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 Cheat Sheet.
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
Panthers' Terrace Marshall Jr., Shi Smith and DJ Moore vs. Lions' Jeff Okudah, Will Harris and Jerry Jacobs
The Lions have allowed the third-most fantasy points to receivers this season, including the most to the slot. They've allowed the most in both categories over the last month. DJ Moore hasn't seen more than six targets in a game since Week 8, but he's coming off a 5-73-1 receiving line (his second 18-plus point outing in three games with Sam Darnold) and will see a pretty even share of Detroit's top corners. Even in an elite matchup, he's likely the only Carolina receiver you can trust, as Marshall has totaled seven targets in three games with Darnold.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson vs. Giants' Fabian Moreau (Shadow)
Vikings' K.J. Osborn vs. Giants' Darnay Holmes (Slot)
Vikings' Adam Thielen vs. Giants' Nick McCloud
Moreau has been operating as the Giants' top corner with Adoree' Jackson sidelined. That role has led to shadows against Terry McLaurin (twice) and DeVonta Smith over the last three weeks. That's a pretty small body of work, but we also saw Jackson used similarly when healthy, including shadows against Robert Woods, Robbie Anderson, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Lockett, Brandin Cooks and Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Giants' tendencies suggest Moreau will travel with Jefferson, but that isn't exactly a concern. Over the last eight weeks, the Giants have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to the position and the third most to the perimeter. Upgrade Minnesota's receivers across the board.
Eagles' A.J. Brown, Quez Watkins and DeVonta Smith vs. Cowboys' Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland and Kelvin Joseph
The Cowboys have lost two of their top three corners to IR (Jourdan Lewis, Anthony Brown) and its really showing up on the score sheet. Dallas surrendered a massive 230 yards and four TDs (68.2 fantasy points) to Jaguars' wide receivers on Sunday, which included a 6-109-3 receiving line by Zay Jones. Dallas has now allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to WRs this season, as well as the third most over the last four weeks. When these teams played in Week 6, top corner Diggs (who has played well) shadowed A.J. Brown and Anthony Brown shadowed Smith in the first quarter or so, but then they simply played sides. A.J. Brown posted a 5-67-1 receiving line on eight targets in what was a very low-volume passing game and Smith added 5-44-1 on five targets. Diggs has since shadowed Allen Lazard, Justin Jefferson and Michael Pittman Jr., so it's possible he travels with Brown throughout Sunday's game. It's not a lock, though, and Brown figures to get some run against Bland in the slot, as well as the rookie Joseph. Joseph has been picked on consistently by opposing QBs and is struggling badly in coverage to the point that he was benched this past week (fellow second-year CB Nahshon Wright was the replacement). The Eagles' receivers can be upgraded, especially Smith, who will see a ton of Joseph/Wright if Diggs shadows Brown.
Buccaneers' Julio Jones, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans vs. Cardinals' Marco Wilson, Byron Murphy Jr. and Antonio Hamilton
Arizona is a mess at corner, having recently waived Trayvon Mullen and then playing Week 15 without its top-3 corners (Wilson, Murphy and Hamilton) due to injury. Over the last eight weeks, the Cardinals have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to receivers and they've also surrendered the sixth-most points to the perimeter this season. Time will tell which personnel the defense will have available in the secondary this week, but it's a plus matchup for Tampa Bay's receivers regardless.
Other notable upgrades
Texans' Nico Collins, Chris Moore and Brandin Cooks vs. Titans' Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary and Tre Avery
The Titans have allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, as well as the most to the perimeter. They sit no better than third in receptions, yards and TDs (18) allowed to the position. Also, Fulton and Avery could miss this game after sitting out Week 15, though Cooks and Collins were also out and remain in question for Week 16.
Giants' Isaiah Hodgins, Richie James and Darius Slayton vs. Vikings' Cameron Dantzler, Chandon Sullivan and Patrick Peterson
Minnesota has allowed the second-most fantasy points overall to wide receivers and to the perimeter this season (most in both categories over the last eight weeks).
