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. Season long leagues are likely in their championship, which means your decisions this week are the difference between the ‘ship, and wondering what could have been until next August. This article is also critical for daily players, as this will help you gain a competitive advantage when setting your lineups. Good luck to you all this week whether it is for the championship or just some of that daily money! Follow me on Twitter (@fightingchance) as well!
| Left WR | Right CB | Analysis |
| Christian Kirk ARI | Tre Flowers SEA | Last week the Cardinals ran the hell out of the ball and the Browns couldn't stop them. This week they will certainly have to throw more, and that should lead to more targets for Kir. His five targets last week were his fewest since Week 9, and although he hasn't been lighting up the stat sheet, the talent is certainly there. He only had 37 yards the first time they played Seattle, but he should fare much better this week. Look for Kirk to have six catches for 80 yards in this one, but he is unlikely to score. |
| Julio Jones ATL | A.J. Bouye JAX | He had a ridiculous 20 targets last week against the 49ers which he turned into 134 yards and the game-winning touchdown. A.J. Bouye is a decent corner, but do you really need me to tell you to start Julio Jones ? I mean, it is a no-brainer right? Especially with Calvin Ridley out, he should see top attention and whether it is season long or DFS he is an outstanding target for your rosters. |
| Marquise Brown BAL | Denzel Ward CLE | His usage and production are so sporadic that it makes it tough to trust him. He caught all four of his targets for 45 yards and a score against the Jets, but do four targets excite you? The Browns are just playing out the string on their nightmare season, so they likely won't offer much opposition to the Ravens this week, but Will Brown be a factor? The matchup is certainly nice, and he could be a good flex option in your fantasy championship, but the risk of a goose egg or near it is too much for me to use him in DFS games. |
| John Brown BUF | Stephon Gilmore NE | He finally got back on the fantasy map with seven catches for 99 yards against the Steelers last week, and gets another really tough matchup against Stephon Gilmore and the Patriots. This one should be an old fashioned slobberknocker, and the Bills will be able to move the ball on the Pats some. Brown had five catches for 69 yards against New England the first time they played and that should be a realistic expectation for him again in Week 16 with a chance for more. He won't be a DFS play, but is a must WR3 or better in season long leagues. |
| D.J. Moore CAR | Pierre Desir IND | It might have taken until garbage time, but Moore came up big again versus the Seahawks. He has firmly planted himself into the must-start crew of fantasy receivers. However, that will be tested this week as the Panthers grew tired of Kyle Allen 's shenanigans of turnovers and look to Will Grier. Can this kid play? WIll he be overwhelmed? Will he come in and look decent like Drew Lock has? We will all find out together on Sunday. Unless Grier looks like Nick Falk from the Jets earlier this season, Moore should be fine. Indy's defense isn't as bad as it looked on Monday night, but Moore can still get it done. He is still a WR2 for redraft leagues, but the question marks at quarterback takes him out of DFS consideration for me. |
| Allen Robinson CHI | Bashaud Breeland KC | This was another garbage time production situation, but the Bears weren’t getting killed as bad as Carolina was. Nevertheless, Robinson had another 100 yard day, and was targeted 14 times against the Packers on Sunday. This was the third time in four games that he was targeted ten or more times, and the passing game is now he, Anthony Miller , and Tarik Cohen . With so few options that actually get targets, you can count on the volume for Robinson. He faces a defense that is playing better the longer into the season in Kansas City, but right now you just can’t bet against A-Rob. He is a rock solid WR2 for your fantasy championship round. |
| John Ross CIN | Nik Needham MIA | Ross is a tough one to figure out. He hasn’t done much since returning from injury, but the Bengals did play the Patriots last Sunday. That isn’t a game where you would expect much from anyone but a star receiver. This might be a different situation as the Bengals are facing the Buccaneers who are a terrible defense. Things are set up for Ross to succeed, but he comes with giant question marks that in my opinion you can't trust. If you have the guts, Ross could have a solid game against the Bucs, but it would take an awful lot of guts. |
| Odell Beckham Jr CLE | Marlon Humphrey BAL | His eight catches for 66 yards last week was one of his best games of the season, and that is telling of how bad it has been for Beckham. Considering that was against Arizona, that still isn't very good for a guy many drafted in the top three of fantasy wide receivers this year. News came out that he is dealing with a sports hernia which I'm sure explains some of his struggles. He failed miserably the first time these two teams met, and I can't say I have confidence in him for the last two weeks of the year. Beckham has been relegated to a mid-range WR3 or perhaps even a flex against the Ravens. |
| Amari Cooper DAL | Jalen Mills PHI | He may have only had one catch last week, but Cooper should be fine and I don't think his production last week was injury related. Michael Gallup had similar targets, and he is fine, so I think it was more of a game script issue than something we need to dive farther into. The Eagles secondary is pretty bad, and Cooper had five catches for 106 yards against them back in Week 7. He surely was healthier then, but the Cowboys have to put everything on the line this week for the division title. Cooper will be a high end WR2 and solid DFS play for Sunday in Philadelphia. |
