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
Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb vs. Falcons' A.J. Terrell (Perimeter Shadow)
Lamb aligns in the slot 51% of the time and Terrell has not moved inside for a single pass play this entire season. That said, this will be a part-time shadow, with Terrell likely covering Lamb on his perimeter routes and slot CB Dee Alford working against him when he's inside. Terrell has shadowed George Pickens, DeVonta Smith, Mike Evans, Diontae Johnson and DK Metcalf this season. He covered the receivers on 91 of their 135 routes, including 91 of 100 on the perimeter. The receiving lines were as follows: Pickens (7-6-85-0), Smith (9-6-69-0), Evans (7-5-62-2), Johnson (10-6-78-1) and Metcalf (7-4-99-1), which works out to 18.1 fantasy points per game. Atlanta has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the third most to the perimeter and 10th most to the slot over the last four weeks.
Takeaway:
Ravens' Zay Flowers vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (Shadow)
Surtain has shadowed Metcalf, Pickens, Evans and Garrett Wilson, aligning against the four standout receivers on a combined 86 of 122 routes, including 77 of 80 perimeter routes. The receiving lines of the four were as follows: Metcalf (4 targets-3 receptions-29 yards-0 touchdowns), Pickens (4-2-29-0), Evans (3-2-17-0) and Wilson (7-5-41-0). Denver has been in man coverage more than any other defense (59%) and, despite Surtain missing essentially two full games, has allowed an NFL-low four TDs and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers (10th fewest to the perimeter). No receiver has reached 18 fantasy points in a game against Denver this season. Flowers aligns on the perimeter 69% of the time and can expect to see Surtain on all of those routes.
Takeaway: Flowers should be downgraded in what will be his toughest challenge of the season.
Titans' Calvin Ridley vs. Patriots' Christian Gonzalez (Shadow)
Gonzalez has shadowed Ja'Marr Chase, Metcalf, Wilson, Brandon Aiyuk, Tyreek Hill, Gabe Davis and Davante Adams, combining to cover them on 146 of 202 routes, including 118 of 135 on the perimeter and 28 of 66 in the slot. The receiving lines of those receivers were as follows: Chase (6-6-62-0), Metcalf (14-10-129-1), Wilson (9-5-33-1), Aiyuk (5-2-48-0), Hill (9-6-69-0), Davis (2-1-13-0) and Adams (6-4-54-0). The results here have been strong, as six of the receivers fell short of 14.5 fantasy points, and the exception (Metcalf) benefited greatly from a long broken-play touchdown that wasn't Gonzalez's fault. Ridley aligns on the perimeter 82% of the time and can expect to see Gonzalez on all of those plays this week.
Takeaway: Especially considering Ridley's inconsistent production this season, he's a bust candidate here in Week 9.
Commanders' Terry McLaurin vs. Giants' Deonte Banks (Shadow)
This one is interesting, as Banks has shadowed in all eight of the Giants' games, but he was benched during Monday night's loss to Pittsburgh. Prior to the benching, Banks had been traveling with Pickens, as he had with Justin Jefferson, McLaurin, Amari Cooper, Lamb, Metcalf, Tee Higgins and A.J. Brown earlier this season. Entering Monday, he had aligned against the receivers on 164 of 216 routes, including 155 of 167 on the perimeter. Their receiving lines were as follows: Jefferson (6-4-59-1), McLaurin (8-6-22-0), Cooper (12-7-86-2), Lamb (8-7-98-1), Metcalf (7-4-55-0), Higgins (7-7-77-0) and Brown (5-5-89-1). That works out to an average of 16.9 fantasy points per game. On Monday, he and replacement Greg Stroman Jr. combined to shadow Pickens on 21 of 27 routes, including all 20 on the perimeter. It's unclear whether Banks will start this week, but the Giants are obviously struggling at corner and have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to the perimeter this season.
Takeaway: McLaurin was one of the only receivers to stumble against Banks, but that was prior to his "breakout" with Jayden Daniels. He can be upgraded a bit this week, regardless of whether Banks is in the lineup.
Tough matchups
Jaguars' Gabe Davis, Parker Washington and Tim Jones/Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Eagles' Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Darius Slay Jr.
