With just 1 week in the books, we are still largely in evaluation mode with regard to corner back play. There have been some relative unknowns who kept their opponents under wraps and some reliable corners who got torched in coverage. This week we are looking to sift through the data points to determine what is signal and what is noise.

 

 

 

2024 Fantasy Football WR/CB Matchup Report For Week 2

WR CB Matchup Report
      
Left WR vs Right CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD $CornerbackOppMatchup
Michael WilsonARI$4300 / $4900Tre'Davious WhiteLARUpgrade
A relatively quiet Week 1 for Michael Wilson was buoyed by an early 5-yard score on a broken play. Wilson played 80% of snaps and ran 60% of them on the left; putting him firmly in the sights of Ram’s cornerback Tre'Davious White this week. It was a rough start to the season for White, who allowed a 66.7% catch rate, 26.5 yards per reception, and a touchdown as Jameson Williams had a breakout game in his coverage. It’s hard not to list this as an “upgrade” spot for Wilson but I wouldn’t be surprised is White steadies out over the course of the season.
Darnell MooneyATL$4200 / $4900Quinyon MitchellPHIUpgrade
It was a rough day overall for the Atlanta passing game and Danrell Mooney was not spared from that reality in his Falcons debut; catching just 1 pass for 15 yards. Hopefully Kirk Cousins can shake enough of the rust off for Mooney to take advantage of his plus matchup against Quinyon Mitchell. Mitchell allowed the most catches in the Eagles’ secondary last week and a hefty 17.2 yards per reception. Its hard to feel good clicking the button on Mooney overall but he could make for a contrarian way to get into this game in DFS. 
 