| Courtland Sutton DEN | Darius Slay DET | Even with Drew Lock struggling some, Sutton continues his big season. He has topped 70 receiving yards in three of the last five, and has been targeted at least five times in every game this year. He is certainly the best receiver on the team, and honestly the only wide receiver that is worth anything on the team. Sutton gets a dream matchup against the Lions who are absolutely awful against the pass, and Sutton has a real chance at his third 100 yard game of the season. He will be a great WR2 and DFS option for Week 16. |
| Kenny Golladay DET | Chris Harris DEN | With Marvin Jones out for the year, Golladay is the top dog for the Lions. Of course, that isn't worth a whole heck of a lot with David Blough at quarterback. Lucky for Golladay owners, the Lions third-stringer isn't so bad that Golladay loses his fantasy value. He has two touchdowns in the last three weeks, and is still being heavily targeted. He will have a very tough time this week with Chris Harris of the Broncos set to be all over him. Golladay is out of consideration for DFS with the tough corner, but is still a WR3 for Week 16. |
| Davante Adams GB | Xavier Rhodes MIN | There isn't another guy on the Packers that Aaron Rodgers looks at half as much as he does Adams. Not only is he a great receiver, but he also gets an incredible amount of volume every week. He had seven catches for 106 yards the first time he played the Vikings, and corner Xavier Rhodes isn't playing up to his capabilities this year. Adams has been targeted ten or more times in six of the last seven games and is a must-start in season long this week as well as a great choice in DFS as well. |
| DeAndre Hopkins HOU | Jamel Dean TB | It was his second straight 100 yard game last week against a busted Titans secondary, and Hopkins is again claiming his spot among the top receivers in the game. He has been targeted eight or more times in every game but one this season, and is a dynamic talent. He is set up to be the DFS play of the week against a putrid Buccaneers secondary, and should be worth every penny of his salary. Oh yeah, and he is a must start in season long leagues as well, as Tampa Bay has allowed 29 passing touchdowns in just 14 games, which is just more than two a game. |
| T.Y. Hilton IND | Donte Jackson CAR | You were begged not to trust T.Y. Hilton last week if you follow me on Twitter (@fightingchance), and he isn't going to be a great play again this week. He won't be an absolute fade, but he will not be as valuable as his name suggests. If he wasn't going against a team that didn't seem interested in playing the game, i would suggest not using him. Hilton CLEARLY is not 100 percent, and has no burst. He might be able to round up five catches this week, but it won't be a for a ton of yards and his big play ability has been sapped for the year. Unless you are devoid of better options, he can be a flex play on Sunday. |
| Chris Conley JAX | Isaiah Oliver ATL | With D.J. Chark being somewhat of a longshot to play this weekend, that keeps Conley in play for fantasy. He was targeted eight times last week, catching four of them for two touchdowns. Conley didn't have any of his signature big plays against a bad Raiders secondary. He gets another favorable matchup against the Falcons and while he isn't a great fantasy option, he could help you. The Jaguars offense isn't good enough to consider Conley for DFS, but you could do worse in your flex spot than him for Week 16. |
| Tyreek Hill KC | Kyle Fuller CHI | The Bears might be a solid defense, but there just isn't a time where you would consider not using Hill for a fantasy championship. You might not want to invite him over to your house for dinner, but there are no good guy points in fantasy football. He is almost always targeted at least seven or eight times, and he is capable of going the distance with literally any reception. He has seven touchdowns in ten games this year and it is never a bad idea to use him in season long or DFS formats. |
| Robert Woods LAR | Richard Sherman SF | Everyone will look at the matchup and say Woods was shut out the last time the Rams played the 49ers and that is true. However, San Francisco has not been as dominant of a defense of late, and they are also dealing with injuries. Richard Sherman is returning this week, but it is well ahead of schedule, so there is almost no doubt he isn't 100 percent. Woods is 50 yards away from 1,000 and has been targeted nine or more times in five straight games. It is like Jared Goff just suddenly remembered he was on the team. He might not make a great DFS play, but there is no doubt who the top receiver on the Rams is now and he makes a very viable WR3 play for Week 16. |
| Mike Williams LAC | Trayvon Mullen OAK | He is now on a touchdown roll as he scored in the second consecutive weeks, and the targets were back at a great spot with nine. He has 70 or more receiving yards in three of the last four, and even though the Chargers pass game is running in place, he is getting it done. With a matchup against a Raiders defense that has allowed 32 touchdowns through the air this season it almost seems irresponsible to not start Williams this week. |
| DeVante Parker MIA | William Jackson CIN | He didn't end up missing a game with the concussion, and instead Parker went out and had another massive game with 72 yards and two touchdowns. This guy is having an amazing year, and while the Bengals defense is better than you'd think, Parker is a must-start in season long leagues. You can work him into some DFS lineups, but he isn't someone that you should just blindly use across the board. |
