By utilizing our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defense 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
Jaguars' Laviska Shenault Jr., Jamal Agnew and Marvin Jones Jr. vs. Colts' Xavier Rhodes, Kenny Moore II and Rock Ya-Sin
The Colts are playing better as of late, but that success has come despite major struggles against wide receivers. Indianapolis has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the position, including the most over expected and fourth most to the perimeter. No team has allowed more touchdowns to the position (15).
Jacksonville's offense has struggled, but perhaps Jones (70% perimeter) and Shenault (primarily working outside since DJ Chark's injury) can get back on track against Rhodes and Ya-Sin. For what it's worth, Shenault has scored three of his five career touchdowns in his two games against the Colts. Both perimeter receivers can be upgraded. Moore hasn't been his usual dominant self this season, but the Colts are around midpack in production allowed to the slot, so Agnew (71% slot) should be upgraded only slightly.
Chargers' Mike Williams, Keenan Allen and Jalen Guyton vs. Vikings' Cameron Dantzler, Mackensie Alexander and Bashaud Breeland
The Vikings are trending the wrong direction against wide receivers as of late. Injuries are partially to blame, as Patrick Peterson is on injured reserve and Breeland left Week 9 early due to an injury. Minnesota has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wideouts this season, including the fifth most over the past month. The Vikings have also allowed the seventh-most points to the perimeter and third most to the slot over the past four weeks. Williams (84% perimeter) is coming off three straight duds, but he's in a good spot against Dantzler and either Breeland or, if he's out, Kris Boyd (the same applies to Guyton). With Darius Slay locked on Williams, Allen crushed the Eagles from the slot last week, and he's also in a good spot against Alexander this week. Los Angeles' top wideouts should be upgraded and locked into lineups.
Bills' Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders vs. Jets' Brandin Echols, Michael Carter II and Bryce Hall
The Jets' early-season success against wide receivers was a surprise, but we've seen some cracks in the foundation in recent weeks. The Jets rank 12th or worse in fantasy points allowed overall, to the perimeter, to right perimeter receivers and to the slot over the past month. New York allowed 45-plus fantasy points to the New England and Cincinnati WR units prior to allowing 33 points on 17 targets to the Colts in Week 9. The Bills' wideouts get a boost for the third consecutive week, with Diggs and Sanders set to face off with youngsters Echols and Hall on the perimeter and Beasley positioned for a showdown with Day 3 rookie Carter. All three can be upgraded.
Steelers' Diontae Johnson, James Washington and Chase Claypool vs. Lions' Jerry Jacobs, AJ Parker and Amani Oruwariye
The Lions are similar to the Jets in that their early-season "success" against wide receivers isn't as good as it seems. Detroit has allowed the 13th-fewest fantasy points to the position this season, but the second-most over expected. How is that possible? The Lions have faced the fewest WR routes and fourth-fewest WR targets, but have allowed the highest yards per target (15.3) and fifth-highest catch rate (69%) to the position. Star receivers Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel, Davante Adams and Justin Jefferson all reached 19 points against them. We've seen some regression as of late, as Detroit is in the upper half of the league in points allowed overall and to the perimeter over the past month. Johnson (91% perimeter) and Claypool (76%) will work outside against struggling Oruwariye and the rookie Jacobs, leaving rarely targeted Washington to battle with Parker (another rookie) in the slot. All three Steelers receivers can be upgraded.
Buccaneers' Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown vs. Washington Football Team's Benjamin St-Juste, Kendall Fuller and William Jackson
Perhaps Washington will exit its bye week in a better place, but we can't ignore what we saw in the first half of the season. The Football Team has allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers (fifth most over expected), including the most to the perimeter and second most to the slot. They've allowed the third-most receptions and receiving yards, as well as the third-most touchdowns to the position. Fuller has played better on the perimeter than he has in the slot, but with Jackson expected back from injury, Fuller figures to kick back inside and would be a plus matchup for Godwin (69% slot). That would position Evans (61% perimeter) and, if back from injury, Brown (82% perimeter) against Jackson and the rookie St-Juste out wide. Upgrade Tampa Bay's wide receivers, and that will include Tyler Johnson if Brown remains out.
Other notable upgrades:
Saints' Marquez Callaway, Tre'Quan Smith and Deonte Harris vs. Titans' Greg Mabin, Elijah Molden and Janoris Jenkins
Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Steelers' Arthur Maulet (slot)
Tough Matchups
Broncos' Courtland Sutton vs. Eagles' Darius Slay (shadow); Broncos' Tim Patrick vs. Eagles' Steven Nelson (shadow)
Granted they don't travel to the slot, but Slay has shadowed DJ Moore (5-42-0 receiving line in the game), Mike Evans (2-27-0), Henry Ruggs (4-24-0) and Mike Williams (2-58-0), leaving Steven Nelson to handle Robby Anderson (2-30-0), Antonio Brown (9-93-1), Bryan Edwards (3-43-1) and Keenan Allen (12-104-0) on their perimeter routes. The Eagles have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the third fewest to the perimeter and the fewest to right perimeter receivers (Slay's primary side). The plan has obviously worked fairly well and suggests that Slay will travel with Sutton (87% perimeter) in Week 10, with Nelson primarily against Patrick (75%) on the other side.
