This article highlights 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.) and 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 Matchups
WR Drake London (ATL vs SEA) vs Michael Jackson
The 2022 Atlanta offense has been a bit of a mystery, but London has produced more than anyone to this point. Seattle has not faced a ton of volume to start the year, but they have allowed 4 different receivers to eclipse 11 fantasy points in two games (Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel). London has lined up on the perimeter 86% of the time and has a good matchup against a mix of Jackson and the rookie Tariq Woolen. London should continue to see a high volume of targets this week and have the production to go with it in a plus matchup.
WR D.J. Chark (DET vs MIN) vs Cameron Dantzler
Amon-Ra St. Brown is the easy automatic start for Detroit in this matchup, but Chark has the better matchup against Dantzler on the right side. The Vikings corners have played 100% of snaps on their respective sides and have not gotten creative on defense with Patrick Peterson at all this year. Dantzler was a big reason why the Vikings ranked in the Bottom 5 of almost every statistical passing category in the league last season. St Brown is the hot hand and will see the majority of the targets, but Chark could be a sneaky flex play this week with a high ceiling in what should be one of his best matchups of the year.
WR Mike Williams (LAC vs JAX) vs Shaquill Griffin
Williams showed up big last week with an impressive stat line against the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football. There are still some questions about the health of Keenan Allen and the new rib injury for Justin Herbert. However, Williams walks into a great matchup against a corner allowing half a fantasy point per coverage snap so far this season. Look for Williams to continue to cement himself in this offense and put up another set of big numbers against Jacksonville this week.
WR Davante Adams (LV vs TEN) vs Kristian Fulton
It was a very slow week for Adams as he almost disappeared in the Cardinals game. This week he has an instant shot at redemption against a Tennessee team that was bullied by the Bills last week and has now allowed the most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Adams lines up all over the field but will see a lot of Fulton this week. Fulton is allowing 0.8 fantasy points per coverage snap in his limited playing time so far and will have an even tougher matchup this week. Adams has a great chance to get back on track this week against a struggling Titans secondary.
WR Chris Moore (HOU vs CHI) vs Kyler Gordon
Houston is a tough offense to trust, and Moore is by far a name that not many people know. He has 5 receptions for 45 yards this season, but he is walking into a great matchup against a Bears secondary that was worked over by a group of no-name Green Bay receivers. Gordon is allowing 0.86 fantasy points per coverage snap right now. This ranks in the Bottom 5 of the league with corners with at least 50 snaps. Brandin Cooks is going to get all of the attention on the outside, and that should leave plenty of room for Moore underneath against Gordon. If you are looking to diversify your lineups this week, Moore has a great matchup and should have a very low ownership percentage.
WR Chase Claypool (PIT vs CLE) vs Greg Newsome
The Browns absolutely fell apart against the Jets last week and the secondary was picked apart by Joe Flacco. Newsome is struggling in the early season and is allowing just over half a fantasy point per coverage snap. His completion rate is lower at around 15%, but he continues to give up the big plays accounting for the higher per play average. Claypool was great as a rookie and is looking to find his way with a new quarterback right now. Mitchell Trubisky has not looked great, but his favorite target is Claypool. Look for the pair to connect early and often this week as the Steelers look to continue their recent dominance of the Browns.
TE Tyler Higbee (LAR vs ARZ)
Higbee has been one of the best tight ends in the league to start the season. He leads the position with 20 targets and is taking on an Arizona team that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends to start the year. The position continues to be very thin, and he was a must-start to begin with, but Higbee has the usage and the matchup this week to give him a top-three finish at the position in Week 3.
TE Pat Freiermuth (PIT vs CLE)
As noted above, the tight end position has been very thin. Freiermuth currently has the sixth-most fantasy points at the position and is walking into a solid matchup against the Browns. Cleveland allowed 6 receptions to Tyler Conklin and the Jets last week and has struggled against the position in the past. Freiermuth has a safe floor and should easily finish as a top 10 tight end this week.
