By using our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play of an NFL game. By tracking these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings, sit/start decisions and fantasy advice each week. Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can help you make the best waiver-wire pickups.
Below are the receivers with the best and worst Week 14 matchups, as well as the corresponding fantasy impact.
To view the primary defenders whom the top three wide receivers for each team will see this weekend, be sure to check out
Unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjust to a per-game basis in order to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.
Advantageous matchups
Saints' Michael Thomas vs. Eagles' Darius Slay (shadow)
Let's get this out of the way right off the bat: Darius Slay is a good cornerback. However, the Eagles' man-1 heavy scheme has put him in tough positions, especially as of late, in which he's asked to slow opposing No. 1 wide receivers with little to not help. That's led to massive games from DK Metcalf (10-177-0) and Davante Adams (10-121-2) over the past two weeks and very well could lead to one for Thomas here in Week 14. Slay rarely travels to the slot, but that won't matter much this week with Thomas aligning outside 72% of the time this season. Then with Detroit, Slay shadowed Thomas in both 2016 and 2017. In the former, Slay aligned against Thomas on 35 of his 41 routes and he posted a 4-42-0 receiving line on five targets in the game (2-24-0 on three targets against Slay). Slay was on him on 21 of 26 routes in 2017 meeting and Thomas was held to 11 yards on five targets in the game (one 4-yard catch against Slay). Slay obviously had a lot of success, but note that those were several seasons ago and in a different defensive scheme. Thomas can be upgraded slightly here and, considering Slay left Sunday's game with an injury, Thomas' matchup will be even more attractive against Eagles' reserves if their top corner is sidelined.
Bears' Allen Robinson II and Darnell Mooney vs. Texans' Vernon Hargreaves and Phillip Gaines
Another week, another outstanding matchup for Robinson and company. With Bradley Roby suspended for the rest of the season, struggling Hargreaves and Gaines are handling perimeter duties for Houston. After allowing more fantasy points in coverage than any other player in 2019, Hargreaves sits third in the category in 2020. Gaines, meanwhile, stepped into the lineup and allowed a 7-91-1 receiving line on eight targets against the Colts on Sunday. Robinson (71% perimeter) and Mooney (81%) will run most of their routes against those two corners, but will also draw a few snaps against Eric Murray in the slot. Houston has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to both wide receivers as a whole and to the perimeter during their past eight games. Upgrade Robinson and consider Mooney a flex flier/DFS punt.
Broncos' Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick vs. Panthers' Rasul Douglas and Donte Jackson
Believe or not, Denver first-round pick Jeudy has managed only one top-30 fantasy week this season. Quarterback woes have been a primary culprit, but so has a recent tough slate against tough Dolphins, Chiefs and Saints perimeter corners. Life figures to be easier this week against a Panthers' defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers over the past month, and seventh-most to perimeter receivers this season (most over the past eight weeks). Jeudy (90% perimeter since Week 8) and Patrick (80%) will work the perimeter for Denver in this one and get the big boost. Carolina has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to the slot, which suggests a tough matchup for Denver slot man KJ Hamler. Note that Carolina hasn't shadowed since Week 10, but if they do this week, expect 6-foot-2 Douglas to travel with 6-foot-4 Patrick and 5-foot-11 Jackson to follow 6-foot-1 Jeudy. That would be an even better scenario for Jeudy. Upgrade the rookie and Patrick.
Packers' Davante Adams and Marquez-Valdes-Scantling vs. Lions' Amani Oruwariye, Justin Coleman and Jeff Okudah/Darryl Roberts
These teams met back in Week 2, but none of the Packers' wide receivers reached double-digit fantasy points in a game in which Green Bay attempted 30 passes in a 21-point victory. We should expect better production this week against a Detroit secondary struggling with effectiveness and health. With Desmond Trufant (IR) and Jeff Okudah (injured) out last week, Detroit rolled with Oruwariye and Roberts on the perimeter and Coleman in the slot against Chicago. We should expect the same this week with Okudah in for Roberts if he's able to play. Detroit has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season (second-most over the past month) and the second-most to perimeter receivers (fourth-most over the past month). Coleman has been solid inside, so Green Bay slot man Allen Lazard shouldn't be upgraded, but Adams (69% perimeter) and Valdes-Scantling (68%) certainly get a big boost.
Titans' A.J. Brown and Corey Davis vs. Jaguars' Sidney Jones, Luq Barcoo and Tre Herndon
The Jaguars have been extremely shorthanded at cornerback in recent weeks and it has shown up in a big way in the stat lines of opposing wide receivers. During their past three games, Diontae Johnson (23 fantasy points), Chase Claypool (16), Jarvis Landry (28), Justin Jefferson (27) and Adam Thielen (22) have come up big against them. Unless Jones returns this week, Jacksonville will still be without four of its top-five corners (Jones, CJ Henderson, D.J. Hayden and Chris Claybrooks) The Jaguars have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season (third-most over the past month), including 13th most to the perimeter (third-most over the past month). When these teams met in Week 2, Davis was shadowed by Henderson and put up a 3-36-1 receiving line on five targets, whereas Brown was sidelined with an injury. Brown (85% perimeter) and Davis (79%) will see a lot of Barcoo and either Herndon or Jones on the outside and can be upgraded significantly.
