Are you ready for some football!? We are back and I’m pumped to be delivering you the WR/CB Matchup Chart yet again! 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 five absolute favorite matchups by price in DFS, as well as likely ownership in seasonal formats. This article is critical to 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!
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| Offense | Left WR | Defense | Right CB | Analysis |
| ARI | Christian Kirk | WAS | Quinton Dunbar | Chad Williams may get some snaps at LWR, but I expect Kirk to get more and be more productive. I mean, come on, the Cardinals drafted this guy 47th overall, ideally to be Larry Fitzgerald 's successor. For me, Kirk isn't a startable option in Week 1, but in time, he'll easily be the No. 2 WR, behind Fitz, if he isn't already. |
| ATL | Julio Jones | PHI | Ronald Darby | Darby allowed just one touchdown in coverage last season, but Jones is a different monster. In the season opener, expect Matt Ryan to connect with his star receiver early and often. I'm thinking 80 yards and a touchdown on opening night. |
| BAL | Michael Crabtree | BUF | VonTae Davis | Before getting injured last season, Davis was a few steps behind his peak 2014 form. His grade over at Pro Football Focus has steadily declined the past few years and on 27 targets before being injured last year, Davis recorded just two pass breakups.* Crabtree is the team's No. 1 receiver and avoiding Tre'Davious White is key here. Crabtree is a WR2 in this outing. |
| BUF | Kelvin Benjamin | BAL | Brandon Carr | Josh Allen , err, Nathan Peterman has to throw the ball to someone, right? It seems like it's going to be a lot of LeSean McCoy , and when Buffalo falls behind, expect garbage time points for the likes of Kelvin Benjamin and Charles Clay . Benjamin is a flex option this week. |
| CAR | Devin Funchess | DAL | Byron Jones | There are plenty of mouths to feed in the Carolina offense, but Funchess is still the lead receiver. However, Jones has looked dominant in coverage this preseason and could showcase his talents as an above-average corner right here in Week 1. Funchess remains a low-end WR2, but temper expectations in Week 1. |
| CHI | Allen Robinson | GB | Kevin King | Robinson will be looking to start things off on the right foot following missing all of what turned out to be his final year in Jacksonville. King allowed 1.72 yards per coverage snap, which was tied for 10th-worst in the National Football League. Robinson is primed for a WR2 season this year. |
| CIN | A.J. Green | IND | Pierre Desir | Green is projected for a big week and whether it's Desir or Hairston or any other corner Cincy sends out there to cover Green, he'll have his way with the defense. |
| CLE | Rashard Higgins | PIT | Artie Burns | Higgins might get the start, but that is only because Josh Gordon isn't getting the official nod. However, as soon as after the first play or the first series, expect Gordon, not Higgins, to be lining up out wide for the Browns. Gordon has immense upside, but various concerns off the field make him one of the most polarizing fantasy assets in 2018. Higgins is a non-factor in Week 1. |
| DAL | Michael Gallup | CAR | James Bradberry | This is certainly an inviting matchup, as only Houston's Kareem Jackson allowed more yards in coverage than Bradberry in 2017. Bradberry was targeted often by the opposition, so there's enough targets for Gallup to be relevant as a flex option in this contest. The strength of the Carolina defense lies in the front seven, not the secondary. |
| DEN | Demaryius Thomas | SEA | Shaquil Griffin | Griffin has developed into a pretty damn good cornerback in the NFL. He posted a 75.2 QB rating when targeted last season and Thomas has his fair share of problems with drops (10 last year). Thomas remains a WR2 in seasonal formats for Week 1, but I'm higher on Emmanuel Sanders . |
| DET | Kenny Golladay | NYJ | Morris Claiborne | Claiborne handled some shadow duties last season, but with Trumaine Johnson in town, that likely won't be the case. Golladay averaged 17 yards per reception last season, while Claiborne held the opposition to slightly over 12 yards per catch. Golladay remains the No. 3 option behind Marvin Jones and Golden Tate , making him a flex option in deeper formats and a GPP play in DFS. |
