Week 5 NFL mismatches: Why Kelce fantasy owners should be ecstatic

Bears center James Daniels vs. Raiders interior defensive line 

Oakland's front seven, overhauled in the offseason, remains among the league worst. In 2018, the Raiders collected only 13 sacks, less than half as many as the team with the second-lowest total, and registered a league-worst sack rate of 2.6 percent. Through four games in 2019, that number is up only slightly, to 3.4 percent, second worst in the NFL. The Raiders’ 13 quarterback hits are second fewest in the league.

A lack of production from the interior is a primary problem. Johnathan Hankins leads the Raiders’ interior defensive linemen with only six pressures, tying him for 38^th among interior defensive linemen.

This could be an issue in the Week 5 game in London, as the Oakland defensive front will clash with one of the league’s hottest pass-protecting centers. A second-year player out of Iowa, Daniels has allowed only two pressures, tied for fourth fewest among starting centers. He has not allowed a pressure since Week 2.

On this play against the Vikings, Daniels matches up with Vikings defensive tackle Shamar Stephen. Quarterback Chase Daniel, the Bears' backup, is to fake the screen to the left and then slide in that direction. The center and the right side of the line are to seal off the defenders to the backside, giving Daniel the space to plant himself on the left. Right tackle Bobby Massie and right guard Cody Whitehair have a little trouble, but the job gets done, with much thanks to Daniels. He forces Stephen into the backside A-gap by quickly getting his hands into Stephen’s chest, allowing him to move Stephen in the desired direction. The win gives Daniel a clean pocket and enough time to find Allen Robinson for a 25-yard gain.

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas vs. Buccaneers CB M.J. Stewart

The Buccaneers have improved immensely on defense under new coordinator Todd Bowles, ranking sixth in defensive DVOA and eighth in defensive EPA. In particular, Tampa Bay has made huge strides against the pass. After allowing a league-worst opposing passer rating of 110.9 in 2018, the Buccaneers are allowing a passer rating of 83.9 in 2019, the ninth-best mark in the league.

But there is one area the Buccaneers' pass defense must improve: defending the slot. On targets to slot receivers, Tampa Bay's opponents have completed 37 of 52 passes for 432 yards (8.3 per attempt), three touchdowns and no interceptions (a passer rating of 115.2).

Second-year corner M.J. Stewart is a primary culprit, allowing 235 yards in slot coverage, more than any other player in the league. He has given up two touchdowns. Stewart will have his hands full against Thomas, perhaps the league's most dangerous slot weapon over the past few years.

This season, 30.3 percent of Thomas' routes are from the slot, about the same as last season. But when he does line up there, you can count on the ball frequently heading his way. Across 44 routes run out of the slot, Thomas has been targeted 17 times, the highest rate in the league from the spot. If he holds on to that ranking, this would be the third consecutive season Thomas has led the league in target rate from the slot.

Thomas has caught 15 of 17 (88.2 percent) passes for 171 yards out of the slot, an elite average of 10.1 yards per target. That efficiency is similar to Thomas' 2018 performance, when he caught 46 of 52 (88.5 percent) slot targets for 577 yards (11.1 per target).

Thomas' amazing contested catch ability is one of the many reasons he is a dominant weapon. On this play against the Cowboys, Thomas lines up on the line of scrimmage slot right, inside of Austin Carr. The concept calls for Carr to create a pick and free up Thomas' wheel route along the sideline. However, Carr barely affects Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown, who sticks with Thomas down the field. Despite tight coverage, Thomas is able to move the chains, making a leaping back-shoulder adjustment on a well-placed pass from Teddy Bridgewater. It's a 20-yard gain for the Saints on 3rd & 9.

Rams edge defenders Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews vs. Seahawks RT Germain Ifedi  

Over the past few years, Seattle's revamped offensive line has significantly improved. After taking a career-high sack rate of 10.7 percent in 2018, Russell Wilson has seen that number decrease to 8.3 percent in 2019, marginally better than his career average of 8.4 percent. But one weak link remains on the line: right tackle Germain Ifedi.

Seattle’s 2016 first-round selection is brutal in pass protection, allowing 19 pressures, most in the NFL among offensive linemen. His total of five penalty calls is tied for the second most. Rams edge rushers Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews could create significant issues for Ifedi on Thursday night in Seattle.

In his first season with the Rams, Matthews has found the fountain of youth. The 33-year-old former Packer leads Los Angeles with five sacks, tied for the fourth most in the league and on pace for a career-best figure. Fowler has only two sacks but is a consistent presence in backfields. His 22 pressures is ninth most among edge defenders.

Fowler and Matthews do their best work rushing from the left side of the defense, a huge reason this matchup is favorable for Los Angeles. Fowler has generated pressure on 22 percent of his rushes from the left side (13/59) versus 13.2 percent from the right (9/68). Matthews has generated pressure on 19.6 percent of his rushes from the left side (11/56) versus 7.1 percent from the right (2/28).

Matthews never quits on a rep, putting himself in position to clean up long-developing plays and make the most out of a good coverage snap by the secondary. This play against the Browns is a great example. Matthews’ initial bull rush attempt is shut down by Cleveland right tackle Justin McCray, but he keeps fighting, eventually getting his hands in position to toss McCray to the ground. Because the coverage in the back end blanketed the receiving options, Baker Mayfield has nowhere to go with the football, and Matthews is right there to bring him down when he attempts to leave the pocket.

To be successful against a mobile quarterback like Wilson, defenses need high-motor edge defenders who make an impact on long-lasting plays. The Rams have that in Matthews.