Welcome to the weekly wide receiver/cornerback breakdown! We will review each of the outside matchups, as well as my 10 favorite matchups in the slot. Then, below the charts in this article, I break down my four absolute favorite matchups. The fantasy playoffs are here in season long leagues, so the lineup decisions have never been more critical. This article is critical for seasonal and daily players, as this will help you gain a competitive advantage when setting your lineups. Bye weeks are over so a lot of those tough lineup decisions should be behind us, but now your depth comes into play when making the right decision on who to start. Follow me on Twitter (@fightingchance) as well!
| Left WR | Right CB | Analysis |
| Christian Kirk ARI | Joe Haden PIT | Sometimes when you have a rookie quarterback they are going to struggle against the better defenses in the league. And when that is the case there isn't much that receivers can do to make their games better. That has been the case for Kirk in three of the last four weeks, and that is going to be the case again this week as the Cardinals face the tough Steelers. Pittsburgh is likely to make life miserable for Kyler Murray , and you should look in another direction from Kirk this week. |
| Julio Jones ATL | James Bradberry CAR | He is dealing with a shoulder injury, but all signs point to him playing this weekend. Carolina is a better than average pass defense, but even with Jones being less than 100 percent, you never consider not playing him in redraft leagues if he is out there. He had six catches for 91 yards in Week 11 against the Panthers, and there is no reason to think that he can't duplicate those numbers. He might not be the strongest DFS target as he hasn't scored since 1996, but Jones is always a play in your season long leagues. |
| Marquise Brown BAL | Tre'Davious White BUF | It has gotten to the point where the Ravens offense basically runs three plays. Run with Lamar Jackson , run with Mark Ingram , throw it to Mark Andrews . Sprinkle in a few others for trickery, and that is about it. You never know when his rare touchdowns will come, and he has topped 50 receiving yards just three times this season. Against one of the top pass defenses and corner backs in the league, this doesn't look like a great week to play Brown. |
| John Brown BUF | Marcus Peters BAL | He hasn't topped 40 receiving yards in either of the last two games, and he gets a really tough matchup against the hottest defense in the league in Baltimore. Marcus Peters has really brought this defense to a new level, and it is really hard to score on the Ravens right now. That being said, Brown has been so good and so consistent for you all season long that you can't sit him now, as Josh Allen is sure to make some plays with his arm in this one. John Brown won't be the best DFS play this week and should be avoided, but in season long contests throw him out there and hope for the best. |
| D.J. Moore CAR | Isaiah Oliver ATL | He has been on an incredible run of late with five straight games with at least six catches and 75 receiving yards in each. He also has three touchdowns in the last two games. He has even done it opposing some strong defenses during that stretch. He had eight catches for 95 yards in Week 11 against the Falcons, and that was in a game where the Falcons defense barely allowed any yards or points. Look for Moore to have his way with Oliver again this week and tack on another game with at least six and 75. In face, he has a real strong chance at a 100 yard game. |
| Allen Robinson CHI | Chidobe Awuzie DAL | Mitchell Trubisky had a rare strong game on Thanksgiving against the Lions and it started out by targeting Robinson a lot. He finished the game with a dozen looks and eight catches for 86 yards with a touchdown. It doesn't matter most of the time how good or bad the Bears quarterbacks play, Robinson just gets it done. This will be a tough one on Thursday, as the Cowboys pass defense has been legit all season long. Trubisky is also throwing more to Anthony Miller of late, but Robinson should still be good for at least five catches for 60 yards. |
| Auden Tate CIN | Greedy Williams CLE | He doesn't have a high ceiling, but with Andy Dalton back, Tate at least remains on the fringe of flex play consideration. He was targeted seven times and ended up with four catches for 66 yards. He hasn't scored since Week 5 (against Arizona), but Tate can still pull you out ten fantasy points in a PPR format. He isn't someone to consider in DFS lineups against the Browns, but if you have the wrong combination of injuries to your receivers, he could get you a nice base. |
| Odell Beckham Jr CLE | William Jackson III CIN | Beckham is dealing with a slight groin injury, but it is nothing that will impact his availability for Sunday. It has been a colossal disappointment of a season for him in 2019, although things might be looking up for this week. The Bengals defense has been playing better of late, but they still are in the bottom half of pass defenses in the league. And even when they have been playing decently, the other team's top receiver has been performing. He certainly isn't a strong DFS play, and a 100 yard game is almost out of the question, but Beckham should return low end WR2 value with five catches for 70 yards against the Bengals. |
