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!
Follow me on Twitter (@colbyrconway) as well!
| Left WR | Right CB | Analysis |
| Trent Sherfield ARI | Josh Jackson GB | Sherfield, an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt, has just two receptions on the year and rookie signal caller Josh Rosen has a putrid 34.7 passer rating when targeting Sherfield.* Yikes. Easy fade here. |
| Julio Jones ATL | Jimmy Smith BAL | Jones has nearly 200 more receiving yards than the next closest guy and his 121 targets are tied for most in the NFL. The Ravens have been stingy to opposing receivers and their run-heavy offense really slows the game down, but with three touchdowns in the past four weeks and 100 or more yards in six straight games, Jones is a great play in all formats. |
| Michael Crabtree BAL | Robert Alford ATL | Death, taxes and target Robert Alford . He has allowed the sixth-most receiving yards in coverage this season, not to mention five touchdowns and a 141.0 passer rating when targeted. Crabtree found the end zone with Lamar Jackson last week, but other than that, his statistical outputs have been mediocre with the dynamic rookie. |
| Kelvin Benjamin BUF | Xavien Howard MIA | Benjamin caught just one pass last week and he simply cannot create separation, and Josh Allen has struggled to get him the football. Benjamin is a TE2 this week. Yes, I said tight end. |
| Devin Funchess CAR | Ryan Smith TB | As we all know the Bucs defense has been bad this season, and while they have been slightly improved lately against receivers, they are still just league average. Funchess is worthy of a starting spot in your lineup, assuming he's out there with no restrictions. |
| Taylor Gabriel CHI | B.W. Webb NYG | Webb has done a good job this season of limiting the damage done against him (roughly 12 yards per reception), but Gabriel has been dynamic on deep passes with Mitchell Trubisky at the helm of the Chicago offense. Despite just eight percent of his targets being in the end zone, he leads the Bears in targets of 20 or more yards down field and continues to be the speedy option in the offense.* He's a tournament option in DFS, as well as a flex option in seasonal formats. |
| A.J. Green CIN | Bradley Roby DEN | Green will suit up in this game, but his fantasy value takes a hit with Jeff Driskel , and not Andy Dalton under center for the Bengals. View Green as a WR2 at best, which is a steep drop from his WR1 pedestal with the Red Rifle. |
| Antonio Callaway CLE | Shareece Wright HOU | While the Houston defense has been good at limiting splash plays for the opposing offense, Callaway poses a real threat to this defense. If the Cleveland offensive line gives Baker Mayfield enough time to deliver the football downfield, Callaway has been good on his deep targets, reeling in five of six catchable targets 20 or more yards downfield.* In a GPP format, Callaway is an intriguing option, despite the tough matchup on paper. |
| Allen Hurns DAL | Marshon Lattimore NO | Tough assignment here for Hurns, as Lattimore has been on the right side of some gambles in recent weeks, and Hurns hasn't topped 40 receiving yards since Week 7 of the season. Since Amari Cooper came to town, Hurns is averaging a whopping one target per game. Yep. ONE. |
| Courtland Sutton DEN | William Jackson CIN | First Denver traded Demaryius Thomas , opening more targets for Sutton. Then, tight end Jeff Heuerman goes down, which should free up a few more targets for Sutton, in theory, of course. The Bengals are all sorts of messed up on defense and with enough value, Sutton should be able to turn in a WR2 performance, something to the tune of 60ish receiving yards and a touchdown. |
| T.J. Jones DET | Marcus Peters LAR | Jones has a great matchup against Peters, but sometimes, we have to fade the good matchups, and this is one of those occasions. Jones has just three grabs over the last three games, totaling 29 yards. Franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford has a putrid 55.2 passer rating during this three game stretch when targeting Jones. Fade. Fade. Fade. |
