By utilizing 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 situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings and fantasy advice each week.
Below are the receivers with the best and worst Week 9 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
Advantageous matchups
Seahawks' DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett vs. Buccaneers' Vernon Hargreaves, Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting
The Buccaneers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the fifth most to the perimeter (most over the past month) and second most to the slot. They made some changes in the secondary in Week 7, moving Hargreaves back to the slot and the rookie Murphy-Bunting to the perimeter opposite Davis. They had some success against Tennessee's tight-end-heavy offense, but life will be tougher against Metcalf and Lockett. Lockett (70% slot) will see a lot of Hargreaves, who has struggled mightily since being drafted in 2016. Metcalf, who leads the NFL with 13 end zone targets, will work primarily against Murphy-Bunting and Davis. Both receivers should be upgraded significantly against the defense that has allowed the second-most receptions to wide receivers this season (100).
Bears' Allen Robinson vs. Eagles' Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby
Robinson has been a workhorse this season, averaging 9.4 targets per game, including seven or more in all seven games. This week, he's facing an Eagles defense that has already allowed seven wide receivers to reach 100 receiving yards this season. The Eagles have allowed 12 touchdowns to wide receivers (third most), as well as 23 end zone targets (most). Philadelphia has allowed the second-most fantasy points to the position, as well as the most to perimeter receivers. Robinson posted a 10-143-1 receiving line on 13 targets when these teams met in the playoffs last season. The Eagles are healthier than they've been all season with Darby and Mills both in the lineup, but Darby has been targeted on 29% of his coverage snaps and is allowing 0.59 fantasy points per route -- both of which rank him among the league's worst corners. Mills has been good during his first two games back, but has a long history of being peppered with targets and allowing significant fantasy production. Robinson, who aligns outside on 62% of his routes will see plenty of both corners, should obviously be upgraded.
Cowboys' Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup vs. Giants' Janoris Jenkins and DeAndre Baker
In the Week 1 meeting between these teams, Jenkins shadowed Cooper on 20 of his 31 routes. Dallas' top receiver was limited to a 2-25-0 receiving line when aligned against Jenkins, but caught six of nine targets for 106 yards and a score in the game. Gallup posted a 7-158-0 line and slot Randall Cobb even got in on the fun with a 4-69-1 line in his Dallas debut. Jenkins hasn't shadowed since Week 3, so while it's possible he travels with Cooper, I suspect he and Baker will play their sides again this week. Of course, it doesn't matter much with both corners struggling. The Giants' numbers against wide receivers are better in recent weeks, though, as we noted in this column last week, an easy schedule has been a big reason why. Overall, New York has allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the eighth-most to perimeter receivers. The Giants have allowed a league-high 1,612 yards to the position. Cooper (87%) and Gallup (83%) work outside almost exclusively so they'll see Jenkins and Baker often on Monday night, as they did in Week 1. Upgrade both.
Jaguars' DJ Chark and Chris Conley vs. Texans' Johnathan Joseph and Gareon Conley
When these teams met back in Week 2, Chark (7-55-1 receiving line) and Conley (4-73-0) both put together solid days, though slot man Dede Westbrook (1-3-0) was held in check. Of course, Houston's struggles against wide receivers this season suggests all three wideouts should be on the fantasy radar this week. Houston has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the second most to perimeter receivers. The Texans rank fourth or worse in receptions (112), receiving yards (1541) and touchdowns (13) allowed to wide receivers. Houston traded for Conley last week and immediately injected him into a significant offensive role (team-high 29 coverage snaps against Oakland). Joseph is expected back from injury this week and will join Conley on the perimeter, with rookie Lonnie Johnson likely handling slot duties. Chark (78% perimeter) and Conley (92%) will see struggling Conley and Joseph throughout Sunday's game in London and should be upgraded. Despite his rough Week 2 performance, Westbrook also gets a bump against the rookie Johnson.
Buccaneers' Chris Godwin vs. Seahawks' Jamar Taylor
Fantasy's No. 3 wide receiver, Godwin is set up for a bounce-back week after a quiet Week 7 performance. Godwin, who aligns in the slot 66% of the time, will see a lot of Seattle slot corner Taylor, who has been targeted on a massive 30% of his 74 coverage snaps this season. Seattle has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to players aligned in the slot over the past month and primary slot receivers Cooper Kupp, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyler Boyd, Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and Russell Gage have each reached double-digit fantasy points against them this season. Seattle has had to defend 173 wide receiver targets this season, which is eighth-most in the league. Godwin should be upgraded, whereas teammate Mike Evans has a neutral matchup against both surging Shaquill Griffin and struggling Tre Flowers.
Other notable upgrades:
Lions' Danny Amendola vs. Raiders' Lamarcus Joyner
Chiefs' Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson vs. Vikings' Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mike Hughes
Tough matchups
Ravens' Marquise Brown vs. Patriots' Stephon Gilmore (shadow)
Brown has missed each of Baltimore's past two games due to injury, but is expected back in the starting lineup as the team returns from its Week 8 bye. That's where the good news ends as the speedy rookie is set to face a New England defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and the fewest to perimeter receivers this season. The Patriots have also allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the slot, which is where Brown has aligned 35% of the time.
Of course, where Brown aligns may not matter much with Gilmore shadow coverage likely looming. New England's top corner has already shadowed JuJu Smith-Schuster, Robby Anderson (twice), John Brown, Terry McLaurin and Odell Beckham Jr. this season. Several of those receivers play a similar game to Brown's, so connecting the dot to shadow coverage isn't particularly bold. Brown is always a candidate to sneak away for a long touchdown, but he's best left on benches against Gilmore and the Patriots' shutdown defense.
