It’s that time of week, ladies and gentlemen! We will breakdown each of the outside matchups, as well as my 10 favorite matchups out of the slot. Then, below the charts in this article, I break down my four absolute favorite matchups by price in DFS, as well as likely ownership in seasonal formats. This article is critical for seasonal and daily players, as this will help you gain a competitive advantage when setting your lineups.
Remember, the No. 1 wide receiver doesn’t always matchup against the No. 1 cornerback. This isn’t a game of Madden! Seriously, it’s not!
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| Left WR | Right CB | Analysis |
| Trent Sherfield ARI | Tre Flowers SEA | Call me crazy, but you can do worse than Sherfield in your flex spot this week, especially for those of you in deeper leagues. Arizona will be down for most of the game, meaning Josh Rosen will have to throw the football. Over the past three weeks, Sherfield has at least five receptions for 62 yards in two of three games. Flowers is allowing nearly 55 yards per game, making Sherfield an enticing flex play.* |
| Julio Jones ATL | Carlton Davis TB | Jones was quiet aside from his seventh touchdown grab of the year last week, but that won't be the case this week. Jones is [finally] scoring touchdowns and in his last matchup against the Bucs, Jones caught 10 balls for 144 yards. Jones has WR1 upside, meaning top scoring receiver on the entire slate! Start Jones in all formats, and for you DFS players out there, Jones is a great receiver to build your cash lineups around. |
| Michael Crabtree BAL | Terrance Mitchell CLE | Lamar Jackson under center has translated into wins for the Ravens, but it's also signaled a sizable dip in fantasy production for Crabtree. With just four receptions over the past three weeks, and one touchdown in the past five weeks, Crabtree cannot be started if your league still values Week 17. Easy fade here. |
| Robert Foster BUF | Torry McTyer MIA | Given his playing style and boom-or-bust nature with Josh Allen under center, Foster is going to either put up solid numbers like he did two weeks ago, or marginal outings. Over the past five weeks, he has one game with under 30 receiving yards, but three games with at least 94 yards. He's finishing his 2018 campaign on a high note and in dynasty formats, scoop this guy up, as he is dirt cheap. As for Week 17, I like the matchup, despite Foster putting up lackluster numbers the last time Buffalo played Miami. |
| Devin Funchess CAR | Marshon Lattimore NO | Funchess saw just four targets from Taylor Heinicke last week and Funchess has had an extremely disappointing final few weeks of the 2018 season. He's not a startable asset in Week 17, as he has just five receptions over the past five weeks. |
| Taylor Gabriel CHI | Trae Waynes MIN | Gabriel hasn't been used as much in the past two weeks, catching just six passes for 61 yards. He draws a solid matchup here against Waynes, and in the first matchup, Gabriel tied his season-high with seven receptions. He should see increased volume, due to avoiding Xavier Rhodes ' coverage, which places him in the flex conversation. |
| John Ross CIN | Joe Haden PIT | Ross' seven touchdowns surely offer a glimmer of hope as to what was an otherwise disappointing sophomore campaign for the speedster out of Washington. He's found a touchdown connection with Jeff Driskel , but even with his elite speed, his upside is limited. He's been held to under 15 receiving yards in four straight games, despite scoring two touchdowns during that span. Haden has allowed four touchdowns in coverage this year and just an 84.2 passer rating when targeted.* Ross is a risky play this week. |
| Antonio Callaway CLE | Jimmy Smith BAL | The rookie out of Florida didn't do much last week, but he's had productive weeks in weeks prior. Smith has allowed a completion percentage of 85 percent when targeted over the past four weeks, not to mention the eighth-most yards in coverage over the past month. Callaway is an intriguing GPP play in Week 17. |
| Michael Gallup DAL | Janoris Jenkins NYG | The rookie out of Colorado State tallied 53 yards and his second touchdown of the year last week against the Bucs, and he's been a better player in reality than fantasy this season. Dallas is locked into its current playoff seed, so perhaps Cooper is rested in the second half. While that's no guarantee, any absence of Cooper would benefit Gallup in terms of targets. Gallup is a mid-level flex play in Week 17, assuming Cooper plays in full. |
