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 situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings and fantasy advice each week.
Below are the receivers with the best and worst Week 6 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. Cowboys' Trevon Diggs and Daryl Worley
Another week, more picking on a Cowboys' defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points, including the third-most to the perimeter, and a league-high nine touchdowns to wide receivers. Only four corners have allowed more fantasy points in coverage than Diggs (71) this season, and he'll be joined by Worley and Anthony Brown (who was activated from injured reserve last week) on the perimeter this week. Hopkins has aligned outside 91% of the time this season, so fantasy's top wide receiver is all systems go for another big week. Kirk remains a tough sell for a flex spot, but he's been outside 84% of the time and will also benefit from the matchup.
Vikings' Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson vs. Falcons' A.J. Terrell, Kendall Sheffield and Isaiah Oliver
The Falcons have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the second-most to perimeter receivers and fourth-most to players aligned in the slot. They rank no better than seventh in targets, receptions, receiving yards, YPR and YPT allowed to wideouts. With everyone back and healthy last week, Atlanta used first-round rookie Terrell and Sheffield on the perimeter and demoted Oliver, who has allowed the second-most fantasy points in coverage this season, to nickel/slot duties. They also attempted to shadow in that game against Carolina, with Sheffield traveling against Robby Anderson. It didn't go well. Anderson was targeted on nine of 15 routes against Sheffield and caught five for 86 yards. Sheffield played his side in the second half. Atlanta might try again this week, but it doesn't matter much against a defense allowing 313 or more passing yards in every game this season. Thielen (81% perimeter) and Jefferson (55%) will see all three corners in coverage and should, once again, be upgraded significantly.
Dolphins' DeVante Parker and Preston Williams vs. Jets' Pierre Desir and Blessuan Austin (or Lamar Jackson)
On the surface, the numbers don't look very poor as it pertains to the Jets' ability to slow wide receivers. They're midpack in fantasy points allowed and have allowed the 10th-most points to the perimeter. A "light" schedule has distorted the numbers, however, as New York was crushed by the Buffalo, Denver and Arizona wide receiver rooms but didn't face much volume against Indianapolis or San Francisco. A deeper look shows the Jets have allowed 40 more points than expected, which is third highest in the league. This isn't a surprise considering the Jets' shaky personnel, with Desir allowing the sixth-most fantasy points among corners and Austin, who has missed the past two games with an injury, struggling in coverage (Austin's replacement, UDFA Jackson, allowed the most fantasy points in coverage among corners in Week 5). Parker (80% perimeter) and Williams (93%) will see Desir and Austin (or Jackson) on nearly every snap this weekend and should obviously be upgraded.
Other notable upgrades:
Falcons' Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage vs. Vikings' Mike Hughes, Cameron Dantzler and Jeff Gladney
Jaguars' DJ Chark, Laviska Shenault Jr. and Keelan Cole vs. Lions' Desmond Trufant, Amani Oruwariye and Darryl Roberts
Tough matchups
Packers' Davante Adams vs. Buccaneers' Carlton Davis (shadow)
Davis has shadowed Michael Thomas, Keenan Allen and Allen Robinson II this season. Thomas was shut down (3-17-0 receiving line on five targets), whereas Allen (8-62-0 on 12) and Robinson (10-90-0 on 16) showed well thanks to a ton of volume. Adams is obviously Green Bay's go-to offensive target and aligns outside 75% of the time, so he can plan on seeing Davis across from him on each of those plays. It's a tough matchup, but Adams will escape to the slot one-quarter of the time and he's been targeted on a massive 31% of his routes this season. If Adams is going to put up a dud, this might be the week, but he's too good and too relied upon to downgrade more than slightly.
Washington's Terry McLaurin vs. Giants' James Bradberry (shadow)
Bradberry has been exceptional this season and enters Week 5 having already shadowed Allen Robinson, Kendrick Bourne and Amari Cooper on their perimeter routes. Robinson posted a 2-16-0 receiving line on eight targets in the game; Bourne was held to 4-63-0 on six targets; and Cooper was limited to 2-23-0 on four targets. In total, Bradberry has allowed a 15-174-2 receiving line on 28 targets across 154 coverage snaps this season. Bradberry won't shadow in the slot very often, so McLaurin will escape his coverage occasionally (72% perimeter), but this is an obvious downgrade spot considering how well Bradberry has played this season. New York has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the perimeter. Note that these two met last season when Washington faced Carolina, though Bradberry didn't shadow and was only on McLaurin on eight pass plays.
Titans' A.J. Brown vs. Texans' Bradley Roby (shadow)
Roby is the only corner who has shadowed during all five weeks of the 2020 season, having traveled with Tyreek Hill, Marquise Brown, Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen and DJ Chark. Those five combined for 15 targets, 10 catches, 84 yards and two touchdowns on 79 routes against Houston's top corner. Including all 142 of his coverage snaps this season, Roby has allowed a 14-111-2 receiving line on 21 targets. Hill and Thielen did end up with decent fantasy days against Houston -- thanks, in part, to plays in which they escaped Roby's coverage -- but Brown (89% perimeter) might not have that luxury this weekend, as he rarely aligns in the slot. Brown did roast Houston last season with receiving lines of 8-114-1 and 4-124-1 on a total of 22 targets, though he wasn't shadowed and was held to a 3-27-1 line on 17 routes against Roby. Brown should be downgraded with Roby playing so well. With Roby on Brown, Corey Davis will draw Vernon Hargreaves on the other side and, same as how we upgraded Justin Jefferson and Laviska Shenault Jr. the past two weeks, Davis can be upgraded. Hargreaves allowed the most fantasy points in coverage in 2019 and sits eighth among corners in 2020.