Zay FlowersBAL$6300 / $6300Jakorian BennettLVNeutral
Flowers was the lead target-getter among Ravens’ receivers, catching 6 of 8 targets for just 37 yards. He was relegated to an underneath role most, with a 4.6 yard average depth of target and 32 of his yards coming after the catch. This week he’ll see Jakorian Bennett who played very well for himself in Week 1; not giving up a catch and playing a very tight brand of coverage against the Chargers. The small sample keeps this in the “Neutral” category but a nice start has Bennett as a name to watch.
Keon ColemanBUF$5000 / $5900Kendall FullerMIADowngrade
I’d categorize Keon Coleman’s NFL debut as “solid” after he caught 4 passes for 51 yards and commanded a 22% target share against the Cardinals. His matchup in Week 2 gets a bit tougher as the Bills face a Dolphins team that allowed the 9th fewest passing yards on the season. Coleman did not play a single snap in the slot so he’ll have the tougher outside matchups and mostly see Kendall Fuller. Fuller largely forced his man out of the gameplan last week, giving up just 1 catch for 18 yards. Coleman does have about 5” in height over Fuller so a jump ball or two isn’t out of the question but I’d project another “so-so” performance out of the rookie this week.
Jonathan MingoCAR$3200 / $4600Kristan FultonLACNeutral
Giving credit where it's due, Kristian Fulton had a very nice game in his Charger’s debut. He allowed just 1 catch for 3 yards and forced his primary matchup, Davante Adams, to do his damage elsewhere. Fulton will look to keep the momentum up as he faces off against Jonathan Mingo, who caught just 33% of his targets last week as a member of a Panthers’ offense that looked completely hapless. Fulton played well enough to move this matchup to “Neutral” and that is a big step in the right direction for him.
DJ MooreCHI$6500 / $6800Kamari LassiterHOUUpgrade
It was a rocky start to the Caleb Williams Era in Chicago as the 1st overall draft pick completed 14 of 29 passes for just 93 yards in Week 1. Obviously that is going to tank the production of all Bears pass-catchers so we can’t take much away from how Moore played in Week 1. What we can glean from last week is that Moore’s primary matchup, Kamari Lassiter, is ripe for the picking. Lassiter was often seen giving chase to players who blew through his coverage during the Colts' big passing day last week and I’d expect a bounceback for Moore in this plus matchup.
Ja'Marr ChaseCIN$7800 / $8700Trent McDuffieKCNeutral
Another slow offensive start to the season for the Bengals is in the books. Ja'Marr Chase, fresh off an illness and following a pre-season hold in, didn’t quite look like himself as he brought in 6 catches for 62 yards. They face the Chiefs in Week 2 which means that Chase will run in the coverage of Trent McDuffie. McDuffie allowed a catch on 2 of 3 targets but kept everything in front of him, giving up just 11 yards per catch. Look for Chase to get back to form in this marquee game.
Amari CooperCLE$6200 / $6300Montaric BrownJACUpgrade
Alarm bells are blaring in response to a pitiful passing effort by the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. Amari Cooper saw plenty of targets, 9 to be exact, but only managed to bring in 2 of them for just 16 yards. He and his fantasy managers should be hopeful for a bounceback week as Cooper will be matched up with the Jaguars’ lowest-rated coverage corner, Montaric Brown. Brown saw limited work last week but did allow a 100% catch rate on the 2 passes thrown his direction.
Brandin CooksDAL$5600 / $5600Marshon LattimoreNODowngrade
As was widely expected, Brandin Cooks stepped right back into his role as the Cowboys’ #2 receiver in Week 1. He caught 4/7 passes for 40 yards and a score on nearly 80% snap share in their win against the Browns, running over 50% of his routes from the left side of the formation. That means this week against the Saints, he’ll be in for the Marshon Lattimore treatment. Lattimore didn’t grade particularly well in their outlier win against the Panthers, but he’s still a “Downgrade” until further notice.
Courtland SuttonDEN$5400 / $5400Donte JacksonPITUpgrade
In Week 1, Courtland Sutton cemented himself as the preferred target in the Broncos’ offense by commanding 12 targets in their game against the Seahawks. Unfortunately those targets we often off-target and near the line of scrimmage as he only caught 4 of them for 38 yards. He’ll have a chance to do more with his high target volume this week as he lines up against Donte Jackson of the Steelers. Jackson cedes 6 inches and nearly 40 pounds to Sutton and gave up the most yards after catch on his team last week.
Kalif RaymondDET$3500 / $4900Jamel DeanTBDowngrade
Basically everyone not named Jameson Williams missed out on the receiving work for the Lions last week; including Kalif Raymond who didn’t draw a single target despite being on the field for 61% of snaps. Things don’t get much better for him this week as he’ll be the primary assignment for Jamel Dean of the Bucs. Dean is off to a good start allowing a 50% catch rate with just 11 yards given up last week. Raymond should be avoided wherever possible.
Romeo DoubsGB$5700 / $5100Jaylon JonesINDUpgrade
Its a tough luck spot for Romeo Doubs this week. Not because of his matchup against the Colts’ Jaylon Jones; who is sporting one of the lowest coverage grades in the NFL. Instead because it is widely expected that Malik Willis will be under center for the Packers. Doubs was tied for the lead in targets and target share in the very crowded Packers WR corps and ran a route on 94% of passing plays last week. He remains a decent floor play this week but his upside is capped by his QB.
Nico CollinsHOU$7000 / $7600Jaylon JohnsonCHIDowngrade
Week 1 confirmed Nico Collins’ role as “security blanket” in the new-look WR room and confirmed that there is no such thing as a 50/50 ball when throwing in Nico’s direction. Unfortunately for Collins, he has a big test ahead of him as he lines up against Jaylon Johnson of the Bears this week. Johnson is PFF’s 3rd-rated coverage corner, allowed just 1 catch for -2 yards, and already has an interception notched in his belt on the young season. The downgrade shouldn’t take Collins out of your managed lineups but does make him a fade in the Sunday night showdown slate.
Alec PierceIND$4500 / $5600Eric StokesGBNeutral
As foretold right here in the WR/CB report, Piece had a glowing matchup last week and took advantage to the tune of 125 yards and a touchdown while playing 84% of snaps. This week’s matchup against Eric Stokes of the Packers is more “middle-of-the-road” as Stokes gave up a 66.7% catch rate last week but kept everything in front of him with just 21 yards allowed. I’d expect Pierce to come back to earth but he’s shown it only takes him one play to spike in any given week.
Gabe DavisJAC$4400 / $5900Martin Emerson Jr.CLENeutral
Gabe Davis filled the “downfield” role that he was brought in for in Week 1, averaging just over 20 yards per catch on his 3 grabs against Miami. His role on the outside of the formation will find him lining up against Martin Emerson Jr on most of his routes. Emerson is known for being stingy with his catch rate historically but is coming off a down performance where he allowed 71.4% of targets to be hauled in and gave up a touchdown to his primary responsibility, Brandin Cooks. A troubling start that puts Emerson in the “Neutral” category, at least for this week.
Justin WatsonKC$3300 / $4600Cam Taylor-BrittCINNeutral
For how much change there has been with the Chiefs’ receiving group this year, its nice to know that we can still count on Justin Watson to be there running nothing but “go” routes. Watson was an afterthought behind the breakout performances of Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy last week and I’d expect that to continue here. His opponent in Cam Taylor-Britt has been known to give up a deep ball or two so the upside is there but you’re really rolling the dice if you fire up Watson this week.
Davante AdamsLV$7300 / $7100Brandon StephensBALNeutral
Not surprisingly, Adams led all Raiders pass-catchers in just about every statistical category last week against the Chargers. Doing so on a somewhat inept offense means that he turned in a 5-for-59 effort all told. Things might be looking up this week as he faced Brandon Stephens in a game script that should have the Raiders throwing. Stephens went 3/3 in terms of catches allowed last week and Mahomes had a 118.8 passer rating when throwing into his coverage, the 2nd highest on his team. He was pretty stingy on the yardage front so we’ll file this one under “Neutral.”
Quentin JohnstonLAC$4100 / $5100Jaycee HornCARDowngrade
In a strange turn of events, Quentin Johnston had 5 passes thrown his way last week and managed to haul in 3 of them for 38 yards. A promising development for a player who looked incapable of catching a ball last season. His momentum will be put to the test this week as he stands to face Jaycee Horn for most of the day. Horn is one of the premier corners in the league and saw just 2 passes thrown his way while shadowing Chris Olave on 55% of plays. Tough spot for Johnston this week.
Demarcus RobinsonLAR$4000 / $5200Starling Thomas VARINeutral
Demarcus Robinson will be stepping into a larger role for the Rams as they project to be without Puka Nacua for several weeks. That absence vaulted Robinson to a 92% snap share last week and a respectable 7 targets, of which he converted 4 for 42 yards. This week he’ll run against Starling Thomas V who is fresh off a 2/4 performance where he gave up 17.5 yards per reception. Thats countered by a pass break up and a forced incompletion which puts this matchup firmly into “Neutral” territory.
Jaylen WaddleMIA$6400 / $7400Christian BenfordBUFNeutral
Waddle took full advantage of his plus matchup last week, catching 5 of 5 targets for 109 yards against the Jaguars. This week, however, it should be tougher sledding against Christian Benford of the Buffalo Bills. Benford is Buffalo’s top-rated coverage corner on the young season after not allowing a catch, on just a single target, in their game last week. Not quite to the point where we should be worried about his ability to slow down Jaylen Waddle but I’d doubt that he catches all of his targets this week against Benford. 
 