| Courtland Sutton DEN | Michael Davis LAC | Sutton saw 10 targets last week, which is easily his highest mark of his rookie season, en route to six grabs for 65 yards and his fourth touchdown of the season. It will be a tough matchup for Sutton, as Davis has allowed a catch rate of just 46.1 percent and a 59.5 passer rating when targeted over the past three weeks.* However, I'm buying last week's target share and am trusting Sutton as a flex option this week. |
| T.J. Jones DET | Josh Jackson GB | Jones finally had a productive game with the Lions, catching all six of his targets for 42 yards. Jackson has made mistakes in recent weeks, which bodes well for Jones. However, Jones' upside appears to be capped, making him a low-reward play in the final week of the regular season. |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB | Darius Slay DET | With Davante Adams being inactive, Aaron Rodgers will have to rely on his secondary receivers in this game. With MVS dealing with Slay on the outside, he'll likely see fewer targets than Randall Cobb , Equanimeous St. Brown and perhaps even Jake Kumerow . MVS should be started in tournament lineups only. |
| DeAndre Hopkins HOU | Jalen Ramsey JAX | Hopkins gutted through an ankle injury to catch nine of 12 targets for 104 yards in a losing effort to the Eagles this past week. The Texans need to win to lock up the AFC South, so expect Hopkins to be out there for at least the majority of this contest. He's a must-start, so long as he plays, as he will go for his third-straight game with at least 100 yards. In an earlier matchup against Ramsey and the Jags, Hopkins caught three passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. |
| T.Y. Hilton IND | Adoree' Jackson TEN | Hilton roasted Tennessee in the first matchup (155 yards, 2 TDs) and it's a must-win game for the playoff hopeful Indianapolis Colts. Jackson will likely cover Hilton again, which didn't go well back in Week 11. Hilton leads the league in receiving yards over the past three weeks, and 85 yards with a touchdown is a great bet for Hilton in Week 17. |
| Keelan Cole JAX | Kareem Jackson HOU | Cole hasn't caught a pass since the beginning of the month and just hasn't been able to build off the success he had last season in the Jacksonville passing attack. With just 34 receptions and one touchdown on the year, Cole isn't a likely producer in Week 17. Sure, Houston has struggled with receivers that can stretch the field vertically, but Cole had just 21 yards in the team's first meeting this season. Fade Cole in Week 17. |
| Tyreek Hill KC | Daryl Worley OAK | Hill did NOTHING the last time the Chiefs played the Raiders, catching just one pass for 13 yards and carrying the ball twice for 37 yards. Hill has caught at least four passes in each of the past three weeks, but he's been held out of the end zone for over one month. Hill will get back on track in this matchup, en route to being a WR1. Start Hill. |
| Mike Williams LAC | Bradley Roby DEN | Roby might slide in the slot to handle Keenan Allen on occasion, but Williams will see a good chunk of Roby this afternoon. Roby has allowed a passer rating of 129.0 when targeted over the past four weeks, including one touchdown in coverage.* Williams came back down to Earth after an excellent contest against the Chiefs, but he's worthy of flex consideration in this game for the Chargers. |
| Brandin Cooks LAR | Ahkello Witherspoon SF | When throwing against the 49ers in recent weeks, throwing at Witherspoon hasn't been a recipe for success. Sure, he's allowed 21 yards per reception over the past three weeks, but with that in mind, he's allowed just three grabs and a 59.0 passer rating when targeted during that span.* Target Sherman, not Witherspoon, but Cooks remains a WR2 this week. |
| DeVante Parker MIA | Levi Wallace BUF | Wallace has been an excellent complement to Tre'Davious White , an above-average corner in his own right. He's allowed just 53 yards over the past four weeks, and while one of the receptions happened to go for a touchdown, he's allowed just 0.52 yards per coverage snap.* Parker is a risky start, not only for that reason, but because the Miami offense has been anemic in recent weeks. |
| Laquon Treadwell MIN | Prince Amukamara CHI | Another quiet year for Treadwell. The third-year pro is not worth starting in any format, as he has just 34 grabs for 295 yards on the entire season. For frame of reference, over the last four weeks, Davante Adams has 34 grabs for 354 yards. Leave Treadwell on the waiver wire. |
