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. This is the final week of the regular season. Good luck to those of you still playing for a fantasy championship, the rest of you, let’s win some DFS money! Previous the article was geared towards seasonal leagues. 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 | Jalen Ramsey LAR | Despite a few strong games, Kirk has really fallen off the fantasy radar as he only has one game over 45 yards since Week 10. Last week against the Seahawks he failed to even register a catch, and Seattle isn't a great secondary. If Arizona is smart it will be Brett Hundley at quarterback this week playing against a strong Rams secondary, and that should take Kirk off the fantasy radar. |
| Julio Jones ATL | Carlton Davis TB | Jones is on absolute fire right now with 23 catches and 300 yards in the last two weeks. He is eight catches away from 100 on the season, and you have to believe that is important to him. The Falcons have nothing to play for, and they should pepper Jones with targets. He had one of his worst games of the season against Tampa Bay in Week 12, but the Bucs are one of the worst pass defenses and Julio should slay them this week. He is a great start in seasonal or DFS lineups to finish the year. |
| Marquise Brown BAL | Joe Haden PIT | Hollywood has had under ten receiving yards in three of the last four games, and the Ravens have already clinched home field. He isn't likely to play a ton in this one, and his fantasy value goes further in the tank with Robert Griffin III throwing the ball. This is a straight fade. |
| John Brown BUF | Arthur Maulet NYJ | After an amazing start of the season, Brown has fallen off in the last six weeks of the year. He only has one game over 55 yards, and two touchdowns. The Bills are locked into their wild card spot, and aren't likely to try too hard and could pull starters in the second half. The Jets secondary stinks and Brown went for 123 yards and a touchdown against them in Week 1, but he shouldn't be in any fantasy lineups in Week 17. |
| Curtis Samuel CAR | Marshon Lattimore NO | The Panthers have packed it in for the year, rookie quarterback Will Grier isn't a good quarterback right now, and without D.J. Moore Curtis Samuel will deal with Marshon Lattimore . You convinced not to use him in DFS lineups this week? Good, on to the next guy. |
| Allen Robinson CHI | Xavier Rhodes MIN | He has had a great season, despite the awful play at quarterback he has had to deal with all season long. Mitchell Trubisky loves to throw to Robinson, as evidenced by his 56 targets in the last five weeks, but he just isn't very accurate when he throws it. Robinson gets a fairly strong matchup against a Vikings defense that hasn't played up to their capability this season. Not only that, but Minnesota is locked into the sixth seed in the NFC and could easily sit some of their starters. Robinson will be a strong play if this is your fantasy championship, and in DFS games as the Bears want to close out with a win. |
| John Ross CIN | Denzel Ward CLE | Ross wasn't a big part of the offense in the first two games since returning from injury, but he certainly was featured with 13 targets against the Dolphins. Cleveland brings a tougher matchup than Miami, but not much. Cleveland isn't interested in winning it seems, and even though he will likely draw Denzel Ward , Ross should have success. Cleveland is horrible against the run, so this might be a game where they run more than they pass. The Bengals have been better of late, and Ross is very reasonably priced on DFS sites. He obviously comes with risk as Tyler Boyd will be featured, but there definitely could be enough balls to go around for Ross to have a good game. |
| Odell Beckham Jr CLE | William Jackson CIN | Odell did Odell things all week last week as he got a taunting penalty, threw his helmet on the sideline, argued with his coach, and generally acted the fool. He did have four catches for 44 yards, and luckily for his fantasy owners he did score a touchdown. He has admitted he isn't 100 percent healthy, and the Bengals have been playing better defense in the last month. Beckham is a flex play in your fantasy championship, but not a recommended DFS option. |
| Amari Cooper DAL | Aaron Colvin WAS | His injuries are clearly still a factor as he caught only four of his 12 targets for 24 yards in a must have game against the Eagles. Cooper was in and out of the game again in this one, and didn't look near 100 percent. If the Redskins secondary wasn't so bad I would say to sit him in season long and DFS games, but if this is your fantasy championship you can put him in your lineups. In DFS games with his elevated salary, you can certainly find a better, or at least safer option. |
| Courtland Sutton DEN | Trayvon Mullen OAK | The targets continue to be there, but Sutton's production has now gotten much more sporadic. He has been targeted ten times in each of the last two games, and 32 times in four week. He has had 70 yards or more in three of the last six games, and under 45 in the other three. Drew Lock has been inconsistent as well, but what can you expect from a rookie quarterback. Last week was more due to the effectiveness of the running game, but this week should be through the air with Oakland being awful against the pass. He torched them for seven catches and 120 yards in Week 1, and while he won't do that, Sutton will be a solid championship play in seasonal leagues and a great DFS choice for a guy who likely won't be highly owned. |