| Davante Adams GB | Patrick Peterson ARI | Adams likely gets shadowed by Patrick Peterson on at least half of his routes, but with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, he could do WR1 damage in this matchup on just five or six targets away from Peterson. Given that he is by far Rodgers' most reliable and utilized weapon, Adams remains in the WR1 realm. |
| DeAndre Hopkins HOU | T.J. Carrie CLE | Hopkins will see plenty of Denzel Ward as well, given how much he moves around in the passing attack. Hopkins has at least 50 receiving yards in every game this season and one could argue he is the most matchup proof wide receiver in fantasy football. Start him in all formats, because honestly, it doesn't matter who is in the column to the left. |
| T.Y. Hilton IND | Jalen Ramsey JAX | Not only has Ramsey allowed the third-most receiving yards in the league over the last three weeks, but Hilton managed a 35-yard grab on Ramsey in the team's last matchup.* Sure, it was his only grab, but Hilton showed that he can get by Ramsey, and with Jacksonville's top corner playing Ramsey on a little over half of his routes, Hilton will see snaps away from him.* Hilton remains a high-end WR2. |
| Keelan Cole JAX | Pierre Desir IND | Desir has been vulnerable over the last three weeks, allowing over 20 yards per reception and a rather high 125.9 passer rating when targeted.* However, Cole hasn't caught a pass since Week 8 against the Eagles and Cody Kessler doesn't move the needle in terms of placing Cole in your starting line up. With a mere 60.4 reception percentage on the season and a backup quarterback under center, Cole shouldn't be started in any lineup. |
| Tyreek Hill KC | Gareon Conley OAK | To be frank, Hill is going for at least 130 yards with a touchdown in this matchup. The Oakland pass defense isn't good, and there's simply no one in that secondary that poses a threat to the lethal Patrick Mahomes to Tyreek Hill connection. Start Hill everywhere you can. |
| Mike Williams LAC | Joe Haden PIT | Williams has caught over 85 percent of his targets over the last three weeks, but if you want him to make value in DFS, or reward you in seasonal formats, the second-year pro out of Clemson needs to score. In PPR formats, he has just one game this season (Week 1) where he made double-digits without finding the end zone. Haden allowed a touchdown last week, but it was just the first one on his watch since Week 3 of the season.* |
| Brandin Cooks LAR | Darius Slay DET | Slay has allowed just 1.10 yards per coverage snap over the last three weeks, but Cooks' Week 13 outlook is more indicative of his talent and rapport with quarterback Jared Goff , not Slay's talent as a corner. With three straight 100-yard outings (114, 100, 107), Cooks is a low-end WR1 in Week 13. |
| DeVante Parker MIA | Levi Wallace BUF | Ryan Tannehill wants to spread the ball around and despite catching all three of his targets last week, they went for 10 yards. In a very tough matchup against Wallace (56.3 passer rating when targeted over the last three weeks), Parker should be on the bench in shallower formats. In DFS, he should not even sniff your lineup. |
| Laquon Treadwell MIN | J.C. Jackson NE | Treadwell has just 13 receiving yards on six targets over the last two weeks. Yikes. For the season on a whole, he has just 29 grabs for 266 yards with a touchdown. Furthermore, his highest yardage output on the season is 47 yards. Yikes. Easy fade here for the former first-round draft pick. |
| Josh Gordon NE | Xavier Rhodes MIN | The "mild" hamstring injury to Xavier Rhodes opens up the door for a potentially solid fantasy day for Gordon. Not only has he tallied 70 or more yards in four of his last five outings, but he's averaging eight targets per game over his four contests. With the Vikings likely focusing attention on Rob Gronkowski , Gordon should see plenty of single coverage from a banged up Rhodes. |
| Michael Thomas NO | Byron Jones DAL | Despite the fact that Byron Jones is allowing roughly 30 receiving yards per game over the last month, which is very good, I'm still playing Thomas in all formats. The third-year receiver out of Ohio State underwhelmed last week, but that won't happen twice. He's scored in three of his last four contests, and he's caught nearly 90 percent of his targets this season.* Start Thomas. Don't get cute. |