| Amari Cooper DAL | Kyle Fuller CHI | Thanksgiving was just another in a long line of good performances for Cooper, although he suffered another injury. He is sure to play Thursday against the Bears though, and a defense that has given up some big plays. Kyle Fuller is a great corner, but has been beaten at times this year. The Cowboys are going to be throwing the ball in this one, and Cooper of course will be the main target. He had eight catches for 85 yards on Thanksgiving against the Bills, and while he might not catch that many against the Bears, another game around 85 receiving yards seems like a reasonable expectation. |
| Courtland Sutton DEN | Johnathan Joseph HOU | Brandon Allen was starting to have a negative effect on Sutton's fantasy value, and there were concerns that rookie Drew Lock would make it even worse. However, Sutton was the one guy he had a connection with, and he had two touchdowns against the Chargers. Of course, one of them wasn't a good throw, but an amazing catch by Sutton, but it all counts the same. He should be in for another great game against a very leaky Texans pass defense and Sutton should absolutely be in your season long lineups and while it isn't a smash play, you can work him into some DFS games as well. |
| Marvin Jones DET | Xavier Rhodes MIN | It wasn't a great game for him on Thanksgiving, but Marvin Jones can give thanks to Prince Amukamara completely leaving him alone for his touchdown. Third string quarterback David Blough played fairly well, and Jones remains a fantasy asset in this one. Minnesota traditionally has a very strong pass defense, and Rhodes has been one of the best in the league, but they certainly aren't playing like it this year. The Vikings are coming off a short week after losing on Monday night, and the Lions and Jones should be able to put up strong offensive numbers against them. Treat Jones as a super strong WR2 in this one and is certainly a middle of the price road option in DFS formats. |
| Davante Adams GB | Quinton Dunbar WAS | Dunbar has been a very good corner this year, perhaps the most improved at the position this season. However, he won't be able to handle Adams. He has been an absolute beast since coming back from injury, and he killed the Giants with two touchdowns last week. He has 27 catches in four games, and has been targeted at least ten times in all of those. The Packers will look to run the ball more in this one against the Redskins, but that will take away from other receiver's chances, not Adams. He should easily get to seven catches for 85 yards with a touchdown with a chance for even more than that. Adams is a great play in all fantasy formats this week. |
| DeAndre Hopkins HOU | Chris Harris DEN | Hopkins seems to have played the best corners in the league all season long, and Week 14 will be no different with Chris Harris . Denver's top corner has been playing great this year, and has rarely been torched for big numbers. However, you just never sit Hopkins in a season long league. He definitely won't be a solid DFS target for Sunday, but even against Stephon Gilmore last week, Hopkins still had over 11 fantasy points. If that is the floor, sign me up for that. It won't be the huge game you hoped for in the fantasy playoffs from your top wide receiver, but he won't kill you either. Hopkins is always a threat for a big game, even if it isn't likely here. |
| Zach Pascal IND | Sean Murphy-Bunting TB | The Colts offense has completely fallen apart due to injuries, and there really aren't many (or any) reliable options for Jacoby Brissett to throw to. So while he was thrown to the waiver wire a couple of weeks ago in most leagues, Pascal could be a factor in the fantasy playoffs. He gets a very soft matchup against the Bucs this week, and he has a chance to succeed. It is basically Pascal and Jack Doyle out there, and a bunch of no names running around. He isn't likely to put up another 100 yard game, but Pascal can certainly give you six catches for 75 yards, and if you are feeling lucky maybe a touchdown as well. Due to the pure attrition of the Colts skill positions, he isn't a bad cheaper option for DFS lineups. |
| D.J. Chark JAX | Casey Hayward LAC | Chark certainly had a better rapport with Gardner Minshew than Nick Foles , so he must be thrilled with the quarterback change. However, Chark's season has been very up and down. In fact, it has been more down lately as he has only topped 50 receiving yards in one of the last four games. He has been able to be taken away by some of the better corners, which Casey Hayward certainly is. Chark is a great receiver and worth a shot in your flex of redraft leagues, but I honestly have more faith in Dede Westbrook and perhaps even Chris Conley in this one. |
