OMFG, can I say that? So, how did you do last week? Did you have the Denver Broncos defense completely collapse on your bingo card? How about Zay Flowers not attacking the Indianapolis Colts defense in the rain?
Let’s get into the good, the bad, and the ugly of last week’s attacking defenses. The good was Kenneth Walker attacking the Carolina Panthers defense. Walker finished with 97 yards, a 5.4 average, and two total touchdowns. Walker finished as RB3 in standard and PPR leagues. The bad was the aforementioned Flowers, who finished with 10 targets, eight receptions, and 48 yards. He finished as WR35 and WR45 in the standard and PPR leagues, respectively. And that would have been ugly except for Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield against the Philadelphia Eagles, who previously allowed Mac Jones 316 passing yards and three touchdowns, stopped the Cinderella two-game run of the Mayfield. Mayfield finished the game 15-of-25, 146 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Mayfield finished as (she gasps and clutches her now broken heart) QB25. I’m so sorry. Mayfield torpedoed my fantasy team also…if it’s any consolation (and I know it’s not).
So, let’s shake it off. I couldn’t help it. And move on to Week 4.
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Week 4: Defenses to Attack for Your Fantasy Wins
Defenses to Attack with the Quarterback
Okay, so here is where it gets even crazier than Week 3, and you think that it wasn’t possible. The top five defenses that are allowing the most average fantasy points per game to the quarterback position are:
Los Angeles Chargers, allowing 24.6 points per game, will play host to the Las Vegas Raiders—the Raiders’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo is in concussion protocol. It is unlikely that he will be able to attack the Chargers defense. The next man up is Brian Hoyer.
The next two teams that are allowing the most fantasy points to the quarterback position are the Denver Broncos 23.8, who play the Chicago Bears 21.4. The Broncos are giving up the second most fantasy points, while the Bears are allowing the fifth most. Denver has also allowed nine passing touchdowns and 875 passing yards in three weeks. Chicago has allowed seven passing touchdowns and 865 passing yards.
Justin Fields has 526 passing yards in three games, three touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has a 58% completion percentage. And while Denver has only allowed one rushing touchdown to the quarterback position, Fields only has one rushing touchdown in three games.
Russell Wilson hasn’t been bad. He entered Week 3 fourth in QBR 108.5. In the blood bath that was Week 3, Wilson finished with 306 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
It will make you queasy, but attacking Chicago’s defense with Wilson isn’t the worst idea ever. It is pretty good. Wilson has passed for over 300 yards in two out of three games. He has six touchdowns, two interceptions, and 57 total rushing yards.
In their generosity, the Bears have allowed 245 passing yards and three passing touchdowns to Jordan Love. They also allowed Mayfield to pass for 317 yards and one touchdown.
What team will be the hotter mess? The team who only scored 20 points while their defense gave up 70 points (and retained their defensive coordinator) or the one who scored 10 points while their defense gave up 41 points and their defensive coordinator resigned the 41-point fiasco.
Attack the Bears defense with Wilson. You don’t have to feel good about it or even watch this hot mess, but just know Wilson is QB9 in fantasy through three weeks. He averages 19.1 fantasy points per game, and the Bears should boost that number.
Defenses to Attack with the Running Back
Kahlil Herbert, Jamaal Williams, Alexander Mattison, Dameon Pierce and Najee Harris will all play defenses, allowing the top five fantasy points to the running back position. Herbert, Pierce and Mattison will also go up against defenses that give the most rushing yards to the running back position. So, what defense are you going to attack?
Although the Vikings have acquired Cam Akers, Mattison is the closest to having the backfield to himself. In the last three weeks, Mattison has been on the field for 73%, 76%, and 81% of the offensive snaps. He has had 11, eight, and 20 rushing attempts. For one more week, at least, the backfield should belong to Mattison.
https://x.com/jagibbs_23/status/1705261430008942890?s=20
The Vikings are a 3.5-point favorite in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers allow an average of 28.9 fantasy points per game and six rushing touchdowns. The Panthers have given up 344 rushing yards in three weeks on 75 rushing attempts.
Attack the Panthers’ defense with Mattison while there is still time.
Defenses to Attack with the Wide Receiver
According to Razzball’s slot versus wide, the Indianapolis Colts defense is giving up 42.9 points to the wide receiver position. The slot averages 26% of the points, while the wide averages 74%.
Last week, the Colts secondary allowed Lamar Jackson to complete his first 10 passes. Now, the secondary will have to deal with Matthew Stafford completing passes to Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell.
Nacua has been on the field for 78%, 86%, and last week 96% of the offensive snaps. In Week 3, Nacua was on the field for all but two offensive snaps. Nacua has been targeted 15, 20, and seven times with a 71.4% catch rate.
Atwell has been on the field for 79%, 94%, and 87% of the offensive snaps. Atwell has been targeted eight, nine, and nine times with a 76.5% catch rate.
The Colts played rookie JuJu Brents in his first game last week. Brents on the field not only had four tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, but he allowed the secondary to play the most press coverage than they had been playing. Nacua has an 87.5%-win rate versus press per Reception Perception.
Now it is Week 4, and Cooper Kupp’s time on IR is possibly ending?
Attack the Colts’ defense with the Nacua.
Defenses to Attack with the Tight End
The New York Jets are allowing an average of 11.6 fantasy points per game and have allowed three touchdowns to the position. They will go up against Travis Kelce, so it’s a no-brainer.
Check on the status of Logan Thomas. The Philadelphia Eagles have allowed the most touchdowns from the tight end position and the most fantasy points to the position (12.2).
The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed an average of 9.5 fantasy points to the tight end position. Last week, Tyler Higbee was targeted five times for five receptions and 71 yards. Higbee finished as TE8 in standard and TE9 in PPR leagues. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that the Bengals play the Tennessee Titans in Week 4.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has not completed more than 20 passes this season. The Titans pass on 57.49% of their offensive plays(20th in the league). And back to some good news: tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo has been on the field for 83%, 69%, and 81% of the offensive snaps. It hasn’t resulted in much production; in Week 2, he was targeted four times for four receptions and 35 yards. Last week, he was targeted four times for three receptions and seven yards.
And back to the not-so-good news, Okonkwo has not been higher than TE 24 in PPR and TE26 in standard. And until the Titans and Tannehill become better at this game of football, Okonkwo is in an ideal matchup under less-than-ideal circumstances.
Ugh! The tight-end market kinda blows.
To end on a high note, Juwan Johnson will go up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who allow 8.8 fantasy points per game and have allowed nine touchdowns to the tight end position. Johnson has had 36,13 and 12 yards to date. He has yet to score a touchdown, but with the Buccaneers averaging three touchdowns per game to the tight end, I’m saying there’s a chance.
I’m also saying the tight-end position isn’t where you go for a fantasy windfall.
Well, that’s the unsexy defenses for Week 4. For all your fantasy football needs, look up all the deliciousness Razzball has for you.
For any questions regarding defenses (both sexy and otherwise), send me a DM @gladysLtyler or ask in the comments, and I will get on it.
Good Luck!
