Week 7: Def vs WR Matchups Report (yardage allowed to WR1s, WR2s, WR3s)

RECEIVING YARDS ALLOWED BY POSITION

This new featured tool displays how each defense performs against their opponent’s receiving yardage gained by position.

So for example, if you see a team is ranked 1st vs. WR #1, that defense is currently the best at limiting their opponent’s WR #1 yardage compared to other teams. Or if you see a team is ranked 32nd against WR #2, that defense is the worst against WR #2’s or more accurately, the defense is allowing the most yards to WR #2’s compared to the other teams in the league. This a great tool to find and exploit useful matchups. Don’t forget to check out all the positions as well (WR #1, WR #2, Other WRs, TE & RB).

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Defensive Back News & Notes

Denzel Ward (CB) Cleveland Browns

Ward was forced out of Thursday Night Football with a hamstring injury and his status is very much up in the air for the Browns Week 8 matchup with the division-rival Steelers. Ward is the team’s best corner but has struggled to stay healthy since his outstanding rookie campaign. We will monitor his status for you leading up to next Sunday. 

Damontae Kazee (S) Dallas Cowboys

On early Tuesday morning, Kazee was arrested for DUI. He posted bond and was released later that afternoon. The safety has started all six games for the Cowboys this season and is a big part of how this secondary functions. He was brought over from Atlanta by their former head coach and current Dallas Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn. The Cowboys are on a bye this week and return in Week 8 to take on the Vikings. It remains to be seen what discipline if any the team takes and if he will be available next week. It will be a boost for the Vikings if he’s sidelined so we will monitor the situation closely.

Desmond Trufant (CB) Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders have added Trufant after he was waived by the New Orleans Saints. Trufant was once a star in Atlanta is now trying to find a role in a solid Vegas secondary. The Raiders allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wideouts and boast PFF’s No. 1 (Casey Heyward Jr.) and No. 5 (Nate Hobbs) graded cornerbacks, so expect Trufant to contribute as a nickel or dime cornerback. 

Caleb Farley (CB) Tennessee Titans

The Titans 2021 first-round pick has torn his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. The Tennessee secondary was already terrible and it just got significantly worse. As of now, all the team has done to help better this situation is to sign Greg Mabin off the street. To make matters worse, the Titans will look to slow down Patrick Mahomes this week. This is an upgrade for Mecole Hardman on Sunday.

Kristian Fulton (DB) Tennessee Titans 

On top of losing Caleb Farley for the year, the Titans also placed Fulton on injured reserve. He hurt his hamstring last week and now will miss at least the next three games. The only saving grace is this injury isn’t season-ending. Unfortunately, he was an every-down player and the Titans take on the Chiefs this week. This is an upgrade for anyone catching passes for Kansas City. 

Patrick Peterson (CB) Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have placed Patrick Peterson on injured reserve with a hamstring injury after he was carted off last Sunday. Although he is not the superstar he once was in Arizona, he is still an important cog in the Minnesota defense. The team is on a bye Week 7, but when they return this secondary will look to slow down CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper when they take on Dallas. His absence is a nice boost for the Cowboys’ star wideouts. 

Stephone Gilmore (CB) Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are optimistic Gilmore will be able to get on to the field this week. This will be his season debut after being shipped over from New England following a contract dispute and a stint on the PUP list due to a quad injury. The former Defensive Player of the Year should be an immediate upgrade to the Panthers’ secondary if he’s fully healthy and will make this defense even scarier than it already was. He may not be a full-go right away but downgrades an already shaky Giants’ WR corps. 

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