By using our play-by-play data, we're now able to identify where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. By tracking matchups between the two positions, including potential shadow coverage situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings and fantasy advice each week.
Below are the receivers with the best and worst Week 17 matchups, as well as the corresponding fantasy impact.
To view the primary defenders the top three wide receivers for each team will see this weekend, be sure to check out my weekly WR vs. CB cheat sheet.
Advantageous matchups
Detroit Lions' Kenny Golladay vs. Green Bay Packers' Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson
The Packers continue to struggle against wide receivers this season, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to the position during the past two months. Green Bay has allowed the seventh-most points to perimeter receivers during the past two months and the past four weeks. Golladay has worked from the slot more lately, but still figures to be outside on over half his routes. Green Bay has also allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to the slot this season.
Golladay had a solid day against Green Bay with four catches, 98 yards and a score on nine targets back in Week 5 -- and that was on only 26 routes with Marvin Jones Jr. and Golden Tate still soaking up targets. A lot of Golladay's success in that game was against Jackson, and he'll see plenty of him in this one. Fellow rookie Alexander went down with an injury on Sunday, so if he's out for Week 17, undrafted Tony Brown will fill in.
Indianapolis Colts' T.Y. Hilton vs. Tennessee Titans' Adoree' Jackson (shadow coverage)
When these teams met in Week 11, Jackson shadowed Hilton on 20 of his 26 routes, including 18 of 19 on the perimeter. Hilton didn't seem to mind, impressing with nine catches, 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns on nine targets. Jackson had more success when shadowing Hilton in a 2017 meeting, though Andrew Luck was out. Tennessee has tightened up against perimeter receivers in a big way as of late, but Hilton's recent high-end production and the strong matchup makes him an appealing DFS option in a must-win game for both teams.
Los Angeles Rams' Robert Woods vs. San Francisco 49ers' K'Waun Williams
Woods continues to be peppered with targets and that's unlikely to change this week with the Rams looking to solidify a bye in the playoffs. In this one, he will see a lot of Williams, who has struggled with efficiency in coverage this season. The 49ers have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to the slot on the season and during the past two months.
In the Week 7 meeting between these teams, Woods caught 5 of 7 targets for 78 yards. He was covered by Williams on nine of his 25 routes and caught 2 of 2 targets for 53 yards on those plays. Woods is a fine back-end WR1 and quality DFS option.
New England Patriots' Julian Edelman vs. New York Jets' Buster Skrine
Edelman caught 4 of 5 targets for 84 yards and one touchdown on 31 routes against the Jets back in Week 12. A lot of that production happened to come away from Skrine, but the Jets are allowing the third-most fantasy points to slot receivers this season, including the fourth-most during the past eight weeks. Skrine has been a major problem, with receivers aligned against him targeted on a massive 26 percent of their routes. Edelman has aligned inside on 68 percent of his routes this season, so these two will face off often.
Other notable matchups
With nothing on the line, the New Orleans Saints figure to rest players this week. However, when Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn Jr. are on the field, they'll be set up with good matchups against the Carolina Panthers' James Bradberry (who shadowed Thomas two weeks ago) and Donte Jackson.
The Seattle Seahawks' Doug Baldwin was shadowed by Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals on all four of his perimeter routes, but none of his slot routes when these teams played in Week 4. Baldwin primarily works inside, so he doesn't need to be downgraded at all.
Others to upgrade
Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Conley vs. Oakland Raiders' Nick Nelson
Atlanta Falcons' Mohamed Sanu vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Javien Elliott
Cincinnati Bengals' Alex Erickson vs. Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Hilton
Tough Matchups
Chicago Bears' Allen Robinson vs. Minnesota Vikings' Xavier Rhodes (shadow coverage)
Minnesota has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and the third-fewest to perimeter receivers this season. Rhodes hasn't been quite as dominant as expected, but has done well when shadowing the likes of Davante Adams (twice), Stefon Diggs, Brandin Cooks, Alshon Jeffery, Robby Anderson, Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr..
Rhodes partially shadowed Robinson in the Week 11 meeting, aligning against him on 18 of 32 routes, including 18 of 25 on the perimeter. Robinson was limited to three catches for 39 yards on seven targets. These two also faced off back in 2016 when Robinson was with the Jaguars. Rhodes shadowed Robinson on 23 of his 39 routes, including 22 of 26 perimeter routes. Robinson was held to one catch for 17 yards on three targets.
Rhodes has been targeted often (19 percent of coverage snaps), but hasn't allowed much fantasy production (0.27 fantasy points per route) this season. Robinson has aligned in the slot on 39 percent of his routes this season, so he will dodge Rhodes' coverage quite a bit. Of course, Minnesota has fared well there, too, allowing the fewest fantasy points to the slot during the past eight weeks. Robinson is a big bust candidate and should be downgraded.