| Kenny Golladay DET | Jaire Alexander GB | Despite dealing with a pretty bad quarterback in David Blough, Golladay continues to do pretty well. I think mostly it is because he is the only receiver that is worth throwing to. He does have 32 targets in the last four games, including 12 in Week 16. Golladay is leading the league in touchdown receptions with 11. He will face a semi-soft Packers secondary, and had five catches for 121 yards against them the first game. Of course, Matthew Stafford was the quarterback then, but the Lions are likely to get blown out so there should be plenty of garbage time in the second half for Golladay to rack up stats. He will have at least 80 yards and finish the year with one more touchdown giving him an even dozen on the year. |
| Davante Adams GB | Darius Slay DET | 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 missed the first game against the Lions, but they are one of the worst pass defenses in football. Adams should have his third straight 100 yard game, and while Aaron Rodgers and the passing game struggles, his top receiver always produces. Adams is an absolute must-start and a dynamite stud receiver for your DFS games even if he does have to deal some with Darius Slay . |
| DeAndre Hopkins HOU | LeShaun Sims TEN | Hopkins had his worst game of the season against the Buccaneers last Saturday, and now he gets a mostly meaningless game against the Titans to finish the year. He just walloped the Titans two weeks ago for six catches and 119 yards, and Hopkins will finish the season off strong. He is a must-start in Week 17 for your fantasy championship, and against the banged up, terrible Titans secondary you would be crazy not to put him in your lineups. |
| T.Y. Hilton IND | A.J. Bouye JAX | He continues to look like a shell of the guy we have come to know, and Hlton hasn't stopped 30 receiving yards in his last three games. He has a combined 51 receiving yards in the two weeks since returning from injury, and it seems like he is only doing it to say he returned from injury. This week is a tough call because he has looked so pedestrian, but at the same time the Jaguars defense isn't playing what you would call inspired defense. I am going to err on the side of caution and not use him in DFS games this weekend, but if you are in your fantasy championship he probably should still be your flex at worst unless you are totally stacked at wide receiver. |
| D.J. Chark JAX | Rock Ya-Sin IND | He came back from injury last week after missing just one game with an injury he probably should have missed the rest of the season with. Chark certainly didn't look very explosive, and he finished with just two catches for 18 yards. He certainly should have just sat out, but he will be playing again in Week 17. The Colts defense is fairly good, and the Jaguars certainly aren't trying hard to win. Chark will be a very low end flex and shouldn't be used in DFS games. |
| Tyreek Hill KC | Casey Hayward LAC | He isn't putting up massive yardage games, but Hill still has had at least ten fantasy points in all four of the games since he returned from the hamstring injury. He is lacking some explosiveness, but the Chiefs offense is starting to round into shape a little heading into the playoffs. He will likely have to deal with Casey Hayward of the Chargers, but he still should have a great game. Look for Hill to top 80 receiving yards on six catches and score his eighth touchdown of the year. Hill is a must-start for a fantasy championship and a pretty decent start in DFS lineups. |
| Robert Woods LAR | Patrick Peterson ARI | Woods continues to be the top receiver for the Rams and has been targeted a minimum of nine times in each of the last six games. Los Angeles hasn't always run their offense effectively, but outside of the disaster game against the Cowboys, he has had at least 90 yards in each of the last six. Woods tortured the Cardinals back in Week 13 with 13 catches for 172 yards, and while he won't hit those totals, he will have a great game. The Cardinals are one of the worst pass defenses in football, and the Rams should finish the season with a win. Woods is an awesome start in seasonal finales and DFS games for the final week of the year. |
| Mike Williams LAC | Bashaud Breeland KC | Williams has been better in the last month or so, but without the couple touchdowns he has had, he would likely leave you disappointed. He did have 76 yards the first time they played the Chiefs, but it was on only two catches. The Chargers certainly aren't putting much effort forth lately, and using Williams in a game that means nothing against a team that is trying to win would be ill advised. |
| DeVante Parker MIA | Stephon Gilmore NE | Parker has been one of the best surprises of the season, and he has enjoyed a huge breakout season in 2019. Outside of the Week 14 game against the Jets he has had at least 15 fantasy points in every game since Week 10. Despite all of that, the Patriots need to win this game to clinch the bye, and their pass defense is among the best in football. Stephon Gilmore will shut down Parker, and he will finish the season with a whimper. Don't use him in Week 17. |
