PRO RosterWatch Week 1 Matchup Tool

alex bylineWelcome back. This is a proprietary weekly tool provided by RosterWatch.

It is designed to be a decision-making tool for gauging the defensive opponents your fantasy players face. If you are new to this, our time-tested, most popular tool, the instructions couldn’t be simpler, and can be found below.

Week 1 MATCHUP

To use the tool, think about your fantasy player.

Let’s say you own Jets RB Chris Ivory, and would like to see how he matches up against the defense he faces this week.

First look at the Jets’ matchup for the week, and see what the number is inside the “vs. RBs” cell for the Jets’ OPPONENT.

(Ivory is an RB, and you would like to know his opponent’s rank vs. that position.)

As you will see, the Jets are playing the Browns, who have a big, blue ‘No. 1’ in their “vs. RBs” cell. This is a great indicator for Ivory owners.

Repeat the same process for other players on your roster as you are trying to decide which players to start and which to sit.

“1″ is the best matchup, “32″ is the worst.

BLUE: Best Matchups
LIGHT BLUE: Borderline Top Matchups
LIGHT RED: Borderline Bottom Matchups
RED: Worst Matchups

The rankings represented here are derived via a proprietary algorithm which takes into account not only standard “fantasy points against” metrics from 2014, but also weighted averages of separate individual player scouting grades for members of the 2015 unit that will be defending, pass-rushing, or covering against the position in question. For the first 3 weeks of the 2015 season, trends to end 2014 are quantified and reflected in the overall matchup rating as well as a substantial focus offseason personnel changes with a small bit of credence given to scouting metrics collected from starting units during game-comparable periods of the 2015 preseason.

+Based on Standard Scoring
++RW Proprietary Algorithm

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79 Comments

  1. ↓ Post By Bachy18

    I am looking for help in a ppr league. Flex pick one: Gio Benard, Rashad Jennings, or John Brown.

    Any help would be appreciated!

    1. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

      right now we’d say Rashad, but we’ll have rankings posted soon and will ask you defer to those when making decisions. They will be updated frequently so check back before making final decisions, but my initial feeling is Jennings.

    2. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      I like jennings, but if floyd doesn’t play, brown makes for an intriguing play in ppr.

    3. ↓ Post By rw-oYila0UQG

      john brown

  2. ↓ Post By lutherball

    i think you need to update the explanation text as you have Ivory playing SF not the Browns…

    1. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

      my bad, I copy and paste the instructions each week and have to change the position and team names, etc. Good eye, I left that change undone.

  3. ↓ Post By TheGrandNagus

    I have to pick between Doug martin, Chris Ivory, and Jonathan Stewart as my RB2 (Forte is my RB1). All three have top five matchups this week, should I go for Ivory’s top matchup or since they have almost equal matchups should I consider playing martin for his hot preseason or Stewart for his play at the end of the last year? Thanks for the help.

    1. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

      that’s one we’re having trouble sorting out ourselves but first glance I say Martin. We’ll be working more and more on rankings through the week and none of those guys go THURS so you’ll have some time to think it over. First instinct says Martin, but it;’s tough because we like all the options.

  4. ↓ Post By renourka

    12 Team Standard

    (1) QB: Bridgewater
    (2) WR: A. Brown, Hopkins (Watkins, R. White, Stevie Johnson)
    (2) RB: Forte, Gore (Abdullah, T. Mason)
    (1) TE: Rudolph
    (1) FLEX: D. Martin
    Bench total : (5)

    Should I trade away maybe Gore and Rudolph to get Gronk? The Gronk owner only has L. Miller, Spiller and Cunningham as backs .. Or package my other backs?

    Or should I hang onto Rudolph to wait and see how he pans out? Or stream TEs?

    Best available:
    QB: Cutler, Dalton, Bortles, Carr, Smith, Mariota
    RB: Hillman, D. Williams, Cobb, D. Robinson, Sims, Sproles, F. Jackson, K. Davis, T. West, M. Ball, K. Williams
    WR: James Jones, Quick, D. Parker, LaFell, M. Jones, K. White, Moncrief
    TE: Seferian-Jenkins, V. Davis, Allen, Gates, Rodgers, Ebron, Clay, Gillmore

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      no, gore could do as well or better than gronk over the season. if he likes abdullah i might try one with him. i think rudolph will be fine though. there’s tons of serviceable te talent on the wire to stream too.