Houston Texans' DeAndre Hopkins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars' Jalen Ramsey (shadow coverage)
One of the week's biggest showdowns features Hopkins against Ramsey.
Ramsey shadowed Hopkins on 22 of his 25 routes, including all 22 perimeter routes, when these teams met in Week 7. Relatively speaking, Hopkins was held in check with three catches, 50 yards and one touchdown on eight targets. Hopkins caught 11 of 28 targets for 135 yards and two scores on 80 routes in the two 2017 meetings between these teams.
Jacksonville is allowing a league-low 26.3 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers for the season. That includes 17.9 per game to perimeter receivers (fourth-lowest), which is where Hopkins (79 percent perimeter) aligns most of the time.
Despite enjoying some success in the touchdown department against Jacksonville, Hopkins should be downgraded a bit in one of his toughest matchups of the season.
Denver Broncos' Courtland Sutton vs. Los Angeles Chargers' Casey Hayward (shadow coverage) & Broncos' DaeSean Hamilton vs. Chargers' Desmond King
Hayward shadowed Sutton on 22 of his 30 routes, including 21 of 27 on the perimeter when these teams met in Week 11. Sutton had some success in the game, posting three catches for 78 yards on six targets. Of that production, four targets, two receptions and 69 yards came against Hayward. Despite the decent showing, this is a tough matchup. Hayward isn't targeted often and the Chargers have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to outside receivers this season.
Hamilton, meanwhile, was still running behind Emmanuel Sanders in the first meeting and only ran eight routes in the game. He's emerged as Case Keenum's top target in recent weeks, but will have his hands full with King. Receivers aligned against King have been targeted on only 13 percent of their routes and the Chargers are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to slot receivers this season.
Both Sutton and Hamilton should be downgraded against the defense allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts during the past two months.
Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams vs. Detroit Lions' Darius Slay (shadow coverage)
Slay shadowed Adams on 43 of his 50 routes when these teams met back in Week 5. That included 11 of 14 in the slot, which is notable considering Slay rarely travels inside, even when shadowing. Despite the blanket coverage from one of the league's best corners, Adams had a huge game. He caught nine of 12 targets for 140 yards and one touchdown. Of that production, eight catches (on nine targets) for 118 yards and the touchdown came while Adams covered by Slay.
Similar to the advice for Antonio Brown against Marshon Lattimore last week, yes, this is a tough matchup, but Adams will be heavily targeted, has a terrific quarterback and offers big scoring upside. He's more of a bust candidate than usual, but still makes for a strong fantasy play even with a slight downgrade.
New York Jets' Robby Anderson vs. New England Patriots' Stephon Gilmore (shadow coverage)
During the past two weeks, DeAndre Hopkins is the only wide receiver with more fantasy points than Anderson. Anderson saw a career-high 13 targets on Sunday and is averaging 8.4 per game since Week 7. Gilmore, meanwhile, has been elite in coverage despite some tough shadow assignments against Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Allen Robinson, Davante Adams, Corey Davis, Stefon Diggs and Antonio Brown.
Gilmore shadowed Anderson on 36 of his 40 routes (35 of 35 on the perimeter) when these teams faced off in Week 12. Anderson was held to two catches for 22 yards on five targets in the game. He failed to record a catch on three targets in Gilmore's coverage.
Despite his recent success, we'll need to downgrade Anderson a bit against the Gilmore shadow this week.
Philadelphia Eagles' Alshon Jeffery vs. Washington Redskins' Josh Norman (shadow coverage)
Norman shadowed Jeffery on 34 of 39 routes, including all 34 perimeter routes, when these teams played in Week 13. Jeffery was targeted five times and was held to three catches for 31 yards.
Granted, Jeffery has been significantly better since that game (12th at wide receiver in fantasy points during his past three games), but he's very likely to draw the Norman shadow again this week. Norman has been strong in coverage this season despite some tough assignments against Odell Beckham Jr., Julio Jones, Mike Evans, DeAndre Hopkins, Corey Davis and Donte Moncrief (all since Week 8). Jeffery is worth fading in DFS cash games.
Another notable matchup
If the Cleveland Browns' Denzel Ward is able to suit up for Week 17, expect him to shadow speedster John Brown of the Baltimore Ravens. Those two aligned across from each other on 32 of Brown's 47 routes in Week 5, including 29 of 34 on the perimeter. Brown should be downgraded in that scenario.
Others to downgrade
Cleveland Browns' Antonio Callaway and Rashard Higgins vs. Baltimore Ravens' Jimmy Smith and Marlon Humphrey
Washington Redskins' Jamison Crowder vs. Philadelphia Eagles' Cre'Von LeBlanc