| Stefon Diggs MIN | Kyle Fuller CHI | Even in a game where Kirk Cousins looked like trash, Diggs still had 57 yards and a touchdown. He has at least 50 receiving yards in four of the last five games, and he looks to end the season on a high note. He had a great game against the Bears with seven catches for 108 yards back in Week 4, but the Vikings can't help their playoff seeding with their game, so they likely won't play Diggs the whole game. He has had a fine season, but Diggs won't be a great option in Week 17 in any fantasy format. |
| Mohamed Sanu NE | Nik Needham MIA | Somehow Sanu's 24 yards in Week 16 against the Bills was his highest yardage total since Week 9! Whaaaaat? Man, that trade for a second round pick isn't looking so great right now. The Patriots offense has been really bad, and even in a game against the Dolphins, Sanu doesn't seem like a good play. I like Edelman, N'Keal Harry , and James White catching passes, but I don't see Sanu being a big part of the offense. |
| Michael Thomas NO | James Bradberry CAR | He broke the record for most catches in a season, and Thomas looks to finish the season in a flurry as the Saints still have their sights set on the top seed in the NFC. There isn't much left to say about Thomas as he is just amazing. He had ten catches for 101 yards and a touchdown the last time they played Carolina, and the Panthers aren't even remotely putting forth a decent effort. Thomas is a no brainer in any Week 17 championship, and he is worth every last penny in DFS formats as the best receiver on the slate. |
| Sterling Shepard NYG | Ronald Darby PHI | Since returning from his concussions, Shepard has been very heavily targeted. At first it wasn't translating to much, but he has caught fire the last two weeks with 187 yards in the last two games. Of course, it was against two terrible defenses, but he plays the Eagles this week, who also aren't very good. He failed to do much against them in Week 14, but Shepard is in a better place now. The Giants are going to try to play spoilers in the Eagles quest to solidify a division title, and Shepard should be heavily involved. Look for seven catches for 85 yards and a score for the Giants top receiver. |
| Robby Anderson NYJ | Tre'Davious White BUF | As usual it has been a very up and down season for Anderson, but again he is ending the year fairly strong. He has 65 receiving yards or a touchdown in six straight games. His target numbers have been all over the place, anywhere from three to 11 over that span. He faces one of the toughest secondaries in football in the Bills, and while they might not play their starting defense the whole game, Anderson would have to break a big play to make his fantasy day somewhere. That is too risky a proposition to count on and he should be avoided for Week 17 in all formats. |
| Tyrell Williams OAK | Chris Harris DEN | The four catches for 82 yards do look nice, and he has 12 fantasy points in each of the last two weeks, but the part is over. He has become a non-factor, the Raiders offense isn't very good, and the Denver secondary is very strong. Chris Harris will lock Williams up,a nd please don't take into consideration the good game he had all the way back in Week 1. It doesn't matter what the situation or type of fantasy game you play, Williams should be an afterthought. |
| Greg Ward PHI | Deandre Baker NYG | He didn't get as many targets in Week 16, but Ward is still the most used wide receiver for the Eagles down the stretch. Philadelphia needs one more win to secure the NFC East title, and he faces the Giants secondary who is one of the worst in football. Ward only had 34 yards in the first game against the Giants, but New York is awful, and Ward should be better this time around. With Zach Ertz hurting, Philadelphia literally only has Ward, Dallas Goedert , and Miles Sanders to throw to so he will be a good option to start in your Week 17 championship lineups in your flex. He is still a good bargain on both main DFS sites, and certainly makes sense to put in your lineups to help you afford some studs. |
| James Washington PIT | Marcus Peters BAL | After seemingly be locked in as the top receiver for the Steelers a few weeks ago, he now seems to have fallen behind Diontae Johnson. With JuJu Smith-Schuster back, the targets get thinned out even more. The Ravens aren't going to be playing their starters, but the Steelers offense still will struggle to score with Devlin Hodges at quarterback. Washington is still a risky start even if Baltimore is playing the second string. The Steelers likely won't score more than 24 points, and might only have one passing touchdown. It isn't a good bet that it goes to Washington and he should be avoided to end the season. |
| Emmanuel Sanders SF | Tre Flowers SEA | He did have 61 yards in Week 16, and although it came at a cruical time in the game, most of Sanders production came on one 46 yard catch. Sanders has been much more boom than bust in the second half of the season, and he becomes incredibly hard to trust in fantasy lineups. The Seahawks secondary isn't good at all, but at the same time, this game is likely to see both teams score in the 20s. Unless he breaks out for a couple of big plays, Sanders will likely leave you disappointed and can be avoided in Week 17 against Seattle |
