Two Must-Watch Week 1 NFL Matchups
The NFL season is finally back! Here are a few NFL in-game matchups to watch as the week progresses!
Jets O-Line vs. 49ers D-Line
The first Monday Night Football matchup of the 2024 season could potentially be bad news for fantasy managers with any stock in the Jets offense. Expectations are sky-high for the offense, as many hope Aaron Rodgers is the skeleton key to the Jets franchise woes. While it is almost a guarantee the Jets will be better with Rodgers running the huddle, there is still uncertainty about how the offensive line will perform.
The Jets' offensive line was a mess last year, allowing the fourth-most sacks (64), as well as finishing 30th in pass blocking and 27th in run blocking (per PFF). They did make noise this offseason, signing both Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses who were highly productive for their teams in 2023.
On top of the veteran signings, the Jets do have young talent on the roster as well. 2024 first-round draft pick Olu Fashanu has the potential to be a cornerstone of the Jets for a long time and rising star, Alijah Vera-Tucker will return from the injury that kept him out of the 2023 season. While the Jets have a much-improved line on paper, will they finally be able to piece it all together? The matchup against the 49ers defense will be telling.
On the Jets offense, it is obvious that Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall are lineup locks, but expectations should be tempered. They are still playing against an elite defense that can disrupt a solid line. In 2023, the 49ers were ranked tenth in run defense and third in pass rush (per PFF). At least one of them likely struggles to produce fantasy-wise, due to the constant pressure the 49ers' defensive line will put on the Jets offensive line and Rodgers.
This is an excellent matchup to watch as both teams have elite fantasy players on the offense and an elite defense. The 49ers showed last year that their offense can produce solid fantasy outings no matter the matchup. This week one game will be a great test for the Jets. If they can hang with the 49ers defense, they might be the next fantasy hotness. But if they cannot, then they may be a little more volatile than projected.
WR Terry McLaurin vs. CB Jamel Dean
Terry McLaurin is a highly underrated receiver and has no clear target competition for 2024. The number two receiver for last season's Washington Commanders, Jahan Dotson, is no longer with the team, leaving McLaurin with little to no competition for targets. The Commanders start their 2024 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who ranked 24th in defensive rating (per PFF).
Terry McLaurin has been slept on due to bad quarterback play for the majority of his career. He is targeted like an alpha, ranking inside the top 20 in both target share and air yards last season, yet finished the season 76th in catchable target percentage in 2023. Jayden Daniels needs a player he can trust and McLaurin should be just that for him. The only thing that is standing in his way is Buccaneers defensive back, Jamel Dean.
Jamel Dean has been a solid defensive back since entering the league in 2019. 2023 was a bit of a down year for Dean, as he allowed 612 yards and five touchdowns in coverage. Before last season, the most yards he allowed in coverage was 411. Dean is a stronger run stopper than most, ranking as PFF’s eighth-best in the run game among cornerbacks. When it comes to coverage, he is good, not great. Dean was PFF’s 34th-ranked corner in coverage. It will be interesting to see how he handles covering McLaurin for the majority of the game. Will he be able to revert to his pre-2023 self?
The matchup of Terry McLaurin and Jamel Dean should be a fun one to watch, as both players are quietly productive starters who do not get enough praise for what they do. McLaurin may finally have the season fantasy managers long for now that his situation appears to be better than in previous years. With Jamel Dean, he has had several years as a corner who excels in coverage, so 2023 was likely an outlier year. Expect him to get back on track this season as he joins the Commanders for his sixth season.
Terry McLaurin is a sneaky week one flex-start. His clear role in the offense will lead to a majority of the Commanders’ volume in the passing game and the quality of those targets will be better than in years past since Jayden Daniels is already the most talented quarterback that McLaurin has been teammates with. Even if Dean plays well in coverage, McLaurin should be a trustworthy start due to his projected volume alone.
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