| Bennie Fowler NYG | Prince Amukamara CHI | Amukamara has allowed two touchdowns and 1.33 yards per coverage snap over his last three games, but Fowler's role in the offense doesn't lend itself to a productive fantasy day. Avoid. Fade. Run. |
| Quincy Enunwa NYJ | Malcolm Butler TEN | Enunwa has a great matchup here against Butler, and regardless of who is under center for the Jets, Enunwa will see a good number of targets. In a matchup against Butler, one of the most underperforming corners in the league this season, Enunwa seems like a lock for double-digit fantasy points in a PPR format this weekend. He's cheap on DraftKings, take notice. |
| Jordy Nelson OAK | Steven Nelson KC | In a matchup of the Nelsons, the Kansas City corner has been a dude to avoid in recent weeks, as he's allowed a catch rate below 50 percent and a quality 40.8 passer rating when targeted over the last four games.* The Chiefs secondary was really bad early in the year, but Nelson has been playing exceptionally better of late, and with Nelson banged up and failing to establish a strong rhythm with quarterback Derek Carr this season, the vet is a very risky start, despite the positive game script. |
| Nelson Agholor PHI | Quinton Dunbar WAS | Simply put, it just hasn't been there for the former first-round draft pick out of USC. He's averaging just three targets per game over the last three weeks, but he finds himself in a very favorable matchup. Dunbar allowed five grabs for 88 yards and a touchdown last week, good for a 153.3 passer rating when targeted.* Agholor is an intriguing tournament option in DFS this weekend. |
| Antonio Brown PIT | Casey Hayward LAC | In seasonal formats, you're starting Brown, and of course, it's a home game, and everyone knows that Big Ben is superior at home. Brown is averaging two more fantasy points per game at home compared to on the road, and despite a tough matchup against Casey Hayward , Brown is an excellent option in Week 13. |
| Tyler Lockett SEA | Ahkello Witherspoon SF | Witherspoon has been solid over the last three weeks, allowing less than 10 yards per reception and an above-average 57.4 passer rating when targeted.* However, I'm still a big fan of Lockett this week, as he's tallied at least 60 receiving yards or found the end zone in six of his last seven games. Russell Wilson has a perfect passer rating (158.3) when targeting Lockett this season, and I don't expect Wilson to deviate away from the speedy receiver anytime soon.* |
| Dante Pettis SF | Tre Flowers SEA | Flowers has allowed 11 grabs on 13 targets for 154 yards over the last three weeks.* Pettis has big play ability and is shifty on his route running, but he's better suited as being a complementary option in a passing attack, not necessarily one of the lead dogs. With Marquise Goodwin and Pierre Garcon out of action, Pettis will be relied upon heavily. However, he's a low-end flex option at best. |
| Chris Godwin TB | Donte Jackson CAR | DeSean Jackson has been dead quiet in recent weeks, opening the door for Godwin to be the clear-cut No. 2 in Tampa Bay, behind Mike Evans , of course. Over the last three weeks for Carolina, the opposition has been targeting James Bradberry (18 targets) and Captain Munnerlyn (15 targets) more than Jackson (seven targets). However, Jackson has allowed all seven of those targets to be caught. Evans is a great cash game play, but Godwin carries intriguing tournament and flex appeal. |
| Corey Davis TEN | Morris Claiborne NYJ | Davis has the makings of a star receiver, both in reality and fantasy, but the inconsistent play of Marcus Mariota makes Davis an inconsistent option. Davis had a nice long touchdown against the Texans last week, but other than that and a long rush, it would have been a quiet fantasy day for the second-year receiver. He's a WR2 in this matchup. |
| Josh Doctson WAS | Rasul Douglas PHI | Colt McCoy did sling the rock around the yard for 268 yards and two scores last week against the Cowboys, and it is encouraging that Doctson saw a team-high 10 targets in the contest. McCoy is going to utilize his tight ends, but with the dearth of healthy bodies in Philadelphia's secondary, Doctson is an intriguing Week 13 play. He's hard to trust in cash games in DFS, but I love him in GPPs. For you seasonalists out there, Doctson is a quality flex option. |
