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
Eagles' A.J. Brown vs. Chiefs' L'Jarius Sneed (Shadow)
Sneed has shadowed in eight consecutive games tracing back to Week 2. That includes showdowns with Calvin Ridley, DJ Moore, Garrett Wilson, Justin Jefferson, Jerry Jeudy, Joshua Palmer, Courtland Sutton and, most recently, Tyreek Hill. Sneed shadowed those eight on a combined 129 (or 88%) of their 147 perimeter routes.
The red-hot Brown aligns on the perimeter 78% of the time and can expect to see Sneed on nearly all of those plays in Week 11. Sneed has been effective in coverage and the Chiefs have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Takeaway:
Browns' Amari Cooper vs. Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. (Shadow)
The Steelers have essentially turned their No. 1 corner gig over to Porter, as the second-round rookie was called on to shadow DeAndre Hopkins in Week 9. Porter covered Hopkins on 26 of his 36 routes, including 23 of 27 on the boundary and three of nine in the slot. The game plan worked, as Hopkins was held to a 4-60-0 receiving line on 11 targets in the game (including a 1-17-0 line on five targets when covered by Porter).
Pittsburgh's overall numbers against wide receivers have been poor this season (fifth-most fantasy points allowed), but we've seen improvement over the last month (14th-most allowed) as Porter has emerged. Expect Cooper (75% perimeter) to see Porter on upward of 80% of his routes in this game.
Takeaway: Expectations for Cooper should be lowered a bit, whereas the team's secondary receivers - led by Elijah Moore - can be upgraded against Levi Wallace, Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (Shadow)
Jefferson remains on injured reserve, but he returned to practice last week and could play this week against Denver. If that's the case, he can expect shadow treatment from Surtain. Denver's top corner shadowed the perimeter 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, and leaned toward Stefon Diggs occasionally on Monday night. 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 posted a 3-54-0 line on seven targets, whereas Diggs was held to a 3-34-0 line on five targets.
Takeaway: Jefferson is always a must start, but he'll be less appealing than usual this week as he returns from an extended absence and in a tough matchup.
Tough matchups
Bills' Stefon Diggs, Khalil Shakir and Gabe Davis vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
The Jets have allowed the fewest fantasy points to WRs, including the fewest to the perimeter, this entire season, over the last eight weeks and over the last four weeks. They've also allowed the fourth-fewest points to the slot this season. Only one defense has held an opposing QB, RB, WR or TE unit below its season average otherwise in 100% of games and that defense is the Jets against wide receivers.
Star receivers Diggs (Week 1), CeeDee Lamb (Week 2), A.J. Brown (Week 6), Keenan Allen (Week 9) and Davante Adams (Week 10) 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).
Diggs, who had a strong 10-102-1 receiving line against the Jets in the season opener, should be started as usual, but Davis (2-32-0 in Week 1) and Shakir should be on benches in most formats.
Rams' Tutu Atwell, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua vs. Seahawks' Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon and Tre Brown
Seattle got off to a slow start against wide receivers, allowing an average of 255.0 yards and 54.8 fantasy points per game with five total touchdowns during Weeks 1-3 (one of Woolen or Witherspoon was injured during those three games). The Seahawks have since held the six WR units they've faced to an average of 108.2 yards and 26.4 fantasy PPG with four total TDs. The Seahawks are holding opposing WRs to 7.1 yards per target (sixth lowest) on the season and they haven't allowed a receiver to reach 17 fantasy points in a game since Week 3.
The Rams move their WRs all over the field, so there aren't any clear one-on-one matchups, though Kupp (51% slot) will work against standout rookie Witherspoon at least half the time. Downgrade the Rams' WR room.
Advantageous matchups
Broncos' Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Marvin Mims Jr. vs. Vikings' Akayleb Evans, Byron Murphy Jr. and Mekhi Blackmon
Minnesota's cornerback struggles have been documented in this series throughout the season, but a calf injury suffered by Evans on Sunday only exacerbates the issue. Evans, Blackmon and Andrew Booth Jr. have primarily worked the perimeter this season, with top corner Murphy playing both inside and out, and safety/corner Josh Metellus contributing in the slot.
Minnesota has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to wide receivers on the season, including the sixth most to the perimeter and eighth most to the slot. They've been quite a bit better against the slot lately, but have continued to allow big production to the boundary (fourth most allowed over the last four weeks). Sutton (74% perimeter) and Mims (78%) stand to benefit the most and Jeudy (36%) can be upgraded slightly as well.
Chiefs' Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Rashee Rice and Justin Watson vs. Eagles' James Bradberry, Bradley Roby and Darius Slay
The Eagles return from their bye having allowed the most fantasy points to WRs this season, over the past eight weeks, and over the past four weeks. That includes the third most to the perimeter and most to the slot this season. Incredibly, Philadelphia ranks among the 10 worst defenses in points allowed to the left perimeter, right perimeter and slot. The Eagles' efficiency against receivers has been fine (7.4 yards per target is ninth lowest), but they've faced massive volume (league-high 27.1 WR targets faced per game). Fourteen WRs have reached 16 fantasy points against them in nine games.
We're generally not trusting Chiefs wide receivers, but Rice has hung around the WR3/flex radar and has added value this week. All other Chiefs' receivers remain very risky investments regardless of matchup.
Giants' Jalin Hyatt, Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton vs. Commanders' Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes
Washington has allowed the second-most fantasy points to WRs this season, including the most over expected. The Commanders have surrendered the most points to the perimeter and are midpack against 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 before being ejected early on in Week 10. Forbes should be back in the mix this week, though he has struggled and has been heavily targeted this season, same as St-Juste, who will handle the slot. Giants' receivers can be upgraded, but none are on the fantasy radar, so this matchup upgrade really only applies to those eyeing sneaky DFS tournament punts.
Commanders' Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel and Terry McLaurin vs. Giants' Deonte Banks, Cor'Dale Flott and Adoree' Jackson
On the other side of that game, we have the Giants' struggling and injury-plagued cornerback room. Jackson (concussion) missed Week 10 and both Banks and Flott left with injuries. That raises even more uncertainty for a defense that has already allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Nick McCloud is the top perimeter backup, with rookie Tre Hawkins III next in line. Veteran Darnay Holmes is Flott's backup in the slot. This has the look of a decent matchup if New York's secondary is healthy, but it's a potentially elite one if the likes of Banks and/or Jackson are sidelined.
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel vs. Buccaneers' Jamel Dean, Christian Izien and Carlton Davis III
Injuries have certainly been a factor (Davis has missed three full games, including Week 10, and Dean has missed one full game and a big chunk of two others), but the Buccaneers have nonetheless allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to WRs this season, including the eighth most to the perimeter and second most to the slot. Davis is allowing 0.63 fantasy points per coverage snap, which is worst among 188 qualified defenders, and Dean hasn't been substantially better.
Upgrade the 49ers' receivers.