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
Colts' Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (Shadow)
Surtain has shadowed DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Mike Evans, Garrett Wilson, DeAndre Hopkins, Drake London and Jerry Jeudy, aligning against the group on a combined 148 of 236 routes, including 136 of 155 perimeter routes. The receiving lines of the group were as follows: Metcalf (4 targets-3 catches-29 yards-0 TD), Pickens (4-2-29-0), Evans (3-2-17-0), Wilson (7-5-41-0), Hopkins (5-4-56-0), London (7-3-61-0) and Jeudy (13-9-235-1). The Broncos have been in man coverage more than any other defense (57%) and, especially after allowing Jeudy to go off in their last game, have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points overall and second most to the perimeter over the past eight weeks. Pittman aligns out wide 73% of the time and can expect to see Surtain on those plays.
Takeaway: Denver's recent struggles figure to benefit the likes of Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Adonai Mitchell, but Pittman is going to have his hands full with one of the league's top corners. Jeudy's performance gives us some hope, but he should still be downgraded.
Texans' Nico Collins vs. Dolphins' Jalen Ramsey (Shadow)
Ramsey hasn't shadowed full time very often this season, but he did against DK Metcalf and Calvin Ridley earlier this year and also against Garrett Wilson in Week 14. Metcalf (6-4-104-1) and Wilson (10-7-114-0) both had big games, whereas Ridley (3-1-5-0) was shut down. Houston is one of the teams with a very clear-cut No. 1 perimeter receiver (77% of his routes), which points toward a likely showdown with Ramsey. They haven't been quite as dominant as of late, but the Dolphins have allowed the fourth-fewest WR fantasy points this season, including the seventh fewest to the perimeter.
Takeaway: Collins' bust risk is higher than usual, but you should still start him with confidence.
Cardinals' Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. Patriots' Christian Gonzalez (Shadow)
Gonzalez has shadowed Ja'Marr Chase, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Brandon Aiyuk, Tyreek Hill (x2), Gabe Davis, Davante Adams and Calvin Ridley, combining to cover them on 188 of 270 routes, including 157 of 184 on the perimeter and 31 of 85 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), Adams (6-4-54-0), Ridley (8-5-73-0) and Hill (6-5-48-0). The group averaged 12.1 fantasy PPG and eight of the nine fell short of 14.5. Harrison aligns on the perimeter 73% of the time and can expect to see Gonzalez on those plays, as well as a handful in the slot.
Takeaway: Expectations for Harrison should be lowered a bit, but New England has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to the perimeter over its past eight games, so Michael Wilson has some deep-league sleeper appeal.
Bears' DJ Moore vs. Vikings' Stephon Gilmore (Shadow)
Gilmore has shadowed, usually part time, at various times throughout the season. He has matched up with Malik Nabers, Nico Collins, Puka Nacua, DJ Moore and Marvin Harrison Jr. most often, combining to cover the group on 93 of 166 routes, including 92 of 130 on the perimeter. The results were all over the map, with Nacua, Moore and Harrison reaching 17 fantasy points, whereas Nabers and Collins (both during Weeks 1-3), fell short of 13 points. These teams met in Week 12 and Moore went for 7-106-1 on seven targets, with 43 of those yards coming against Gilmore. Minnesota has allowed the most WR fantasy points this season, including the sixth most to the perimeter and fourth most to the slot.
Takeaway: Top receivers have managed big games against Minnesota even when Gilmore has been assigned to them and that includes Moore just three weeks ago. He can be started as usual.
Dolphins' Tyreek Hill vs. Texans' Derek Stingley Jr. (Shadow)
After shadowing once during Weeks 1-9, Stingley shadowed in four straight games prior to Houston's Week 14 bye. The standout corner traveled with DJ Moore (10-6-53-0 receiving line in the game), Jameson Williams (5-3-53-0), CeeDee Lamb (12-8-93-0), Calvin Ridley (6-5-93-0) and Brian Thomas Jr. (10-4-76-1), combining to cover the group on a combined 101 of 181 routes, including 96 of 111 on the perimeter. The five receivers averaged 13.8 fantasy PPG, though the last three were each in the range of 14-18 points. Hill aligns on the perimeter 64% of the time and he can expect to see Stingley on those plays. Houston has allowed the sixth-most WR fantasy points this season.
