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 Brandon Aiyuk, SF vs SEA (Quinton Dunbar)
The Seattle secondary has allowed the most targets, receptions, yards, fantasy points, and 4th most touchdowns of any defense so far this season. They have also allowed the most points to perimeter receivers this season and Aiyuk has lined up there 81% of the time this season. Deebo Samuel would be the better play if he were not injured and ruled out this week, but Aiyuk is very capable and should see a ton of targets this week. Continue to pick on the Seattle secondary until they prove they can stop someone.
WR Robby Anderson, CAR vs ATL (A.J. Terrell)
Atlanta continues to implode late in games and find the most creative ways to lose. Terrell has looked better in coverage as of late, but this is a matchup to take advantage of. Anderson had 8 receptions on 12 targets for 112 yards when they met back in week 5. Kendall Sheffield shadowed Anderson in the first half of that game and they quickly abandoned that plan and mixed in coverage by Terrell. Much like the Seattle secondary, you should continue to pick on Atlanta until they prove they can stop someone.
WR Jarvis Landry, CLE vs LVR (Lamarcus Joyner)
There are a lot of things working in Landry’s favor this week. Baker Mayfield is playing much better football recently, Landry will see more targets with Odell Beckham out with an injury, and he should see a lot of Joyner this week. The Raiders have struggled to cover players in the slot and will pay more attention to trying to stop Kareem Hunt than Landry across the middle of the field. The Browns are playing their best football of the season right now and this offensive unit should continue to click as long as Mayfield keeps it together.
WR Davante Adams, GB vs MIN (Cameron Dantzler, Mike Hughes)
This is a matchup that already happened in week 1 this season and the advantage went to Adams. He is coming off a monster game last week against Houston last week and will get to pick on the Vikings rookie corners. Jeff Gladney will also be in the mix to try and cover Adams in the slot and that matchup is also advantage to Adams. He had 14 catches on 17 targets for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns in week 1. That is a huge ceiling that he will most likely not reach again, but he has a great shot at 11 yards and a touchdown this week. Adams will be a top play in DFS lineups this week.
WR Tyler Boyd, CIN vs TEN (Chris Jackson)
Joe Burrow continues to sling the ball all over the field and Boyd continues to come down with it. The Bengals will be facing a Titans secondary that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points to receivers this season. Kristian Fulton will be out with an injury and Jackson will lineup against Boyd in the slot this week. The entire Bengals receiving core should get a boost this week, but Boyd has the best matchup of them all. The Titans have allowed the 5th most points to slot receivers so far this year and will have their normal starter out with an injury. It is all systems go for Boyd again this week.
WR Travis Fulgham, PHI vs DAL (Trevon Diggs)
The Eagles receiving core has not been great so far this year, but Fulgham has emerged as their top option. There is a chance Alshon Jeffery makes it back into the lineup but that should not matter. Diggs is projected to travel with Fulgham, and the rookie has struggled to this point. He had a decent showing against DeAndre Hopkins a few weeks ago but most of those misses were because of inaccurate passes and not his coverage. Diggs has allowed the 5th most fantasy points to opposing receivers on 206 coverage snaps so far this year and they continue to ask him to cover the opposing team’s top option. Fulgham should see his fair share of targets again this week.
TE Jonnu Smith, TEN vs CIN
It was not the best showing last week against the Steelers, but Smith has a great matchup this week against Cincinnati. They were unable to stop David Njoku and Harrison Bryant for the Browns as they combined for 3 touchdowns last week. The Bengals have allowed 6 scores to tight ends so far this season and an average of 19 fantasy points to the position. Look for a bounce back game for Smith.
TE Jimmy Graham CHI vs NO
We can never discount the potential for a revenge game. Graham fell flat in his tenure with the Saints and he has produced well for the Bears so far this season. Tight ends have done very well against the Saints to the tune of 6 touchdowns and the second most fantasy points on average. Look for Graham to continue to be the go-to tight end ahead of Cole Kmet in Chicago.
Unfavorable Matchup:
WR Julio Jones, ATL vs CAR (Rasul Douglas)
Just when Jones looked like he was getting back to full strength, he draws coverage from Douglas this week. Douglas has shut down Mike Evans, DeAndre Hopkins, and Allen Robinson so far this season and Julio could be his next victim. The Panthers as a whole have allowed the 6th fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers as teams have gone run heavy against their porous front. Jones always has the potential to break out against anyone, but he is going to have a tough matchup this week.
WR Mike Evans, TB vs NYG (James Bradberry)
Bradberry has traveled with Evans in every matchup except for their first during his rookie campaign and has done a great job. Bradberry has covered Evans on over 200 coverage snaps and held him to 30 catches on 61 targets for 387 yards and a touchdown. That lone touchdown came back in 2016 and Bradberry has gotten the better of Evans in almost every single matchup. He is expected to travel with him again this week and Evans could be in store for a dud if history continues to repeat itself.
WR Amari Cooper, DAL vs PHI (Darius Slay)
The Dallas offense has not looked good since Dak Prescott went down and those struggles should continue again this week for Cooper. He is going to draw the tough coverage from Slay who has shadowed Cooper in the past and held him to 4 catches for 42 yards on 12 targets over 2 games. The Eagles secondary can be attacked from the slot and CeeDee Lamb is the one with a great matchup against CreVon LeBlanc. Move off Cooper is you can this week with all of the offensive struggles for Dallas.
WR Adam Thielen, MIN vs GB (Jaire Alexander)
It has been hit or miss for Thielen against the Packers in his career, but this week he lines up against Alexander and is in line for a miss. Alexander has been one of the best corners in the league to this point. He has held Calvin Ridley, Mike Evans, and Will Fuller to 0 catches each. Thielen did come away with a big game in week 1 against the Packers, but only 44 of his yards and 1 of his touchdowns came against Alexander. The story in this game will be Davante Adams against the Vikings rookie corners and not Thielen on alexander.
WR Allen Robinson, CHI vs NO (Marshon Lattimore)
This will be a matchup to watch as Lattimore has been a top coverage corner and will travel with Robinson as long as he is on the outside. When they met last season, Lattimore held Robinson to 2 catches for 20 yards. The Bears may try to move him inside into the slot to get away from Lattimore, but it is a tough matchup overall to a Saints secondary that has allowed the 3rd fewest points to outside receivers this season. After a disappointing game against the Rams, Robinson is likely to follow up with another against the Saints.
WR Stephon Diggs, BUF vs Ne (Stephon Gilmore)
The Patriots have not shown the same vaunted defense of the past few years and Gilmore has looked vulnerable in coverage at times. However, the Bills were unable to take advantage of a poor Jets defense last week and the Patriots are looking to bounce back after an embarrassing loss. Look for Gilmore to lock up with Diggs and travel with him across the field this week as New England tries to get back on track within their own division.
TE Evan Engram, NYG vs TB
It has been a very odd season for Engram to this point. He is top 10 in routes run and targets, but it has not equated to any success. He is currently 17th in points per game and has a tough matchup against the Buccaneers who have allowed less than 45 yards per game to tight ends. This offense has struggled all season and until Daniel Jones can connect with Engram he should be avoided.
TE Eric Ebron, PIT vs BAL
He may have had a good line last week, but Ebron has a tough matchup against the Baltimore defense this week. A single tight end has scored more than 14 points against Baltimore, Travis Kelce in week 1, and Ebron has failed to score more than 8in 4 of his 6 games this season. Look elsewhere for your tight end points this week.