| GB | Davante Adams | CHI | Prince Amukamara | Adams is Aaron Rodgers ' number one guy, instantly making him viable for WR1 status. Amukamara isn't typically as targeted as teammate Kyle Fuller , but Adams will likely see a bit of numerous Chicago corners, as they move him around the field. Adams will find the end zone in this matchup. |
| HOU | DeAndre Hopkins | NE | Stephon Gilmore | Hopkins will compete for the No. 1 scoring wide receiver in fantasy football this season, after nearly taking the title last season. Deshaun Watson is back under center for Houston, firmly entrenching Hopkins as a WR1 in any and all formats. |
| IND | Ryan Grant | CIN | William Jackson | With Andrew Luck under center, Indy receivers outside of T.Y. Hilton have a chance of being relevant. However, William Jackson is one of the better corners in the league that no one talks about. Temper expectations for Grant in this one. |
| JAX | Keelan Cole | NYG | Janoris Jenkins | Cole draws a tough matchup with Jenkins, but when Marqise Lee wasn't on the field in 2017, Blake Bortles relied on Cole in the passing game. Despite the tough counterpart, Cole should see a healthy number of targets and is a prime value option in DFS. |
| KC | Sammy Watkins | LAC | Trevor Williams | Williams was solid in coverage last year, allowing just 0.82 yards per coverage snap. He's in line for a starting spot this season, but we all know Watkins has big play ability. Watkins should avoid Casey Hayward for most of the afternoon, which is a good thing. Consider Watkins a WR2. |
| LAC | Mike Williams | KC | Steven Nelson | Of corners who played at least 250 coverage snaps, only four cornerbacks posted a worse coverage snaps per target metric than Nelson (5.2).* Williams popped this preseason and the signing of Antonio Gates doesn't deter me too much from Williams. He's a flex option in seasonal formats this week against a sieve-like Kansas City defense. |
| LAR | Brandin Cooks | OAK | Gareon Conley | Conley didn't get a ton of work in coverage last season, but when he did, the returns weren't particularly great. In 56 coverage snaps, he allowed an 80 percent catch rate and a 95.8 QB rating when targeted.* In his debut with the Rams, Cooks will find the end zone, and the dynamic duo of Jared Goff and Sean McVay will be sure of it. |
| MIA | DeVante Parker | TEN | Malcolm Butler | The Titans allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide outs last season, and the team hopes that Butler can solidify the secondary. Butler was a big free agent add, but he wasn't a shutdown guy last year, as he allowed a catch rate of 58 percent, a 95.5 QB rating when targeted, and six touchdowns to just two interceptions.* Parker is a hard sell in DFS as he has really yet to put it together in the NFL, but given your roster construction, you may be using Parker in your flex in seasonal leagues. |
| MIN | Adam Thielen | SF | Ahkello Witherspoon | Over the last fur weeks of the season, Witherspoon was playing really good football for the Niners. He posted a 75.9 QB rating when targeted, and allowed just 15 receptions in coverage.* However, Thielen has emerged as one of the tougher receivers to guard in the NFL, and with the way they move him around the offense, he's sure to get his fair share of looks from new quarterback Kirk Cousins . Thielen remains a WR2 for this season opener. |
| NE | Chris Hogan | HOU | Kevin Johnson | Outside of Rob Gronkowski , Hogan is the team's most adept pass catcher, and a matchup with Kevin Johnson is a tasty one. Johnson looked good in some preseason action, but a concussion took him out of action for the past week or so. Johnson allowed a 137.3 QB rating when targeted (per Pro Football Focus), making Hogan a must-start in all formats. |
| NO | Michael Thomas | TB | Vernon Hargreaves | Thomas will likely see a bevy of Tampa corners, but none of them will slow him down. Only two teams allowed more fantasy points per game to wide receivers last season and while he's never scored against the Bucs, he's averaging 6.7 receptions and 85.7 yards per game against Tampa Bay. Thomas is a WR1, as if you didn't know that already. |
| NYG | Cody Latimer | JAX | A.J. Bouye | No thanks. No chance I take any Latimer anywhere this week. Please proceed with your reading. There isn't much to say here. |
| NYJ | Quincy Enunwa | DET | Nevin Lawson | Enunwa was an intriguing guy coming into the 2017 season, coming off a year where he caught 58 passes on 106 targets for 857 yards. However, an injury cost him all of 2017. With Sam Darnold under center, Enunwa looks poised for a solid year yet again in 2018. Lawson allowed a team-high 104.8 QB rating when targeted, so don't be surprised if the Jets game plan to attack Lawson more so than Darius Slay. |