Sutton and Slay have met in the past, with Slay (then with Detroit) shadowing Sutton in a Week 16 matchup in 2019. Sutton posted a 5-41-0 receiving line on 10 targets in the game, with 3-23-0 coming on seven targets (21 routes) against Slay. Sutton, who has a total of 12.3 fantasy points during the three games Jerry Jeudy has played this season, should be downgraded. Speaking of Jeudy, he has aligned in the slot 75% of the time this season and, while Philadelphia has been decent against the slot (eighth-fewest fantasy points allowed), Chargers slot man Allen exploded for a 12-104-0 receiving line last week (primarily against Avonte Maddox, Steven Nelson, linebackers and safeties). Jeudy doesn't need to be downgraded.
Titans' A.J. Brown vs. Saints' Marshon Lattimore (shadow)
The showdown of the week features red-hot Brown against shutdown corner Lattimore. Brown has handled a massive 36% target share and is fantasy's No. 5-scoring wideout since returning from injury in Week 5. He'll have his hands full this week, however, as Lattimore has already successfully shadowed Davante Adams (5-56-0 receiving line in the game), Terry McLaurin (4-46-0), DK Metcalf (2-96-1) and Mike Evans (2-48-1) this season.
There is some good news here, though, as Brown aligns in the slot 39% of the time and Lattimore (5%) rarely travels inside. When away from Lattimore, the matchup is much, much prettier, as the Saints have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wideouts overall this season (fourth most over expected), as well as the third most to the perimeter and fifth most to the slot. Brown has shredded man coverage this season, and the Saints are in man coverage a league-high 63% of the time. This is a tricky one as it's possible Brown could be limited a bit by Lattimore and still come away with a decent (or even good) statistical day. Needless to say, keep him in lineups. Julio Jones can be upgraded slightly.
Colts' Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Jaguars' Shaquill Griffin (shadow)
This is an interesting one, as the Jaguars have struggled against wide receivers this season, but Griffin has played well, including during several instances shadowing opposing top receivers. Griffin has shadowed A.J. Brown (3-38-0 receiving line in the game), DK Metcalf (6-43-2) and Stefon Diggs (6-85-0) since Week 5. Considering Pittman aligns out wide 78% of the time, these two will be working against each other quite often this weekend. Pittman is the No. 7-scoring fantasy wide receiver, so we're obviously not benching him, and we also can't ignore that the Jaguars have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to the position (third most over expected), as well as the seventh most to the perimeter. We're upgrading T.Y. Hilton (if he's back from a concussion) and Zach Pascal, and slightly decreasing expectations for Pittman this week.
Chiefs' Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle and Tyreek Hill vs. Raiders' Casey Hayward, Nate Hobbs and Brandon Facyson
The Chiefs' offense is struggling, and a tough Week 10 matchup for its wide receivers won't help the cause. Las Vegas is allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to wideouts (sixth fewest over expected), as well as the fourth fewest to the perimeter and ninth fewest to the slot). The Raiders have allowed 971 receiving yards and four touchdowns to receivers (both are third fewest), as well as a 6.7 yards per target (second lowest). Hayward has been terrific on the perimeter, and the rookie Hobbs appears to be a gem find in the slot. The perimeter spot opposite Hayward remains a question mark, however, with heavily targeted Facyson holding down the fort the best he can.
Nonetheless, it's a tough matchup overall. Hill, Hardman, Pringle, Demarcus Robinson and Josh Gordon will all get run and align all over the formation. Hill is the only Chiefs' wide receiver who can be trusted in lineups, and that's especially the case this week.
Jets' Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder and Corey Davis vs. Bills' Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson and Levi Wallace
The Bills were upset in Jacksonville last week, but the cornerbacks certainly weren't to blame, as the Jaguars' wideouts combined for 72 yards on 16 targets. Buffalo has now allowed the fewest fantasy points to the position (fewest over expected), including the fewest to the perimeter and 10th fewest to the slot. The Bills have allowed 928 receiving yards, two touchdowns and 5.5 yards per target to the position, all of which are lowest in the league. No wide receiver has reached 17 fantasy points against them this season. That's troubling news for Davis in his expected return from injury this week and makes him a very risky fantasy play, especially because White shadow coverage is possible. Moore is coming off a breakout game in Week 9, but he'll be a tough start in this matchup if Davis is back. Crowder will benefit if Johnson is sidelined (he left Week 9 with an injury), but he'll still have his hands full against this defense. Avoid New York's wide receivers if possible.
Other notable downgrades:
Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins (or Antoine Wesley if Hopkins remains out) vs. Panthers' Donte Jackson
Vikings' Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and Adam Thielen vs. Chargers' Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr. and Asante Samuel Jr. (if Davis and Samuel return from injury)