Unlock More Content Like This With A
Footballguys Premium Subscription
"Footballguys is the best premium
fantasy football only site on the planet."
Matthew Berry, NBC Sports EDGE
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 offensive position groups with the most talent and the best matchups.
Thursday/Friday Slate
| Team | Spread | Game Total | Team Total | Opponent | Run | Pass |
| Houston | -25 | 74.5 | 49.75 | S Methodist | 5 | 4 |
| USC | -17 | 56 | 36.5 | Washington | 3 | 4 |
| Marshall | -5 | 58.5 | 31.75 | S Mississippi | 3 | 3 |
| S Mississippi | 5 | 58.5 | 26.75 | Marshall | 3 | 3 |
| NC State | 0 | 50 | 25 | VA Tech | 2 | 1 |
| VA Tech | 0 | 50 | 25 | NC State | 1 | 2 |
| S Methodist | 25 | 74.5 | 24.75 | Houston | 1 | 2 |
| Washington | 17 | 56 | 19.5 | USC | 1 | 2 |
5 Star Matchup
Houston Run. The Cougars are rushing for 319 yards per game (fifth nationally) and face a porous SMU run defense which has given up 246 rushing yards per game. Lead back Kenneth Farrow and star quarterback Greg Ward Jr. should both rush for more than 100 yards in this matchup.
4 Star Matchups
Houston Pass. The Cougars are a run-heavy offense (62/38 run-to-pass ratio) but have still found plenty of success through the air, passing for 277 yards per game. SMU has given up 314 passing yards per game and is as vulnerable against the pass as they are against the run. Ward has the potential to put up both 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing.
USC Pass. The Trojans are 11th nationally with 357 passing yards per game, but face a solid Washington defense that has give up only 222 passing yards per game. The Huskies did give up 342 yards to California's star passer Jared Goff, but were able to hold him to only two passing touchdowns. Overall, this is a very good, but not great matchup for USC.
Saturday Early Slate
| Team | Spread | Game Total | Team Total | Opponent | Run | Pass |
| Baylor | -44 | 77 | 60.5 | Kansas | 5 | 5 |
| Bowling Grn | -13 | 77.5 | 45.25 | U Mass | 4 | 5 |
| Ohio State | -33.5 | 55 | 44.25 | Maryland | 5 | 3 |
| Texas Tech | -12.5 | 74 | 43.25 | Iowa State | 3 | 5 |
| Oklahoma | -17 | 61.5 | 39.25 | Texas | 4 | 4 |
| W Kentucky | -8.5 | 65.5 | 37 | Middle Tenn | 3 | 5 |
| Notre Dame | -14.5 | 54.5 | 34.5 | Navy | 4 | 3 |
| Arizona | -8 | 61 | 34.5 | Oregon St | 4 | 3 |
| U Mass | 13 | 77.5 | 32.25 | Bowling Grn | 3 | 4 |
| LSU | -13 | 49 | 31 | S Carolina | 5 | 2 |
| Iowa State | 12.5 | 74 | 30.75 | Texas Tech | 3 | 3 |
| Clemson | -7 | 54.5 | 30.75 | GA Tech | 3 | 3 |
| Georgia | -3 | 55.5 | 29.25 | Tennessee | 4 | 2 |
| Middle Tenn | 8.5 | 65.5 | 28.5 | W Kentucky | 3 | 3 |
| Pittsburgh | -10.5 | 46.5 | 28.5 | Virginia | 3 | 2 |
| Iowa | -11 | 44 | 27.5 | Illinois | 3 | 2 |
| Oregon St | 8 | 61 | 26.5 | Arizona | 2 | 3 |
| Tennessee | 3 | 55.5 | 26.25 | Georgia | 3 | 2 |
| Penn State | -8 | 44 | 26 | Indiana | 3 | 2 |
| Nebraska | -1.5 | 48 | 24.75 | Wisconsin | 1 | 3 |
| Minnesota | -3 | 46 | 24.5 | Purdue | 2 | 1 |
| GA Tech | 7 | 54.5 | 23.75 | Clemson | 3 | 1 |
| Wisconsin | 1.5 | 48 | 23.25 | Nebraska | 2 | 2 |
| Texas | 17 | 61.5 | 22.25 | Oklahoma | 2 | 2 |
| Michigan | -8 | 35 | 21.5 | Northwestern | 2 | 1 |
| Purdue | 3 | 46 | 21.5 | Minnesota | 2 | 1 |
| Navy | 14.5 | 54.5 | 20 | Notre Dame | 2 | 1 |
| Indiana | 8 | 44 | 18 | Penn State | 2 | 1 |
| S Carolina | 13 | 49 | 18 | LSU | 1 | 1 |
| Virginia | 10.5 | 46.5 | 18 | Pittsburgh | 1 | 1 |
| Illinois | 11 | 44 | 16.5 | Iowa | 1 | 1 |
| Kansas | 44 | 77 | 16.5 | Baylor | 1 | 1 |
| Northwestern | 8 | 35 | 13.5 | Michigan | 1 | 1 |
| Maryland | 33.5 | 55 | 10.75 | Ohio State | 1 | 1 |
5 STAR MATCHUPS
Baylor Run and Pass. The Bears are averaging over 375 yards rushing and 370 yards passing per game this season. Against a terrible Kansas defense, Baylor should be able to do whatever they want and 800+ yards of offense is not out of reach. With a team total over 60 points, every component of the Baylor offense from Seth Russell and his top receivers (Corey Coleman, Jay Lee and K.D. Cannon) to Shock Linwood and the backup RBs are in play this week.
