Fantasy football trends and funnel defenses are becoming apparent as the sample size grows for GameDay Edge. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a great example of a funnel defense. It is so hard to run the ball on their front seven, and Tom Brady is defying Father Time, leading an explosive passing game. Therefore, opposing teams are passing at an alarming rate and succeeding as long as pass blocking holds up against Tampa’s front seven. Buccaneers are yielding the second-most points to QBs and the fifth most points to WRs so far in fantasy football.
Here are some interesting stats for three exciting games this week. As the season moves forward, I will attempt to highlight matchups of secondary players to help with lineups. Players like Christian Kirk and Josh Jacobs/Peyton Barber have favorable matchups this week.
Los Angeles Rams vs Arizona Cardinals
- LA Rams slot corner David Long has yielded a 53.8% completion percentage at an 11.3 YPC rate. David Long will likely draw Arizona’s Christian Kirk or Rondale Moore in coverage.
- Rams LB Kenny Young is T-4th most when it comes to giving up yardage after the catch, at 89 yards. Young gives up an 81.3% completion rate with the ball traveling only one yard in the air per completion but yielding 6.84 YAC per completion. Start all pass-catching TEs & RBs against the Rams in fantasy football.
- Arizona Cardinals run a 4WR set at 21%, which laps the league average of 2% with Carolina being a distant second at 15%.
- Arizona Cardinals Defense is giving up 4.5 YPA on runs which is the second-highest in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers
- Green Bay Packers defense is T-1st for most passing touchdowns yielded through three weeks, at nine total passing touchdowns.
- Pittsburgh Steelers are second-highest in pass percentage at 73.40% only tailing Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 75.38%.
- GB Packers’ slot cornerback (King/Sullivan) have notoriously given up a lot of YPT. Before King was ruled out for Week 3, he gave up an 85.7% completion percentage at 21.9 YPT and one touchdown. Sullivan played in King’s absence. Through three games, Sullivan has given up an 83.3% completion percentage at 12.1 YPT and two touchdowns.
- Running backs are averaging 7 receptions per game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Aaron Jones is averaging 7.5 YPR in three games.
Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers
- The LA Chargers defense is yielding 5.8 per rush attempt which ranks as the highest. The Raiders defense ranks fourth-most at 4.8 YPA in rush defense.
- The Raiders defense has only given up two passing touchdowns so far while giving up five rushing touchdowns. One of the receiving touchdowns was to running back Najee Harris.
- Austin Ekeler is averaging 82 rush yards before contact (YBC) and 84 rush yards after contact (YAC).
- Derek Carr is second with 136 pass attempts and Justin Herbert is fifth with 126 pass attempts. Whichever team runs the ball more will end up winning this game.