| D.K. Metcalf SEA | Richard Sherman SF | Metcalf has fallen off a cliff the last two weeks as the Seahawks offense has been way out of sync. He even failed to register a catch last week against the awful Cardinals defense. He actually had a good game against San Francisco the first time around with six catches and 70 yards. I don't expect this game to be overly low scoring, and Metcalf is going to have to be better if Seattle wants to win. San Francisco's secondary has been beatable in the second half of the season, but this is probably the healthiest they have been in a while. Metcalf is a great flex option, but will not be a guy you should consider in any DFS lineup this weekend. |
| Breshad Perriman TB | Isaiah Oliver ATL | He made it four straight good weeks with seven catches and 102 yards in Week 16 as Perriman helped many win their regular season fantasy championships. With all of the injuries to the Buccaneers receivers, Perriman has an unprecedented opportunity to be "the man". He has back to back 100 yard games, and had a season high 12 targets last week. The Buccaneers play a subpar secondary in Atlanta in the final week of the season, and Perriman should be a great start in DFS as well. He will continue to be the most targeted receiver for Tampa Bay, and we all know they love to throw a lot. Perriman should have at least 85 receiving yards in this one and easily could find the end zone again. |
| A.J. Brown TEN | Gareon Conley HOU | Brown was completely shut down by Marshon Lattimore of the Saints last week, but the Titans still found a way to get him involved with a 49 yard touchdown run. He had only one catch for 34 yards, and that might make some people nervous to start him. However, don't let that scare you away. The Texans don't have a single corner who can hang with Brown, and he dusted them for eight catches, 114 yards, and a touchdown two weeks ago when the Titans and Texans squared off last time. Brown is a must-start in the Week 17 championship round and a great option in DFS lineups as well. |
| Terry McLaurin WAS | Chidobe Awuzie DAL | McLaurin has gotten back on track the last three weeks after a long stretch of questionable fantasy performances. Case Keenum will be back under center, and that is the quarterback that McLaurin had his most success with. He was put in concussion protocol after hitting his head on the ground last week, but he likely should be able to play in Week 17. The Dallas secondary is very strong, but in the beginning of the season McLaurin did have five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. With Keenum at quarterback, McLaurin becomes more of a fantasy asset in the season finale. He still is a very risky option in DFS games, but should be fired up for season long championship games this Sunday. |
| Right WR | Left CB | Analysis |
| Damiere Byrd ARI | Troy Hill LAR | I went way out on a limb last week suggesting Byrd, and it bit me in the butt big time. He was targeted six times the week before, but just once last week. The Cardinals offense is scoring some points but it has been running through Kenyan Drake mostly with some Larry Fitzgerald sprinkled in. The Rams have a pretty solid secondary, and Byrd isn't a fantasy factor. |
| Russell Gage ATL | Sean Murphy-Bunting TB | He has at least five catches in four of the last five games, but has only topped 55 yards once in that span. Without Calvin Ridley , Gage has remained a decent part of the offense, and against bad defenses he gains some fantasy value. Well, lookie what we have here, a game against the Buccaneers! Tampa has allowed 29 passing touchdowns this season, and Gage had eight catches for 76 yards against the Bucs the first time and he will have some bargain DFS value in Week 17 and flex consideration if you are in a season long league. |
| Seth Roberts BAL | Steven Nelson PIT | Roberts is the fourth or fifth option for targets for the Ravens, and this week many of the starters, including Lamar Jackson , won't be playing. Unless he has some weird chemistry with Robert Griffin , Roberts won't be anyone to consider. The Steelers defense is top notch and they need to win, so don't expect him to have much, if any, production to finish the year. |
| Isaiah McKenzie BUF | Blessaun Austin NYJ | The Bills might not play their starters the entire game, which could put McKenzie in for more snaps than usual. They do have a matchup against the soft Jets defense, but it doesn't mean that he will get more catches. He has only 25 catches all season long, and if Josh Allen goes out, that leaves the less than adequate Matt Barkley at quarterback. McKenzie remains a no go. |
| Jarius Wright CAR | Eli Apple NO | D.J. Moore went out with a concussion, but Wright still only had five targets and one catch against the Colts. He has a rookie quarterback throwing him the ball, the team stopped trying, and he goes against a tough pass defense. All of this adds up to a big negative when thinking about Jarius Wright at receiver. |
