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.
Projected Shadow Matchups
Buccaneers' Mike Evans vs. Saints' Marshon Lattimore (Shadow)
Where else to start but with Evans vs. Lattimore Round 11? These two have a storied history, and the rivalry took a turn for the worse in Week 2 of last season. After Lattimore shadowed Evans on 14 of his first 23 routes (including 13 of 15 on the perimeter), the two were involved in a fight and were promptly ejected (Evans was also suspended for Week 3). Lattimore also shadowed Evans once as a rookie, twice in 2018, once in 2019 (Lattimore missed the other game), three times in 2020 and twice in 2021. Evans' stat lines in the games Lattimore shadowed him are as follows (in chronological order starting with 2017):
5-55-0
7-147-1
4-86-0
0-0-0
1-2-1
4-64-0
1-3-1
2-48-1
1-14-0
3-61-0
In the lone 2022 showdown, Evans had seven yards on one catch against Lattimore, but produced 54 yards on two catches against Justin Evans. Evans is averaging 10.1 fantasy PPG in 17 career games against New Orleans, compared to 17.2 in his 123 other games. He last reached 13.0 fantasy points against the Saints in Week 1 of 2018. New Orleans has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the perimeter this season, which is where Evans aligns 72% of the time.
Takeaway: Lattimore has clearly had Evans' number over the years, so there's obviously bust potential here. Lower expectations, but Evans -- who is seeing a career-high 31% target share -- should remain in lineups.
Bills' Stefon Diggs vs. Dolphins' Xavien Howard (Shadow)
Howard has yet to shadow this season, but he traveled with Diggs throughout all three games between these teams in 2022. In the Week 3 game, Diggs posted a 7-74-0 line on 11 targets, with 5-62-0 on seven targets when covered by Howard. In Week 15, Diggs posted a 5-60-0 line on nine targets, with 2-19-0 coming on four targets against Howard. In the playoff game, Diggs came through with a 7-114-0 line on nine targets, with 6-94-0 on eight targets against Howard. Howard also shadowed Diggs during each of the prior three meetings between these teams. Diggs receiving lines in those three games were as follows:
7-76-0 on eight targets (Week 17, 2020)
4-60-1 on eight targets (Week 2, 2021)
5-40-1 on six targets (Week 8, 2021)
Takeaway: Howard is a good corner and perhaps limited Diggs' ceiling a bit (he's maxed out at 18.4 points in past matchups), but he obviously hasn't been able to shut him down completely. Diggs remains a solid WR1 play.
Bears' DJ Moore vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (Shadow)
Surtain -- one of the league's top corners -- shadowed perimeter routes against Davante Adams in Week 1 and Tyreek Hill in Week 3. Adams had a relatively quiet game (6-66-0 on nine targets) and, while Hill exploded for a 9-157-1 line on 11 targets, only 3-45-0 came on four targets against Surtain. Moore has aligned on the perimeter 83% of the time this season, so these two will face off during most of his game. Note that, while Surtain is very good, Denver allowed 70 points to Miami in Week 3 and has surrendered the second-most fantasy points to the perimeter this season.
Takeaway: We should lower expectations for Moore a bit, but Denver's Week 3 implosion suggests he can still be considered for your lineup. Consider Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney sleepers for big weeks.
Jets' Garrett Wilson vs. Chiefs' L'Jarius Sneed (Shadow)
Sneed shadowed Calvin Ridley in Week 2 and DJ Moore in Week 3. Ridley was limited to a 2-32-0 receiving line on seven targets, whereas Moore posted a 3-41-1 line on six targets (Moore went without a catch on three targets against Sneed and his TD came in garbage time). The Chiefs have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the fewest over expected. Wilson (79% perimeter) figures to see Sneed on most of his routes this week.
Takeaway: Wilson hasn't been short on targets in recent weeks, but the efficiency has been poor, and may not be any better with Sneed in his face. Lower expectations for New York's top receiver.
Commanders' Terry McLaurin vs. Eagles' Darius Slay (Shadow)
Slay has shadowed McLaurin in all six games since joining the Eagles in 2020. McLaurin's lines in those games were as follows:
5-61-0 on seven targets (Week 1, 2020)
7-40-1 on eight targets (Week 17, 2020)
2-51-0 on four targets (Week 15, 2021)
7-61-0 on seven targets (Week 17, 2021)
6-102-0 on nine targets (Week 3, 2022)
8-128-0 on 11 targets (Week 10, 2022)
Slay had a big leg up during the 2020 and 2021 meetings, but McLaurin dominated last season. We should expect these two to face off again this week, which -- with James Bradberry transitioning to the slot -- will position Jahan Dotson against struggling Josh Jobe on the other side of the field.