| OAK | Jordy Nelson | LAR | Aqib Talib | Supposedly, Nelson still has it, but it's not a particularly favorable matchup against Aqib Talib , one of the league's best corners over the years. Only William Jackson and Briean Boddy-Calhoun allowed fewer yards per coverage snap than Talib in 2017.* Yeah, Talib is damn good and in Nelson's first regular season contest with David Carr, I'm fading if I have the luxury. |
| PHI | Shelton Gibson | ATL | Robert Alford | Gibson is going to draw the start, but his opportunities will be limited. With no Alshon Jeffery , I'm looking at Nelson Agholor , Mike Wallace , Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert to occupy the majority of the passing volume. |
| PIT | Antonio Brown | CLE | Terrance Mitchell | Oh, man. Even though it's a road game and Big Ben has problems on the road, Mitchell is a bad cornerback and Brown is the best in the business. With Mitchell allowing the fifth-most receiving yards in 2017, Brown seems like a lock for at least 85 yards and a touchdown.* |
| SEA | Jaron Brown | DEN | Tramaine Brock | The Russell Wilson led offense should keep Brown fantasy relevant some weeks throughout the year, and this could be one of the weeks. He draws the favorable matchup amongst the Denver corners, and Brown can get down the field in a hurry. Wilson is going to have to sling it around this year if Seattle wants to win games, and I'm calling a touchdown for Jaron Brown in this contest. |
| SF | Marquise Goodwin | MIN | Xavier Rhodes | I'm as high on Goodwin this year than the next guy, but unless he can shake loose for a big one, consistent plays are going to be hard to come by against the Pro-Bowler. The Garoppolo-to-Goodwin connection is going to win some leagues this year, but I'm hard-pressed to believe the train starts rolling in Week 1. |
| TB | Mike Evans | NO | Marshon Lattimore | Remember Week 17 of last season? Yes, the epic shoving match between Evans and Lattimore. In two games since the start of last year with someone other than Jameis Winston under center, Evans has failed to find the end zone, despite tallying more yards. However, with Lattimore in coverage, Evans isn't an option of mine in DFS. He remains a startable asset in seasonal formats, however, unless you play in a four team league. |
| TEN | Corey Davis | MIA | Xavien Howard | Davis has the makings of a breakout fantasy star this season, but the preseason play with Marcus Mariota wasn't particularly exciting. However, Davis has elite potential and Howard was beaten for four touchdowns last season.* Davis a low-end WR2 this weekend. |
| WAS | Paul Richardson | ARI | Patrick Peterson | Richardson has big play ability, but in a tough matchup with Patrick Peterson, the wise play is another wide receiver whom doesn't have the last name "Richardson." |
| Offense | Right WR | Defense | Left CB | Analysis |
| ARI | J.J. Nelson | WAS | Josh Norman | Norman wasn't targeted often in 2017, just 49 times across 14 games.* However, he allowed a 114.1 QB rating when targeted and three touchdowns on 30 receptions.* Nelson won't get a ton of volume, which is why he isn't startable in most formats, but the point to note is that Norman isn't the shutdown guy we saw in Carolina. |
| ATL | Calvin Ridley | PHI | Jalen Mills | Only three corners were targeted more last season than Mills. Therefore, the stage is set for a quality regular season debut for the team's No. 1 selection this season. He's a flex option in Week 1 and a GPP play in DFS. |
| BAL | John Brown | BUF | Tre'Davious White | White was really, really good last year for the Buffalo Bills. He allowed a catch rate of 50 percent, including just 39 grabs for the whole 16-game season.* His QB rating when targeted was a measly 67.3, which slotted in just a few ticks behind Jacksonville's Jalen Ramsey (63.9).* Brown has some potential, but with Joe Flacco under center and the tough matchup, I'd rather have Crabtree. |
| BUF | Zay Jones | BAL | Marlon Humphrey | Jones will get some targets in this one, especially since Buffalo's wide receivers are weak and Buffalo will be playing behind from the first drive of the game. However, Humphrey was dominant in coverage last season, allowing a catch rate under 50 percent and zero touchdowns.* Avoid Jones. |