Seahawks DK Metcalf and David Moore vs. Jets' Bryce Hall and Lamar Jackson
Seahawks' Tyler Lockett vs. Jets' Arthur Maulet/Javelin Guidry
As noted in previous weeks, the injury-plagued Jets' secondary has been relying on fifth-round rookie Hall and undrafted rookie Jackson on the perimeter and Maulet in the slot (UDFA rookie Guidry got some slot run in Week 13, as well). Since this group was forced into action three weeks ago, we've seen big games against New York by Keenan Allen (16-145-1 receiving line), Mike Williams (4-72-1), DeVante Parker (8-119-0), Henry Ruggs (3-84-1) and Darren Waller (13-200-2 - more than half of this came against Hall and Jackson). Over the past eight weeks, the Jets are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the 12th-most to the perimeter and most to the slot. Metcalf (85% perimeter) has been effective in recent "tough" matchups and gets the upgrade this week. Lockett (62% slot) also gets a big upgrade inside and Moore (75% perimeter) is a sleeper in deeper leagues.
Other notable upgrades:
Bengals' Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green vs. Cowboys' Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis
Texans' Keke Coutee vs. Bears' Buster Skrine
Jaguars' DJ Chark and Laviska Shenault Jr./Collin Johnson vs. Titans' Breon Borders and Malcolm Butler
Buccaneers' Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown vs. Vikings' Cameron Dantzler, Jeff Gladney and Kris Boyd
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel vs. Football Team's Kendall Fuller and Ronald Darby
Tough matchups
Cowboys' Amari Cooper vs. Bengals' William Jackson (shadow)
Jackson has emerged as one the league's top cover corners this season and that has really shown up when he has been called on to shadow. So far in 2020, he's traveled with DeSean Jackson (2-11-0 receiving line in the game), T.Y. Hilton (1-11-0), A.J. Brown (4-24-1), Terry McLaurin (5-84-0), Darius Slayton (0-0-0) and DeVante Parker (4-35-0). The latter two performances were during Cincinnati's past two games. Jackson has been targeted on only 15% of his coverage snaps and is allowing 0.23 fantasy points per route (both are very good). The Bengals have allowed the eight-most fantasy points to perimeter receivers this season, but they're allowing the 10th fewest to left perimeter receivers (where Jackson aligns 76% of the time) and the most to right perimeter receivers (struggling LeShaun Sims' side). Cooper is a good bet to draw shadow coverage from Jackson this week and should be downgraded. On the other side of the field, Gallup can be upgraded against Sims and makes for an intriguing sleeper.
Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins vs. Giants' James Bradberry (shadow)
Bradberry has shadowed nine times this season, including assignments against Allen Robinson, Kendrick Bourne, Amari Cooper, DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans, Terry McLaurin (twice), A.J. Green and, most recently, DK Metcalf. Bradberry has been effective and the Giants have, in turn, shown well overall against wide receivers. New York has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts over the past month, including the sixth-fewest to the perimeter. In order to shadow Hopkins this week, Bradberry won't have to move much, as Hopkins aligns at left perimeter receiver on 86% of his routes. He can be downgraded slightly. Christian Kirk can be upgraded a tad against Isaac Yiadom on the other side of the field and Larry Fitzgerald gets a slight boost against Darnay Holmes in the slot.
Falcons' Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley vs. Chargers' Casey Hayward and Michael Davis
The Chargers' defense is coming off a 45-0 blowout loss to the Patriots and hasn't been as good as in recent years here in 2020, but Los Angeles has still found a way to hold wide receivers in check. The Chargers have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts this season, including the seventh-fewest over the past month. They've allowed the third-fewest to the perimeter (second-fewest over the past month), as well as the third-fewest to the slot over the past eight weeks and past month. Jones (76% perimeter) and Ridley (89%) won't get away from Hayward or Davis very often. Both corners came out a bit slow this season, but have been solid since. Even when they escape to the slot occasionally, life won't be any easier against star slot corner Chris Harris Jr. Both Atlanta wide receivers should obviously be started, but lower expectations a bit.
Rams' Robert Woods and Josh Reynolds vs. Patriots' Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson
Related upgrade: Rams' Cooper Kupp vs. Patriots' Jonathan Jones
The last time these teams met was Super Bowl LIII. Though that game was several years ago, a lot of the same parties are involved at wide receiver and cornerback. Woods (5-70-0 receiving line in that game) and Josh Reynolds (3-28-0) remain significant contributors for the Rams and, while Brandin Cooks (8-120-0) is gone, Kupp is healthy this time around. Meanwhile, Stephon Gilmore (6-93-0 allowed), Jonathan Jones (4-52-0), Jason McCourty (3-37-0) and J.C. Jackson (1-10-0) remain atop the CB depth chart for the Patriots. New England's defense hasn't been nearly as dominant this season as it has been in years past, but it has been effective in slowing down wide receivers. The Patriots have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to the position (third-fewest to the perimeter) over the past month. Woods moves all over the field, but he'll see enough of Gilmore that we should downgrade him a bit. Reynolds (67% perimeter) should also be downgraded, whereas Kupp (58% slot) is positioned to take advantage of heavily-targeted Jones inside. New England has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the slot over the past month.
Other notable downgrades:
Bills' Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis vs. Steelers' Joe Haden and Steven Nelson
Browns' Jarvis Landry, KhaDarel Hodge and Rashard Higgins vs. Ravens' Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Jimmy Smith
Patriots' Jakobi Meyers, Damiere Byrd and N'Keal Harry vs. Rams' Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams and Troy Hill
Eagles' Alshon Jeffery, Travis Fulgham and Jalen Reagor vs. Saints' Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins
Football Team's Terry McLaurin and Cam Sims vs. 49ers' Richard Sherman and Jason Verrett