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Understanding matchups, when to pull the trigger and when to hold back remain the biggest keys to fantasy football success once owners have rosters set for a week.
Week 2 served as good an example as any. Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers crushed the San Francisco 49ers to the tune of 29 points. Then there was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and his three points (he scored 27 in Week 1) in a nightmare matchup against the Houston Texans.
Similar hurdles exist in Week 3, where bad matchups will shut out recognizable faces and the usual suspects will downright dominate overmatched foes. Here is a look at matchup comparisons before a deep dive on those to exploit and avoid outright.
QB
Matchup to Exploit: Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs. DET)
Maybe a matchup against a familiar divisional foe not touting an elite defense is what Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers needs.
Rodgers has looked rough for his past standards, scoring 22 and 16 points over the first two games of the season despite having Jordy Nelson back in the lineup.
This week, though, Rodgers gets to take on the Detroit Lions, a team he roasted for 21 and 24 points last year without Nelson. This year, Detroit has found a way to cough up six passing touchdowns to quarterbacks over two games.
The same old Lions might help produce the same old Rodgers. Those who gambled on him early in drafts can rejoice.
Matchup to Avoid: Kirk Cousins, WAS (at NYG)
Kirk Cousins is a good example of the inverse also being true at quarterback when it comes to divisional rivals.
Cousins has had a mediocre start to the season, scoring nine and 18 points. Now he gets the New York Giants, a team he scored 14 and 22 points against last year.
Those Giants, though, held Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to 10 points in Week 1 before silencing Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, holding him to one touchdown and 14 points despite 44 passing attempts.
Cousins has plenty of weapons and knows the Giants, but this isn't the week to gamble on him.
RB
Matchup to Exploit: Melvin Gordon, SD (at IND)
Melvin Gordon of the San Diego Chargers was a must-start play against the Indianapolis Colts even before the season-ending injury suffered by running back Danny Woodhead.
Gordon figures to get even more work than usual with the backfield featuring one less talented player to help out, a scary thought for his owners who received back-to-back outings of 17 points to start the season.
The Colts have been the worst team against running backs to start the season, having allowed three touchdowns and outings of 45 and 19 points. Gordon on his own has scored three times already and could see more passing-down usage.
Currently a top-five scorer at the position, Gordon is a candidate to top the Week 3 list by a long shot.
Matchup to Avoid: LeSean McCoy, BUF (vs. ARI)
Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is one of the most attractive names in fantasy football this year simply because of the way he dominates the carries in the team's backfield.
Not that owners would know it yet. Shady has posted outings of 12 and eight points so far, struggling through tough matchups against the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, respectively.
It doesn't get any easier in Week 3. In fact, it might be the hardest to date when the Arizona Cardinals come to town. A perennially strong defense in every facet, the Cardinals have only allowed 21 total points to a pair of backfields to start the season.
WR
Matchup to Exploit: Mike Wallace, BAL (at JAC)
Ride the Mike Wallace train while it is hot, folks.
The Baltimore Ravens did a great job in adding Wallace over the offseason. He has already scored three touchdowns over two games, good for 16 points in each.
ESPN's Matthew Berry provided necessary context:
Wallace won't have any problems staying on track this weekend thanks to an encounter with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's as easy as it sounds considering the Jaguars have already permitted five touchdowns by wideouts, good for 26- and 35-point outbursts.
There isn't an excuse to bench Wallace, which is funny because he's owned in 73.8 percent of leagues (hint, hint).
Matchup to Avoid: A.J. Green, CIN (vs. DEN)
As expected, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and top wideout A.J. Green have had a hard time in a new-look offense after losing some weapons over the summer and not having tight end Tyler Eifert on the field.
Green roasted Darrelle Revis of the Jets to start the season in 24-point fashion, but only scored three points against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Those Steelers rank as one of the best teams against wideouts so far this year. Not far off—and even better—are the Denver Broncos. Cincinnati's opponent this weekend has allowed one touchdown to wideouts and only 16 total receptions.
TE
Matchup to Exploit: Delanie Walker, TEN (vs. OAK)
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker has the pleasure of going against the Oakland Raiders this weekend.
By and large such an encounter has produced fruitful days for plenty of tight ends in recent years. The Raiders struggle with the spot for some reason, and so far this year have allowed 23 points to the position.
Funny note—New Orleans tight ends scored zero against the unit because, well, it's a unit led by Coby Fleener. Atlanta Falcons tight ends caught 10 passes for 180 yards and a score, good for the 23 points.
Walker could offer similar production as one of Marcus Mariota's favorite targets.
Matchup to Avoid: Travis Kelce, KC (vs. NYJ)
One of the top big-play threats at tight end, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has been more bust than boom to start the season.
Over two games, Kelce has 11 catches—which so far translates to 10 points.
Usage and quarterback play haven't been kind to Kelce. Now a bad matchup enters the fray, as the Jets have only allowed seven receptions for as many points to opposing tight ends to start the season.
Plenty of great matchups exist on the schedule for Kelce. But this is by far one of the worst.
All scoring info and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
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