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. 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.
Down below are the receivers with the best and worst Week 4 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 our weekly WR vs. CB cheat sheet. Note that, unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjusts to a per-game basis in order to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.
Advantageous Matchups
Bengals' Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd vs. Jaguars' Shaquill Griffin, Tyson Campbell and Tre Herndon
The Jaguars have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season (seventh most over expected) and rank top 11 in points allowed to the perimeter and slot. Naturally, they traded 2020 first-round pick and starter CJ Henderson to the Panthers on Monday. Henderson, who was out in Week 2, hasn't been a major difference maker, but the move nonetheless leaves the team thin at corner.
Griffin will now be joined by second-round rookie Campbell on the perimeter with Herndon (once healthy), and Chris Claybrooks and Nevin Lawson candidates for slot work. Herndon and Lawson have yet to play a snap this season, and the other three haven't played especially well. Jacksonville's CB uncertainty is good news for the Bengals' WR trio this Thursday. Higgins (69% perimeter) and Chase (73%) primarily operate on the perimeter, whereas Boyd (5%) will work the slot. All three should be upgraded and are viable starting options in 12-team leagues.
Browns' Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Vikings' Bashaud Breeland and Patrick Peterson
We picked on Breeland last week, and he had yet another rough showing, allowing a 6-67-1 receiving line on six targets against Seattle. Breeland's 64 fantasy points allowed this season ranks second among all defenders. The Vikings have, in turn, allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers and the most over expected. They've surrendered the fourth-most points to the perimeter, which is where Breeland and Peterson (who has played OK) align. Beckham made his 2021 debut on Sunday and aligned outside on 83% of his routes. That means he'll see plenty of Breeland and Peterson this week and should, of course, be upgraded. Donovan Peoples-Jones plays the other perimeter spot for Cleveland, but he hasn't seen nearly enough target volume to allow flex consideration.
Patriots' Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne vs. Buccaneers' Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean and Ross Cockrell
Tampa Bay has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the most to both left and right perimeter receivers, and the fifth most to the slot. If we adjust for volume, they look better (13th most allowed over expected), but teams continue to attack them through the air (league-high 95 WR targets faced), and we should expect the same from New England. That's especially the case considering Tampa Bay's very strong run defense and injuries at cornerback (Sean Murphy-Bunting is on IR, and Dean went down in Week 3 and was replaced by Dee Delaney).
Davis is healthy but coming off a rough Week 3 against the Rams in which he was aligned against the player who scored on all four of Matthew Stafford's touchdown passes. Davis has now surrendered a league-high 70 fantasy points on the season. Agholor (93% perimeter) and Bourne (60%) will see Davis and Dean (or Delaney) on Sunday night, whereas Meyers (82% slot) gets a good matchup against Cockrell inside. Meyers should be in lineups this week, whereas Agholor and Bourne are deep sleepers.
Bears' Allen Robinson II and Darnell Mooney vs. Lions' Amani Oruwariye, Bobby Price and AJ Parker
The Lions are 0-3 and haven't faced much pass volume (84 pass attempts faced is third fewest), so while they've allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points to wideouts, they've allowed the 11th most over expected. Efficiency has been a major issue, as they're allowing a league-worst 10.3 yards per pass attempt. With Jeff Okudah and Ifeatu Melifonwu on IR, 2020 undrafted free agent Price is now working opposite Oruwariye on the perimeter, with 2021 UDFA Parker manning the slot. Robinson is off to a slow start, but his 26% target share and this week's matchup suggest better days are ahead. He has aligned all over the formation this season (45% slot), so he'll see plenty of all three corners. The same goes for Mooney (29% slot), who should also be upgraded.
Other notable upgrades:
Packers' Davante Adams vs. Steelers' James Pierre and Cameron Sutton
Falcons' Calvin Ridley vs. WFT's Benjamin St-Juste
WFT's Terry McLaurin vs. Falcons' Fabian Moreau
Rams' Robert Woods and Van Jefferson vs. Cardinals' Marco Wilson and Robert Alford
49ers' Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk vs. Seahawks' Tre Flowers and D.J. Reed
Titans' A.J. Brown and Julio Jones vs. Jets' Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols and Michael Carter
Tough Matchups
Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins vs. Rams' Jalen Ramsey (shadow)
Hopkins has aligned at left perimeter wide receiver on 80% of his pass routes this season. The Rams have allowed the third-most fantasy points to that spot this season. On the surface, that makes this seem like a good matchup for Hopkins. The problem? The Rams know where he aligns and will adjust. We know this because they did so in both 2020 meetings. Same as during Weeks 1-3 this season, Ramsey played the star position in 2020, which meant he aligned all over the formation. However, in the Week 13 meeting with Arizona, he played almost exclusively at right corner. That allowed him to cover Hopkins on 34 of Hopkins' 40 routes (31 of 34 perimeter, 3 of 6 slot). In Week 17, he did the same, covering Hopkins on 21 of 28 routes (19 of 22 perimeter, 2 of 6 slot). Across both games, Hopkins posted a 12-87-1 receiving line on 23 targets, though he was held to a 6-52-0 line on 16 targets when up against Ramsey. Ramsey has yet to shadow this season, but his 2020 deployment suggests he'll shadow Hopkins this weekend. Hopkins is too good to bench, but his underwhelming start to the season and this very tough matchup makes him a name to avoid in DFS.
