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 Terry McLaurin (WAS vs NYG) vs Deonte Banks
McLaurin put up a dud in week 1 but can expect a bounce back in week 2 against a poor New York secondary. Banks was tasked with covering Justin Jefferson last week and allowed 2 catches for 47 yards and a touchdown while in coverage. This was a low-volume week for Jefferson as the Vikings had the game well in hand early. McLaurin lines up on the outside 81% of the time and the Giants allowed the most fantasy points to perimeter receivers last season. Look for McLaurin to put up a much better stat line with Jayden Daniels this week and finish as a fringe WR1.
WR DJ Moore (CHI vs HOU) vs Derek Stingley Jr.
This is one of the more interesting matchups of the week. The Bears offense did not look great with Caleb Williams, but Stingley Jr. looked worse in the secondary. Stingley Jr. had 16 coverage snaps, was targeted 50% of the time, and allowed 7.78 fantasy points per coverage snap. He was burned by Alec Pierce for a long touchdown and did not play much better on any of the other coverage snaps. Keenan Allen is also dealing with an injury which would provide a larger target share for Moore. Look for a bounce-back game for this offense as a whole and for Moore to get more involved.
WR Malik Nabers (NYG vs WAS) vs Benjamin St-Juste
The Giants' offense did not look great in week 1 against the Vikings, but Nabers did show some promise as a rookie receiver, even with Daniel Jones at quarterback. St-Juste is expected to travel with Nabers and is coming off a game where he had 30 coverage snaps, was targeted 20% of the time and allowed 0.73 fantasy points per snap. The Giants have to throw the ball to someone and Nabers is their best weapon right now. This offense is not going to be good, but the volume and good matchup makes Nabers a viable option this week.
WR Amari Cooper (CLE vs JAX) vs Montaric Brown
The Browns did not look good in week 1 with Deshaun Watson struggling immensely. However, there could be a quick bounce-back for Cooper on the outside against Brown. The young corner was targeted on 43% of his coverage snaps and allowed 0.86 fantasy points per snap. The sample size is not large through 1 game and his opponent was Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins. Brown looked lost and will likely be targeted heavily on this defense until he proves capable of stopping someone. Look for Cooper to see the volume vacated by the David Njoku injury and to finish with a much better stat line this week.
WR Cooper Kupp (LAR vs ARZ) vs Garrett Williams
Arizona looked to fix its offense in the offseason and did not address one of the worst corner groups in the league. They allowed the 8th most fantasy points to receivers in week 1 and that was against a depleted Buffalo core. What is even more concerning for this defense is the major hole at slot corner and Cooper Kupp being fully healthy. With Puka Nacua down with an injury, Kupp may finish as the top-scoring receiver this week. He is going to be priced accordingly in DFS, but the matchup and scoring potential may justify it.
WR Quentin Johnston (LAC vs CAR) vs Jaycee Horn
The Chargers will be a tough offense to predict this year with a lot of turnover and a new coach. However, Justin Herbert is the same quarterback and the ball has to go to someone. Johnston has a great matchup on the outside against Horn who allowed 0.72 fantasy points per coverage snap and was targeted 11% of the time. When he was targeted, he gave up big plays. Johnston has the speed to stretch the field and make big plays on the outside. He should be considered a sleeper/FLEX type of play this week with a high upside and low floor.
TE Dalton Kincaid (BUF vs MIA)
It may be hard to trust Kincaid after a down week against Arizona. In a matchup he should have excelled in, he had just 1 catch for 11 yards. However, if we look further at the numbers we can see he played 88% of snaps and ran the second-most routes behind only Keon Coleman. The usage is there and the points will come. In week 18 last season, Kincaid had 7 catches for 84 yards against Miami. Look for a bounce-back week for the young tight ends in what is a very favorable spot.
TE Kyle Pitts (ATL vs PHI)
It has been said every year since he was brought into the league that Pitts was going to break out. With tight end scoring down across the league, Pitts finished as TE4 last week with just 3 targets. Pitts was able to find the end zone and looked more effective than all but Bijan Robinson. The hope is that Kirk Cousins will shake off the rust from his injury last season and we see the prospects of both Pitts and Drake London improve. Pitts has a much better matchup than he did against the Steelers in week 1 and has a chance to continue establishing himself in this offense.