| Stefon Diggs MIN | Kevin King GB | It has been a bit of a roller coaster ride owning Diggs this year, but he certainly seems to be on one of the good parts of the ride. He has at least 75 receiving yards in three of the last four games, and even with Adam Thielen back, had more targets than him. He only had one catch the last time they played the Packers, but it was a 49 yard touchdown. He has consistently been a big part of the passing game after getting off to an awful start to this year and is a easy pick as a top wide receiver in your redraft leagues this week. Diggs won't be a primo DFS play, but the Vikings certainly are going to look to throw on the Packers with their stud running back banged up, and he is in line for a good game. |
| Mohamed Sanu NE | Tre'Davious White BUF | I can't believe I am writing this, but the Patriots pass game has looked horrible lately, and a lot of that can be attributed to Tom Brady . Sanu just hadn't been a big part of the game plan lately, but was targeted eight times last week against the Bengals. However, he still hasn't even had 15 receving yards in any of the last four games, and even as I write that my mind is blown considering they traded a second round pick for him. Sanu gets an ultra-tough matchup against the Bills, and even though the game is at home there is no way that you can even think about using Sanu in any format. |
| Michael Thomas NO | Tye Smith TEN | Surprise, surprise, Michael Thomas had a big day! The Colts were destroyed by Drew Brees and Thomas to the tune of 12 catches for 128 yards and a score. He just does it every week. And now a matchup against the Titans crap secondary? Man, oh man, it is going to be another monster week. It will be a battle between Thomas and Hopkins for who will be the best play this week, but right now the early money is on Thomas. |
| Sterling Shepard NYG | Danny Johnson WAS | Daniel Jones goes back under cetner this week, and Shepard certainly had more success with Eli Manning . He gets a break that Evan Engram is not coming back this season, but there are still a lot of mouths to feed in this anemic offense. This game against the Redskins is likely to be dominated by Saquon Barkley , so Jones might not throw as much and of course he will have his customary two or three interceptions. Shepard gets a break that Quinton Dunbar might not play but he is still a flex play at best, and not a strong one at that. |
| Robby Anderson NYJ | Steven Nelson PIT | After three straight pretty good games, I wouldn't call it a dud for Anderson, but if he didn't have the one late 41 yard catch with his team down by a thousand points, it would have been a dud. The Jets offense just isn't good enough to solve good defenses, and they will play one of the best this week in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have a great secondary, and only allow just over 200 yards per game through the air. Sam Darnold will be lucky to top that, and big plays for the Jets will be few and far between if they come at all. Anderson would be someone to avoid this week if at all possible. |
| Tyrell Williams OAK | Casey Hayward LAC | The 40 yard touchdown broke a six week scoreless streak, and then after that in the first quarter Williams had a whopping five yards for the rest of the afternoon. He offers nothing in fantasy anymore and has had more than three catches just three times all season. He is the very definition of touchdown dependent, and with the way the team is playing and Darren Waller getting all of the looks, Williams remains an afterthought for fantasy purposes. |
| Greg Ward PHI | Byron Jones DAL | Opportunity sometimes leads to success in fantasy football, and Greg Ward is the poster child for that this year. On the practice squad in late November, Ward has risen to fantasy relevance due to the myriad of injuries to Eagles receivers. He has been targeted nine times in each of the last two games, and is the only wide receiver that Carson Wentz trusts, and caught the game winning touchdown last week. The matchup with the Cowboys will be ultra-tough, and while the volume might still be there, the opponent will be much tougher. The Eagles will still score some points though, and in a PPR league Ward is a reasonable guy to use in your flex spot. |
| James Washington PIT | Blessuan Austin NYJ | This has been such an interesting season for Washington as his usage has bounced around without rhyme or reason all year long. He is on a good roll right now as he has at least 80 receiving yards in three of his last four games, and two scores over that time. The Steelers offense isn't great no matter who the quarterback is, but they get a favorable matchup against the Jets who don't have a great secondary. How many points will be scored in this one will be anyone's guess, but considering the Steelers should have a hard time running on New York, there should be plenty of pass attempts for Duck Hodges. Washington will likely be the most targeted receiver and should have a floor of five catches and 55 yards. If that does it for you, go ahead and plug him into your lineups. |
| Emmanuel Sanders SF | Jalen Ramsey LAR | The 49ers passing game is up and down, and Sanders usage is a total enigma. We all thought it was safe to trust him again after the massive game against the Saints, and then he put a knife in our hearts with less than ten yards last week. If you look at the facts, Sanders has been bad way more often than he has been good lately, and the game against New Orleans looks like a fluke. He has had under 45 receiving yards in six of his last eight, and will be matched up against one of the best corners in the league here with Jalen Ramsey . You can put Sanders in your flex and hope, but recent history says that isn't a good idea. He has turned into a boom or bust player with too many busts on the resume. |
| D.K. Metcalf SEA | Patrick Peterson ARI | The re-emergence of Tyler Lockett seemed to really hurt Metcalf as he had his fewest targets last week since Week 5. Luckily for his fantasy owners, he was still able to find the endzone which saved his day. Lockett is back, but the team waived bye-bye to Josh Gordon , and while he wasn't a major factor, that is still a few more targets that Metcalf ideally would get back. He didn't do much the first time the Seahawks played the Cardinals, but that was before he was an integral part of the offense on a weekly basis. Arizona can't stop a group of elementary school kids right now (well except for the Cleveland Browns, but they are like elementary school kids), and the Seahawks and Metcalf should be able to succeed against them. Metcalf should be able to have at least 75 yards and likely a touchdown in this one. |
