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 Jaylen Waddle (MIA vs. DEN) vs. Damarri Mathis
The big story in this matchup will be the health of Waddle, and whether or not he clears the concussion protocol in time. However, if he is ready to go, there should be fireworks on the Miami side of this matchup. With Patrick Surtain II stuck on Tyreek Hill, Waddle should see the ball early and often against Mathis. Mathis is currently giving up 0.86 fantasy points per coverage snap and is being picked on more than anyone on this defense. Hill lines up all over the field and will be able to get away from Surtain, but the biggest upgrade of the week goes to Waddle against Mathis on the outside.
WR Zay Flowers (BAL vs. IND) vs. Darrell Baker Jr
It is a small sample size to start the season, but Indianapolis has been bad against the pass. They are currently allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers, and Lamar Jackson seems to have found a weapon in Flowers to pair with Mark Andrews. Baker has been a glaring issue in the secondary and is currently allowing 0.85 fantasy points per coverage snap on the outside. Teams are attacking the perimeter of this defense and finding holes all over the place. Look for Flowers to add to his impressive start to his rookie season.
WR Mike Williams (LAC vs. MIN) vs. Akayleb Evans
Minnesota finds themselves in a better spot defensively than last season, but they continue to struggle against the pass as a whole. Evans has been a big issue on the outside and should see a big chunk of time against Williams. The Vikings have been playing zone defense on nearly 80% of their snaps this season and are not finding success. The same can be said about the Chargers defense on the other side, and this could be one of the highest-scoring games of the week. Upgrade the Chargers' receivers across the board in this one.
WR Jordan Addison (MIN vs. LAC) vs. J.C. Jackson
Addison has done nothing but impress to start his rookie season. He has a long touchdown in each of his first two games of the year and is walking into a great matchup against a secondary that is currently allowing the most fantasy points to opposing receivers. The run game is non-existent for the Vikings right now, and the entire offense is going through the trio of Addison, Justin Jefferson, and T.J. Hockenson. Look for this to be a very high-scoring game and for Addison to have a great chance of adding to his touchdown total on the year.
WR George Pickens (PIT vs. LV) vs. Jakorian Bennett
Pickens found a groove on Monday Night Football against the Browns and has a great opportunity to keep that going this week against the Raiders. Bennett has not played well on the outside and is currently allowing 0.65 fantasy points per coverage snap. Kenny Pickett does not have many options in this offense right now, with Najee Harris more or less completely disappearing. Look for Pickens to get involved early and often as the Steelers try and steal a win on the road.
WR DeVonta Smith (PHI vs. TB) vs. Carlton Davis III
The offense in Philadelphia is anything but predictable right now. With Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown getting into a yelling match on the sideline last week, Smith has been quietly having a great season. He has the best matchup of any receiver this week against Davis. Tampa Bay has been playing a bend-but-don't-break style defense in between the 20s, and that has allowed for a lot of fantasy points given up. Davis is currently allowing 0.73 fantasy points per coverage snap. Smith has the better matchup this week and should see the ball come his way More than Brown, who is matched up with Jamel Dean on the other side.
TE Dallas Goedert (PHI vs. TB)
The overall results do not look to be there yet, but there have been some encouraging signs for Goedert in recent weeks. He led the team last week with seven targets while hauling in six catches. This only amounted to 22 yards, but the volume is going to lead to points over the course of the season. Tampa Bay ranks in the middle of the pack against the tight end position and will have their hands full trying to stop this offense. Trust in Goedert to get the job done this week.
TE Sam LaPorta (DET vs. ATL)
The Lions have a lot of weapons to spread the ball to right now, and LaPorta continues to be a big part of that. He has finished at the TE8 in each of the first two weeks and is currently the TE4 overall. He has been consistent to start the year and is walking into a great matchup against an Atlanta defense that allowed a score to Hayden Hurst and is averaging 15 points per game. Roll with LaPorta and look for the results to continue.
