By using 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.
Here 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 Cheatsheet.
Unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjust to a per-game basis to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.
Advantageous matchups
Bills' Gabriel Davis, Isaiah McKenzie and Stefon Diggs vs. Lions' Amani Oruwariye, Will Harris and Jerry Jacobs
The Lions' cornerback situation remains a mess. Top CB Jeff Okudah (concussion) is out on Thursday, which positions Oruwariye (benched twice this season) and Jacobs for perimeter duties and Harris for primary slot work (Mike Hughes will also factor in). Detroit has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the third most over the past four weeks. Diggs (63% perimeter) and Davis (89%) are Buffalo's primary perimeter receivers and have a terrific matchup against this group. McKenzie's targets have been down as of late, but he's a Turkey Day deep sleeper against Harris.
Cowboys' Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown vs. Giants' Fabian Moreau, Darnay Holmes and Nick McCloud
Adoree' Jackson left Week 11's game with an injury and is expected to be out a few weeks. With fellow starter Aaron Robinson on IR, New York is now missing its top-two perimeter CBs and will be left with the likes of Moreau, McCloud, Cor'Dale Flott and Rodarius Williams on the perimeter, and Holmes in the slot. The Giants were terrific against WRs earlier this season but have now allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to the position over the past month, including the third most to the perimeter. Lamb (59% slot) runs all over the field and stands to benefit Thursday. Gallup (90% perimeter) and Brown (58%) do as well, but both are tough to trust in lineups right now.
Colts' Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell and Alec Pierce vs. Steelers' Levi Wallace, Cameron Sutton and Ahkello Witherspoon
The Steelers have allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers (third most over expected), as well as the third most to the perimeter and fourth most to the slot. It doesn't get much worse than that and it certainly doesn't help that Witherspoon has missed two-straight games with a hamstring injury. This week, Pittman (74% perimeter) and Pierce (93%) will work against Wallace and either Witherspoon or Sutton on the outside, leaving Campbell (77% slot) to face off with either Sutton or Art Maulet inside. Upgrade Matt Ryan's targets.
Patriots' DeVante Parker, Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor vs. Vikings' Akayleb Evans, Chandon Sullivan and Patrick Peterson
The Vikings continue to struggle against wide receivers, having allowed the fifth-most fantasy points (second most over the last month) to the position. They've allowed the most points to the perimeter for the season, over the last eight weeks and over the last four weeks. Peterson is the top perimeter corner and, with Cameron Dantzler on IR, he'll be joined outside by either Evans (if back from injury) or another rookie, Andrew Booth Jr. The Patriots are utilizing several perimeter WRs, including Parker, Agholor, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton, so it's hard to trust any of them as a flex options, even in a great matchup. Meyers (69% slot) can be upgraded, however, and is a fine WR2/3.
Commanders' Terry McLaurin vs. Falcons' A.J. Terrell (Shadow)
Commanders' Curtis Samuel vs. Falcons' Isaiah Oliver (Slot)
Commanders' Jahan Dotson vs. Falcons' Darren Hall
Terrell returned from injury in Week 11, which marked his first action since Week 7. Atlanta's top corner has shadowed standout perimeter corners often, including Michael Thomas, DK Metcalf, Amari Cooper, Mike Evans, Brandon Aiyuk and Ja'Marr Chase. Terrell is a good young corner and was elite in 2021, but he simply hasn't been as effective. As a result, Atlanta has allowed the second-most fantasy points to WRs and sit top eight against the slot and perimeter. We shouldn't be intimidated by this matchup for McLaurin (especially since he'll escape to the slot one quarter of the time) and we can also upgrade Dotson against Hall and Samuel inside against Oliver.
Other notable upgrades:
Broncos' Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Kendall Hinton vs. Panthers' CJ Henderson, Myles Hartsfield and Jaycee Horn
Carolina has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to WRs both overall and to the perimeter. That includes the fourth most to the perimeter over the last eight weeks, which is where Sutton (85%) and Hinton (57%) align most often.
Jets' Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore and Corey Davis vs. Bears' Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon and Kindle Vildor
Chicago has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points over expected to WRs, including the most over the past month.