| Breshad Perriman TB | Gareon Conley HOU | I spoke about opportunity with fantasy football earlier in this column, and Perriman is the best example of this. The Bucs have lost both of their best receivers, and this has opened up tons of targets in the passing game. Perriman hasn't been getting a ton of looks, but he is making the most of every opportunity. He has 13 catches on 17 targets the last three weeks for 270 yards and four touchdowns over that stretch. He will be the top receiver again this week and will be a great play in any fantasy format. He gets a matchup against Gareon Conley , who was cut by the awful Raiders, so that tells you how good he is. Perriman is one of the players down the stretch that you never would have guessed you'd be trusting back in August. |
| A.J. Brown TEN | Marshon Lattimore NO | This kid is solidifying himself as one of the best young players in the NFL. He has three 100 yard games in the last four, and has four touchdowns over that span. He always had to take advantage of his low usage, but he now has 20 targets in the last two weeks. This will be the ultimate test for Brown as he goes against one of the best corners in the league in Marshon Lattimore . Has Brown's connection with Ryan Tannehill become so good that he can't be shut down by any corner? That seems unlikely, but you can still use him this week if you have just completely jumped on board with him. The Titans will have to throw to stay close in this one because their defense won't be able to stop New Orleans. Garbage time or not, Brown still could have a solid game one way or another, but he won't be a strong DFS play. |
| Terry McLaurin WAS | Deandre Baker NYG | He is called Scary Terry, but what really has been scary has been the play of his quarterback this season. However, Dwayne Haskins has improved some, and McLaurin has touchdowns in back to back games including a big one against the Eagles last week. I normally shy away from McLaurin of late, but with the SLIGHT improvement at quarterback and a matchup against the incredibly awful defense the Giants throw out there, it is hard not to trust McLaurin. New York cut their only decent corner in Janoris Jenkins , and Deandre Baker has been overwhelmed all season long. McLaurin is a shoe in for at least 80 yards and a touchdown in this one. |
| Right WR | Left CB | Analysis |
| Damiere Byrd ARI | Akeem King SEA | Kyler Murray had one of his better games in a while, and he looked to Byrd more than he had since September. Byrd hauled in all six of his targets for 86 yards against the Browns. That type of production is nice, and he does have a decent matchup against a soft Seattle secondary, but his lack of involvement in the offense in the recent past makes him a guy you can't play with your fantasy championship on the line. If you are in a DFS tournament and you REALLY need a cheap guy to try to fit a couple of studs in your lineup you could possibly use Byrd, but it wouldn't be with confidence. |
| Russell Gage ATL | Tre Herndon JAX | The six targets were encouraging, but the 27 receiving yards were not. However, you have to remember that last week's game was against a pretty good defense in San Francisco, so the fact that he had five catches is a good sign. Gage will have a much easier go this week against the Jags, and he likely could even see a few more targets as Julio Jones can't get as many as he did last week again. He isn't a strong play by any stretch, but you could do worse than Gage in your flex for Week 16. |
| Seth Roberts BAL | Greedy Williams CLE | He had an unexpected good game last Thursday against the Jets with three catches and a touchdown, but Roberts just doesn't see the ball much. Since the team's bye in Week 8 he has only had 15 targets in seven games. Don't chase last week's points, he isn't an option. |
| Andre Roberts BUF | J.C. Jackson NE | Does it really matter who the other outside receiver is for the Bills? Especially against the Patriots there won't be another guy who will even get a whiff of fantasy relevance other than John Brown . This isn't even worth a discussion. |
| Curtis Samuel CAR | Rock Ya-Sin IND | He has seven touchdowns which is very nice, but he has under 600 receiving yards on the year, which isn't nice. The Panthers have been creative in ways to get him the ball with wide receiver screens and running plays, but Samuel hasn’t topped 64 total yards since Week 6. He has had 19 targets in the last three weeks, but if he doesn't have a touchdown, he is basically worthless. Drew Brees carved up the Colts on Monday night, but with Will Grier at quarterback you should likely look in another direction than Samuel. |
| Riley Ridley CHI | Charvarious Ward KC | It really doesn't matter who the third receiver is for the Bears, the passing game is going to rely on Allen Robinson , Anthony Miller , and Tarik Cohen . Whether it is Ridley or Javon Wims , neither of them warrant even a second of thought in fantasy circles. |
| Alex Erickson CIN | Nate Brooks MIA | As expected, Erickson was a non-factor against the Patriots, but the door does open some for him this week. The Dolphins are absolute trash, and Erickson should see some soft defenses. He likely will still be ahead of John Ross in targets, and COULD be a dart throw that works for you. Tyler Boyd will still be the main receiver, and Ross could ascend back to an important role. This one is too risky for me to take a chance on, but Erickson has been targeted at least five times in seven of the last nine games. If he continues to see that volume against the Dolphins, it could translate to some success. |