| Cordarrelle Patterson NE | Morris Claiborne NYJ | Over the past four weeks, Patterson is the third-most targeted receiver on the Patriots, behind Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon , who is no longer with the team. Chris Hogan continues to occupy a minimal role in the offense, meaning Patterson has an opportunity for an extended role the rest of the way. He's more of a dynamic playmaker than a wide receiver, but with Tom Brady at the helm, he does get a boost. Claiborne has allowed a 122.3 passer rating when targeted over the last four weeks, making Patterson an intriguing Week 17 play. |
| Tommylee Lewis NO | James Bradberry CAR | Bradberry has struggled in coverage, largely in part because he tends to line up opposite of the oppositon's most dynamic receiver. However, Lewis doesn't spark the excitement for me in this matchup. I like Tre'Quan Smith much, much more. |
| Bennie Fowler NYG | Byron Jones DAL | Jones has struggled in coverage in recent weeks, but you simply cannot start Fowler in Week 17 of your seasonal or DFS league. It's just not smart. Fowler has just three catches for 69 yards in the past two weeks. Fade. |
| Andre Roberts NYJ | J.C. Jackson NE | It will be all hands on deck against the Patriots, but Roberts won't get involved. Sam Darnold is locked in on Robby Anderson and Chris Herndon , not Roberts. Fade Roberts in Week 17. |
| Jordy Nelson OAK | Steven Nelson KC | In a matchup of the Nelsons, Kansas City's Steven Nelson has allowed three touchdowns over the past three weeks, most among corners in the National Football League.* Nelson has at least seven targets in three straight games, including two games with at least 88 receiving yards. With Oakland playing from behind early in this one, Nelson will be operating in a positive game script and should see his eight to 10 targets. I'm liking Nelson more and more as I look at the Week 17 slate. |
| Nelson Agholor PHI | Fabian Moreau WAS | Agholor is coming off a productive fantasy outing in the wild game against the Texans, but things will be tougher to come by this week. Moreau has allowed his receptions to go for big yardage, which bodes well for Agholor, but it's been or boom or bust against Moreau, as he's allowed a passer rating of just 52.8 when targeted over the past four weeks.* Agholor is a mid-level flex play in Week 17. |
| Antonio Brown PIT | William Jackson CIN | Over the past four weeks, only T.Y. Hilton has more receiving yards than Brown. In that same span, only Michael Thomas and Davante Adams have more receptions than Brown. In that same span, only Doug Baldwin and Julio Jones have as many touchdowns as Brown. Jackson is a good corner, but Brown is cooking right now and in a must win game, Ben Roethlisberger is going to his star receiver. Start Brown with confidence in all formats. |
| Tyler Lockett SEA | David Amerson ARI | Doug Baldwin has been scoring the touchdowns lately, but Lockett is still getting opportunities to produce and remains one of Russell Wilson 's more reliable targets. Amerson has been steady in coverage for the Cardinals, but he's prone to additional targets with Patrick Peterson on the opposite side of the field. Start Lockett in all formats, just as you have for the majority of the 2018 season. |
| Marquise Goodwin SF | Marcus Peters LAR | Dante Pettis went down with an injury, and will miss time, opening the door for a similar target share for Goodwin in Week 17. Peters isn't the doormat he was earlier in the season, as he hasn't allowed a touchdown since Week 9.* In fact, since that game, Peters has two interceptions to his name and is allowing a measly 0.59 yards per coverage snap.* Goodwin's volume should keep him in the flex conversation, but his upside is capped. |
| Chris Godwin TB | Robert Alford ATL | Godwin has 18 targets over the past three weeks, which is third-most on a bad team that is constantly playing from behind. However, he's caught just four of them for 52 yards, good for a 22.2 reception percentage. Yikes. It's a good matchup against Alford, who has allowed a 118.4 passer rating when targeted and believe it or not, Godwin is a worthy flex option in Week 17. I like him in DFS as well this week against this Falcons defense. |
| Corey Davis TEN | Quincy Wilson IND | Wilson has allowed just 41 receiving yards over the past three weeks, holding the opposition to just 0.54 yards per coverage snap during that span.* Davis is averaging just 33 yards per game over the past three weeks, and if Marcus Mariota is out, it could be tough-sledding for Davis against a pretty good Indy defense. He's a WR3 in Week 17. |
| Josh Doctson WAS | Rasul Douglas PHI | Douglas has been beaten in coverage at times, most recently against Houston's DeAndre Hopkins , but to his credit, Douglas didn't allow Hopkins to create bundles of separation. Douglas should be able to contain Doctson, especially with Josh Johnson under center for the Washington football team. Doctson is the team's second-most targeted receiver in the past few weeks, but he's topped 60 receiving yards just twice all season. It's a good matchup, but there's just minimal upside here. |