| Right WR | Left CB | Analysis |
| Christian Kirk ARI | Jaire Alexander GB | Game script will be positive for Kirk, as Arizona will fall behind early, because they cannot slow down the Aarons in Green Bay. Alexander has been pretty solid in coverage this season, but Kirk is Josh Rosen 's top target over the last three weeks (16 targets), and with his ridiculous 9.2 yards after catch per reception during that span, I'll take a chance with the rookie receiver.* |
| Calvin Ridley ATL | Brandon Carr BAL | Ridley saw a whopping 13 targets last week, which was a season high and more than he saw in the two games prior. It was his best statistical output in weeks, and the rookie from Alabama will look to carry that momentum into a far tougher matchup against Carr and the Ravens. Carr has allowed just nine receptions on 21 targets over the last three weeks, but when he has been beat, it's gone for big plays (20.9 yards per reception).* With the opposition committing extra attention to Julio Jones , Ridley will have plenty of single coverage he could exploit, making him a solid flex option. |
| John Brown BAL | Desmond Trufant ATL | Here I am, back at it with John Brown in this matchup against Desmond Trufant . We have yet to see the production with Lamar Jackson under center, but Brown did see seven targets, albeit just one grab for 25 yards. Brown has been productive with Joe Flacco and this is the week he will produce with Jackson, assuming he's under center. Definite risk here, but ownership will be low in DFS, and Baltimore will need to score to keep up with Atlanta. |
| Robert Foster BUF | Minkah Fitzpatrick MIA | I'm really liking this matchup for Foster, as I mentioned in the DFS WR Coach earlier this week. Of receivers with at least five deep targets (20+ yards), no receiver in the league has a higher deep target percentage (56.3%) than Foster.* Josh Allen has the arm to launch it downfield, and with the Miami's secondary bleeding explosive plays, Foster has a chance for a splash play or two. Start Foster in deeper formats and in your tournament lineups. |
| D.J. Moore CAR | Brent Grimes TB | CHALK ALERT! The Bucs secondary is horrible and Moore has been dominant in recent weeks. Moore has produced with or without Devin Funchess on the field, and given that he's produced in harder matchup, it's a near walk in the park in Week 13. Start Moore everywhere you can and enjoy the volume of work he'll receive (15 receptions over last two games). |
| Allen Robinson CHI | Janoris Jenkins NYG | Since scoring twice in Week 10 against the Lions, Robinson has just five receptions on 11 targets 73 yards. During this span, Taylor Gabriel (17) has seen the lion's share of the receiving work, out-targeting Robinson and Anthony Miller (7). This is a great opportunity for Robinson to re-establish himself, but Chase Daniel under center isn't the most encouraging factoid in the world. Despite Jenkins allowing the fifth-most receiving yards in coverage this season, Robinson is a flex option, due to limited production with a quarterback not named Mitchell Trubisky .* |
| John Ross CIN | Isaac Yiadom DEN | Yiadom, filling in for Tramaine Brock , is a part of a Denver defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers over the last two weeks, not to mention the most yards during that span. Ross has scored in three straight games, which has helped salvage otherwise poor fantasy days. He's yet to catch more than three passes in a game this season, despite averaging over six targets per game over the last three weeks. Even with A.J. Green out of the lineup, the second-year receiver has yet to get it going, and with Jeff Driskel under center, it could be tough sledding yet again, despite a somewhat favorable matchup on paper. |
| Rashard Higgins CLE | Jonathan Joseph HOU | While Joseph has been good on the year as a whole, his play has slipped of late. He's allowed over 18 yards per grab and a 129.9 passer rating over the last two weeks.* Outside of a touchdown against the Falcons two weeks ago, Higgins has been an afterthought in the Cleveland passing attack. Therefore, despite the positive matchup, Higgins cannot be trusted outside of the deepest of leagues. |
