Welcome to Going Deep! This weekly article will make use of charting data, advanced metrics, and other RotoViz tools — specifically the newly released Passing Game Matchup Rater — to help readers better understand the challenges facing wide receivers and tight ends in the coming week. As my process makes heavy use of the Matchup Rater, I’d highly recommend that you set aside half an hour to watch the tutorial/walkthrough and take a spin through the tool.
Week 5 Matchups
Jaguars at Bills (played in London)
This game presents an average matchup for all of the notable wide receivers playing it as evidenced by matchup ratings spanning from 44 to 50.
The Bills are allowing opposing WRs to score 99% of points per game (PPG) and the Jaguars are allowing 94% of PPG. Of course, Buffalo’s defense could operate differently moving forward with Tre’Davious White now ruled out for the rest of the season.
Christian Kirk will face significant coverage from Dane Jackson and Christian Benford. Combined, the duo is allowing 9.6 PPG on direct targets. Calvin Ridley will often oppose Jackson and Taron Johnson. Johnson is allowing just 1.9 PPG on direct targets.
WRs averaging 10.0 or more PPG that have faced the Bills in 2023 are Garrett Wilson, Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, and Terry McLaurin. This group is reasonably comparable to Kirk and Ridley and put together a solid average stat line.
| Plays | PPT | AY | Yds | Catchable | Comp | TD | Batted | Deflected | Defensed | Man | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 2.2 | 9.2 | 8.2 | 0.81 | 0.78 | 0.09 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.28 | 0.72 |
For the Bills, Stefon Diggs is unfazed by matchups and Gabe Davis can expect to split coverage among Jacksonville’s main corners. Look for him to score somewhere around 10.0 PPR.
The TEs in this contest face average matchups and can be expected to approximate PPG.
Giants at Dolphins
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle draw an average matchup against the Giants. Unsurprisingly, look for Hill to be one of the top-scoring players of the week. Waddle will face coverage from a mixture of Adoree Jackson and Deonte Banks, among others. Jackson and Banks are allowing a