Ravens' Marquise Brown vs. Eagles' Darius Slay (shadow)
Slay enters Week 5 having already shadowed Terry McLaurin and A.J. Green this season, and he was seemingly on his way to shadowing Diontae Johnson last week before Pittsburgh's target leader left early with an injury. Slay has played well, holding McLaurin to a 3-31-0 receiving line on 27 routes and Green to a 4-31-0 line on 36 routes. Slay was heavily targeted by Ben Roethlisberger last week but allowed only 47 yards on 29 coverage snaps. In total, Slay has been in coverage on 171 pass plays this season and has given up a 23-215-0 receiving line on 33 targets. That's pretty solid. This week, expect Slay to follow Brown the 75% of the time the speedster is aligned on the perimeter. Brown is always a threat for a big play or two and has been heavily targeted this season, so he should be downgraded but doesn't need to be benched. Aside from Slay, the Eagles have struggled to slow wideouts, allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to the position, including the seventh-most to the slot. Miles Boykin and Willie Snead benefit, but neither is seeing enough volume to warrant consideration in most leagues.
Cowboys' Amari Cooper vs. Cardinals' Patrick Peterson (shadow)
Believe it or not, this will be the first time Cooper will play against the Cardinals in his career, which means it's also the first time he'll face off with Peterson. Arizona's star corner has shadowed only once this season (Terry McLaurin in Week 2) but hasn't been targeted much or allowed much fantasy production. In fact, Arizona has been much better than expected against wide receivers, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points, including the third-fewest to the perimeter. Cooper has aligned outside 80% of the time, and we just saw him slowed down by Bradberry shadow coverage in Week 5. Bump Cooper down and CeeDee Lamb up (again) against Byron Murphy.
Bears' Allen Robinson II vs. Panthers' Rasul Douglas (shadow)
Over the past three weeks, 6-foot-2 Douglas has shadowed 6-foot-3 Mike Williams (one catch for 17 yards in the game) and 6-1 DeAndre Hopkins (seven catches for 41 yards in the game). He didn't shadow in Week 5, though presumably he would've against 6-3 Julio Jones had he been active. Douglas has emerged as Carolina's top corner and is playing well, so it's likely that he'll follow 6-3 Robinson this week. These two have faced off each of the past two seasons, but Robinson ran only 11 routes against Douglas, who was with the Eagles for both games. We can't learn much from that, but we can from Carolina doing surprisingly well against wide receivers this season. The Panthers have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position, including the eighth-fewest to the perimeter and fifth-fewest to the slot. Robinson is a lineup lock, but he should be downgraded this week.
Bengals' A.J. Green and Tee Higgins vs. Colts' Rock Ya-Sin and Xavier Rhodes
Few teams have been as dominant against wide receivers as Indianapolis this season. The Colts have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position, including the fewest to the perimeter. They check in no worse than seventh in targets, receptions, receiving yards, YPT and catch rate allowed. Strength of schedule is somewhat of a variable here, as Jaguars, Bears and Browns wideouts had decent days against them, though they shut down the Jets and Vikings and have allowed a total of three touchdowns to the position over the past four weeks. Green (if he plays) aligns outside 78% of the time and will see plenty of red-hot Rhodes and the youngster Ya-Sin. He shouldn't be in lineups, whereas the rookie Higgins (74%) is a riskier flex than usual. Note that the Colts are midpack against the slot, so Tyler Boyd should be good to go against solid, but heavily targeted Kenny Moore.
49ers' Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne vs. Rams' Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams and Troy Hill
The Rams have been outstanding against wide receivers this season, allowing the fewest fantasy points to the position, as well as the third-fewest to the perimeter and sixth-fewest to the slot. Ramsey figured to shadow opposing No. 1 wide receivers this season, but the Rams have instead converted him into a box player who often covers slot receivers and tight ends. The plan has obviously worked. This week, he'll see plenty of Bourne in the slot and will get some run against George Kittle. With Ramsey inside, Williams (who has been terrific) and Hill will see a lot of Samuel and Aiyuk. The Niners' wide receivers did very little in the team's two games against the Rams last season, and that included one game after the trade for Ramsey. Samuel posted a 4-31-0 receiving line on six targets in that game, and the rest of San Francisco's wideouts combined for 90 yards on nine targets. Downgrade this group across the board.
Other notable downgrades:
Eagles' Greg Ward Jr. vs. Ravens' Marlon Humphrey
Bills' John Brown, Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley vs. Chiefs' Bashaud Breeland, Charvarius Ward and Rashad Fenton
Panthers' Curtis Samuel vs. Bears' Buster Skrine
Giants' Darius Slayton and Golden Tate vs. Washington's Kendall Fuller, Ronald Darby and Kamren Curl
Jets' Breshad Perriman and Jeff Smith vs. Dolphins' Byron Jones and Xavien Howard