This article attempts to highlight some of the best and worst matchups for wide receivers and tight ends each week. Using player tracking data from various sources (NFL.com, Pro Football Focus, ESPN, etc.) as well as reviews of recent trends, I look for situations to exploit or avoid when setting your weekly lineups. Given that this article is intended to help across all sites (both DFS and season-long), variations in pricing and scoring systems are not taken into account so obviously, the values could shift depending on where you are playing. The main intent of this article is simply to call out some players who could be significantly helped or hurt by their situations each week.
Favorable Matchup:
WR DeVante Parker (MIA vs NYJ):
We cannot deny him any long. Parker is not playing like the receiver the Dolphins have been trying to trade for 2 years and Ryan Fitzpatrick seems to have found some of his magic again. Parker is coming off a 7 catch, 159 yard, and 2 touchdown game against the Eagles and gets another great matchup against the Jets. New York has given up 11 touchdowns and the 7th most fantasy points to receivers lined up out wide this season. With Kalen Ballage down with injury and Patrick Laird not contributing much on the ground it should be another week of the offense going through Parker.
WR D.J. Moore (CAR vs ATL):
Even with a backup quarterback, a fired head coach, and an MVP candidate running back in Christian McCaffrey, Moore has too good of a matchup to pass up this week. He has scored at least 17 fantasy points in 5 straight games and will be taking on an Atlanta secondary that has struggled to cover receivers lined up out wide all season. They have allowed 10 touchdowns and the 5th most fantasy points to the position and Moore averages 32 routes per game split out wide. In their last meeting, Moore has 8 catches for 95 yards with 15 total targets. Look for another big game this week.
WR Alshon Jeffery (PHI vs NYG):
It was a great week to those who welcomed Jeffery back with open arms last week. He pulled in 9 of his 16 targets for 137 yards and a touchdown. He got a bump with Zach Ertz being banged up, but the added attention from Carson Wentz really paid off. The Giants are allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing receivers and Jeffery has 3 touchdowns in his past 3 games against New York. He seems healthy after missing 2 games with an ankle injury and is a great start this week.
WR Zach Pascal (IND vs TB):
Everything seems to be coming up Pascal’s way right now. Eric Ebron went on the IR and will not be back this season and T.Y. Hilton is not expected back this week against Tampa Bay. Without those 2 in the lineup, Pascal had a season high 10 targets, 7 catches, and 109 yards. He will be taking on a Tampa Bay defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing receivers and the Colts are desperate for a win to get back into the playoff hunt. Pascal is a good bet in just about any fantasy format this week.
WR Anthony Miller (CHI vs DAL):
It is hard to trust any player with Mitchell Trubisky throwing them the ball, but Miller has quietly put together 3 solid weeks in a row. He exploded on Thanksgiving with 9 catches for 140 yards on 13 targets and now has at least 9 targets and 6 catches in each of his last 3 games. Miller has soaked up the targets with Trey Burton struggling due to injury and Dallas has struggled covering receivers at times this season. Look for Miller to continue to be a cheap and productive option.
WR Robby Anderson (NYJ vs MIA):
It is hard to trust the Jets offense, but Anderson has been great down the stretch. He has at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each of his past 3 games and has a dream matchup against the Dolphins this week. Nik Needham has struggled in coverage and Miami has given up the most fantasy points to opposing receivers and the most touchdowns with 21. Both teams will be airing the ball out this weekend and both Anderson and Jamison Crowder have a great chance to have good games.
TE Jack Doyle (IND vs TB):
Even after recommending Zach Pascal against this same defense, Doyle is a great option this week. The Buccaneers have given up 7 touchdowns and the 5th most fantasy points against opposing tight ends. Doyle is coming off a monster game last week and should see a bump against Tampa if the Colts cannot run the ball. We have picked on the Cardinals defense enough against tight ends and it is someone else’s turn to provide the points.
Unfavorable Matchup:
WR Marquise Brown (BAL vs BUF):
He has proven us wrong in the past, but Brown justified his unfavorable matchup last week with a single catch against San Francisco. Things do not get much easier this week against Buffalo and corner TreDavious White. This defense has allowed just 4 touchdowns and only 11.8 yards per catch to receivers lined up out wide. Brown may be a candidate to break a long one at any time but that is not a risk you should be taking against a tough Buffalo defense in the fantasy playoffs.
WR Christian Kirk (ARZ vs PIT):
It was another let down from Kirk last week against the Rams in what should have been a good matchup. This week the matchup looks good on paper with the Steelers allowing 12 touchdowns through the air this season, but they have really clamped down and only allowed 2 in their past 4 games. Kirk has not found the end zone since week 10 and still only has the 1 score for the entire season. He is a low end PPR option this week but should be avoided if possible.
WR Terry McLaurin (WAS vs GB):
The Packers defense is not a great matchup to begin with, but McLaurin has a whole other set of problems to deal with this week. Since starting Dwayne Haskins, McLaurin’s production has been cut in half. He is averaging just 3.6 catches and 45.3 yards per game with Haskins under center. Kevin King is a little banged up this week but Jaire Alexander is more than capable of covering the speedy McLaurin with Haskins under center.
WR D.K. Metcalf (SEA vs LAR):
It has been a great season for Metcalf to this point and he has proven a lot of people wrong, but this week is going to be very tough for him. He will most likely see shadow coverage from Jalen Ramsey and that is going to make for a very long day. Despite being productive in PPR formats, Metcalf has not scored since week 9. Tyler Lockett and Jacob Hollister could see a bump this week with Metcalf dealing with Ramsey. Look elsewhere for points this week with Metcalf drawing a difficult coverage.
WR Emmanuel Sanders (SFO vs NO):
We all got really excited with Sanders after he came over from the Broncos earlier this season, but things have really cooled off. He has had 8 or fewer PPR points in his past 4 games and just a single game with more than 41 yards since coming over in the trade. He draws a tough defensive assignment against the Saints and Marshon Lattimore. Sanders is also dealing with the emergence of Deebo Samuel and the target vacuum that is George Kittle. We should get a really good game from the 49ers and Saints but do not expect Sanders to play a very big part in it.
WR Sammy Watkins (KC vs NEP):
A theme that has continued all season has been avoiding players playing the Patriots defense. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce are too good of talents to bench this week, but Watkins could easily hit the chopping block. He has not scored since week 1 and has had a combined 13 PPR fantasy points in his last 3 games. The Patriots have allowed just 2 touchdowns to opposing receivers this year and Stephon Gilmore has been one of the best corners in the league. Watkins has big play potential but that is not something you want to count on this week.
TE Jared Cook (NO vs SFO):
It has been a great turn around for Cook in recent weeks, but he runs into one of his toughest matchups of the season this week in San Francisco. The 49ers are allowing less than 4 catches per game and just 3 touchdowns all season to opposing tight ends. There are other options out there this week and plan on avoiding Cook if you can.