Another Zone vs Gap rushing week in the books! Last week, we had to navigate around the bye week for CLV, NYJ, PHI and TB. For the owners of Saquon Barkley, Quinshon Judkins, Breece Hall, and the like, they are all back in your lineups now and ready to roll. This week, the bye week Gods give us a little break in the RB department where the most “missed” player is Javonte Williams. Many of us are still starting Chase Brown, Isiah Pacheco, and even the two-headed “monster” in TN, but those tend to be easier ones to find a suitable replacement for.
Regardless, of who’s in or who’s out, we need to identify the best matchups to exploit and those we should be cautious of. That’s what I’m here for with your weekly Zone vs. Gap article.
As always, you can view the Defensive Zone vs. Gap splits HERE and the RB Zone vs. Gap splits HERE. I’ll add the former table to the bottom of this article. For RB-specific numbers, go to the tool. Remember, it’s FREE!
Also, if you want a short refresher (or tutorial, if you’re new to this tool) on the table, simply go back to my previous article HERE.
Don’t just stop at RBs! We have a whole suite of FREE tools as well as Rudy’s premium tools to provide everything you need, no matter your fantasy taste. Here are links to both:
Be sure to check out the latest tools on Razzball.com: Slot vs. Wide PPG Allowed | WR Slot vs. Wide| DEF Targets Allowed | Home vs. Away | Wins vs. Losses | TD Tool | DEF Zone vs. Gap Rushing | RB Zone vs. Gap Rushing |
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Week 10 Matchups
Zone Matchups
- Atlanta (#1 Zone Offense) travels to middle America to face the Colts who are looking to get back on track as the AFC’s top team. Although the Colts come in as the #24 Zone Defense, resulting in the “best” Zone matchup of the week, they did limit the league’s #2 Zone Offense (PIT) last week to just a total of 38 rushing yards. So, something must give here. My guess, Bijan Robinson (71% Zone) gets his for fantasy owners but the Colts roll at home.
- The second-best matchup is the Vikings (#6 Zone Offense) vs. the Ravens (#27 Zone Defense). I recommend caution here. The Vikings RBs, Jordan Mason (56% Zone) and Aaron Jones (67% Zone) aren’t exactly lighting it up right now. For their part, the Ravens are showing signs of life now that they’re getting some players back into the lineup, as indicated last week by limiting De’Von Achane (60% Zone) to just 67 total yards and 0 TDs. We count Defensive Zone vs. Gap stats for each team’s past 6 games so clearly, the Ravens low Zone Defense rating leans more toward their struggles a month ago. Hence, my caution here!
- A matchup that I’m not really worried about this week is Detroit (#5 Zone Offense) versus Washington (#26 Zone Defense). Jahmyr Gibbs (58% Zone) and David Montgomery (62% Zone) should have extra motivation to put last week’s dud against the Vikings behind them and get back to winning. On the other hand, Washington’s season went from bad to worse and eventually they’ll start thinking about next year. I believe that starts Sunday.
- Another Zone matchup I don’t like is Jacksonville (#29 Zone Offense) versus Houston (#3 Zone Defense). Travis Etienne Jr. rushing splits are almost equal (46% Zone & 45% Gap) and the Texans just limited a RB with similar splits, J.K. Dobbins, to just 6 fantasy points on the ground.
- Last one here…The Dolphins #8 Zone Offense) and De’Von Achane (60% Zone) will look to get back on track against the Bills (#28 Zone Defense). The last time Achane faced the Bills, he averaged over 5.0 yards per carry. He was also very active in the passing game…as a bonus!
Gap Matchups
- There should be plenty of running room for Kyren Williams (54% Gap) and the Rams (#6 Gap Offense) versus the 49ers (#31 Gap Defense). The Giants failed to take advantage of this matchup last week (just 38% Gap rushing). I don’t expect the Rams coaching staff to make the same mistake.
- The Falcon’s Defense is known for being tough against WRs, but not Gap rushing (#30 Gap Defense). That should spell good things to Jonathan Taylor (53% Gap) and his fantasy owners.
- The big question in Carolina (#7 Gap Offense) will be the health of Rico Dowdle’s quad. Assuming he’s healthy enough, this is a smash matchup for Dowdle (50% Gap) against the Saints (#24 Gap Defense).
- In a game that only true fans and fantasy owners will probably watch, Quinshon Judkins (64% Gap) and the Browns (#3 Gap Offense) faced the hapless Jets (#18 Gap Defense) now missing arguably their top two players after this week’s trade deadline. Judkins should have a huge game.
- A Gap matchup that doesn’t look so great to me is New England (#18 Gap Offense) versus Tampa Bay (#2 Gap Defense) coming off a bye. Rhamondre Stevenson (57% Gap) hasn’t been practicing all week and TreVeyon Henderson (63% Gap) still isn’t being used exclusively. I’d rather put my money on Drake Maye to outperform these two.
That’s All Folks
Do you take advantage of all our free tools? If you don’t, why not? All of the RazzballNFL staff is here to help so get on the ball. Be sure to read our daily articles and especially join us on gameday morning for the Razzball Sunday Start/Sit show. We had another great turnout last Sunday with excellent (i.e., tough) lineup questions to talk through. Keep bringing it!
