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 Matchups
WR Jakobi Meyers (NE vs GB) vs Keisean Nixon
There is a lot of uncertainty around the quarterback situation in New England right now, but Meyers has a great matchup in the slot this week. He will be working against Nixon, who has allowed .63 fantasy points per coverage snap so far this season. The Green Bay secondary was blown up by the Vikings in Week 1 and then have limited a punchless Chicago offense and a Tampa Bay squad without any of its star receivers. Even without Mac Jones this week, Meyers has a great shot to put up a solid performance this week
WR Richie James (NYG vs CHI) vs Kyler Gordon
The Giants have a big void for targets after the Sterling Sheperd was lost for the season. Daniel Jones has to throw someone the ball and James has the best matchup this week against Gordon. The Bears secondary is performing in the middle of the pack so far this season, but Gordon is currently allowing .68 fantasy points per coverage snap right now. He is being picked on early and often and opposing offenses are finding a lot of success against him. This is not going to be a high-scoring game, but the nearly 10 targets per game that Sheperd was commanding will have to go to someone and there may be enough volume to make James a sneaky sleeper this week.
WR Michael Gallup (DAL vs WAS) vs Kendall Fuller
This is a situation to monitor later in the week, but after logging another practice, Gallup is on track to make his season debut. Cooper Rush has looked good under center to this point, and the Cowboys offense started to click in the second half against the Giants last week. Gallup would line up against Fuller on a large chunk of his routes this week, and Fuller is currently allowing 0.5 fantasy points per coverage snap early this year. The entire Washington secondary has not played very well this year and was dominated by Philadelphia last week. Gallup has a great shot to pick up where he left off last season but watch his status and potential snap count as he eases back into his role.
WR Michael Pittman (IND vs TEN) vs Terrance Mitchell
The Titans are struggling to field a full secondary early this season and recently snagged another body off the Patriots practice squad. They are currently allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers and the most to outside receivers and six touchdowns. Pittman will find himself in another great matchup this week if Matt Ryan can get the ball to him. Look for another week of high volume for Pittman in what is also one of the best matchups of the week for any receiver. Mitchell is allowing .76 fantasy points per coverage snap and will likely be picked on again this week.
WR Isaiah McKenzie (BUF vs BAL) vs Damarion Williams
Baltimore has struggled in the secondary so far this season. They have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing receivers as well as the most to slot receivers. McKenzie is walking into a good spot against Williams and could see a boost if Gabriel Davis misses time due to injury (limited practice on Wednesday). Baltimore allowed the big comeback from the Dolphins in Week 2 and a late surge from the Patriots last week. Josh Allen is going to continue throwing the ball, and McKenzie should benefit against a beaten-up secondary this week.
WR Garrett Wilson (NYJ vs PIT) vs Cameron Sutton
Wilson has looked good early this season and is leading the Jets in most receiving categories. He has emerged as their top option and will be taking on a Steelers defense that has been shaky to start the season. They are currently allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing receivers, including the third-most to the slot. Sutton is allowing roughly .3 fantasy points per coverage snap, but that is because he has been targeted only half of what his outside corners have been. Look for that number to balance out and for Sutton to allow some big plays this week against a Jets team trying to stretch the field.
TE David Njoku (CLE vs ATL)
Njoku finally broke out last week after cashing in with the big contract in the offseason. The big tight end caught 9 of his 10 targets for 86 yards and a touchdown. He commands the second most target share in this offense right now, just behind Amari Cooper, and he is making the most of it. He also has a favorable matchup against an Atlanta defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Njoku ranks as the TE7 right now and has a chance to climb higher with another solid performance.
TE Tyler Higbee (LAR vs SF)
It may be a tough matchup on paper with the 49ers having played well against tight ends so far this year, but Higbee is averaging 10 points per game played and is on the field a lot. He is currently playing 95% of offensive snaps for the Rams, leading the league at his position. His 24 targets are good for third in the league, and he is just seeing way too much volume right now not to trust. This offense has a lot of weapons, but Matthew Stafford has been looking for his tight end early and often this season.
