NFL: Player Matchups in Week 2
The NFL moves on to Week 2, and we dig into our next five player matchups. The week starts with a Thursday night tilt in the AFC East and culminates with another primetime spot for the Eagles. Here are the battles our Rory-Joe Daniels is most keen to watch.
Rasul Douglas vs Tyreek Hill
- Teams: Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins
- Position: Cornerback vs Wide Receiver
- Height: 6'1 vs 5'8
- Weight: 209lbs vs 191lbs
Only law enforcement could slow Tyreek Hill down in week 1. Jokes aside, we don’t need to delve into that hot mess of a situation. Fortunately, for Dolphins fans, it appeared to have little effect on Hill’s production. He ended the day with 130 receiving yards and one touchdown, 82 of those yards accrued after the catch! It leaves no uncertainty about who the Bills must slow down to stand a chance.
The Bills’ secondary has undergone significant changes for 2024, losing two experienced safeties. Safety help will be essential against the Dolphins, who need it to keep the lid on Hill and Waddle. Experienced corner Rasul Douglas will likely take the most reps against Hill as the right cornerback. He was only targeted twice last week, giving up four receiving yards.
The last time these two teams met, Hill went for 82 receiving yards and one TD, but the Dolphins’ offense as a whole failed, losing to the Bills 21-14 in Week 18. Miami tends to be a different team early in the year, especially at home, so expect fireworks from Hill and co.
Fred Warner vs Aaron Jones
- Teams: San Francisco 49ers vs Minnesota Vikings
- Position: Linebacker vs Running Back
- Height: 6'3 vs 5'9
- Weight: 230lbs vs 208lbs
This section was going to be based around Christian McCaffrey and the Vikings linebackers, but with doubt over the running back’s fitness, we swapped the teams around and look at Fred Warner vs. Aaron Jones. It’s only fair, considering Warner put on another commanding show in the heart of the 49ers defense on Monday evening. Warner is elite in coverage and had seven tackles and a forced fumble.
The 49ers held the Jets to only 68 yards on the ground, a feat they would love to repeat against the Vikings. Forcing Minnesota to put the game in the hands of Sam Darnold seems the most likely strategy. Their running back, Aaron Jones, made an excellent debut after his move across the division from the Packers.
He averaged 6.7 yards per carry against a lacklustre Giants defense. This will be a much stiffer task, but there remains hope if the Vikes can establish the run and limit the number of 49ers possessions.
Cordell Volson vs Chris Jones
- Teams: Cincinnati Bengals vs Kansas City Chiefs
- Position: Offensive Guard vs Defensive Tackle
- Height: 6'6 vs 6'5
- Weight: 315lbs vs 310lbs
As expected, Chris Jones has assumed the mantle of the NFL’s chief defensive disruptor since the retirement of Aaron Donald. Jones was borderline unplayable against the Ravens, moving up and down the defensive line, picking on different opponents at will. Roger Rosengarten, in particular, had a rough night.
You can expect more of the same against a Bengals offense that failed to click in Week 1. Joe Burrow looked tentative even when the Bengals’ o-line gave him sufficient time in the pocket. Jones may target Volson initially, given he is the least experienced of the starting five. That said, he fared relatively well and PFF had him the highest-graded of the group against the Patriots.
This is a key year for Volson. Can he establish himself as an above-average starter and secure a payday to match, or does his future lie as a borderline starter with only short-term deal potential? Battles against the likes of Jones will be key to figuring it out.
Caleb Williams vs CJ Stroud
- Teams: Chicago Bears vs Houston Texans
- Position: Quarterback vs Quarterback
- Height: 6'1 vs 6'3
- Weight: 215lbs vs 218lbs
Our first Quarterback v Quarterback matchup of the season in this column. The young hotshot from last year against the up-and-coming one! Things fell a bit flat for Caleb Williams in his first appearance, given his flashes in preseason. The main thing was, despite the difficulties, the Bears secured the W. Now, he faces a defensive front that includes Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, perhaps take the over for Williams rushing yards.
CJ Stroud didn’t hit the heights of 2023 in his opening tilt against the Colts. They sacked him four times, while PFF had him with three turnover-worthy plays and only one big-time throw. The connection with Stefon Diggs was a bright spot as the Texans eventually came out on top.
Watching these two QBs, who are set to be stars in this league for years to come, battle it out should be a highlight of Week 2.
Grady Jarrett vs Mekhi Becton
- Teams: Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles
- Position: Defensive Tackle vs Offensive Guard
- Height: 6'0 vs 6'7
- Weight: 288lbs vs 363lbs
This one is quite the mismatch on paper. Grady Jarrett is the undersized interior pass rusher, while Becton is the hulking tackle turned guard. Praise was loud for Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland after Becton put in a great performance against the Packers. Could the shift inside save what looked like a career going nowhere?
Becton will look to create running lanes for Saquon Barkley again, a game plan that was so successful in the opener. It will mirror how the Steelers attacked the Falcons in week 1, not waiting to test the range of Jessie Bates on the backend but pounding the rock instead. The biggest test for Becton will likely come when protecting Jalen Hurts. Jarrett logged two sacks in Week 1 and may feel he can out-manoeuvre a behemoth like Becton.
Rory-Joe Daniels
NFL & Cfb contributor
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.