As always, the show airs LIVE on the Razzball YouTube channel this Sunday from 11:00 am EDT (8:00 PDT) right up right up to gametime. Sky – @SkyGuasco, Matt – @Stiles08, Dave – @Crewser128, Jeff – @Jefferson__21 and I will be there to answer all your fantasy football questions. Don’t miss it.
As always, look for my articles right here each week and be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @Derek_Favret. I’m also on BlueSky as well (@dfavret.bsky.social).
Until next time, my friends.
| Download Table as CSV | |||
| Note: Filters and sorting in the table below apply to the output | |||
| # | Team | Def_Designed Rush Yds/Gm | Def Zone Yds/Gm | Def Gap Yds/Gm | Def Zone% | Def Gap% | Def Undesigned Scr Yds/Gm | Next Opponent | Off Rush Yds/Gm | Off Zone% | Off Gap% | Off Scr% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARZ | 106 | 65.1 | 32.1 | 62% | 31% | 15 | SF | 105 | 68% | 12% | 8% | |
| ATL | 60 | 29.3 | 21.0 | 49% | 35% | 3 | GB | 63 | 41% | 57% | 0% | |
| BLT | 76 | 43.6 | 19.6 | 58% | 26% | 8 | DAL | 49 | 45% | 34% | 12% | |
| BUF | 84 | 36.9 | 35.9 | 44% | 43% | 11 | LAC | 85 | 54% | 32% | 11% | |
| CAR | 178 | 102.1 | 34.7 | 58% | 20% | 48 | CLV | 47 | 41% | 32% | 14% | |
| CHI | 103 | 49.5 | 41.2 | 48% | 40% | 19 | PHI | 80 | 52% | 27% | 12% | |
| CIN | 38 | 14.2 | 12.0 | 38% | 32% | 30 | PIT | 70 | 56% | 33% | 4% | |
| CLV | 113 | 36.8 | 53.7 | 33% | 48% | 14 | CAR | 77 | 48% | 36% | 8% | |
| DAL | 118 | 58.1 | 32.4 | 49% | 27% | 49 | BLT | 119 | 56% | 27% | 11% | |
| DEN | 144 | 63.3 | 61.0 | 44% | 42% | 14 | LA | 137 | 26% | 60% | 3% | |
| DET | 122 | 48.1 | 32.3 | 40% | 27% | 27 | NYJ | 86 | 38% | 46% | 9% | |
| GB | 67 | 23.3 | 29.0 | 35% | 44% | 14 | ATL | 122 | 61% | 29% | 6% | |
| HST | 75 | 43.5 | 23.5 | 58% | 31% | 11 | IND | 97 | 58% | 34% | 6% | |
| IND | 148 | 89.0 | 41.0 | 60% | 28% | 28 | HST | 64 | 35% | 50% | 9% | |
| JAX | 70 | 30.8 | 26.6 | 44% | 38% | 15 | NE | 91 | 24% | 50% | 11% | |
| KC | 77 | 36.2 | 25.8 | 47% | 34% | 5 | MIA | 65 | 37% | 45% | 13% | |
| LV | 77 | 36.3 | 33.5 | 47% | 44% | 21 | NO | 71 | 54% | 13% | 7% | |
| LA | 100 | 59.2 | 23.5 | 59% | 24% | 13 | DEN | 70 | 43% | 35% | 3% | |
| LAC | 79 | 38.5 | 24.2 | 49% | 31% | 8 | BUF | 110 | 34% | 38% | 9% | |
| MIA | 94 | 54.9 | 21.2 | 58% | 23% | 17 | KC | 163 | 51% | 37% | 8% | |
| MIN | 87 | 60.6 | 19.2 | 70% | 22% | 14 | TB | 80 | 35% | 39% | 14% | |
| NE | 82 | 52.3 | 20.4 | 64% | 25% | 11 | JAX | 110 | 46% | 41% | 2% | |
| NO | 119 | 59.7 | 47.1 | 50% | 40% | 18 | LV | 90 | 43% | 37% | 3% | |
| NYG | 108 | 41.2 | 47.9 | 38% | 44% | 8 | TEN | 82 | 37% | 42% | 14% | |
| NYJ | 53 | 16.5 | 29.7 | 31% | 56% | 11 | DET | 111 | 49% | 40% | 6% | |
| PHI | 110 | 60.0 | 37.1 | 55% | 34% | 17 | CHI | 170 | 69% | 12% | 12% | |
| PIT | 118 | 47.3 | 54.4 | 40% | 46% | 10 | CIN | 93 | 51% | 35% | 2% | |
| SEA | 64 | 17.7 | 32.2 | 28% | 50% | 26 | WAS | 100 | 66% | 19% | 13% | |
| SF | 104 | 30.8 | 63.3 | 30% | 61% | 7 | ARZ | 84 | 43% | 41% | 4% | |
| TB | 68 | 24.0 | 27.9 | 35% | 41% | 10 | MIN | 106 | 39% | 44% | 6% | |
| TEN | 104 | 47.5 | 40.1 | 46% | 39% | 11 | NYG | 96 | 43% | 40% | 4% | |
| WAS | 65 | 28.5 | 17.2 | 44% | 27% | 36 | SEA | 121 | 68% | 24% | 2% | |
| NFL Average | 94 | 45.1 | 33.1 | 47% | 36% | 17 | NFL Average | 94 | 47% | 36% | 8% |