| Tyreek Hill KC | Stephon Gilmore NE | Gilmore might be the best corner in football, but while he didn't give up a big game to DeAndre Hopkins last week, he showed that the best receivers in football can still get Gilmore a little. I have predicted the Chiefs win this game, and to do that, they are going to need production from Hill. He isn't going to have any 150 yard game, and the best guy to have on the team will be Travis Kelce , but Hill won't get shut out. He isn't someone to consider for your DFS games (although if he went off that would be huge with low ownership percentages), but don't shy away from putting him in your season long rosters for the first round of the fantasy playoffs. |
| Brandin Cooks LAR | Shaquill Griffin SEA | The concussions have certainly upended his season, and at this point we have to be more concerned about his health than his fantasy value. Cooks has clearly been a decoy since coming back, with just four catches for 56 yards in the last two weeks. At this point, you really can't trust him for fantasy, and even against a less than stellar secondary he should be on your bench. |
| Mike Williams LAC | A.J. Bouye JAX | I keep saying the touchdown is coming right? I mean it has to be! This guy is too talented to not get in the end zone for the entire season. He certainly has been hurt by Philip Rivers poor season, but he has been better of late with at least 75 receiving yards in three of the last four, including two 100 yard games. Bouye is a solid corner, but he has been exposed since Jalen Ramsey was traded away. Without a touchdown this season it might be a little tough to put him in your DFS lineups, but his price tag has come down enough that he could be worth a shot. |
| DeVante Parker MIA | Blessuan Austin NYJ | Not many players break out in their fifth season, but that is exactly what is happening with Parker. It took me a while to buy into it, but there is no denying that this guy has become the biggest part of a (dare I say it) solid offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick clearly loves him, and the Jets secondary is nothing to get excited about. New York has allowed 19 passing touchdowns this season, and one of those belongs to Parker. He had four catches for 57 yards against them the first time these two teams played, and I think that is the absolute worst he will do against them in Week 14. Parker should have a minimum of six catches, and will threaten to go over 100 yards for the third time in four games. He is a great option in all fantasy formats. |
| Stefon Diggs MIN | Darius Slay DET | Darius Slay is one of the better corners in football, but he hasn't been able to stop everyone this year. In fact, if Adam Thielen is able to come back, that should take more pressure away from Diggs. He had a great game against the Lions the first time with seven catches for 143 yards, and whil predicting those types of numbers isn't smart, Diggs should be great in this one. He has been all or nothing for most of the season, but he has been much more all than nothign since he got going in Week 4. Despite possibly spending time being defended by a very strong corner, Diggs is an absolute smash play this week against one of the worst defenses in football. |
| Mohamed Sanu NE | Charvarius Ward KC | After missing a game with an ankle injury, Sanu looks ready to return ahead of Week 13 in a plus matchup against the Texans. The defense they are playing is a plus matchup, but right now the Patriots offense is lagging. They have played a tough defense in Baltimore and in horrible conditions against Philadelphia the last two weeks, but this should be better in the friendly confines of Houston. Tom Brady will continue to look Sanu's way with only he and Julian Edelman as veteran options to throw to. Joseph is the best corner they have, but Sanu should still be able to have six catches for 75 yards in this one. |
| Michael Thomas NO | Richard Sherman SF | Thomas is so good that even the last time they played the Falcons and his team didn't even score ten points he still had 13 catches for 152 yards. You just can't stop this guy. Poor Isaiah Oliver and whoever else tries to cover this guy. They just don't have a chance. Thomas is the man, plain and simple. |
| Sterling Shepard NYG | Jalen Mills PHI | This one is going to be interesting. Not only is Eli Manning back at quarterback, but for the first time all year the Giants will have Shepard, Golden Tate , and Evan Engram on the field together. How are the targets going to be distributed? Can Eli Manning play? Shepard and Manning had a nice connection early on with 13 catches in two games, but he is going to be really hard to trust in this one. The Eagles aren't a great defense, but Manning has always struggled against them. You can throw Shepard in your flex and hope that his career with Manning equals a good number of targets for him, but there is enough question marks for me to stay away from him. |
| Robby Anderson NYJ | Nik Needham MIA | I have long not been a fan of Anderson, but sometimes you have to look at situations and know when signs are pointing up. Anderson has been targeted 15 times in the last two games, and has clearly grown trust with Sam Darnold . He had his second 100 yard game of the year last season, and has scored in two of the last three weeks. The Dolphins defense has allowed 29 passing touchdowns this season, which is second worst in the league. This has all the signs of a smash play for Anderson in Week 14. |