Brandon PowellMIN$3300 / $4200Isaac YiadomSFNeutral
With Jordan Addison now ruled out, I’d expect Brandon Powell to move from his slot role to the offense’s left side this week. He’ll have his work cut out for him as he faces Isaac Yiadom, who exclusively played the right side last week. Yiadom allowed a 50% catch rate last week and would have rated very highly if it wasn’t for a garbage time touchdown he allowed to Allen Lazard. I’ll list this one as “Neutral” but it will be a long day in the office for a player of Powell’s caliber.
Tyquan ThorntonNE$3300 / $4800Tariq WoolenSEADowngrade
Kudos to the New England Patriots for busting everyone’s pick ‘em pool with their win over the Bengals last week. Tyquan Thornton had little to do with that win, turning in a 2 for 27 effort, and things only get harder from here. This week he’ll face off against one of the bright young stars in defensive backfields across the league, Tariq Woolen. Woolen gave up just 2 catches on 6 balls thrown his way and undercut a Bo Nix pass for his first interception of the season. Thornton should be avoided this week.
Rashid ShaheedNO$4600 / $5500Travon DiggsDALDowngrade
We got a Rashid Shaheed special last week as he got behind the defense for a 59-yard score early in the 1st quarter against the Panthers. I can’t imagine a repeat performance is in order this week as he’ll be in the coverage of All Pro corner Trevon Diggs. Diggs is coming of a typical performance for him where he allowed 6 of 9 passes to be caught for a stingy 3.8 yards per catch while stuffing the stat sheet with PBUs, forced incompletions, and interceptions. I’m expecting a quiet day for Shaheed.
Malik NabersNYG$5900 / $6400Benjamin St-JusteWASUpgrade
Its hard to take away anything positive from the 28-6 shellacking the Giants took last week, but here goes… Malik Nabers clearly has the trust of Daniels Jones and did a good job of creating yards over expectation on his catches. Nabers will hopefully have brighter days ahead as soon as this week as he prepares to face Benjamin St-Juste of the Commanders. St-Juste allowed a 75% catch rate last week and was responsible for 2 passing scores. Its hard to say if the Giants will turn things around on the whole, but this is objectively a good spot for Nabers.
Garrett WilsonNYJ$7100 / $8100L'Jarius SneedTENNeutral
I was a bit surprised to see Garrett Wilson align to the left on 45% of plays after occupying the slot so much in the prior season. Wherever he lines up, he remains one of the bright young talents in the league and looks to be in a good rhythm with Aaron Rodgers. His opponent is a bit of a head-scratcher after Week 1. L'Jarius Sneed rated very poorly in terms of coverage last week but the overall ineptitude of the Bears’ passing game left him with respectable numbers in the stat sheet. I’m giving Sneed the benefit of the doubt and calling this one “Neutral.”
A.J. BrownPHI$7900 / $8600A.J. TerrellATLDowngrade
For me, the true line of demarcation between an elite receiver and a great one is their ability to overcome difficult matchups. AJ Brown saw shadow coverage from Jaire Alexander and still turned in an impressive 5/119/1 statline. This week he also has a difficult matchup on paper, facing AJ Terrell of the Falcons. I have little concern that it will slow him down much even though it is a “Downgrade” by the technical definition.
George PickensPIT$5800 / $6600Pat SurtainDENDowngrade
While the Justin Fields-led Steelers offense left a lot to be desired, it was clear that George Pickens was a focal point. He accounted for 85 of the 156 total passing yards and added in a carry for good measure. Pickens has the difficult task of running against Pat Surtain this week but the stats don’t bear out that reality through 1 game. Last week Surtain allowed an 80% catch rate and drew 2 penalties in his coverage. I’m giving Surtain a mulligan but this is one to keep tabs on.
Brandon AiyukSF$6500 / $7000Shaquill GriffinMINNeutral
Brandon Aiyuk had a mostly quiet night to open the 2024 season but had he squeezed and end zone target thrown his way we’d all feel quite differently. He’ll be in a good position to bounce back against Shaquill Griffin of the Minnesota Vikings. Griffin has been pretty close to average throughout his NFL career but somehow managed to post a pretty poor coverage grade against a dreadful Giants offense. I like Aiyuk to announce his arrival this week.
DK MetcalfSEA$5900 / $6600Christian GonzalezNEDowngrade
Another week, another tough matchup for DK Metcalf. After squaring off against Pat Surtain last week, he’ll continue his gauntlet against Christian Gonzalez of the Patriots. Last week Gonzalez shadowed at the 2nd-highest rate in the league, 77.4%, and held his opponents to 3 catches for just 15 yards. That was good for a 100% catch rate as Burrow was largely avoiding throwing his direction. I think DK is the type of player that can still be productive in this circumstance, but his ceiling is certainly capped this week. 
 