| Amari Cooper DAL | Eli Apple NO | Apple is the sixth-most targeted corner in the league over the last two weeks, while Cooper is averaging just over seven targets per game since joining America's team.* In a friendly matchup, Cooper is a low-end WR1 this week. |
| DaeSean Hamilton DEN | Dre Kirkpatrick CIN | Hamilton's role should continue to grow in the offense, but at this point, he's simply too risky of a play in any lineup. Furthermore, Kirkpatrick has been stingy in recent weeks, allowing a 42.4 passer rating when targeted over his last two games.* However, it's worth noting that Kirkpatrick missed last week's contest. |
| Kenny Golladay DET | Aqib Talib LAR | Golladay has been balling out this season, and with Marvin Jones out for the rest of the season, the second-year receiver is going to be a vacuum, hoarding all the targets in the Detroit passing attack. Yes, Bruce Ellington , T.J. Jones and Theo Riddick will be involved, but none of those receivers carry the ability that Golladay contains. In two games without Marvin Jones this season, Golladay is averaging just under 20 fantasy points per game in a PPR format. Start Golladay in Week 13. |
| Equanimeous St. Brown GB | David Amerson ARI | There's been a slight shift in Aaron Rodgers ' attention in recent weeks, as it appears that St. Brown has surpassed Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the pecking order. All things considered, it's not that the rookie out of Notre Dame has been putting up monster stat lines, but he's garnering more high-leverage looks from the star quarterback. St. Brown is a tournament play in a good matchup against not Patrick Peterson . |
| Demaryius Thomas HOU | Denzel Ward CLE | If there is anything we learned from Houston's win last week over Tennessee, it is that Thomas' best asset to Deshaun Watson and the Texans is his large frame in the end zone. Thomas found the end zone twice last week, and while Ward has the definitive speed advantage over the veteran, Thomas has a four inch height advantage over Ward. DeAndre Hopkins likely sees some Ward in this action as well. |
| Ryan Grant IND | A.J. Bouye JAX | In Bouye's last two games, he's allowed a passer rating of just 58.8, and has outperformed professional trash talker Jalen Ramsey . Grant, averaging 1.5 targets per game over the last four weeks, finds himself in an unfavorable matchup and should not be started in Week 13. |
| Donte Moncrief JAX | Quincy Wilson IND | Cody Kessler is going to have to throw the ball to someone, but my inclination is that it's spread around multiple players, and not funneled through one guy, particular the fifth-year receiver out of Mississippi. Moncrief has three touchdowns this year and has shown some juice at times, but this Indy defense is better than people may realize. Also, Kessler just isn't that good. Moncrief is a low-end flex play against Quincy Wilson and his 0.98 yards allowed per coverage snap mark over the last three weeks.* |
| Chris Conley KC | Daryl Worley OAK | Worley has been sufficient of late for the Raiders, but he has allowed three touchdown grabs and a 110.1 passer rating on just 29 targets this season.* With Patrick Mahomes at the helm of this offense, it could be a fireworks display for the Chiefs, and Conley is an affordable option in a high-octane offense. He definitely has flex appeal in this matchup. |
| Tyrell Williams LAC | Coty Sensabaugh PIT | After some big performances a few weeks back, everyone was in on Tyrell Williams . That enthusiasm has faded in recent weeks, as he hasn't topped 50 receiving yards since going for 118 yards back in Week 7 before the team's bye. Oh yeah, Williams had zero targets last week. The former Western Oregon speedster is a very risky play in Week 13. |
| Josh Reynolds LAR | Mike Ford DET | The Lions have been bleeding fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, and Reynolds is a cheaper way to get exposure to the Rams offense in Week 13. Ford has allowed nearly 18 yards per reception in his two games as one of the primary outside corners for the Lions.* Reynolds posted 80 yards and a touchdown in the shootout of the century against the Chiefs, and he's a quality flex option in Week 13. |
