By utilizing our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on every 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 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
Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore and A.J. Green vs. Saints' Bradley Roby, Chris Harris Jr. and Paulson Adebo
Hopkins will make his season debut this week, which is good timing with Marquise Brown sidelined with a foot injury. Normally, Hopkins would be a strong bet for shadow coverage from Saints CB Marshon Lattimore, but he's out with an abdomen injury. Instead, Hopkins, Green and newcomer Robbie Anderson will work the perimeter against Roby and Adebo, leaving Moore to man the slot against Harris. New Orleans has struggled badly against receivers, allowing the seventh-most fantasy points (second most over expected), including the second most to the perimeter and most to right boundary receivers (Green's primary side). Adebo has already allowed a 24-353-6 receiving line on 30 targets, and no defender has allowed more fantasy points (95). Hopkins can be upgraded and, while risky, Green and Anderson are sleepers. Harris has been solid so far, and the Saints have allowed the eighth-fewest points to the slot, so Moore (69% slot) should be boosted only slightly.
Packers' Allen Lazard, Romeo Doubs and Amari Rodgers vs. Commanders' Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste and William Jackson III
Washington's struggles against wide receivers have continued this season. The Commanders have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to the position as well as the fifth most to the perimeter. One starting perimeter corner, Jackson, was benched two weeks ago and missed Week 6 because of a back injury. The other, Fuller, has allowed a league-high 486 yards on 37 targets in coverage. This week, it will be Fuller and either Jackson or St-Juste on the boundary against Doubs (82% perimeter) and Lazard (64%). Both Packers receivers can be upgraded.
Colts' Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce vs. Titans' Kristian Fulton and Terrance Mitchell
The Titans are fresh off their Week 6 bye, but let us not forget that they've allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season (most over expected) as well as the most to the perimeter. Pittman (76% perimeter) and Pierce (94%) work the boundary for the Colts, and the duo is set up with a terrific matchup against Fulton and Mitchell in nickel situations. Parris Campbell (74% slot) is coming off a solid Week 6, but he'll primarily work against impressive rookie Roger McCreary in the slot and should not be upgraded. The Titans have allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points to the slot this season.
Raiders' Davante Adams vs. Texans' Derek Stingley Jr. (shadow)
Stingley shadowed Courtland Sutton in Week 2 and Mike Williams in Week 4, which suggests he might travel with Adams this week. The 2022 third overall draft pick might have a bright future in the league, but he has struggled thus far. Sutton (7-122-0 receiving line on 11 targets) and Williams (7-120-0 on 11 targets) both had big games against him, as did the player Stingley covered most often in both Week 1 (Michael Pittman Jr. posted a 9-121-1 on 13 targets) and Week 5 (Marvin Jones Jr. posted a 7-104-0 line on 11 targets). Through five weeks (Houston had a bye in Week 6), Stingley had allowed 70 fantasy points (fifth most) and 423 yards (most). Upgrade Adams.
Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle, Trent Sherfield and Tyreek Hill vs. Steelers' Levi Wallace, Cameron Sutton and Ahkello Witherspoon
The Steelers were without Wallace, Sutton and Witherspoon in Week 6, and replacements James Pierre, Josh Jackson and Arthur Maulet actually did a respectable job holding the Tampa Bay offense in check. Despite that effort, the Steelers have still allowed the most yards and fantasy points to wide receivers this season, as well as the third most to the perimeter and fifth most to the slot. It's unknown who will be healthy enough to go for Pittsburgh this week, but it might not matter much with Hill and Waddle on the docket. Both standout receivers can be upgraded, especially with Tua Tagovailoa expected back under center.
Other notable upgrades:
Cowboys' Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown vs. Lions' Jeff Okudah, AJ Parker and Mike Hughes
Detroit has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to wide receivers (fourth most over expected).
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel vs. Chiefs' Rashad Fenton, L'Jarius Sneed and Jaylen Watson
The Chiefs have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to WRs, including the fourth most to the perimeter and third most to the slot.
