of total offense – all worst in the NFL. Five of the six defenses scored 11 or more fantasy points against them and the worst still had nine. The Jaguars can’t run the ball at all and Blake Bortles is averaging close to two interceptions a game while he develops.
Denver vs. San Francisco
Whether it’s playing the Cardinals and Jets or it’s the Broncos defense heating up, the results over the last two weeks are encouraging – 7 sacks, 2 turnovers, a late-game pick six against the Jets, 37 points allowed and 419 yards allowed. They haven’t been forcing many turnovers, but as their pass rush continues to improve, the turnovers will follow. The 49ers have allowed 3 touchdowns on defense/special teams and Kaepernick was sacked 3 or more times by the defenses they faced that had any semblance of a pass rush. Not a great play, but worth a gamble if your other options are thin.
Tennessee at Washington
The Titans delivered last week in a super favorable matchup against the Jaguars and they could do enough this week against Washington to make a decent plug-and-play option. Washington has allowed the 3rd most points – a TD return in three different games and more than 2 turnovers a game, thanks to three games where they turned it over 2, 6 and 4 times respectively.
