A rushing or passing matchup rating of 5 is an extremely attractive matchup for the offense, while a 1 means the team is facing a tough defensive matchup and should probably be avoided in daily fantasy lineups. The star rankings take into account the team's Vegas total, relative strength of the offense's passing and rushing attack against the opposing defense and the expected game script (including blowout potential). The matchup ratings will help you to focus your research on the smaller number of teams and positional groups with the best matchups.
Thursday and Friday
| Team | Total | Opponent | Game Line | Game Total | Rushing | Passing |
| Arizona St | 46.5 | New Mexico | -27.5 | 65.5 | 5 | 3 |
| Clemson | 28.5 | Louisville | -6 | 51 | 3 | 3 |
| Florida St | 26.75 | Boston Col | -7 | 46.5 | 3 | 3 |
| Louisville | 22.5 | Clemson | 6 | 51 | 3 | 2 |
| Boston Col | 19.75 | Florida St | 7 | 46.5 | 3 | 1 |
| New Mexico | 19 | Arizona St | 27.5 | 65.5 | 2 | 2 |
5 Star Matchups
Arizona State Rushing- In relation to the rest of the small slate, Arizona State's huge team total stands out like a sore thumb. These two teams played last year and the Sun Devils rushed for 423 yards and 6 touchdowns. Demario Richard and D.J. Foster are sharing the backfield (even though Foster is listed as a WR on FanDuel), which complicates matters. But with Foster's heavy involvement in the passing game, there should be enough to go around.
3 Star Matchups
The Week 3 weekday slate is extremely interesting due to the fact that so many of the matchups are relatively neutral and so many teams have Vegas totals between 19 and 28.5. There is very little separation, which makes it difficult to confidently target specific rushing or passing matchups. Thus, much of the slate falls into the same range. However, the following three matchups standout from the pack just slightly:
Clemson Passing- This matchup was the closest on the slate to receiving a 4 star rating and would have ranked as a 3.5 if we awarded half stars. QB DeShaun Watson and his top target Artavis Scott should have strong games. Charone Peake emerged last week as Mike Williams' primary replacement.
Florida State Rushing- Boston College has a solid rush defense but the Seminoles have enough talent to run on anybody. Dalvin Cook looks like one of the nation's top backs and even in a tougher-than-normal matchup, he remains a top option.
Arizona State Passing- While the big spread gives rise to a fear that the Sun Devils may take the air out of the ball early, Arizona State needs to get QB Mike Bercovici going before heading into some key early matchups when conference play starts. He should have some success early. Devin Lucien, Ellis Jefferson, and Tim White are key members of a deep receiver corp and Kody Kohl is one of the slate's top TE options.
Saturday Early
| Team | Total | Opponent | Game Line | Game Total | Rushing | Passing |
| Oregon | 58.5 | Georgia State | -45.5 | 71.5 | 5 | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 51 | Tulsa | -30.5 | 71.5 | 4 | 5 |
| Ohio State | 50.5 | N Illinois | -34.5 | 66.5 | 5 | 4 |
| Texas A&M | 49.5 | Nevada | -34 | 65 | 4 | 4 |
| Michigan St | 42.25 | Air Force | -26.5 | 58 | 5 | 3 |
| Michigan | 41.75 | UNLV | -34 | 49.5 | 5 | 2 |
| Cincinnati | 39.25 | Miami (OH) | -18.5 | 60 | 3 | 4 |
| N Carolina | 36.5 | Illinois | -9.5 | 63.5 | 4 | 4 |
| Indiana | 35.25 | W Kentucky | -1.5 | 69 | 4 | 4 |
| W Kentucky | 33.75 | Indiana | 1.5 | 69 | 4 | 4 |
| Temple | 32.25 | U Mass | -10.5 | 54 | 5 | 3 |
| Miami (FL) | 30.5 | Nebraska | -3.5 | 57.5 | 3 | 4 |
| GA Tech | 28.75 | Notre Dame | -2.5 | 55 | 3 | 3 |
| LSU | 27.75 | Auburn | -7.5 | 48 | 4 | 2 |
| Illinois | 27 | N Carolina | 9.5 | 63.5 | 3 | 3 |
