Top 5 Passing Matchups
Buffalo at Cincinnati
Josh Allen continues to serve as the centerpiece of the Bills' offense and remains one of the most productive fantasy quarterbacks in football. He produces across nearly every game script because his contributions often hit before game flow or weather can interfere. His quiet Week 12 performance was an outlier that owed more to extreme winds than any defensive issue, as neither team could justify throwing regularly. Prior to that, Allen averaged 287 yards over a four-game stretch while also contributing with his legs and pushing the ball aggressively into intermediate windows. His skill set is built to exploit defenses like Cincinnati’s. He thrives when challenging off coverage and drifting linebackers, which he should see often in this matchup. The Bengals run a soft, depth-based zone system that routinely presents clear windows in the fifteen-yard range. Buffalo can lean into their vertical personnel here. Keon Coleman, Gabe Davis, and Brandin Cooks are all capable downfield threats, and Allen prefers to test the Bengals' outside cornerbacks instead of relying solely on short area options like Khalil Shakir. When this offense does choose to push tempo or volume, it has rarely struggled to complete drives through the air.
Cincinnati enters yet another season fielding one of the league’s softest pass defenses. While they deserve some credit for slowing down the disjointed Ravens offense last week, that performance should not change expectations meaningfully. Baltimore did more damage to itself with miscues and stalled possessions than anything the Bengals created. Cincinnati has otherwise been one of the easiest matchups in the league for opposing passers. They rank near the bottom in raw yardage allowed, yards per attempt, and expected points added. Five of their twelve opponents have thrown for more than 270 yards, and several others fell short only because game flow removed the need for further production. Beyond D.J. Turner, who has developed nicely, the Bengals lack starting-caliber coverage players at every level. Their safety play has been porous, their linebackers struggle in coverage, and their cornerbacks often concede immediate separation off the snap. Their approach to coverage invites opponents to attack with slants, digs, deep crossers, and any route that stresses underneath zone defenders. Tight ends thrive here as well. Over the last two weeks alone, Ravens tight ends posted 10 catches for 159 yards, while the Patriots collected 10 for 154 yards and a touchdown. It all reflects a structural problem within this defense. They cannot close space quickly enough, they do not win consistently in contested situations, and they rarely meaningfully pressure the quarterback. Josh Allen enters this matchup with a clear advantage and multiple avenues to produce.
Seattle at Atlanta
Sam Darnold continues to deliver his best professional football in a Seahawks uniform, a surprise development for those who followed his uneven earlier career stops. Darnold ranks among the league leaders in on-target throw rate and completed air yards, evidence of improved timing, pocket control, and confidence in his reads. Seattle manages him wisely with a balanced game plan, but this offense still offers enough structure that Darnold can pile up efficient production regardless of volume. The most encouraging element for fantasy purposes is how concentrated the passing tree has become. Jaxson Smith-Njigba owns a remarkable 36 percent target share and has transformed from a short-area specialist into a complete receiver capable of winning downfield. His average depth of target has doubled compared with his rookie season, and his footwork against zone coverage has made him an unguardable intermediate threat. He has topped 79 yards in all but one game and now projects as one of the safest high-floor, high-ceiling receivers in fantasy football. His route diversity and consistency in winning both horizontally and vertically make him the focal point of this offense in every passing script.
Atlanta started the season strong defensively, but has slipped dramatically as the year has progressed. They have struggled to maintain structure in zone coverage and have given up big performances to lower-tier quarterbacks during this recent decline. Dating back to Week 9, they have allowed 7.7 yards per attempt despite not facing an imposing slate of opposing passers. Bryce Young and Tyler Shough, both inconsistent players, combined for nearly 700 yards of production in a two-game span. Atlanta has made serious investments in its pass rush, and that group has shown flashes of quality, but the secondary has not kept pace. A. J. Terrell is a competent cornerback who has been thrust into a role that asks too much of him, and there is very little proven help on the opposite side of the field. The Falcons will need to address their coverage unit aggressively in the offseason because their current personnel rarely hold up in space. Opponents frequently stretch their zone structures with layered routes, and Atlanta lacks the recovery speed and communication needed to close these windows. Darnold and Smith-Njigba enter this matchup with significant built-in advantages. The Falcons are exploitable at every depth, and Seattle possesses both the scheme and the personnel to take full advantage.
Jacksonville at Indianapolis