We kick off Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season with a loaded slate on Sunday! We get plenty of games on the main slate but a big matchup to watch will be how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers operate without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

But we break down the key matchups for all the crucial games as we approach the midway point of the season!

 

 

 

2024 Fantasy Football WR vs. CB Matchup Report For Week 8

WR CB Matchup Report
      
Left WR vs Right CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD $CornerbackOppMatchup
Marvin HarrisonARI$6800 / $7200Jalen RamseyMIADowngrade
Somewhat predictably, Marvin Harrison Jr struggled against the zone-heavy coverage scheme of the Chargers last week, finishing with just 3 catches for 21 yards. He’ll see much more man coverage this week, unfortunately that coverage will be coming from Jalen Ramsey of the Dolphins. Ramsey did it again last week, surrendering a whopping 8 yards on 2 catches, bringing his season average to just 14 yards allowed per game. A tough spot for the rookie wideout who’s struggled to get his footing at the NFL level.
Darnell MooneyATL$5800 / $6300Tyrek FunderburkTBUpgrade
The Buccaneers’ secondary has been navigating injury lately, which has vaulted Tyrek Funderburk into their starting lineup. The 2024 UDFA has allowed all 7 passes thrown his way to be caught and has given up a touchdown in about 2 games worth of snaps. This week he’ll be assigned to Darnell Mooney, the Falcons’ boom-or-bust WR2. Mooney certainly gets an upgrade here but you’re also risking a low floor if you start him.
Rashod BatemanBAL$4300 / $5700Martin Emerson Jr.CLENeutral
Rashod Bateman flashed his upside in Week 7 with a 4 catch performance that he converted for 121 yards and a score. He took full advantage of a favorable matchup last week but he’ll have a tougher out against Martin Emerson of the Browns. Emerson hasn’t been playing up to his ability this season but is still a tricky matchup overall, especially if he can keep from missing tackles.
Keon ColemanBUF$5600 / $5600Nehemiah PritchettSEAUpgrade
A week into the new-look Bills receiving corps experiment and so far so good for Keon Coleman. Coleman saw his typical allotment of snaps and caught 4 passes for 125 yards, running against Jarvis Brownless. This week he’ll get Nehemiah Pritchett of the Seahawks who just played his first full game of the season. In that game he allowed all 5 targets thrown into his coverage to be caught for 53 yards and a touchdown. Another nice spot for Coleman in this one.
Diontae JohnsonCAR$6300 / $6800Levi WallaceDENUpgrade
Last week was the first full game we saw for Levi Wallace, who is filling in for an injury Pat Surtain. In that game, Wallace allowed a 100% catch rate, 12.8 yards per receptions, and a 118.8 passer rating on throws into his coverage. This is clearly an upgrade in terms of a matchup but there are major concerns for Johnson as Bryce Young is set to re-enter the starting lineup this week; who failed to get Johnson past 20 yards receiving in his prior starts this season.
DJ MooreCHI$6600 / $6600Benjamin St-JusteWASUpgrade
Even a blind squirrel finds the nut from time to time and that was the case for Benjamin St-Juste last week. The Commanders’ right corner shutout his assignment in their 40-7 route of the Panthers in Week 7. Despite not adding any yardage to his ledger, St-Juste is still 8th in the league in yards allowed and should be fertile ground for DJ Moore this week. Moore, and the whole of the Bears’ passing game, has started to come online of late and their 5th-ranked pace of play puts a ceiling game on the range of outcomes.
Ja'Marr ChaseCIN$8500 / $9200Quinyon MitchellPHINeutral
We’ve gotten to the point of the season where Ja'Marr Chase, this year’s overall WR1, has a floor that is pushing near 20 fantasy points every week. There’s little cause for concern that his individual matchup this week would put that floor in play this week as he’ll face Quinyon Mitchell of the Eagles. Mitchell has improved to the point where he isn’t the liability that most rookies are but hasn’t yet gotten to a point where he’s slowing anyone down either.
Cedric TillmanCLE$3300 / $5100Brandon StephensBALUpgrade
Cedric Tillman showed some real promise in his first game as a starter after Amari Cooper was shipped out. Tillman had a team-leading 12 targets, catching 8 of them for 81 yards in Week 7. It helped that much of this additional work came with Dorian Thompson Robinson and Jameis Winston inserted into the lineup. This week he’ll face Brandon Stephens of the Ravens who is officially getting moved into the “Upgrade” territory after Week 7 where he allowed another touchdown on a 75% catch rate.