Mike EvansTB$7500 / $8000Terrion ArnoldDETUpgrade
Mike Evans started off the 2024 season in a fashion that would indicate another 1,000-yard 10-touchdown season is in the works; turning in a 5/61/2 performance last week. This week he’ll look to keep the momentum going as he prepares to run against rookie Terrion Arnold of the Lions. Arnold did not get exposed the way that many rookies do in their NFL debut but he did allow an 80% catch rate on the 10 targets thrown into his coverage. He’s also giving up 5 inches and nearly 35lbs to the towering Evans, who should be in store for another strong performance.
DeAndre HopkinsTEN$5400 / $5600D.J. ReedNYJDowngrade
We have to project here just a little bit. Last week, working his way back from a knee injury, Hopkins played on just 27% of Titans’ snaps. This week he is off the injury report and projected for a much larger workload, which will come in the coverage of DJ Reed. Reed is still regarded as being part of the best secondary in the league for the Jets and run-heavy approach of the 49ers last week kept his stat sheet pretty clean. His body of work is strong enough to earn a “Downgrade” designation this week.
Terry McLaurinWAS$5700 / $6000Deonte BanksNYGUpgrade
This situation is the poster child for “shadow” situations not always being a downgrade. Terry McClaurin, who was narrowly overthrown on a 70-yard TD, turned in a pedestrian 2/17 line last week. He’ll be facing shadow coverage from Deonte Banks this week, which actually works in his favor. Banks allowed a 75% catch rate last week, nearly 19 yards per reception, and surrendered a touchdown to Justin Jefferson. I’m expecting McClaurin and Daniels to get on the same page this week and that puts them in position to gash this favorable matchup.

