By utilizing our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. 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 also help you make the best waiver wire pickups.
Below are the receivers with the best and worst Week 3 matchups, as well as the corresponding fantasy impacts. To view the primary defenders the top three wide receivers for each team will see this weekend, be sure to check out our weekly WR vs. CB Cheatsheet. Note that, 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
Rams' Cooper Kupp vs. Buccaneers' Ross Cockrell
Kupp is the top-scoring wide receiver in fantasy through two weeks and he's a good bet to keep rolling in Week 3. Having aligned in the slot on 68% of his routes this season, he's set up for a matchup with Cockrell, who has aligned inside 79% of the time since replacing injured Sean Murphy-Bunting as the Buccaneers' primary slot corner. Just like perimeter corners Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean, Cockrell has been heavily targeted -- but unlike them, he's struggling, having allowed more than double the fantasy production they have on a per-snap basis.
Tampa Bay has allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, but they've actually been efficient in slowing down the position. The culprit is heavy volume, as they've faced a league-high 66 WR targets, which has led to a league-high 114 expected fantasy points (they've allowed 110). In fact, they've allowed 6.5 yards per target to the position, which is third-lowest in the league. That's all a long way of saying that, while the Buccaneers' defense is good, teams are forced to throw often against them, which leads to a lot of fantasy production from opposing wideouts. Kupp gets the biggest value boost for his matchup, but Robert Woods and Van Jefferson can also be upgraded.
Seahawks' Tyler Lockett vs. Vikings' Bashaud Breeland
Lockett is currently fantasy's No. 2-scoring wide receiver after posting point totals of 26 and 32 in his first two games of the season. Same as Kupp, he's positioned to do even more damage in Week 3. The Vikings' defense looked very good on paper prior to the season, but the results out of the gate are not good at all. That's especially the case against wideouts, as Minnesota has allowed 107 fantasy points to the position. That's third-most in the league (second-most if adjusted for expected points). Despite the overall struggles, free agent signing Patrick Peterson has actually worked out well at right corner.
The problem has been left corner, where Breeland has been targeted on 29% of his coverage snaps and is allowing an atrocious 1.00 fantasy points per route. Breeland has allowed 45 fantasy points, which is most among all defenders. Lockett moves around the formation quite a bit, but he's been at right perimeter receiver 54% of the time this season, which means he's set to face Breeland (or Cameron Dantzler if Breeland is benched) over half the time this week. Lockett should be upgraded, but we don't need to adjust DK Metcalf, as while Minnesota has allowed the second-most fantasy points to Lockett's primary side, it has surrendered the 13th-fewest to Metcalf's side (58% left perimeter).
Colts' Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal and Parris Campbell vs. Titans' Janoris Jenkins, Kristian Fulton and Chris Jackson
The Titans have allowed 130 fantasy points to wide receivers this season, which most in the league by 20. Even we adjust for heavy volume (they've faced 50 WR targets), they've still allowed 40 points above expected, which is also worst in the league (by nine points). They've allowed the most receiving yards and touchdowns to the position as well.
The Colts stand to benefit in Week 3. Pittman (75% perimeter) and Campbell (85%) will see plenty of Jenkins and Fulton on the outside, which bodes well considering the Titans have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to the perimeter. Pascal (86% slot) has three touchdowns this season and should be upgraded against Jackson (the Titans have allowed the second-most fantasy points to the slot). Note that should Campbell remains out due to injury, rookie Mike Strachan will step into his role and will be a deep sleeper for a big play or two.