| Right WR | Left CB | Analysis |
| J.J. Nelson ARI | Shaquil Griffin SEA | Rosen has had success throwing to Trent Sherfield and Larry Fitzgerald , but no so much with Nelson. Over the past three weeks, Rosen has a 63.4 passer rating when targeting Nelson, including a 42.9 completion percentage.* The matchup on paper is good against Griffin, but the outlook is bleak for Nelson in Week 17. I'd rather have Fitzgerald and Sherfield. |
| Calvin Ridley ATL | Brent Grimes TB | Ridley was just the latest wide receiver to post a solid fantasy day against the Panthers, hauling in a 75-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Ryan . The rookie out of Alabama gets an excellent matchup in Week 17, as Grimes has allowed a completion percentage of 83 percent and a passer rating of 128.8 when targeted over the past three weeks.* Start Ridley with low-end WR2 expectations.\ |
| John Brown BAL | Denzel Ward CLE | If a Baltimore receiver were to ever "go off" with Lamar Jackson , it would be Brown, who can make the big play that Jackson craves. However, that hasn't quite come to fruition, as Brown hasn't topped 30 receiving yards in a game since he faced the Saints on Oct. 21! Sit all Baltimore receivers. |
| Zay Jones BUF | Bobby McCain MIA | With Robert Foster serving as the vertical threat, Jones has looked rather comfortable as the possession receiver for the Bills. He caught five balls last week, and has caught at least three passes in all but one of his last four contests. McCain has allowed two touchdowns and a passer rating of 132.4 when targeted over the past three weeks.* Start Jones, especially in PPR formats. |
| D.J. Moore CAR | Eli Apple NO | Moore saw seven targets from Taylor Heinicke , which is encouraging, but playing on the outside won't do him any favors. Of Heinicke's 53 pass attempts, 31 were to the running back (McCaffery), primary slot receiver (Samuel) or tight end (Thomas). The Saints may rest some starters, which will help the Carolina passing attack, but Moore won't be the one in the advantageous situations. Sit Moore this week. |
| Allen Robinson CHI | Xavier Rhodes MIN | Rhodes continues to play at an elite level out wide, allowing under 12 yards per reception and a 72.9 passer rating when targeted over the past three weeks.* Robinson had a productive Week 16, catching six balls for 85 yards, but those numbers could be hard to come by against Rhodes, seeing as he caught just three of seven targets in the team's last meeting. |
| Cody Core CIN | Coty Sensabaugh PIT | Core will continue to get snaps with a ton of Cincinnati's pass catchers out with injury, but his upside is capped with Jeff Driskel under center. Driskel will spread the ball around, and Core has yet to top four targets in a game this season. The third-year receiver out of Ole Miss shouldn't be started in any format. |
| Breshad Perriman CLE | Marlon Humphrey BAL | To be blunt, Perriman is a no go for me this week. Sure, he logged 76 yards last week on just two receptions, but that was against the Bengals. Humphrey has allowed less than eight yards per reception and a 18.3 passer rating when targeted over the past five weeks. Humphrey is balling out and has stymied his opposition on a weekly basis. Again, Perriman, no thanks. |
| Amari Cooper DAL | B.W. Webb NYG | While the matchup may look good on paper, Webb has allowed just five reception on 12 targets over the last three weeks, good for a 72.2 passer rating when targeted.* Cooper will see some Janoris Jenkins as well, but he's been just as good over the past three weeks. However, Cooper's volume makes him no worse than a high-end WR2 in Week 17. |
| Tim Patrick DEN | Casey Hayward LAC | Over the last three weeks, Hayward has allowed a measly 50 percent completion percentage and a 66.3 passer rating when targeted.* Patrick has at least five targets and 44 yards in each of his last three games, but he's failed to find the end zone in said span. He's the least appealing of Denver's three primary receivers. |
| Andy Jones DET | Tony Brown GB | Kenny Golladay was one of my favorite plays this week, but now he won't be playing. Jones will likely see extra targets in this matchup, but his upside is no where near where Golladay's was. Jones is a risky start in all formats. |