Packers' Davante Adams vs. Chargers' Casey Hayward (shadow)
Hayward somewhat surprisingly did not shadow Allen Robinson last week, but he did travel with T.Y. Hilton, Marvin Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Courtland Sutton, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Corey Davis on their perimeter routes earlier this season. Considering Hayward's long track record of shadowing the opposing No. 1 receiver, especially those who primarily align outside, we should expect him to follow Adams this week. Adams, who is expected back from a toe injury, has aligned on the perimeter on 68% of his routes this season. Hayward has been terrific as usual in coverage this season, so while Adams should be locked into season-long lineups regardless of matchup, he's a name to consider fading in DFS. Los Angeles has allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, including the fifth-fewest to the perimeter over the past month.
49ers' Emmanuel Sanders vs. Cardinals' Patrick Peterson (shadow)
Peterson may have made his 2019 debut in Week 7, but he made his 2019 shadowing debut in Week 8. Peterson traveled with Michael Thomas on 35 of his 42 routes, including 30 of 31 on the perimeter. Granted, Thomas -- one of the league's best wide receivers -- got the best of him, but Peterson remains one of the league's top corners. This week, expect Peterson to travel with Sanders, who stepped right in as San Francisco's clear No. 1 wide receiver in Week 7. Sanders can be moved all over the formation, but aligned outside on 12 of his 21 routes in his 49ers debut. Peterson is likely to be on him on those plays, and considering he traveled inside to cover Thomas on five of his 11 slot routes, these two could end up against each other quite often on Thursday night. Sanders should be downgraded.
Browns' Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Broncos' Chris Harris Jr. (shadow)
Believe it or not, the Broncos have allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. That includes the third-fewest to the perimeter and fifth-fewest to the slot. Top corner Harris has obviously been a huge part of the success after transitioning to a full-time perimeter role. Harris has only been targeted on 15% of his coverage snaps despite already traveling with heavily targeted Allen Robinson, Davante Adams, Keenan Allen and Tyreek Hill at least part time during the first half of the season. Harris has surprisingly spent little time in the slot this season (6% of his coverage snaps), but that won't matter much against Beckham, who has aligned inside on only 23% of his routes. Expect Beckham and Harris to go head-to-head throughout most of Sunday's game. Beckham and Jarvis Landry (vs. Duke Dawson) should be downgraded against Denver's tough pass defense.
Titans' Corey Davis vs. Panthers' James Bradberry (shadow)
Bradberry is enjoying arguably his best NFL season, and it has come while shadowing the likes of Mike Evans (twice) and DeAndre Hopkins, while also getting run against DJ Chark, Robert Woods and Emmanuel Sanders. Carolina has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers, but receivers aligned across from Bradberry are averaging a weak 0.27 fantasy points per route.
This week, expect Bradberry to travel with Corey Davis. Tennessee's top receiver moves inside 30% of the time (Bradberry doesn't cover the slot), so he'll also get some run against Ross Cockrell. Cockrell has played solid ball, but has been heavily targeted and Carolina is allowing the second-most fantasy points to the slot over the past month. That helps Davis' prospects a bit, but he should be downgraded slightly this week.
Other notable downgrades:
Redskins' Terry McLaurin vs. Bills' Tre'Davious White and Levi Wallace
Cardinals' Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald vs. 49ers' K'Waun Williams
Panthers' Jarius Wright vs. Titans' Logan Ryan
Colts' Zach Pascal vs. Steelers' Steven Nelson and Joe Haden
Other potential shadow matchups:
The Texans' Hopkins figures to be shadowed by the Jaguars' A.J. Bouye and, in turn, Kenny Stills by Tre Herndon this week. Bouye is a solid corner, but quarterbacks don't avoid him and Hopkins sees enough volume that he shouldn't be downgraded. Stills, meanwhile, can be upgraded against Herndon, who has been targeted on a hefty 25% of his coverage snaps.
Expect Packers 6-foot-3 corner Kevin King to shadow Chargers 6-foot-3 wideout Mike Williams and Jaire Alexander to travel with Keenan Allen when the Los Angeles receivers align on the perimeter this week. Williams (43% slot) and Allen (54%) are inside often, of course, and Alexander (8%) and King (6%) rarely cover the slot, so we should downgrade the two receivers only slightly against the defense allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.
Jimmy Smith is expected back in the lineup for the Ravens this week, which will mean four corners (Smith, Brandon Carr, Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters) competing for snaps. Especially since Smith has been out since Week 1 and with Carr likely to dabble at safety and likely match up occasionally with tight ends, we should anticipate to see all four rotated into the lineup often. Humphrey has spent a lot of time against slot receivers this season, so don't be surprised if he travels with the Patriots' Julian Edelman or perhaps Mohamed Sanu. Baltimore has been midpack against wide receivers this season, but getting Smith back and adding Peters to the mix will make them a much tougher matchup. New England's wide receivers should be considered riskier than usual on Sunday night.
If Darius Slay returns from injury this week, expect the star corner to shadow the Raiders' Tyrell Williams. Slay has shadowed Damiere Byrd, Keenan Allen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Stefon Diggs when healthy, but he has missed the majority of Detroit's game action over the past month. Williams would need to be downgraded if Slay is active.
The Dolphins' Xavien Howard went down with yet another injury in Week 8 and is done for the season. Had he played, Howard would've shadowed the Jets' Robby Anderson. Howard has shadowed Anderson only once -- a 2018 Week 9 meeting in which the two faced off on 24 of Anderson's 31 routes. Anderson posted a 4-32-0 receiving line in the game. In total, Howard has aligned across from Anderson on 63 pass plays, with Anderson producing a 6-69-0 receiving line on 14 targets on those plays. Of course, with Howard out, Anderson will see a lot of Ryan Lewis and Ken Webster and can actually be upgraded against a Dolphins defense allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to the position.