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 Week 9!
Positive Matchups
The first group or player listed in each matchup here has an advantage and potential for greater upside against their opponent.
Rams RBs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay defense is no longer the great run defense it used to be. The Buccaneers have allowed over 150 rushing yards in four of their last five games with backs like D’Onta Foreman and Clyde Edwards-Helaire having big days against them. The front seven, Devin White especially, has struggled to contain the run.
Darrell Henderson Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Rams have an icky situation at RB with Darrell Henderson not getting full reigns, UDFA Ronnie Rivers getting the most touches last week, and Kyren Williams returning soon. Follow practice and injury news throughout the week to find which RB looks to be leading the backfield. Henderson is still the safest bet as he’s seen double-digit touches in four out of seven games this season. Follow the Rams’ RB news and grab a piece for this week because the Tampa matchup is too good to miss.
Trevor Lawrence vs Las Vegas Raiders
This season, Trevor Lawrence has had his fair share of both great and subpar fantasy performances. He has four top-12 fantasy finishes this season and entered Week 8 averaging 17.2 (No. 12) Fantasy Points Per Game. With targets like Christian Kirk and Zay Jones quietly putting up numbers, and the agile Travis Etienne catching passes out of the backfield, Lawrence has a solid supporting cast to score with.
Trevor Lawrence Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Entering Week 8, the Raiders were the No. 4 best matchup for QBs in both passing and rushing points allowed. Las Vegas’ defense has allowed 10 passing touchdowns and gotten just one interception over its last four games. This is a juicy enough matchup to where you must consider Lawrence in a week where six teams are on bye. Comfortably fire up Lawrence this week.
Robert Tonyan at Detroit Lions
Over the last three weeks, Robert Tonyan has seen a growing Snap Share and an increase in targets. Entering Week 8 with 0.44 (No. 6) Fantasy Points Per Route Run, Tonyan has grown back into one of Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite targets. With the Green Bay receiving corps disappointing, Tonyan has re-emerged as an intriguing fantasy asset.
Robert Tonyan Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Lions have allowed at least four receptions to opposing TE groups in five of their last six games. They have given up five TE touchdowns in that span. Detroit continues to be one of the worst passing defenses in the league. Expect Tonyan to see lots of volume against a weak defense. Fire him up in a week with so many TEs on bye.
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.
D.K. Metcalf at Arizona Cardinals
With Geno Smith at QB this season, D.K. Metcalf has had some good games and a few disappointing games. He has one top-12 finish this season with four double-digit fantasy point games. Despite his size and speed, Metcalf entered Week 8 with a 42.1-percent (No. 48) Contested Catch Rate. He relies on quality deep targets and red-zone looks, all of which he sees a decent amount of from Smith.
D.K. Metcalf Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Despite back-to-back poor showings, the Arizona secondary has been surprisingly solid against opposing WRs. They have allowed just two WR touchdowns in their last six games. Both of these came in the last two weeks to back-up WRs. Metcalf will face Byron Murphy, a top-20 CB in PlayerProfiler’s Cornerback Rankings. Metcalf was held to two receptions on seven targets last time against Arizona and Murphy. D.K. has a tough outlook this week.
David Montgomery vs Miami Dolphins
Khalil Herbert has slowly but surely eaten into David Montgomery‘s workload. While Montgomery is still the primary back, he has not been nearly as effective as Herbert. Montgomery entered Week 8 averaging 3.9 (No. 47) True Yards Per Carry while Herbert averaged 5.5 (No. 4). In Week 8, Herbert had one more carry than Montgomery with 46 more rush yards.
David Montgomery Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Dolphins run defense has held opposing RBs to under 100 rushing yards in three straight games. Miami’s front seven is effective and has had success in stopping the run. Game Script often also plays a role, where Miami is up big on opponents who have to start throwing, which can easily happen against Chicago. Montgomery will still see a sizable number of touches for fantasy relevancy but faces a tough matchup this week with a more effective RB nipping at his heels.
Khalil Herbert continues to outplay David Montgomery on fewer touches 😮 pic.twitter.com/b5rEFjHuPl
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) October 25, 2022
T.J. Hockenson at Washington Commanders
Washington’s defense continues to be effective against opposing TEs. The Commanders have not allowed more than three receptions, or more than 40 TE receiving yards, in five straight games. They have not allowed a TE touchdown in that span either.
T.J. Hockenson Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
T.J. Hockenson has three games of double-digit fantasy points this season and accumulated nearly half his yardage in Week 4. He will now be integrated into a new offense in Minnesota. However, playing next to Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and company will mean lower volume for Hockenson, especially in his first game as a Viking. It’s not an ideal week to be choosy about TEs with so many teams on bye, but Hockenson is in for a disappointing week against Washington.