Unfavorable Matchup
WR Marquise Brown (ARZ vs. DAL) vs. Trevon Diggs
The Cardinals have shown a lot of fight this season despite what looked like a total breakdown of the roster and build for next year. Brown has been their primary weapon on the outside, and he is going to run into the buzzsaw that has been the Cowboys' secondary this year. The Cowboys are currently allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers, and Diggs is playing at an elite level while allowing just 0.08 fantasy points per coverage snap. This game could get away from Arizona quickly, and the only upside to Brown could be garbage time points at the end of the game.
WR Jerry Jeudy (DEN vs. MIA) vs. Kader Kohou
The Broncos' offense looked like they were poised to break out in the first half against the Commanders last week but eventually faltered and blew an 18-point lead. Jeudy came into the season nursing an injury and has not gotten fully involved in the offense to this point. Courtland Sutton took over game 1, and Marvin Mims took the top work in game 2. Jeudy will eventually get going, but he has a tough matchup against Kohou in the slot this week. Miami has been strong across the middle, with Kohou allowing just 0.12 fantasy points per coverage snap. Russell Wilson and Jeudy will get going this season, but it likely will not be this week.
WR Christian Watson (GB vs. NO) vs. Marshon Lattimore
There are a lot of things to watch heading into this matchup. Watson has yet to make his debut this season but did go through individual drills at practice on Wednesday this week. If he is able to go, he will draw the tough matchup against Lattimore. The entire New Orleans secondary is playing well so far this season, and Lattimore ranks the best with just 0.09 fantasy points per coverage snap. He has not allowed a touchdown and often shadows the top receiver for the opposing team. We started to see some growing pains with Jordan Love last week and expect this offense to continue to be streaky throughout the season.
WR Josh Reynolds (DET vs. ATL) vs. A.J. Terrell
Reynolds has emerged as a big weapon in this offense early this season. He was viewed as the third receiver on the depth chart but has made the best of his situation, especially in the red zone. As Reynolds continues to play well, he will start to draw tougher coverage. A prime example could be this week with Reynolds seeing top Atlanta cover man Terrell at least 40% of the time. Terrell is allowing just 0.18 fantasy points per coverage snap so far this season and will be a thorn in the side of Detroit all day.
WR Puka Nacua (LAR vs. CIN) vs. Chidobe Awuzie
Nacua has looked like the second coming of Cooper Kupp so far this season. He has caught 25 of 35 targets and has at least 100 yards in each of the first two games of the season. This week, he will run into tough coverage from Awuzie and the Bengals' secondary. Awuzie was one of the top cover corners before getting hurt last season and is working himself back into the same territory early this year. He is allowing just 0.29 fantasy points per coverage snap and figures to see a lot of Nacua. Similar to Reynolds above, Nacua will draw tougher coverage as the season wears on due to all of his success. This will be a big first test to see if the results from the first two weeks are real.
WR Tyreek Hill (MIA vs. DEN) vs. Patrick Surtain II
There is no chance that Hill should be benched, but he is going to face some of the toughest coverage of the season this week. Surtain is going to follow Hill to either side, with the only escape coming in the slot. Hill is too good of a talent not to get his yards, but we should temper expectations a bit with one of the top cover corners in the league following him. Surtain is allowing just 0.17 fantasy points per coverage snap and should limit the ceiling for Hill this week.
TE Gerald Everett (LAC vs. MIN)
Things are not looking great for Everett in LA. He ran fewer routes than Donald Parham last week and split routes in Week 1. Everett has just 5 catches for 68 yards so far despite this offense throwing the ball all over the field. The Vikings are also a tough matchup for tight ends, allowing just 41 total yards on the season to the position. Look for options outside of Everett this week.
TE Tyler Higbee (LAR vs. CIN)
Higbee has not seen the uptick in volume expected, with Cooper Kupp out early this year. He has just 6 catches for 61 yards on 10 targets and has been targeted on just 14% of his routes. The Bengals have been tough against tight ends as well, allowing just 100 yards to the position. The tight end position is very thin again this year, but to will be hard to trust Higbee this week against the Bengals.