| Tyrell Williams OAK | Adoree Jackson TEN | We knew the touchdown streak to start the season couldn't last, but he now has five straight games without a touchdown after having five straight games with touchdowns. Derek Carr and the Oakland offense are regressing in a major way right now, and even in a good matchup against the Titans, Williams is a very risky play. Adoree Jackson is the best corner they have, and actually isn't that bad. Williams has just three catches for 27 yards combined in the last two weeks, and he is a risky flex play at beset. He has to score again eventually, but who knows when that comes. |
| Alshon Jeffery PHI | Janoris Jenkins NYG | Now appearing to be fully healthy, Jeffery should go right back to being a solid receiver. In fact, he is the only wide receiver that Carson Wentz can really trust. That was shown in the fact that he was targeted 16 times last week against the Dolphins. He will deal with Janoris Jenkins some, but he stays on one side of the field, so if the Eagles move Jeffery around, he will get one of the other awful corners the Giants have. This should be another 100 yard game with a touchdown for Alshon Jeffery . |
| James Washington PIT | Patrick Peterson ARI | He hasn't been racking up huge reception numbers, but Washington has topped 90 yards and scored in three of the last four weeks. Despite the fact that he might see a bunch of Patrick Peterson in this one, it is still a great matchup against the worst pass defense in the league. Devlin Hodges has shown more ability this season than Mason Rudolph to throw the ball deep and make big plays and it has revived Washington. He will be a no brainer WR2 in this one and a nice middle tiered option at wide receiver in your DFS lineups. |
| Emmanuel Sanders SF | Marshon Lattimore NO | The injured ribs have certainly hurt his fantasy value as the four catches and 41 yards against the Ravnes last week were his best numbers since Week 9. It sure doesn't look to get any easier this week against the Saints as he will face off mostly with one of the best corners in football in Marshon Lattimore . Sanders has been as much decoy as he has been a legit receiver in the last month, and hopefully that turns soon. He has become a flex play at best in PPR leagues, and honestly against Lattimore there are scenarios where you could leave him on your bench. |
| D.K. Metcalf SEA | Troy Hill LAR | There is no doubt who the second receiver on the Seahawks is, and it isn't even close. Rookie Decaf Metcalf (I hope you watched MNF or are on Twitter), has held off Josh Gordon , and basically rendered him useless. Metcalf continues to find ways to get open, gets back to his quarterback when he is in trouble, and has shown some pretty sure hands. He didn't have a great game against the Rams when they played in Week 5, but he did have a touchdown and he has grown a lot as a player since then. He is a decent, but not great option for DFS games, but has become an every week starter for all redraft formats. |
| Mike Evans TB | Pierre Desir IND | Well, we knew the weekly 180 yard games couldn't last, but this four game stretch of just four catches is completely unacceptable! Despite some bad defenses lately (Arizona, Atlanta), Evans hasn't topped four catches, 82 yards, or scored in the last four games. Indy is actually a fairly good pass defense. They aren't one of the elite, but they are definitely in the top half of the league. If either receiver is going to have a huge game, I feel like it is going to be Chris Godwin as we know they both don't blow up the same week. Evans is still always a must-start in season long leagues, but for the higher price tag, I feel you can do better than Evans in DFS. |
| A.J. Brown TEN | Trayvon Mullen OAK | Brown's rookie season is so volatile that calling it a roller coaster would conservative. It would be a roller coaster where your feet are just dangling and it is the old wooden kind that you just feel is about to fall apart before you drop 90 feet before you go into a double corkscrew. That is how up and down his rookie season has been. This doesn't sound like it is going well is it? However! The Raiders have allowed 260 pass yards per game with a whopping 27 passing touchdowns in just 12 games. Ryan Tannehill has brought some great stability to the offense, and if Brown is going to have another big game this season, this is the week to bank on it. Get him off your redraft benches, and use him as a bargain option in DFS formats. |
| Terry McLaurin WAS | Kevin King GB | The rookie third rounder has been one of the better surprises of the 2019 season, but it seems to be going awry a little bit with Dwayne Haskins under center. Carolina is a strong pass defense, but it was still a colossal disappointment for McLaurin to have just eight yards against them last week. He has now been under 40 receiving yards in four of the last six games, and hasn't had a touchdown during that stretch. Green Bay's secondary is far from awesome, but they will be able to handle Haskins. Washington wants to run the ball as much as they possibly can, and all of these factors together make McLaurin a flex play at best and a guy you can't consider for DFS games. |