 

 

 

Right WR vs Left CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDraftKings/FanDuelCornerbackOppMatchup
Marvin HarrisonARI$6900 / $6500Cobie DurantLARDowngrade
It was a lackluster NFL debut for Marvin Harrison Jr, who hauled in 1 of 3 targets for just 4 yards. Harrison dropped a pass early and was largely put on ice for the remainder of the game. He struggled to create separation against press coverage but was able to get open several times throughout the game. He’ll have a tough time creating separation this week running against Cobie Durant; who gave up a 50% catch rate last week and just 1.0 yards of average separation. Brighter days are ahead for the 4th overall pick but it might be a slower ramp up than we’d like.
Drake LondonATL$6100 / $6500Darius SlayPHIUpgrade
Another rough start to the season for Drake London as he posted a 2 of 3 effort for just 15 yards in Week 1. Much of this had to do with his very tough matchup against standout corner Joey Porter This week things get only incrementally better as London prepares to face the Eagles’ Darius Slay. Last week I posited that Slay is not the DB he once was but that he was still clearly the most difficult out in the Philly backfield and that largely came to pass. Slay surrendered just 15 yards as the Packers largely avoided throwing his direction. I’d expect a similar gameplan from the Falcons this week.
Rashod BatemanBAL$3900 / $4800Jack JonesLVNeutral
Bateman struggled to get on the same page with Lamar Jackson in Week 1, catching 2 of 5 targets for 53 yards but leaving 60% of his air yards on the field. He’ll look to get right this week lining up against the Raiders’ Jack Jones for the majority of his routes. Jones posted respectable numbers in terms of catch rate (60%) and yards per reception (4.7) but his coverage rating was dragged down by a costly penalty.
Mack HollinsBUF$3100 / $4600Jalen RamseyMIADowngrade
The Bills surprised us by how often Mack Hollins was running with the 1s in 12 personnel sets during the preseason and through 1 game, that trend has held. Seeing the field more than expected is always nice but those warm and fuzzy feelings are diluted this week as that puts him firmly in the sights of Jalen Ramsey. Unless you’re looking for a contrarian path in showdown, Mack can stay on your bench this week. 
 