| Jake Kumerow GB | Mike Ford DET | Kumerow made some noise in the preseason, but was largely quiet until he got extra snaps in the game against the Jets. He only saw three targets, but he caught all of them for 68 yards and a touchdown. Kumerow got more snaps than Equanimeous St. Brown , and was right in line with Marquez Valdes-Scantling . Kumerow is an intriguing GPP play in Week 17, as Mike Ford has been brutal in coverage (145.8 passer rating over last three weeks).* |
| Vyncint Smith HOU | D.J. Hayden JAX | Smith had a hell of a touchdown grab against the Eagles this past week, and the unfortunate injury likely thrusts Smith into a prominent role. With the Texans needing a victory to win the AFC South, the starters will be out there, and Smith will have extra opportunities to strength his rapport with quarterback Deshaun Watson heading into the playoffs. With A.J. Bouye out of action, D.J. Hayden likely shifts out wide from slot coverage, giving Smith the best matchup on the field, as star wide out DeAndre Hopkins will have to deal with star corner Jalen Ramsey . Love Smith in GPPs. |
| Zach Pascal IND | Malcolm Butler TEN | With Adoree' Jackson largely taking the opposition's better wideout, Butler's numbers look pristine over the last four weeks. Specifically, the fact that he's recorded two interceptions and has posted a passer rating of just 6.7 when targeted during that span.* Pascal is an easy fade in this must-win game for the Colts, who are playoff hopefuls. |
| Donte Moncrief JAX | Shareece Wright HOU | Regardless of who is under center for Jacksonville, Moncrief is a risky start. While he had a good game against the Texans earlier this season, Blake Bortles hasn't had much success against Houston outside of 2017, and Cody Kessler is a pedestrian quarterback to say the least. Don't expect a repeat performance of his earlier outing against the Texans, when he caught seven balls for 76 yards. Last week's four for 43 is more indicative of his likely Week 17 results. |
| Demarcus Robinson KC | Rashaan Melvin OAK | With Sammy Watkins likely out of the fold again, Robinson will get some snaps out wide, as will Kelvin Benjamin . Robinson, third-year man out of Florida, has seen 13 targets over the past three weeks, and he has managed to score in two straight contests. He's touchdown dependent at this point, but you could do worse than putting your eggs in a basket being overseen by MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes . |
| Tyrell Williams LAC | Tramaine Brock DEN | Brock has allowed a completion percentage of just 50 percent in his past two games to go along with a passer rating of 96.1 when targeted.* While Keenan Allen will get his share of targets, there's something appealing about Williams in this matchup. Despite coming off a one reception game against the Ravens, he is just two weeks removed from seeing 12 targets from Philip Rivers , albeit Allen missing most of that game. Williams is a sneaky GPP play this week, as he should get loose for one long one against this Denver defense. |
| Josh Reynolds LAR | Richard Sherman SF | After seeing 12 targets against the Eagles, Reynolds saw just two against the Cardinals. Sure, game script didn't help, but that might be a problem in this matchup, especially if the Niners cannot move the ball on Aaron Donald and Co. If given opportunities, Reynolds is in an excellent spot against Sherman, who has allowed a 90 percent completion percentage and a 141.3 passer rating when targeted over the past four weeks.* Reynolds is a sneaky flex option this week. |
| Kenny Stills MIA | Tre'Davious White BUF | By the numbers, opponents have had success throwing on White, to the tune of over 50 yards per game and a passer rating of 118.8.* However, I'm just not going to go with it with Kenny Stills , as Tannehill has been held under 205 yards passing in four of his last five contests. Stills is a Week 17 fade for me. |
| Stefon Diggs MIN | Kyle Fuller CHI | Diggs has his hands full in this contest, as Fuller has recorded two interceptions over the past four weeks, not to mention a passer rating of just 41.7 when targeted during that span.* Fuller has been Chicago's best corner, and while he won't shadow Diggs, Minnesota's value outside weapon has taken 52 percent of his snaps on the right side of the field (slot included).* Diggs drops to the WR2 territory this week, due to this matchup. |
| Chris Hogan NE | Daryl Roberts NYJ | No Josh Gordon , no problem for fantasy owners, as Hogan saw zero targets last week, since he did see a good bit of Tre'Davious White in this matchup. Hogan hasn't done much all year, but one would think he should get a few added opportunities with Gordon out of the fold. However, it doesn't appear to be likely. Hogan is a risky play for those depending on Week 17 production. |
