Much of fantasy football is about exploiting matchups. Sure, there are your guys you start automatically without even thinking, regardless of what defense they’re going up against, but sometimes weeks are won and lost by exploiting good matchups and avoiding tough ones.
In this article, I’ll take a look at some wide receiver/cornerback matchups that could be useful for your fantasy team, and some matchups that could hurt it.
It’s important to note that every team is different, these are just suggestions. Use your best judgment for your team.
Good matchups
Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints) – You’re starting Michael Thomas even if he’s going up against the ghost of Deion Sanders, but he should have an especially good matchup this week against Isaiah Oliver. So far this year, Oliver has allowed 427 yards (13th-most in the NFL) and a 119.4 passer rating against. Thomas is a very strong WR1 this week.
Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – It’s been pretty incredible seeing how both Godwin and Mike Evans are able to be so fantasy relevant in the Bucs offense, and it shouldn’t stop this week. Godwin will likely be up against Tramaine Brock Sr. this week, who has allowed 401 yards (17th-most in the NFL) and a 122.1 passer rating against.
Adam Humphries (Tennessee Titans) – Humphries has been an alright flex play for a good bit of this season, and this week I think he should be a pretty decent one again. He’ll likely match up against Kendall Fuller, who has allowed a 135.2 passer rating against and a 71.4% catch rate. Humphries is a little risky, but given that the Titans will almost certainly be down in this game, I could see some junk time stuff for him.
Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) – Fitz has been a bit inconsistent lately, but this week I think could be a good one for him, as he’ll likely match up against Vernon Hargreaves III. So far this year, Hargreaves has allowed 582 yards, the most in the NFL, and a 113.3 passer rating against, not to mention a 74.1% catch rate.
Michael Gallup (Dallas Cowboys) – Gallup has been a bit inconsistent lately, but this week he could be in for a good matchup. He’ll likely see Xavier Rhodes in coverage, who so far this year has allowed a 121.5 passer rating against and an 84.4% catch rate. If Amari Cooper is out, hopefully Gallup will see his target share jump up even more, which could mean a potentially even better game for him.
Bad matchups
Allen Robinson II (Chicago Bears) – I’ve enjoyed the volume Robinson has been getting this year, and that gives him a pretty decent floor, but this week he’s likely to be shadowed by Darius Slay who has allowed just a 57.7% catch rate and an 81.6 passer rating against.
Tyler Lockett (Seattle Seahawks) – Given Lockett’s ridiculous ceiling, you’re almost definitely starting him this week, but he’s likely in for a pretty tough matchup against K’Waun Williams, who has allowed just a 66.5 passer rating against and a 70% catch rate.
Odell Beckham Jr. (Cleveland Browns) – OBJ has been really rough to own this year, and I don’t anticipate it getting better this week. He’s likely going to be shadowed by Tre’Davious White, who has allowed just a 49.8 passer rating against and a 59% catch rate.
Tyler Boyd (Cincinnati Bengals) – A.J. Green isn’t likely playing this week, meaning Boyd will probably get the most attention in the Bengals’ passing game. But getting the most attention in the Bengals’ passing game is sort of like being the best-smelling garbage man. And even worse, Boyd is likely to match up against Marlon Humphrey, who has allowed just a 79.8 passer rating against and a 57.1% catch rate.
Curtis Samuel (Carolina Panthers) – Samuel’s been pretty solid the past few weeks, but this week could prove to be a tough one for him. He’s likely to see Jaire Alexander in coverage, who has allowed just a 53.4% catch rate and is tied for the most passes broken up in the NFL with 10, meaning this might be a more D.J. Moore-heavy game than a Samuel-heavy one.
Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire
Ben, this is more of a ROS question, but I have the chance to grab Mo Sanu before MNF at the likely cost of dropping Alshon Jeffery. Given their immediate upcoming schedules, would you do it? (For context, non-PPR, no flex, start 3WR, and my other WR are Evans, Golladay, Gallup, and Kirk). I realize Alshon has a sweet schedule ahead in Wks 13-15 (@Mia, NYG, @Wsh), but I have to win out to have a shot at playoffs, and his underperformance so far isn’t leaving me too confident in him. Thanks in advance.