| Javon Wims CHI | Mike Hughes MIN | The Bears offense is falling apart again, and they look awful. Mitchell Trubisky regressed again, and the Bears have nothing to play for. The Vikings pass defense hasn't been good against the pass lately, but the Bears can't score points. Even Anthony Miller is a question mark for this week, so Wims is a total fade this week. |
| Alex Erickson CIN | Greedy Williams CLE | The Bengals offense has gotten a little more life with Andy Dalton back under center. They are still the worst team in football, and they have already locked up the top draft pick, so even if they win it won't matter. The Browns are just mailing it in at the end of the season, and Erickson did have five catches for 45 yards the last time they played. I think that the Bengals will win the game, and Erickson could have a solid number of catches, but he isn't a reliable enough target to use as your flex spot in Week 17 or in your DFS lineups. |
| Damion Ratley CLE | B.W. Webb CIN | He is getting work in three receiver sets, but the offense hasn't been good enough for another receiver to be worth fantasy consideration. Ratley has two catches since Week 4 and there is no scenario where you can considerin him for any fantasy format. |
| Michael Gallup DAL | Danny Johnson WAS | A week after dropping a total dud in Week 15 it was nice to see Gallup bounce back in a nice way. He had five catches for 98 yards against the Eagles. Dak Prescott is not 100 percent, but he is still good enough to put up decent numbers. The Redskins secondary is a shell of its former self due to injury, and every team is able to throw on them. With Amari Cooper banged up, Gallup is nearly the number one receiver, and he should have an awesome game to finish the year against Washington. Gallup is a great WR3 option and also a cheaper option to fill your DFS lineup. |
| Tim Patrick DEN | Nevin Lawson OAK | He had a season high five catches last week, but the important part to rememeber was that the Broncos played the Lions. While Detroit is one of the worst defenses in football, Denver gets another easy one against the Raiders. Despite the cupcake matchup, quarterback Drew Lock isn't consistent enough to trust anyone but Courtland Sutton , and Patrick should be avoided in all fantasy formats. |
| Chris Lacy DET | Kevin King GB | Since Marvin Jones went down, Lacy has been targeted three times in two games and caught one pass. It was a 48 yarder, but he has no fantasy value. Moving on! |
| Allen Lazard GB | Rashaan Melvin DET | We like Lazard when he goes against bad defenses as he is the clear number two receiver after Davante Adams . He was targeted nine times for five catches and 45 yards last week, and had four catches for 65 yards and a score back in Week 6 against the Lions. He is a great flex play if this is your fantasy championship and will be a nice low end DFS option as well. |
| Kenny Stills HOU | Tramaine Brock TEN | There are a couple of reasons to like Stills this week. First, Kenny Stills is going to miss the game, and he also caught two touchdowns back in Week 15 against these same Titans. However, the guy doesn't really do it for me because he is so inconsistent. The Texans also don't really need to win the game, so it will remain to see how hard they play. Stills is pretty reasonably priced on both DFS sites given the situation so while he isn't my favorite, I still see reason to use him with the right roster construction. |
| Marcus Johnson IND | Tre Herndon JAX | Zach Pascal will be coming out of the slot, and Johnson will be the other outside receiver. He has been targeted just four times in each of the last two weeks, and just hasn't had fantasy value this year. It is hard to imagine that changing in the final week of the year. |
| Chris Conley JAX | Pierre Desir IND | Even with D.J. Chark back last week Conley still had 56 yards and a touchdown. Of course, that came on just two catches, so he needs to make the most of his chances. Chark is definitely not healthy, and could be pulled at any time. That is a severe risk to take in a fantasy championship or DFS situation, so he isn't recommended, but Conley could finish strong. |
| Demarcus Robinson KC | Michael Davis LAC | He has four catches in the previous five weeks, and hasn't had anything that resembled a fantasy relevant game since Week 10, and even that was less than ten fantasy points. The Chargers stink, but Robinson still isn't worth fantasy consideration. |
| Brandin Cooks LAR | Chris Jones ARI | He was an afterthought for most of the regular season, but Cooks has popped back on the fantasy radar in the last two weeks with 14 targets and eight catches. Unfortunately, it has only been good for 85 yards in the last two weeks combined, but he is at least back on the map. The Cardinals are a terrible defense, but they just shut down Seattle last week. Cooks won't be a DFS option, but in the right situation in a Week 17 championship he could be a decent flex play. |
| Andre Patton LAC | Charvarious Ward KC | He has six catches all season long, and two did come last week, but Patton is so far off the fantasy radar it isn't funny. If the fantasy radar was centered on Earth, Patton would be on Uranus. Yes, I have a child's sense of humor. |
| Albert Wilson MIA | J.C. Jackson NE | Wilson has been the second best receiver on the Dolphins for a number of weeks, and will likely be heavily targeted again. However, this game is against the top defense in the game and won't be a fantasy factor at all in Week 17. |
