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
Broncos' Courtland Sutton vs. Steelers' Joey Porter Jr.
As expected, Porter shadowed Drake London in Week 1. Pittsburgh's standout corner traveled with the third-year receiver on 17 of his 27 routes, including 15 of 21 on the perimeter. The plan worked, as London was limited to a 2-15-0 receiving line on four targets in the game. Sutton aligned out wide 86% of the time in Week 1, so he can expect to see Porter a majority of the time this weekend.
Takeaway:
Eagles' A.J. Brown vs. Falcons' A.J. Terrell
No surprise here, but Terrell was tasked with shadowing George Pickens in Week 1. He aligned against Pittsburgh's top receiver on 14 of his 20 routes, including 14 of 15 on the perimeter. Pickens had plenty of success in the game, posting a 6-85-0 receiving line on seven targets, with all of the yardage coming against Terrell.
Brown, who came up big against Jaire Alexander shadow coverage in Week 1, aligned out wide 69% of the time in the opener. He can expect to see Terrell on all of those boundary routes on Monday Night Football.
Takeaway: Terrell is a good corner, but he didn't slow Pickens, and Atlanta played zone often. Expectations for Brown don't need to be moved much and DeVonta Smith can be upgraded against Dee Alford in the slot.
Steelers' George Pickens vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II
Surtain predictably shadowed DK Metcalf in Week 1, traveling with him on 24 of his 25 routes, including all 23 on the perimeter. Surtain won the battle, as Metcalf was held to a 3-29-0 receiving line on four targets in the game. Pickens showed well against Terrell in Week 1, but this will be a tougher challenge against arguably the league's best corner and, considering he aligned in the slot only 21% of the time in the opener, these two will face off a majority of the time in Week 2.
Takeaway: Pickens should be downgraded and Van Jefferson is a deep sleeper against Riley Moss.
Seahawks' DK Metcalf vs. Patriots' Christian Gonzalez
Back from an injury that cost him most of his rookie season, Gonzalez was immediately thrown to the wolves in Week 1. The second-year corner shadowed Ja'Marr Chase on 18 of his 28 routes, including all 15 on the perimeter. Chase was held to a 2-15-0 receiving line on a pair of targets when aligned against Gonzalez, though he escaped coverage a few times when away from him and totaled a solid 6-62-0 line on six targets in the game.
Metcalf, who posted a dud against Surtain last week, has yet another tough challenge on his hands and can expect to see Gonzalez the 92% of the time he's aligned out wide.
Takeaway: Downgrade Metcalf, though not as much as last week.
Commanders' Terry McLaurin vs. Giants' Deonte Banks
Banks was called on to shadow Justin Jefferson in Week 1, traveling with the star receiver on 18 of his 25 routes, including 16 of 17 on the boundary. It was a low volume game for the Minnesota offense, but Jefferson still managed a 4-59-1 receiving line on six targets, with the 2-47-1 coming against Banks.
McLaurin (81% perimeter in the opener) can expect to see plenty of Banks, which is good news consider the Giants allowed the most fantasy points to Banks primary side of the field in Week 1.
Takeaway: Upgrade McLaurin, as well as secondary receivers Luke McCaffrey and Dyami Brown.
Giants' Malik Nabers vs. Commanders' Benjamin St-Juste
With Kendall Fuller in Miami and without a strong starter opposite him, St-Juste appears primed to travel with opposing No. 1 wide receivers this season. We saw that in play in the opener when he shadowed Mike Evans on 19 of his 25 routes, including all 15 on the perimeter.
It didn't go well, as Evans posted a 5-61-2 receiving line on five targets (nearly all of which came against St-Juste). In total, the Commanders allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers in Week 1.
Takeaway: Upgrade Nabers, who is primed for a breakout game. Chris Godwin (8-83-1) and Jalen McMillian (1-32-1) also found the end zone in Week 1, which suggests New York's secondary receivers (Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson) should also be boosted against Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and rookie slot CB Mike Sainristil.
Tough Matchups
Titans' DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
The Jets allowed the fewest fantasy points to WRs in 2023 and were at it again in the opener. Up against the high-powered 49ers' offense, and with Gardner and Carter both missing time during the game with injury, New York surrendered the fewest fantasy points to perimeter receivers and right outside receivers (Gardner's side) in Week 1.
Not 100% healthy, Hopkins was limited to seven routes in Week 1, but figures to play an expanded role against the Jets. He'll join Ridley on the perimeter against Gardner and Reed, with Boyd in the slot against Carter. All three should be downgraded in what will be one of their toughest tests of the season.
Advantageous Matchups
Packers' Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks vs. Colts' Jaylon Jones and Dallis Flowers
The zone-heavy Colts struggled against Houston's receivers in Week 1, surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to the position, including the eighth most to the perimeter. And that was prior to starter JuJu Brents landing on IR this week. Kenny Moore is a terrific slot corner, which is why Jayden Reed isn't shown here, but Jones and Flowers (who will replace Brents) can be had on the outside.
Doubs was Green Bay's only full-time perimeter receiver in the opener, but Watson and Wicks will get run as well. All three can be upgraded, though tread cautiously with Jordan Love sidelined.
Rams' Demarcus Robinson, Cooper Kupp and Tyler Johnson vs. Cardinals' Starling Thomas V, Garrett Williams and Sean Murphy-Bunting
Arizona entered yet another season with one of the league's shakiest CB rooms and it showed in the opener, as the Cardinals surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. What's especially concerning is that Arizona allowed the sixth-most points to the slot, which is where Kupp aligned 59% of the time during his 21-target season debut.
Upgrade Kupp against Williams and boost the sleeper appeal of Robinson and, with Nacua sidelined, Johnson.
Buccaneers' Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan vs. Lions' Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson and Carlton Davis III
On paper, the Lions have a pass defense that should be effective, but that wasn't the case against the Rams in Week 1. Davis surrendered a 9-115-1 receiving line (the 26.5 fantasy points he allowed ranked second among defenders in Week 1) and Detroit, as a team, surrendered the most fantasy points to wide receivers. In fact, the Lions allowed the fourth-most points to the slot and seventh most to the perimeter.
Perhaps better days are ahead, but Evans (60% perimeter in Week 1), Godwin (54%) and McMillian (44%) stand to benefit in the meantime. All three can be upgraded.