  5. ↓ Post By Chris

    Standard League… 6pts for Passing TD’s… no deductions for fumbles or INTs.

    Should I start Big Ben or Sam Bradford? Bradford has the better matchup and I’m worried about Pit’s center being out and making problems for Big Ben.

    Thoughts? Thanks guys.

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i’m not too worried about ben, but bradford’s matchup is cherry. i think that both will be fine plays, but bradford might let you sleep better at night this week.

  6. ↓ Post By icepick16

    Eli or Rivers in a standard league? If Tre Mason plays, him or abdullah in a PPR? AJohnson, Marshall, DJax, Steve Smith, or Roddy in PPR?

  7. ↓ Post By openur3rdeye

    u guys like agholor this week ? seems like he’s gona be matched up on trufant all game, agholor or stevie johnson who will be matched up vs a soft nickel corner a ton

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i like stevie. for those reasons and i’m not inclined to lean on a rookie the first real game of his professional career.

  8. ↓ Post By rw-p0yxdrAkH

    I need some trade advice: the offer is Ingram for Jeffery.

    My RBs: forsett, latavius, Abdullah, Blount, woodhead, Freeman

    My WRs: brown, Beckham jr, smith sr, Fitzgerald.

    I like Ingram to give me a stronger option at RB. But is Jeffery too much to give up, and spread me thin at WR?

      1. ↓ Post By rw-p0yxdrAkH

        Antonio brown

        1. ↓ Post By rw-p0yxdrAkH

          Also, do you think Jeffery is hurt way worse than they’re leading on? If so, could I be missing any value at all if I don’t trade now for Ingram? Again, this guy approached me with the trade.

          1. Post By Dorian Colbert

            he practiced today. i wouldn’t overreact

    2. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i think your rbs are plenty strong, especially now we know blount is going to be the man in NE. i don’t see ingram that much an improvement over forsett or latavius. i wouldn’t do it.

      1. ↓ Post By rw-p0yxdrAkH

        Thanks a lot man. I’m definitely keeping Jeffery!

  9. ↓ Post By wmcgrath

    12 team full point ppr redraft league. We start 2RBs, 2WRs, 1TE, and 1FLEX (RB/WR/TE). We are allowed to roster a maximum of 4RBs. Current RBs are Le’Veon Bell, Justin Forsett, Shane Vereen, and Devonta Freeman. Tevin Coleman is already rostered in our league by another team. I am concerned with Devonta Freeman’s lingering hamstring injury. Plus I am not sold on the Falcons run game as their defense is still bad and their offensive line is well offensive. Would you consider dropping Devonta Freeman for Matt Jones on the waiver wire as your RB4? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i don’t know that i’d drop freeman like that. i might see if coleman’s owner is interested though. if not, i doubt jones will go so big that he flies off the waiver in week 1. i’d wait and see how coleman does, and if he doesn’t run away with the job, hold onto freeman.

  10. ↓ Post By darkcloud682

    Need help with RB2 and 2 flex spots for a PPR. 1st flex is WR/TE only and 2nd is WR/TE/RB. All these matchups look pretty good to me. I’m pretty deep at RB.

    Nelson Algholor
    Jonathan Stewart
    Chris Ivory
    Latavius Murray
    Joique Bell

    I was looking at RB2 Murray, Flex 1 Algholor, Flex 2 Ivory… but I wanted your opinions. Thanks!

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      you’ve got the right idea. wish that first flex could have rbs…

  11. ↓ Post By PowerRangers

    Funchess, what a mess… Seems like everyone is dropping him because he won’t start week1 .Someone in my league just dropped him. We are in a PPR, where you start 2WR, a W/T, and a W/R/T, so essentially 4 WR could start each week. I already have A. Brown, Tate, Jefffery, Algholor, S. Johnson, & Charles Johnson, all who are higher on the cheat sheet. However, I could drop Matt Jones and pick him up. (My other RBs are Ivory, Gore, L. Murray, and Vereen.) Should I add funchess, or just leave things as they are? Thoughts?

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      the skins love jones, and he’s going to get action from day one. i think you’re good at wr for now.

