Welcome to Going Deep! This weekly article will make use of charting data, advanced metrics, and other RotoViz tools — specifically the newly released Passing Game Matchup Rater — to help readers better understand the challenges facing wide receivers and tight ends in the coming week. As my process makes heavy use of the Matchup Rater, I’d highly recommend that you set aside half an hour to watch the tutorial/walkthrough and take a spin through the tool.
Please note that we only touch upon players with 6.0 or more PPG in this article.
As in last week’s Part 2, we’re going to try something new. For each matchup, I’ll be pasting in a graphic that summarizes much of the basic information that I look through during the beginning phases of my research into each matchup. This will allow me to focus less on just regurgitating rankings, points allowed, etc., and use the text portion of the article to highlight the most interesting or notable findings for each matchup. As a bonus, this might allow me to publish more matchups earlier in the week and might save readers some time, be it from reading less text or saving the step of sourcing pieces of information not noted in the article from the RotoViz tools.
Matchups
Colts at Panthers
The Colts don’t match up well with the Panthers’ defense, a unit that has been one of the stingiest in terms of overall points per game (PPG) allowed to WRs. That said, the team is allowing WRs to score the second-highest percentage of PPG.
Unfortunately for Michael Pittman and Josh Downs, both wide receivers frequently run from the slot. The Panthers are one of the stoutest teams against this alignment and are allowing 0.2 points per target (PPT) less than the league average. Of the 25 highest-scoring pass plays against the Panthers, only nine came from WRs lined up in the slot. Troy Hill, who could spend most of the game covering Downs, is allowing just 1.8 PPG on direct targets.
Carolina’s WRs face less of a challenge with the Colts’ defense, which is middle of the road across the board. Adam Thielen, who should once again enjoy a lot of volume, draws the highest matchup rating of the game with a 64.
Indianapolis hasn’t been susceptible in individual matchups but is ceding 0.2 PPT more than the league average to WRs operating from the slot.
Cowboys at Eagles
CeeDee Lamb and company are poised to go absolutely nuts against the Eagles. Philadelphia has allowed