| Adam Thielen MIN | Prince Amukamara CHI | He is clearly not healthy and has been targeted just seven times in the two games since returning from injury, and last week he didn't have a catch. The Vikings are locked into the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs, it makes little sense for Thielen to play much, if at all. Bisi Johnson becomes a low end fantasy option in Week 17 and a possible dart throw in DFS games. |
| N'Keal Harry NE | Jomal Wiltz MIA | Harry has been getting a little more involved in the offense, but at the same time the Patriots offense has been struggling. He gets a cupcake matchup against the Dolphins, and the Patriots still need to win the game to clinch a first round bye. After Julian Edelman , if anyone else on the team is going to score, it will be Harry. |
| Ted Ginn NO | Donte Jackson CAR | Ginn has only been targeted once in each of the last two weeks, despite the fact that the Saints offense has been solid. If you get some milk this weekend, see if you can find Ginn's picture on the carton. |
| Darius Slay ton NYG | Jalen Mills PHI | He only was targeted twice last week and didn't have a catch, but he missed most of the game with a knee injury. The Eagles secondary is less than stellar for sure, but it is still unknown how injured Slayton is. The Giants clearly aren't playing for anything, but if he is 100 percent Slayton could finish strong. The risk is a little high to be resting your fantasy championship on him. |
| Vyncint Smith NYJ | Levi Wallace BUF | Smith is getting a little bit of run lately, but not quite enough to warrant fantasy consideration. He does have three catches in each of the last two games, but they are only good for a total of 72 yards. The Jets go against one of the toughest pass defenses in the league in Buffalo, and Smith will likely finish with a whimper. |
| Zay Jones OAK | Isaac Yiadom DEN | It has been 15 weeks and two teams this year, and this will be the final time I suggest not using Zay Jones . His best game all season as far as yardage is 33, and his high catch total is three. He stinks and this week will be no different. |
| Robert Davis PHI | Sam Beal NYG | The Eagles are one more injury away from pulling fans out of the crowd to play receiver as now it seems that J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is likely to miss this one. The offense now goes through the tight ends, Miles Sanders, and Greg Ward . Don't worry about Davis at all, even against the awful Giants. |
| Diontae Johnson PIT | Jimmy Smith BAL | JuJu Smith-Schuster is back, but he isn't going to be a factor as he is so far from healthy. Johnson has taken the top receiver role back lately with his 24 targets in the last three weeks. He had eight catches for 81 yards and a touchdown last week, and even though Devlin Hodges is seriously struggling, Johnson is worth a flex play or a possible DFS dart throw as the Ravens are definitely sitting a lot of their starters in a meaningless game for them. |
| Deebo Samuel SF | Akeem King SEA | The Niners offense has been scuffling of late, and the majority of the passes have been going through George Kittle . They have been getting creative in ways to get Samuel the ball as he has had six rushing attempts in the last three weeks. He was amazing the first time they played Seattle, although Kittle didn't play in that one. If you are looking to play one of the Niners receivers against a soft Seahawk secondary, Samuel would be the guy. |
| Malik Turner SEA | Ahkello Witherspoon SF | He has only been targeted three times in each of the last three games, and Turner has only amassed 59 yards over that span. The Seahawks pass game has been sputtering lately. The 49ers defense is one of the best in the league, and Turner is a complete non-factor. |
| Justin Watson TB | Blidi Wreh-Wilson ATL | With all of the injuries to the receivers, Watson has been gaining fantasy value. He has been targeted 20 times in the last three weeks, and has two touchdowns in that span. He gets a good matchup against the Falcons, but isn't a high end option. Watson could have six catches for 60 yards, but he isn't a big play threat that might give you a 100 yard game. Use with caution. |
| Tajae Sharpe TEN | Bradley Roby HOU | With Corey Davis in concussion protocol, he won't be an option this week. Sharpe had his best game in a long time, and perhaps in his whole career. His six targets last week were his most of the season. He didn't do much the first time the Titans played the Texans or in any other game really this season. You've heard me say this all year long, don't chase last week's points! It was an abberation, Sharpe is not a fantasy worthy player. |
| Kelvin Harmon WAS | Byron Jones DAL | Harmon is still getting decent usage, but doesn't really come into fantasy consideration. He had a season high five catches last week, but it was only good for 58 yards. He hasn't had a touchdown all season long, and the Redskins pass offense isn't good enough to support three fantasy wide receivers, and it is barely good enough for two. Harmon has had a nice six weeks, but against a tough Cowboys secondary he shouldn't be in any of your lineups. |
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot in Week 17.
