Quarterback Starts/Sits for Week 1 - QB vs. Pass Rush Matchups for Lineup Decisions

The NFL season is finally back. After more than six months, we’re no longer waiting for games that matter, and we now have five months with football every single week. Let’s enjoy that for a second.

Alright, now, for the reason we’re actually here. Every week, your quarterback matchup is something you’re going to check because of how pivotal they are to your lineups. This column is going to look at the best and worst matchups you’re going to find when it comes to quarterbacks vs opposing pass rushes. 

Here are the three best and worst matchups for Sunday to consider when setting your lineup.

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Here Comes Trouble - QB vs. Pass Rush Matchups

Cincinnati Bengals Defense Pass Rush vs. Mitchell Trubisky

More than likely, you weren’t planning on starting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitchell Trubisky for Week 1, but considering the matchup, you should definitely be looking elsewhere for this week. The Bengals were tied for 11th in the NFL last season with 42 sacks, and that ranking should climb this year.

In Week 1, they get one of their easiest matchups of the year on the edges. The Steelers have a decent interior trio, but their tackles, Chukwuma Okorafor and Dan Moore Jr., can be exploited, as they ranked 61st and 72nd last year per Pro Football Focus. Trey Hendrickson, who was fifth in the NFL in sacks last season, could have a heavy presence in this game, and you should be looking to avoid Mitch for this week. 

Verdict: Sit 'Em

San Francisco 49ers Defense Pass Rush vs. Justin Fields

You really have to feel bad for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields at this point. Just over one season into his career, he’s been strapped with bringing a team through a rebuild that’s whiffed on draft picks and traded away veterans for draft capital that won’t be keeping him upright for at least another year or two. Throw in the fact that Fields has a penchant for holding onto the ball for too long at times, and he’s going to take some big hits this year if he isn’t careful.

In Week 1, he has one of the toughest matchups he’ll deal with all year with the San Francisco 49ers coming to town. The 49ers were fifth in sacks and fourth in adjusted sack rate last season. Veteran tackle Riley Reiff is going to have his hands full with Nick Bosa on Sunday, and with rookie Braxton Jones currently projected to start at the other tackle spot, Fields is going to need to have his head on a swivel. Fields is in for a long year, and he’ll likely be in this column nearly every week moving forward.

Verdict: Sit ‘Em

New Orleans Saints Defense Pass Rush vs. Marcus Mariota

This is another situation where you probably weren’t planning on starting Marcus Mariota no matter what, but considering the matchup, you should definitely be looking elsewhere. The Atlanta Falcons figure to have one of the lower-end offensive lines across the league. Due to underwhelming early draft picks, their group is largely set, but it leaves something to be desired considering the multiple Day 1 & Day 2 selections spent on this group.

As far as the matchup goes, with Sean Payton gone, the New Orleans Saints are likely going to adopt a more defensive-minded approach under Dennis Allen, and that should mean a lot of defensive intensity. Their front remains largely unchanged from last season when they finished sixth in sacks and adjusted sack rate. They racked up five sacks in two games against Atlanta last season, and I think they get after Mariota in Week 1. 

Verdict: Sit ‘Em

Easy on Sunday Morning - QB vs. Pass Rush Matchups

Detroit Lions Defense Pass Rush vs. Jalen Hurts

One of the hottest names in fantasy football this offseason has been Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. The third-year signal caller is in a make-or-break season with a strong offensive line in front of him along with a bevy of weapons to pass to with the addition of wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans back in April. The loss of Andre Dillard hurts, but the rest of the offensive line in front of him should give him plenty of time to work through his progressions.

On the other side, you have a team in the Detroit Lions that has a great offensive line but still has a ways to go on the defensive side. They brought in Aidan Hutchinson to bolster their pass rush, but they are still lacking in that department with Michael Brockers being the only established player on the line. Between Hurts’ ability to scramble with his legs and the versatile group of receivers at his disposal, he should be a great option in Week 1. 

Verdict: Start 'Em

Arizona Cardinals Defense Pass Rush vs. Patrick Mahomes

Look, I don’t have to make an actual case for you to start Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. You’re going to play him every single week no matter who he’s matched up with. To bolster him this week, he’s playing behind the best offensive line of his career, and while he doesn’t have wideout Tyreek Hill anymore, he does still have a number of great weapons around the offense.

His opponent for this week also should make his life a little easier. The Arizona Cardinals lost star pass-rusher Chandler Jones this offseason, and they weren’t able to do much to replace him. Markus Golden led the team with 11 sacks last season after Jones got off to an absolutely torrid pace, but Jones was the only other player on the team that had more than four sacks. While Arizona does have a healthy J.J. Watt to start the season, they just don’t have enough firepower up front to pressure Mahomes consistently. 

Verdict: Start ‘Em

New York Jets Defense Pass Rush vs. Lamar Jackson

Last season, the Jets’ big acquisition of Carl Lawson was stopped before it ever got started when he was injured during the preseason. Now, he’s back, but he won’t be enough to fully elevate this unit into a serious threat right off the bat. The Jets were 22nd in the NFL in adjusted sack rate last season, and this Baltimore Ravens offensive line had some work done this offseason to get themselves turned around.

The return of Ronnie Stanley is the biggest win for Baltimore. The former All-Pro and Pro Bowler elevates the left half of the offensive line by himself. Throw in the additions of Kevin Zeitler and Morgan Moses, and there is a lot of veteran talent in this group. Lamar has been one of the most electric players in football to watch, and he should have plenty of time to throw against a Jets secondary that still has a lot of growing up to do. 

Verdict: Start 'Em

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