Welcome to Going Deep! This weekly article will make use of charting data, advanced metrics, and other RotoViz tools — specifically the 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. (Note that for 2024, the “Target Explorer” tab has been removed from the tool.)
Falcons at Saints
- The Saints have been a favorable matchup for slot wide receivers but more challenging for those running from out wide. Atlanta uses its WRs in a balanced fashion, resulting in the group earning fairly similar matchup ratings.
- When the Falcons met the Saints in Week 4, Drake London only scored 12.4 PPR and Ray-Ray McCloud 11.4 PPR.
- When the teams meet this weekend, expect the Falcon’s WRs to find a little more success with London likely scoring closer to his seasonal average and Darnell Mooney a Flex option.
- Mooney is WR21 based on points per game (PPG) but has only scored more than 10.0 PPR in just four of nine games.
- When the teams meet this weekend, expect the Falcon’s WRs to find a little more success with London likely scoring closer to his seasonal average and Darnell Mooney a Flex option.
- Kyle Pitts draws a notably high matchup rating for a tight end and is expected to approximate PPG.
| Player | GMs | Tgt | Rec | Yards | TD | YPR | Tgt Shr | AirYards | AY/Tgt | Team % | WOPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake London | 9 | 7.9 | 5.6 | 61.3 | 0.7 | 11 | 0.25 | 77.8 | 9.9 | 0.33 | 0.61 |
| Darnell Mooney | 9 | 7.6 | 4.6 | 65.3 | 0.6 | 14.3 | 0.24 | 87.4 | 11.6 | 0.38 | 0.62 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | 9 | 5 | 3.6 | 33.9 | 0.1 | 9.5 | 0.16 | 34.7 | 6.9 | 0.15 | 0.34 |
| Bijan Robinson | 9 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 33.7 | 0.1 | 8 | 0.15 | -9.3 | -2 | -0.04 | 0.19 |
| Kyle Pitts | 9 | 4.7 | 3.3 | 47.8 | 0.3 | 14.3 | 0.15 | 36.8 | 7.9 | 0.16 | 0.33 |
| Casey Washington | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0.03 | 3 | 3 | 0.01 | 0.05 |
- With Rashid Shaheed on injured reserve, and Chris Olave and Cedric Wilson Jr. out for Week 10, Bub Means should see a large target increase. Still, this jump won’t be enough to make him anything more than a last resort.
- Juwan Johnson matches up well with Atlanta and given the team’s favorability to TE, is a good option in this one.
| Player | GMs | Tgt | Rec | Yards | TD | YPR | Tgt Shr | AirYards | AY/Tgt | Team % | WOPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin Kamara | 9 | 7.1 | 5.1 | 40.8 | 0.1 | 8 | 0.23 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 0.01 | 0.36 |
| Rashid Shaheed | 6 | 6.8 | 3.3 | 58.2 | 0.5 | 17.4 | 0.24 | 120.2 | 17.6 | 0.5 | 0.72 |
| Chris Olave | 8 | 5.5 | 4 | 50 | 0.1 | 12.5 | 0.19 | 56.9 | 10.3 | 0.23 | 0.45 |
| Juwan Johnson | 9 | 2.9 | 2.2 | 25 | 0.1 | 11.2 | 0.1 | 22.8 | 7.9 | 0.09 | 0.21 |
| Mason Tipton | 9 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 11 | 0 | 7.1 | 0.09 | 35.9 | 12.9 | 0.15 | 0.24 |
| Taysom Hill | 5 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 12.8 | 0 | 8 | 0.09 | 8.4 | 3.5 | 0.04 | 0.16 |