Unfavorable Matchups
WR Courtland Sutton (DEN vs PIT) vs Joey Porter Jr.
The Broncos did not look great on offense in week 1 and things are not going to get any easier against the Pittsburgh defense in week 2. Sutton will be shadowed by Porter Jr. or at the very least covered on all 86% of his outside routes. Porter shut down Drake London in week 1, allowing just 2 catches for 15 yards on 4 targets. The Denver offense is struggling and the Pittsburgh defense is elite. Avoid Sutton where possible this week or at least assign a major downgrade in scoring.
WR George Pickens (PIT vs DEN) vs Pat Surtain II
In a matchup of shadowing cornerbacks, Surtain is projected to follow Pickens this week. Surtain followed DK Metcalf last week and held the big receiver to just 3 catches for 29 yards on 4 targets. Pickens found success against A.J. Terrell of the Falcons last week, but their defense was soft and relied on zone coverage outside of Terrell. Look for Surtain to limit Pickens this week and make life difficult for Justin Fields under center.
WR DK Metcalf (SEA vs NE) vs Christian Gonzalez
I incorrectly wrote off Gonzalez in his first game back from injury against Ja'Marr Chase. Gonzalez held Chase to just 2 catches for 15 yards on 2 targets when paired up last week. He returned to elite form after a season-ending injury last year and the New England defense stepped up against the Bengals last week. Metcalf struggled against Pat Surtain II last week and will find things equally as difficult this week. Downgrade the big receiver in another tough matchup to start the season.
WR DeAndre Hopkins (TEN vs NYJ) vs Sauce Gardner
The Titans snatched defeat from the jaws of victory last week when they fell apart against the Bears in the second half. Will Levis looked lost and the coaching staff did not have anything positive to say afterward. Even without that performance, the Titans' receiving core will take on a Jets' secondary that allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers a year ago. Hopkins was limited to 7 routes last week and while expected to have an expanded role this week, we should not expect big things from this offense as a whole.
WR Drake London (ATL vs PHI) vs Darius Slay
London had a rough time in week 1 against the Steelers. He had to contend with Joey Porter Jr. in coverage and was held to just 2 catches for 15 yards. Things do not get any easier when he faces Philadelphia and Slay. The lockdown corner is allowing just 0.06 fantasy points per coverage snap and is being targeted just 4% of the time through week 1. London may be able to escape to the slot where Philadelphia is weakest, but he historically only does this around 20% of the time. Downgrade Drake again this week in another tough matchup against Slay.
WR Alex Pierce (IND vs GB) vs Eric Stokes
Stokes had a masterful performance in week 1 lining up all over the field. He allowed just 0.07 fantasy points per coverage snap and was targeted just 10% of the time. Pierce on the other hand exploded with 3 big plays and a long touchdown against a struggling Houston secondary. Anthony Richardson missed some wide-open throws and Michael Pittman Jr. will reassert himself as the top receiving option in this offense. There are many people who will chase the points with Pierce this week but do not fall into that trap with a tough matchup against Stokes.
TE Evan Engram (JAX vs CLE)
Engram rode the hype train to a highly drafted tight end after finishing last season with 114 catches (2nd all-time). Those numbers did not translate to this season as he saw just 4 targets and 29 air yards with Trevor Lawrence spreading the ball around to 6 different receivers. Christian Kirk is back healthy and Brian Robinson Jr. has elevated himself in this offense. The Browns' defense is also one of the toughest against opposing tight ends in the league. Avoid Engram is possible this week as the Jaguars look to establish a new offense.
TE Dalton Schultz (HOU vs CHI)
Much like Engram above, Schultz is getting squeezed out of the offense due to too many receivers. Schultz was on the field over 80% of the time last week but saw just 3 targets and 16 yards. The top 3 Texans' receivers commanded 68% of the targets and they ran the ball 40 times in week 1. Schultz may be good for touchdowns this season, but they may prove impossible to predict. Avoid this situation at all costs unless you have no other choice.
