Each week, this column will take a critical look at key statistical trends to highlight pass rushing and tackle matchups to exploit and avoid. We'll be heavily relying on another great feature at FBG this season, the IDP Matchup Spreadsheet that will be generated by Aaron Rudnicki. That spreadsheet will contain weekly average statistical measures to help identify those defensive teams who are facing the best and worst opportunity as the season progresses. While this column will include analysis of tackle and pass rush opportunity and matchup data, it's only a fraction of the data available in the spreadsheet. We hope that the Matchup Spreadsheet and this column will join John Norton's weekly IDP projections, Doug Drinen's Matchup Analyzer Tool and our customizable MyFBG function as useful tools to assist in making weekly line-up and waiver wire decisions.
You are very welcome to the eighth edition of the IDP Matchup column here at Footballguys in 2019. I have been penning this defensive diary for the past several years and I am delighted to be able to share some tidbits to help you secure a league title come December.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Dave Larkin. I am a veteran IDP player and what some would call a diehard fan of this game of football that we all love so much.
Defense is my passion. Over the past few years, I have assimilated countless pages of data from various sources to hone my knowledge of the defensive side of the football. Every week I will study film from the previous week’s games and provide you with nuggets of wisdom that will lead you to a championship.
It is hard to believe it is already Week 8. Suddenly the focus must change to the playoffs for fantasy football – and more importantly, building a team that can get you there. So whether you’re struggling or riding high, keeping a close eye on the match-ups can help you get there in a challenging IDP landscape.
Without further ado, let’s kick off with this week’s match-ups.
|
Season
Average |
Team Defense
|
Team Offense
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Pressure
Applied |
QB Sacks
|
QB Hits
|
Drop Backs
Faced |
Pressure
Allowed |
QB Sacks
Allowed |
QB Hits
Allowed |
Drop
Backs |
|
|
2016
|
14.2%
|
2.18
|
5.37
|
37.8
|
14.2%
|
2.18
|
5.37
|
37.8
|
|
2017
|
15.1%
|
2.33
|
5.49
|
36.5
|
15%
|
2.33
|
5.49
|
36.5
|
|
2018
|
15%
|
2.5
|
5.56
|
37
|
15%
|
2.5
|
5.56
|
37
|
|
2019
|
14.1%
|
2.42
|
5.24
|
37.2
|
14.1%
|
2.42
|
5.24
|
37.2
|
|
Team
|
Team Defense
|
Team Offense
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Pressure
Applied |
QB Sacks
|
QB Hits
|
Drop Backs
Faced |
Pressure
Allowed |
