This is the first in a weekly column where we will examine the match ups for the weekends games, both good and bad. The purpose of this article is to help you to decide what players on your roster have good match ups, and which ones have bad. The hope is to guide you with some basic stats who to play, and who to sit.
Week 5 in the NFL has some great games ahead, and some bad ones. These teams have good opportunity against their opponents defense.
Cincinnati Bengals: Start your Bengals running backs this week against the Patriots. Ranked at 23rd in rushing defense, the Patriots are having issues stopping their opponents on the ground. Through four games this season the Patriots have given up 519 yards and 4.4 yards per carry. At 129 rushing yards per game allowed, this patriots defense is soft. I would feel very good about starting Giovani Bernard in your running back slot, and wouldn't have an issue using Jeremy Hill as a flex. The Pats have had a better passing defense, but of course they have. You can run on them.
Philadelphia Eagles: Start your Eagles running backs against the Rams this week as well. This should be a get right game for LeSean McCoy and a good game for Darren Sproles too. The Rams are the 30th ranked rushing defense so far this season. Having given up 465 yards in only three games so far this season, and a robust 5.1 yards per carry, makes this a juicy match up for the Eagles under performing backs.155 yards per game and four touchdowns allowed on the season leaves hope that the Eagles can run and score on Sunday.
New York Giants: Start all of your Giants against the Atlanta Falcons this week. The Falcons have a terrible defense. The Giants have a new offense that has looked great the last few weeks. Ranked 28th against the run, the Falcons are giving up 4.5 yards per carry and have given up 615 yards through their first four games. Allowing 155 yards a game and having given up an astounding NINE touchdowns in four games, the Falcons are like a bonus round for Rashad Jennings. The passing defense for Atlanta isn't any better. Ranked 30th against the pass, Atlanta is giving up 276 yards per game through the air. They have allowed 14 passing plays of 20+ yards, and 5 40+ yard plays. Victor Cruz should be salsa dancing all over the field. Keep an eye on what Odell Beckham does if he plays as well. Atlanta could prove to be a soft landing spot for the rookie.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers have a mess in the back, so throw it out front. They play the New York Jets in week 5, and if you are going to score against them, the air seems like the way to go about it. The Jets have allowed only 228 yards a game, but they have given up 9 passing touchdowns on the season. Some of the lack of yardage for their opponents can be accounted for by understanding that the Jets offense has been bad, giving up short fields a lot to opposing teams. Phillip Rivers, Keenan Allen, and if he's healthy Malcolm Floyd are all good starts against this defense for the Chargers. Antonio Gates is a wildcard, having a great week 2, and not much else. Eddie Royal is a PPR machine the last few weeks, and may be able to keep that going this week against a bad Jets secondary.
Conversely, there are some teams that have bad games on the schedule for week five. Let's take a look at those games as well.
Washington: We all know that the Seahawks defense is good. Ranked 5th against the run, it seems that it may be a long day for Alfred Morris. Allowing only 72 yards a game and only one touchdown through three games, the Seahawks defense is solid against the run. The passing defense is appearing softer so far, but lets recall they only had a bad game against San Diego, where Phillip Rivers and Antonio Gates had amazing games. Against Denver and Green Bay, Seattle played much tougher, dominating seven of eight quarters in those games. A lapse in the fourth quarter against Denver allowed them to get back in it. That being said, Kirk Cousins is no Peyton Manning. Coming off a terrible game against the Giants in week 4, cousins threw four interceptions last week, and only completed 57.6% of his passes. Add to that a lost fumble, and this certainly wasn't a game to write home about. Left tackle Trent Williams is reportedly still banged up as well, not a good thing against a solid Seattle front line. If you have a choice, I would sit my Washington players this week in favor of better match ups.
Detroit Lions: The Detroit Lions running backs have a tough draw this week against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills come into week 5 with the 3rd ranked rush defense in the NFL. Allowing only 71.5 yards per game on the ground and no touchdowns, running against them seems to be a monumental task. Add to that the fact that Joique Bell and Theo Riddick are unlikely to play, and this match up looks even worse for the Lions. They signed George Winn off of their practice squad this week. Reggie Bush is a decent back, but if this is a one man show, I like the odds of the Bills defense.
Denver Broncos: Sit Montee Ball. Underwhelming so far this season, this is not likely to be his breakout week for the Broncos who play the Arizona Cardinals in week 5. Arizona is the 4th ranked rush defense in the league, giving up only 71.7 yards a game and 2.9 yards per carry. In fact I would not be surprised if this week you saw a bit more of C.J. Anderson in the backfield if Ball struggles early. Someone has to spark the running game, and Ball may be running out of time.
Indianapolis Colts: Indianapolis has a tandem of running backs at their disposal. Trent Richardson, while looking slightly better last week, has been an overall disappointment. He has been averaging 3.3 yards a carry, actually an improvement, and 50.8 yards per game. This week the Colts play the Baltimore Ravens, the 7th ranked run defense. Giving up only 82.5 yards a game and only allowing 2 rushing touchdowns on the season, this week figures to be a difficult game for Richardson. Ahmad Bradshaw has been getting his fair share of the work out of the Colts backfield, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, but was a little banged up after last weeks game. Bradshaw was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday, so expect him to play, but the Ravens are a good defensive unit, and it won't be easy.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers backfield is a mess. Losing Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead was not a good thing for the Chargers rushing attack. The likes of Donald Brown have a very difficult match up ahead of them in the New York Jets. The Jets are 1st against the run, allowing only 63.2 yards a game and only 1 touchdown on the season. I wouldn't play any of the Chargers running backs this week.
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