| Damion Ratley CLE | Jimmy Smith BAL | His two catches last week were his first grabs since Week 4. Even though he is getting work as the number three receiver, he isn't fantasy relevant. This offense is a mess, and the Ravens are a nasty defense, let's keep moving. |
| Michael Gallup DAL | Ronald Darby PHI | He was a non-factor last week against the Rams, but Gallup has had a very fine season all in all. With two games to go, he needs just 89 yards to break the 1,000 mark, and he could possibly do it in this game alone. He didn't fare too well against the Eagles the first time they played with just 34 receiving yards, and that could be a concern especially with the dud last week. But Gallup had been targeted six or more times in six straight games before the Rams debacle, and should get right back on track in this one. With the NFC East title on the line, look for Gallup to have five catches for 75 yards in this one. |
| Tim Patrick DEN | Rashaan Melvin DET | The seven targets last week were nice, but the production of just 26 receiving yards leaves plenty to be desired. Drew Lock and the Broncos offense isn't efficient enough for three pass catchers to be fantasy relevant, and Patrick is behind Courtland Sutton and rookie tight end Noah Fant. If you want to use him as a complete dart throw in DFS because they are playing the awful Lions there could be some value in that, but you likely could use your salary cap money in more efficient ways. |
| Chris Lacy DET | Isaac Yiadom DEN | Here is the answer to the guy who gets the start when Marvin Jones out, but it doesn't translate to fantasy success. Lacy did have one big 48 yard catch, but outside of a possible explosive play here or there, you won't be hearing his name much if you watch the game. The Broncos defense is pretty strong, and even if Matthew Stafford was quarterbacking, Lacy wouldn't be worth a consideration. |
| Allen Lazard GB | Trae Waynes MIN | He had the big game three weeks ago agains thte Giants, and has been incredibly quiet since with just 33 receiving yards in the two games. It shouldn't be much of a surprise, considering they played better defenses. Head Coach Matt LaFleur has also said that we could see more Jake Kumerow in the last couple weeks of the year. While I don't think that will come to fruition in a big way, it could take another target or two away from Lazard. He has played well in small doses, but is off the fantasy radar this week. |
| Kenny Stills HOU | Carlton Davis TB | Every time you get ready to write off Stills, he does something to make you consider him again. I'm here to tell you not to do it. Sure, he had two touchdowns last week against Tennessee and has another dream matchup with the Bucs this week, but he isn't worth it. He hasn't been targeted more than four times since Week 11, and that includes games where Will Fuller was hurt. Stills is an incredibly inconsistent member of this offense and shouldn't be considered for fantasy purposes in any format. |
| Marcus Johnson IND | James Bradberry CAR | The Panthers may have essentially given up on the season, but their secondary still isn't awful. Meanwhile, the Colts have officially been eliminated from playoff contention, and T.Y. Hilton is back. That means any good feeling from Johnson's two game stretch at the beginning of December is long gone. You can expect him to max out at his stats last Monday against the Saints which was two catches for 37 yards. He is far off the fantasy radar for Week 16. |
| Keelan Cole JAX | Blide Wreh-Wilson ATL | Cole had a solid game last week with 76 yards on six targets, but the majority of that came on one catch. He has some big play potential, but is stunted by the fact that the offense isn't very good. He does have a solid matchup against the Falcons, but even they have been playing a little better of late. If D.J. Chark is out, Cole would be a huge risk for Week 16. If Chark plays, Cole becomes a complete afterthought. |
| Demarcus Robinson KC | Prince Amukamara CHI | The only wide receiver that you can trust for the Chiefs is Tyreek Hill , despite their huge offensive potential. Robinson hasn't had more than two catches in a game since Week 10, and especially with a tough matchup against the Bears he should be left alone on the waiver wire where he belongs. |
| Brandin Cooks LAR | Akhello Witherspoon SF | Cooks actually made an actual appearance last week against the Cowboys and was targeted eight times. That was the most passes Jared Goff sent his way since Week 7. That might entice you to put him in your lineups (if for some reason he is still on a team), but he is still a risk and had just three catches for 18 yards the first time they played the 49ers. The Niners secondary should be more healthy this week, and Cooks will be the one of the three main Rams receivers that is hard to trust. |
| Andre Patton LAC | Nevin Lawson OAK | I would have more confidence putting actor Patton Oswalt in my fantasy lineup than I would Andre Patton . He has four catches for 38 yards ALL YEAR. Let's move on. |
| Albert Wilson MIA | B.W. Webb CIN | He had his best game of the season, and that is no surprise considering it was against the Giants. However, you still can't get too excited when his best game of the season was five catches for 59 yards. You might think that Cincinnati's defense is horrible, but it really isn't, especially lately. They have only allowed 18 passing touchdowns in 14 games, and while the Dolphins might move the ball some, Wilson won't do anything to make you consider him for fantasy lineups in Week 16. |
| Adam Thielen MIN | Jaire Alexander GB | Thielen finally played in a game and he actually finished it without aggravating the hamstring and should be a go on Sunday. Thielen is incredibly talented and had five catches for 75 yards against the Packers back in Week 2. The only reason that he is a concern is because of the injury and that he has left several games hurt this year. He is too risky to put in your DFS lineups, but if he is on your season long roster you have to give him a go even in a less than ideal matchup. |
