[brid autoplay=”true” video=”1385528″ player=”10951″ title=”2023 Fantasy Football Rookies” duration=”173″ description=”0:24 Jahmyr Gibbs 1:05 Kendre Miller 1:54 Jaxon Smith-Njigba ” uploaddate=”2023-08-19″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/9233/snapshot/1385528_th_64e0200ad8139_1692409866.jpg” image=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/9233/snapshot/1385528_sd_64e0200ad8139_1692409866.jpg” contenturl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/9233/sd/1385528.mp4″ width=”480″ height=”270″]
Last season, we created the slot vs. wide points per game (PPG) allowed analysis to help us identify where each defense was allowing the most fantasy points to wide receivers. You can find this information for free at Razzball.com.
In 2023, we have decided to take it a step further by identifying the top matchups each week and bringing them to you in a weekly article. In the article, we hope to identify studs to play in daily fantasy sports (DFS), streamers to start in your flex spot or, in some cases, potential busts that should be on your bench each week.
Our Week 1 article will review the top three matchups from the slot and out wide from 2022 and cover what’s changed in 2023. Will these defenses be matchups to exploit again this season? Let’s find out!
To see the full slot vs. wide PPG-allowed data, click here!
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Top 3 Out Wide Matchups from 2022
Team: Tennessee Titans
Out Wide PPG Allowed: 1st
Week 1 Opponent: New Orleans Saints
What’s Changed in 2023: Mike Vrabel is still the Head Coach for the Titans, so schematically, they will be the same. On the personnel front, the Titans did bring Sean Murphy-Bunting, who received strong grades according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), to play opposite Kristian Fulton on the outside. Both these players missed time in 2022, but if they can stay healthy, the Titans’ secondary could be closer to the league average. That being said, Chris Olave is still a must-start, while Michael Thomas is on the WR3 radar for Week 1.
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Out Wide PPG Allowed: 2nd
Week 1 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What’s Changed in 2023: The Vikings will open the season with three new starting cornerbacks and a new defensive coordinator in Brian Flores. The Vikings did bring in Bryon Murphy to man the slot, but on the outside, the Vikings will be dealing with a lot of inexperience. This level of change, along with the youth, could lead to some hiccups early on in 2023! This is why both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are solid starts in Week 1.
Team: Carolina Panthers
Out Wide PPG Allowed: 3rd
Week 1 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
What’s Changed in 2023: The Panthers brought in former Broncos DC Ejiro Evero to run their defense in 2023. Evero oversaw a strong pass defense in Denver that allowed the fourth fewest PPG out wide in 2022. The Panthers added safety Vonn Bell to go along with a solid group of cornerbacks in Jaycee Horn, Donte Jackson, and Jeremy Chinn. If this group can stay healthy (which didn’t happen in 2022), the Panthers secondary could be solid under their new boss in 2023. The only Falcons wide receiver to note is Drake London, who is still on the WR3/Flex radar in Week 1.
Out-Wide PPG Allowed 4-10
4. Los Angeles Rams
5. Dallas Cowboys
6. Buffalo Bills
7. New England Patriots
8. Detroit Lions
9. Kansas City Chiefs
10. Miami Dolphins
Top 3 Slot Matchups from 2022
Team: Detroit Lions
Slot PPG Allowed: 1st
Week 1 Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
Thursday Night Takeaway: The Lions’ secondary looked much improved on Thursday night after adding Cameron Sutton, C.J. Gardner Johnson and Brian Branch this off-season. Detroit held Patrick Mahomes to 226 passing yards and two touchdowns. For reference, the last time Mahomes played without Travis Kelce, he went for 258 passing yards and three touchdowns vs. the Steelers. Of course, Travis Kelce not playing in this game hurt the Chiefs, but the Lions’ secondary looks to be formidable this season.
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Slot PPG Allowed: 2nd
Week 1 Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
What’s Changed in 2023: The strength of the Buccaneers secondary is on the outside with cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis. This should be the same in 2023 after losing nickel cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting this off-season. The Buccaneers have named undrafted rookie Christian Izien as their new nickel cornerback. We all know that Justin Jefferson is a must-start, but K.J. Osborn could be on the WR4 map and a DFS sleeper in Week 1.
Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Slot PPG Allowed: 3rd
Week 1 Opponent: Denver Broncos
What’s Changed in 2023: One of the big changes that the Las Vegas Raiders have made on defense this offseason is moving Nate Hobbs back into the slot. This would be a huge change from 2022, as he only played 78 of 422 snaps in coverage from the slot. This leaves former Baltimore Ravens CB Marcus Peters and fourth-round rookie Jakorian Bennett on the outside. Heading into Week 1, we aren’t downgrading anyone yet due to the matchup, but with Jerry Jeudy’s injury, Courtland Sutton should be viewed as a WR3 in Week 1.
Slot PPG Allowed 4-10
4. San Franscisco 49ers
5. Philadelphia Eagles
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Tennessee Titans
8. Kansas City Chiefs
9. Chicago Bears
10, Jacksonville Jaguars
For more from Bobby and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @bobbylamarco.
Sources: Razzball.com, PFF.com, FantasyPros, FFToday, Pro Football Reference and Football Outsiders
