Fantasy football Shadow Report: Key WR/CB matchups for NFL Week 17

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 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

Eagles' A.J. Brown vs. Cowboys' DaRon Bland (shadow)

Earlier this season, we saw Trevon Diggs shadow Malik Nabers, George Pickens, Jameson Williams and Nico Collins when he was healthy and Bland was sidelined. Since Bland's return, and while Diggs (out for the season) has been sidelined, we've seen Bland shadow Nabers and Mike Evans. That usage suggests we can expect Bland to travel with Brown the 81% of the time he's on the perimeter this week. Nabers (13 targets-8 receptions-69 yards-0 touchdowns) and Evans (7-5-69-0) both exited their game against Bland with solid, but unspectacular statistical showings, though Dallas continues to struggle as a whole against wide receivers (third-most fantasy points allowed to the position over their last eight games, including the 11th-most to the perimeter and third most to the slot).

Takeaway: If anything, Brown can be downgraded slightly, whereas DeVonta Smith can be upgraded against Amani Oruwariye and Jourdan Lewis.

Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase 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 (4-3-29-0), 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). Only Jeudy reached double-digit fantasy points, and nearly all of his damage was done when not covered by Surtain. The man-heavy Broncos have surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points overall and third-most to the perimeter over the last eight weeks. Chase is a decent bet to see Surtain the 65% of the time he's aligned on the perimeter.

Takeaway: Chase is borderline matchup-proof and will align in the slot plenty, which means he'll avoid Surtain at times in this game. There's no reason for anything more than a slight downgrade.

Falcons' Drake London vs. Commanders' Marshon Lattimore (shadow)

Lattimore is entering his third game with the Commanders. The veteran corner did not shadow against the shorthanded Saints in Week 15, but he was in a full-time shadow role against A.J. Brown prior to leaving Sunday's game with an injury (23 of 25 routes, including 22 of 22 on the perimeter). Brown had little trouble in the game, posting an 8-97-1 receiving line on 15 targets (mostly against Lattimore) and drawing multiple interference penalties on Lattimore. Sunday aside, Washington has been pretty good against wide receivers of late, having allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position over their last eight games (fifth-fewest to the perimeter).

Takeaway: If Lattimore is able to play, expectations for London should be reduced slightly, though Sunday's big game by Brown is reason for some optimism. If Lattimore is sidelined, London will be in a better spot against replacement Benjamin St-Juste.

Chargers' Quentin Johnston vs. Patriots' Christian Gonzalez (shadow)

Gonzalez has shadowed Ja'Marr Chase, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Brandon Aiyuk, Tyreek Hill (x2), Gabe Davis, Davante Adams, Calvin Ridley and Marvin Harrison Jr., combining to cover them on 208 of 299 routes, including 172 of 203 on the perimeter and 36 of 95 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), Hill (6-5-48-0) and Harrison (6-2-32-0). The group averaged 11.4 fantasy PPG and nine of the 10 fell short of 14.5 points. Johnston aligns out wide 87% of the time and can expect to see Gonzalez on those plays this week, whereas slot man Ladd McConkey will draw Marcus Jones.

Takeaway: Gonzalez has locked down his opposition this season, so Johnston should be downgraded.

Commanders' Terry McLaurin vs. Falcons' A.J. Terrell (shadow)

Terrell has shadowed George Pickens, DeVonta Smith, Mike Evans, Diontae Johnson, DK Metcalf, CeeDee Lamb, Courtland Sutton, Quentin Johnston, Justin Jefferson and Malik Nabers this season. He covered the receivers on 172 of their 287 routes, including 166 of 194 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), DK Metcalf (7-4-99-1), Lamb (13-8-47-0), Sutton (8-7-78-0), Johnston (5-2-12-0), Jefferson (7-7-132-2) and Nabers (14-7-68-0), which works out to 16.7 fantasy points per game (only Johnston fell short of 12.7). Terrell shadowed McLaurin when these teams met in Week 12 of 2022, covering him on all 12 perimeter routes but none of his seven slot routes. McLaurin posted a 4-48-0 receiving line on six targets in what was a very low-volume game for the Washington offense. The Falcons have allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the most to the perimeter. Atlanta has allowed 20 TD receptions and a 70% completion percentage to WRs, both of which are tops in the league. McLaurin aligns out wide 81% of the time and can expect to see Terrell on all of those routes.

Takeaway: Atlanta's struggles against receivers, including those shadowed by Terrell, suggest we can upgrade McLaurin and the rest of Washington's receivers in this matchup.

Buccaneers' Mike Evans vs. Panthers' Jaycee Horn (shadow)

Horn has dabbled as a shadow corner throughout the season, but we've seen him do it on a near-full-time basis twice in recent weeks. He shadowed DeAndre Hopkins on 13 of his 16 perimeter routes in Week 12 (Hopkins had a 5-35-1 receiving line on six targets in the game) and then traveled with Evans on 16 of his 22 perimeter routes in Week 13 (8-118-1 on 12 targets). The Panthers are a little better than average against wide receivers overall this season, though they've struggled against the perimeter (seventh-most fantasy points allowed), as seen a few weeks ago when Evans had his way with this secondary.

Takeaway: It's possible Horn doesn't shadow, considering how poorly it went a few weeks ago, but either way, it's a good matchup for Evans, who can be upgraded.

Tough matchups