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Go here for this week's Rushing Matchups.

Top 5 Passing Matchups

NY Giants at Washington

The New York Giants' passing attack remains one of the weaker units in the NFL, with Daniel Jones continuing to struggle as a consistent passer. On top of that, the team has stripped itself of key playmakers, making it hard to recommend any fantasy upside from this offense. However, in fantasy football, matchups often dictate sleeper opportunities, and the Giants' two meetings with the Washington Commanders last year suggest a potential bright spot. In those games, Giants quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito combined for a 65% completion rate, racking up 525 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The Commanders' secondary has struggled for quite some time and still lacks viable cornerbacks, which could make this a breakout opportunity for rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. In Week 1, the Giants leaned on Nabers in the second half, and he responded with 5 catches for 66 yards in his debut. The Commanders also continue to struggle to defend the slot, which bodes well for Wan'Dale Robinson, who saw a team-high 12 targets in the opener. Robinson has been a consistent target for Jones, drawing 22% of the team's targets over the last six games, making him a solid checkdown option in the short passing game.

If Week 1 is any indication, Washington's pass defense will continue to be a liability in 2024. Last season, they ranked 31st in the league against the pass, allowing an average of 272 passing yards per game. Six teams threw for over 300 yards against them, and 13 wide receivers posted 90-yard games or better. Their issues persisted into Week 1 of this season, where Tampa Bay's Mike Evans and Chris Godwin took turns exploiting the Commanders' secondary. Even rookie Jalen McMillan found himself wide open on a 32-yard blown coverage touchdown. The Commanders' once-feared pass rush has also been dismantled, leaving the secondary vulnerable. First-round pick Emmanuel Forbes struggled mightily as a rookie and continues to look out of sorts, while slot corner Benjamin St-Juste, who allowed more yards than any other defensive back in 2023, remains a significant liability. If any defense can make the Giants' passing game viable for fantasy, it's this one, presenting a favorable opportunity for Giants wide receivers.

LA Rams at Arizona

In Week 1, Matthew Stafford and the Rams nearly pulled off a late comeback against the Detroit Lions. Stafford, who struggled early in the game, saw a dramatic improvement as the game progressed, with his passer rating soaring from 56.4 to 117.2 after halftime. Despite Stafford's resilience, the Lions' pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson was a game-wrecker, consistently pressuring Stafford with five hurries, three quarterback hits, and a sack. The Rams' offensive line had no answer for Hutchinson, who single-handedly disrupted their offensive flow. Fortunately for the Rams, Week 2 brings a much more manageable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, who lack the pass-rushing prowess of someone like Hutchinson. While the potential absence of Puka Nacua is notable, it shouldn't hinder the Rams' passing game too much. Stafford's connection with a fully healthy Cooper Kupp is in peak form, as evidenced by Kupp's dominant Week 1 performance. Kupp was targeted 21 times, hauling in 14 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, Demarcus Robinson has emerged as a reliable third option, with 21 catches for 306 yards and three touchdowns over his last five games, adding depth to the receiving corps.

The Cardinals' defense, however, presents a prime opportunity for the Rams' passing attack. In 2023, Arizona ranked among the bottom three in nearly every major defensive category. While they finished 11th in passing yardage allowed, this stat is deceptive, as they ranked 30th in net yards per attempt, indicating that teams didn't need to throw often to exploit their weak secondary. In Week 1, Buffalo's Josh Allen completed 18 of 23 passes to nine different receivers, with two touchdowns, without facing significant pressure from the Cardinals' lackluster pass rush. Arizona's current top pass rushers, Zaven Collins and Dennis Gardeck, have combined for just 19.5 sacks across 141 career games, leaving opposing quarterbacks with plenty of time in the pocket. Sean Murphy-Bunting is a serviceable cornerback, but he's not a shutdown defender capable of locking down elite wide receivers like Kupp. Without any true playmakers on defense and with no signs of improvement on the horizon, the Cardinals remain one of the NFL's weakest defensive units.