Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can help you make the best lineup decisions. By using 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 to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.
Projected shadow matchups
Buccaneers' Mike Evans vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (shadow)
Surtain is quickly emerging as the most-feared corner in fantasy. The NFL's highest-paid corner has already shadowed DK Metcalf and George Pickens this season, aligning against the two on a combined 35 of 42 routes, including 31 of 31 perimeter routes. Metcalf posted a 3-29-0 receiving line on four targets and Pickens was held to 2-29-0, also on four targets.
Evans has aligned in the slot 36% of the time this season, so he might escape Surtain on some of those plays, but plan on these two facing off roughly 80% of the time this week. Through two games, Denver has been in man coverage more than any other defense (67%) and has allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.
Takeaway:
Jets' Garrett Wilson vs. Patriots' Christian Gonzalez (shadow)
Gonzalez shadowed Ja'Marr Chase (18 of 28 routes, including all 15 on the perimeter) in Week 1 and Metcalf (35/44, 32/35) in Week 2. Chase posted a 6-62-0 line on six targets in the game, whereas Metcalf exploded for a 10-129-1 showing on 14 targets. Though Chase had a solid line and Metcalf an excellent one, note that most of that damage came while covered by other defenders.
Gonzalez has been strong in coverage and figures to align on Wilson roughly two-thirds of the time.
Takeaway: Lower Wilson expectations slightly, but no need for panic after what we saw from Metcalf.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson vs. Texans' Derek Stingley Jr. (shadow), Vikings' Jordan Addison/Jalen Nailor vs. Texans' Kamari Lassiter (shadow)
Stingley didn't shadow Michael Pittman Jr. in Week 1, but he has traveled in three of his past four games tracing back to last season. That includes matchups with Amari Cooper (34 of 42 routes, including 34 of 36 perimeter) and Zay Flowers (18/21, 18/18) in the playoffs, as well as DJ Moore (27/41, 26/30) last week. Cooper (4-59-0 on five targets), Flowers (4-41-0 on five targets) and Moore (6-53-0 on 10 targets) were all held in check.
On the other hand, Stingley struggled a bit in Week 1, surrendering a hefty 5-85-1 line on nine targets against Colts' receivers. The rookie Lassiter has played well so far and figures to shadow Addison (or, if he remains out, Nailor) on the other side of the field, as he did Rome Odunze in Week 2.
Takeaway: Stingley has shown well when he's shadowed, so there's room for some Jefferson concern here, but not enough to downgrade him more than slightly.
Browns' Amari Cooper vs. Giants' Deonte Banks (shadow)
Banks was called on to shadow Justin Jefferson (18 of 25 routes, 16 of 17 on the perimeter) in Week 1 and Terry McLaurin (24/30, 24/24) in Week 2. Jefferson posted a 4-59-1 receiving line on six targets, whereas McLaurin was held to a 6-22-0 line on eight targets. That output isn't overly impressive, but the Giants have nonetheless allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to the perimeter.
Cooper has aligned out wide 74% of the time and figures to see Banks on each of those plays this week.
Takeaway: Banks has upside, but he hasn't shown enough for us to worry about this matchup.
Tough matchups
Jaguars' Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Bills' Christian Benford, Taron Johnson and Rasul Douglas
Buffalo revamped its secondary during the offseason and the early results are positive. The Bills have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to receivers, including the fourth fewest to the perimeter. They're midpack against the slot and that's a good result considering Johnson has missed all but a handful of plays this season due to injury.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (1-4-0 on three targets), Tyreek Hill (3-24-0 on six targets) and Jaylen Waddle (4-41-0 on four targets) all produced duds against Buffalo, with RB De'Von Achane and TE Jonnu Smith the only opposing players who have reached 50 receiving yards. Downgrade the Jags' passing game.
Advantageous matchups
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk and Chris Conley vs. Rams' Tre'Davious White and Cobie Durant
The Rams have already allowed smash games to Marvin Harrison Jr. (4-130-2 on eight targets) and Jameson Williams (5-121-1 on nine targets) through two weeks. They've surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points overall to the position despite facing the sixth-fewest WR targets. Los Angeles has surrendered a league-worst 11.3 yards per target to receivers, as well as the most fantasy points to the perimeter.
Aiyuk and Conley, who is set to replace injured Deebo Samuel Sr., can be upgraded.
Bears' DJ Moore and Rome Odunze vs. Colts' Dallis Flowers and Jaylon Jones
The zone-heavy Colts have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the fourth most to the perimeter. Kenny Moore II is a terrific slot corner, which is why Keenan Allen isn't shown here (Indy has allowed the third-fewest points to the slot), but Jones, Flowers and Samuel Womack III (the latter two are filling in for injured JuJu Brents) can be had on the outside.
Upgrade Moore (74% perimeter) and Odunze (65%).
Bills' Mack Hollins and Keon Coleman vs. Jaguars' Montaric Brown and Ronald Darby
The Jaguars have surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the second most to the perimeter. They're top five in points allowed to both right and left boundary receivers.
That's good news for Coleman (100% perimeter) and Hollins (68%), though the latter is rarely targeted. Those two will spend most of this game facing off with Darby and Brown, who is replacing injured Tyson Campbell. Coleman is a Week 3 rebound candidate.
Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, Andrei Iosivas and Tee Higgins vs. Commanders' Benjamin St-Juste, Mike Sainristil and Noah Igbinoghene
No surprise here, but Washington is off to a rough start against wide receivers, having surrendered the most fantasy points to the position, including the sixth most to the perimeter and most to the slot. St-Juste is a candidate to shadow Chase in this one, though he didn't travel with Malik Nabers in Week 2 after allowing a 5-61-2 receiving line on five targets to Evans in the opener.
Regardless, this is a good spot for the Bengals receivers across the board, especially if Emmanuel Forbes Jr. remains out.
Falcons' Drake London vs. Chiefs' Jaylen Watson
The Chiefs put top corner Trent McDuffie on Flowers and Chase a few times during Weeks 1-2, but he still spent a lot of time in the slot, where he thrived in 2023. That usage suggests that, while London will see McDuffie a bit this week, he'll have plenty of opportunities to produce on the boundary against Watson (London aligns wide right 50% of the time, which is where Watson is 71% of the time) and Nazeeh Johnson. Kansas City has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to outside receivers this season.
Ravens' Zay Flowers vs. Cowboys' Caelen Carson
Flowers aligns wide to the right 45% of the time, which is where fifth-round rookie Carson has lined up on 90% of his coverage snaps this season. Carson, who is replacing injured DaRon Bland, has been heavily targeted and Dallas is, in turn, allowing the third-most fantasy points to his side of the field. Flowers has a good shot at a few big plays in this one.