| Right WR | Left CB | Analysis |
| Andy Isabella | Steven Nelson PIT | The rookie hasn't done much this year, but if someone outside of Christian Kirk is going to break a big play, Isabella is the bet. Of course, that is almost certainly not going to happen against a really strong Steelers pass defense, so while he might get a few targets, Isabella isn't worth of fantasy consideration. |
| Calvin Ridley ATL | Donte Jackson CAR | His fantasy owners have really been enjoying the injuries to Julio Jones and Austin Hooper , but it appears those days are over as both should play in Week 14. That doesn't take Ridley completely out of fantasy consideration, although it isn't a good matchup against a Panthers defense that has only allowed 14 passing touchdowns in 12 weeks. Ridley will still be a solid WR3, but likely won't be a great DFS target. |
| Seth Roberts BAL | Levi Wallace BUF | The Ravens don't throw the ball that often and Roberts has five catches for 59 yards combined in the last three weeks. Not only that, but Buffalo is one of the best pass defenses in the league. There are exactly zero scenarios where you should trust Roberts to even be on a roster, nevermind in a starting lineup. |
| Isaiah McKenzie BUF | Jimmy Smith BAL | McKenzie tied his season high in catches last week………with three. His 34 receiving yards are his most since Week 5, and he is going against the hottest defense in football in Baltimore. Hard pass on this one. |
| Curtis Samuel CAR | Desmond Trufant ATL | He does have four catches in five of the last seven games, but if Samuel doesn't find the end zone, you generally end up with less than ten fantasy points. Kyle Allen found his way back to respectability last week, and with a matchup against the subpar Falcons secondary, he has a chance of having a good game. The Falcons held Samuel without a touchdown on just 25 yards three weeks ago, but Atlanta played out of their minds that week. Look for Samuel to have five catches for 50 yards and a score. |
| Javon Wims CHI | Byron Jones DAL | Wims had seven catches all season long before Thanksgiving when he had five catches for 56 yards. I have no idea where that came from, but it was the awful Lions defense, so take it with a grain of salt. Even though Taylor Gabriel will still be out, Wims won't get enough targets with Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller chewing them all up. |
| Alex Erickson CIN | Denzel Ward CLE | Even the return of Andy Dalton couldn't make Alex Erickson fantasy relevant against a questionable Jets secondary. He had just two catches for the second consecutive week, and now has five catches in the last four games. He now faces an even better Browns defense. Erickson isn't even close to fantasy relevant. |
| Rashard Higgins CLE | B.W. Webb CIN | Higgins failed to have a catch for the third straight week and just one catch in the last five weeks. Blaaaaaah, even against the awful Bengals defense, Higgins isn't worth a second thought. |
| Michael Gallup DAL | Prince Amukamara CHI | It has been a nice stretch for Gallup since Amari Cooper has been extra dinged up with injuries. He has four straight games with over 50 receiving yards, although his catch rate hasn't been so hot. He has been targeted 36 times in the last four weeks, and that should continue. The Bears secondary is strong, but Prince Amukamara was a disaster on Thanksgiving as he was burned for the Lions first two touchdowns. In fact it was so bad that I tweeted out that it seemed like maybe he bet some money on the Lions. Gallup should be in for another strong game and will be a solid WR3. |
| Tim Patrick DEN | Bradley Roby HOU | Well, that one week moment of excitement for Patrick was exciting wasn’t it? Two weeks ago he was targeted eight times, and in the last two games he has been targeted a total of five times and caught one ball for three yards. A rookie quarterback making his second start shouldn't make this any better for him. |
| Kenny Golladay DET | Trae Waynes MIN | Golladay exploded on Thankgiving with his biggest game of the season. He caught a 75 yard pass play on the first drive and finished with 158 yards on the day. David Blough remains at quarterback, and despite their reputation, the Vikings secondary hasn't played well this season, allowing more than 20 touchdown passes through 12 games. He failed miserably the first time these two teams played, but Golladay should be great on Sunday. |
| Allen Lazard GB | Fabian Moreau WAS | We called Lazard having a big game against the Giants last week, since their secondary is so poor, but it doesn't look like he will be following it up with another monster game this week. Moreau is not a superstar corner, but the whole Redskins secondary is pretty solid. The Packers will likely be running the ball a lot against the Washington front line, and might not be throwing as much. Lazard is an emergency only flex play this week. |