  12. ↓ Post By icepick16

    I’ve got roethlisberger and rivers on my team right now. Bradford is available on the wire. Do you pick up Bradford and if you do, who do you drop?

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i’d take a chance on him. i would drop rivers of the two.

    2. ↓ Post By icepick16

      Also, sankey or deangelo in a ppr?

  13. ↓ Post By renourka

    14 Team .5 PPR

    (1) QB: Palmer
    (2) WR: Sanders, S. Smith Sr. (R. White, James Jones)
    (2) RB: Charles, Gore (Ivory, T. Mason, Crowell)
    (1) TE: MIller
    (1) FLEX: J. Stewart
    Bench total : (5)

    Was offered Rivers for Crowell… take it or nah? If yes, then I’ll drop Palmer and who should I pick up?

    Best available:
    QB: Bortles, RG3
    RB: Cobb, Sims, F. Jackson, M. Ball T. West, Richardson, C. Artis-Payne
    WR: Perriman, Crabtree, Hurns, D. Parker, M. Jones, K. White, Moncrief, Sanu, Shorts III, Montgomery, Patterson, Malcolm Floyd, Beasley, J. Hunter, Green-Beckham
    TE: D. Allen, Rodgers, Ebron, Clay, Gillmore

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i’d probably make that trade. who knows how long crowell will keep his job? i’d also try to find a way to get parker or hurns on your team.

  14. ↓ Post By TheGrandNagus

    I have Jones sanders cooper white johnson and hurns at wr and yeldon martin mason forte Stewart and ivory at rb. Richard rodgers is my TE. What do u guys think about a trade where I get Randall Cobb and Austin seferian Jenkins for ivory and yeldon? I want to go for it but I just want to make sure it is worth it.

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      how many rbs do you start?

      1. ↓ Post By TheGrandNagus

        2 RBs

        1. ↓ Post By TheGrandNagus

          and 3 WRs

  15. ↓ Post By grh1988

    Should I start between Frank Gore or Crowell? Starting JC and Martin (great match up), but not sure which of Gore or Crowell I should flex because neither has a great matchup.

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i’d roll with gore. duke johnson may get considerable carries.

  16. ↓ Post By geddy1001

    Our league went from an 10 team to 8 team right before draft. We are a non ppr 6pts for TD 2RB/2WR/1TE among others..Does the cheatsheet still take this “shallowness” into consideration? Ive read that in this type of league one should draft QB early/one should draft QB early etc…Much contradicting info out there. What do you guys think startegy wise?

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      in such shallow leagues you should draft to fill your starting lineup before you add depth. i had such a draft the other night, and i drafted every starting position before i considered bench players. there is always going to be depth in those leagues. use the sheet to fill in your lineup with the best available players

  17. ↓ Post By Dvzaika

    Drafted without a kicker- bench is Gurley, John Brown, Woodhead, Royal, Mason, Matt Jones. Need to drop one to pick up kicker- who would you suggest?

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      what does your starting lineup look like?

  18. ↓ Post By rw-BrCA2gIXA

    It could be that I’m trying to view the table incorrectly, but I can’t view it entirely, as there are ads covering part of it. Is there something that I should be doing so that I could see anything?

    1. ↓ Post By rw-BrCA2gIXA

      Any help on this? Still having the same problem.

    2. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      are you viewing it over the phone? try zooming out. we haven’t encountered this issue with the tool before. just trying to figure out if it’s on our end.

  19. ↓ Post By REDff

    What do you guys think about my team. Do you see any weaknesses I should improve through trades/free agency?

    10-Team Standard League
    Starters:
    QB: Brady
    RB: Forsett, Gore
    WR: A. Brown, R. Cobb
    TE: Delanie Walker
    Flex: L. Murray
    D/ST: Rams
    K: Tucker

    Bench:
    RB: Joseph Randle, David Johnson, Matt Jones, Josh Robinson, C. Michael
    WR: Agholor, Brandon Coleman

    Perriman is on Waviers by the way. Is he worth picking up? if so who would you drop for him? Thanks guys!

  20. ↓ Post By ea4582

    Wow best subscription ever thanks for all the help. Ok so based on this ranking sheet i should start John Brown over Sammy Watkins and Brandon Marshall? Also, Ivory, Stewart, L. Murray over Ingram?

