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.
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 to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.
Projected shadow matchups
Falcons' Drake London vs. Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. (Shadow)
Perhaps the best WR/CB showdown of Week 1 will feature London in the new-look, Kirk Cousins-led Atlanta offense against the Steelers' top corner, Porter. The second-year corner started shadowing No. 1 wide receivers in Week 9 last season. That included matchups with DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Ja'Marr Chase, Marquise Brown, Tee Higgins, DK Metcalf and Stefon Diggs. It's reasonable to think Porter will be even better in 2024 and very well could join the elite tier at cornerback.
Takeaway:
Steelers' George Pickens vs. Falcons' A.J. Terrell (Shadow)
As noted, Atlanta has a new coaching staff this season, but the new regime figures to utilize its top corner, Terrell, in a shadow capacity when appropriate. One of the game's best, Terrell traveled with Calvin Ridley, Mike Evans (twice), DeAndre Hopkins, Alec Pierce and DJ Moore in 2023 in what was the league's most man-heavy defense. We can expect more zone looks under Raheem Morris, but the pressure will still be on Terrell to slow Pickens, easily the Steelers' top wide receiver (Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III are next on the depth chart). Pickens (17% slot in 2023) rarely moves inside, so these two will face off a ton in Week 1.
Takeaway: Pickens should be downgraded.
Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase vs. Patriots' Christian Gonzalez (Shadow)
New England head coach Jerod Mayo was the team's linebacker coach during the 2023 season when Gonzalez shadowed A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill and Garrett Wilson before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 4. Gonzalez was playing outstanding ball, and the 2023 first-round pick has the look of one of the league's next great corners. If Chase (contract) plays in Week 1, expect Gonzalez to defend Cincinnati's top offensive target. If Chase is sidelined, Gonzalez very well could follow Tee Higgins.
Takeaway: Expectations can be lowered a bit for Chase, especially after missing so much of the offseason, but he's fairly matchup independent and should remain in lineups.
Browns' Amari Cooper vs. Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (Shadow)
Diggs is returning from a season-ending ACL injury suffered after Week 2 last season. He's no lock to shadow under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, though Zimmer did utilize Xavier Rhodes as a full-time shadow corner for several years in Minnesota. Diggs, who shadowed roughly 40% of the time during the 2021-22 seasons, seems more likely to shadow this week with DaRon Bland sidelined due to injury.
Takeaway: Diggs was playing elite ball out of the gate last season but considering its his first game back from the ACL injury, expectations for Cooper shouldn't be moved much. Cedric Tillman is a deep sleeper to watch with Bland out.
Seahawks' DK Metcalf vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (Shadow)
Surtain may be the surest bet to shadow in Week 1 after he traveled with Davante Adams (twice), Tyreek Hill, DJ Moore, Garrett Wilson, Jordan Addison, Amari Cooper, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Quentin Johnston last season. These two faced off in Week 1 in 2022, with Surtain shadowing Metcalf on 23 of 28 routes, including 23 of 24 on the perimeter. Metcalf was limited to short-range work (4.9 aDOT), and while he caught all seven of his targets in the game, he totaled only 36 yards.
Takeaway: Metcalf (17% slot in 2023) will rarely dodge Surtain and should be downgraded. Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are in better spots against Levi Wallace and Ja'Quan McMillian.
Tough matchups
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel Sr. vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
The Jets return their elite CB trio, with Gardner and Reed on the perimeter and Carter in the slot. New York allowed the fewest receptions, yards, touchdowns and fantasy points to wide receivers last season, as well as the fewest points to the perimeter and eighth fewest to the slot. Aiyuk and Samuel primarily work out wide and will see plenty of Gardner and Reed. Expectations should be lowered.
Panthers' Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen and Jonathan Mingo vs. Saints' Marshon Lattimore, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Paulson Adebo
New Orleans returns its terrific perimeter CB duo, with Lattimore on one side and Adebo on the other. Second-round rookie McKinstry, who is expected to man the slot, could vault this group into the elite ranks if he proves he's the real deal. The man-heavy Saints allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, including the second fewest to the perimeter, in 2023. Johnson, who could draw Lattimore in shadow coverage, can be downgraded a bit and the same goes for Mingo against Adebo. Thielen should be fine against McKinstry in the rookie's NFL debut.
Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert, CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks vs. Browns' Martin Emerson Jr., Greg Newsome II and Denzel Ward
The Browns return the entirety of their outstanding CB trio, which features Emerson and Ward on the boundary and Newsome in the slot. Cleveland allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers last season, including the sixth fewest to the perimeter and the fourth fewest to the slot. Dallas moves its wideouts around quite a bit, so this is a blanket downgrade for the group. Lamb, of course, remains an elite play, but Cooks and Tolbert should be avoided as flex fliers.
Jaguars' Brian Thomas Jr., Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis vs. Dolphins' Jalen Ramsey, Kader Kohou and Kendall Fuller
Miami was generous to wide receivers last season, but it's hard to argue with the raw talent in this secondary. That includes Ramsey and newcomer Fuller on the perimeter, with Kohou manning the slot. Thomas and Davis figure to work against Ramsey and Fuller outside and Kirk will draw Kohou inside. There's no need for major movement here, but, at least as it looks on paper, this could be tough sledding for Jacksonville.
Advantageous matchups
Bills' Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman vs. Cardinals' Max Melton, Garrett Williams and Sean Murphy-Bunting
Despite facing the third-fewest WR targets last season, Arizona was midpack in fantasy points allowed to the position and allowed the seventh-most points to the perimeter. It's possible things are better in 2024, but the group isn't overly inspiring on paper. Murphy-Bunting was brought in from Tennessee to lead the unit, with rookie Melton and second-years Williams, Starling Thomas and Kei'Trel Clark filling out the depth chart. The plus matchup is good news for a new-look Buffalo WR room led by Shakir, Samuel and Coleman.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor vs. Giants' Deonte Banks, Isaiah Simmons and Adoree' Jackson
The Giants return the same perimeter corner duo to a defense that allowed the fourth-most receptions and fifth-most fantasy points to WRs last season. Banks, a 2023 first-round pick, struggled as a rookie, but is certainly a candidate for a leap forward in Year 2. Jackson is a solid veteran, but he joined the team in late August and could require a ramp-up period. Versatile LB/S/CB Simmons is expected to man the slot this season. Jefferson, Addison and deep sleeper Nailor stand to benefit in a big way and can be upgraded.
Buccaneers' Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan vs. Commanders' Michael Davis, Mike Sainristil and Benjamin St-Juste
Washington is eyeing a better defensive season under Dan Quinn after an ugly 2023 in which it allowed the second-most fantasy points to WRs, including the most to the perimeter and fifth most to the slot. The Commanders allowed the most yards and touchdowns to wide receivers. Unfortunately, the cornerback personnel may not be much better, with Kendall Fuller now in Miami and 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes Jr. benched. Second-round rookie Sainristil and the veteran Davis are in their place. Perhaps Quinn can mold the youth into a serviceable group, but for now, this looks like a terrific matchup for Evans and Godwin.