| N'Keal Harry NE | Levi Wallace BUF | He scored a touchdown last week, but still only had two catches, and hasn't had more than 18 receiving yards in any of his five games this season. The Patriots passing game has been uncharacteristically bad lately, and in a game against the super Bills secondary, you should not consider the Patriots rookie. |
| Ted Ginn NO | Tramaine Brock TEN | Ginn has one game of 50 receiving yards since Week 1. Yes, he has topped 50 receiving yards since the opening game. I have mentioned to watch out for Tre'Quan Smith more than once in this article and that he would take away from Ginn. Ginn has just one target in two of the last three games, and couldn't be farther from fantasy relevant. Stay away, even against a subpar Titans defense. Smith will be the better fantasy play if you want some exposure to this great Saints offense against the Titans. |
| Darius Slay ton NYG | Fabian Moreau WAS | He was only targeted three times last week, but Slayton scored again, and has three touchdowns in the two weeks since Eli Manning was back under center. Slayton clearly has the trust of both quarterbacks, and while the Giants offense is less than stellar, they have been able to move the ball lately. Of course, that is because they played the Eagles and Dolphins, both below average pass defenses. The Redskins are a mid-range defense against the pass, but Eli Manning still should be able to score a couple times. Moreau isn't the Redskins best corner, and Slayton could get some work done. He will be a weak WR3 or a guy you can use in your flex with confidence. |
| Vyncint Smith NYJ | Joe Haden PIT | With Demaryius Thomas likely out again, Smith could be looking at increased snaps. Honestly, even if Thomas does play, the Jets would be smarter to give a 23 year old more of a look than old man Thomas. He was targeted five times last week, and 11 in the last three, and has shown bit play potential in spots this season. All of that being said, the Steelers will likely shut down the Jetes offense more often than not, and their third receiver won't be fantasy worthy. |
| Zay Jones OAK | Michael Davis LAC | I've run out of ways to put down Zay Jones and his ability to be a reliable NFL receiver. I think this will be my analysis for him this week: NO, just no. That is all. |
| J.J. Arcega-Whiteside PHI | Chidobe Awuzie DAL | Even with all of the injuries to the Eagles receivers, Arcega-Whiteside as only targeted twice last Sunday, and failed to have a catch. He is a talented kid who will likely be a bigger part of the plans next year, but he is just not relevant in any sense of the word. Dallas has a good secondary, and unless this kid happens to break a few tackles, he won't even top 30 receiving yards. |
| Diontae Johnson PIT | Maurice Canady NYJ | This is a guy I liked early on when JuJu Smith-Schuster went down with injury, but then had a long stretch where he was unplayable. Now it comes down to a tough choice between him and James Washington as the Steelers offense doesn't trigger many points. He has 15 targets in the last two weeks, and has topped 60 receiving yards in both. Pittsburgh gets a bit of a gift against the Jets secondary who is among the bottom in the league. Johnson isn't an awesome choice to trust for your fantasy championship, but he could be an effective flex play for Week 16. |
| Deebo Samuel SF | Nickell Robey-Coleman LAR | He had a great two week span in November where he was one of the more targeted receivers in all of football with 21 targets in two weeks. He has really fallen off lately with just 17 targets in the last four weeks. He has only topped 50 receiving yards once in the last month, and the Niners passing game has been very sporadic. He is great with the ball in his hands in space, and rarely goes down with the first tackler. The Rams have a strong secondary, but Samuel should at least be worth flex play consideration with six catches for 60 yards as a realistic expectation for Sunday. |
| Malik Turner SEA | Kevin Peterson ARI | They might be facing one of the worst pass defenses in football, but you can't think about this guy for fantasy purposes. With Josh Gordon suspended (again), that leaves Turner as the other outside receiver when they go to three receiver sets. Gordon wasn't doing much, and Turner sure won't either. |
| Justin Watson TB | Bradley Roby HOU | With Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller out, the Bucs are running out of options at wide receiver. While he was quiet last week, Watson did have five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown two weeks ago against the Colts. The Buccaneers are still going to be able to throw the ball plenty against the Texans, and Jameis Winston is on fire. While Breshad Perriman is going to be the main target, the ball will likely be spread around to the two tight ends and a few targets to the running backs for Watson to carry a lot of value. He could be a flex play in an emergency situation, but he is far from a sure thing. |
| Corey Davis TEN | Janoris Jenkins NO | He his best game since Week 9 against the Texans last Sunday, but that was still only 8.7 fantasy points. Davis is clearly behind rookie A.J. Brown in the pecking order, and doesn't carry fantasy value. The Saints are a solid pass defense, and just picked up Janoris Jenkins from the Giants. He hasn't been on the team long, but his talent alone is all he needs to shut down a guy as lackluster as Davis. Don't give him a second thought on Sunday. |
| Kelvin Harmon WAS | Sam Beal NYG | After a few weeks of being on the fringe of fantasy relevance, Harmon has fallen off lately with just three catches for 52 yards over the past two weeks. The Redskins do get the tissue soft Giants secondary, but with his lack of involvement and his subpar quarterbac, Harmon is not someone to consider. |
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot in Week 16.