| Kenny Stills MIA | Tre'Davious White BUF | Stop reading if you heard this before, but Tre'Davious White is a bad mamma jamma on the outside. He's allowed just five receptions for 31 yards in his last five games, good for a 14.6 passer rating when targeted.* Fade Stills in Week 13. |
| Stefon Diggs MIN | Stephon Gilmore NE | Gilmore has been pretty good over the last four weeks (one touchdown and 73.2 passer rating when targeted), but Diggs is a supreme talent that is a weekly starter in seasonal formats. The former fifth-round draft pick has double-digit targets in four straight game, not to mention at least 75 yards and a touchdown in three straight games. Kirk Cousins has a 110.2 passer rating when targeting Diggs this season, and in a game featuring positive game script for the Minnesota passing attack, Diggs is a WR1. |
| Chris Hogan NE | Trae Waynes MIN | Hogan is averaging just 11.2 air yards per target this season and over the last five games, he has just 14 targets. To put that into comparison, Julian Edelman has received 45 targets and Josh Gordon has seen 36 targets. Yep, it has not been a Chris Hogan season, and unfortunately, it doesn't look like it will be one anytime soon. |
| Tre'Quan Smith NO | Chidobe Awuzie DAL | Over the last three weeks, Awuzie has allowed two touchdowns and a 120.0 passer rating when targeted.* Smith missed the team's last game, but two weeks ago against the Eagles, he went absolutely bonkers, going for 157 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions. Smith certainly has the better matchup here, compared to Michael Thomas , but the latter will continue to get his work, while the rookie's will fluctuate on a weekly basis. |
| Odell Beckham Jr. NYG | Kyle Fuller CHI | Beckham trails only Antonio Brown in red zone and end zone targets, and for the second week in a row, OBJ finds himself in a positive situation. While Fuller has stood up to the challenge over the last four weeks (55.2 passer rating when targeted), it cannot be ignored that he is the most targeted cornerback in the league during that span.* Hmm.... A cornerback that is targeted frequently covering one of the most targeted receivers in the league? Despite Fuller's recent play, I'm buying OBJ's talent in this matchup. |
| Robby Anderson NYJ | Adoree' Jackson TEN | Jackson has allowed the most receiving yards in the league over the last four weeks, not to mention three touchdowns and a 130.4 passer rating when targeted.* Anderson displayed a nice rapport with Josh McCown last season, and while it didn't play out this past week, there's some GPP appeal with Anderson in Week 13. |
| Marcell Ateman OAK | Orlando Scandrick KC | From a statistical point of view, Scandrick has been the weak link in coverage amongst the Chiefs' cornerbacks over the last four weeks. Despite allowing less receiving yards than teammates Steven Nelson and Kendall Fuller , Scandrick has allowed more touchdowns (2) and a higher passer rating when targeted (102.9).* Ateman saw nine targets last week, which is a bonus, but hauling in just three of those for 16 yards was underwhelming. However, among all of the Oakland receivers, Ateman is my preferred play. |
| Alshon Jeffery PHI | Josh Norman WAS | Not that Golden Tate is to blame by any means, but since Tate has come to town, Jeffery is averaging nearly 10 fewer fantasy points per game. Sure, Carson Wentz hasn't been great of late, but in a tough matchup against Norman (80.6 passer rating when targeted last three weeks), Jeffery falls to the WR3 realm. |
| James Washington PIT | Michael Davis LAC | The rookie out of Oklahoma State has just one reception over his last three games, and as I've mentioned on numerous occasions in this article, until his role grows in the Pittsburgh passing attack, he cannot be trusted in any format. In dynasty leagues, you will want to hold onto him, but in redraft formats, he shouldn't be occupying one of your precious roster spots. |
| David Moore SEA | Richard Sherman SF | David Moore is second on the team in red zone targets, but when Russell Wilson is throwing the ball into the end zone, on a percentage basis, Moore has the highest percentage (23%). Sherman has allowed a 100 percent catch rate over the last two weeks, not to mention a staggering 2.69 yards per coverage snap.* Moore is a sneaky way to get exposure to a Seattle offense that could put up 30 points |
