5 key individual matchups to watch in Week 9

theScore's Esten McLaren breaks down five of the most important in-game matchups ahead of Week 9.

Julio Jones vs. James Bradberry

Jones returns to the site of his 300-yard game in 2016 where he torched Panthers cornerback Bene Benwikere in a Week 4 48-33 Falcons victory. Jones had totaled a modest 188 yards through his first three games of last season but hauled in 12 of an astonishing 15 targets for 300 yards and his third touchdown of the campaign, as he and quarterback Matt Ryan were relentless in an aerial assault on Benwikere.

Benwikere was subsequently released by the Panthers and didn't play again in 2016. He has played just five games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2017.

Bradberry is likely to be charged with the task of containing Jones in Week 9. The sophomore defender is ranked as Pro Football Focus' 68th cornerback this season, defending five passes without an interception. The Panthers' defense as a whole ranks fifth in average receiving yards allowed at just 201.6.

A.J. Green vs. Jalen Ramsey

This marquee matchup features PFF's No. 4 wide receiver in Green and No. 3 cornerback in Ramsey.

Ramsey is a big reason for the Jaguars' No. 1-ranked pass defense, a unit holding opposing offenses to just 162 passing yards per game with four touchdowns allowed and 10 interceptions.

Green has two 100-yard games on the season with a total of four touchdowns, but he has caught just six of 14 targets for 68 yards over his past two games.

Shane Ray vs. Halapoulivaati Vaitai

Ray will play in just his second game of 2017 since being activated from the injured reserve. He had a relatively quiet debut last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording just three combined tackles with no sacks. He had totaled 12 sacks through his first two years in the league, primarily playing a part-time role.

Vaitai will be making his third start of the season but just his second since replacing the injured Jason Peters on the left side of the Eagles' offensive line. As the weakest member of the five-man unit, he'll represent the Broncos' primary point of attack when trying to disrupt quarterback Carson Wentz.

Ray will need to wreak havoc for the Broncos to keep this game close and challenge for the upset.

Damien Williams vs. Kenyan Drake

The Dolphins' coaching staff has said the team will deploy a running back by committee composed of Williams and Drake in order to replace the services of recently-traded Jay Ajayi.

The tandem has played a combined 127 offensive snaps to this point of the season, with a slight edge going to Williams as the superior pass catcher of the duo.

Fantasy managers will be closely monitoring to see who emerges as the more productive of the two and if either is able to secure a goal-line role.

Drew Stanton vs. C.J. Beathard

With Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer injured and Jimmy Garoppolo not yet ready to start for the 49ers following his Monday acquisition, football fans are faced with what is fairly easily the worst quarterback matchup of the season.

Stanton's 52.7 career completion percentage through 514 pass attempts is identical to the early-career rate of the rookie Beathard, who has attempted 110 passes through three games.

This will be Stanton's first start since leading the Cardinals to a 33-21 win over the 49ers while filling in for an injured Palmer in 2016.

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