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 matchups this week, 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
Rams' Van Jefferson, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods vs. Titans' Janoris Jenkins, Greg Mabin, Elijah Molden, Chris Jackson and Breon Borders
The Titans may get Kristian Fulton back from IR soon, but in the meantime, it's been a major struggle and/or rotation at cornerback behind Jenkins. Third-round rookie Molden seems to have found himself a home in the slot, but he's allowed a ton of production and Tennessee has, in turn, allowed the most fantasy points to the slot both this season and over the past month. Mabin was playing on the perimeter opposite Jenkins, but was benched late against the Colts last week. Tennessee has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to right perimeter receivers (Jenkins side), but the most to left perimeter receivers (Mabin and friends' side). Woods aligns on Jenkins side more than any other Rams' receiver, but he'll still see the other Titans' corners roughly 60% of the time. Woods, Jefferson (76% perimeter) and Kupp (66% slot) can all be upgraded against the defense allowing the most targets, receptions, receiving yards, end zone targets and fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Dolphins' DeVante Parker vs. Texans' Vernon Hargreaves III and Terrance Mitchell
Houston's cornerback woes have continued, as they benched Desmond King for disciplinary reasons and plugged Hargreaves back in as an every-down player last week. The Texans have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points over expected to wide receivers, but the splits are notable here, as they've allowed the fourth most to the perimeter and sixth fewest to the slot. That means Jaylen Waddle (66%) has the tough matchup against Tavierre Thomas this week, leaving Parker (86% perimeter) in a good spot outside against Hargreaves and Mitchell. Both outside corners have been heavily targeted and struggled in coverage this season. Upgrade Parker and Waddle still belongs in lineups, but it could be a quieter day than usual.
Bills' Stefon Diggs vs. Jaguars' Shaquill Griffin (shadow)
Bills' Cole Beasley vs. Jaguars' Rudy Ford (slot)
Bills' Emmanuel Sanders vs. Jaguars' Tyson Campbell
Buffalo's wide receivers combined for 48.9 fantasy points in a good spot against Miami last week and are set up with another great matchup this week. The Jaguars have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wideouts (most over expected), including the seventh most to the perimeter and 12th most to the slot. Jacksonville has allowed 39-plus fantasy points to the opposing wide receiver unit in six of its seven games this season. The struggling defense is allowing 9.9 yards per target (second highest) and a 76% catch rate (highest) to wide receivers. Griffin has shadowed Ja'Marr Chase, AJ Brown and DK Metcalf (last week) already this season, so he's a decent bet to travel with Diggs (80% perimeter) this week. Griffin has been solid, but this isn't an overly concerning matchup considering the Jaguars' defensive troubles. Beasley will see a lot of Ford, a converted safety who replaced Tre Herndon as the slot/nickel corner last week. That's a good matchup for Beasley. Sanders will be a strong rebound candidate against the rookie Campbell, who has allowed a massive 0.50 fantasy points per coverage snap.
Texans' Brandin Cooks vs. Dolphins' Xavien Howard (shadow)
Texans' Danny Amendola vs. Dolphins' Nik Needham (slot)
Texans' Nico Collins vs. Dolphins' Byron Jones
The Dolphins have allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season (most over the past month and fourth-most over expected), as well as the most to the perimeter and seventh most to the slot. Miami's cornerback room is too talented to be struggling the way it is, which almost makes you think that there's some selection bias in play here. Perhaps there is to some extent, but the unit has allowed 46-plus fantasy points to the opposing WR room in four of its past six games, including 48.9 points to Buffalo in Week 8. Howard has shadowed Stefon Diggs (twice), Henry Ruggs III and Antonio Brown this season, so he's a reasonable bet to follow the explosive Cooks around the field this week. Jones has shadowed Nelson Agholor, Emmanuel Sanders (twice), Darren Waller and Mike Evans, so he figures to travel with 6-foot-4 Collins. In terms of salary and raw talent, this is a tough matchup for Houston, but in terms of 2021 production, it favors the Texans. Cooks got back on track in Week 8 and could have Tyrod Taylor back this week. He can be upgraded. Collins and Amendola aren't seeing enough work to warrant lineup consideration.
Other notable upgrades:
Falcons' Russell Gage vs. Saints' Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Paulson Adebo
Ravens' Rashod Bateman, Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins vs. Vikings' Cameron Dantzler, Mackensie Alexander and Bashaud Breeland
Jets' Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder and Corey Davis vs. Colts' Xavier Rhodes, Kenny Moore II and Rock Ya-Sin
Colts' Zach Pascal vs. Jets' Michael Carter II (slot)
Steelers' James Washington vs. Bears' Duke Shelley (slot)
Tough matchups
Chargers' Mike Williams vs. Eagles' Darius Slay (shadow)
The Eagles continue to show well against wide receivers, having allowed the third-fewest fantasy points (sixth fewest over expected), including the fewest to the perimeter and seventh fewest to the slot. They've allowed the fewest receptions (on the fewest targets) and the third fewest receiving yards to the position and only six wideouts have reached 10 fantasy points against them. We've also seen instances of shadowing over the past month, as Slay has followed DJ Moore, Mike Evans and Henry Ruggs, leaving Steven Nelson to handle Robby Anderson, Antonio Brown and Bryan Edwards. This week, Slay seems like a good bet to follow Williams, as he aligns outside 83% of the time, whereas Keenan Allen works the slot on 63% of his routes. Neither Slay, nor Nelson travel to the slot at all, so Allen will primarily see Avonte Maddox in this one. Lower expectations for Williams and Allen, though both, of course, belong in lineups.
