Tristan H. Cockcroft
Oct 15, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
Making pugnacious lineup decisions each week tin beryllium the astir challenging portion of the fantasy football process. When you're torn betwixt 2 akin players and simply don't cognize which to start, commencement the subordinate with the superior matchup.
Ah, but precisely how does 1 find the champion (and worst) play matchups?
The matchup rankings supply a schedule-independent method to measure positional matchups each week, ranking each 32 opposing defenses successful bid of astir to slightest favorable for opposing players astatine each 4 accomplishment positions (quarterback, moving back, wide receiver and choky end). Instead of relying upon seasonal totals, we calibrate points-allowed information to amusement however each defence fared comparative to the trouble of the docket it has faced. This provides a fairer attack to judging the prime of idiosyncratic matchups.
"Adj. FPA," oregon adjusted phantasy points allowed, reflects however acold supra oregon beneath players' play PPR phantasy constituent averages that defence held opponents astatine that position. A affirmative fig means that the matchup is favorable; a antagonistic fig means it is unfavorable. Additionally, retrieve teams often usage aggregate moving backs and wide receivers successful a game, and these plus/minus averages screen all of a team's unit astatine that position.
Finally, a caveat: Matchups are lone one constituent successful my rankings formula. Not each favorable matchup should beryllium exploited, nor unfavorable matchup avoided. If you privation my -- and the ESPN phantasy staff's -- astir implicit root for whom to commencement and beryllium each week, consult our play rankings.
Quarterbacks
Matchups highlight: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Indianapolis Colts). He's a much salient portion of the Chargers' discourtesy this play than last, attempting a walk connected 57% of his snaps played (up from 51%), and the wounded to Omarion Hampton (ankle) should proceed to buoy that rate. Herbert volition beryllium plentifulness progressive successful a crippled projected to beryllium among the week's highest-scoring (48.5 over/under), against a Colts defence that has struggled to incorporate upper-tier quarterbacks. Bo Nix (20.24 phantasy points successful Week 2), Matthew Stafford (27.40, Week 4) and Jacoby Brissett (20.70, Week 6) each scored successful excess of 20 points against this defense.
Others to like: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (vs. New Orleans Saints); Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday); Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Detroit Lions).
Matchup to avoid: Read Entire Article

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