| CAR | Torrey Smith | DAL | Chidobe Awuzie | Awuzie allowed just 0.69 yards per coverage snap last season, which is pretty damn good to say the least.* Cam Newton cannot sustain multiple fantasy relevant wide receivers , especially since Christian McCaffery and tight end Greg Olsen play such a large role in the passing attack. Smith is a GPP option in DFS, but in seasonal formats, you should have a better option than Smith to slot in your lineup. |
| CHI | Taylor Gabriel | GB | Tramon Williams | Gabriel caught his lone target of the preseason for 10 yards. It was a quiet preseason for the new Chicago wideout, but Head Coach Matt Nagy will utilize his speed in the offense. He's an intriguing play this week, but only in deeper formats or GPP lineups. |
| CIN | John Ross | IND | Nate Hairston | Hairston struggled in coverage at times last season and he really struggled with bringing down the receiver once the catch was made. Of the 362 yards he allowed in coverage last season, 202 were yards after the catch.* John Ross is a human joystick and he's finally healthy. With his game-breaking speed, Ross is a GPP option in a matchup with a soft Indy secondary. |
| CLE | Antonio Callaway | PIT | Joe Haden | Callaway will get the start, but Josh Gordon will get some time as well, despite not drawing the official start. Jarvis Landry will hog a ton of the targets, but we've seen Callaway's big play ability dating back to his days as a Florida Gator. Haden is the toughest of the Pittsburgh corners, but Todd Haley and Co. will move him around throughout the course of the game. He's a low-end flex option in seasonal formats. |
| DAL | Allen Hurns | CAR | Donte Jackson | Hurns was signed to be the team's top receiver, but that gig should belong to Michael Gallup . Hurns is a low-end flex option at best in this matchup, with Gallup, Cole Beasley and Ezekiel Elliott seeing the majority of the passes from quarterback Dak Prescott . |
| DEN | Courtland Sutton | SEA | Byron Maxwell | No longer the days of avoiding receivers against the Seattle defense. Now, we might look to attack! Sutton looked like a potential monster in the preseason, but with Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas in the mix, he's fighting for targets. However, attacking Maxwell is more inviting than Shaquil Griffin, so it's possible that Sutton sees more targets than Demaryius Thomas . In DFS, my gut says go Sutton over Thomas, and in seasonal formats, Sutton carries some low-end flex appeal. |
| DET | Marvin Jones | NYJ | Trumaine Johnson | Johnson allowed the fourth-most receiving yards last season among corners, but he allowed just one touchdown in coverage and an 80.5 QB rating when targeted.* Golden Tate is the possession guy, Kenny Golladay is the big-bodied receiver, and Marvin Jones is the guy that dominates the intermediate and deep routes. Of players with at least 60 targets in 2017, Jones' 18 yards per reception led the league. Jones is a solid WR2 in this matchup. |
| GB | Geronimo Allison | CHI | Kyle Fuller | Fuller was the most targeted corner in 2017, and could be in line to be targeted frequently again in 2018. Allison has sneaky sleeper appeal as the No. 3 wide receiver in the Green Bay offense. With a four inch height advantage, Allison has flex appeal in this Monday night showdown. |
| HOU | Will Fuller | NE | Eric Rowe | Fuller is Houston's big play threat, and even though a hamstring kept him sidelined for the last half of the preseason, it seems as if he'll be ready to go for Week 1. The practice reports are solid on Fuller and we all saw what he did with Deshaun Watson under center. Seven touchdowns on 13 receptions! With New England likely doubling DeAndre Hopkins , or at least rolling coverage, Fuller will have plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities, and with his speed, that's no easy match for Rowe. |
| IND | T.Y. Hilton | CIN | Dre Kirkpatrick | Hilton averaged over five more fantasy points per game over the past three years with Andrew Luck under center compared to when Luck is out of the lineup. William Jackson is Cincy's best corner, and while he's sure to draw some snaps in his coverage, Hilton will see plenty of Kirkpatrick, the more exploitable corner. Hilton is a WR1 this weekend. |
| JAX | Donte Moncrief | NYG | Eli Apple | Blake Bortles is hard enough to trust, but even with Andrew Luck , Moncrief needed the touchdown to be productive in fantasy circles. Eli Apple ranked in the bottom 15 corners in the league in terms of QB rating when targeted (per PFF), but with a likely run-heavy script, Moncrief won't have many opportunities to make plays. |