Jalen BrooksDAL$3200 / $4400Terrion ArnoldSFNeutral
This week will be the 3rd game where Renardo Green has stepped into the lineup after Isaac Yiadom was pulled due to poor performance. In those games, Green has done alright for himself all things considered. He has allowed a touchdown to be scored and his yards per reception is a little high (13.8) but that's balanced out by a stingy 42.9% catch rate on 14 targets. This week he’ll be assigned to cover Jalen Brooks who is also somewhat recent to his starting role in what projects to be a pretty even matchup.
Courtland SuttonDEN$5300 / $5600Jaycee HornCARDowngrade
Courltand Sutton is coming off a down week where the Saints’ Marshon Lattimore clamped down on his routes and held him without a catch. He’ll have another tough out this week as he’ll see another top corner in the NFC, Jaycee Horn of the Panthers. Horn is allowing only 1.1 yards of separation per target, keeping his catch rate down to 46.7% this season, but his ball-hawking tendencies have allowed a couple scores to get past him. This isn’t a death sentence for Sutton, but certainly another tough out in Week 8.
Tim PatrickDET$3500 / $4700Jarvis Brownlee JrTENNeutral
The Lions’ wide receiver room is once again thrown into turmoil as Jameson Williams heads back to the suspension list, this time for Performance Enhancing Substances. I’d project that leaves Tim Patrick slotted into his role on the left side of the offense and this week that means a matchup with Jarvis Brownlee Jr of the Titans. Last week I noted that Brownlee was playing his way toward “Downgrade” territory but he showed his rookie stripes in a very rough outing; allowing 175 yards on 12 targets into his coverage. Another week as a “Neutral” matchup as Brownlee looks to bounce back.
Romeo DoubsGB$5700 / $6100Tyson CampbellJACNeutral
Tyson Campbell returned to the lineup last week for the Jaguars and looked like shades of his old self, allowing just 1 catch for 14 yards. Campbell was never a shutdown guy but is markedly better than the guys who were backfilling during his absence. This week he’ll be assigned to Romeo Doubs, who recently has been separating from the herd in this crowed Green Bay passing game.
Tank DellHOU$6300 / $6900Jaylon JonesINDNeutral
It was a quiet game last week for Tank Dell, who got shutout on 4 targets running in the coverage of Jaire Alexander. Things look a little better for him this as he’s set to face Jaylon Jones of the Colts. Jones has done well to improve over the course of the season, specifically in his last two gams where he held opponents to 11 and 6 receiving yards respectively. Given the very rough start to the season for Jones, we’ll settle into the “Neutral” category for this week.
Alec PierceIND$5000 / $5800D'Angelo RossHOUNeutral
It looks like we’re trending toward another week with Kamari Lassiter sidelined for the Texans, meaning D'Angelo Ross is projected to fill in yet again. In his 2 games this year, the journeyman has allowed a catch on all 7 targets thrown his direction but has done well to hold them to just 10.6 yards per. This week he’ll face the boom-or-bust king, Alec Pierce. Pierce narrowly missed another splashy play last week but given how he profiles, there wasn’t much meat left on the bone with that opportunity squandered.
Brian ThomasJAC$6400 / $6500Jaire AlexanderGBDowngrade
Brian Thomas Jr of the Jaguars continue to look like he deserves to be in the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation, adding to his case last week with a 5/89/1 line against New England. This week he’ll have another tough test as he’ll be the primary assignment of Jaire Alexander. Alexander has really clamped down on his opponents recently, allowing just a single catch for under 20 yards in 3 of his last 4. Thomas has been having his mettle tested seemingly every week and has done well to overcome so far.
DeAndre HopkinsKC$4900 / $5400Jakorian BennettLVDowngrade
Newly-minted Chiefs receiver DeAndre Hopkins is reportedly set to play in Week 8 and projects to step right into a role on the left side of the Kansas City alignment. This week that will put him in the sights of Jakorian Bennett of the Raiders. Bennett is one of the players we’ve been watching closely and after another week without a missed tackle, where he held his assignment to 0 catches on 4 targets, I’m ready to move him to the “Downgrade” category. Bennett doesn’t shadow so Hopkins will get his opportunity this week but his primary matchup will be tricky.