Texans' Brandin Cooks vs. Bills' Tre'Davious White (shadow)
Buffalo has been terrific defensively this season, and that's especially the case against wide receivers. The Bills have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the position (fewest compared to expected). They've allowed the fourth-fewest points to the perimeter and 10th fewest to the slot. White is the leader of the team's cornerback room, and we saw that on display in Week 3 when he shadowed Terry McLaurin on 21 of his 25 routes, including all 19 perimeter routes. White doesn't always shadow, but he usually does when a team has a clear No. 1 perimeter receiver. That, of course, is the scenario in Houston, as Cooks has been targeted on 35% of his routes while working on the perimeter 72% of the time. White is a near-lock to shadow Cooks this weekend, though he doesn't cover the slot much (3% this season), so Cooks will escape his clutches occasionally. Cooks is too heavily targeted to bench, but a down game is possible against what might be his toughest opponent this season.
Panthers' DJ Moore vs. Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (shadow)
Diggs is quickly developing into one of the game's top shadow corners, having already faced off with and shown well against Mike Evans, Keenan Allen and DeVonta Smith this season. Diggs shadowed Mike Evans in Week 1 (2-15-0 receiving line on 38 routes against him) and Keenan Allen (2-72-0 line on 19 routes against him) in Week 2. He didn't shadow against Smith but aligned against the Eagles' top wideout on 22 of his 40 routes. Smith managed a 2-9-0 receiving line on four targets on those plays. Because Diggs didn't travel on Monday, it's possible he won't this week, but the safe bet is that he will against red-hot Moore. Moore has aligned on the perimeter 84% of the time this season, so if Diggs shadows, these two will be matched up throughout a majority of this game. Even if he doesn't, Moore aligns at left perimeter receiver 43% of the time, so they'll still be against each other quite often. That's a tough spot for Moore, so much like with Evans, Allen and Smith, we'll need to adjust expectations a bit. Anthony Brown continues to struggle opposite Diggs, so there's an opportunity for Robby Anderson to bounce back here in Week 4. Brown has allowed 53 fantasy points this season, which is fourth most among all defenders.
Colts' Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Dolphins' Xavien Howard and Byron Jones
The Dolphins are off to a bit of a slow start this season, but they've done a nice job against the perimeter, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to boundary receivers. That's problematic for Pittman this week, as he has aligned outside 75% of the time this season. Standout corner Howard has been a big part of Miami's success, as he has been targeted only 13% of the time when in coverage. That's despite shadowing Stefon Diggs in Week 2 and covering Henry Ruggs III quite a bit in Week 3. It's possible Howard will shadow Pittman this week, which just adds to the concern level. Of course, even if he doesn't, Pittman will see Howard and Jones on three-quarters of his routes, which is a very tough challenge. Downgrade Pittman and the same applies to Parris Campbell (92% perimeter).
Chargers' Mike Williams vs. Raiders' Casey Hayward (shadow)
It's #RevengeGame week for Hayward and Raiders' DC Gus Bradley as they prepare to take on their former team. Hayward has shadowed, at least part time, in all three games this season, including matchups with Marquise Brown, Chase Claypool and Jaylen Waddle. This week, my expectation is that he'll be aligned against red-hot Williams (82% perimeter) when Keenan Allen (66% slot) is inside and mix and match between covering the two standout receivers when both are split wide. Hayward has played at a very high level, so although it won't be a full-time matchup, we'll need to lower expectations for Williams a bit this week. Rookie Nate Hobbs has played well in the slot for the Raiders, so this could prove to be a tougher matchup than usual for Allen, as well. The Raiders are middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, though they've allowed the 11th fewest over expected, so they've been better than anyone anticipated. There's no need for major alarm, but we should downgrade both Los Angeles receivers slightly.
Other notable downgrades:
Bills' Cole Beasley vs. Texans' Desmond King
Saints' Marquez Callaway vs. Giants' James Bradberry and Adoree' Jackson
Giants' Kenny Golladay vs. Marshon Lattimore
Other potential shadow scenarios
This is not cause for concern, but expect the Chargers' Michael Davis to shadow Raiders TE Darren Waller when he is aligned on the perimeter this week. He did so on six of Waller's seven perimeter routes when these teams met in Week 9 last season and again on five of his seven perimeter routes in Week 15. In total, Waller ran 12 routes against Davis and caught four of seven targets for 70 yards and one TD on those plays. We saw the Dolphins deploy an even more aggressive version of this strategy in Week 3, deploying Byron Jones to cover Waller on 27 of his 40 routes. That included eight of his 11 perimeter routes and 11 of 14 in the slot. It worked, with Waller held to a 5-54-0 receiving line on seven targets in the game. Waller has aligned out wide only 27 times this season, so this matchup likely won't matter much in the grand scheme of things.