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 Courtland Sutton (DEN vs CHI) vs Jaylon Johnson
Chicago has had all sorts of issues to start the season. The defense continues to play a lot of zone coverage and is allowing a ton of points. They are also dealing with several injuries and might be without two starters from last week. Sutton has clicked with Russell Wilson early this season and appears to be fully healthy for the first time in a few years. After giving up a historic 70 points last week, look for the Broncos to try and right the ship against the Bears this week, and that should all start with the Wilson-to-Sutton connection.
WR Davante Adams (LV vs LAC) vs Michael Davis
Adams is almost always a must-start in just about any format, but with his start to the year and the great matchup this week, he could be the highest-scoring receiver of the week. The Chargers have been one of the worst secondaries of the year and are currently trying to bounce back from the terribly J.C. Jackson signing. The Chargers are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing receivers and are 1-2 despite Justin Herbert playing at an MVP-like level. Adams is an easy start, but Jakobi Meyers should also be in most lineups this week with the A+ matchup.
WR Calvin Ridley (JAX vs ATL) vs Tre Flowers
Ridley is taking on his former team for the first time since being traded last year. It does not have the drama of a revenge game as Ridley was traded during his season-long suspension for gambling. However, he gets a great matchup against his former team. Flowers is allowing just over half a fantasy point per coverage snap, and the Jaguars are looking to bounce back from an unexpected loss to Houston last week. Ridley has been highly targeted and is playing extremely well in this offense and should be started in almost all formats.
WR Tank Dell (HOU vs PIT) vs Levi Wallace
Dell exploded last week in a surprising win for Houston against Jacksonville, and he gets another great matchup against the Steelers. Wallace is currently allowing 0.55 fantasy points per coverage snap and has struggled against Amari Cooper and Davante Adams so far this season. Look for C.J. Stroud to continue to get Dell heavily involved as teams roll coverage to Nico Collins on the other side. Dell is a cheap option with huge upside against the Steelers this week.
WR Michael Thomas (NO vs TB) vs Carlton Davis III
Thomas has looked great to start the season alongside Chris Olave. The pairing has been able to split targets in this offense and will get a boost with Alvin Kamara back from suspension as well. Tampa Bay has played inspired football to start the season but has been giving up a lot of fantasy points to opposing receivers. Davis is currently allowing 0.74 fantasy points per coverage snap and is being routinely picked on opposite Jamel Dean. Thomas and Olave move all over the field and should both be upgraded in this great matchup.
WR Adam Thielen (CAR vs MIN) vs Josh Metellus
This will be Thielen's first time back to Minnesota since being let go, and he will have the opportunity to stick it to his former team. The Vikings were unwilling to extend his contract and decided to go with cheaper, younger options. Thielen found a new home in Carolina and has played at a high level to start the season. He looked great with Andy Dalton under center last week and will face a secondary that just gave up 200 yards receiving to Keenan Allen a week ago. Look for Thielen to explode against his former team.
TE Sam LaPorta (DET vs GB)
LaPorta has quickly become a must-start at the tight end position and is quickly moving into flex consideration. He was the TE1 last week with 8 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown and is the TE2 overall on the season. The Packers rank near the middle of the pack against tight ends, but volume alone makes him a top-five tight end this week. It is time to start believing in LaPorta before it is too late.
TE Darren Waller (NYG vs SEA)
It has been a painful start to the season for Waller, but patience may be a virtue. This entire offense was bad to start the season, but he did rebound against Arizona with a TE4 finish that week. The other two weeks, he played a Dallas and San Francisco defense that is tough on tight ends, and the team as a whole played very poorly. Seattle is currently allowing the sixth-most yards to opposing tight ends and should prove to be a great matchup at a very thin position. Start Waller with confidence this week.
Unfavorable Matchups
WR Mike Evans (TB vs NO) vs Marshon Lattimore
There is a long history in the Evans and Lattimore matchup with Lattimore winning more than he has lost. On four occasions, Lattimore has held Evans to 1 or fewer catches with a lone blemish coming to the tune of a 7 catch 147 yards and 1 touchdown performance in their second ever meeting. There is a lot that is different this year with new quarterbacks on both sides and wildly different offenses. Lattimore has played well to start the season and has a long history of playing well against Evans. Pivot to Chris Godwin, if possible, this week as Evans should be downgraded in this matchup.
WR DJ Moore (CHI vs DEN) vs Patrick Surtain II
Not a lot has gone right for either team to start the season. Surtain is a very good corner who had a very bad day against Tyreek Hill last week. He should bounce back quickly and face Moore +80% of the time on the perimeter. Surtain's fantasy points per coverage snap is slightly elevated right now after Hill's big day. It jumped from 0.07 to 0.45 after just that performance. Look for that number to drop after this week with Surtain winning this matchup. Avoid the Chicago offense until they can get something going consistently.
WR Garrett Wilson (NYJ vs KC) vs L'Jarius Sneed
It has been a tough start for the Jets offense this season. Zach Wilson has severely limited the ceiling for Wilson in what was supposed to be a breakout season. It also does not help he is walking into a tough matchup against Sneed. As a whole, the Chiefs have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers, and Sneed is allowing just 0.34 fantasy points per coverage snap. Even if Wilson tries to escape to the other side, Joshua Williams is allowing just 0.07 fantasy points per coverage snap. There are a lot of things working against Wilson this week and even the high volume may not be able to save him. Avoid the Jets receivers this week if possible.
WR Terry McLaurin (WAS vs PHI) vs Darius Slay
On paper, this paper has been 50/50 over the past 6 meetings with McLaurin dominating both matchups last season. However, things are much different with Sam Howell under center, and McLaurin has gone seven straight games with fewer than seven targets. The Washington offense struggled mightily against Buffalo last week, and Philadelphia has great cover corners on both sides of the field. Look for other options this week and avoid the Washington offense in this tough matchup.
WR Zay Flowers (BAL vs CLE) vs Martin Emerson Jr
Baltimore looks to have finally found a good receiving option to pair with Mark Andrews, but Flowers is going to walk into a tough matchup against Cleveland this week. Myles Garrett and the rest of the defense have led the league in QB pressures and has made the job of the secondary that much easier. Emerson is allowing a paltry 0.05 fantasy points per coverage snap despite having 80 routes run against him. Even if Flowers works in the slot or across the middle, Greg Newsome II is allowing just 0.16 fantasy points per coverage snap. This defense is playing extremely well right now and is going to make things very difficult for Lamar Jackson to throw the ball.
WR Puka Nacua (LAR vs IND) vs Dallis Flowers
Nacua has been a great story to start the season and has seen a huge target share in this offense with Cooper Kupp on the IR. He is going to walk into a tough matchup against a Colts' secondary that is playing very well to start the season. Flowers has allowed just 0.2 fantasy points per coverage snap and is leading this surprising secondary early this year. The volume will likely continue, making Nacua a viable option, but his overall ceiling should be lowered this week.
TE Zach Ertz (ARZ vs SF)
Ertz had a great start and led all tight ends in targets across the first 2 weeks of the season. Then he ran into a tough test against the Cowboys and finished with just 2.6 fantasy points. This week, he will face a 49ers defense that has allowed just 62 total yards to opposing tight ends. This team played an inspired game against Dallas last week but will likely come back down to earth against a stout 49ers defense.
TE David Njoku (CEL vs BAL)
Deshaun Watson has never had a history of being kind to tight ends, and it is showing again for Njoku. He has yet to reach 50 yards or 7 fantasy points in any game this season. He also will face a Ravens defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends and just 45 total yards to the position. The Browns are finding other ways to move the ball right now. Avoid Njoku even at the thin tight end position.