| Kenny Stills HOU | Isaac Yiadom DEN | He did have a touchdown pass, but Stills hasn't had more than four catches in any game this year. He got free for a couple of decent plays, but this was more of a case of the Patriots best corners locking up Hopkins and Fuller, and Stills finding some room. He won't have regular fantasy value, and has only been targeted more than four times in four games this season. Don't chase last week's points, it won't be happening again. |
| Marcus Johnson IND | Carlton Davis TB | Johnson had his best game of the season, but that is only four catches for 55 yards. The Colts barely have any live bodies to throw the ball too, and they are playing one of the worst pass defenses, but there are too many other more reliable receivers out there to trust Marcus Johnson in the fantasy playoffs. He could be a dart throw in a DFS tournament, but even that is being awfully risky. |
| Chris Conley JAX | Brandon Facyson LAC | He continues to put up decent stat lines, but hasn't found the end zone since Week 8. I actually like Conley in this one as the Chargers secondary has one good corner, and he should be all over D.J. Chark . Conley isn't the worst choice of a flex play for Week 14. He has some big play ability and if he was able to find the end zone you could be looking at a 15 point day. |
| Demarcus Robinson KC | J.C. Jackson NE | He clearly has fallen out of favor with Patrick Mahomes and the offense as Robinson has just one target in the last two weeks. He wouldn't have fantasy value against the Cardinals, nevermind against the Patriots. OK, maybe a little value against the Cardinals. |
| Robert Woods LAR | Shaquill Griffin SEA | He has 38 targets in the last three weeks, and Woods has been by far the Rams top receiver in the last three games. He has added value with Brandin Cooks being more of a decoy, and even the tight ends have had injuries. This one should be a high scoring affair with plenty of throws so don't expect Woods and his value to fall apart yet. He will be a low end WR2 and not a bad DFS play as well. |
| Andre Patton LAC | Tre Herndon JAX | Heeeeeey! Patton actually had a catch last week! He actually is on the field some for the Chargers although you would never know it, but HE definitely wouldn't even have fantasy value against the Cardinals. That one I stand by. Moving on |
| Allen Hurns MIA | Arthur Maulet NYJ | I was holding on to hope that Hurns might turn into a fantasy thing, but he let us down last week with just three catches for 33 yards. He is very touchdown dependent, and honestly even when he scores he barely gets over ten fantasy points. The Jets defense stinks, and the Dolphins should score some points in this one, but he is way too inconsistent to trust with a roster spot. |
| Laquon Treadwell MIN | Amani Oruwariye DET | Apparently I got too snarky putting Treadwell's fantasy value down because he went out and scored a 58 yard touchdown, although in fairness the Seahawks defense thought so little of him that literally no one was guarding him. The Lions defense is among the worst in the league, but you still shouldn't consider Treadwell. He wasn't even targeted the first time these two teams met. |
| Jakobi Meyers NE | Morris Claiborne KC | He continues to be a solid part of the offense, even though the Pats receivers have been getting healthier. Mohamed Sanu and Phillip Dorsett both played and Meyers still was targeted seven times. He only had 46 receiving yards, but the volume is respectable. The Pats are going to have to throw a good amount in this one, but Brady and the passing game has been really struggling of late. I like the volume, I like the matchup, I just don't think I can suggest using him in any format. If you want to take a shot in a DFS tournament I can at least see the rationale. |
| Ted Ginn NO | Ahkello Witherspoon SF | Four catches for 52 yards in the last four weeks and going against the best pass defense by yards allowed? Nah, moving on! |
| Darius Slay ton NYG | Ronald Darby PHI | Eli Manning is back at quarterback and Golden Tate and Evan Engram should both be back as well. Slayton may still have carved himself out a role in this offense with his big play ability. He has been a consistent producer while everyone has been out, but we are all probably best served watching this game and see how the targets are distributed. It also doesn't help Slayton's case that he really hasn't played with Eli Manning . I really like his talent, but he should probably stay on your bench this week, even with a good matchup. |
| Demaryius Thomas NYJ | Ken Webster MIA | He hasn't been targeted more than five times in a game in three weeks, he hasn't topped 25 receiving yards in a game in the last two weeks. He is playing the second worst pass defense in the leaegue, but he still isn't worth considering. He only had two catches for 19 yards the first time these two teams played. He is still not an option. |
| Zay Jones OAK | Tye Smith TEN | He has always been a bust since the first day he walked on to a football field, and it hasn't changed since. Maybe he can hope to break out in his fifth year like DeVante Parker has, but it isn't happening this year. |
