2022 Matchup Monitor Week 4

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 4!

Positive Matchups

The first group or player listed in each matchup here has an advantage and potential for greater upside against their opponent.

Gabriel Davis vs Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have struggled against the pass, allowing the most passing yards per game so far this season. Baltimore lost slot CB Kyle Fuller for the season in Week 1 and has since rotated Marlon Humphrey in and out of the slot, leaving Brandon Stephens and rookie Jalyn Armour-Davis to cover the outside opposite Marcus Peters. DeVante Parker just had a big game against them, and Gabriel Davis looks to be next.

Baltimore will have its hands full containing Stefon Diggs, opening up Davis. Davis had a 100-percent Route Participation and 98.3-percent Snap Share in Week 1, operating at full speed in the Buffalo offense. Coming off injury, he saw similar usage in Week 3. With Davis being a WR2 in a high-powered offense with opportunity, expect a bigger game than usual from him facing a struggling secondary.

There were thoughts that Gabe Davis might be limited in his return to the field. He was not. He led the team in snaps (87/91) & routes run (70/73.)

h/t @PFF_NateJahnke

— Ryan McDowell (@RyanMc23) September 25, 2022

Jamaal Williams vs Seattle Seahawks

Working next to D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams has four touchdowns and nearly 200 yards from scrimmage this season. Williams had a 44.8-percent (No. 34) Opportunity Share with 10 (No. 1) red zone touches prior to a fruitful Week 3. After Swift was injured in Week 3, Williams took off, finishing with 107 total yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota.

The Seahawks have allowed over 100 rushing yards in each of their three games this season. Seattle mostly recently yielded 153 total yards and a touchdown to Cordarrelle Patterson, and now faces a Detroit offense that has been surprisingly successful. The Lions have scored at least three touchdowns every game this season. Swift may not play in Week 4 which elevates Williams even further against a defense that struggles to defend the run.

D’Andre Swift is expected to miss some time with a shoulder injury.

Jamaal Williams in Week 3:
🦁 20 Carries
🦁 2 Receptions
🦁 107 Yards From Scrimmage
🦁 2 TDs

Jamaal Williams looks ready to carry the load for #OnePridehttps://t.co/b4IP30PBK7 pic.twitter.com/sTru0wHVP1

— PlayerProfiler NFL (@Profiler_NFL) September 26, 2022

Mike Gesicki at Cincinnati Bengals

While Miami is 3-0 with a fast offense, Mike Gesicki only has six receptions on the season. However, he is an athletic beast, with PlayerProfiler workout metrics all in the 95^th-percentile or higher. Last season, he finished with a 24.4-percent (No. 5) Air Yards Share and 73 (No. 5) receptions, showing he has been utilized as a top target before.

Cincinnati is an excellent matchup for Gesicki to break out against this season. The Bengals allowed at least seven catches to TEs in Weeks 1 and 3 this season. Week 2 was the exception against the Cooper Rush Cowboys. The Dolphin WRs will get their share of receiving work, but Gesicki will see opportunities over the middle with his athleticism and size against smaller Bengal linebackers. Fire up Gesicki this week in a positive matchup.

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.

James Robinson at Philadelphia Eagles

Coming back from Achilles injury, James Robinson has been miraculously productive. However, he had a 57.2-percent (No. 21) Snap Share and 3.4 (No. 46) True Yards Per Carry in Weeks 1 and 2, so he still cedes snaps to Travis Etienne with lesser efficiency. Robinson was more efficient and had the majority of the snaps over Etienne in a Week 3 blowout win, but exercise caution based on his matchup.

The Eagles have not allowed 100 yards rushing each of their last two games, with D’Andre Swift the sole 100-yard rushing opponent in Week 1. Philadelphia has tended to lead big in games, leading to a pass-heavy opponent Game Script. Robinson was closer to a 50/50 Snap Share split with Etienne in a close Week 1 game, while he had more snaps in Week 2 and 3 blowouts. Expect a soaring Eagles team to be competitive against Jacksonville, leading to more Etienne passing-down snaps. Robinson does not project for a good matchup this week.

Jakobi Meyers & DeVante Parker at Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay defense held Tampa Bay to 12 points in Week 3 and has a formidable secondary, led by Jaire Alexander. Slot corner Rasul Douglas ranks top-40 in PlayerProfiler’s Cornerback Rankings and will now face Jakobi Meyers. DeVante Parker will likely face Alexander (or former first-rounder Eric Stokes if Alexander can’t go).

The Patriots overall do not have an arsenal of weapons or a high-powered offense. The offense will only struggle more with Brian Hoyer at QB if Mac Jones cannot play with an ankle injury. Meyers and Parker are the top two WR fantasy plays in New England, but neither are surefire alphas. Both will be matched up against top tier Green Bay cornerbacks and will rely on a touchdown for fantasy relevancy. Meyers and Parker face an uphill battle for fantasy production this week.

Kirk Cousins at New Orleans Saints

The Vikings and Kirk Cousins have had their offensive ups and downs this season. Cousins has five touchdowns to three interceptions this season though all his interceptions came in Week 2. Through the first two games of the season, Cousins had 5.9 (No. 31) Air Yards Per Attempt, with 5.2 (No. 26) Adjusted Yards Per Attempt. This was followed up with completing 58.5-percent of his passes in Week 3.

The Saints have yet to allow over 215 passing yards in a game this season. Despite a lack of turnovers, opposing QBs are completing less than 60-percent of their passes against New Orleans this season. Marshon Lattimore heads up a stifling secondary that looks to give Justin Jefferson and company fits. Cousins’ weapons will be neutralized, and he will not have enough value to be a good fantasy play this week.

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