In fantasy football, knowledge is power. The more research you do, the more you learn about the teams and players, the better equipped you are to win your game and championship. The single most important piece of information that you can have is game flow. How will any particular NFL matchup play out. If you can properly identify and predict game flow, you will be a constant champion in fantasy football.
But predicting game flow is not easy. In fact, its much harder than trying to predict just the outcome. Anybody can throw out a final score or identify a spread and pick a direction to go. But game flow means you understand what each team is trying to do and how they will go about trying to achieve those goals.
In order to help predict game flow it is imperative to know what the strengths and weaknesses are of each team. Once you understand this you can begin to understand just how each team is going to attack.
As our longtime subscribers know, I use several very advanced formulas to help me properly project team and player performance each week. I also run game simulations in order understand what the most likely outcomes of each matchup will be. For the first time ever, I have decided to start sharing some of my fundamental principles that I use in breaking down matchups each week.
The following is a breakdown of each teams current NFL ranking in 31 basic and advanced statistics. When put against each other like this you can start to see just what each team’s strengths and weaknesses are. Once we see this we can derive what the likely game plan of each squad will be and then finally which players will benefit from that plan.
Here is the 2016 Fantasy Football Matchup Report for Week 4:
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KEY
OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKINGS
PACE – The speed or tempo in which a team plays
PPG – Points scored per game
T.O.P. – Time of Possession
Total Yards – Total Yards Gained by Offense
RZ% - Red Zone TD Scoring Percentage
OFF PLAYS – Total Number of Offensive Plays
RUN ATTS – Total Number of Rushing Attempts
RUN % - Percentage of Offensive Plays That Are Runs
RUN YDS – Rushing Yards
RUN YPA – Rushing Yards Per Attempt
PASS ATTS – Total Number of Pass Attempts
PASS % - Percentage of Offensive Plays That Are Pass
PASS YDS – Passing Yards
PASS YPA – Passing Yards Per Attempt
PFF RUN BK – ProFootballFocus Run Blocking Rating
PFF PASS BK – ProFootballFocus Pass Blocking Rating
DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKINGS
DVOA – Football Outsiders Defensive Value Over Average
