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
Falcons’ Drake London vs. Broncos’ Pat Surtain II (Shadow)
Surtain has shadowed DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Mike Evans, Garrett Wilson and DeAndre Hopkins, aligning against the group on a combined 104 of 150 routes, including 94 of 99 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), Wilson (7-5-41-0) and Hopkins (5-4-56-0).
The Broncos have been in man coverage more than any other defense (59%) and, though they’ve slipped a bit as of late, they’ve allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points and only six TDs to receivers this season. London aligns on the perimeter 59% of the time and can expect to see Surtain on those plays, though he’ll see enough slot work that a respectable fantasy day remains possible.
Takeaway: Downgrade London moderately.
Rams’ Puka Nacua vs. Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez (Shadow)
Gonzalez has shadowed Ja’Marr Chase, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Brandon Aiyuk, Tyreek Hill, Gabe Davis, Davante Adams and Calvin Ridley, combining to cover them on 169 of 234 routes, including 139 of 158 on the perimeter and 30 of 75 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) and Ridley (8-5-73-0). The results have been strong, as seven of the eight receivers fell short of 14.5 fantasy points. Gonzalez didn’t shadow on specific receiver last week, though he spent all but one of his coverage snaps aligned against either DJ Moore or Rome Odunze (the duo combined for a 6-47-0 receiving line on 12 targets).
Since Cooper Kupp is the Rams’ primary slot receiver (only 39% perimeter) and Nacua generally aligns out wide (76%), we should expect Gonzalez to align against the latter most often this week.
Takeaway: Expectations for Nacua can be lowered slightly, but he remains a good bet for a big share of the targets.
Broncos’ Courtland Sutton vs. Falcons’ A.J. Terrell (Shadow)
Terrell has shadowed George Pickens, DeVonta Smith, Mike Evans, Diontae Johnson, DK Metcalf and CeeDee Lamb this season. He covered the receivers on 103 of their 174 routes, including 103 of 113 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) and Lamb (13-8-47-0) which works out to 17.2 fantasy points per game.
Atlanta has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the ninth-most to the perimeter and seventh-most to the slot. Sutton aligns on the perimeter a hefty 86% of the time, and he can expect to see Terrell on all of those plays this week.
Takeaway: Top receivers haven’t had much trouble against Atlanta, including those shadowed by Terrell. Expectations for Sutton should be reduced only slightly.
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson vs. Titans’ L’Jarius Sneed (Shadow)
A quad injury has sidelined Sneed the past four weeks, but we should expect him to travel with Jefferson if he’s able to return. The standout corner shadowed Garrett Wilson and Tyreek Hill on their perimeter routes (combined 30 of 30) earlier this season and also aligned against DJ Moore quite a bit (14 of 19 perimeter routes) in Week 1. Moore (9-5-36-0), Wilson (6-4-57-0) and Hill (7-4-23-0) were all very much held in check in those games.
The Titans have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the fourth fewest to the perimeter and slot. Tennessee has allowed the fewest receiving yards and third-lowest yards per target (6.8) to the position.
Takeaway: Jefferson is fairly matchup proof, so if Sneed is able to play, no more than a minor downgrade is in the cards. If Sneed is out, this defense is substantially less intimidating and Jefferson’s outlook will be as strong as usual.
Tough matchups
Commanders’ Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey and Noah Brown vs. Eagles’ Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Darius Slay Jr.
After shutting down Dallas on Sunday, the Eagles have held their last five opposing WR rooms (Browns, Giants, Bengals, Jaguars and Cowboys) to 113 or fewer yards and one total touchdown. One receiver (Ja’Marr Chase, 20.4) has reached 9.0 points against the Eagles during the five-game span. The Eagles have now allowed 6.8 yards per target (second-fewest) to receivers this season, as well as the fewest fantasy points to WRs over the last four weeks. That includes second-fewest points to the perimeter and fourth-fewest to the slot during the span. Granted, Philadelphia’s recent schedule has been light, but Slay and rookie duo Mitchell and DeJean have played well.
Expectations for the Washington receiver room should be lowered.
Colts’ Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Adonai Mitchell and Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Jets’ D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
Despite their overall struggles this season, the Jets have allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, including the fewest to the perimeter and sixth fewest to the slot. New York has allowed the fewest receptions, second-fewest yards and a league-low 54% catch rate to the position.
Pittman (72% perimeter), Pierce (81%) and Mitchell (73%) will work primarily against Reed and Gardner, whereas Downs (20%) will work inside against Carter. The Colts’ passing game should be downgraded.
Bills’ Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins vs. Chiefs’ Nazeeh Johnson and Trent McDuffie
The Chiefs have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers as a whole, though the splits here are interesting, as they’ve surrendered the second-fewest to the perimeter and the most to the slot. Wide receivers have posted league-low yards per reception (10.7) and yards per target (6.5) marks against Kansas City and none have reached 20 points in a game. Kansas City hasn’t shadowed much this season, but McDuffie traveled with Courtland Sutton last week and very well could follow Cooper (if he’s back from injury) in Week 11.
Cooper (81% perimeter) and Hollins (69%) should be downgraded, but Khalil Shakir (28%) can be upgraded against the Chiefs’ rotation of slot corners.
Packers’ Jayden Reed vs. Bears’ Kyler Gordon (Slot)
The Bears have allowed the second-fewest catches, TDs (five) and fantasy points to wide receivers this season and, while they’re midpack against the perimeter, they’ve surrendered the fewest points to the slot. That, of course, is where Reed aligns 71% of the time. Four receivers have reached 13 fantasy points against Chicago this season, and all four (Nico Collins, Gabe Davis, Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown) were primarily outside receivers.
Expectations for Reed should be lowered, as a few more targets could go the way of the team’s boundary receivers and TE Tucker Kraft.
Advantageous matchups
Steelers’ George Pickens, Calvin Austin III and Mike Williams vs. Ravens’ Brandon Stephens, Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins
After getting shredded (again) by Cincinnati last week, Baltimore has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, as well as the most to the perimeter and third-most to the slot. The Ravens have allowed the most receiving yards and touchdowns (16) to wide receivers, and there have already been eight instances of a wideout receiving 20 fantasy points against them (two were Ja’Marr Chase, who has a total of 96.7 points against Baltimore in two games).
This is, of course, a smash spot for Pickens, who can be upgraded substantially. Williams will be risky in his second game with Pittsburgh, but he’s very much on the sleeper radar this week.
Chargers’ Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer vs. Bengals’ Cam Taylor-Britt and D.J. Turner II
The Bengals’ struggles against the perimeter continue. They’ve allowed the 13th-most points overall to receivers, but the third-most to the boundary (most over their past four games) and eighth-fewest to the slot. Johnston (90% perimeter) will see the struggling and heavily-targeted Taylor-Britt while Palmer (79%) will see a lot of Turner. Both can be upgraded.
Ladd McConkey (28%) will work primarily against one of the league’s top slot corners in Mike Hilton and shouldn’t be upgraded.
Saints’ Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Mason Tipton vs. Browns’ Martin Emerson Jr., Greg Newsome II and Denzel Ward
You’d be hard-pressed to trust a Saints’ wide receiver right now, but if you need a dart throw, this a potential matchup to exploit. The Browns have a terrific secondary on paper, but they’ve struggled this season, having allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers, (second-most over their last four games) and the seventh-most to the perimeter. All three of Ward, Emerson and Newsome have been heavily targeted and struggled in coverage.
Enter at your own risk, but Valdes-Scantling (two TDs last week), Wilson and Tipton are in a good spot this week.