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.)
Please note, in general, this article will only discuss players averaging 6.0 or more PPR.
Cardinals at Seahawks
- Seattle has held wide receivers to just 91% of PPG this season. However, receivers that have performed well against the team have recorded strong results.
- The 10 highest-scoring WRs facing the team averaged 21.3 PPR. Only six teams have allowed higher averages in this measure.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson score average matchup ratings with the Seahawks’ defense.
- Wilson is a possible flex or fill-in option for Week 12.
- Harrison should be in redraft lineups but won’t be the strongest option in all formats.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson score average matchup ratings with the Seahawks’ defense.
- The 10 highest-scoring WRs facing the team averaged 21.3 PPR. Only six teams have allowed higher averages in this measure.
- Trey McBride should be expected to approximate points per game (PPG) in an average matchup with Seattle.
| Player | GMs | Tgt | Rec | Yards | TD | YPR | Tgt Shr | AirYards | AY/Tgt | Team % | WOPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trey McBride | 9 | 7.1 | 5.4 | 61.3 | 0 | 11.3 | 0.26 | 54.4 | 7.7 | 0.26 | 0.57 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr | 10 | 6 | 3.3 | 49.9 | 0.6 | 15.1 | 0.22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.33 |
| Michael Wilson | 10 | 4.4 | 3 | 30.7 | 0.3 | 10.2 | 0.16 | 45.7 | 10.4 | 0.23 | 0.4 |
| Greg Dortch | 10 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 18.7 | 0.1 | 8.5 | 0.12 | 18.9 | 5.7 | 0.09 | 0.25 |
| James Conner | 10 | 3 | 2.4 | 24.7 | 0 | 10.3 | 0.11 | -7.6 | -2.5 | -0.04 | 0.14 |
| Elijah Higgins | 10 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 11.6 | 0.2 | 8.3 | 0.06 | 6.3 | 4.2 | 0.03 | 0.11 |
- The Cardinals’ secondary has been an easy matchup for WRs that frequent the slot. This contributes to a strong matchup rating for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
- That said, the top-scoring WRs against the Cardinals have managed just 16.8 PPR, making Arizona the ninth-most-difficult opponent in this measure.
- Tyler Lockett draws an average matchup rating with a 47 and D.K. Metcalf’s 40 foretells a challenging matchup.
- Metcalf doesn’t profile similarly to most WRs that have found success against Arizona in 2024.
- Lockett is a last-resort option but can’t be counted on for expected production.
- The Cardinals have been a difficult matchup for opposing TEs, but the specifics of Noah Fant’s alignment tendencies score him a strong matchup rating. He should approximate PPG with notable upside.
| Player | GMs | Tgt | Rec | Yards | TD | YPR | Tgt Shr | AirYards | AY/Tgt | Team % | WOPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK Metcalf | 8 | 8.9 | 5.2 | 79.8 | 0.4 | 15.2 | 0.24 | 117.6 | 13.3 | 0.4 | 0.64 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 10 | 8.6 | 6 | 67.8 | 0.3 | 11.3 | 0.24 | 80.1 | 9.3 | 0.29 | 0.56 |
| Tyler Lockett | 10 | 5.5 | 3.6 | 47.5 | 0.2 | 13.2 | 0.15 | 59.6 | 10.8 | 0.22 | 0.38 |
| Kenneth Walker III | 8 | 4.5 | 4 | 27.8 | 0.1 | 6.9 | 0.13 | -2.9 | -0.6 | -0.01 | 0.18 |
| Noah Fant | 8 | 4 | 3.4 | 35.6 | 0 | 10.6 | 0.11 | 20.2 | 5.1 | 0.08 | 0.22 |
| Zach Charbonnet | 10 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 19.1 | 0.1 | 7.1 | 0.09 | -3.2 | -1 | -0.01 | 0.13 |