Jets' Elijah Moore vs. Jaguars' Tre Herndon (Slot)
The Jaguars have allowed the second-most fantasy points to the slot.
Tough matchups
Cowboys' Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown vs. Eagles' James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox and Darius Slay
The Eagles have shadowed a few times this season, but they did not when these teams met in Week 6. In that game, Lamb posted a 5-68-0 receiving line on 10 targets. He aligned in the slot on 27 of 37 routes, which was a much higher rate than usual and a clear effort to avoid matchups with Slay and Bradberry on the perimeter. Dallas boundary receivers Michael Gallup (2-18-0 on seven targets) and Noah Brown (1-10-0 on three targets) were both shut down, with most of their routes coming against Slay and Bradberry. In fact, on a combined 72 coverage snaps, Slay and Bradberry allowed 4 receptions for 31 yards on 15 targets. Granted, Dak Prescott was out for that game, but the Eagles perimeter domination has been a theme all season long. The Eagles have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to WRs this season, as well as the fewest to the perimeter. Gallup and Brown are best avoided, though Lamb figures to get a ton of slot run again and should be fine (the Eagles have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to the slot).
Jaguars' Marvin Jones Jr., Christian Kirk and Zay Jones vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
The Jaguars' offense is red hot, but the wide receiver room will have its hands full against the Jets' dominant pass defense this week. The Jets have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and to the perimeter this season, including the fewest in both categories over the last eight weeks. Since Week 4, only one WR (Jakobi Meyers) has reached 20 fantasy points against New York. Kirk and Zay Jones are both top-20 scoring fantasy WRs this season and tough to bench, but expectations should be lowered and the duo can be safely faded in DFS.
Rams' Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell and Ben Skowronek vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II, K'Waun Williams and Damarri Mathis
Denver has now surrendered the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, as well as the fourth fewest to the perimeter and 10th fewest to the slot. Surtain has emerged as one of the game's top corners, rookie Mathis has held down the fort in place of injured Ronald Darby on the other side of the field and Williams remains one of the league's best slot corners. The Rams are still without Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson at receiver, which has left them with Jefferson, Skowronek and Atwell as their top-three WRs. These receivers are underwhelming flex options on a normal week, so they should be avoided in what will be one of their toughest matchups of 2022.
Chargers' Mike Williams vs. Colts' Stephon Gilmore (Shadow)
The Colts entered Week 15 having allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, but they plummeted to fifth most after surrendering an absurd 74.6 points to Minnesota's receivers. In fact, after allowing six touchdowns to WRs during their first 12 games, the Colts have allowed six in their last two outings. That trend suggests we shouldn't be too fearful of this defense, but top corner Gilmore has played well and he often shadows top perimeter receivers. That includes a combined 155 of 169 perimeter routes (92%) run by Brandin Cooks, Travis Kelce, Courtland Sutton, Nick Westbrook, Terry McLaurin, A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson in those eight games. Williams (83% perimeter) figures to see plenty of Gilmore in this game, with Keenan Allen (63% slot) dodging him most of the time. Expectations for Williams can be dropped slightly, but there's no need for major movement considering the Colts' recent pass defense struggles.
Other notable downgrades
Chiefs' JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. Seahawks' Tariq Woolen, Coby Bryant and Mike Jackson
Seattle has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers overall and to the perimeter this season, as well as the second fewest to the slot over the last eight weeks.
Other matchups
Bills' Stefon Diggs vs. Bears' Jaylon Johnson (Shadow)
Johnson hasn't shadowed a ton this season, but he did against DeVante Parker in Week 7 and, most recently, against A.J. Brown last week. Sunday's usage suggests there's a good chance he'll chase Diggs the 65% of the time he aligns on the perimeter. Johnson made some plays against Brown, but Philly's top target still went off for 9-181-0 on 16 targets, with five catches for 124 yards coming on 12 targets against Johnson. Johnson is a solid young corner, but Chicago has been extremely ineffective against receivers, having allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to the position over the last eight and four weeks. We don't need to downgrade Diggs even if he's shadowed and Gabriel Davis can be upgraded on the other side of the field against Jaylon Jones.