Fantasy Football 2012: Good and Bad Wide Receiver Matchups in Week 3

As is the standard for fantasy football, things have been pretty wild over the past two weeks. Last week, I looked at wide receiver matchups and got a few things right. Percy Harvin, Demaryius Thomas, Mike Wallace, and Antonio Brown all had good games, while Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Sidney Rice, and Julio Jones all had bad games. 

Let's take a look forward and check out wide receiver matchups for week 3:

Good Matchups

Stevie Johnson at Cleveland

I had Johnson on my "bad matchups" list for each of the first two weeks, and both times he proved me wrong by putting in two solid games. This time around he gets a weak Cleveland team without top corner Joe Haden. Count on Johnson to break out.  

Vincent Jackson at Dallas

Jackson had a monster game last week, and although Dallas' passing defense has played pretty well, they are reeling from a 27-7 thwarting at the hands of Russell Wilson's Seahawks. I think that Dallas continues trending down and V-Jax has another big game. 

Dwayne Bowe at New Orleans

The Saints are not looking good right now. Sitting at 0-2, they have given up 75 total points and 922 total yards to the Redskins and Panthers. The Chiefs offense is a step behind both of those teams', but Bowe should still find success in the Superdome. 

Miles Austin vs. Tampa Bay

Austin has a touchdown in each of Dallas' first two games, and I think this game could be a high-scoring affair. Tampa has given up an absurd 801 passing yards in the first two games. 

Jeremy Kerley at Miami

Kerley isn't targeted that much, but he averages 18.7 yards per catch and goes up against a below-average Miami secondary. Sean Smith will be wrapped up with Santonio Holmes, so Kerley should get room to roam downfield. 

Bad Matchups 

Andre Johnson at Denver

Johnson turned in a three-catch, 21-yard dud last week, and runs into Champ Bailey and the Broncos, who are coming off a stinging loss to Atlanta. I expect the Broncos to come out with a vengeance and Johnson to be held in check.  

Sidney Rice vs. Green Bay

Rice makes this list again because he's up against Charles Woodson. Green Bay has only given up 265 passing yards so far, and is coming off a big win, shutting down Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. 

Larry Fitzgerald vs. Philadelphia

Fitz has just five catches for 67 yards and no touchdowns through the first two weeks. He doesn't catch a break this week either, going up against a tough Eagles defense who will not want to be the first team to let Fitz have a big game.  

Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker vs. Houston

Houston has only let up 248 passing yards combined in the first two games. Peyton Manning looked shaky last week, and I think the Texans are going to get a ton of pressure on him early, which is not good news for his receivers. 

Wes Welker at Baltimore

Welker has just eight catches and no touchdowns in the first two games. Brandon Lloyd has taken a bunch of his targets, and it just seems like we can't expect Welker to put up numbers like he has in the past. Baltimore's D is stingy as usual, so it isn't a very good matchup either.