Eagles' DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and Jalen Reagor vs. Chargers' Asante Samuel Jr., Chris Harris Jr. and Michael Davis
Same as the Eagles, the Chargers have been terrific against wide receivers this season. Los Angeles has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the position straight up and over expected, as well as the sixth fewest to the perimeter and third fewest to the slot. The Chargers rank no lower than fifth in targets, receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, end zone targets, YPR and YPT allowed to wideouts. They've allowed two wide receivers to clear 12.5 fantasy points and none have reached 17.5. That's all bad news for Philadelphia's already unproductive wide receiver room. Smith (91% perimeter) will see Davis (who will likely follow Dallas Goedert the one or two times he aligns out wide) and Samuel on most of his routes. Reagor (83%) will also see Davis and Samuel if he plays, but he was injured in Week 8 and could be out. If he's sidelined, Watkins will kick outside, leaving Greg Ward to man the slot against Harris. Regardless, the Eagles' wide receivers should be downgraded significantly.
Jaguars' Laviska Shenault Jr., Jamal Agnew and Marvin Jones Jr. vs. Bills' Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson and Levi Wallace
100% of the WR units the Bills' have faced this season have scored fewer fantasy points than their average in other games. No other defense can make that claim. Buffalo's dominance of the position has included allowing the fewest fantasy points overall and over expected, as well as the second fewest to the perimeter. The Bills have also allowed the second-fewest receiving yards, fewest touchdowns (2), lowest yards per target (5.6) and second-lowest catch rate (58%) to the position. The 16.6 fantasy points put up by Mecole Hardman against the Bills in Week 5 was the most they've surrendered to a wide receiver this season. All that being said, Jacksonville's wide receiver room is in a tough spot this week. Jones (72% perimeter) is in a tough spot regardless, but he's also in jeopardy of being shadowed by White. Shenault is playing opposite Jones since DJ Chark's injury and should be downgraded. Agnew (75% slot) led the team with 11 targets last week, but will be tough to count on against Taron Johnson.
Panthers' DJ Moore vs. Patriots' J.C. Jackson (shadow)
As noted last week, the Patriots have a reputation for containing the opposing team's top target, and they did it again in Week 8, holding Mike Williams to 19 yards on five targets. They had similar results earlier in the season; DeVante Parker (12.1 fantasy points), Corey Davis (2.8), Marquez Callaway (14.1), Mike Evans (14.5), Brandin Cooks (5.3), Amari Cooper (10.5) and Davis x2 (14.7) were all held below 15.0 fantasy points against New England, though CeeDee Lamb (36.1), Keenan Allen (19.7) and Chris Moore (21.9) did come through with big games. This week, New England figures to prioritize Moore, and he's a strong bet for Jackson shadow coverage. Jackson has already traveled with Mike Evans (7-75-0), Parker (4-81-0) and Cooks (3-23-0) this season. He aligns outside 86% of the time, which matches up with Williams' 82% rate. Jackson has been heavily targeted this season (23% of his coverage snaps), but he's been solid, so this is a tougher matchup than usual for Moore. Robby Anderson is hard to trust this season, but he's in a good spot against Jalen Mills this week.
Broncos' Courtland Sutton vs. Cowboys' Trevon Diggs
The NFL's interception leader, Diggs has already shadowed Mike Evans, Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and Kenny Golladay on their perimeter routes (and occasionally in the slot) this season. That puts Dallas' top corner on track to follow Sutton, who aligns outside 87% of the time. Diggs has been targeted on 21% of his coverage snaps (a bit above average) and Dallas is allowing the eight-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the 11th most to the perimeter. That said, this isn't as poor a matchup as some others, though it's certainly harder than usual for Sutton. Jerry Jeudy, by the way, has aligned in the slot 83% of the time this season and, while Jourdan Lewis isn't an overly intimidating matchup, Dallas has allowed the fewest fantasy points to the slot this season. It figures to be a quieter day than usual for Denver's wideouts barring a garbage time explosion.
Other notable downgrades:
Patriots' Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne vs. Panthers' Donte Jackson, A.J. Bouye and Stephon Gilmore
Giants' Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard and Kadarius Toney vs. Raiders' Casey Hayward, Nate Hobbs and Brandon Facyson
Titans' Chester Rogers vs. Rams' Jalen Ramsey (slot)
Other potential shadow scenarios
If Falcons' Calvin Ridley makes a surprising return to the field this week, he can expect shadow coverage courtesy of Marshon Lattimore. Lattimore has been terrific this season and has already successfully shadowed Davante Adams (5-56-0 receiving line), Terry McLaurin (4-46-0), DK Metcalf (2-96-1) and Mike Evans (2-48-1). Lattimore has only shadowed Ridley once (Week 13 last season) and Ridley posted a healthy 5-108-0 receiving line on 10 targets in the game. Despite that strong showing, we'd still need to downgrade Ridley this week considering how well Lattimore has played in shadow situations this season.