Ohio State Run. One week after rushing for three touchdowns and 274 yards, Ezekiel Elliott and the Ohio State offense face a vulnerable Maryland defense. Elliott should again have a big day.
Bowling Green Pass. The Falcons throw 48 times per game (second most in nation) and face a below average UMass defense. Expect another 400-yard passing game from Matt Johnson and his top targets, especially Roger Lewis, should have big games also.
Texas Tech Pass. The Red Raiders lead the nation with over 420 passing yards per game. While Iowa State is only allowing 201 yards passing per game, the defense has not been tested by a decent passing offense to date. Texas Tech passed for 394 yards and 5 touchdowns against the Cyclones last season. Patrick Mahomes should have another big day and his top target Jakeem Grant is a nice option. With the rest of the receiver corp banged up, youngsters like Zach Austin will have to step up to keep the high-flying offense rolling forward.
LSU Run. LSU is averaging more than 7 yards per rushing attempt this season and are averaging 334 rushing yards per game (third best in nation). The Tigers face an average to slightly below average South Carolina rush defense that ranks 95th nationally in giving up 4.9 yards per rushing attempt. Heisman-favorite Leonard Fournette should continue his torrid pace.
Western Kentucky Pass. Western Kentucky has one of the nation's top passing offense, averaging over 404 yards per game through the air (third nationally). Middle Tennessee's pass defense stats look solid, but their schedule has been a mix of overmatched weak opponents (i.e. Charlotte) and games in which they were behind early and the opposing team ran heavily (i.e. Alabama). Expect the Hilltoppers to approach their season averages, which will make Brandon Doughty, Taywan Taylor, Jared Dangerfield and Tyler Higbee strong options in Week 6.
4 Star Matchups
UMass Pass. The Minutemen average 47 passes per game (fourth most in nation) and face a weak Bowling Green secondary that has allowed 295 yards per game passing against. Quarterback Blake Frohnapfel and receiver Tajae Sharpe are nice options in Week 6.
Oklahoma Run and Pass. Oklahoma's seventh-ranked scoring offense (42 PPG) has a balanced approach (51/49 run-to-pass split). The Sooners should find success both through the air and on the ground against a weak Texas unit that has been torched by California and TCU in recent weeks.
Georgia Run. Even after a tough matchup with Alabama, Georgia is still averaging more than 6 yards per rushing attempt (6th nationally) and averaging more than 240 rushing yards per game. The Tennessee defense is solid, but has still allowed more than 170 rushing yards on average. Georgia's top notch rushing attack should be able to roll up more than 200 yards in what should be a decent matchup for Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.
Bowling Green Run. While most of the focus will be on the Falcons' pass offense, UMass is giving up nearly 250 yards per game on the ground. Bowling Green rushed for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns last week and lead back Travis Greene could have his third straight strong outing.
Notre Dame Run. The Irish rank 12th nationally with over 250 rushing yards per game. The Navy defense has been a solid against the run to date, but they haven't faced an offense with Notre Dame's talent level. With the Irish favored by more than two touchdowns, C.J. Prosise could have a big day if Notre Dame gets up early and tries to run out the clock on the ground.
Arizona Run. Arizona is rushing for 234 yards per game and Oregon State has given up 218 yards per game. With a team total of 34.5 points, all signs point to Nick Wilson and the Arizona rushing attack having a nice day against the Beavers.