| Kendrick Bourne SF | Shaquil Griffin SEA | Bourne hasn't had a notable statistical output since his Week 8 game against the Cardinals. In fact, his 71 receiving yards are more than he's accumulated over the last three weeks (66). Despite Griffin's recent struggles in coverage (145.8 passer rating when targeted), Bourne's minimal role in the offense doesn't lend itself to a notable fantasy day in Week 13. |
| Mike Evans TB | James Bradberry CAR | Over the last three weeks, no cornerback in the National Football League has allowed more receiving yards than Mr. Bradberry.* He's allowed two touchdowns and 2.52 yards per coverage snap in that span.* Evans carries big time upside and needs to be in all lineups, no questions asked. |
| Cameron Batson TEN | Trumaine Johnson NYJ | The good news is that Batson has a reception in five straight games. However, he's failed to catch more than three passes or surpass 40 yards in a single game this season. With a minimal role in a run-heavy offense, the stars aren't aligning for the undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech. |
| Maurice Harris WAS | Chandon Sullivan PHI | Despite seeing the fourth-most targets on the team on Thanksgiving day, Harris failed to bring in a target from new quarterback Colt McCoy . It's a positive matchup for Harris, but McCoy looks to be on a stronger wavelength with other pass-catchers, notably Jordan Reed , Josh Doctson and Trey Quinn . Harris is a weak play in Week 13. |
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot in Week 13.
| Slot WR | Slot CB | Analysis |
| Robert Woods LAR | Nevin Lawson DET | Woods will continue to work out of the slot with the injury to Cooper Kupp and he finds himself in a great matchup against Lawson. Detroit's slot corner has allowed the sixth-most receiving yards in slot coverage over the last four weeks, not to mention two touchdowns and a 127.5 passer rating when targeted.* Woods is, at the very least, a premium WR2 in Week 13. |
| Adam Thielen MIN | Jason McCourty NE | Thielen has been a force to be reckoned with in the slot this season. Running out of the slot, Thielen has the most receptions, fourth-most receiving yards and second-most touchdowns.* New England will have to choose to slow down Stefon Diggs or Thielen, but that likely won't happen, giving way to another WR1 outing for Thielen. |
| Keenan Allen LAC | Mike Hilton PIT | Hilton has been tough on opposing receivers in recent weeks, but let's be honest, you're not sitting Allen in any seasonal format, because I'm hard-pressed to believe you have two, let alone three better options available for your lineup. Allen has at least five receptions for 50 yards or a touchdown in all but one game this season. He offers a very high fantasy floor and after a slower start to the season, he's finally finding his groove with Philip Rivers , as he's recorded three straight games with a touchdown. |
| Emmanuel Sanders DEN | Darqueze Dennard CIN | In his last three games, Dennard has allowed a 100 percent catch rate, not to mention a 118.8 passer rating and 2.47 yards allowed per coverage snap.* Sanders has at least four receptions for 47 yards in eight straight games, and while his big statistical outbursts have been a bit sporadic of late, he finds himself in a great matchup against a reeling Cincinnati team. |
| Larry Fitzgerald ARI | Tramon Williams GB | Since the start of Week 8, Fitzgerald has four touchdown receptions, second-most in the league. Since the start of Week 8, Williams has allowed the most touchdown receptions (3) in slot coverage. See what I'm getting at here? Start Fitz in yet another game that features a positive game script for the veteran receiver. |
| Golden Tate PHI | Fabian Moreau WAS | While Tate hasn't quite figured it out with his new team yet, this could be the week, as Moreau has allowed the most receiving yards and yards after catch in slot coverage over the last three weeks. Tate is a tough dude to bring down once the ball is in his hands, and that could rear its head in Week 13. Forget recent weeks and start Tate with confidence. |
