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 15 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
Advantageous matchups
Browns' Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Cardinals' Patrick Peterson (shadow) and Jarvis Landry vs. Byron Murphy Jr.
Peterson hasn't shadowed since Week 10, but Arizona's three games since that point have come against a 49ers team with a limited Emmanuel Sanders, the Rams and Steelers. Prior to Week 11, Peterson shadowed in three consecutive games against Michael Thomas, Sanders and Mike Evans.
That said, it's not clear if he'll travel with Beckham this week, but even if he does, it doesn't figure to matter much. Peterson has been heavily targeted, has struggled in coverage, and Arizona is allowing the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers (also the second most over the past eight weeks) and eighth most to perimeter receivers (third most over the past eight weeks).
Beckham has a rare plus matchup this week and should be in lineups. Landry should also be upgraded against the rookie Murphy in the slot. Arizona has allowed the second-most fantasy points to the slot this season.
Rams' Cooper Kupp vs. Cowboys' Jourdan Lewis
Week 14 threw us a major curveball with Kupp being limited to a career-low 28% of the Rams' offensive snaps. Of course, the Rams were up big throughout most of the game, which led to larger use of multiple tight end sets. Kupp still produced 45 yards and one touchdown in the game and will be a candidate for more usage in a better game script at Dallas this week. That's notable because he's also positioned with a good matchup.
Dallas switched from Anthony Brown to Lewis in the slot and has since given up a ton of fantasy production to players aligned inside. Lewis has allowed 0.54 fantasy points per coverage snap, which is highest among corners set to play a significant role this weekend. In turn, Dallas has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to the slot over the past eight weeks and the second most over the past month. Kupp is riskier than usual, but he's nonetheless a viable WR3/flex option.
Saints' Michael Thomas vs. Colts' Pierre Desir
For some unknown reason, the Colts have turned to Desir as a shadow corner. It hasn't worked. Desir has struggled badly in coverage through the season and, in fact, the Colts are allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to right perimeter receivers this season, including the fourth most over the past month. Desir aligns at that spot 70% of the time.
Desir was toasted by Evans for a long touchdown last week and wasn't much better when shadowing A.J. Brown (part time) and DeAndre Hopkins (combined 15-200-3 receiving line on 20 targets in two meetings) earlier this season. Believe it or not, no defense has allowed more fantasy points to wide receivers than the Colts over the past month. Start Thomas as you normally would and give him a bump in value in DFS.
Chargers' Mike Williams vs. Vikings' Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes
Williams finally found the end zone for the first time this season on Sunday, and the young receiver is well-positioned for another big game in Week 15. Williams, who aligns outside on 60% of his routes, will face off with a Minnesota defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the second-most to perimeter receivers over the past eight weeks. Williams will see plenty of struggling Rhodes and Waynes and can be upgraded.
Keenan Allen, by the way, also will get some perimeter run, but he aligns inside 54% of the time, and Minnesota has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to the slot this season. He has a neutral matchup.
Redskins' Terry McLaurin vs. Eagles' Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills
New week, same spiel: Philadelphia has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the most to perimeter receivers for the season and the second most over the past month. The Eagles have been very generous to both left and right perimeter receivers, allowing the most points to the left side and the second most to the right this season.
McLaurin aligns outside 76% of the time, so he'll see plenty of struggling Darby and Mills this week. It has been a rough go lately for McLaurin after a strong start to his NFL career, but the rookie receiver has produced 57-plus receiving yards in three consecutive games and found the end zone against the Packers on Sunday.
That points in the right direction, and when combined with the strong matchup against Philadelphia, makes him a viable flex option. Note that McLaurin posted a 5-125-1 receiving line on seven targets in his NFL debut against the Eagles in Week 1.
Giants' Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate vs. Dolphins' Nik Needham and Jomal Wiltz
The Dolphins have been rotating defensive backs all season and, aside from Needham playing decent ball as the No. 1 corner, they haven't found a way to consistently slow opposing wide receivers. Miami has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the second most over the past month. The Dolphins also have allowed the most fantasy points to perimeter receivers over the past month, which most benefits Slayton (96% perimeter) and Shepard (78% perimeter in three games with Tate). Both can be upgraded this week, as can Tate, who will work against Wiltz in the slot.
Raiders' Tyrell Williams vs. Jaguars' A.J. Bouye (shadow)
The Jaguars have turned to Bouye as an occasional shadow corner since trading Jalen Ramsey earlier this season. The veteran corner has traveled with Thomas, Tyler Boyd (perimeter), Demaryius Thomas, Hopkins, Evans and Allen. The tough assignments have led to a rough season for Bouye, who has been targeted on 23% of his coverage snaps while allowing a hefty 0.41 fantasy points per route. This week, Bouye figures to shadow Oakland No. 1 receiver Williams. Williams hasn't cleared 35 receiving yards since Week 11 nor scored a touchdown since Week 8, so he's still a very risky play, but the strong matchup makes him a candidate for one of his better games.
