RECEIVING YARDS ALLOWED BY POSITION
This new featured tool displays how each defense performs against their opponent’s receiving yardage gained by position.
So for example, if you see a team is ranked 1st vs. WR #1, that defense is currently the best at limiting their opponent’s WR #1 yardage compared to other teams. Or if you see a team is ranked 32nd against WR #2, that defense is the worst against WR #2’s or more accurately, the defense is allowing the most yards to WR #2’s compared to the other teams in the league. This a great tool to find and exploit useful matchups. Don’t forget to check out all the positions as well (WR #1, WR #2, Other WRs, TE & RB).
Defensive Back News & Notes
Richard Sherman (CB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sherman pulled up with an injured hamstring during Thursday Night Football. The recently signed former Pro Bowler was stepping into an already battered secondary. We will follow his status throughout the week, but losing him would be a big hit for an already bad pass defense moving forward. The Bucs take on the Bears Week 7.
Tre Flowers (CB) Cincinnati Bengals
The Seahawks waived Flowers this week and he was claimed by the Bengals. With a lackluster secondary led by the oft-injured Trae Waynes, Flowers has a shot to slide into a major role Cincy. He will likely compete with Eli Apple and Darius Phillips for snaps. It remains to be seen if he can be a difference-maker for their defense. He could make his debut this Sunday against the Lions.
Xavier Rhodes (CB) Indianapolis Colts
The Colts’ top cornerback is in the concussion protocol and is looking iffy for Week 6 against the Texans. Rhodes would likely be matched up with Brandin Cooks so his absence would be a big boost for the Texans’ top weapon. We will likely know more about his availability by Saturday. He must clear the protocol to play.
Andrew Sendejo (S) Indianapolis Colts
Along with cornerback Xavier Rhodes, Sendejo finds himself in the concussion protocol following Monday Night Football. He will have to clear the protocol if he is going to play Week 6 against the Texans. We will likely know by Saturday whether or not he will be eligible to play this week.
Darious Williams (CB) Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have placed their starting corner on injured reserve with an ankle injury. This ensures he will miss at least the next three weeks. He is a big part of what they do and this is an upgrade for opposing wide receivers. Particularly the WR2 of Rams opponents, which this week is the Giants. We aren’t quite sure who will be the WR2 or who will be available, but it is looking like Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are trading towards playing.
Trae Waynes (CB) Cincinnati Bengals
Waynes has been placed on injured reserve once again, this time with a hamstring injury. When healthy he is the Bengals top corner, however, that has been on rare occasions. He has played just two games since signing with the team before the 2020 season. This is a boost for the Lions wideouts. After losing Quentin Cephus last week they can use all the help they can get.
Jessie Bates (S) Cincinnati Bengals
Jessie Bates is expected to return to the Bengals secondary this week. This is great news for the Bengals’ defense. You can make a strong case that Bates is their best player. After once again losing Trae Waynes he will give the defense a much-needed boost with his play-making skills. It’s tough to plug any Lions’ wide receiver into your lineup and the return of Bates won’t make it any easier.
