Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the NFL's top wide receivers. Josh Norman is one of the game's top cover corners. The Giants and Redskins play each other this week. This can only mean one thing: a full-on, head-to-head battle from start to finish.
Although that's the likely scenario here in Week 3, top-end receiver/corner showdowns rarely follow that script. There are only a handful of cornerbacks who shadow No.1 receivers most weeks, and you can count on one hand those who shadow both the perimeter and the slot.
By analyzing each and every snap, we can best project how each defense will attempt to slow the opposing team's wide receiver. Presented in no particular order, below is a list of the league's top cover corners and a breakdown of how each is utilized.
Note: Each week, I examine the top wide receiver/cornerback fantasy matchups, including projections of each and every shadow situation. Also included is the weekly WR/CB matchup cheat sheet, which shows the usage of the top three wide receivers and corners for each team.
Josh Norman, Washington Redskins
Shadows often, but only the perimeter
Where else to start but with the man of the hour? Norman is ticketed for shadow coverage against Beckham in Week 3, but that doesn't mean the CB will follow the opponent's top wide receiver each and every week. When Norman played for Carolina last year, he shadowed DeAndre Hopkins, Vincent Jackson, T.Y. Hilton, Dez Bryant, Brandin Cooks, Julio Jones (twice), Mike Evans and, of course, Beckham. Norman infamously did not shadow Antonio Brown earlier this season, but did follow Bryant during part of the Week 2 meeting with Dallas.
Some simple math tells us that Norman has shadowed during roughly half of his games over the past two seasons. Additionally, Norman almost never covers the slot. Last season, he lined up inside on a grand total of 10 pass plays. This may not matter against the Giants this week (Beckham has lined up in the slot 7 percent of the time this season), but it will surely allow the likes of Jordan Matthews, A.J. Green, Stefon Diggs and Larry Fitzgerald to avoid full-on shadow coverage later this season.