| Slot WR | Slot CB | Analysis |
| Tyler Lockett SEA | Byron Murphy ARI | After a month of being basically a no show, Lockett bounced back in a big way with eight catches for 120 yards and a score. Head Coach Pete Carroll said he was back to full strength, but that guy is always glass half full. This time he wasn't lying to us, and Lockett is locked and loaded down the stretch. The Cardinals have allowed the most passing yards per game this season, and have surrendered 34 pass touchdowns in 14 games. Lockett is nearly a guarantee to pop off in a big way in Week 16. |
| Anthony Miller CHI | Kendall Fuller KC | Who is hotter than this guy? Miller has been the biggest target in the Bears passing game over the last five weeks, and has scored in two straight. He has broken 100 passing yards in two of the last three, and is a shoe in to produce down the stretch. The Chiefs defense has stiffened of late, but there is no defense that Miller can't succeed against right now. He has either topped 50 receiving yards or scored a touchdown in five straight, and coming out of the slot he will avoid the Chiefs best secondary guys. You can put him in your lineups as your WR2 or WR3 and feel ultra confident about it. |
| Julian Edelman NE | Taron Johnson BUF | He has been nursing nagging injuries for weeks, but none of us thought it was a big deal as he kept on playing through them. Edelman was one of the biggest busts of Week 15 with just two catches for nine yards. He faces an uphill battle against a hot and tough Bills defense, but he has to bounce back. He had just 30 yards the last time they played, but this is in New England and Tom Brady and the gang should bounce back. Edelman comes with a bit of risk, but is a great receiver and should find his way for at least 60 yards on seven catches in this one. |
| Keenan Allen LAC | Lamarcus Joyner OAK | He was one yard shy of 100 last week, and Allen has been really good for the last five weeks. He has had five catches or more in the last five weeks, and hasn't had less than 68 receiving yards. He does have two touchdowns in the last four games, and is set up beautifully to have great success. The Raiders are seriously tanking in the last month, and Allen had eight catches for 68 yards five weeks ago when they faced off. He should be in for even more than that this time, and shoudl be looking for his first 100 yard game in a very long time. Allen is a dynamite option for DFS games and season long lineups. |
| Danny Amendola DET | Will Parks DEN | We put Amendola in our Bargain Bin DFS options last week and he paid off in a big way with eight catches for 102 yards. With Marvin Jones out, there is only a couple options left to throw to. Amendola might not be the biggest or the strongest or the fastest, but he has made a career out of getting open in the NFL. He faces a tougher matchup this week against the Broncos, but with Kenny Golladay getting the attention from Chris Harris that should leave Amendola open to do more damage this week. He is great as another bargain option in DFS this week and a flex play in season long leagues. |
| Jarvis Landry CLE | Marlon Humphrey BAL | After a nice run of strong games for the Browns, Landry joined the rest of his team in severely disappointing fantasy owners with just 23 yards on five catches agianst the lowly Cardinals. The defense gets much tougher this week against the Ravens, who Landry tortured for 167 yards on eight catches way back in September. Although Jimmy Smith was hurt then and Marcus Peters was still in Los Angeles. The Ravens are a much tougher defense now, but Landry should still get his. He has performed against strong defenses in the recent past, and should be a lock for six catches for 75 yards in this one. He also has a strong chance of being the only receiver to catch a touchdown from Baker Mayfield this week. |
| Jamison Crowder NYJ | Mike Hilton PIT | After three weeks of completely sucking, Crowder bounced back in a huge way (on everyone's bench) with six catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns against the Ravens. He faces another really tough defense this week in the Steelers, who really shut down the Bills on Sunday. Crowder is never going to rack up these huge yardage games, but with the injury to Ryan Griffin at tight end, he should continue to see a ton of targets as the short, reliable option to throw to when Sam Darnold can't find anyone downfield. Crowder should be good for at least six catches for 70 yards in this one. |
| Cooper Kupp LAR | Emmanuel Moseley SF | Kupp has certainly played second fiddle to Robert Woods lately, and he had a terrible game the first time the Rams played the Niners. However, he has been a little better of late, and this one should have some garbage time for Los Angeles where they are forced to throw a lot. Don't expect Kupp to go off for a 100 yard game barring a huge play, but his floor should be 11 fantasy points with a chance for more than that if he can find the end zone. He is a great receiver and is better than his numbers have been lately. |
