Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can help you make the best lineup decisions. By using our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. By tracking these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings, sit/start advice and waiver wire suggestions each week.
Down below are the receivers with the best and worst matchups this week, as well as the corresponding fantasy impact.
To view the primary defenders the top three wide receivers for each team will see this weekend, be sure to check out our weekly WR vs. CB cheat sheet.
Note that, unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjusts to a per-game basis to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.
Projected shadow matchups
Eagles' A.J. Brown vs. Cowboys' DaRon Bland (shadow)
Earlier this season, we saw Trevon Diggs shadow Malik Nabers, George Pickens, Jameson Williams and Nico Collins when he was healthy and Bland was sidelined. Since Bland's return, and while Diggs (out for the season) has been sidelined, we've seen Bland shadow Nabers and Mike Evans. That usage suggests we can expect Bland to travel with Brown the 81% of the time he's on the perimeter this week. Nabers (13 targets-8 receptions-69 yards-0 touchdowns) and Evans (7-5-69-0) both exited their game against Bland with solid, but unspectacular statistical showings, though Dallas continues to struggle as a whole against wide receivers (third-most fantasy points allowed to the position over their last eight games, including the 11th-most to the perimeter and third most to the slot).
