Eli Manning is an elite option in Week 5

Welcome to the Matchups Machine, which narrows down ideal matchups from around the league on a weekly basis using the tools we have available at PFF, the Las Vegas odds, and insight from yours truly.

PFF has all the tools to break down each individual matchup. Do you want to know how your wide receiver is going to do? Well, if he lines up as a split end on 90 percent of his snaps, we can pinpoint which cornerback he will be matching up with for those snaps. We can also tell you how that cornerback has performed.

Of course, as was the case in the past, this column will become more accurate as the season goes on and we compile more grades for the players and get a feel for the tendencies and overall strengths/weaknesses of the 32 teams.

The goal of this column is to help you with those tricky decisions in year-long leagues, but also to help you narrow down your best options in daily fantasy leagues. You will see a mix of big-name players and fringe starters. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Eli Manning vs. 49ers

It wouldn’t make sense to call this group Eli Manning’s best supporting cast of his career; outside of Odell Beckham Jr., his top options on any given play are probably Rashad Jennings and Rueben Randle. And yet, he’s probably playing the best football of his career in his second season under offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. After throwing for 4,410 yards with a 30:14 touchdown to interception ratio in his first year in McAdoo’s scheme, Manning has seven touchdowns and just one interception at the quarter pole of 2015. In Week 5, Manning draws his easiest matchup yet, at home, against the 49ers.

After losing several key players on defense, including Chris Culliver, Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis and Justin Smith, the 49ers have struggled in pass defense under first year coordinator Eric Mangini. Only four teams have earned a worse overall pass coverage grade (-17.6), and only two teams have generated a worse pass rush grade (-8.9).

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Dan Schneier is a staff writer at PFF Fantasy and he covers the NFC East beat for FOX Sports. You can find him on Twitter @DanSchneierNFL. You can also add him to your network on Google+ to find all of his past material.