| Slot WR | Slot CB | Analysis |
| Tyler Boyd CIN | T.J. Carrie CLE | The world has been opened back up for Boyd since Andy Dalton was installed at quarterback again. In the last five weeks he has five or more catches in four of those, and has been over 55 yards in four as well. He has four touchdowns in the last five, and gets a great matchup. The Browns have been dysfunctional all season long and now have been beaten soundly by the Ravens and Cardinals in the last two weeks. Boyd is the lead receiver for the Bengals and should avoid Denzel Ward since he comes out of the slot. Boyd might not reach last week's numbers, but he will have a very good game of at least six catches and 80 yards and will likely find the end zone. |
| Cooper Kupp LAR | Byron Murphy ARI | He hasn't been racking up impressive yardage totals lately as he has fallen to third on the target tree, but Kupp still has a touchdown in four straight. The Rams haven't been the same potent offense they were in the beginning of the year, but they have been putting up some points. Kupp had six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals in Week 13 and he should easily be able to hit that number again. The targets get a little more scarce now that Brandin Cooks seems to be back in play, but the Cardinals have no one in the slot that can handle Kupp's speed and elusiveness. |
| Keenan Allen LAC | Kendall Fuller KC | Despite the total collapse of his offense, Allen has been a very consistent performer since the calendar turned to November. Well, not the first game, but every game since then. He has had 68 yards or more in six straight games and hasn't had under five catches in that time. The Chiefs defense has been playing much better of late, and the Chargers are certainly excited for this awful year to be over. He did have eight catches for 71 yards and a touhdown back in Week 11 against the Chiefs and should be a very safe play again for the final week of the regular season. |
| Hunter Renfrow OAK | Will Parks DEN | Renfrow was really starting to gain a role in the offense when he was injured in Week 12. He missed three games with a chest injury, but came back in a huge way with seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers. It is very true that the Broncos defense is much better, but Renfrow will be the most targeted receiver this weekend. Tyrell Williams stinks, and Carr seems to prefer Renfrow to Darren Waller when he is healthy. The Raiders will be playing for a (longshot) playoff berth and will likely have to throw plenty as the Broncos run defense is good. Renfrow should have ten to twelve targets, catch eight of them, and threaten to top 100 yards. |
| Steven Sims WAS | Jourdan Lewis DAL | It was with Dwayne Haskins at quarterback, but Sims has had 28 targets in the last three weeks. He also has scored twice in the last three weeks, and although he gets a tough matchup with the Cowboys, he still can be successful. Sims isn't likely to even get near 100 yards, but in PPR leagues he will get you a good game. Terry McLaurin is in the concussion protocol, although it appears he will play. If McLaurin doesn't play Sims becomes the de facto number one receiver, and honestly that could hurt him. He isn't ready to face the best defenders that Dallas has to offer. Sims has a floor of 12 fantasy points with a chance for at least 16 if Case Keenum plays a decent game. |
| Randall Cobb DAL | Coty Sensabaugh WAS | Cobb fell off the fantasy radar from Thanksgiving until now, but popped back up last week. The main reason is that Amari Cooper isn't healthy and wasn't able to play his full complement of snaps. When that is the case, Cobb is the receiver who shines. Cooper is sure to suit up on Sunday in a game the Cowboys desperately need, but who knows how much he will play. The Redskins secondary has been decimated by injury, and they probably couldn't stop the worst offense in football right now. Cobb needs a break to go his way to be successful ,but he seems set up for at least 75 yards and a touchdown in Week 17. |
| Tyler Lockett SEA | K'Waun Williams SF | He has been inconsistent since the injury in San Francisco, and really only has one good game since Week 10. Even against a bad Arizona defense last week he still only had one catch for 12 yards. He didn't do well in a half the last time they played the 49ers, but I just can't see the Seahawk offense laying an egg like it did last week. If the Seahawks are to have a successful game, Lockett will have to be a big part of it, and he should have a minimum of 75 yards and a touchdown. |