Ravens' Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins and Devin Duvernay vs. Lions' Amani Oruwariye, Bobby Price and AJ Parker
Detroit's secondary remains a work in progress, especially after a season-ending Achilles injury to 2020 first-round pick Jeff Okudah in Week 1 and an injury that landed his replacement, Ifeatu Melifonwu, on injured reserve in Week 2. The Lions will now utilize Oruwariye and 2020 undrafted free agent Bobby Price on the perimeter with Parker -- an undrafted rookie -- set to continue handling slot duties. Detroit has allowed the eight-most fantasy points over expected to wide receivers through two weeks. The lack of corner talent is a major concern for Detroit and sets up the Ravens for a big Week 3. Brown (48% perimeter) has aligned inside more this season, allowing Watkins (81%) and Duvernay (58%) to handle primary perimeter duties. All three should be upgraded, with Brown a weekly must-start and Watkins a viable flex.
Other notable upgrades:
Bengals' Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd vs. Steelers' Cameron Sutton, Tre Norwood and Joe Haden (or, if Haden remains out, James Pierre)
Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore, A.J. Green and Christian Kirk vs. Jaguars' CJ Henderson, Tyson Campbell and Shaquill Griffin
Jaguars' Marvin Jones Jr., DJ Chark and Laviska Shenault Jr. vs. Cardinals' Marco Wilson, Robert Alford and Byron Murphy
Tough Matchups
Falcons' Calvin Ridley vs. Giants' James Bradberry (shadow)
Though these two spent two years together in the NFC South, they didn't face each other much, as Bradberry was tasked with shadowing Julio Jones when the Falcons and Panthers met. During those four games, Bradberry covered Ridley on only 13 pass plays and allowed a 3-64-0 receiving line on four targets. Bradberry has been one of the league's best and most-utilized shadow corners during his time in the league and we saw him in that role against Terry McLaurin in Week 2. McLaurin put together a strong 11-107-1 receiving line in the game, but about half of that came on a few plays he wasn't facing Bradberry. Bradberry doesn't work in the slot much, but neither does Ridley (88% perimeter), so these two could be aligned against one another 80-90% of the time in Week 3. Ridley gets the downgrade and is a name to avoid in DFS cash games.
Dolphins' DeVante Parker vs. Raiders' Casey Hayward Jr. (shadow)
These two veterans don't have much history (35 coverage snaps against one another), though it includes a 2020 Week 10 game in which Hayward (then with the Chargers) was tasked with shadowing Parker. Parker posted a weak 2-31-0 receiving line on seven targets in that game, with Hayward on him on 18 of his 24 routes. That underwhelming showing is one thing working against Parker this week and there are several others: One, Hayward has played terrific ball so far this season while being tasked with shadowing Sammy Watkins part-time in Week 1 and Chase Claypool on most of his routes in Week 2. Two, Will Fuller is back this week and could steal some targets from Parker. And three, Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa is out with a rib injury. Hayward hasn't been targeted much this season and that doesn't figure to change while he's traveling with Parker. Parker has major bust potential and should be downgraded.
Eagles' DeVonta Smith vs. Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (shadow)
The Cowboys have allowed 45-plus fantasy points to both WR units they've faced this season, but we have to dig deeper to see why this could be a trouble spot for Smith. Diggs has shadowed the opposing team's No. 1 wide receiver in each of Dallas' first two games. He was assigned to Mike Evans in Week 1 (2-15-0 receiving line on 38 routes against Diggs) and Keenan Allen (2-72-0 line on 19 routes against Diggs) in Week 2. The two star receivers combined to run 37 perimeter routes against Dallas and Diggs was aligned against them on all 37. Diggs also traveled inside part time, covering Evans on nine of 19 slot routes and Allen on six of 24.
Smith has aligned outside on 80% of his routes this season, so it's reasonable to expect Diggs to cover him roughly 80% of the time this week. Especially after Smith was quiet against the 49ers' in Week 2, he needs to be downgraded against Diggs. With Diggs shadowing on one side, Anthony Brown shadowed on the other during Weeks 1-2. He traveled with Antonio Brown (4-94-1 receiving line on 27 routes against Brown) and Mike Williams (4-55-1 on 22 routes against Brown). The 39 fantasy points he's surrendered this season are second-most in the league behind only aforementioned Breeland. This week, he'll work primarily against Jalen Reagor (80% perimeter), who should be upgraded.