Other notable upgrades:
49ers' Emmanuel Sanders and Deebo Samuel vs. Falcons' Isaiah Oliver and Blidi Wreh-Wilson
Panthers' DJ Moore vs. Seahawks' Tre Flowers
Jaguars' DJ Chark Jr. and Dede Westbrook vs. Raiders' Trayvon Mullen and Lamarcus Joyner
Lions' Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola vs. Buccaneers' Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting
Tough matchups
Bengals' Tyler Boyd vs. Patriots' Stephon Gilmore and Jonathan Jones
Gilmore has shadowed the opposing team's No. 1 wide receiver in nine of 13 games this season with the exceptions the early-season Dolphins, Shepard-less Giants, Alshon Jeffery-less Eagles and the Chiefs. Eight of the aforementioned nine No. 1 receivers were primarily perimeter players, with the only exception being JuJu Smith-Schuster. Gilmore shadowed Smith-Schuster on 11 of his 12 perimeter routes and 18 of 30 slot routes back in Week 1.
I lay all this out to show that it's not entirely clear if Gilmore will shadow Boyd, who aligns in the slot 64% of the time. My best bet would be that Gilmore will shadow Boyd when he's on the perimeter, but defer to Jones when Boyd is inside. Of course, it may not matter much. The Patriots' pass defense has been outstanding across the board, having allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the fewest to the perimeter and fourth fewest to the slot. Boyd needs to be downgraded and is a strong candidate for a big down week. The likes of Auden Tate and John Ross III should be avoided.
Cowboys' Amari Cooper vs. Rams' Jalen Ramsey (shadow)
Since joining the Rams prior to Week 7, Ramsey has shadowed Julio Jones (6-93-0 receiving line in the game), Smith-Schuster (3-44-0), Allen Robinson (4-15-0) and DK Metcalf (6-78-0). Los Angeles clearly brought him on board to shut down opposing team's No. 1 receivers, so there's little doubt he'll travel with Cooper, who aligns on the perimeter 86% of the time, in Week 15.
Ramsey hasn't exactly been a shutdown corner, but the above numbers indicate he's held some very good receivers in check to some extent. Cooper is coming off back-to-back good games against strong pass defenses, so he should be avoided in DFS cash games, but not benched in season-long leagues.
With Ramsey on Cooper, Michael Gallup will see a lot of Troy Hill on the other side of the field. Hill has been better than expected opposite Ramsey, though Gallup should still expect to see a larger share of the targets than usual. He can be upgraded slightly.
Seahawks' DK Metcalf vs. Panthers' James Bradberry (shadow)
Bradberry has shadowed clear No. 1 perimeter receivers Evans (twice), Hopkins, Jones (twice) and Thomas this season, so, with Tyler Lockett aligning in the slot 71% of the time, there's a good chance Carolina's top corner will travel with Metcalf (88% perimeter) this week.
Bradberry has been effective this season, but it's going to be hard to justify downgrading Metcalf more than slightly after he posted a 6-78-0 receiving line on six targets while being shadowed by Ramsey on all but two of his 29 routes in Week 14. The aforementioned wide receivers Bradberry shadowed posted receiving lines of 4-61-0, 5-41-0, 9-96-0, 6-91-0, 10-101-1 and 5-66-0 in their respective game against Carolina. So, while Bradberry limited their output a bit, the fantasy production was still very solid. Metcalf can be valued as a flex option.
Other notable downgrades:
Bills' John Brown vs. Steelers' Joe Haden and Steven Nelson
Broncos' Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick vs. Chiefs' Charvarius Ward and Bashaud Breeland
Jets' Robby Anderson, Demaryius Thomas and Jamison Crowder vs. Ravens' Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith and Marlon Humphrey
Other potential shadow matchups
The Broncos' Chris Harris Jr. shadowed the Chiefs' Tyreek Hill on 10 of his 29 routes, including 10 of 12 perimeter routes when these teams faced off back in Week 7. Hill posted a 3-74-1 receiving line on four targets in that game, which included a long touchdown while covered by Harris. And that was with Patrick Mahomes sidelined for most of the game. Harris is terrific, but Hill doesn't need to be downgraded. Sammy Watkins should also be downgraded with Denver allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to the slot.
The Vikings' Adam Thielen has essentially missed seven consecutive games, and his status is in doubt for Week 15. If he plays, he will be a strong candidate for shadow coverage courtesy of the Chargers' Casey Hayward. If Thielen is out, you can bet on Hayward shadowing Stefon Diggs. Whoever draws Hayward will have the toughest matchup, but the Chargers have been very good at shutting down wide receivers across the board. The Chargers have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the second fewest over the past month. They've also allowed the fifth fewest to perimeter receivers and to the slot. Downgrade the Vikings' passing game on the road.
The Lions' Darius Slay has shadowed Damiere Byrd, Allen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Diggs (twice), Zay Jones, Robinson (twice), Cooper and McLaurin this season. Detroit's standout corner would've been a lock to shadow the Buccaneers' Evans this week, but with Evans out and Chris Godwin aligning in the slot 64% of the time, Slay's role is a bit less clear. The most likely outcome is that Slay will shadow Godwin the 36% of the time he aligns outside, but not often when he's in the slot. Godwin doesn't need to be downgraded against a Lions defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the third most to the slot, over the past eight weeks.