Unfavorable Matchups
WR Terry McLaurin (WAS vs PHI) vs Darius Slay
Slay continues to be a mainstay on this side of the article. He had an amazing game against Justin Jefferson and Kirk Cousins on Monday Night Football and will look to continue that against Carson Wentz and McLaurin. Slay has allowed receptions to McLaurin in the past but nowhere near as much as James Bradberry on the other side. Look for Slay to stick with McLaurin and for Bradberry to trail Curtis Samuel this week. The Eagles’ secondary is looking good to start the season, and McLaurin should be downgraded with the tough matchup this week.
WR Sammy Watkins (GB vs TB) vs Jamel Dean
Watkins had a much better game in Week 2 against the Bears, but this entire group is walking into a tough spot against the Buccaneers’ secondary. Dean looked great against Jameis Winston and the Saints last week and walked away with two interceptions. Tampa Bay ranks near the top in most defensive passing stats, and Green Bay looks dysfunctional at best at the wide receiver position. If Watkins moves around to escape Dean, he will just run into Carlton Davis on the other side. This will be a tough matchup for the entire Green Bay offense. Downgrade and avoid all receivers if possible in your league this week.
WR Marquise Brown (ARZ vs LAR) vs Jalen Ramsey
It is tough to trust Ramsey after he was absolutely worked by Stefon Diggs in Week 1, but that does not change how well he has played historically. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals have not looked great on offense despite the big come-from-behind win last week. Ramsey has not shadowed a receiver 100% at any point yet this season, but he is likely to stick with Brown as the top option this week for the majority of coverage snaps. Downgrade Brown in a tough matchup against a great corner this week.
WR D.J. Moore (CAR vs NO) vs Marshon Lattimore
Lattimore avoided a suspension after his fight with Mike Evans last week and should see himself across from Moore this week. He has never followed him in his career, but with Moore lining up on the right side nearly 60% of the time, it is a good bet he will see a lot of Lattimore this week. Throw in how inconsistent Baker Mayfield and this offense has been, and Moore is an easy downgrade this week. Carolina is a situation to avoid until they can get the run game going and more consistent play from Mayfield.
WR Christian Kirk (JAX vs LAC) vs Bryce Callahan
Kirk has started the season hot and is not a player to bench this week, but he is walking into a tough spot against one of the better cover slot corners in the league. Callahan has all but shut down everyone this season, allowing a league-best 0.06 fantasy points per coverage snap this year on 64 snaps. He also has an extremely low target rate with just 12%. Kirk has been a big piece of this offense and is going to get his targets, but we should temper expectations in a tough matchup this week against Callahan.
WR Deebo Samuel (SF vs DEN) vs Ronald Darby
There are a lot of changes happening in San Francisco right now. The change at quarterback will boost the wide receivers across the board, but Samuel is walking into the toughest matchup against Darby. Across 60 coverage snaps so far this year, Darby is allowing just 0.05 fantasy points per play and is being targeted on just 11% of routes. This number will likely revert to the norm this week, but the elite play so far this year would suggest a down game for Samuel. He is a must-start in all formats, but lower your expectations for Samuel this week.
TE Mike Gesicki (MIA vs BUF)
It was nice to see Gesicki break out against Baltimore last week with 14.1 fantasy points. However, he still had just 4 targets in a game where the Dolphins were down early and throwing the ball a lot. He is also facing a Buffalo defense that has not allowed a touchdown and has given up the second-fewest fantasy points to the position since Week 13 of 2021. This offense is still evolving, and it remains to be seen how much of a factor Gesicki will be the rest of the year.
TE Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN vs SF)
The Denver Broncos have been a tough offense to watch so far this year. Between goal-line fumbles and constant play clock issues, they cannot seem to get anything going. Russell Wilson has not elevated this passing game as everyone thought he would so far and Okwuegbunam was shut out on 2 targets last week against a porous Houston defense. The 49ers have also given up just two touchdowns over their past eight games to the position and had just two players score double-digit fantasy points. Okwuegbunam is not just a bench candidate but could be dropped in a lot of leagues at this point.