| Nebraska | 27 | Miami (FL) | 3.5 | 57.5 | 3 | 3 |
| VA Tech | 26.75 | Purdue | -6 | 47.5 | 3 | 2 |
| Duke | 26.25 | Northwestern | -3.5 | 49 | 2 | 2 |
| Notre Dame | 26.25 | GA Tech | 2.5 | 55 | 3 | 2 |
| Northwestern | 22.75 | Duke | 3.5 | 49 | 2 | 2 |
| U Mass | 21.75 | Temple | 10.5 | 54 | 1 | 2 |
| Miami (OH) | 20.75 | Cincinnati | 18.5 | 60 | 1 | 2 |
| Purdue | 20.75 | VA Tech | 6 | 47.5 | 1 | 2 |
| Tulsa | 20.5 | Oklahoma | 30.5 | 71.5 | 1 | 3 |
| Auburn | 20.25 | LSU | 7.5 | 48 | 2 | 2 |
| N Illinois | 16 | Ohio State | 34.5 | 66.5 | 1 | 2 |
| Air Force | 15.75 | Michigan St | 26.5 | 58 | 1 | 1 |
| Nevada | 15.5 | Texas A&M | 34 | 65 | 2 | 1 |
| Georgia State | 13 | Oregon | 45.5 | 71.5 | 1 | 1 |
| UNLV | 7.75 | Michigan | 34 | 49.5 | 1 | 1 |
The early slate is heavy on games that are expected to be blowouts. Oregon, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Michigan are all favored by over 30 points. Lopsided games tend to lead to run-heavy approaches from the favorite as the game progresses and many of our top matchups on this slate are rushing offenses with a number of running backs projected for big rushing totals. Let's look at a few of the most attractive matchups on the slate:
5 Star Matchups
Oregon Rushing The Ducks should be able to rack up huge numbers on the ground. Royce Freeman may see an early exit, but even if he plays only one half, should still have a big game.
Ohio State Rushing The Buckeyes offense struggled against Hawaii last week, averaging just over 4 yards per play. They will look to get back on track against Northern Illinois and Ezekiel Elliott should get plenty of carries. The Buckeyes depth at Running Back is limited due to injuries, so Elliott should get extended playing time even if the game gets out of hand in the 3rd quarter.
Michigan State Rushing The Spartans have one of the best offensive lines in the country and against an undersized Air Force front will be able to impose their will. Madre London and LJ Scott should both excel.
Michigan Rushing De'Veon Smith ran all over Oregon State last week and faces an even softer defense this week against UNLV. With decent depth at the RB position, it will be interesting to see if the carries are split a bit more evenly than they were last week.
Temple Rushing UMass is one of the nation's worst run defenses and Jahad Thomas is fresh off of a 193-yard game against Cincinnati.
Oklahoma Passing Baker Mayfield came on strong in the second half of the Tennessee game last week and faces a mediocre Tulsa defense. Mayfield and Sterling Shepard should connect early and often.
4 Star Matchups
Ohio State Passing The Buckeyes really struggled throwing the ball on a short week last week. Cardale Jones will get the start and you get the feeling Urban Meyer would like to see him seize control with a big outing. Michael Thomas and Braxton Miller are big-time talents and should get a chance to shine against NIU.
Oklahoma Rushing The Sooners Offensive Line is not great but neither is Tulsa defensive front. Running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon form what could end up being one of the nation's top backfield duos.
Indiana Rushing and Passing and Western Kentucky Passing Both the rushing and passing offenses for both schools face attractive matchups in the slate's most likely shootout. Indiana can attack WKU both on the ground with Jordan Howard and through the air with Nate Sudfeld and a deep corp of Wide Receivers. Western Kentucky boasts one of the nation's most prolific passing offenses and Brandon Doughty should put up big numbers. DeAndre Ferby takes over at RB and faces an Indiana defense that can be victimized on the ground.