Unfavorable Matchup
WR Justin Jefferson (MIN vs NO) vs Marshon Lattimore
There is no denying the talent of Jefferson, but he has struggled in recent weeks against shadow coverage. Jeff Okudah and Darius Slay both had success against Jefferson, and that will likely have the Saints using Lattimore in the same role. The pair met back in 2020 with Jefferson finishing with 6 catches for 85 yards. The Vikings could be without Dalvin Cook this week and could rely on Jefferson and Kirk Cousins through the air more. However, the Saints secondary has been solid to start the year and will be a tough test. Jefferson is not a receiver we bench but temper your expectations in a tougher matchup.
WR DK Metcalf (SEA vs DET) vs Jeff Okudah
As mentioned above, Okudah has one of his best showings of his career last week against Justin Jefferson. He limited the top receiver to just 3 catches for 14 yards on 6 targets. Detroit has been fun to watch so far this year. Their offense has scored the third-most points and the defense has shown periods of being great. Metcalf is dealing with an offense without Russell Wilson or a clear-cut No. 1 running back. Expect the Lions to have Okudah shadow Metcalf and continue the great play as a former third-overall pick.
WR D.J. Moore (CAR vs ARZ) vs Byron Murphy
Baker Mayfield has struggled to get the ball to Moore so far this season, and that is likely to continue this week. Murphy shadowed Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp so far this year and held the pain to 6 total catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. While the touchdown is a blemish, the catches and yards are outstanding against 2 of the premier pass catchers in the league. Arizona has struggled in other places in the secondary and that could bring about more work for Robbie Anderson over Moore. Until Mayfield can get on the same page as Moore, he is going to be tough to start.
WR Terry McLaurin (WAS vs DAL) vs Trevon Diggs
Diggs may have been burned for a lot of big pays last year to go with all of his interceptions, but he has great history against McLaurin so far. He shadowed in both meetings last season and held McLaurin without a catch in the first game and limited to 3 catches for 40 yards in the second. Diggs does have a history of overplaying the ball and allowing big plays, and McLaurin does have a new quarterback in Carson Wentz. But we should temper our overall expectations in what could be another down week for McLaurin.
WR Keenan Allen (LAC vs HOU) vs Desmond King
There is still a lot up in the air about the health of Allen and quarterback Justin Herbert. Allen has been a limited participant in practice this week and has a chance to suit up this weekend. If he does, he will be walking into a tough matchup against King. The slot corner is allowing just .1 fantasy points per coverage snap and has been targeted on just 6% of routes run against him. These are some of the best numbers in the league and he has faced over 100 routes run against him. Mike Williams should have a much easier time on the outside against Derek Stingley, and we should wait until more about the health of Allen is known.
WR Davante Adams (LV vs DEN) vs Patrick Surtain
It is not often we see Adams on this side of the list, but he has struggled to adjust to the Raiders offense and has been held in check the past 2 weeks. This week he will have a tough matchup against Surtain. Surtain has traveled with DK Metcalf and Brandon Aiyuk so far this season and plays 100% of his snaps on the perimeter. Adams lines up in the slot about a third of the time and can escape the tough coverage, but the Broncos as a whole are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. Adams is a mainstay in most formats, but we may see another mediocre performance against the Broncos this week.
TE Logan Thomas (WAS vs DAL)
After catching a touchdown in week 2, Thomas looked like he was officially back. However, he has seen his usage shrink and is firmly behind Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and an emerging Jahan Dotson is taking a lot of the red zone work and touchdowns. Dallas has been great against tight ends as well so far this season. There is too much competition for targets in this offense right now to trust Thomas.
TE Robert Tonyan Jr (GB vs NE)
It was encouraging to see Tonyan targeted seven times last week, but he only managed to turn that into 37 yards. The seven targets are equal to the amount he has seen the entire rest of the season, and he has not been a factor in the red zone like his breakout season. There should be a wealth of targets to go around as Aron Rodgers is working with this young group of receivers, and Tonyan has not been able to capitalize. Look for other options until this offense can get sorted out going forward.