This is the Matchup Monitor Week 7! Each week, fantasy players question which of their players to insert into lineups and which to bench for that week. A key component in that process is highlighting easy or difficult matchups for players. While an easy matchup does not guarantee a player to have a great performance, it’s certainly a better bet. In this weekly piece, I shine the spotlight on a few different matchups to keep an eye out for as you make your lineup decisions. This is the Matchup Monitor!
Positive Matchups
The first group or player listed in each matchup here has an advantage and potential for greater upside against their opponent.
Tony Pollard vs Detroit Lions
The Cowboys still run Ezekiel Elliott as their RB1, but Tony Pollard has more burst and has starter value by himself. Pollard averaged 6.3 (No. 4) yards per touch through Week 5 and added 52 yards on 13 touches in Week 6. While he has just three top-30 fantasy finishes this season, Pollard is a threat for big plays any week as he chips away at Elliott’s workload. He’ll get a good shot at exploding Week 7 against the Lions.
Tony Pollard Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Detroit had allowed back-to-back games of over 150 yards rushing prior to their bye. The Lions allow chunk plays often, and they are in shootouts frequently with their lowly defense. With Pollard being the greater big-play threat of the Cowboy RBs, he has a shot at shredding Detroit and hitting the high end of his range of outcomes. Bye weeks are here, and Pollard is a good fill-in this week.
Matt Ryan at Tennessee Titans
The Colts are a strange team. They have struggled all season but have also beaten the Chiefs and are at .500. Prior to Week 6, Matt Ryan had 17 (No. 2) danger plays but an 80.5-percent (No. 9) Catchable Pass Rate. Ryan is a short-yardage thrower and has an emerging receiving corps with Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce leading the way. Coming off a 389-yard, three-touchdown performance, Ryan is trending upwards for Week 7.
Matt Ryan Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Titans allowed four straight games of at least 300 passing yards prior to their bye. This includes 356 yards to Ryan a few weeks ago. Tennessee’s secondary has struggled, and teams have a history of high passing volume against it. Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins, and Jalen Hurts are all on bye this week. Ryan is a solid fill-in with an excellent matchup this week.
Kenneth Walker at Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers run defense has continuously allowed big games this season. Los Angeles had given up over 130 rushing yards per game prior to Week 6. Then, they allowed over 90 rushing yards to the Broncos. While Melvin Gordon was on this list for playing the Chargers last week, he didn’t deliver due to being benched. Yet, ol’ reliable Latavius Murray still ran for 66 yards.
Kenneth Walker Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Meanwhile, Kenneth Walker is officially the lead back in Seattle. Prior to Week 6, Walker averaged 5.24 (No. 2) Yards Created Per Touch and just totaled 110 yards in Week 6. He is the lead rusher and has the potential to get the pass-catching volume as well. Facing a poor run defense, fire up Walker as someone to win you your week and potentially your league.
Kenneth Walker has 22 missed tackles forced on just 44 rushing attempts 🤯
Highest rate in the NFL 👀 pic.twitter.com/4rckFX8GM3
— PFF (@PFF) October 17, 2022
Negative Matchups
The first group or player listed in each matchup here has a disadvantage and a greater potential for a lesser fantasy output than usual against their opponent.
Broncos WRs vs New York Jets
The Jets’ defense is coming off an excellent game shutting down Aaron Rodgers en route to victory. New York has five interceptions and nine sacks over its last three games. They’ve shown the ability to bring pressure and shut down receivers. Rookie Sauce Gardner has looked fantastic, and D.J. Reed has been solid as well. Both are in the top 25 of PlayerProfiler’s Cornerback Rankings.
Courtland Sutton Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Denver’s offense has often sputtered this season. Courtland Sutton has been a serviceable fantasy asset while Jerry Jeudy has been on and off. Russell Wilson has disappointed which has led to shaky fantasy output from Denver weapons. Facing a good secondary and a defense that has been riding high the last few games, Denver WRs are unlikely to produce a big output for fantasy.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire at the San Francisco 49ers
Finally coming back way down to earth, Clyde Edwards-Helaire has less than 40 yards in each of his last two games. Week 4 was the only time he saw double-digit carries and more than 13 touches. Splitting snaps with Jerick McKinnon, Edwards-Helaire’s fantasy production has dwindled.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
San Francisco’s defense is stout even after last week’s loss to Atlanta. The 49ers have allowed over 100 yards rushing twice this season, and opponents are inefficient against them, averaging less than 4 yards per carry. McKinnon is beginning to see as many targets as Edwards-Helaire now, and red zone opportunities have also trended down the last couple of weeks for him. 49ers line backers and safeties are good in coverage, so don’t expect to rely on heavy receiving work for Edwards-Helaire to boom. Fantasy gamers should keep avoiding CEH this week especially with a subpar matchup.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire was No. 3 RB in fantasy points this week…on his NFL team.
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) October 17, 2022
Ryan Tannehill vs Indianapolis Colts
On the flip side of the Colts-Titans matchup is Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill has averaged 13.6 (No. 27) fantasy points per game this season with the Titans passing 26.2 (No. 30) times per game. Tannehill is throwing to an unflattering receiving corps, with Treylon Burks now out for some time.
Ryan Tannehill Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Colts’ defense has been solid against the pass. They’ve held opponents to less than 200 passing yards in two of their last three games. They held the Titans to 137 passing yards in a Week 4 loss. Derrick Henry had 22 carries in that game and gashed Indianapolis inside. Expect the Titans to use a similar game plan and run Henry over trusting Tannehill with subpar receivers. Look elsewhere for a bye-week fill-in.