| J.J. Arcega-Whiteside PHI | Deandre Baker NYG | He scored his first career touchdown last week, but it was on his only catch, and he only has four catches in the last three weeks. The kid has some potential, and is supposed to have more of a role going forward although who knows what that means. He has a chance to have a role this week against the awful Giants defense. Deandre Baker is absolutely awful, and Arcega-Whiteside could make a couple big plays this weekend. |
| Diontae Johnson PIT | Byron Murphy ARI | Whether JuJu Smith-Schuster is there or not (although it is unlikely), Johnson isn't going to be fantasy relevant. The Cardinals defense is really bad, but the Steelers don't throw enough for multiple receivers to be fantasy relevant. James Washington , Benny Snell, and Vance McDonald are players, Johnson is not. |
| Deebo Samuel SF | Eli Apple NO | In the last four weeks Samuel has either 100 receiving yards or a touchdown catch. Even with Emmanuel Sanders and George Kittle back, Samuel hasn't been forgotten. Of course, he has only been targeted six total times in the last two weeks so the volume hasn't been there, but he is making the most of the situation. he will be hard to play against a tough Saints defense, but he isn't likely to see Marshon Lattimore on Sunday. Samuel isn't the worst choice for a flex in fantasy |
| Josh Gordon SEA | Nickell Robey-Coleman LAR | He hasn't even been close to a thought in this Seattle offense since coming over. He has four catches in three weeks for a total of 47 yards. Sorry Gordon truthers, it isn't happening this year. |
| Breshad Perriman TB | Rock Ya-Sin IND | I can't explain how Perriman had five catches for 87 yards against the Jaguars last season, but he did. That was more catches than he had in the previous three games combined. It was only the second game this season where he had more than two catches. The Colts pass defense isn't that bad and you shouldn't be chasing last week's points by targeting Perriman in DFS. |
| Corey Davis TEN | Daryl Worley OAK | The fantasy love for Corey Davis officially lasted two games this year as that is the number of times he topped four catches or 50 receiving yards. He also only has two receiving touchdowns on the season and even against the Raiders he is nothing but a dart throw in DFS. |
| Kelvin Harmon WAS | Jaire Alexander GB | He doesn't have a ton of fantasy value, but Harmon has been targeted five or more times and has three or more catches in each of the last three contests. However, he doesn't have a touchdown and Dwayne Haskins isn't a good enough quarterback to have really any receiver be fantasy relevant. Unless there is an injury to Terry McLaurin , you can ignore Harmon. |
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot in Week 14.
| Slot WR | Slot CB | Analysis |
| Julian Edelman NE | Tyrann Mathieu KC | It is now seven straight games that Edelman has been targeted at least ten times, and he has had five or more catches in eight straight games. The Patriots offense has struggled badly in the last month and that has only made Tom Brady rely on his favorite receiver even more. Edelman is a must play this week. |
| Chris Godwin TB | Kenny Moore IND | His play and usage continues to be a bit of a roller coaster, but Godwin is capable of a huge game in any week. The Colts pass defense is one of the ten best in the league, but they aren't as good covering the slot. He has five 100 yard games this season, and Godwin is in for a strong game in Week 14. |
| Cooper Kupp LAR | Akeem King SEA | He has back to back six catch games, and while Kupp hasn't as been a big of a factor in the last month he still has fantasy value. The Seahawks pass defense really is pretty weak, and the Rams should throw the ball a ton in this one. Robert Woods might still be the top receiver this week, but Kupp is going to be a success in both DFS and redraft leagues this week. Look for him to top eight catches, 75 yards and a touchdown. |
| Adam Thielen MIN | Justin Coleman DET | He still didn't practice on Wednesday, but Thielen still has a real chance to play on Sunday. Despite the injury, Thielen is a dynamite play against the awful Lions defense, a team he scored a touchdown against the first time they played in a game where he originally injured that hamstring. There is no one in the Lions secondary who can hold him down, and if Thielen plays he is a must-start. |
| Will Fuller HOU | Will Parks DEN | He is an incredibly risky play from one week to another, and the Broncos have a strong pass defense, but he should have success in Week 14. Chris Harris is going to be shadowing DeAndre Hopkins all game, and the rest of Denver's secondary isn't nearly as good. Fuller is a boom or bust candidate, but he is in line for a boom game this Sunday. He is one of the better slot plays of the week. |
| Randall Cobb DAL | Buster Skrine CHI | The Bears secondary is very good, and it is anchored by the outside corner, Kyle Fuller . Buster Skrine is a middling, middle of the road corner, and Randall Cobb has been much more of a factor since the Cowboys came off their bye. He is a decent bargain DFS pick and a solid WR3 in season long leagues. |