| KC | Tyreek Hill | LAC | Casey Hayward | The Chargers boast a solid secondary this year, much like last year. In two games last year, Hill caught five balls for 77 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 against the Chargers, and bested those numbers in Week 15 when he caught five balls for 88 yards with another score. Even in a tough matchup, his home run ability makes him a must-start in all formats. With the way Kansas City moves him around, he will get his share of snaps lined up against someone other than Hayward. |
| LAC | Tyrell Williams | KC | David Amerson | Amerson was horrible in coverage last year, allowing four touchdowns on just 21 receptions last season, not to mention a league high 2.22 yards per coverage snap.* Keenan Allen is the top dog, but Williams is still a factor in the offense, making him a flex option, given the nature of the weak Kansas City defense. |
| LAR | Robert Woods | OAK | Rashaan Melvin | Melvin was a bright spot in the Indianapolis secondary last season, allowing a mere 60.3 QB rating when targeted last year.* Melvin is an underrated corner, but Woods is an established possession receiver in the league. His upside in this matchup isn't as high as Brandin Cooks ', but Woods is a consistent option for those owners seeking consistency with/in their lineups. |
| MIA | Kenny Stills | TEN | Adoree' Jackson | Stills performed quite well with Jay Cutler last year, but don't expect too steep a regression from Stills in 2018 with Ryan Tannehill leading the offense. The absence of Jarvis Landry opens a ton of targets, and Stills averages 0.46 touchdowns per game with Tannehill slinging the pigskin. I'd rather have Danny Amendola in Week 1, but Stills is a quality flex option. |
| MIN | Stefon Diggs | SF | Richard Sherman | Diggs carries an affordable price in DFS this week and Sherman is getting older, not to mention the fact that he is coming off a torn Achilles. The San Fran defense is beatable and Diggs has the makings of a fantasy WR1 in 2018. |
| NE | Phillip Dorsett | HOU | Jonathan Joseph | The New England receivers aren't particularly scary, and while Dorsett carries some above average speed, Joseph is a savvy enough corner to slow him down. Also, the pass rush of the Houston defense should keep Dorsett from getting down the field for a big play, making Dorsett an unappealing option in Week 1. |
| NO | Ted Ginn | TB | Brent Grimes | Michael Thomas is incredibly appealing in this outing against a soft Tampa secondary, but don't sleep on Ginn, as Brees cannot throw it to Thomas every play. Ginn posted a reception rate of 76.8 percent last season, ranking only behind Golden Tate , Cordarrelle Patterson and Randall Cobb . Ginn is a tried and true GPP option, and he remains in that category in this one. |
| NYG | Odell Beckham Jr. | JAX | Jalen Ramsey | This just might be the most fun matchup to watch in Week 1, as two of the best at their craft will square off in the season opener. Ramsey recorded more picks than touchdowns allowed last season, not to mention his 63.9 QB rating when targeted ranked among the top 15 players at his position.* Ramsey is elite, but Beckham is elite, and regardless of who is covering him, Eli Manning is going to look for his unquestioned lead wide out. Beckham remains a must start, but temper expectations against the elite talent that is Jalen Ramsey . |
| NYJ | Robby Anderson | DET | Darius Slay | The Jets' quarterbacks last season posted a QB rating of 87.0 when targeting Anderson last year, but given the stature of the receiving crew, he is the most dynamic playmaker they have on the outside. He found the end zone seven times last year, and while there is some added competition for targets this year, Anderson's abilities should keep him no worse than a WR3 in 2018. |
| OAK | Amari Cooper | LAR | Marcus Peters | Cooper vs. Peters is another fun matchup to watch, as it is the first game for the Raiders in the Gruden era. Peters is a gambling corner and at some point in this game, Cooper will beat him on a double-move for a touchdown. |
| PHI | Mike Wallace | ATL | Desmond Trufant | Trufant is a solid corner, but we cannot ignore the fact that he allowed six touchdowns on 35 receptions last year, en route to a 104.1 QB rating when targeted.* With Alshon Jeffery out of the mix, as well as Mack Hollins , Wallace could see some extra targets from Nick Foles . He's not high on my board, but in deeper formats, you could do worse than Wallace at your flex spot. |