PFF Overall – ProFootballFocus Overall Defensive Rating
YPGA – Yards Per Game Against
YPPA – Yards Per Play Against
PFF Run – ProFootballFocus Defense Against Run Rating
RUN YPG – Rushing Yards Per Game Against
RUN YPA – Rushing Yards Per Attempt Against
PFF P Rush – ProFootballFocus Pass Rush Rating
PFF P COV – ProFootballFocus Pass Coverage Rating
PASS YPG – Passing Yards Per Game Against
PASS YPA – Passing Yards Per Attempt Against
DEF VS QB – Fantasy Points Allowed Vs QB
DEF VS RB - Fantasy Points Allowed Vs RB
DEF VS WR - Fantasy Points Allowed Vs WR
DEF VS TE - Fantasy Points Allowed Vs TE
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DOLPHINS | AT | BENGALS |
5 | PACE | 4 |
21 | PPG | 25 |
30 | T.O.P. | 23 |
18 | TOTAL YDS | 11 |
17 | RZ% | 29 |
27 | OFF PLAYS | 18 |
28 | RUN ATTS | 26 |
25 | RUN % | 24 |
25 | RUN YDS | 27 |
13 | RUN YPA | 24 |
13 | PASS ATTS | 12 |
8 | PASS % | 9 |
10 | PASS YDS | 7 |
10 | PASS YPA | 6 |
21 | PFF RUN BK | 8 |
15 | PFF PASS BK | 17 |
19 | DVOA | 17 |
21 | PFF OVERAL | 15 |
28 | YPGA | 15 |
17 | YPPA | 14 |
22 | PFF RUN | 9 |
31 | RUN YPG | 19 |
20 | RUN YPA | 10 |
5 | PFF P RUSH | 13 |
26 | PFF P COV | 23 |
18 | PASS YPG | 13 |
16 | PASS YPA | 17 |
12 | DEF VS QB | 28 |
18 | DEF VS RB | 16 |
26 | DEF VS WR | 21 |
21 | DEF VS TE | 17 |
COLTS | AT | JAGUARS |
13 | PACE | 7 |
6 | PPG | 27 |
14 | T.O.P. | 21 |
12 | TOTAL YDS | 26 |
1 | RZ% | 13 |
13 | OFF PLAYS | 17 |
25 | RUN ATTS | 31 |
27 | RUN % | 31 |
23 | RUN YDS | 31 |
20 | RUN YPA | 31 |
5 | PASS ATTS | 3 |
6 | PASS % | 2 |
9 | PASS YDS | 12 |
17 | PASS YPA | 26 |
23 | PFF RUN BK | 24 |
28 | PFF PASS BK | 20 |
28 | DVOA | 15 |
30 | PFF OVERAL | 18 |
24 | YPGA | 8 |
28 | YPPA | 9 |
29 | PFF RUN | 7 |
13 | RUN YPG | 20 |
15 | RUN YPA | 16 |
24 | PFF P RUSH | 30 |
32 | PFF P COV | 12 |
27 | PASS YPG | 7 |
28 | PASS YPA | 9 |
14 | DEF VS QB | 25 |
32 | DEF VS RB | 7 |
7 | DEF VS WR | 24 |
18 | DEF VS TE | 10 |
TITANS | AT | TEXANS |
28 | PACE | 22 |
31 | PPG | 32 |
11 | T.O.P. | 5 |
20 | TOTAL YDS | 24 |
16 | RZ% | 32 |
23 | OFF PLAYS | 3 |
19 | RUN ATTS | 6 |
18 | RUN % | 8 |
8 | RUN YDS | 13 |
3 | RUN YPA | 28 |
18 | PASS ATTS | 17 |
15 | PASS % | 25 |
24 | PASS YDS | 27 |
23 | PASS YPA | 30 |
3 | PFF RUN BK | 30 |
3 | PFF PASS BK | 9 |
14 | DVOA | 8 |
27 | PFF OVERAL | 14 |
12 | YPGA | 5 |
18 | YPPA | 7 |
18 | PFF RUN | 25 |
17 | RUN YPG | 26 |
19 | RUN YPA | 29 |
25 | PFF P RUSH | 4 |
30 | PFF P COV | 15 |
12 | PASS YPG | 1 |
14 | PASS YPA | 3 |
6 | DEF VS QB | 4 |
2 | DEF VS RB | 9 |
16 | DEF VS WR | 4 |
11 | DEF VS TE | 5 |
BROWNS | AT | REDSKINS |