| Tre'Quan Smith NO | Donte Jackson CAR | Smith is in a good spot against Jackson, who has allowed a 117.9 passer rating when targeted over the past four weeks.* Thomas comes in at a very reasonable price as the team's top receiver in this matchup against a bad Carolina secondary. Teddy Bridgewater may spread the ball around, but Smith has shown that he has capable of putting up big numbers. At the very least, he will exceed value and makes for a great salary relief option. |
| Corey Coleman NYG | Chidobe Awuzie DAL | Hard to imagine the Giants run OBJ out there for a meaningless game after he's missed a few weeks with the injury. Coleman has caught 60 percent of his targets over the past four weeks, but that has resulted in three receptions for 51 yards. The Giants' passing attack isn't favorable for fantasy owners at this juncture, and Coleman is a risky start for those in leagues where Week 17 matters. |
| Robby Anderson NYJ | Stephon Gilmore NE | The shades of 2017 Robby Anderson are finally coming true in 2018! Anderson has the second-most receiving yards in the league over the past three weeks, not to mention three touchdowns with Sam Darnold playing really good football. Not an ideal matchup against a Patriots defense that is good at shutting down the opposition's top threat, but Anderson must be started following two exceptional performances. |
| Marcell Ateman OAK | Orlando Scandrick KC | Scandrick has been solid in coverage the past three weeks, allowing just 1.03 yards per coverage snap and a smidge over 10 yards per reception.* Ateman didn't catch a pass last week, but he had least two receptions in the four games prior. Jordy Nelson is in a much better spot here, making him the best play amongst the Oakland wideouts. |
| Alshon Jeffery PHI | Josh Norman WAS | Norman has really elevated his game over the past four weeks, allowing just one touchdown and 0.41 yards per coverage snap allowed. The volume for Jeffery with Nick Foles has been excellent, and he's produced. In the two games with Foles under center, Jeffery has 11 receptions for 242 yards. Start Jeffery with WR2 expectations. |
| James Washington PIT | Darius Phillips CIN | No thanks. Washington may have promise, but it's not coming to fruition this week, even with Phillips allowing two touchdowns on just six receptions in his past three games.* Fade Washington in the final week of the regular season. |
| David Moore SEA | Patrick Peterson ARI | Peterson may have allowed a 143.8 passer rating over the past two weeks when targeted, but that's come on just six targets, and Julio Jones was the main recipient of said targets.* Moore has fallen down Russell Wilson 's ladder in recent weeks, seeing just six targets in the past two games. Moore needs touchdowns to produce, and he hasn't scored in over a month. I doubt that trend is bucked here against Peterson. |
| Kendrick Bourne SF | Aqib Talib LAR | Bourne may have some opportunities to produce in this matchup, especially if the Rams rest some starters. Bourne caught four balls for 73 yards against the Bears, and with the 49ers playing from behind in this matchup, Bourne could have some minor levels of success. Talib has allowed 17.5 yards per reception over the past two games, but his passer rating allowed is just 86.2 when targeted.* Bourne is a low-level flex play in deeper formats, or GPP only in DFS. |
| Mike Evans TB | Desmond Trufant ATL | Evans is getting the targets over recent weeks, which is great but catching just 56 percent of your passes is less than ideal. However, he's made up for that by averaging 21.2 yards per reception over his past three games. Evans will be tested in this matchup with Trufant, who has allowed a 68.3 passer rating when targeted over the last three weeks.* Evans remains a viable WR1 this weekend. |
| Taywan Taylor TEN | Pierre Desir IND | Taylor is getting more run in the offense, but the former Western Kentucky star hasn't scored since Week 2 of the season and has eclipsed 60 yards just twice since doing it in Week 4 of the season. Desir has been excellent for the Colts this season, recording seven pass break ups, one interception and holding the opposition to a 58.2 reception percentage.* Fade Taylor, especially if Marcus Mariota is out of action. |
| Michael Floyd WAS | Avonte Maddox PHI | Floyd has somewhat come on, actually no, not really. He scored last week, but that was his lone catch of the game and that touchdown was his first of the 2018 season. With just 23 yards to his name over the past two weeks, Floyd can be avoided in all formats, even in a plus matchup against a banged up Eagles secondary. |
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot in Week 17.