| PIT | James Washington | CLE | Denzel Ward | In an intriguing matchup of rookies, I'm giving the upper-hand to Ward. He looked competent in the preseason, and with Big Ben's struggles on the road, I don't see Washington getting enough love behind the likes of Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster . Washington has plenty of appeal over the course of the full season, but Week 1 isn't the right time to deploy him outside of deeper formats. |
| SEA | Tyler Lockett | DEN | Bradley Roby | Lockett is a big threat waiting to happen and is arguably the No. 2 guy behind slot man Doug Baldwin . Roby allowed a team high five touchdowns and 89.2 QB rating when targeted last season, making Lockett a sneaky DFS GPP play in Week 1. |
| SF | Pierre Garcon | MIN | Trae Waynes | With shutdown corner Xavier Rhodes opposite of Waynes, it's no surprise that Waynes seems an abundance of targets his way. Waynes' 5.5 snaps per target were among the lowest in the league and given the scheme of the San Francisco offense, they'll likely attack Waynes more often than the Pro-Bowler on the other side of the field. Garcon is a flexy play this week. |
| TB | Chris Godwin | NO | Ken Crawley | Crawley will get targeted a ton, seeing as Marshon Lattimore is on the other side of the field, but to his credit, he allowed a catch rate of just 50 percent last season.* Godwin is a talented young receiver, but the combination of lots of hands in the pot and Ryan Fitzpatrick under center raises some concern with Godwin in Week 1. |
| TEN | Rishard Matthews | MIA | Bobby McCain | McCain allowed a catch rate of nearly 68 percent last season and Matthews is the No. 2 wide receiver in the Tennessee offense. Matthews has about a three-inch advantage over McCain, but I'm not sure if he gets enough targets to feel comfortable starting. With likely run-heavy scripts from both teams, the game could fly by. I feel more confident in Davis and Delanie Walker than Matthews. |
| WAS | Josh Doctson | ARI | Jamar Taylor | If prior years are any indication, Doctson should see a few extra targets with Paul Richardson being hounded by star corner Patrick Peterson. Doctson carries flex appeal in the season opener. |
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot this weekend.
| Offense | Slot WR | Defense | Slot CB | Analysis |
| LAC | Keenan Allen | KC | Kendall Fuller | Allen is a target monster and this Kansas City defense looked softer than a baby's bottom in the preseason. Allen is coming off his best, and healthiest, year of his career, so ride the coattails in an impressive season opener for the star wide receiver. |
| ARI | Larry Fitzgerald | WAS | Fabian Moreau | Moreau doesn't have a ton of experience in slot coverage and he allowed 1.53 yards per coverage snap this preseason.* Fitz is a target hog who will see double-digit targets in this contest. Fitz is a WR1 against the Redskins. Book it. |
| CLE | Jarvis Landry | PIT | Mike Hilton | Regardless of a Dolphins or Browns uniform, Landry is going to rack up the targets. He will lead Cleveland in targets, and likely receptions this year, and if the preseason is any indication, he could be more than the 7-53-1 guy he was in Miami. Landry is a WR2 in a PPR for me in the opener against the Steelers. |
| MIN | Adam Thielen | SF | K'Waun Williams | Thielen is going to get his reps in the slot and he is an animal in the slot. Additionally, in slot coverage this preseason, the 49ers allowed 10 receptions on 13 targets.* Regardless of who is covering Thielen in the slot, the crafty Minnesotan will win his battle. |
| DET | Golden Tate | NYJ | Buster Skrine | It was criminal how much we picked on Buster Skrine in this article last year! He allowed three touchdowns in his coverage out of the slot last season, trailing only Houston's Kareem Jackson .* Let's pick right where we left off with Golden Tate , the PPR machine! |
| LAR | Cooper Kupp | OAK | Leon Hall | Of nearly full-time slot men last season, Kupp posted the fourth-highest (2.04) yards per route run out of the slot.* Kupp also ranked within the top 15 of slot receivers in terms of receiving yards.* Kupp is a luxury WR3 in a soft matchup against the Raiders. |