| Jarvis Landry CLE | Darqueze Dennard CIN | He has five games of ten targets or more in the last six, and Landry also has five touchdowns in the last five weeks. He often doesn't rack up a lot of yards, but he is set up for a great game against a less than stellar Bengals pass defense. He has clearly overtaken Odell Beckham as the top receiver for the Browns, and there is no doubt that he is going to have a great game against Cincinnati. |
| Anthony Miller CHI | Jourdan Lewis DAL | Miller is as hot as hot can be, and he really has even been better than Allen Robinson lately. While the Cowboys tough secondary will take care of their receivers, Dallas isn't great covering the slot. Cole Beasley had his best game of the season on Thanksgiving from the slot, and Miller should struggle to have another 100 yard game. He has been getting receiving yards in chunks lately and is a great play in Week 14. |
| Dede Westbrook JAX | Desmond King LAC | The Jaguars pass game should improve with Gardner Minshew under center, and they will be able to move the ball through the air against the Chargers. D.J. Chark will be shadowed by Casey Hayward which leaves the rest of the average Chargers secondary to cover the Jaguars. Westbrook has topped 60 receiving yards in each of the last two weeks, and got back in the end zone for the first time since Week 1 last week. This isn't the biggest slam dunk, but Westbrook should be the Jaguars receiver against the Chargers on Week 14. |
| Keenan Allen LAC | D.J. Hayden JAX | Allen has three straight games with at least 65 yards and six catches, and he has touchdowns in back to back games. Philip Rivers has really struggled lately, and the Chargers offense has struggled with them. However, it doesn't matter if teams win or lose in fantasy, only the stats matter. Allen is back in the good graces of fantasy owners and while he isn't a strong DFS target, you certainly should put Allen in your lineups as a WR2. |
Elite
This isn’t a shadowing situation, so don’t worry about Slay being locked in on Diggs all day long. As stated earlier, Diggs has been a bit inconsistent, but he really has had a fine season and has a real chance of going over 1,000 yards on the season in this one. Whether Adam Thielen plays or not, Diggs is going to be a huge part of the game plan and the Lions defense is just awful. In case you were eating early with your family on Thanksgiving, Detroit gave up three passing touchdowns to Mitchell Trubisky . Yes, that Mitchell Trubisky ! The guy we’ve been making fun of all season long for not having a clue. If they are bad enough for that, Captain Kirk Cousins should have a field day with them. And when Cousins has a field day, Diggs generally is a big part of it. He manhandled the Lions offense the first time they played with 143 yards, and Diggs is a no doubter to top 100 yards again.
Affordable
Robby Anderson vs. Nik Needham
If you have read this article regularly this year (first of all, thank you) you have seen “vs. Nik Needham” in this section a lot. And that is for good reason. The Dolphins secondary is absolutely atrocious, and I’m not sure Needham or anyone else could stop my grandmother coming down the middle of the field this season. Anderson has bounced back in a big way in the last two weeks, and has taken that top receiver role from Jamison Crowder . He is definitely the big play receiver on the team, and has been making them the past two weeks. The Jets have basically been unable to run the ball despite signing Le’Veon Bell, which has led to more throwing. All the signs in the world point to Anderson having a great game, and he definitely won’t break the bank when you are creating lineups. Be sure to get a healthy dose of Robby Anderson when playing your DFS games for Week 14.
Marvin Jones vs. Xavier Rhodes
While Kenny Golladay has been very inconsistent, you usually know what you are going to get with Jones. He doesn’t always put up huge yardage games, but he has been scoring touchdowns this year at a fairly regular rate. In fact, I held on to this nugget until now, his best game of the season where he scored four touchdowns came against Minnesota. Does that mean that they might focus on stopping him more this time? Perhaps. But tell me when the Vikings pass defense has been able to stop anyone! Rhodes has a great reputation, but has been playing like garbage this season, and the Vikings have allowed nearly two passing touchdowns per game this year. Jones should be in line for another great game in Week 14 and isn’t priced very high at all.
Bargain Bin
It almost feels wrong to pick on the Raiders since their secondary has been so bad this season, but hey that’s what this article is about. We already documented how bad Oakland is against the pass, and that Ryan Tannehill should have a big game against them. If that is going to happen tell me the receiver who is going to be on the other end of it. Corey Davis ? He hasn’t done crap all year except for a couple weeks. Adam Humphries ? Hahaha, hold on while I stop laughing. Derrick Henry isn’t a pass catcher, and the tight ends are non-existent. That leaves us with Brown. The dynamic rookie second rounder has shown flashes of big play ability and has gone off on a few occasions this year. His DFS price tag is very affordable, and he should pay off for you in a big way!
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.