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Hurts vs. Verse, Bonitto vs. Alt and the premier player matchups in NFL Week 3
Week 3 of the NFL is ripe with premier player matchups. In both conferences, you’ll find some of the best at their positions going at it.
These are DAZN News’ top picks for the week.
Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles, QB) vs. Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams, DE)
Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
Hurts leads all quarterbacks in rushing attempts (23) this season, but is averaging only 3.3 yards per carry. He is also 31st in passing yardage, with zero touchdowns. His runs have come in key moments to extend drives.
Verse’s objective is to seal the edge and force Hurts inside. Keeping Hurts in the pocket makes him throw on the broken passing plays he’s been converting with his legs. He is averaging only 5.6 yards per attempt.
The Eagles are allowing pressure, but not breaking. They are seventh in quarterback pressure rate allowed (39.7%), but have given up only three sacks.
Verse is winning as a pass rusher. On designed passing plays, he is seventh in the NFL in win rate (32.1%). In other words, he is beating the blockers in front of him on those downs.
Verse usually works the right side, where he will find Jordan Mailata. Verse had two sacks in the Rams’ divisional loss to the Eagles last January. If he wins that matchup, he will inhibit Hurts’ ability to throw and hoard possession for the Philadelphia offense.
Malik Nabers (New York Giants- WR) vs. Trent McDuffie (Kansas City Chiefs- CB)
Malik Nabers brings his NFL-leading 238 receiving yards into a Week 3 against the Chiefs. Kansas City’s All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie patrols both sides, and will eye Nabers when their alignments are synced.
Nabers has drawn 25 targets in two weeks, and done most of his damage on deep routes. He has produced limited yards after the catch, so McDuffie must be prepared to play the ball in the air. McDuffie’s forced incompletion percentage is strong at 20%.
Nabers and Russell Wilson will test McDuffie’s range. Receivers have been targeted 13 yards downfield with McDuffie in coverage this year; Nabers is targeted closer to 18 yards. The Giants’ offense thrived last week when Russell Wilson went deep. Expect more attempts over the top to Nabers.
These two players are about the same size. The keys of this matchup are creating space at the top of routes and contested catches. If McDuffie wins down the field, and forces Nabers underneath, the Giants offense will be out of luck.
Expect a lower yardage total from Nabers than last week with a touchdown. Any series in Kansas City territory will include plays for him.
Nik Bonitto (Denver Broncos- DE) vs. Joe Alt (Los Angeles Chargers- LT)
AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post
Watch the left side of the Chargers’ offensive line in Week 3. Nik Bonitto will rush Joe Alt, who is playing left tackle for the first time since entering the NFL.
Bonitto has one sack on the year, and has an excellent pass-rushing unit around him. The depth forces Alt into one-on-one reps with Bonitto all day. The Broncos’ edge rusher currently leads the NFL in win rate (33.3%).
Alt must use his size in this matchup. He is 80 pounds heavier, five inches taller, and has a longer reach. He has to be quick laterally and use his length to impede Bonitto. If he fails, the pocket will be collapsing around Justin Herbert.
Bonitto’s get-off is among the NFL’s elite (0.75). His athleticism and quickness will help him beat Alt at least once for a sack.
The Chargers will run the ball to neutralize the Denver pass rush. Despite the quality of the Broncos’ defense, the Chargers’ offense will make the difference this week.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions- WR) vs. Kyle Hamilton (Baltimore Ravens- S)
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Amon-Ra St. Brown has played over half of his snaps from the slot this year. He scored twice from that alignment last week, and will see a dominant slot coverage player in Week 3: Kyle Hamilton.
This matchup will be underneath the defense’s third level on out routes, drag routes, and slants.
At 6-foot-4, Hamilton has exceptional range, allowing only five yards per reception on four catches this season. Opponents are catching the ball once every 24 coverage snaps for the Baltimore safety.
St. Brown has been effective at 15 yards downfield, between the numbers. The question is if Hamilton will jam him at the line of scrimmage. This helps him stay close to St. Brown and limit those receptions, but risks bigger plays behind him.
The Lions are excellent in play action. They will fake handoffs to draw Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage, and then work the ball to St. Brown. If the Lions’ running game succeeds it will create opportunities for Amon-Ra, and he will have another good game.
This game will be high-scoring. If Hamilton can reduce yardage after the catch from St. Brown, and stick him in man coverage inside the 20, he becomes an x-factor in a Ravens victory.
Baltimore has an edge at home over Detroit. Hamilton is a weapon able to take St. Brown out of the game plan. The two played on rival college teams at USC and Notre Dame.
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