Fantasy Football Week 2 Mismatch Report: Breakout Performance Incoming For Kyler Murray

Fantasy Football Week 2 Mismatch Report: Breakout Performance Incoming For Kyler Murray

Ian Hartitz identifies the fantasy football mismatches for Week 2, highlighting Kyler Murray and the Cardinals' protection advantage against the Panthers.

Football at its core is a game that features teams attempting to exploit mismatches against each other. This is accomplished through smart X's and O's strategy as well as by simply having some beastly Jimmys and Joes to lean on in the personnel department. While none of us alleged fantasy experts should be confused as professional coaches, we do largely attempt to accomplish the same goal while prepping for any given week: Identify and exploit the biggest mismatches to our advantage.

This brings us to today's goal: Breaking down some of the week's biggest mismatches in an attempt to get an edge in fantasy football land.

A lot of this will be done through my weekly Mismatch Manifesto charts that combine commonly-used matchup metrics in an attempt to turn things into a one-way street as opposed to always having to go, "Offense ranks x, defense ranks y." To put the following data simply: Blue is good for the offense in question, and red is bad. Cool? Cool.

As always: It's a great day to be great.

Note: This is part of a Week 2 Fantasy Football Mismatch series featuring:

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Could Kyler Murray be headed to a blowup game for fantasy football?

It sure looks like it based on combined Week 1 pressure rates between this week's offensive line and pass-rush matchups.

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While Murray was sacked five times in Week 1, the Panthers' sad excuse for a pass rush managed just a 12.1% pressure rate against the Jaguars—a full 11.1% lower than the next-worst defense!

It really is hard to understand just how bad this front-seven was in Week 1 against the run and pass alike.

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We already mentioned Conner's good spot, but don't discount Kyler, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride putting their best foot forward as well. After all, the Cardinals are implied to score a healthy 25 points–tied for the sixth-highest mark in Week 2.

QBs who could be doing their best David Bowie impressions (get it? Under pressure?): Include Cam Ward, Michael Penix, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson. The Buccaneers in particular could be problematic: This Tristan Wirfs-less offensive front allowed the ninth-highest pressure rate and failed to get much of anything going on the ground. Not great when now faced with the task of traveling to Houston to take on Will Anderson and company.

Guess who could have ALL day to throw this week: Well, the numbers say Bo Nix, Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen could join Kyler as the week's top QBs who should have clean pockets on more dropbacks than not. Here's to hoping this brings out better results from T-Law: Liam Coen's new-look Jags scheme placed a heightened emphasis on pre-snap shift/motion as well as screens, now it's just on the alleged generational talent to take advantage of his rather awesome WR duo in this smashable matchup.


Players Mentioned in this Article

  1. Kyler Murray
    KylerMurrayIR
    QBARIARI
    PPG
    12.60
  2. Trey McBride
    TreyMcBride
    TEARIARI
    PPG
    9.81
  3. Marvin Harrison
    MarvinHarrisonIR
    WRARIARI
    PPG
    6.99
  4. Geno Smith
    GenoSmithQ
    QBLVLV
    PPG
    9.19