Takeaway: McLaurin's 2022 success suggests we shouldn't downgrade him, but Washington's top receiver has gone seven straight games with fewer than seven targets, so that's the larger concern for his fantasy prospects. Dotson can be upgraded against Jobe.
Tough Matchups
Ravens' Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Browns' Martin Emerson Jr., Greg Newsome II and Denzel Ward
The Browns are hot out of the gate against wide receivers, having allowed the fewest fantasy points to the position, as well as the second fewest to both the perimeter and the slot. Beckham (96% perimeter), if he returns from injury, and Flowers (74%) will work against Emerson and Ward on the outside, with Bateman inside against slot corner Newsome. George Pickens is the only WR who has reached double-digit fantasy points against Cleveland this season, so this may be a week to avoid Baltimore's pass-catcher not named Mark Andrews.
Chiefs' Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Rashee Rice and Skyy Moore vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
The Jets allowed big fantasy games to Stefon Diggs (26 points in Week 1) and CeeDee Lamb (25 points in Week 2), but no other wide receiver has reached 9.0 points against them. This remains an elite group led by perimeter CBs Gardner and Reed. You're likely already avoiding the Chiefs' frustrating receiver committee, so this week's tough matchup is extra incentive to stay away.
Advantageous Matchups
Panthers' Jonathan Mingo, Adam Thielen and DJ Chark Jr. vs. Vikings' Akayleb Evans, Josh Metellus and Byron Murphy Jr.
The Vikings have surrendered the third-most fantasy points to WRs this season, as well as the most to the perimeter and fifth most to the slot. The slow start isn't a surprise considering the mostly unproven personnel and sets up well for Carolina. Chark (74% perimeter) and Mingo (68%) will primarily battle against Evans and Murphy on the outside, with red-hot Thielen in a great spot against Metellus in the slot.
Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins vs. Titans' Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary and Sean Murphy-Bunting
No pass defense may have more pressure on it than the Titans simply because teams can't run the ball against their elite front and instead choose to throw the ball a ton. This is evidenced by the Titans having allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to WRs this season, but the 16th most over expected. The Titans have surrendered 17-plus fantasy points to five wide receivers in three games, including at least one in each game. The Bengals figure to follow the lead of other teams and throw the ball a ton this week. Chase (74% perimeter) and Higgins (85%) are in a good spot on the boundary against Murphy-Bunting and Fulton (Tennessee has allowed the third most points to the perimeter), whereas Boyd has a less appealing matchup against McCreary in the slot.
Raiders' Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Jakobi Meyers vs. Chargers' Michael Davis, Ja'Sir Taylor and Asante Samuel Jr.
The Chargers are in a tough spot at corner, especially with high-priced 2022 free agent signing J.C. Jackson struggling to the point that he was a healthy scratch last week. Los Angeles has now allowed the most fantasy points to WRs this season, as well as the fourth most to the perimeter and second most to the slot. Adams (82% perimeter) and Meyers (77%) are in a prime spot against Samuel and Davis on the boundary, whereas rarely-targeted Renfrow will work against Taylor in the slot. Adams and Meyers are lineup locks this week.
Giants' Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell and Darius Slayton vs. Seahawks' Michael Jackson, Coby Bryant and Devon Witherspoon
Seattle is off to a poor start against wide receivers, having allowed the second-most fantasy points to the position. That includes the seventh most to the perimeter (equal struggles against both sides) and most to the slot. It's tough to justify starting any Giants receivers, but perhaps there's some "punt" appeal in DFS for the likes of Hodgins, Slayton and Campbell. With Tariq Woolen out and slot CB Bryant dicey after missing Week 3, Seattle could against be down two of their top three corners.
Broncos' Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Brandon Johnson vs. Bears' Tyrique Stevenson, Greg Stroman Jr. and Jaylon Johnson
The zone-heavy Bears are midpack in fantasy points allowed to CBs this season, but injuries are a major issue right now, which could present a big opportunity for the Broncos passing game. Top slot man Kyler Gordon is already on IR and top perimeter CBs Johnson and Stevenson both left Week 3 with injuries. Add in Eddie Jackson's foot injury (he missed Week 3) and this could be a big problem. The Bears will turn to Terell Smith and Jaylon Jones on the boundary with Stroman in the slot if Johnson and Stevenson are sidelined. Monitor this one throughout the week, as it could prove a smash spot for the likes of Sutton, Jeudy and even situational deep threat Marvin Mims.