| Julian Edelman NE | Eric Rowe MIA | Edelman is getting a more extended list of injuries by the week, and he added a head injury to his total for good measure against the Bills last Saturday, However, it seems like nothing will stop Edelman from getting on the field. The Patriots still need to win this game to secure the first round bye, and the Dolphins defense is one of the worst and was just trashed by Andy Dalton last week. Edelman is guaranteed to be the most targeted receiver on the team and as long as he can stay on the field, he will be a great play. Look for him to have at least seven catches for 85 yards and likely a touchdown. |
| Zach Pascal IND | D.J. Hayden JAX | The Colts passing game has turned into a disaster, and with T.Y. Hilton back, Pascal's usage has gone in the toilet. However, with this being the final week, Hilton could be pulled at any time considering he really isn't healthy, and the Jaguars defense might have given up more than any other team in the NFL. He didn't do much the first time they played Jacksonville, but he could have at least six catches for 60 yards in this one. |
| Jamison Crowder NYJ | Taron Johnson BUF | He has been the most targeted receiver on the team for most of the season, even if it hasn't always turned into production. Crowder has come alive again in the last couple weeks with 150 receiving yards and two scores. With no tight end to speak of for the Jets anymore, Crowder is the preferred check down target for Sam Darnold . He was targeted 17 times in Week 1 against the Bills and caught 14 of them for 99 yards. He likely won't see those levels, but if he was targeted a dozen times and caught seven of them for 85 yards you shouldn't be surprised. |
Elite
There are a number of elite wide receivers with easy matchups this week with Michael Thomas , Julio Jones , Adams, and DeAndre Hopkins all facing bottom defenses. Adams has been getting a ridiculous percentage of targets for his team, and even though he will be facing a top notch corner, Slay won’t be on him the entire game. There are no other receivers on the Packers that come close to the volume that Adams gets, and he is a lock to have 100 yards in the game. The Packers still need to win this game for seeding purposes, so they will play hard throughout the game. Any of the top four I listed above will be dynamite plays to anchor your roster, and if there is a way that you can roster two that would be amazing. Obviously, Michael Thomas is always the safest play, but Adams is a cheaper option that is nearly as safe.
Affordable
Marshon Lattimore shut him down last week, but he was the first corner in a while to keep Brown in check. The Titans top receiver has had over 100 yards in three of the last four games, and has scored five touchdowns in the last five weeks. Despite the lack of production last week, Brown had eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown two weeks ago against the Texans. Gareon Conley was cut from the Raiders who are one of the worst secondaries in football. In fact, the Texans secondary also features Vernon Hargreaves who was let go by the Buccaneers who are also awful against the pass. If these players weren’t good enough for horrible defenses, they sure aren’t going to keep anyone in check. Brown is a great route runner, and then isn’t easy to take down once he has the ball in his hands. He is a physical freak, and has a great future in the NFL. He will finish the NFL regular season with a great shot at 100 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Michael Gallup vs. Danny Johnson
The Cowboys need to win this game to have any shot at the NFC East crown and the playoffs, and they get a game they should win against the Redskins. Washington is without their top couple corners, and their defense hasn’t been able to stop anyone lately. On the Dallas side, Amari Cooper is still so far from 100 percent, and isn’t playing the full complement of snaps. This kind of leaves Gallup as the most reliable receiver on the team, and he has over 95 receiving yards in two of the last three games. He had six catches for 68 yards in the first game against the Redskins, and he is a guarantee to have more than that. With Dallas playing 100 percent and the Redskins long since eliminated, Gallup is nearly a lock to far exceed his DFS price tag with at least 85 yards and a touchdown against Washington.
Bargain Bin
There were a number of bargain options I liked this week, but went with Ward here. You can also look to Allen Lazard , Darius Slay ton or N’Keal Harry. The Eagles are even a little more shorthanded with Zach Ertz dealing with a rib injury. So now it is Ward, Dallas Goedert , and Miles Sanders as the only real pass catchers for Philadelphia. The Giants secondary is a disaster, and Deandre Baker has been a complete bust in his rookie season. Ward should be seeing around ten targets, and should have seven catches for at least 85 yards and likely a touchdown as the Eagles try to clinch the NFC East title.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.