Making tough lineup decisions each week can be the most challenging part of the fantasy football process. When you're torn between two similar players and simply don't know which to start, start the player with the superior matchup.
Ah, but exactly how does one determine the best (and worst) weekly matchups?
The matchup rankings provide a schedule-independent method to evaluate positional matchups each week, ranking all 32 opposing defenses in order of most to least favorable for opposing players at all four skill positions (quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end). Instead of relying upon seasonal totals, we calibrate points-allowed data to show how each defense fared relative to the difficulty of the schedule it has faced. This provides a fairer approach to judging the quality of individual matchups.
For the first three weeks, these rankings account for two things: my own opinion of the strength of that matchup, and what ESPN's projections tell us about it. As an additional reference point, 2025 full-season data is provided.
"Adj. FPA," or adjusted fantasy points allowed, reflects how far above or below players' weekly PPR fantasy point averages that defense held opponents at that position. A positive number means the matchup is favorable; a negative number means it is unfavorable. Also, remember teams often use multiple running backs and wide receivers in a game, and these plus/minus averages cover all of a team's personnel at that position.
Finally, a caveat: Matchups are only one ingredient in my rankings formula. Not every favorable matchup should be exploited, nor every unfavorable matchup avoided. If you want my -- and the ESPN fantasy staff's -- most complete source for whom to start and sit each week, consult our weekly rankings.
Quarterbacks
Matchups highlight: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Washington Commanders). His Week 1 (14.40 fantasy points) wasn't anything special, but in his defense, his Cowboys committed multiple drops and five offensive penalties, and it's worth noting that opening-week struggles are part of his personal history (he hasn't scored as many as 15 points in a Week 1 since 2021). A Week 2 matchup against the Commanders, at home no less, is a much softer matchups landing spot. The Commanders surrendered 20.12 fantasy points on only 25 passing plays to Jalen Hurts in Week 1, and Prescott himself has scored in excess of 20 fantasy points in four straight home games overall and in each of his past five home games against the Commanders.
Others to like: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Miami Dolphins); C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (vs. Cincinnati Bengals).
Matchup to avoid: Joe Burrow, Bengals (at Texans). After Josh Allen dropped 35.66 fantasy points on the vaunted Texans defense -- a total more than 15 better than any other quarterback scored against it in 2025 -- Burrow's managers might be brimming with confidence over his prospects facing the same matchup. Pump the brakes, as 40% of Allen's production came on rushing plays, an area that has not been Burrow's forte, while much of the Texans' defensive issues could be pinned squarely on their difficulty handling Allen's mobility. This is still an upper-quarter defense, and Burrow averaged 3.4 fewer fantasy points against upper-quarter defenses than the rest of the league the past two seasons.
Running backs
Matchups highlight: David Montgomery, Texans (vs. Bengals). A human touchdown machine in Week 1, Montgomery had five goal-to-go touches (four carries, one target) and converted three for scores in the Texans' 36-31 loss to the Bills. His status as the team's clear goal-line back will prove important against the Bengals, who surrendered 19 yards and two touchdowns to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on three goal-to-go plays last week. Bucky Irving, one of the league's least effective goal-line backs in his two-plus years in the league (22.2% touchdown rate on goal-to-go plays), managed 20.3 fantasy points in that game.
Others to like: Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks (at Arizona Cardinals); Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (at Cowboys).
Matchup to avoid: Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (at Los Angeles Rams). His return game from a dislocated ankle couldn't have gone much better -- 14.1 fantasy points and 25 rushing yards over expected, per Next Gen Stats -- but the Rams represent significant contrast to a Cowboys matchup. The Rams, despite a disappointing teamwide performance in Australia last Thursday, held last season's top-scoring running back, Christian McCaffrey, to 13.8 fantasy points on 15 touches. They were also the seventh-best schedule-adjusted defense against the position in 2025. Skattebo's big-play ability gives him a solid ceiling even facing this matchup, but he's also a highly risky play.
Wide receivers
Matchups highlight: Terry McLaurin, Commanders (at Cowboys). From a matchup to avoid to the week's highlight, such is the contrast between McLaurin's first two games this season. As with the Philadelphia Eagles, last week's opponent, McLaurin has quite the history with the division-rival Cowboys, though this matchup has become more advantageous for the veteran wideout this season after the Cowboys released Trevon Diggs in December. The Cowboys' current defensive back combination of DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson afforded Giants wide receivers a combined 22.1 fantasy points on 15 targets, and another 27.8 to tight end Isaiah Likely on eight targets, in Week 1. McLaurin has also gotten the better of the Cowboys the past two seasons, averaging 17.6 points in four meetings.
Others to like: Mike Evans, 49ers (vs. Dolphins); DeVonta Smith, Eagles (at Tennessee Titans); George Pickens, Cowboys (vs. Commanders).
Matchup to avoid: Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Denver Broncos). His 2026 debut was impressive, a 19.3 fantasy point effort highlighted by his 30-yard, diving touchdown reception on the opening drive. Unfortunately, he's in for a much taller task in Week 2, against a Broncos defense that, despite a mediocre overall performance on "Monday Night Football," limited Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers to a combined 14.7 fantasy points on 10 targets. Between the Jaguars' likelihood of spreading passes around all season and the presence of three-time All-Pro and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year CB Pat Surtain II on the Broncos' side, Washington should find it difficult to approach his opening-week number.
Tight ends
Matchups highlight: Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. Colts). Even as he approaches his 37th birthday -- which arrives Oct. 5 -- Kelce continues to put forth productive, fantasy-worthy point totals. In that Monday night game in which the Broncos stifled the Chiefs' wide receivers, Kelce turned five targets into 10.1 fantasy points, averaging 23.7 yards on his three catches. Now he'll face the Colts, the eighth-worst schedule-adjusted defense against the position last season, and one that surrendered 8.9 fantasy points to the Baltimore Ravens' Mark Andrews in Week 1, with much of that occurring after Zay Flowers left early due to injury.
Matchup to avoid: Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (at Ravens). He played a big part in the Saints' near upset of the Detroit Lions in Week 1, catching the game-tying touchdown late in regulation and finishing with 14.4 fantasy points on seven targets. And while the Tyler Shough-led Saints showed serious life during that run late in the fourth quarter and in OT, they were sluggish in the early going, an indication that their matchups should still matter. Johnson is approaching top-10 fantasy positional utility, but this is a week to keep him on the sideline. The opposing Ravens held Tyler Warren to 10.3 points on five targets in Week 1 and were the fourth-toughest schedule-adjusted defense against the position in 2025.