Receivers with Great or Bad Matchups Week 4

Photo: USA Today Sports

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.