Diontae JohnsonCAR$5100 / $5500Asante SamuelLACNeutral
Through 1 game, the 2024 version of the Panthers look to be as bad as the team last year that earned the #1 overall pick. They brought in Diontae Jonhson to give Bryce Young a receiver who can separate but unfortunately he struggled to do so in Week 1. I like his chances to at least take a step forward this week as he’ll line up against Asante Samuel Jr, who just gave up 7 catches (on 9 targets) against the Raiders. Samuel did a good job of limiting yardage so we’ll list this one as “Neutral.”
Rome OdunzeCHI$4200 / $5900Derek Stingley JrHOUDowngrade
As we said with DJ Moore, its hard to take much away from a Bears Week 1 performance where the offense was that out of sorts. Unlike DJ Moore, though, Rome Odunze does not have a soft landing spot this week. He’ll be the primary coverage responsible for Derek Stingly Jr. Stingly had a bit of a rough go last week as the Colts gashed Houston with the deep ball but that one game doesn’t take away from a strong portfolio of work over his career. There’s a chance that Odunze doesn’t play, which would likely move Keenan Allen to the right side. Either way, this is a clear downgrade.
Andrei IosivasCIN$3800 / $5200Jaylen WatsonKCNeutral
It's looking likely that the Bengals will be without Tee Higgins for another week as he when DNP at each of this week’s practices and sports a “Doubtful” tag heading into this game. That paves the way for another start for Andrei Iosivas, who played 100% of snaps last week en route to 3 catches for 26 yards. This week he’ll see more than his fair share of Jaylon Watson, who allowed a 66.7% catch rate las week but kept yardage to a tidy 35 yards. I’m not expecting much of Iosivas but his matchup shouldn’t move the needle one way or the other.
Jerry JeudyCLE$5100 / $5800Ronald DarbyJACUpgrade
The woeful performance of Deshaun Watson notwithstanding, Jerry Jeduy is in a categorically great position this week. He’ll primarily be running in the coverage of Jaguars corner Ronald Darby who is fresh off a 5 for 6 game where he surrendered 111 yards and a touchdown. Obviously Watson needs to show he can deliver the ball but if he can, Jeudy could be in line for a nice bounce back this week.
Jalen TolbertDAL$3500 / $4500Paulson AdeboNONeutral
Jalen Tolber finally got his starting opportunity for the Cowboys; playing 67% of snaps last week, predominantly lining up to the right. This week that puts him in the coverage of Paulson Adebo, the Saints’ highest-rated cover corner. Adebo was peppered with 10 targets last week but stacked up 3 forced incompletions and a pass breakup on the day. It will be difficult to repeat that kind of performance weekly and an increase in target volume would be a nice boost to Tolbert.
Josh ReynoldsDEN$4300 / $4900Joey Porter JrPITDowngrade
If being the 2nd option in a pass game led by Bo Nix and his 3.3 yards per attempt wasn’t bad enough; this week Josh Reynolds is expected to be the responsibility of the Steelers’ Joey Porter In just over 1 years time, Porter Jr has become one of the premier corners in the league and is fresh off a week where he rendered Drake London a non-factor. Reynolds can be faded in all formats.
Jameson WilliamsDET$5300 / $5700Zyon McCollumTBUpgrade
The long-awaited Jameson Williams breakout game came to fruition last week as the former 1st rounder caught 5 passes for 121 yards and a score against the Rams. Things should stay on track for Williams this week as his opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are relying on Zyon McCollum now that Bryce Hall is on IR. McCollum saw a fair amount of run last season, topping out at a 52.1 coverage grade for the year. I think Williams pays dividends in this one.
Christian WatsonGB$5000 / $5700Jaylon JonesINDUpgrade
Targeting the coverage of Jaylon Jones was a clear priority last week, where he led the team with 9 balls thrown his way, and I’d expect that to be the case again this week as he faces off against Christian Watson. Jones was largely targeted down the field, where he allowed a 66.7% catch rate and walked away with a woeful 36.5 coverage grade on the week. It remains to be seen if Malik Willis can deliver the ball but Watson is in a great matchup in his own right.
Tank DellHOU$5500 / $6100Tyrique StevensonCHINeutral
Tank Dell was the clear 3rd option among Texans’ pass-catchers last week, playing just 62% of snaps and catching 3 passes for 40 yards. He clearly still has the trust of C.J. Stroud but his volume has been hindered by the arrival of Stefon Diggs. Dell has a so-so matchup this week against Tyrique Stevenson who held opponents to just 33% catch rate but was also responsible for one of Diggs’ touchdowns last week. I’m curious to see if Dell’s volume increases a bit this week.
Michael PittmanIND$6600 / $6400Jaire AlexanderGBDowngrade
We have to take both sides of this equation with a grain of salt. Pittman, the Colts’ target leader in Week 1, only caught 4 passes for 31 yards as Richardson’s deep ball prowess limited him to just 9 completions. Alexander, on the other hand, was given the unenviable task of shadowing AJ Brown last week. He played Brown tight and did a good job racking up pass break ups, forced incompletions and INTs but theres a certain caliber of receiver who simply won’t be slowed. This is a tougher matchup for Pittman that it appears on paper although I do think he carries a solid floor.
Brian ThomasJAC$4800 / $5800Denzel WardCLEDowngrade
Brian Thomas quickly showed why the Jaguars selected him in the 1st round as he debuted with a 4/4 effort and found the box against the Dolphins. He’ll have his work cut out for him this week as he projects to see a lot of Denzel Ward of the Browns. Ward put the clamps on his opponents with a 2 for 7 performance where he accumulated 3 pass breakups, 3 forced incompletions, and narrowly missed on an interception. We’ll learn a lot about Thomas in this admittedly tough matchup.
Xavier WorthyKC$6100 / $6200Dax HillCINNeutral
Xavier Worthy is another on the list of rookies who made a good first impression; slashing 2/47/1 as a receiver and adding a rushing score to kickoff the season against the Ravens. It wasn’t the volume you’d hope for but he made it clear that he is a weapon with the ball in his hand. His matchup against Dax Hill this week shouldn’t shift his projection much as Hill posted a nice coverage rating but did so against a Patriots team that wasn’t interested in moving the ball through the air.
Tre TuckerLV$3400 / $4600Jalyn Armour-DavisBALUpgrade
Tre Tucker established himself as the primary guy running opposite Davante Adams, playing nearly 80% snaps in their Week 1 game. Tucker is a bit too ancillary to trust as anything more than a dart-throw but he has a very nice matchup in his own right. The injury of Nate Wiggins has thrust Jalyn Armour-Davis into action; who sports a career catch rate of nearly 92%.
Joshua PalmerLAC$5000 / $5600Mike JacksonCARNeutral
There were already lowered expectations for the Chargers’ passing game heading into the season and Palmer limited his Week 1 opportunity by being ejected for fighting. He wasn’t playing particularly well prior to that point, catching just 2 balls for 15 yards. He’ll aim to improve this week in a pretty average matchup against the Panthers’ Mike Jackson. Jackson allowed an 83.3% catch rate last week but kept everything in front of him with just 9.4 yards per reception.
Tyler JohnsonLAR$3300 / $4000Sean Murphy-BuntingARIUpgrade
Tyler Jonson is another name on the list of those hoping to make the most of their opportunity while Puka Nacua is on the sideline. He is widely considered to be the “upside’ option of the guys thrust into the rotation for the Rams as he showed some juice in his 5/79 performance last week. He’ll look to make an impression in a favorable matchup against Sean Murphy-Bunting of the Cardinals. Murphy Bunting wasn’t targeted much last week, giving up a pass on 2 of 3 targets for just 12 total yards. 
 
