Pass Rush vs QB Matchups to Watch (Week 3)

September 23, 2018

Wai Sallas identifies quarterbacks to watch in Week 3 based on the opposing pass rush defense. These QB could be players to fade and avoid or to start and stream in fantasy football leagues.

With players like Patrick Mahomes and Ryan Fitzpatrick at the top of the fantasy football leaderboard, sometimes the difference between winning your week can be the very smallest of details. The pass rush vs QB matchups are often overlooked, but might be one of the most important.

Through two weeks of hot fantasy football action, Tampa Bay's offense looks like a Maserati, despite no semblance of a running game. Before the season started, Pro Football Focus ranked the Bucs offensive line as the 22nd best line in the league. After two weeks, Tampa Bay is ranked 11th. Matchups fluctuate, lines get better or worse as the season progresses.

After two weeks, here are the three best and worst matchups for Sunday to consider when setting your lineup. Also check out our Week 3 WR/CB matchups to target when you're done here!

Here Comes Trouble

Jacksonville Pass Rush vs. Blaine Gabbert or Marcus Mariota

Last week, Jacksonville made Tom Brady look like Blaine Gabbert. In Week 3, they actually play Gabbert. This Jaguars pass rush is not one to mess with. Against New England, Sacksonville made life uncomfortable for Brady, generating 18 pressures on the day. Through two weeks, the Jaguars have applied pressure on 14.4 percent of the opposing team's pass attempts. That is fourth best in the league.

Verdict: No Thank You

Dallas Pass Rush vs Russell Wilson

Whatever swagger that used to permeate from CenturyLink Field on game day is gone. Instead, it is Russell Wilson running around hoping for a few moments to throw the ball. The Seahawks are allowing the second largest percentage of pressure on passing attempts. On Sunday, he faces a team that, since last season, is creating pressure at the sixth-highest rate. The Seahawks allowed six sacks in each of the first two games.

Verdict: Start with extreme caution

Denver Pass Rush vs Joe Flacco

Any time you have to line up against Von Miller, expect very bad things to happen. Miller already has four sacks on the season, as the Broncos D has seven sacks, tied for fifth in the league. Denver is putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks on 12.9 percent of dropbacks, good enough for sixth. For the Ravens, they have had difficulty finding a solid group to fill the front line. A shaky crew is not a solid crew, especially when Mr. Miller is lurking.

Verdict: Hard Pass

Easy on Sunday Morning

Indianapolis Pass Rush vs. Carson Wentz

It's not an accident that Doug Pederson chose this week to start Wentz. The Colts have totaled 5 sacks in two games and give opponents around 2.7 seconds to throw the ball. Both those numbers are around the average. The Colts are tied for sixth worst, causing pressure on only 10.2 percent of the opposing team's pass attempts. Philadelphia on the other hand, employs the best offensive line in the business. Wentz will have plenty of time to throw. The only question is whether or not he'll be able to regain the chemistry that made him the MVP favorite before he got hurt in 2017.

Verdict: Do you like two touchdowns?

Detroit Pass Rush vs. Tom Brady

After getting harassed like a celebrity in Hollywood in Week 2, Brady will have an entirely different scenario in Week 3. The Lions have not been good on the defensive side of the ball. Sam Darnold had 3.2 seconds to find open receivers in a Week 1 blowout. Last week the pass rush was a lot better against San Francisco, getting to Jimmy Garrapolo six times in loss. Against Brady, however, expect a clean jersey for #12 in an easy victory on Sunday night.

Verdict: Start with the confidence of Phil Hellmuth at the poker table.

New York Giants Pass Rush vs Deshaun Watson

The Giants are awful. Through two games, New York has one sack and have created pressure on 8.5 percent of opponent's dropbacks. Both of those numbers are last in the league. On the other side of the ball, only Josh Allen has had more time to throw the ball than DeShaun Watson. When you combine the Run-Pass-Option and a non-existent pass rush, the math equates to the breakout game we have all been waiting for since Watson blew out his knee last season. It's coming.

Verdict: Comeback Game--Finally

More Week 3 Lineup Prep