18 | PACE | 10 |
26 | PPG | 18 |
27 | T.O.P. | 18 |
16 | TOTAL YDS | 5 |
27 | RZ% | 31 |
25 | OFF PLAYS | 24 |
14 | RUN ATTS | 29 |
15 | RUN % | 30 |
4 | RUN YDS | 29 |
2 | RUN YPA | 22 |
25 | PASS ATTS | 4 |
18 | PASS % | 3 |
25 | PASS YDS | 2 |
16 | PASS YPA | 3 |
9 | PFF RUN BK | 6 |
24 | PFF PASS BK | 4 |
20 | DVOA | 25 |
16 | PFF OVERAL | 22 |
25 | YPGA | 29 |
21 | YPPA | 30 |
14 | PFF RUN | 19 |
18 | RUN YPG | 25 |
13 | RUN YPA | 24 |
12 | PFF P RUSH | 22 |
21 | PFF P COV | 14 |
24 | PASS YPG | 26 |
22 | PASS YPA | 30 |
24 | DEF VS QB | 21 |
19 | DEF VS RB | 29 |
28 | DEF VS WR | 29 |
25 | DEF VS TE | 12 |
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SEAHAWKS | AT | JETS |
26 | PACE | 29 |
28 | PPG | 23 |
6 | T.O.P. | 4 |
19 | TOTAL YDS | 10 |
25 | RZ% | 28 |
4 | OFF PLAYS | 7 |
8 | RUN ATTS | 7 |
14 | RUN % | 11 |
15 | RUN YDS | 7 |
27 | RUN YPA | 7 |
15 | PASS ATTS | 14 |
19 | PASS % | 22 |
13 | PASS YDS | 18 |
14 | PASS YPA | 21 |
32 | PFF RUN BK | 25 |
29 | PFF PASS BK | 11 |
1 | DVOA | 22 |
2 | PFF OVERAL | 23 |
1 | YPGA | 14 |
2 | YPPA | 26 |
3 | PFF RUN | 10 |
9 | RUN YPG | 3 |
9 | RUN YPA | 3 |
9 | PFF P RUSH | 19 |
3 | PFF P COV | 28 |
2 | PASS YPG | 21 |
6 | PASS YPA | 31 |
2 | DEF VS QB | 22 |
6 | DEF VS RB | 5 |
1 | DEF VS WR | 23 |
6 | DEF VS TE | 22 |
BILLS | AT | PATRIOTS |
15 | PACE | 27 |
15 | PPG | 5 |
31 | T.O.P. | 7 |
30 | TOTAL YDS | 15 |
3 | RZ% | 18 |
32 | OFF PLAYS | 12 |
18 | RUN ATTS | 1 |
5 | RUN % | 1 |
9 | RUN YDS | 1 |
5 | RUN YPA | 11 |
32 | PASS ATTS | 31 |
28 | PASS % | 32 |
32 | PASS YDS | 26 |
24 | PASS YPA | 9 |
20 | PFF RUN BK | 16 |
13 | PFF PASS BK | 21 |
13 | DVOA | 24 |
1 | PFF OVERAL | 10 |
23 | YPGA | 17 |
15 | YPPA | 20 |
4 | PFF RUN | 11 |
15 | RUN YPG | 12 |
5 | RUN YPA | 22 |
6 | PFF P RUSH | 14 |
4 | PFF P COV | 10 |
22 | PASS YPG | 19 |
23 | PASS YPA | 13 |
9 | DEF VS QB | 16 |
23 | DEF VS RB | 17 |
32 | DEF VS WR | 20 |
1 | DEF VS TE | 20 |
PANTHERS | AT | FALCONS |
17 | PACE | 11 |
12 | PPG | 1 |
3 | T.O.P. | 19 |
7 | TOTAL YDS | 1 |
7 | RZ% | 21 |
1 | OFF PLAYS | 20 |
4 | RUN ATTS | 11 |
9 | RUN % | 13 |
3 | RUN YDS | 5 |
6 | RUN YPA | 4 |
16 | PASS ATTS | 21 |
24 | PASS % | 20 |
19 | PASS YDS | 4 |
20 | PASS YPA | 1 |
26 | PFF RUN BK | 4 |
12 | PFF PASS BK | 14 |
6 | DVOA | 32 |
11 | PFF OVERAL | 29 |
3 | YPGA | 30 |
5 | YPPA | 24 |
15 | PFF RUN | 31 |
11 | RUN YPG | 22 |
6 | RUN YPA | 26 |
8 | PFF P RUSH | 21 |
13 | PFF P COV | 25 |
5 | PASS YPG | 29 |
8 | PASS YPA | 21 |
8 | DEF VS QB | 32 |
11 | DEF VS RB | 30 |
2 | DEF VS WR | 17 |
26 | DEF VS TE | 31 |
RAIDERS | AT | RAVENS |