| Will Fuller HOU | Sean Murphy-Bunting TB | For once last week, Fuller wasn't completely boom or bust when he had five catches for 61 yards. He doesn't normally see 11 fantasy points, he is usually either four or 24. He was targeted seven times last week which is a nice total. He gets to go against the Buccaneers in Week 16 which could help you win your championship. Tampa has allowed 29 passing touchdowns in 14 games, and should give up a minimum of three to Houston. Fuller is almost guaranteed to get one of those, and I would bet he goes over 100 yards in this one. |
| Steven Sims WAS | Corey Ballantine NYG | With Dwayne Haskins improving ever so slightly, he certainly has found a guy he likes in Steven Sims. He has 22 targets in the last three weeks, including an eye-opening 11 last week against the Eagles. He has topped 40 yards in each of the last two weeks and now will face a terrible team in the Giants. They just cut loose the one decent corner they had, and that should allow the Redskins to move the ball some through the air. While Terry McLaurin will get the majority of the looks, but Sims also certainly has fantasy value in this one. |
Elite
It sucks to take chalk in this column because I know it doesn’t take a fantasy analyst to tell you that Michael Thomas is a good play this week. He has scored at least 25 fantasy points in six of the last seven games, and has a matchup against the Titans who are the eighth worst defense in the league against the pass, and that is after getting off to a good start. Drew Brees is white hot right now, and Thomas is obviously his top receiver. Since this was such a no brainer I’ll also give you one more.
Tyler Lockett vs. Byron Murphy
He got you to the playoffs and then disappeared a little as he tried to play through that scary leg injury he suffered against the 49ers. He showed he was back last week with a massive game against the Panthers. Sure, Carolina isn’t stopping anyone, but to see Lockett succeed again had to put his fantasy owners at ease. Arizona is an absolutely awful defense, and the only thing that can stop the Seahawks from really lighting up the scoreboard is if they get so far up that they just run the ball the entire second half. Lockett is a great play among the higher priced receivers this week.
Affordable
Keenan Allen vs. Lamarcus Joyner
Yes, the Chargers passing game has really been struggling of late, but Allen has been back on track of late, and the Raiders are just completely awful. You drafted Allen as one of your top receivers back in August because of his talent, and that didn’t just disappear. He was good against Oakland the first time they played this year, and the Raiders just couldn’t stop Gardner Minshew last Sunday in their final game in Oakland. Philip Rivers should have a solid game, and Allen is set up to really help you cash in. The Raiders have allowed 32 passing touchdowns in 14 games, and Allen should tack on to that total on Sunday.
Terry McLaurin vs. Deandre Baker
Dwayne Haskins is starting to look like he might resemble an NFL quarterback, and that really puts McLaurin back in play for DFS. He wasn’t the most targeted receiver on the team last week, but his big play ability make him the most dangerous. He still has 50 or more receiving yards in four of the last five games, but he also has a touchdown in two straight. His opponent, the Giants, have been eliminated from playoff contention seemingly since Week 3, and just released their only decent cornerback. Deandre Baker has been a huge bust of a rookie corner this season, and has been beaten on a weekly basis. Washington is actually playing a little better of late, and this one is set up for McLaurin to have a great game. In recent weeks the Giants defense has allowed 25 fantasy points to Allen Robinson , 24 fantasy points to Davante Adams , and 23 fantasy points to DeVante Parker . All of this should tell you that Scary Terry should be back in Week 16!
Bargain Bin
Hallam digs a little deeper on this one. Yeah, it might take some stones to put Byrd into your lineups, but when he has been given the looks, he has succeeded this year. He is coming off a six catch game against the Browns, and even though the Seahawks are the number one seed in the NFC right now, their pass defense is awful. They are fourth worst in the league, allowing just over 275 yards per game through the air. Arizona is sure to be trailing in this game from the start, and Seattle is better against the run than the pass. With a boatload of garbage time ahead of him, Byrd should be set up to be targeted at least five times, and with his speed and big play ability he could really help you not only be able to pay up for some studs at other positions, but he could help you cash in again on Sunday.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.