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 5 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 Cheatsheet.
Advantageous matchups
Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk vs. Jets' Bless Austin and Pierre Desir
The Jets' rotation at perimeter corner continued on Sunday, with Austin suffering an early injury that led to a full-time role for rookie UDFA Lamar Jackson opposite Desir. Austin has struggled in coverage this season, so even if he's back this week, it shouldn't affect the matchup much for Hopkins (90% perimeter) and Kirk (82%).
New York hasn't allowed much fantasy production to wide receivers, but competition has been a major factor. The Jets allowed a massive 54 points to Buffalo's wideouts in Week 1 before not facing much volume against beat-up 49ers, Colts and Broncos units. Arizona's top two receivers should be upgraded significantly.
Panthers' DJ Moore, Robby Anderson and Curtis Samuel vs. Falcons' Isaiah Oliver, A.J. Terrell, Kendall Sheffield and Blidi Wreh-Wilson
The Falcons have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season (third most to the perimeter, second most to the slot). If we're being honest, the damage would be worse if a Packers offense missing Davante Adams and Allen Lazard didn't rely on TE Robert Tonyan for three touchdowns on Monday.
The Atlanta secondary has been destroyed by injuries and poor play, though it's possible they'll get Terrell back from the COVID-19 list this week. Even if they do, this is a great matchup for opposing offenses. Moore (79% perimeter) and Anderson (69%) will see Oliver and Terrell (or Sheffield) on the outside, with Samuel (78% slot) up against Wreh-Wilson or Sheffield in the slot. Upgrade them all.
Vikings' Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson vs. Seahawks' Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar (or Tre Flowers)
Thielen and Jefferson have combined to handle an absurd 64% target share, and both are top 10 in fantasy points among wide receivers over the past two weeks. That level of production very well could sustain this week against a Seattle defense allowing the most fantasy points to receivers overall and against the perimeter, and the third most to the slot. The Seahawks are allowing an unconscionable 23.5 receptions, 336.3 yards and 65.2 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.
Thielen and Jefferson will see a lot of Griffin (league-high 74 fantasy points allowed in coverage) and Dunbar (or Flowers, if Dunbar remains out) this week and should be locked into lineups.
Seahawks' Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf vs. Vikings' Cameron Dantzler, Jeff Gladney, Holton Hill and Mike Hughes
On the other side of that game, we have a pair of top-10 fantasy receivers, Lockett and Metcalf, set up with yet another terrific matchup, this time against a Vikings secondary struggling with injuries and poor performance. Minnesota has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the sixth most to the perimeter. Minnesota has allowed the fifth most or worse in terms of yardage, touchdowns, end zone targets, YPR and YPT allowed to wideouts.
Metcalf (84% perimeter) will see a lot of Dantzler and Hill on the outside this week, with Lockett (63% slot) set to face off with Hughes (if he's back from injury) and/or the rookie Gladney. This probably isn't the week to fade the Seattle wideouts in DFS.
Giants' Darius Slayton vs. Cowboys' Trevon Diggs and Daryl Worley
What happens when a movable object meets a stoppable force? We may find out this weekend when a Giants offense that hasn't produced a passing touchdown since Week 1 meets a Cowboys defense allowing the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the second most to the perimeter.
Slayton aligns outside 87% of the time, so he's positioned to take advantage of Dallas' weak spot. Only two corners have allowed more fantasy points in coverage than Diggs this season, and he'll be joined on the perimeter by Worley, who was forced from safety back to cornerback duties due to multiple injuries. Slayton is known for his boom/bust performances, and this week is set up very well for a boom.
Other notable upgrades:
Ravens' Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin vs. Bengals' William Jackson and Darius Phillips
Bills' Cole Beasley vs. Titans' Chris Jackson
Eagles' Greg Ward vs. Steelers' Mike Hilton
Tough matchups
Bears' Allen Robinson vs. Buccaneers' Carlton Davis (shadow)
We've talked about Davis a lot already this season, and the emerging star is in yet another big spot here in Week 5. Davis has already shadowed Michael Thomas and Keenan Allen this season, while also facing off with Tim Patrick, Robby Anderson, DJ Moore and KJ Hamler on 12-plus coverage snaps. On a total of 95 routes against Davis, those six receivers combined for an 11-118-1 receiving line on 19 targets.
Robinson (65% perimeter) will see a lot of Davis this week, but he'll also escape him occasionally, as Tampa Bay's top corner rarely travels to the slot. Robinson should still be in lineups, but he should be avoided in DFS cash games against the seldom-targeted Davis.
Cowboys' Amari Cooper vs. Giants' James Bradberry (shadow)
Bradberry has shadowed both Robinson and Kendrick Bourne on their perimeter routes this season and appeared to prioritize Robert Woods at times last week. We should expect the Giants' top corner to travel with Cooper the 80% of the time he's aligned on the outside this week.
