Making tough lineup decisions each week can be the most challenging part of fantasy football. When you're torn between two similar players, start the player with the superior matchup.
But exactly how does one determine the best (and worst) weekly matchups?
The matchup rankings provide a schedule-independent method to evaluate positional matchups, ranking all 32 opposing defenses in order of most to least favorable for opposing players at all four skill positions. 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 over the past five weeks. This provides a fairer approach to judging the quality of individual matchups.
"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 that the matchup is favorable; a negative number means it is unfavorable. Additionally, 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 unfavorable matchup avoided. If you want the most complete source for whom to start, consult our weekly rankings.
Quarterbacks
Matchups highlight: Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (versus Buffalo Bills). Two of the top 10 quarterbacks in fantasy points per game are on bye in Week 6 (QB3 Jared Goff, QB8 Joe Burrow), and another two aren't guarantees to play (QB5 Caleb Williams, QB9 Lamar Jackson), so this is a week where some creativity might be required to fill the position. Cousins, QB11 on the list, and the ninth-best quarterback in terms of passer rating, is a worthwhile streamer, thanks in large part to his matchup. The Bills have allowed three 25-plus-point fantasy scores to opposing quarterbacks, matching the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders for most in the league, as well as the second-most pass completions per game (26.8). Bills-Raiders also has the week's highest over/under (53.5), with the Raiders giving 5.5 points, signaling that another pass-friendly game script should be in order.
Others to like:
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (versus Commanders, Monday night)
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (versus Dallas Cowboys, Sunday night)
Matchup to avoid: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (versus Houston Texans in London, Sunday 9:30 a.m. ET). His performance in London over the weekend wasn't as impressive as his final fantasy score indicated (21.74 points); bear in mind that 43% of his production came with his team trailing in the fourth quarter. Lawrence has had a fine year from an on-field standpoint, but his fantasy results have been hit-or-miss. Facing a defense with the amount of talent the Texans have -- at least on paper -- he's one of the shakiest Week 6 starters. Lawrence has a horrendous career history against his division rival; he has averaged 11.6 fantasy points in 10 career starts against the Texans and 8.2 against them in four meetings from 2024 to 2025.
Running backs
Matchups highlight: Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (at Indianapolis Colts). If there's any week to trust Pollard as a clear fantasy RB2, it's one in which three top-20 running backs in terms of fantasy points per game (RB1 Jahmyr Gibbs, RB17 Aaron Jones Sr., RB18 Chase Brown) are on bye and where he gets to face one of the league's struggling run defenses. The Colts just got pummeled for 36.8 fantasy points by Jaylen Warren in Week 5, meaning they've surrendered two of the position's five best single-game scores this season. They've also allowed the fourth-most points per rushing attempt and the third-most points per target to running backs, giving Pollard multiple potential avenues to success.
Others to like:
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (versus New York Jets)
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (versus New Orleans Saints)
MarShawn Lloyd, Packers (versus Cowboys)
Matchup to avoid: Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (versus Baltimore Ravens). He's getting enough play to generally warrant fantasy RB2 status, with 61% snap and 58% rushing shares that rank 17th and 14th at the position, respectively, but his results have been lackluster, to say the least. Among running backs with at least 30 carries, his 3.0 yards per carry and 4.1% explosive rates are both third worst, and he has a 19% stuff rate, per Next Gen Stats. That bodes poorly for Judkins in a matchup against the Ravens, the fourth-best defense in terms of Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed, as well as the sixth best in terms of run stop rate against running backs (29.0%).
Wide receivers
Matchups highlight: Christian Watson/Matthew Golden, Packers (versus Cowboys). Jordan Love's passing was simply magical in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears, as he amassed 256 yards on deep throws (20-plus yards downfield), the third most by any player in the 20 years for which the data has been tracked. The matchup had a lot to do with it, as the Bears rank 31st in passer rating allowed in those situations. The Cowboys aren't much better, ranking 28th. The Cowboys have seen an opposing wide receiver score in excess of 15 fantasy points in each of the past four weeks, so they're as good a matchup for these two wideouts to challenge for a top-10 positional point total as last week's was.
Others to like:
Mike Evans, 49ers (versus Commanders, MNF)
Tre Tucker, Raiders (versus Bills)
Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (at Philadelphia Eagles)
Matchup to avoid: Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (at Los Angeles Rams). The Marvin Harrison Jr. trade didn't seem to change much with Wilson's role, as he went from 96% route participation and a 29% target share in the first four games to 85% and 15% in Week 5, as Kendrick Bourne and Jalen Brooks also played meaningful roles. Wilson remains Jacoby Brissett's preferred wide receiver when throwing, but with tight end Trey McBride serving the Cardinals' true "WR1" role, Wilson will remain subject to his matchups. This is a poor one, largely due to the stellar play of Rams CB Trent McDuffie, who has contributed to the Rams having a league-leading minus-5.6 Adj. FPA against opposing WR1s.
Tight ends
Matchups highlight: Dallas Goedert, Eagles (versus Panthers). In his return to action following a knee injury, Goedert managed a 24% target share and 9.8 fantasy points despite a challenging matchup against the Jaguars in London, stepping up as a safety net for Jalen Hurts while his No. 1 wide receiver, DeVonta Smith (hamstring), remained sidelined. We'll see whether Smith is able return for Week 6, but even if he can, Goedert's matchup is significantly more favorable this week and likely to keep him within the position's top 10. The opposing Panthers have seen three different tight ends post season highs in fantasy points against them: Cole Kmet (11.5, Week 1), Harold Fannin Jr. (24.1, Week 3) and Sam LaPorta (22.4, Week 4).
Matchup to avoid: Brenton Strange, Jaguars (versus Texans). He's quietly putting together a productive fantasy season, ranking 13th among tight ends in fantasy points per game (10.1), largely because he has the position's 10th-largest target share (19%) and fourth-best catch rate (81%). That keeps him barely beneath the fantasy TE1 cutoff most weeks, but a Texans matchup is limiting to his upside. The Texans have struggled much more against wide receivers (6.5 Adj. FPA) than tight ends (minus-3.2 Adj. FPA) and have afforded the position a single target in the red zone so far.