Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can help you make the best lineup decisions. By utilizing 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 advice and waiver wire suggestions each week.
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 Cheatsheet.
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
Bills' Stefon Diggs vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (shadow)
Surtain returns from his bye week with a tough challenge against Diggs. He's likely to shadow Diggs on his perimeter routes, same as he did against Davante Adams in Week 1, Tyreek Hill in Week 3, DJ Moore in Week 4 and Garrett Wilson in Week 5 (he also did some shadowing against Skyy Moore and Travis Kelce in two recent games against the Chiefs). Adams had a relatively quiet game (six catches, 66 yards, no TDs 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 posted a 3-54-0 line on seven targets.
Takeaway:
Titans' DeAndre Hopkins vs. Buccaneers' Carlton Davis III (shadow)
Davis was a candidate to shadow Hopkins regardless of other factors, but this showdown is even more likely with Bucs CB Jamel Dean (concussion) in doubt. Davis has shadowed twice this season, including against Justin Jefferson on 33 of his 34 perimeter routes in Week 1 and against Stefon Diggs on 17 of his 20 perimeter routes in Week 8. Jefferson (9-150-0 receiving line on 12 targets) had a big game, though only half of that damage was against Davis. Diggs posted a modest 9-70-0 line on 12 targets, with 3-39-0 coming on four targets against Davis.
The Buccaneers got absolutely sliced up against the Texans in Week 9 and have now allowed the second-most fantasy points to WRs this season, including the fourth most to the perimeter and second most to the slot. Davis is allowing 0.63 fantasy points per coverage snap, which is worst among 178 qualified defenders.
Takeaway: Davis has not played at his usual high level, and Tampa Bay has struggled mightily against receivers, so Hopkins should actually be upgraded a bit this week.
Tough matchups
Raiders' Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Jakobi Meyers vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
New week, same spiel: New York has carried over last season's domination of wide receivers to 2023. The Jets have allowed the fewest fantasy points to WRs, including the fewest to the perimeter and third fewest to the slot. Only one defense has held an opposing QB, RB, WR or TE unit below its season average in 100% of games: the Jets against WRs.
Star receivers Diggs (Week 1), CeeDee Lamb (Week 2), A.J. Brown (Week 6) and Keenan Allen (Week 9) are the only receivers who have cleared 11.0 fantasy points against the Jets this season (and Brown's showing came with Reed and Gardner out). Adams (81% perimeter) and Meyers (73%) will see a ton of Gardner and Reed and should be downgraded.
Browns' Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore and Marquise Goodwin vs. Ravens' Brandon Stephens, Arthur Maulet and Marlon Humphrey
Baltimore has allowed the fewest fantasy points over expected to wide receivers this season. Despite having faced the second-most WR targets, the Ravens have allowed the eighth-fewest points to the position (third fewest over the past four weeks). Wideouts are averaging 5.9 yards per target and 10.1 yards per reception against them, both of which are lowest in the league. Only three receivers have reached 17 fantasy points against the Ravens (Tee Higgins, George Pickens and Amon-Ra St. Brown) and the likes of Ja'Marr Chase, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Hopkins and Cooper were held to single digits.
In the Week 4 meeting between these teams, TE David Njoku was the top fantasy scorer for the Browns with 10.6 points, though Deshaun Watson was sidelined for that game. Browns wide receivers totaled a 6-48-0 receiving line on 18 targets in the game. Cooper should be downgraded and Moore isn't a good flex option this week.
Vikings' Trishton Jackson, Brandon Powell and Jordan Addison vs. Saints' Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor and Paulson Adebo
The Saints have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points over expected to wide receivers this season. They've faced the 11th-most WR targets, but are allowing 6.7 yards per target (fourth lowest) and a 58% catch rate (fifth lowest) to the position. The most points scored by a WR in a game was Adam Thielen's 20.4 in Week 2. Their key has been domination of the perimeter, having allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the boundary, but the 10th most to the slot. Addison (77% perimeter) and Jackson (who is expected to replace WR K.J. Osborn) should be downgraded, leaving Powell (66% slot) as a deep sleeper inside against Taylor.
Advantageous matchups
Jaguars' Zay Jones, Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley vs. 49ers' Deommodore Lenoir, Isaiah Oliver and Charvarius Ward
The 49ers have a terrific defense, but it simply hasn't been able to slow the fantasy output of opposing receivers. The 49ers have surrendered the third-most fantasy points to the position (seventh most over expected), as well as the 12th most to the perimeter and 16th most to the slot. Ward is a quality No. 1 corner, but he has yet to shadow this season, so he's a long shot to travel with Ridley. That means Ridley and Jones (assuming he returns from injury) will see some of Ward, but also plenty of Lenoir and slot man Oliver. Kirk will mostly work against Oliver in the slot. Upgrade your Jaguars receivers.
Seahawks' DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett vs. Commanders' Kendall Fuller, Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste
Washington has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to WRs this season, including the most over expected. The Commanders have surrendered the second-most points to the perimeter and 12th most to the slot. Fuller is a terrific corner and hasn't allowed much production, but he hasn't had much help. After being benched earlier this season, rookie Forbes was promoted back to the primary nickel job over Danny Johnson in Week 9. He has struggled and been heavily targeted this season, same as St-Juste, who moved back to the slot in nickel packages last week. Metcalf (82% perimeter) and Lockett (66%) will see a lot of Fuller and Forbes on the outside, whereas Smith-Njigba (72% slot) will work primarily against St-Juste. Upgrade Seattle's pass catchers.
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel vs. Jaguars' Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams
The Jaguars haven't been inefficient against receivers (11th-fewest fantasy points over expected), but they've allowed the 12th-most points to the position due to a lot of volume faced (sixth-most WR targets). They've especially been generous to the perimeter, having allowed the most fantasy points to the boundary (top five against both the left and right side), but the fifth fewest to the slot. Jacksonville has allowed five receivers to reach 19 fantasy points this season, and all were primarily boundary receivers. Aiyuk (79% perimeter) and Samuel (70%) are the primary perimeter receivers for the 49ers and should be upgraded.