| Curtis Samuel CAR | Javien Elliott TB | Here we go! If you're new to this article, you'll quickly learn that we love to attack the slot receiver going up against these Tampa Bay Bucs. Over the last three weeks, Elliott has allowed a 90 percent catch rate and the 12th-most receiving yards in slot coverage.* The yardage output hasn't quite been there, but he's found the end zone in three of the past four weeks. Don't worry, he'll make it four of his last five with a touchdown against Elliott this weekend. |
| Julian Edelman NE | Mackensie Alexander MIN | Not the best matchup here against Alexander, as he's allowed a 91.8 passer rating when targeted this season, including zero touchdown passes on his watch. Edelman found the end zone last week against our buddy ol' pal Buster Skrine and the rest of the New York secondary. While his upside isn't the same this week, Edelman is a fine play in PPR formats this weekend. |
| Jarvis Landry CLE | Tyrann Mathieu HOU | Since seeing 15 targets in Week 7 against the Bucs, Landry's targets have decreased, all the way down to five targets in each of the team's past two games. The shifty slot receiver hasn't eclipsed 50 receiving yards since that Week 7 contest and despite the matchup against an opportunistic Houston defense, Landry remains a flex option in PPR formats. He carries far more risk than he has in recent seasons, but my gut is telling me he scores against my Texans. |
| Willie Snead IV BAL | Brian Poole ATL | After recording at least five receptions for 51 yards in Weeks 8, 9 and 11, Snead crashed back to Earth in Week 12 with a whopping goose egg stat line against the Raiders. Hell, he wasn't even targeted! That will change in this matchup, as Poole has allowed the ninth-most receiving yards and second-most touchdowns in slot coverage this season.* Start Snead in your flex. |
Elite
Mike Evans vs. James Bradberry
Let me repeat from the synopsis above for Evans: “Over the last three weeks, no cornerback in the National Football League has allowed more receiving yards than Mr. Bradberry.” So you’re telling me that Evans, who has the second-most receiving yards in the league since the start of Week 7, gets a matchup against a secondary, and a corner in particular, that has been bleeding yards to the opposition? Oh, baby! I love it! Let’s fire up Evans and enjoy the 100+ yards and a touchdown he will tally in Week 13.
Affordable
In some extended run with Cooper Kupp out of commission, Reynolds stepped up for the Rams and is a viable third option in the Los Angeles passing attack. In the games Kupp hasn’t played this season, Reynolds is averaging nearly 14 fantasy points (PPR format) per game. In his two most recent games with Kupp sidelined (Weeks 8 and 11), Reynolds has nine receptions on 13 targets for 122 yards and three touchdowns. Reynolds has been effective at moving the chains this season and in a plus matchup against an unraveling Detroit secondary, he’s a price effective option to gain exposure to the Rams offense in Week 13.
Josh Doctson vs. Rasul Douglas
On the season, the Eagles have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Recently, the injury bug has raided the team’s secondary, and in the past two weeks, they rank near the bottom in numerous statistical categories. In the last two weeks, the Philadelphia Eagles have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, second-most receiving yards to wide receivers, and tied for fifth-most touchdowns to opposing wideouts. Yikes. Colt McCoy at the helm of the Washington passing attack might scare others away, but the #FAmily will buy into Doctson’s 10 targets last week. There is some risk, but he’s an affordable option and could be a tournament winner in Monday night DFS action.
Bargain Bin
Robert Foster vs. Minkah Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick has held his own on the outside, but with Foster’s big play potential in this matchup, it’s hard not to get excited about the former Alabama pass catcher. Over 50 percent of Foster’s targets have been more than 20 yards downfield, and the return of Josh Allen to the first team offense allows for Foster to do what he does best; get down the field. When the ball is in his hands, Foster is dynamic, as seen by his 9.1 yards after catch per reception on the season.* There is some risk here, but the upside is rather large in a plus matchup.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.