Has the Eagles' terrific pass defense of a few years back returned from the dead? It sure seems like it as of late. As rookies Mitchell and DeJean have progressed, opposing receivers have struggled to produce. The Eagles allowed 42-plus fantasy points to the Packers, Falcons and Buccaneers WR rooms during Weeks 1-4, but have held four of their last five opposing WR rooms (Saints, Browns, Giants and Bengals) to 100 or fewer yards and a total of two touchdowns. Chase's 20.4-point effort Sunday made him the first receiver to reach 9.0 points against the Eagles since Week 4. The Eagles have now allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to WRs over the last four weeks, including the second fewest to the perimeter and slot during the span. Jacksonville's top three receivers all went down with injuries last week, leaving the team without Christian Kirk (out for the season) and perhaps Thomas and Davis this week, but nonetheless, whichever receivers are active should be downgraded.
Texans' Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods and Tank Dell vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
The Jets are struggling overall as a team, but that hasn't stopped the pass defense from continuing to dominate. Despite two starters -- Reed and Carter -- missing substantial action, the Jets have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, including the fewest to the perimeter and 11th fewest to the slot. The Jets have allowed the fewest receptions, fewest yards and a league-low 52% catch rate to the position. Houston's wide receiver room should, of course, be downgraded significantly, especially Dell, who aligns on the perimeter 78% of the time and will see a ton of Reed and Gardner.
Advantageous Matchups
Colts' Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Vikings' Shaquill Griffin, Byron Murphy Jr. and Stephon Gilmore
Minnesota has a ton of talent in its secondary, but it simply hasn't converted to slowing opposing wide receivers. The zone-heavy Vikings have allowed the most fantasy points to wideouts, both over the full season and over the last four weeks, as well as the fourth-most points to the perimeter and third most to the slot. Minnesota has surrendered 43-plus fantasy points to the opposing WR room in five consecutive games. Pittman (73% perimeter) and Pierce (80%) will work mainly against Gilmore, who could shadow Pittman and Griffin, whereas Downs (19%) will see plenty of Murphy. Upgrade the Colts' passing attack.
Packers' Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Christian Watson vs. Lions' Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson and Carlton Davis III
Very similar to division-rival Minnesota, Detroit has faced a ton of WR targets, which has led to a lot of fantasy points allowed. The Lions have allowed the most targets, receptions and yards, as well as the third-most fantasy points to receivers this season. They've especially struggled against the slot (fourth-most points allowed), which is where Reed aligns 71% of the time. He can be upgraded quite a bit, whereas Doubs (78% perimeter), Watson (62%) and Dontayvion Wicks (66%) get a slight boost against Arnold and Davis.
Chiefs' DeAndre Hopkins, Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Buccaneers' Tyrek Funderburk, Tykee Smith and Zyon McCollum
The zone-heavy Tampa Bay pass defense has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers, including the sixth-most to the perimeter and fifth-most to the slot (second-most to the perimeter and most to the slot over the last four weeks). And a lot of that damage came with top corner Jamel Dean (now on IR) on the field. Hopkins (76% perimeter), Worthy (63%) and Smith-Schuster (53%), as well as the rest of the Chiefs receivers, tend to move around quite a bit and will see plenty of McCollum, Funderburk and slot man Smith (or, if he remains out, Christian Izien). Upgrade the Chiefs' passing game.
Broncos' Courtland Sutton, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Troy Franklin vs. Ravens' Brandon Stephens, Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins
After a rough afternoon against Cleveland, Baltimore has allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, as well as the most points to the perimeter and second-most to the slot. The Ravens have allowed a league-high 13 touchdowns to wide receivers, and six wideouts have already hit the 20-point mark against them. These struggles have lingered all season, but injuries have only added to the pain, with Humphrey and Wiggins both sidelined last week and uncertain for Week 9. If Baltimore's CB room is healthy, Sutton (85% perimeter) and Franklin (68%) will work primarily against Stephens and Wiggins, with Humphrey (28%) inside against unrelated Humphrey. Denver's receivers can be upgraded and even more so if Humphrey and/or Wiggins remain out.
Chargers' Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey and Joshua Palmer vs. Browns' Martin Emerson Jr., Greg Newsome II and Denzel Ward
Cleveland has one of the league's most-talented cornerback rooms, but it hasn't translated to success in 2024. The Browns have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to receivers, including the ninth-most to the perimeter over the last four weeks. Palmer (66% perimeter) and, if he returns from injury, Johnston (89%) will see plenty of Emerson and Ward on the boundary, with red-hot McConkey (29%) working inside against Newsome. Upgrade the Chargers' receivers.