Fantasy football Shadow Report: Notable Seahawks, Bengals, others to watch

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 wide receivers with the best and worst matchups this week, as well as the corresponding fantasy impact.

To view the primary defenders that 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 stated, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjust to a per-game basis in order to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.

Projected Shadow Matchups

Seahawks' DK Metcalf vs. Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. (Shadow)

Porter has shadowed in five of Pittsburgh's past eight games, traveling when the opposing offense has a clear No. 1 perimeter receiver. That meant showdowns with DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Ja'Marr Chase, Marquise Brown and, most recently, Tee Higgins. The rookie shadowed the five star receivers on a combined 132 of their 164 routes, including 123 of 131 perimeter routes and nine of 33 in the slot. Porter has played well, and the Steelers have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to WRs over the past four weeks.

Metcalf aligns out wide 82% of the time, and we should expect Porter to align against him on those plays.

Takeaway: Expectations for Metcalf can be lowered slightly, whereas Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have a better outlook against Patrick Peterson (if he returns to corner), Levi Wallace and Chandon Sullivan.

Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (or Tee Higgins) vs. Chiefs' L'Jarius Sneed (Shadow)

Sneed has shadowed in 13 of 15 games this season. One of the exceptions was against New England two weeks ago, but he then traveled, as expected, with Davante Adams on Christmas. Sneed's shadow matchups have included Calvin Ridley, DJ Moore, Garrett Wilson, Justin Jefferson, Jerry Jeudy, Joshua Palmer, Courtland Sutton, Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Adams (x2), Romeo Doubs and Stefon Diggs. Sneed shadowed those 13 on a combined 239 (or 91%) of their 263 perimeter routes, and he has had substantial success, especially as of late.

The Chiefs have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, as well as the second fewest to the perimeter over the past eight weeks.

Takeaway: If Chase returns from injury this week, he can expect the Sneed shadow, and expectations should be lowered, whereas Higgins' prospects would get a boost against Jaylen Watson. If Chase remains out, Sneed figures to shadow Higgins, and he'll need to be downgraded, whereas Andrei Iosivas would make for a deep league sleeper.

Tough Matchups

Browns' Amari Cooper, Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner

New week, same love for New York's terrific pass defense. The Jets have allowed the fewest receptions, yards, touchdowns (four) and fantasy points to WRs, as well as the fewest points to the perimeter and seventh fewest to the slot. New York's defense remains the only one that has held the opposing WR unit below its season average otherwise in 100% of games.

Cooper is coming off a massive Week 16 outing, but he'll have his hands full against Gardner and Reed the 76% of the time he is on the perimeter and against Carter when he is in the slot. Cooper will need to be downgraded, and all other Cleveland WRs should be avoided.

Jaguars' Zay Jones, Parker Washington and Calvin Ridley vs. Panthers' Donte Jackson, Troy Hill and Jaycee Horn

Carolina has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the seventh fewest to the perimeter and the fewest to the slot. Only three wide receivers have reached 19 fantasy points against Carolina: superstars Mike Evans, Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson.

Ridley (80% perimeter) and Jones (69%) are the boundary receivers for Jacksonville and will work against Jackson and Horn. Washington and Jamal Agnew will work primarily from the slot against Hill. Downgrade this group in what figures to be a lower-volume game than usual.

Bears' DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney and Equanimeous St. Brown vs. Falcons' A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes and Clark Phillips III

The Falcons' man-heavy scheme has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to WRs, including the fourth fewest to the perimeter, and is middle of the pack against the slot.

Moore is, of course, the notable fantasy option from this Chicago WR room, and he'll primarily work against Terrell and Phillips during the 80% of the time he is on the perimeter. It's possible Terrell shadows Moore on those routes (which would make the matchup even tougher), though Terrell has been used sparingly as a shadow corner this season.

Lower expectations for Chicago's passing game.

Buccaneers' Mike Evans, Trey Palmer and Chris Godwin vs. Saints' Isaac Yiadom, Alontae Taylor and Paulson Adebo

Games between Tampa Bay and New Orleans generally feature the Evans vs. Lattimore matchup, but the Saints' top corner remains on IR with an ankle injury. If he returns this week, his past dominance of Evans suggests we'll need to lower expectations for the Buccaneers' most productive receiver.

Of course, even if Lattimore remains out, this is a tough matchup for the Bucs. The Saints have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. They are near midpack in WR targets faced but are allowing 7.2 yards per target (sixth lowest) and a 57% catch rate (third lowest) to the position. The key for the Saints has been domination of the perimeter, as they've allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the boundary while playing about average against the slot.

Evans (72% perimeter) and Godwin (61%) are in a tougher spot than usual, but perhaps they can match last week's 20-plus-point efforts from Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson against this defense (two of the three such performances that New Orleans has allowed this season). Both should remain in lineups.