19 | PACE | 16 |
8 | PPG | 24 |
12 | T.O.P. | 9 |
2 | TOTAL YDS | 25 |
2 | RZ% | 14 |
16 | OFF PLAYS | 11 |
15 | RUN ATTS | 16 |
19 | RUN % | 20 |
2 | RUN YDS | 26 |
1 | RUN YPA | 30 |
11 | PASS ATTS | 8 |
14 | PASS % | 13 |
8 | PASS YDS | 21 |
13 | PASS YPA | 28 |
2 | PFF RUN BK | 13 |
10 | PFF PASS BK | 5 |
29 | DVOA | 5 |
28 | PFF OVERAL | 6 |
32 | YPGA | 2 |
32 | YPPA | 3 |
28 | PFF RUN | 2 |
29 | RUN YPG | 8 |
31 | RUN YPA | 12 |
23 | PFF P RUSH | 17 |
17 | PFF P COV | 8 |
32 | PASS YPG | 3 |
32 | PASS YPA | 4 |
30 | DEF VS QB | 5 |
25 | DEF VS RB | 8 |
30 | DEF VS WR | 8 |
24 | DEF VS TE | 8 |
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LIONS | AT | BEARS |
23 | PACE | 6 |
7 | PPG | 30 |
10 | T.O.P. | 32 |
4 | TOTAL YDS | 27 |
15 | RZ% | 19 |
14 | OFF PLAYS | 31 |
24 | RUN ATTS | 32 |
22 | RUN % | 29 |
16 | RUN YDS | 30 |
8 | RUN YPA | 18 |
7 | PASS ATTS | 19 |
11 | PASS % | 4 |
3 | PASS YDS | 23 |
4 | PASS YPA | 19 |
14 | PFF RUN BK | 5 |
19 | PFF PASS BK | 25 |
31 | DVOA | 27 |
32 | PFF OVERAL | 17 |
21 | YPGA | 16 |
27 | YPPA | 13 |
32 | PFF RUN | 23 |
21 | RUN YPG | 30 |
32 | RUN YPA | 14 |
32 | PFF P RUSH | 11 |
27 | PFF P COV | 9 |
16 | PASS YPG | 10 |
24 | PASS YPA | 15 |
31 | DEF VS QB | 15 |
13 | DEF VS RB | 22 |
18 | DEF VS WR | 11 |
32 | DEF VS TE | 13 |
BRONCOS | AT | BUCCANEERS |
21 | PACE | 2 |
4 | PPG | 16 |
20 | T.O.P. | 13 |
21 | TOTAL YDS | 9 |
26 | RZ% | 9 |
26 | OFF PLAYS | 2 |
10 | RUN ATTS | 22 |
6 | RUN % | 28 |
14 | RUN YDS | 24 |
15 | RUN YPA | 25 |
27 | PASS ATTS | 1 |
27 | PASS % | 5 |
20 | PASS YDS | 6 |
5 | PASS YPA | 25 |
1 | PFF RUN BK | 11 |
16 | PFF PASS BK | 32 |
11 | DVOA | 21 |
7 | PFF OVERAL | 26 |
7 | YPGA | 19 |
4 | YPPA | 22 |
16 | PFF RUN | 26 |
27 | RUN YPG | 14 |
25 | RUN YPA | 8 |
2 | PFF P RUSH | 26 |
11 | PFF P COV | 22 |
4 | PASS YPG | 20 |
1 | PASS YPA | 27 |
10 | DEF VS QB | 26 |
20 | DEF VS RB | 26 |
3 | DEF VS WR | 25 |
14 | DEF VS TE | 7 |
RAMS | AT | CARDINALS |
20 | PACE | 9 |
29 | PPG | 9 |
24 | T.O.P. | 16 |
32 | TOTAL YDS | 14 |
8 | RZ% | 12 |
28 | OFF PLAYS | 9 |
12 | RUN ATTS | 23 |
7 | RUN % | 23 |
22 | RUN YDS | 20 |
29 | RUN YPA | 16 |
30 | PASS ATTS | 6 |
26 | PASS % | 10 |
31 | PASS YDS | 11 |
31 | PASS YPA | 18 |
27 | PFF RUN BK | 19 |
27 | PFF PASS BK | 18 |
12 | DVOA | 7 |
3 | PFF OVERAL | 9 |
18 | YPGA | 9 |
8 | YPPA | 6 |
6 | PFF RUN | 13 |
16 | RUN YPG | 28 |
4 | RUN YPA | 27 |
1 | PFF P RUSH | 15 |
20 | PFF P COV | 5 |
17 | PASS YPG | 6 |
11 | PASS YPA | 2 |
17 | DEF VS QB | 7 |
21 | DEF VS RB | 14 |
19 | DEF VS WR | 14 |
23 | DEF VS TE | 4 |
SAINTS | AT | CHARGERS |
