BEST PASSING MATCHUPS
To view all of our Week 3 Matchup content, please see the links below:
Top 5 Passing Matchups Week 3
Bottom 5 Passing Matchups Week 3
Top 5 Rushing Matchups Week 3
Bottom 5 Rushing Matchups Week 3
Rushing Matchup Chart Week 3
Passing Matchup Chart Week 3
Dallas at Seattle
The Cowboys passing game has been built with dynamism and diversity in mind, and it paid off handsomely in last Sunday’s wild rally. After a Week 1 full of checkdowns, Prescott stormed the Falcons for the final three quarters, ending with 450 yards at 9.6 per attempt. In Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb, Prescott is stacked with explosive weapons to target on all levels of the field. As a team, they’re well-equipped to post big numbers regardless of opponent or game script.
The Seahawks enter Week 3 on the worst two-game pass defense stretch of the Pete Carroll era. They’ve allowed Matt Ryan and Cam Newton to throw for 450 and 397 yards respectively, with 4 different wideouts recording 114 yards or more. (In fact, 6 receivers have topped 72, including the likes of Russell Gage and Damiere Byrd.) The cornerback group took on more depth in the offseason, adding Quinton Dunbar to start opposite 2019 breakout star Shaquil Griffin. But neither Dunbar nor Griffin has been able to contain the downfield throw thus far, helping opponents to a 116.3 passer rating when targeting wideouts. The Seahawks will also suit up at less than full strength this week, with edge man Bruce Irvin out for the year and nickel back Marquise Blair unlikely to play. Blair is the bigger loss - he isn’t a special player, but his absence will put even more pressure on Jamal Adams, who struggled noticeably against New England, to make plays on the throw. This is shaping up as another blow-up spot for Prescott, provided he keeps trusting his receivers through the Seahawks’ shaky press coverage.
Chicago at Atlanta
The Bears have to be happy with what they’ve gotten over the first two weeks from Mitchell Trubisky. He’s been anything but perfect, with miscues and turnovers scattered throughout, but remains capable of sticking tough downfield throws here and there. Few thus far have gone the way of top wideout Allen Robinson, though his volume is still in place (18 targets) entering a fantastic matchup. Anthony Miller was non-existent in this offense last week as he did not record a catch last week and was outplayed by Darnell Mooney as the number two receiver in Chicago.
The Falcons pass defense remains arguably the most vulnerable in football. Through two weeks they’ve allowed opposing passers to complete an astounding 79% of their throws. It’s not small-ball either: Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott combined to throw deep 15 times, resulting in 288 yards (plus another 41 via pass interference) and a touchdown. Last Sunday, Prescott showed no difficulty surging down the field for one productive drive after another. Simply put, this is not a secondary that can paper over the loss of star cornerback Desmond Trufant. Rookie A.J. Terrell has been victimized several times, as have Isaiah Oliver and Darqueze Dennard, and the safety play has been atrocious. Trubisky and the Bears never look like a sound play in a vacuum, but it’s fair to boost everyone’s projections in a dome matchup against this group.
Jacksonville vs Miami
The Jaguars have clearly overachieved thus far through the air, but they’re not complaining. Gardner Minshew has shined, taking advantage of a pass-happy game script to complete 75% of his throws at 7.9 yards apiece, with 3 touchdowns in each game. Minshew is a punchline in some football circles, but has proven over his 15 starts that he’s a capable downfield passer - and that he can make solid use of the team’s diverse receiving corps. D.J. Chark, Keelan Cole, and rookie Laviska Shenault offer wide skillsets for Minshew to draw from.
The Dolphins entered the year excited over a new star cornerback tandem, but have yet to truly see the fruits of it. Xavien Howard, working back gradually from a serious knee injury, stepped up his snap count in Week 2 but was more of a liability than a boon. His lack of game shape was plain to see when Buffalo’s John Brown beat him badly for a 46-yard touchdown to all but seal the game. And on the other side, prized free-agent acquisition Byron Jones went down early with a groin injury that kept him out the final 3+ quarters. Replacement Noah Igbinoghene, the No. 30 pick of this year’s draft, slogged through a poor day of his own. He was charged with allowing a pair of touchdowns, plus a crucial Stefon Diggs long ball in the fourth quarter. Jones’ status bears monitoring, as he’s a massive upgrade on Igbinoghene at this point. But even if he presses into the lineup, this is a very beatable matchup, particularly by the deep ball.
Indianapolis vs NY Jets
The Colts certainly aren’t lighting the NFL ablaze through the air. This is a decidedly run-first offense, and Philip Rivers looks like a shell of his prime self. Through 2 weeks he’s completed 78% of his throws, but come up short in the red zone and deep down the field. There have been big-play opportunities, but a rash of drops and Rivers’ own limitations have hindered this attack. Things will only get tougher with breakout receiver Parris Campbell forced to miss time. Campbell was carted off the field Sunday with a knee injury; he avoided an ACL tear, but definitely won’t suit up Sunday.
The Jets, however, should make it easy for Rivers and his receivers to find gaps. In Week 1 they allowed Josh Allen to start rewriting his narrative, completing 33 of 46 throws for 312 yards and 2 touchdowns. And last Sunday, the 49ers’ ultra-cautious attack hit on 22 of its 27 attempts, with Jordan Reed catching a pair of short touchdowns. The Jets are beatable both underneath and down the field, where they’ve yet to piece together a cohesive cornerback group. Young Blessuan Austin keeps showing promise, but Pierre Desir and Quincy Wilson have been shaky and shuffled on and off the field. And safety Bradley McDougald is proving an extremely poor substitute for Jamal Adams, particularly in coverage. If Rivers’ deep balls to T.Y. Hilton and are going to start connecting, this is an ideal matchup to kick things off.
Arizona vs Detroit
The Cardinals have yet to truly open up their passing game. Kyler Murray has impressed through 2 weeks, completing 67% of his throws in a pair of wins, but posted just 6.6 yards per attempt and 2 touchdowns along the way. It’s been an encouraging start overall for the youngster, but fantasy players are still waiting for a blow-up day through the air. There hasn’t been much of a downfield game; Murray has only attempted 10 deep balls (15+ yards downfield) thus far. DeAndre Hopkins hasn’t had trouble producing, though, with 22 receptions already. And in Week 2, coach Kliff Kingsbury began to make good on his stated plans to involve speedster Andy Isabella (67 yards) a bit more.
The Lions pass defense doesn’t look likely to offer much resistance. They’ve opened the year snakebitten by injuries at cornerback, allowing Mitchell Trubisky and Aaron Rodgers to produce 7.9 yards per attempt and throw 5 touchdowns over their last 5 quarters. Last Sunday, Rodgers faced virtually no pocket pressure and pushed the ball effortlessly down the field while the game was competitive. With top cornerback Desmond Trufant and slot man Justin Coleman both sidelined by hamstring injuries - Coleman is now on IR - rookie Jeff Okudah was tested early and often, and he didn’t fare well. He gave up several catches and was burned badly on a crucial fourth-quarter deep ball that helped the Packers ice the game. Trufant’s playing status will carry some weight for Week 3 considerations; he boasts a shutdown reputation and could make things difficult on the outside for Hopkins. But either way, this looks like a prime matchup for a red-hot Murray, who’s unafraid to test soft zone coverage with high volume.