QB Sacks
Allowed |
QB Hits
Allowed |
Drop
Backs |
|
|
Arizona
|
15.7%
|
3.1
|
6
|
38.1
|
11%
|
3.3
|
4.4
|
40.3
|
|
Atlanta
|
10.6%
|
0.7
|
3.6
|
33.6
|
17.1%
|
2.7
|
7.6
|
44.3
|
|
Baltimore
|
17.1%
|
1.7
|
6.4
|
37.6
|
10.1%
|
2.4
|
3.4
|
34
|
|
Buffalo
|
13.9%
|
2.2
|
5.3
|
38.5
|
17.2%
|
2.7
|
6.3
|
36.8
|
|
Carolina
|
16.9%
|
4.5
|
7.5
|
44.3
|
11.8%
|
2.7
|
4.5
|
38
|
|
Chicago
|
13%
|
3
|
5.3
|
41.2
|
13.2%
|
2.5
|
5.2
|
39.2
|
|
Cincinnati
|
11%
|
1.3
|
3.4
|
31.3
|
12.6%
|
3.4
|
5.6
|
44.3
|
|
Cleveland
|
16.3%
|
3.2
|
5.7
|
34.7
|
11.5%
|
2.7
|
4.2
|
36.2
|
|
Dallas
|
14.2%
|
1.9
|
5.3
|
37.3
|
13.5%
|
2
|
4.9
|
36
|
|
Denver
|
12.1%
|
1.9
|
4.1
|
34.3
|
14.6%
|
3.4
|
5.3
|
36.3
|
|
Detroit
|
10%
|
1.7
|
4.2
|
41.8
|
12.2%
|
2
|
4.7
|
38.3
|
|
Green Bay
|
14.3%
|
2.6
|
5.3
|
36.9
|
11.5%
|
1.7
|
4.3
|
37.4
|
|
Houston
|
15.3%
|
2.4
|
6.4
|
42
|
16.7%
|
3
|
6.1
|
36.7
|
|
Indianapolis
|
14.8%
|
2.7
|
5.3
|
36
|
13.1%
|
1.2
|
4.7
|
35.7
|
|
Jacksonville
|
14.7%
|
3
|
5.7
|
38.9
|
11.6%
|
2.3
|
4.1
|
35.7
|
|
Kansas City
|
11.7%
|
2.9
|
4.6
|
39
|
11.5%
|
1.3
|
4.4
|
38.6
|
|
LA Chargers
|
15.6%
|
2
|
4.4
|
28.4
|
13.1%
|
1.9
|
5.4
|
41.4
|
|
LA Rams
|
13.2%
|
2.6
|
4.9
|
36.7
|
12.5%
|
1.7
|
5.3
|
42.3
|
|
Miami
|
10.3%
|
1.2
|
3
|
29.2
|
23.1%
|
4
|
9.2
|
39.7
|
|
Minnesota
|
14.5%
|
2.7
|
6
|
41.4
|
12.9%
|
1.7
|
3.7
|
28.7
|
|
New England
|
18.7%
|
3.7
|
7.1
|
38.3
|
11.4%
|
1.6
|
4.7
|
41.3
|
|
New Orleans
|
15.6%
|
3.4
|
6.1
|
39.3
|
9.9%
|
1.1
|
3.6
|
36.1
|
|
NY Giants
|
15.4%
|
2.6
|
5.1
|
33.4
|
18.7%
|
2.9
|
7.6
|
40.6
|
|
NY Jets
|
14.7%
|
1.2
|
5.8
|
39.7
|
21.9%
|
4.3
|
7.7
|
35
|
|
Oakland
|
10.3%
|
1.7
|
3.7
|
35.5
|
6%
|
1.3
|
2
|
33.3
|
|
Philadelphia
|
15.9%
|
2.4
|
6.1
|
38.7
|
14.3%
|
1.9
|
5.3
|
37
|
|
Pittsburgh
|
18.5%
|
3.3
|
7.2
|
38.8
|
6.7%
|
0.8
|
2.2
|
32.5
|
|
San Francisco
|
18.4%
|
3.3
|
5.7
|
30.8
|
13.6%
|
1.3
|
4
|
29.3
|
|
Seattle
|
7.3%
|
1.6
|
2.7
|
37.3
|
17%
|
2.4
|
6
|
35.3
|
|
Tampa Bay
|
13.3%
|
2.2
|
5.8
|
43.8
|
19.2%
|
4.2
|
7.8
|
40.8
|
|
Tennessee
|
13.5%
|
2.7
|
5.1
|
38
|
22.5%
|
4.4
|
7.6
|
33.7
|
|
Washington
|
13%
|
2.3
|
4.7
|
36.3
|
17.5%
|
2.6
|
5.9
|
33.4
|
Strong Matchup
Weak Matchup
Pass Rushing Match-ups to Exploit
Pittsburgh pass rushers vs. Miami offensive line
Pittsburgh’s defense has averaged pressure on 18.5% of dropbacks this year, recording 3.3 sacks and 7.2 quarterback hits per game. All these numbers bode well for a team that may have to rely on that side of the ball if they are to have any chance of an improbable playoff berth in January. The AFC remains wide open, so anything is possible.
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