3 | PACE | 30 |
10 | PPG | 3 |
17 | T.O.P. | 8 |
3 | TOTAL YDS | 17 |
4 | RZ% | 23 |
6 | OFF PLAYS | 22 |
30 | RUN ATTS | 9 |
32 | RUN % | 10 |
28 | RUN YDS | 12 |
10 | RUN YPA | 14 |
2 | PASS ATTS | 23 |
1 | PASS % | 23 |
1 | PASS YDS | 15 |
12 | PASS YPA | 8 |
22 | PFF RUN BK | 10 |
8 | PFF PASS BK | 22 |
30 | DVOA | 16 |
31 | PFF OVERAL | 19 |
31 | YPGA | 26 |
31 | YPPA | 23 |
30 | PFF RUN | 20 |
32 | RUN YPG | 6 |
30 | RUN YPA | 23 |
29 | PFF P RUSH | 10 |
31 | PFF P COV | 16 |
25 | PASS YPG | 30 |
26 | PASS YPA | 20 |
13 | DEF VS QB | 29 |
27 | DEF VS RB | 28 |
31 | DEF VS WR | 15 |
9 | DEF VS TE | 29 |
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COWBOYS | AT | 49ERS |
31 | PACE | 1 |
11 | PPG | 14 |
2 | T.O.P. | 29 |
8 | TOTAL YDS | 29 |
10 | RZ% | 6 |
5 | OFF PLAYS | 15 |
2 | RUN ATTS | 3 |
3 | RUN % | 2 |
6 | RUN YDS | 11 |
17 | RUN YPA | 26 |
24 | PASS ATTS | 26 |
30 | PASS % | 31 |
16 | PASS YDS | 30 |
7 | PASS YPA | 32 |
17 | PFF RUN BK | 31 |
23 | PFF PASS BK | 30 |
23 | DVOA | 9 |
25 | PFF OVERAL | 4 |
22 | YPGA | 20 |
25 | YPPA | 19 |
27 | PFF RUN | 5 |
10 | RUN YPG | 23 |
28 | RUN YPA | 17 |
31 | PFF P RUSH | 20 |
6 | PFF P COV | 2 |
23 | PASS YPG | 14 |
18 | PASS YPA | 19 |
23 | DEF VS QB | 20 |
12 | DEF VS RB | 15 |
13 | DEF VS WR | 12 |
30 | DEF VS TE | 28 |
CHIEFS | AT | STEELERS |
12 | PACE | 14 |
17 | PPG | 19 |
25 | T.O.P. | 15 |
23 | TOTAL YDS | 22 |
22 | RZ% | 5 |
19 | OFF PLAYS | 10 |
27 | RUN ATTS | 17 |
26 | RUN % | 21 |
21 | RUN YDS | 18 |
9 | RUN YPA | 19 |
10 | PASS ATTS | 9 |
7 | PASS % | 12 |
22 | PASS YDS | 14 |
29 | PASS YPA | 22 |
29 | PFF RUN BK | 18 |
6 | PFF PASS BK | 26 |
4 | DVOA | 26 |
8 | PFF OVERAL | 24 |
11 | YPGA | 27 |
11 | YPPA | 29 |
12 | PFF RUN | 21 |
24 | RUN YPG | 4 |
18 | RUN YPA | 11 |
28 | PFF P RUSH | 27 |
1 | PFF P COV | 24 |
11 | PASS YPG | 31 |
7 | PASS YPA | 25 |
3 | DEF VS QB | 19 |
24 | DEF VS RB | 31 |
10 | DEF VS WR | 9 |
3 | DEF VS TE | 19 |
GIANTS | AT | VIKINGS |
8 | PACE | 25 |
22 | PPG | 20 |
26 | T.O.P. | 22 |
6 | TOTAL YDS | 31 |
24 | RZ% | 30 |
21 | OFF PLAYS | 30 |
13 | RUN ATTS | 20 |
17 | RUN % | 12 |
19 | RUN YDS | 32 |
21 | RUN YPA | 32 |
20 | PASS ATTS | 29 |
16 | PASS % | 21 |
5 | PASS YDS | 28 |
2 | PASS YPA | 15 |
7 | PFF RUN BK | 28 |
2 | PFF PASS BK | 31 |
18 | DVOA | 3 |
20 | PFF OVERAL | 13 |
10 | YPGA | 6 |
10 | YPPA | 1 |
17 | PFF RUN | 8 |
5 | RUN YPG | 7 |
2 | RUN YPA | 7 |
18 | PFF P RUSH | 16 |
18 | PFF P COV | 19 |
15 | PASS YPG | 9 |
12 | PASS YPA | 5 |
11 | DEF VS QB | 18 |
3 | DEF VS RB | 10 |
22 | DEF VS WR | 5 |
15 | DEF VS TE | 16 |