| Slot WR | Slot CB | Analysis |
| Julian Edelman NE | Buster Skrine NYJ | Surprised to see Edelman at the top of this list? You shouldn't be! Skrine has allowed the second-most receiving yards in slot coverage over the past three weeks, and Edelman should see a few extra targets with Josh Gordon out of the mix.* Start Edelman. |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT | Darqueze Dennard CIN | Everyone may remember JuJu's Week 16 fumble, but he had an exceptional game up to that point. He's an excellent play in Week 17, as he's received at least nine targets in six straight games. He beat the Bengals for 111 yards in the middle of October and should have similar success and Dennard in Week 17. Start Smith-Schuster with WR1 expectations. |
| Adam Thielen MIN | Sherrick McManis CHI | Not a great matchup for Thielen, as McManis has allowed a completion percentage of just 50 percent and a passer rating of 56.5 when targeted over the past three weeks.* However, throwing at McManis is more inviting than Kyle Fuller , so Kirk Cousins should look to Thielen more often than teammate Stefon Diggs . Thielen will be a low-end WR1 this week. |
| Doug Baldwin SEA | Budda Baker ARI | Baldwin is averaging nine targets per game over his last two outings, and he's scored four touchdowns in the past three games. Baker has allowed nearly 90 percent of his targets to be caught over the past three weeks, and while those receptions haven't gone for significant yardage, I'll buy into that when placing Baldwin in my lineups this weekend. |
| Keenan Allen LAC | Justin Simmons DEN | After his goose egg against the Chiefs, Allen responded with five grabs for 58 yards against a stingy Baltimore defense. Simmons, a safety by trade, has been thrust into slot corner duties on more than a few occasions, given the injury to Chris Harris Jr. a few weeks back. Start Allen with confidence in Week 17. |
| Robert Woods LAR | D.J. Reed Jr. SF | Over the last three weeks, Reed has allowed a 100 percent completion percentage when targeted.* While Woods hasn't exploded for a monster game in a few weeks, he's been incredibly reliable, catching at least four balls for 61 yards in all but one game this season. He's scored in three of his last five games, and he's a reliable receiving option for any lineup in Week 17. |
| Adam Humphries TB | Brian Poole ATL | Despite a solid passer rating allowed when targeted, Poole has allowed the fifth-most receiving yards out of the slot since Week 14.* Humphries has the most targets and receptions out of the slot in the past two weeks, and he's quietly been a very valuable fantasy asset in the second half of the season.* Start Humphries. |
| DaeSean Hamilton DEN | Desmond King LAC | King has struggled over the past three weeks, allowing one touchdown and a 137.0 passer rating when targeted during that span.* Along with that, Hamilton's 14 targets and 10 receptions out of the slot trail only Tampa Bay's Adam Humphries over the past two weeks.* Hamilton's upside may be capped with Case Keenum at the helm, but he seems to have a double-digit floor in a PPR format. |
| Jarvis Landry CLE | Brandon Carr BAL | Getting behind Landry this week is a bit worrisome,as he's been held under 60 yards in three straight games. Furthermore, he's caught four or less passes in each of his past three games, despite seeing eight targets in two of them. He hasn't been efficient with Baker Mayfield , especially in recent weeks, and this matchup is rather worrisome against a stout Baltimore defense. He may only catch three or four balls for 50 yards, but I think he finds the end zone, en route to a low-end WR2 day. |
| Anthony Miller CHI | Mackensie Alexander MIN | Miller might not be the flashy play, but the rookie out of Memphis has seven touchdowns on the year and Mitchell Trubisky certainly trusts the rookie in the red zone. While his yardage wasn't impressive in the first meeting against the Vikings, Miller did manage to score in that game as well. He needs a touchdown to pay off for his fantasy owners, but I think he'll score in this contest, making him a flex option in Week 17. |
Elite
Jones, along with the receiver below, will be in just about all of my DFS lineups for Week 17. In seasonal leagues, if your league values Week 17, you should be excited about being able to stick Jones in your lineup. For his career, Jones is averaging 7.2 receptions and 119.8 yards per game against the Bucs. Davis has been really good in coverage in his last two games, however, allowing a passer rating of 47.9 when targeted.* Assuming he plays, and isn’t held out of action, Jones has an excellent opportunity to catch not one, but two touchdowns in this game.
Bargain Bin
Trent Sherfield vs. Tre Flowers
While the numbers show that Seattle’s defense is about league average in terms of defending wide receivers, but Flowers has struggled in coverage this season, to the tune of allowing the 16th-most yards in coverage this season.* Over the past eight weeks, Flowers has allowed the sixth-most yards in coverage and a passer rating of 145.6 when targeted.* Sherfield has just 17 receptions on the year, but since Christian Kirk has gone down, Sherfield is quietly putting up quality numbers at his price point. His upside may be capped with Josh Rosen under center, but he’s in a great spot to make fantasy owners happy in Week 17.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.