Welcome to The Fantasy Football Universe Week 3 Fantasy Football IDP Matchup Guide. This column will not tell you specifically who you should start or sit with, rather it will show you which players have the best and worst matchups from there. This isn’t meant to convince you to sit your studs in favor of streaming options it’s intended to help you determine which lower-ranked players could be streaming options best on a favorable matchup and which studs could be in for a down week based on a bad matchup.
*The information average of the team logo indicates the team and their matchup. I chose to list it by team instead of by players due to the wide variety of options at each position. Instead of “Sauce Gardner” it will simply say “Jets DB”. It’s up to you to decide which player from that position you like best. The other reason for this is due to the nature of the position. Some defenders will shadow a specific player while others will stay on their side of the field. This can be unpredictable and is open to interpretation and personal preference. The number next to that position group indicates their opponent’s matchup against that position. 1 indicates the best fantasy matchup for that position, while 32 indicates the worst.
The information under the team logo shows their opponent and the deviation from the average points allowed to that position.
Defensive Lineman Matchups
Must Start: Tuli Tuipulotu may not be a household name in the fantasy community, but he is a solid performer in IDP leagues. In Week 3, he faces a Steelers offense that ranks as the third-best matchup for opposing defensive linemen. The Steelers have allowed 39.1% more fantasy points per game to the position and have been so run-heavy that they make for a lineman tackle bonanza. Start him with confidence this week.
Must Sit: Sit Sebastian Joseph-Day of the Titans this week. He faces off with the Green Bay Packers who have allowed 34.8% less production to defensive linemen than the league average. This has been made worse with Malik Willis under center as opposing defenses are getting nearly enough opportunities to produce for IDP managers. Leave him on your bench this week and wait for a more favorable matchup to get him back in your starting lineup.
Linebacker Matchups
Must Start: In Week 3, Bobby Okereke and the Giants face off against the Cleveland Browns, who are currently the best matchup for linebackers in fantasy football. The Browns have struggled on offense and have translated into a whopping 70.2% fantasy points per game more than the league average for the position and are a sure bet for the ultra-productive Okereke. In this matchup, Okereke has the potential to be the LB1 this week.
Must Sit: David Long is a must-sit this week against a Seattle Seahawks offense that has limited opposing linebackers to 28% below the league average. That ranks as the 3rd worst matchup for linebackers and is a situation to avoid for Long and the Dolphins linebacking corps. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being placed on IR makes this situation slightly murkier, but regardless of whether the Dolphins start Skylar Thompson or Tyler Huntley, it’s tough to project exactly what impact it will have on opposing defenders. This is a situation to avoid if you can afford to.
Defensive Back Matchups
Must Start: Budda Baker and the Cardinals go up against the Detroit Lions this week and they have been a fantasy goldmine for opposing defensive backs. The Lions have allowed 42.4% more fantasy points per game than the league average and have been the 2nd best matchup for opposing defensive backs. The Lions have struggled to throw the ball this year and have been more than happy to turn the ball over frequently. Baker is a must-start in IDP formats and should give you an elite ceiling this week against a soft matchup.
Must Sit: Sit Christian Gonzalez in what projects to be a slow and sloppy game against the New York Jets. The Jets are the 3rd worst matchup for opposing defensive backs and have held opponents to 32.8% fewer fantasy points than the league average. The Jets are so run-heavy that they simply haven’t allowed many opportunities for opposing defensive backs to produce. Add in Aaron Rodgers playing ultra-conservative and protecting the ball well and this is a game to avoid in Week 3.
If you enjoyed our Week 3 Fantasy Football IDP Matchup Guide, check out our weekly Sit & Start column to see all the players we are targeting and fading this week, and head over to The FFU YouTube Channel to see our daily videos.