Saints' Jarvis Landry vs. 49ers' Jimmie Ward (Slot)
The 49ers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the slot, as well as the most over the last eight weeks.
Tough matchups
Panthers' DJ Moore vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (Shadow)
Surtain has also shadowed DK Metcalf, Davante Adams (x2), Mike Williams and Christian Kirk full time on the perimeter, and also spent some time traveling with Brandon Aiyuk in Week 3. Moore is Carolina's clear No. 1 receiver and aligns on the perimeter 72% of the time so he can expect to draw the Surtain shadow here in Week 12. Denver has been elite against receivers, including the third-fewest fantasy points allowed, as well as the fourth fewest to the perimeter. Especially if Baker Mayfield remains under center, Moore will be hard to justify as a starting option in fantasy this week.
Bears' Chase Claypool, Darnell Mooney and Equanimeous St. Brown vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
The Jets continue to show well against wide receivers, having allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points (third fewest over the last month), including the third fewest to the perimeter. New York has picked up against the slot as well, having allowed the sixth-fewest points over the last month. That's notable this week, as Mooney aligns inside 61% of the time. We're downgrading him slightly and also avoiding Chicago's perimeter receivers, including Claypool, who still isn't in a full time role. Even if he plays more this week, he'll have his hands full against one of the game's top perimeter CB duos in Gardner and the underrated Reed.
Packers' Christian Watson and Allen Lazard vs. Eagles' James Bradberry and Darius Slay
The Eagles have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers (second fewest over expected), as well as the fewest to the perimeter. Watson (68% perimeter) and Lazard (60%) generally work out wide and those numbers may rise with Randall Cobb (83% slot) now healthy. That means that Watson and Lazard will run most of their routes against standout CB duo Slay and Bradberry. Both should be downgraded, whereas Cobb is in a fine spot against Josiah Scott, who is filling in for injured Avonte Maddox.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and Adam Thielen vs. Patriots' Jalen Mills, Myles Bryant and Jonathan Jones
The Patriots have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, including the fewest over the last four weeks. Jefferson is coming off a tough game against Trevon Diggs shadow coverage and is a less appealing DFS play on Thanksgiving. Thielen also gets a downgrade and isn't as strong of a WR3/flex option, especially with all 32 teams in action this week.
Steelers' Diontae Johnson, Steven Sims Jr. and George Pickens vs. Colts' Stephon Gilmore, Kenny Moore II and Isaiah Rodgers
The Colts have allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, as well as the fifth fewest to the perimeter and fourth fewest to the slot. Top corner Gilmore has often been called on to shadow on the boundary, including a combined 110 of 118 perimeter routes (93%) run by Brandin Cooks, Travis Kelce, Courtland Sutton, Nick Westbrook, Terry McLaurin and A.J. Brown in those six games. That suggests that it's possible he travels with Johnson this week, but it's no sure thing considering how impactful Pickens has been in recent weeks. In fact, Gilmore did not shadow Davante Adams in Week 10. Regardless, this is a tough matchup overall for Johnson and Pickens and we should lower expectations.
Texans' Brandin Cooks vs. Dolphins' Xavien Howard (Shadow)
Howard exits his Week 11 bye having already shadowed DeVante Parker, Rashod Bateman, Stefon Diggs, Tee Higgins, Justin Jefferson and Amari Cooper on the perimeter. This week, it makes sense that he'd travel with Cooks the 75% of the time he lines up out wide. Howard hasn't been quite as dominant as in years past and Miami is middle of the pack in fantasy production allowed to receivers overall, but note that the Dolphins have allowed the fourth-fewest points to right perimeter receivers. That's where Howard has aligned 60% of the time. Cooks' targets and production have been down as of late and this 1 on 1 matchup makes him even less desirable as a flex.
Other notable downgrades
49ers' Jauan Jennings vs. Saints' Chris Harris Jr. (Slot)
The Saints have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the slot, including the fewest over the past four weeks.
Buccaneers' Chris Godwin vs. Browns' Greg Newsome II (Slot)
The Browns have allowed the fewest fantasy points to the slot.
Jaguars' Christian Kirk vs. Ravens' Marlon Humphrey (Slot)