Jakobi MeyersLV$5400 / $5800Nazeeh JohnsonKCNeutral
After missing some games with an ankle injury, reporting out of Las Vegas is that Jakobi Meyers is expected to make his return in Week 8 against the Chiefs. The Chiefs are navigating their own fair share of injuries and are likely to roll out Nazeeh Johnson at right corner. Johnson has been a platoon player in their secondary and has had ups and downs in his limited snaps this season.
Simi FehokoLAC$3500 / $4800Kool-Aid McKinstryNONeutral
We’ve got another backup-heavy matchup in store as Kool-Aid McKinstry is set to see more run this week and will be assigned to cover Simi Fehoko of the Chargers. Fehoko has done little to establish himself with his recent opportunity and McKinstry has been allowing a 76.5% catch rate in his role as a nickel corner. This looks to be a fair fight.
Demarcus RobinsonLAR$4500 / $5400Jakorian BennettMINNeutral
As a reminder, even if Cooper Kupp returns this week, he won’t be lining up on the perimeter. That responsibility, specifically to the left side of the offense, will fall to Demarcus Robinson. Robinson has done little to garner the attention of fantasy managers this season and equally average is his matchup this week against Jakorian Bennett. Bennett didn’t do much to change his rating last week but he did go the entire game without missing a tackle, a huge step forward by his standard.
Jaylen WaddleMIA$5400 / $5900Starling Thomas VARIUpgrade
The Miami Dolphins are expecting the return of Tua Tagovailoa this week and with him he brings the return of fantasy viability for basically all Miami pass-catchers. The rich get richer in the case of Jaylen Waddle, who is set to face the favorable coverage of Starling Thomas V this week. Thomas is near league-average in catch rate but has been getting gashed to the tune of 17.3 yards per catch this year, an area that plays right into Waddle’s hand.
Jordan AddisonMIN$5700 / $6200Terrion ArnoldLARUpgrade
The case of Terrion Arnold is a tricky one to decipher. The rookie first rounder is starting to round into a form where his counting stats don’t look so bad but his coverage grade is near the bottom of the league (47.3). That rating is thanks to his league-worst 8 penalties this season and unfortunately we don’t get fantasy points for penalty yardage. My thesis is that corners grab when they’re beat and if a guy is getting beat frequently enough, they’ll eventually give up the production. Potentially as soon as this week, as Arnold will be assigned to cover Jordan Addison, who has been known to make some splashy plays.
Kayshon BoutteNE$3600 / $4700DJ ReedNYJDowngrade
For a second-straight week, Drake Maye has brought a notable zest to the Patriots’ passing game, lifting all their pass-catchers onto the fringes of the fantasy radar. Kayshon Boutte has largely settled into the left side of the alignment and this week that means he’ll see DJ Reed of the Jets. Reed is expected to return after missing Week 7 and brings with him one of the tightest brands of coverage in the league. Maye or not, this week is going to be tough for Boutte.
Chris OlaveNO$6400 / $6700Tarheeb StillLACUpgrade
It is widely expected that Chris Olave will return from a concussion this week against the Chargers. He’ll line up in the coverage of Tarheeb Still, a platoon corner who has been called on to help fill in for injuries in the LA secondary. Still, a 2024 5th-rounder, has played better than his draft capital might suggest but has had trouble with missed tackles and is still unlikely to slow a player of Olave’s caliber.
Malik NabersNYG$7000 / $8200Joey Porter JrPITDowngrade
Malik Nabers had a bit of a quiet showing, by his standards, last week in his first game back from a concussion. This week will bring him another challenge as he’s set to run against Joey Porter Jr of the Steelers. Porter has been assigned to cover his opponent’s best receiver every week and is largely taking them out of the mix. His 65% catch rate is closer to the league average but considering he’s seeing limited targets against some of the best in the league, we can take it with a grain of salt.
Davante AdamsNYJ$7100 / $7800Jonathan JonesNEUpgrade