Saturday Late
| Team | Total | Opponent | Game Line | Game Total | Rushing | Passing |
| TX Christian | 52.25 | S Methodist | -37.5 | 67 | 4 | 5 |
| Wash State | 42.5 | Wyoming | -24 | 61 | 3 | 5 |
| Arkansas | 40.5 | Texas Tech | -11.5 | 69.5 | 4 | 4 |
| UCLA | 38.5 | BYU | -17 | 60 | 4 | 4 |
| Georgia | 34.75 | S Carolina | -17 | 52.5 | 5 | 2 |
| Utah | 34 | Fresno St | -14 | 54 | 4 | 4 |
| California | 32.25 | Texas | -6.5 | 58 | 3 | 4 |
| USC | 30.75 | Stanford | -10 | 51.5 | 3 | 3 |
| Colorado | 30.25 | Colorado St | -3.5 | 57 | 3 | 3 |
| Alabama | 30 | Mississippi | -6.5 | 53.5 | 4 | 3 |
| Texas Tech | 29 | Arkansas | 11.5 | 69.5 | 2 | 3 |
| Florida | 27.75 | Kentucky | -3 | 52.5 | 3 | 2 |
| Penn State | 27.5 | Rutgers | -10 | 45 | 3 | 2 |
| Colorado St | 26.75 | Colorado | 3.5 | 57 | 3 | 3 |
| Iowa | 26.25 | Pittsburgh | -5.5 | 47 | 3 | 2 |
| Texas | 25.75 | California | 6.5 | 58 | 3 | 2 |
| Kentucky | 24.75 | Florida | 3 | 52.5 | 2 | 3 |
| Mississippi | 23.5 | Alabama | 6.5 | 53.5 | 1 | 3 |
| BYU | 21.5 | UCLA | 17 | 60 | 1 | 2 |
| Stanford | 20.75 | USC | 10 | 51.5 | 2 | 2 |
| Pittsburgh | 20.75 | Iowa | 5.5 | 47 | 3 | 1 |
| Fresno St | 20 | Utah | 14 | 54 | 1 | 2 |
| Wyoming | 18.5 | Wash State | 24 | 61 | 1 | 2 |
| S Carolina | 17.75 | Georgia | 17 | 52.5 | 2 | 1 |
| Rutgers | 17.5 | Penn State | 10 | 45 | 1 | 1 |
| S Methodist | 14.75 | TX Christian | 37.5 | 67 | 1 | 2 |
5 Star Matchups
Washington State Passing Luke Falk and the Cougars will throw the ball even with a big lead and should amass huge passing totals against Wyoming.
TCU Passing SMU was victimized by Baylor's Seth Russell for 5 passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. Trevone Boykin could have a similarly impressive day.
Georgia Rushing The Bulldogs have a favorable rushing matchup almost every week with Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. They have an especiallly favorable matchup Saturday night against a South Carolina defense that has given up 100+ yards rushing to Elijah Hood and Stanley Williams over the past two weeks.
4 Star Matchups
Arkansas Rushing Alex Collins is a talented back but the Arkansas line has been disappointing. They will look to get back on track with a favorable matchup against Texas Tech.
Utah Rushing Devontae Booker has faced relatively tough matchups the first two weeks, but finally will see a defense that he should have a huge day against. Fresno was embarrassed by Ole Miss last week on the ground and through the air.
UCLA Passing BYU has had a tough time stopping opposing passers with Tommie Armstrong, Jr. having a nice game in Week 1. Talented freshman Josh Rosen should be able to take advantage and bounce back from an uneven perforance in Week 2.
Texas Tech Passing The Red Raiders are one of the nation's most prolific passing offenses and come into the week as almost two touchdown underdogs. Expect them to throw the ball early and often and Pat Mahomes should pass for a big yardage total.