Tyreek HillMIA$8700 / $9700Rasul DouglasBUFNeutral
Obviously Week 1 was unlike any other for Tyreek Hill as he found himself face down in handcuffs after a traffic stop just before kickoff. While his circumstances were unique, his productivity was classic Tyreek; catching 7 passes for 130 yards and a score. This week he’ll face another “Neutral” matchup against Rasul Douglas; who allowed both targets thrown his direction to be caught but help his receiver to just 4 total yards. Hill should perform like the top fantasy asset you drafted him to be this week.
Justin JeffersonMIN$8300 / $8900Charvarius WardSFDowngrade
We cleared the first bar of the 2024 season for Justin Jefferson: Sam Darnold proved himself capable of getting the ball to his all-pro receiver. Jefferson posted a 4/59/1 effort Week 1 versus the Giants. The next bar to clear will be a bit higher as he’ll run in Charvarious Ward’s coverage this week. Ward’s reputation precedes him and he posted very stingy numbers Week 1 against the Jets. Jefferson is still an elite option this week but will have his upside limited based on matchup.
K.J. OsbornNE$3900 / $5100Tre BrownSEANeutral
Chris Olave is another of the back-end WR1s this year whose poor performance in Week 1 have fantasy managers panicked. Fortunately for Olave its not every day you’re being shadowed by Jaycee Horn. Including this week where he’ll see a good amount of Caelen Carson. Carson is fresh of f a performance where he gave up a 55.6% catch rate and 1 touchdown allowed. I like Olave to return to form this week. 
 
Chris OlaveNO$6400 / $6700Caelen CarsonDALUpgrade
Chris Olave is another of the back-end WR1s this year whose poor performance in Week 1 have fantasy managers panicked. Fortunately for Olave its not every day you’re being shadowed by Jaycee Horn. Including this week where he’ll see a good amount of Caelen Carson. Carson is fresh of f a performance where he gave up a 55.6% catch rate and 1 touchdown allowed. I like Olave to return to form this week.
Darius SlaytonNYG$4100 / $4800 Noah IgbinogheneWASUpgrade

I already felt like I was grasping at straws searching for something nice to say about Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton is no Nabers. Slayton was out there on nearly 72% of snaps last week and is also the beneficiary of a friendlier matchup in Week 2. He draws Noah Igbinoghene this week now that Emmanuel Forbes has been moved to IR. We don’t have much tape on Igbinoghene, who has only played about 450 coverage snaps in his 5 year career, but being buried behind a guy who posted one of the lowest coverage grades in the entire league last week largely tells you what you need to know.

 


 

Allen LazardNYJ$3300 / $4500Chidobe AwuzieTENDowngrade
Allen Lazard was one of the hot waiver wire pickups on Tuesday after he had 2 trips to the end zone on Monday Night Football against the 49ers. I think we see him come back to earth this week as he gears up to face Chidobe Awuzie of the Titans. Awuzie had a respectable outing in Week 1 and is plenty capable of slowing a player of Lazard’s talent.
Jahan DotsonPHI$4000 / $5200Mike HughesATLUpgrade
The Eagles pulled a fast one on Washington to acquire Jahan Dotson but the shiny new toy was used sparingly in Week 1. Dotson saw the field on just 42% of snaps and didn’t record a single counting stat against the Packers. He’ll look to get something going this week against Mike Hughes of the Falcons, who allowed a 100% catch rate last week. The Eagles are so consolidated in their offense it hard to picture Dotson getting much going.
Van JeffersonPIT$3400 / $5000Riley MossDENNeutral
Van Jefferson is back to considerable playing time after off-ramping from the Rams down the stretch last year. Unfortunately that time on the field doesn’t equate to fantasy production readily when its Justin Fields under center. Last week Jefferson caught just 1 pass for a single yard so theres nowhere to go but up in a plus matchup against Riley Moss this week. Moss grades poorly but has yet to show anything egregious on the field (so far.)
Deebo SamuelSF$6800 / $7300Stephon GilmoreMINDowngrade
The pass game was largely an afterthought for the San Francisco 49ers last week on Monday Night Football. Purdy attempted just 29 passes in that game which served to cap the upside of players like Deebo Samuel. It will be tough sledding again this week as Deebo faces the Vikings’ big free-agent signing, Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore posted a nice coverage rating last week but did give up 3 catches on the 3 passes thrown into his coverage. Given his reputation, I thinks its fair to keep this as a “downgrade.”
Tyler LockettSEA$5300 / $6000Jonathan JonesNEDowngrade
Largely presumed to be shifting to a back seat behind Jaxon Smith Njiba this year, Lockett showed he’s still got some gas left in his tank in Week 1. He finished the day with 6 catches for 77 yards and seemed to fit nicely in the new Ryan Grubb system. He might come back down to earth this week as he lines up against the Patriots’ Jonathan Jones. Jones didn’t give up a catch last week and is currently sitting 13th in the league in coverage rating on PFF. 
 
