By using our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defensive 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.
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.
Unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjusts to a per-game basis to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.
Projected shadow matchups
Raiders' Davante Adams vs. Packers' Jaire Alexander (shadow)
It's a #RevengeGame matchup for Adams as he faces off against his only former team. Alexander is not a sure thing to suit up for this one, as he missed Weeks 3 and 4 with a back injury. If he plays, we should expect him to shadow Adams. Alexander shadowed DJ Moore in Week 1 and Drake London in Week 2. Moore posted a 2-25-0 receiving line on two targets in the season opener and London went for 6-67-1 on eight targets in Week 2. If Alexander is sidelined, Adams will see some combination of Rasul Douglas, Corey Ballentine and Carrington Valentine on perimeter routes. The zone-heavy Packers have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to WRs this season.
Takeaway:
Vikings' Justin Jefferson vs. Chiefs' L'Jarius Sneed (shadow)
Sneed has emerged as the Chiefs' No. 1 corner and has been asked to shadow the opposing team's top receiver on perimeter routes each of the past three weeks. That included Calvin Ridley in Week 2, DJ Moore in Week 3 and Garrett Wilson in Week 4. Ridley was limited to a 2-32-0 receiving line on seven targets, Moore posted a 3-41-1 line on six targets (he went without a catch on three targets against Sneed and his TD came in garbage time) and Wilson managed a 9-60-0 on 14 targets (2-20-0 on seven targets against Sneed). Though he has been heavily targeted, Sneed has done a fairly good job against tough competition and likely will be asked to cover Jefferson the 70% of the time he's on the perimeter in Week 5. The Chiefs have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points over expected to WRs.
Takeaway: This is a tougher matchup than usual for Jefferson, so while perhaps you want to spend elsewhere in DFS cash games, there's little reason to worry, as Minnesota's top receiver might see a few extra targets if the underdog Vikings are trailing.
Jets' Garrett Wilson vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (shadow)
Surtain shadowed perimeter routes against Davante Adams in Week 1, Tyreek Hill in Week 3 and DJ Moore in Week 4. 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 also had a big game (8-131-1 on nine targets) and did some of that damage against Surtain (4-76-0 on five targets). Wilson aligns on the perimeter 72% of the time and can expect to see Surtain on nearly all of those plays. Despite the presence of Surtain, Denver has allowed the most fantasy points over expected and the most to perimeter receivers this season.
Takeaway: Surtain is one of the best corners in the game, but the Broncos' overall defensive struggles mean we shouldn't be too concerned about Wilson this week.
Tough matchups
Broncos' Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims vs. Jets' D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner; Jerry Jeudy vs. Michael Carter II (slot)
The Jets have lost three in a row, but their defense continues to get the job done against wide receivers. New York has surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to wideouts, including the seventh fewest to the perimeter. Sutton (73% perimeter) and Mims (91%) will work outside against Gardner and Reed -- arguably the league's best CB duo -- and should be downgraded. Carter is a solid slot corner, but the Jets have been midpack against the slot, so we don't need to downgrade Jeudy (68% slot) quite as much.
Falcons' Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Mack Hollins vs. Texans' Steven Nelson, Tavierre Thomas and Shaquill Griffin
The Texans are off to a good start against wide receivers, which shouldn't be a shock after they allowed the fewest TDs (six) and fourth-fewest fantasy points to the position in 2022. In 2023, they've surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to WRs both overall and to the perimeter, as well as the ninth fewest to the slot. And that's despite Derek Stingley Jr. and Thomas missing significant time because of injury. The Texans have been in zone 75% of the time, which tops the league. This week, London (85% perimeter) and Hollins (72%) will work against Nelson and Griffin and should be downgraded.
Advantageous matchups
Ravens' Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Steelers' Levi Wallace, Patrick Peterson and Joey Porter Jr.
Pittsburgh has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points (eighth most over expected) to WRs this season, as well as the second most to the perimeter. Flowers (73% perimeter) and Beckham (96%), if he's able to return from injury, will work primarily against Wallace, Peterson and Porter, who have been rotating on the boundary this season. This makes Flowers a more appealing WR3/flex option and Beckham could be the same in deeper leagues.
Chiefs' Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Rashee Rice, Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney and Justin Watson vs. Vikings' Akayleb Evans, Byron Murphy, Mekhi Blackmon and Josh Metellus
It's wide receiver-by-committee vs. cornerback-by-committee. All five listed Kansas City receivers are in the 13-to-19 target range through four games. None is top 50 in fantasy points. The Vikings' top perimeter corners are Evans and Murphy, though the rookie Blackmon has been rotated in as well, and Metellus handles the slot. Minnesota has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the third most to the perimeter and seventh most to the slot. It's tough to trust any Chiefs wide receiver, but Rice's progression suggests he's the best flex option of the group.
Colts' Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Titans' Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary and Sean Murphy-Bunting
As noted in previous weeks, the Titans' strong run defense leads to teams leaning heavily on the pass against them. As a result, a solid Titans' secondary on paper has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers overall and to the perimeter. Tennessee sits top five in targets, receptions and yards allowed to WRs. Pittman (74% perimeter) and Pierce (91%) figure to see added volume against Fulton and Murphy-Bunting, with Downs set to soak up targets inside against McCreary.