| DEN | Emmanuel Sanders | SEA | Justin Coleman | Coleman wasn't a pushover in slot coverage by any means, but I'm buying into Sanders' usage with Case Keenum in the preseason. Operating out of the slot, Keenum is going to utilize Sanders early and often throughout this contest. Sanders is a WR2 for me in this one, as I see him catching seven passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. |
| MIA | Danny Amendola | TEN | Logan Ryan | In a PPR format, get Amendola in your lineup and don't think twice about it. There is an abundance of targets to be had in Miami and Ryan allowed three touchdowns and a 107.8 QB rating when targeted out of the slot last season.* Yeah baby! Amendola will be in a ton of my DFS lineups, too. |
| DAL | Cole Beasley | CAR | Captain Munnerlyn | Why the hell is Cole Beasley so high on the list you may ask? Well, Beasley was able to have a career year in Dak Prescott 's rookie year, hauling in 75 balls and five touchdowns. They got away from him last year, and the absence of Dez Bryant opens the door for Beasley to attract more targets. Furthermore, in coverage this preseason out of the slot, Munnerlyn allowed all six targets his way to be caught, en route to a hearty 2.20 yards per coverage snap mark.* Beasley is a sneaky play in a PPR format. |
| ATL | Mohamed Sanu | PHI | Sidney Jones | Jones was solid in slot coverage this preseason, but Sanu is a crafty veteran who still has a substantial role in the offense, even after the draft selection of Calvin Ridley . In GPP lineups, Sanu is a solid play, as he comes at a substantial discount from Julio Jones and typically is more targeted in the red zone. I think Sanu finds the end zone in the league opener. |
Elite
As mentioned in the DFS WR Coach, Green is projected for a big week, third-most in fact. Pierre Desir posted a player grade of 59.8 last season, which isn’t very good to say the least.* With Andy Dalton under center, Green is averaging 17.52 fantasy points per game in a PPR format. The Indianapolis Colts have a rather soft secondary, and simply put, no one in that secondary will be able to keep Green in check on Sunday. Green is going for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Larry Fitzgerald vs. Fabian Moreau
Experience vs. inexperience; who wins? I’m going with experience, so consider me on Fitzgerald’s side. Sam Bradford is better than what people give him credit for, and with J.J. Nelson and Christian Kirk as supporting wide receivers, expect Fitzgerald to see double digit targets on a near-weekly basis. In the preseason, albeit a small sample size, Moreau allowed a 60 percent catch rate of the slot (3-5) and 1.53 yards per coverage snaps.* If Arizona is going to put up points, it’s coming at the hands of two people, and those two are David Johnson and Mr. Fitzgerald.
Affordable
Despite glowing reports coming out of Houston of an improved Kevin Johnson , he allowed both targets his way to be caught, including the final one giving him a concussion and keeping him on the sideline for the last week or so. According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson was one of the worst graded corners in the National Football League last season, and with Julian Edelman suspended, Hogan is the de facto No. 1 wide receiver for the Patriots in this contest. With an abundance of points likely to be put up in this one, Hogan is likely to get a piece of the pie.
Michael Gallup vs. James Bradberry
Bradberry was bad last year, as mentioned in the larger chart above. His play in this preseason was slightly better, but he’s still exploitable to say the least. With no Dez Bryant around, the plan is to groom Gallup to be the No. 1 receiver for this team, not Allen Hurns and certainly not Cole Beasley . With no established tight end, Gallup has every opportunity to lead the team in targets, receptions and yards. With a plus matchup in Week 1, acting as the “X” receiver, Gallup will tally at least 50 yards receiving with a touchdown.
Bargain Bin
On a site like DraftKings or a seasonal PPR league, I’m all in on Amendola in this opening week of the season. In his last game with quarterback Ryan Tannehill , Amendola caught four passes for 50 yards with two touchdowns. Jarvis Landry is hogging the targets in Cleveland now, paving the way for a new PPR golden boy in the Sunshine State. In the preseason, Amendola caught five of seven targets for 40 yards and a touchdown, not to mention that he didn’t drop a pass.* Amendola offers great salary relief in DFS, and is a sneaky flex option in deeper PPR leagues.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.