Go here for this week's Passing Matchups.

Top 5 Rushing Matchups

Houston vs Buffalo

The big question for the Texans this week will be the health of Joe Mixon, as he did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, although there remains some optimism that he could return this week.  In a limited sample size, we’ve seen that this is a much better offense with Mixon in the lineup than with Cam Akers through the first four weeks. With Mixon, the Texans showed that if they need to, they’ll run the ball 30 times to get the victory as Mixon dominated his only full game of the season, rushing for 159 yards against the Colts. With Akers, however, this is a completely different offense as everything just becomes much more predictable. Akers struggles to catch the ball, so when he’s in the game, it’s extremely likely going to be a running play compared to Dare Ogunbowale, who is the receiving back. With Mixon, he provides that dynamic threat that allows this offense to be less predictable and has more success on the ground as defenses must defend against one of the league’s best wide receiver trios in Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell, who should return from injury this week.

Buffalo has undergone a significant number of changes within their defense over the last several seasons, and it is starting to catch up with them. This offseason, the Bills lost their elite run-stopping safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, replacing them with a significant drop-off in Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp. Injuries and suspensions have also hit the Bills as the team lost their star linebacker Matt Milano before the season with a torn bicep, linebacker Terrel Bernard who was the team’s leading tackler in 2023 is dealing with a pectoral injury and was a limited participant in practice, and along the defensive line this week Von Miller was suspended for four games. Through the first four weeks of the season, the Bills have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing running backs, as James Conner, De'Von Achane, and Derrick Henry all put up massive games against this defense with Henry last week topping them all with 199 yards a touchdown and adding a receiving touchdown.

Chicago vs Carolina

After the first three weeks, the Bears’ rushing attack was on pace to be one of the worst that we’ve seen in multiple years. However, that quickly changed as they took advantage of the Rams' depleted defense, as D'Andre Swift ran for 93 yards on 16 carries, including a 36-yard touchdown. This is a team that wants to be able to run the ball with their trio of Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Khalil Herbert, but is significantly impacted by the offensive line which remains amongst the league’s worst. In the three games before his 93yard outbreak, Swift had just 68 total yards on 37 carries, with 20 of those 68 yards coming on one carry. The big question going forward will be which offense we see going forward, as Swift still has an overwhelming command on the snap count being on the field for about 65% of the plays, but the team needs to establish a more consistent running game this season to help Caleb Williams and this passing attack be more consistent.

After being one of the worst run defenses in 2023, did very little to improve the unit in 2024 and it is showing. Through the first four games of the season, the Panthers have allowed at least 80 rushing yards per game in three of those four games as Alvin Kamara, J.K. Dobbins, and Chase Brown all topped 80 yards and scored a touchdown. Touchdowns have been a big problem for the Panthers on the ground as they’ve allowed seven touchdowns to opposing running backs through the first four weeks which is second in the NFL. While the roster took a downgrade losing Frankie Luvu and replacing him with Josey Jewell over the offseason, injuries could also be a major factor this week. Leading tackler Shaq Thompson was lost for the season with a torn Achilles injury, while Jewell is looking unlikely to play this week with a hamstring injury. While most teams can withstand injuries at the linebacker position, Carolina is not in that position as they don’t have the run-stoppers along the defensive line to free up the linebackers from having to shed blocks. Derrick Brown, the team’s one bright spot was lost for the season at defensive tackle. This is a situation where the team will need to rely on third-round rookie Trevin Wallace and undrafted second-year linebacker Claudin Cherelus to overcome one of the worst defensive lines in the NFL, all while having to call the plays as Wallace will be expected to be the defensive signal caller which is an extremely difficult task for a rookie who likely has been thrown into it given Jewell was likely the backup for Thompson given his veteran status.