Week 16 Fantasy Football Defensive Matchup Exploitation: QB

As with every week, a highly favorable defensive matchup can turn a fringe quarterback into a QB1. Last week was no different as our top quarterback target, Kirk Cousins, took full advantage of his matchup against the Falcons, throwing for 381 yards and three touchdowns. I was hesitant to take advantage of Matt Flynn’s positive matchup because, well, Matt Flynn. Even he ultimately turned it on, after three quarters, and finished the game with 299 yards and four touchdowns against the Cowboys.

This week, you better believe I’m rolling with Cousins again, against the struggling ‘Boys. Dallas has given up 26+ points in back-to-back games and in five of their last seven. Even if Cousins turns the ball over a couple of times again, he looks real good against the worst pass defense in the league.

I’m a bit hesitant about Tony Romo in that same matchup, though. The Skins have held Matt Ryan, Alex Smith, and Eli Manning to 14 points or fewer in their last three games and held Romo to just 17- yards and a touchdown the last time they faced him. Still, they are giving up an average of 18 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks over their last eight games and have given up 20+ points in four of those games so I’m definitely willing to take a shot on him.

The same goes for Andy Dalton. The Vikings may have upset the Eagles but they gave up 428 yards and three touchdowns to Nick Foles and have given up at least 22 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in three straight weeks.

I don’t trust Kellen Clemens in his favorable matchup but I like Ryan Fitzpatrick against a Jaguars defense that have given up 22+ fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in three straight games and in six of their last seven. Fitz put up 264 yards and two touchdowns the last time he faced them. Matt Schaub could be a sneaky start against a Denver defense that allows a ton of passing yards.

Philip Rivers, Colin Kaepernick, Jay Cutler, and Ben Roethlisberger all have good matchups and should produce. I also like Jason Campbell a lot against a Jets defense that has given up at least 16 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in six of their last seven games. I also like Alex Smith against a Colts defense that has given up 18+ fantasy points in three of their last four games.

On the flip side, I would definitely avoid Carson Palmer, Matt Ryan, and Cam Newton. I certainly wouldn’t worry about Peyton Manning or Drew Brees though. Nick Foles is startable but could be limited by a solid Bears pass defense.

Let’s take a look at all of this week’s fantasy football quarterback matchups.

Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE

Highly Unfavorable, Unfavorable, Neutral, Slightly Favorable, Favorable

*Values based on Yahoo standard scoring.

Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE

Igor Derysh

Igor Derysh is Editor-at-Large at XN Sports and has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sun-Sentinel, and FantasyPros. He has previously covered sports for COED Magazine, Fantasy Alarm, and Manwall.com.

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