Tough matchups
Panthers' DJ Moore vs. Buccaneers' Carlton Davis III (shadow)
Davis has yet to shadow this season, but he did only four times in all of 2021 and two of those were against Moore. Moore totaled a 12-142-0 receiving line on 21 targets during those two games, which included a 5-52-0 line on 11 targets against Davis. Davis rarely moves to the slot, but Moore has aligned on the perimeter 75% of the time this season, so if Davis shadows, these two will face off throughout most of the game. Moore has struggled this season (8.4 fantasy PPG) despite a 25% target share, and life won't be any easier against a defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to his primary side of the field (left perimeter WR). Even if Davis doesn't shadow, Moore will face him and Jamel Dean (who has been terrific) on three-quarters of his routes. Downgrade Moore.
Titans' Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips and Robert Woods vs. Colts' Brandon Facyson, Kenny Moore II and Stephon Gilmore
Gilmore has shadowed, at least, part time in three games this season, but one of the exceptions was against these Titans in Week 4. The game plan worked, as Titans pass-catchers totaled 137 yards on 21 targets. Woods, Treylon Burks and Westbrook-Ikhine were the top three receivers in that game, and the trio combined for a 6-44-1 receiving line on seven targets. The Colts continue to dominate wide receivers, having allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. The includes the eighth fewest to the perimeter and 10th fewest to the slot. Titans pass-catchers should be downgraded.
Patriots' DeVante Parker, Jakobi Meyers and Tyquan Thornton vs. Bears' Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon and Kindle Vildor
The Bears have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to WRs, as well as the fewest to the perimeter and second fewest to the slot. This, despite top corner Johnson missing three games because of injury. The primary reason for success has been a lack of volume (second-fewest WR targets faced), and the Bears' run-heavy scheme has consistently limited the output for opposing offenses (Justin Jefferson is the only WR to score more than 12.6 fantasy points against them this season). We shouldn't expect much to change this week, especially against a New England team utilizing upward of five wide receivers. Meyers is atop the depth chart, but it's a bit cluttered behind him. Parker and Kendrick Bourne were the starting outside receivers last week, but Bourne went down with an injury and was replaced by Thornton, who scored two TDs. Nelson Agholor was out for that game and could return this week, further complicating snap counts. This WR room is best avoided aside of Meyers.
Other notable downgrades
Falcons' Drake London and Bryan Edwards vs. Bengals' Chidobe Awuzie and Eli Apple
The Bengals have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points over expected as well as the second fewest to the perimeter.
Browns' Donovan Peoples-Jones and Amari Cooper vs. Ravens' Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters
After a slow start, Baltimore has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to perimeter WRs over the past four weeks. Peoples-Jones (75% perimeter) and Cooper (77%) will face Humphrey and Peters on most of their Week 6 routes.
Broncos' Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Ahmad Gardner
Gardner and Reed have both played well, and the Jets are allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points to the perimeter, including the third fewest over the past four weeks. Sutton (84% perimeter) and Hamler (76%) do most of their work out wide.
Saints' Tre'Quan Smith vs. Cardinals' Byron Murphy Jr. (slot)
Arizona has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to the slot.
Other notes
Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase vs. Falcons' A.J. Terrell (shadow)
Terrell has shadowed, at least, part time in all six games this season, so it's likely that he'll follow Chase this week. We shouldn't be too concerned, however, as Terrell has allowed a league-high six TDs as well as the third-most fantasy points in coverage. Atlanta has, in turn, allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers. It's possible the Falcons simply play sides or put the 6-foot-2 Terrell on 6-foot-4 Tee Higgins, leaving 5-foot-11 Casey Hayward to cover the 6-foot Chase. Either way, Atlanta's pass defense hasn't been good enough to warrant concern here.
Steelers' Diontae Johnson vs. Dolphins' Xavien Howard (shadow)
Howard is a good bet to shadow Johnson this week, as he did DeVante Parker (1-9-0 receiving line in the game), Rashod Bateman (4-108-1), Stefon Diggs (7-74-0), Tee Higgins (7-124-1) and Justin Jefferson (6-107-0) earlier this season. As the numbers show, Howard hasn't been at his A-game, and Miami has, in turn, allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to WRs (third most over expected). The Dolphins have also allowed the fourth-most points to left perimeter receivers, which is Johnson's primary position (50% of routes). Even if he draws Howard, we don't need to adjust expectations for Johnson, especially with Byron Jones still out and Nik Needham done for the season.