The NFL season kicks off this week, which suggests it is nearly time to lock in your first fantasy soccer lineup for the 2024 season.
Most fantasy managers roll with set lineups and swap gamers out and in based mostly on accidents, however watching key matchups can also be a fruitful technique to produce some factors.
Each week, Yardbarker will provide you with a few of the prime fantasy soccer matchups to make the most of. Listed here are the highest matchups to use in Week 1:
Packers QB Jordan Love vs. Eagles secondary
The Eagles had the second-worst cross protection within the NFL final season, permitting 252.7 passing yards per recreation and 35 landing passes. In addition they tied for the fourth-fewest interceptions (9) and allowed the fourth-highest passer ranking (97.6) — all good indicators for Inexperienced Bay.
Love had the second-most landing passes (32) final season and he ranked seventh in passing yards (4,159). His younger WR corps is one other yr skilled, and the Eagles may very well be relying closely on two rookie cornerbacks (Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean) to try to cease the likes of Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Luke Musgrave. Love may doubtlessly have a giant day in opposition to the Eagles’ younger secondary.
Payments RB James Prepare dinner vs. Cardinals entrance seven
Prepare dinner got here out of nowhere to shock everybody in 2023, dashing for 1,122 yards (fourth-most within the league) and rating twelfth in first downs by way of run (53). Although he solely had three 100-yard video games a yr in the past, Prepare dinner excels at choosing up further yards and getting essentially the most out of what his offensive line provides him.
Conversely, Arizona had the worst run protection within the league final yr, surrendering 143.2 yards per recreation and permitting the second-most yards per carry (4.7), the fifth-most dashing landing (19) and eight 100-yard rushers.
Whereas Arizona did signal defensive sort out Justin Jones, defensive finish Bilal Nichols and linebacker Mack Wilson, it didn’t add a difference-maker wherever alongside the entrance seven, and Prepare dinner may start the yr with a straightforward 100-yard recreation.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp vs. Lions defensive backs
Kupp missed 5 video games as a result of damage final yr and his manufacturing subsequently dropped off due to it (59 receptions, 737 yards, 5 touchdowns). That mentioned, he ought to regain his Professional Bowl kind if he’s totally wholesome. The Rams offense is based on Matthew Stafford throwing it 35-40 instances per recreation, and Kupp is — and has been — his favourite goal.
The Lions secondary was one of many worst within the NFL final yr, giving up 268.4 yards receiving per recreation and 28 receiving touchdowns, although they patched up the holes that they had within the defensive backfield with rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw.
That mentioned, Detroit can be breaking in a brand new No. 1 CB in Carlton Davis so there may very well be some rising pains early on, making Week 1 a major alternative for a WR like Kupp to have a breakout recreation.