Takeaway: Hill's explosiveness makes him tough to match up with, but Stingley is one of the game's best, young corners. Expectations can be reduced slightly.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson vs. Bears' Jaylon Johnson (Shadow)
Johnson hasn't done much full-time shadowing this season, but he has at times, including matchups with Tutu Atwell, Brian Thomas Jr. and Jefferson. When these teams met in Week 12, Johnson shadowed Jefferson on 19 of his 37 routes, including 17 of 23 on the perimeter and two of 14 in the slot. Jefferson was held in check, posting a 2-27-0 receiving line on five targets. In that same game, both Jordan Addison (9-8-162-1) and T.J. Hockenson (8-7-114-0) cleared 18 fantasy points and Jalen Nailor also found the end zone. The Bears have allowed the fewest WR fantasy points this season, though they've slipped to near mid-pack over the past month.
Takeaway: Teams have given Jefferson a ton of attention as of late and it's led to several down games, including in this matchup three weeks ago. There's added bust risk for Minnesota's top receivers, whereas Addison gets a boost against the Tyrique Stevenson/Terell Smith rotation on the other side.
Eagles' A.J. Brown vs. Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. (Shadow)
Porter has shadowed for a substantive chunk of the game seven times this season, which has included showdowns with Drake London, Courtland Sutton, Quentin Johnston, CeeDee Lamb, Terry McLaurin, Rashod Bateman and Tee Higgins. He covered the group on a combined 146 of 217 routes, including 142 of 180 on the perimeter. Their receiving lines were as follows: London (4-2-15-0), Sutton (5-1-26-0), Johnston (2-2-44-1), Lamb (9-5-62-0), McLaurin (6-5-113-0), Bateman (3-2-30-0) and Higgins (10-5-69-1). The group combined to average 10.0 fantasy points, with only McLaurin and Higgins reaching 13. The Steelers have allowed the sixth-fewest WR fantasy points, including the fourth fewest over expected. Brown aligns on the boundary 80% of the time and can expect to see Porter on those plays.
Takeaway: Expectations for Brown should be reduced a bit.
Tough matchups
Steelers' George Pickens, Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson vs. Eagles' Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Darius Slay Jr.
During its past eight games, Philadelphia has allowed the fewest WR fantasy points, including the third fewest to the perimeter and sixth fewest to the slot. For the season, the Eagles have allowed the second-fewest receiving yards and a league-low 6.7 yards per target. If he's able to return from injury this week, Pickens (74% perimeter) will see a ton of Mitchell and Slay and should be downgraded. Secondary receivers Austin and Jefferson should be avoided.
Bills' Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman vs. Lions' Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis III
Detroit allowed a ton of fantasy points to wide receivers early in the season but, as noted in this column, it was very fluky and driven heavily by excess target volume. Detroit has actually allowed the fewest WR fantasy points over expected this season and have now surrendered the eighth-fewest points to the position straight up over its past four games. Cooper (82% perimeter) and Coleman (92%) will have their hands full with Arnold and Davis on the boundary and can be downgraded. Khalil Shakir (71% slot) has a much more appealing matchup in the slot against Amik Robertson and stands to benefit.
Advantageous matchups
Raiders' Tre Tucker, Jakobi Meyers and Terrace Marshall Jr. vs. Falcons' A.J. Terrell, Dee Alford and Mike Hughes/Clark Phillips III
The Falcons have allowed the second-most WR fantasy points this season, including the most to the perimeter and eighth most to the slot. They've allowed the most overall and to the perimeter over both their past eight and four games. That was on full display Sunday when both Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson cleared 30 fantasy points against them. Atlanta has allowed 20 TD receptions and a 73% completion percentage to WRs, both of which are tops in the league. Meyers is Las Vegas' top fantasy option at wide receiver and can be upgraded, whereas boom/bust Tucker makes for an interesting deep-league flex dart throw.
Commanders' Terry McLaurin, Olamide Zaccheaus and Noah Brown vs. Saints' Kool-Aid McKinstry, Ugo Amadi and Alontae Taylor
The Saints have allowed the seventh-most WR fantasy points, including the 11th most to the perimeter. They sit bottom five in both categories over their past four games. McLaurin (83% perimeter) will spend most of his day battling with the rookie McKinstry, leaving Brown (78%) on the other side against struggling Taylor. Both should be upgraded.
Titans' Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley vs. Bengals' Cam Taylor-Britt, Mike Hilton and Josh Newton
Over their past eight games, the Bengals have allowed the eighth-most WR fantasy points, including the sixth most to the perimeter and seventh most to the slot. Ridley (80% perimeter) and Westbrook-Ikhine (79%) will work against Taylor-Britt and Newton on the boundary with Boyd (19%) in a slightly tougher spot against Hilton inside. Upgrade Tennessee's receivers.