Receivers with Great or Bad Matchups Week 11

Photo: USA Today Sports

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 Matchup

WR CeeDee Lamb (DAL vs MIN) vs Chandon Sullivan

Minnesota continues to play a bend but do not break style of defense. They are currently allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing receivers and have been plagued with injuries and ineffective play in recent weeks. Cameron Dantzler was recently placed on the IR and Akayleb Evans suffered a concussion last week and could see second-round rookie Andrew Booth playing this week. Lamb is a solid bet to rack up catches and yards out of the slot as he will play away from Patrick Peterson the entire game. Peterson is the only piece of this secondary that has played well so far this year and the entire Dallas receiving group can be upgraded this week.

WR Rondale Moore (ARZ vs SF) vs Jimmie Ward

The 49ers' defense as a whole has played well this year, but their main weakness has been the slot. They are currently allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing slot receivers and Arizona is one the most pass-heavy offenses in the league. There is still some injury concern with Kyler Murray, but this offense was able to beat a short-handed Rams team last week. DeAndre Hopkins will continue to be the focal point, but Moore should see plenty of opportunity from the slot this week and is a solid FLEX or sleeper play this week in DFS.

WR Courtland Sutton (DEN vs LV) vs Sam Webb

The last time these teams met, Sutton had 5 catches for 52 yards and his only touchdown of the season. A lot has changed for both teams since this happened, but most notable is the loss of Jerry Jeudy for the Broncos. This will give Sutton an injection of new targets that should come against undrafted rookie Webb. Anthony Averett was benched due to poor play, and the Raiders team is spiraling right now. This is a great week for Denver to try and get the offense back on track with Sutton as the focal point.

WR Devin Duvernay (BAL vs CAR) vs Jaycee Horn

The passing situation in Baltimore is always tough to predict. Mark Andrews is the favorite option and has got a limited practice in on Wednesday this week. However, the Panthers have been awful against perimeter receivers over the past month, allowing the third-most points. They lost their top perimeter corner for the season last week when Donte Jackson tore his Achilles. It can be hard to trust the Ravens’ receivers, but Duvernay has the best matchup this week and should warrant FLEX consideration or a deep sleeper play in DFS.

WR Darnell Mooney (CHI vs ATL) vs Isaiah Oliver

The rise of Justin Fields should continue this week, as the Falcons have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing receivers so far this season. Mooney lines up all over the field and should see a mixture of all of the corners. Chase Claypool has not been fully integrated into the offense yet and ran just five routes last week against the Lions. Fields has started to spread the ball more than earlier in the season, but Mooney remains one of his favorite targets. The plan has always been to get Claypool more involved, but until that happens, Mooney is the best option in the offense catching the ball.

WR Van Jefferson (LAR vs NO) vs Paulson Adebo

The loss of Cooper Kupp is going to be tough to fill. However, those 10 targets and 90+ yards per game will have to be spread amongst other players. Jefferson has been eased back into a starting role since returning from injury but looks healthy and ready to soak up targets. He was efficient in a reduced role last week and found the end zone with Kupp still on the field. This week he should line up against Adebo for the majority of snaps, and that has been a weak spot for this defense. Adebo is allowing 0.62 fantasy points per coverage snap. The return of Marshon Lattimore would change the dynamic of this defense, but that is not expected to happen this week.

TE George Kittle (SF vs ARZ)

Kittle had a very disappointing showing last week, with just 3.1 fantasy points. His value has dropped this season, but he still has a high ceiling in this offense and had 12+ points in three straight weeks before last week. Arizona is allowing the most points, receptions, yards, and touchdowns to opposing tight ends. It is not even close. This is a great week for Kittle to get back on track in what has become the best matchup for tight ends in the NFL.

TE Dalton Schultz (DAL vs MIN)

Schultz has been a different player with Dak Prescott back in the lineup. He had 17 fantasy points last week. In the 4 weeks that Prescott has played, Schultz has a low of 9.9 fantasy points. Any player that has a floor of near double-digit fantasy points is worth playing. The Vikings' secondary is one of the worst in the NFL and allows points to everyone not being covered by Patrick Peterson. Start Schultz for the rest of the season without hesitation if Prescott is starting.