  21. ↓ Post By rw-WUzoQSmBh

    E Manning/Bradford?
    Minnesota/Indianapolis Defense?
    Thanks for the advise guys, site is good.

  22. ↓ Post By JCL

    Hey boys a little week 1 assist please – Going back and forth on this one. Standard league with a flex. Lineup is set except for flex spot. Can’t decide between Ed Royal v GB or Sankey vs. TB at the flex. I tend to think you go with the RB but Royal may be a solid play. Let me know which one and if Jeffrey is out would that affect your decision? Thanks! – JCL

    1. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

      IF Jeffery is out, we’d certainly lean Royal

  23. ↓ Post By yeagermeister

    Trashman what sayeth you? Alex or Byron on twitter said I should start Rivers over Bradford, but the matchup tool clearly indicates Bradford over Rivers. Judgement and quick explanation please Sir Trashman.

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      it’s close, but i lean bradford here. better wrs, better preseason, better matchup. i’m betting on kelly’s system here more than the player.

  24. ↓ Post By Naychi

    Big Ben or Stafford?

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      ben. he’s going to throw a ton with bell out.

  25. ↓ Post By Naychi

    Will do
    Thx

  26. ↓ Post By rw-LN2RRfv3C

    PPR: should i drop lorenzo taliaferro for christine michael?

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      couldn’t hurt. we see michael making a potential impact before taliaferro.

  27. ↓ Post By icepick16

    Roethlisberger or Bradford?

  28. ↓ Post By colespider

    I’ve been wavering on this with the RB situation as it is in Pitt….. Would you start Wheaton tonite or J Brown Sunday…….1 point PPR…… Thanks for a great draft!

  29. ↓ Post By Bruce T

    12 team ppr flex ? Garcon,Abdullah,Duke,A Hurns or Devante Parker ? Thanks

  30. ↓ Post By rw-drOzOVvNH

    i need some help 12 team, full point ppr. who should i put in my flex, sankey, mcfadden, ryan mathews, freeman or allen hurns

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      I’d go with sankey here.

  31. ↓ Post By Pablackbird

    Flex help please. In a 1/2 pt PPR I have either Tate or Roddy. If I’m reading the matchup tool correctly it would say roddy.
    In a 1pt PPR I need one of Gore, ARob, VJax or Vereen. Looks like the matchup tool doesn’t like any of these options
    Thanks

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      roddy does have the better matchup, but i think tate is the better play this week, volume wise. i like gore in your 1pt, unless mike evans doesn’t play, then it’s vjax all the way.

  32. ↓ Post By rw-JyBz9aSCh

    Chris Ivory or Devante Adams for FLEX? Standard League.

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      ivory in what looks like a good matchup vs the browns.

  33. ↓ Post By castillor

    Tyrod Taylor or Blake Bortles?

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i like taylor. if he can’t do it in the air, he still has his feet.

      1. ↓ Post By bobo

        My league has an extra OP position, so I can play two QB’s. Blake Bortles, Tryod Taylor, Andre Johnson, or Deandre Hopkins. What is the best 3 person combo here? Thanks!

  34. ↓ Post By flemdog

    PPR league and looking for potential line up for this week? My RBS are Forsett, Lacy and Woodhead. My WRS are Cooper, Edelman, Stevie Johnson, Watkins and Hurns, TE are Miller and Bennett. We can start 2 rbs, 3 wrs & a flex. What direction would you go? Also I have the 1st pick on the waiver wire (which begins tonight) and Karlos Williams is available as is Moncrief. I have Wheaton on the bench and was thinking about dropping him for either Karlos or Moncrief? Your thoughts?

    thanks

  35. ↓ Post By Pablackbird

    Have Dez, should I drop Funchess for any of Coleman, Moncrief or Beasley. It’s a 1/2 pt PPR and my other WR are J Matthews, Roddy and Tate

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i’d drop him for coleman or moncrief

  36. ↓ Post By Pablackbird

    Owner in my 1pt PPR dropped Spiller for Cunningham.
    My rb’s are Forsett, Gore, Murray and Vereen
    WR are Julio, Landry, VJax, ARob and Torrey.
    Drop Torrey for Spiller? I’m 4 of 12 in waiver priority
    Tonight.

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      i’d do that for spiller

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