Bradberry is playing at a high level, as usual, though quarterbacks have targeted him at an above-average rate (also as usual). Cooper may see a target or two fewer than he normally would and should be downgraded slightly. With Bradberry on Cooper, Michael Gallup draws a much-needed positive matchup against Ryan Lewis, as does slot CeeDee Lamb against rookie Darnay Holmes.
Jaguars' DJ Chark vs. Texans' Bradley Roby (shadow)
Roby has already shadowed Tyreek Hill, Marquise Brown, Diontae Johnson and Thielen this season. Those four combined for 12 targets, 8 catches, 79 yards and 2 TDs on 56 routes against Houston's top corner. That's pretty good, though Thielen still put together a strong 8-114-1 receiving line last week by capitalizing against other Houston defenders when he escaped Roby's coverage.
Roby is likely to travel with the speedy Chark (77% perimeter) this week, which isn't ideal with Chark coming off his first strong performance of the season. He'll need to be downgraded slightly. With Roby on Chark, Laviska Shenault will draw Vernon Hargreaves on the other side, and (same as last week when I upgraded Justin Jefferson) the rookie is a more appealing play than usual.
Washington Football Team's Terry McLaurin vs. Rams' Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey did not shadow anywhere close to full time against the Cowboys, Eagles, Bills or Giants, but the Rams have been moving their star corner around quite a bit. That movement included ensuring he was on Cooper or Gallup during Week 1's victory, getting him on Stefon Diggs at times in Week 3 and having him primarily align in the slot in order to slow Golden Tate this past Sunday.
McLaurin (71% perimeter) will see Ramsey plenty this week, but both he and Ramsey move around enough that we don't have to make any drastic adjustments. Downgrade him slightly against a Rams defense allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Steelers' Diontae Johnson vs. Eagles' Darius Slay (shadow)
We know Slay tends to shadow clear No. 1 perimeter receivers, and that has been the case twice this season against McLaurin and A.J. Green. Slay has been terrific, holding the former to a 3-31-0 receiving line on 27 routes and the latter to a 4-31-0 line on 36 routes. In total, Slay has surrendered only 18 catches for 168 yards on 24 targets across 142 coverage snaps. This week, we should expect him to travel with Johnson.
You may be wondering, why Johnson and not JuJu Smith-Schuster? The reason is simple: Slay almost never travels to the slot. Smith-Schuster has aligned inside 84% of the time this season, whereas Johnson has been outside 86% of the time. Johnson should be downgraded, but the likes of Smith-Schuster and James Washington can be bumped up against the Eagles' otherwise injury-plagued and struggling secondary.
Titans' A.J. Brown vs. Bills' Tre'Davious White (shadow)
White is featured here often as one of the game's top cover corners, but, all due respect to the Bills' Weeks 1-4 opponents, he's yet to have a notable shadow assignment this season. In fact, his only shadow assignments were Preston Williams in Week 2 and Zay Jones on a part-time basis in Week 4. That figures to change this week, assuming Brown is back from injury off Tennessee's Week 4 bye.
Brown, who has aligned on the perimeter 89% of the time this season, will have his hands full against White, who has been targeted on only 14% of his coverage snaps. Brown was a part-time player when these teams faced off in Week 5 last season and managed one 14-yard catch on eight routes in White's coverage in that game. Brown will be a risky play if he's able to go.
Other notable downgrades:
Bengals' Tyler Boyd vs. Ravens' Marlon Humphrey
Raiders' Hunter Renfrow vs. Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu
Other potential shadow matchups
Chargers' Keenan Allen vs. Saints' Marshon Lattimore (perimeter shadow)
Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins missed Week 4 with injuries, but if the former returns this week, we can expect him to travel with Allen the 54% of the time Justin Herbert's favorite target is aligned on the perimeter. That's exactly how he handled Mike Evans in Week 1, so we do have some precedent.
Even with Lattimore and Jenkins missing time, the Saints have allowed the fewest fantasy points to perimeter receivers this season, so this is a tough matchup for Allen and especially Mike Williams (71% perimeter) if he's back from injury. Allen will be in the slot about half the time, so he should be downgraded, but not completely faded, especially considering his career-high target share.
Falcons' Julio Jones vs. Panthers' Rasul Douglas (shadow)
Falcons' Calvin Ridley vs. Panthers' Donte Jackson (shadow)
Over the past two weeks, 6-foot-2 Douglas has shadowed 6-3 Mike Williams and 6-1 DeAndre Hopkins. That has left 5-11 Jackson to cover 6-1 Keenan Allen and 5-10 Christian Kirk. That usage suggests Douglas will shadow 6-3 Jones this week, which would put Jackson (and occasionally Troy Pride) on Ridley.
The Panthers have surprisingly allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to receivers this season, and that includes a strong effort against Hopkins and company in Week 4, so this matchup doesn't figure to be the walk in the park many expected. Note that if Jones (hamstring) is out, Douglas figures to flip to Ridley, which would position Jackson against 5-8 Olamide Zaccheaus.