Chris GodwinTB$6000 / $6200Carlton Davis IIIDETUpgrade
While Chris Godwin has moved back to the slot this year, he still runs more routes from the right side of the alignment than any other Bucs receiver. A fact that should work to his advantage this week as it gets him matched up against Carlton Davis III. Davis was clearly a focal point of the Rams game plan last week, seeing a league-leading 13 targets thrown his way and allowing 9 catches, 114 yards, and a score. Look for Godwin to keep the momentum going this week.
Calvin RidleyTEN$5800 / $6100Sauce GardnerNYJDowngrade
We are rapidly approaching a reboot of “Revis Island” for the Jets with their standout corner Sauce Gardner. Gardner has become one of the toughest outs in the league and opposing quarterbacks are largely avoiding throwing to his side of the field. This week, that side of the field will see a lot of Calvin Ridley. Ridley is among the leaders in unrealized air yards but I don’t see that shifting in his favor this week against Sauce.
Olamide ZaccheausWAS$3000 / $4600Adoree' JacksonNYGNeutral
The carousel of which Washington receivers are going to see the field is still spinning to this day. Last week, at least, we saw Olamide Zaccheaus play a pretty limited role but one that had him almost exclusively to the right side of the format. This week that puts him facing Adoree’ Jackson in a matchup that is about as middle-of-the-road as it gets.
 

 

Top Matchups in The Slot for NFL Week 2

Slot WR vs Slot CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDraftKings/FanDuelCornerbackOppMatchup
Rashee RiceKC$6700 / $6900Mike HiltonCINUpgrade
Last week Rashee Rice established himself as a force to be reckoned with and did so largely running out of the slot (58% of plays). That finds him seeing a lot of Mike Hilton this week which plays right into his hand. Hilton is significantly smaller than Rice and has been known to let a deep ball get buy him over the years.
Amon-Ra St. BrownDET$8100 / $9000Tykee SmithTBUpgrade
Amon-Ra St. Brown is coming off one of the quieter performances of his career and primed for a bounceback. He’ll be aided in this pursuit by his opponent this week, Tykee Smith of the Buccaneers. Smith allowed all 4 targets thrown his way to be caught last week and gave up a fair amount of yards after the catch. If people are scared off of ARSB after the floor game, I’m going way overweight in DFS.
DeVonta SmithPHI$6700 / $7200Dee AlfordATLUpgrade
Obviously you don’t need me to tell you to start Garrett Wilson anywhere you have him but I do think it’s important to note that his deployment in the slot insulates him from much of the toughest matchups the 49ers bring to bear. Running out of the slot he’ll most face Deommodore Lenoir, who allowed more than 70% of targets thrown to his coverage to be caught last year. A player of Wilson’s caliber catching passes at that high a rate has the makings of an explosive day.
Rashee RiceKC$6700 / $6900Devon WItherspoonCINSafe
Kupp has seen at least 7 targets in every game since his return, but has struggled since week 6. The Seattle secondary has played well for the most part, but Kupp is too good to be held down any longer and I expect him to come out of the bye fired up and ready for a big game.
Adonai MitchellIND$4000 / $5300Keisean NixonGBUpgrade
This one is a bit more speculative but one of my favorite plays nonetheless. Adonai Mitchell, the Colts’ 2nd-round rookie had 3 separate passes overthrown in his direction last week, leaving nearly 150 yards and 2 touchdowns in his wake. I think an athletic freak of nature like AD can continue to get open this week running against Keisean Nixon of the Packers. Nixon simply doesn't have the physical gifts to keep Mitchell contained and is near the bottom of the league with 3.7 yards of separation allowed on average. I think this week is the breakout game for Mitchell.