Buccaneers' Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Antonio Brown vs. Rams' Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams and David Long
The Rams' pass defense may be missing John Johnson III and Troy Hill from last season's dominant unit, but it's nonetheless off to a very good start in 2021. The Rams have faced the ninth-most WR routes and targets, but have allowed the 10th-fewest yards, second-lowest yards per target (6.4) and only one touchdown to the position. That's troubling news for a Tampa Bay offense off to a hot start in 2021. These teams met in Week 11 last season and the result was all three Tampa Bay wide receivers clearing 13 fantasy points. Ramsey shadowed Evans in that game (33 of his 45 routes, including 28 of 29 on the perimeter), so it's possible he does so again this week, but I'm betting against it for two reasons: One, Ramsey didn't shadow Allen Robinson or Michael Pittman Jr. in Weeks 1-2, and two, Godwin has been Tampa Bay's No. 1 and most-productive wideout so far this season. Godwin has aligned in the slot on 73% of his routes this season, which is problematic for him considering how Ramsey has been utilized this season. Ramsey, who has been his usual terrific self while playing the unique "star" position, has aligned in the slot on 55% of his coverage snaps. The Rams have, in turn, allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to the slot on the season. Godwin is an obvious downgrade.
Looking at personnel matchups in this scenario, Evans would seem to have the best matchup, as he'll see Long -- the team's replacement for offseason departure Hill -- most often. However, Long hasn't allowed much production thus far and the Rams have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to his primary side of the field. Though Evans would see Long the most, he'd get some slot run against Ramsey and work against Williams a few times. Brown is tricky as well. Williams was very good last season, but he's been heavily targeted and is struggling in coverage early on this season. In fact, the Rams are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to right perimeter receivers, which is Brown's primary spot and where he aligns 61% of the time. This is a tough pass defense as a whole, so we need to keep expectations in check for all three Tampa Bay receivers, but Brown is likely to get the least attention and should benefit from Ramsey covering Evans and/or Godwin. Note that Brown had a team-high 13 targets in the 2020 game.
WFT's Terry McLaurin vs. Bills' Tre'Davious White (shadow)
Buffalo has allowed 55 fantasy points to wide receivers through two games, which is 25 below their expected total of 80. That gap is best in the NFL. Buffalo has faced the fourth-most WR routes and targets, but has allowed only 255 yards (sixth-lowest), one touchdown and 4.9 yards per target (lowest). As if that's not enough to make us wary of McLaurin, it's possible that he'll draw shadow coverage from White. Buffalo's star corner hasn't shadowed yet this season, but did when the matchup called for it in the past, including 2020 showdowns with Preston Williams, DK Metcalf, DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown and Travis Kelce. Even if White doesn't shadow McLaurin, Buffalo's pass defense has played so well overall that we should lower expectations for "F1" and his fellow pass-catchers.
Other notable downgrades:
Raiders' Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards vs. Dolphins' Xavien Howard and Byron Jones
Saints' Marquez Callaway vs. Patriots' J.C. Jackson and Jalen Mills
Jets' Jamison Crowder vs. Broncos' Bryce Callahan (slot)
Other potential shadow scenarios
Bengals' Chidobe Awuzie shadowed Justin Jefferson and Allen Robinson II on the perimeter during Cincinnati's first two games, leaving Eli Apple (subbing for an injured Trae Waynes) to travel with Adam Thielen and Darnell Mooney. Diontae Johnson is the Steelers' No. 1 receiver, so it's possible Awuzie (who has played decently) shadows him, leaving Apple (who has struggled) on Claypool. Even if he doesn't shadow, Johnson aligns wide left 52% of the time, which is where Awuzie has been on 72% of his coverage snaps. We don't need to be too worried about this matchup, but a slight upgrade for Claypool and downgrade for Johnson seems warranted.