Oddly enough, the addition of Davante Adams to the Jets offense found Wilson playing outside to the left instead of his typical slot deployment. If that trend holds this week against the Patriots, he’ll be the assignment of Jonathan Jones. Jones has been getting abused by opposing quarterbacks looking to avoid Christian Gonzalez this season; giving up a catch on 73.7% of targets at nearly 16 yards per catch. I’d project this to be a “Wilson week” as the Jets continue to settle into their new pecking order.
A.J. BrownPHI$8200 / $9000Cam Taylor-BrittCINUpgrade
The Eagles offense has been disappointing through the early part of the season but they’ve got a shot at a bounce-back this week against Cincinnati. Much of that is based on AJ Brown’s individual matchup against Cam Taylor-Britt. Taylor-Britt has done well to limit yardage but has given up a catch on nearly 68% of his 34 targets and has already allowed 4 trips to the end zone this season.
George PickensPIT$6300 / $6800Deonte BanksNYGUpgrade
A few short weeks ago, Deonte Banks was starting to play well enough to have me openly consider the idea of moving him up to the “Neutral” ranks. He has since allowed a 100% catch rate in back to back games and has dragged his coverage rating down to 57.1 on the season. This week he’ll be assigned to George Pickens whose 1 game with Russell Wilson under center promptly reminded his fantasy managers of the upside he possesses.
Chris ConleySF$3000 / $4500Trevon DiggsDALDowngrade
Everybody is entitled to a bad day from time to time and that's precisely how I’d categorize Trevon Diggs’ outing against the Lions in Week 6. If you remove that outlier, Diggs is near the top in the league in just about every statistical measure for his position. He’ll have a good chance to get back on track this week against Chris Conley of the 49ers. San Francisco is navigating a rash of injuries that has dragged the journeyman receiver into the starting lineup. He’s simply not the caliber of player that can overcome a matchup like the one he’ll face against Diggs.
Jake BoboSEA$3300 / $4300Rasul DouglasBUFNeutral
DK Metcalf was one of the many top-flight receivers to sustain an injury last week and its expected that his knee will keep him from taking the field in Week 8. That clears the way for Jake Bobo to start on the left side of the alignment for Seattle, where he’ll face Rasul Douglas of the Bills this week. Douglas had a nice rebound last week, not giving up a single catch, but its hard to determine if that was based on the strength of his play or the matchup against a hapless Titans’ passing game. We’ll file this one under “Neutral.”
Trey PalmerTB$3500 / $4000Mike HughesATLNeutral
The Tampa Bay receiving corps was absolutely decimated last week against the Ravens and that leaves us doing some projecting about who will fill which role. For my money, I think we see Trey Palmer take the reins on the left side of the offense and that leaves him in the coverage of Mike Hughes this week. Hughes has been going the wrong direction of late regarding catch rate but his 10.2 yards per reception is still very solid.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine-IkhineTEN$3000 / $4900Terrion ArnoldDETDowngrade
Another wide receiver room in turmoil is that of the Tennessee Titans, who are determining their deployment after shipping DeAndre Hopkins out of town. I’d project Nick Westbrook-Ikhine-Ikhine to move into the starting lineup, based on his snap count and tendency to play the “X” role. That leaves him running against the rookie Terrion Arnold of the Lions. I’ve been calling for a reckoning with Arnold, whose yardage totals look serviceable but his penalty totals suggest the bubble is soon to burst. I’ll keep banging that drum this week.
Terry McLaurinWAS$6900 / $7000Jaylon JohnsonCHIDowngrade
Jaylon Johnson continues to be one of the toughest matchups in all of the NFL and enters Week 8 playing on a different level. He’s allowed under 10 receiving yards in each of his last two games and is averaging just 18.8 yards per game this season. It’ll be a heavyweight fight this week as he’s set to cover Terry McClaurin of the Commanders. McClaurin has overcome tough matchups plenty of times this season but could be further hampered by the potential of Jayden Daniels missing the game with a ribs injury.
      
Right WR vs Left CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDraftKings/FanDuelCornerbackOppMatchup
Michael WilsonARI$4900 / $5600Kendall FullerMIADowngrade
Kendall Fuller comes into Week 8 off his worst performance of the season; where he allowed 4 catches for 49 yards. Obviously, that's not a bad day in the office and underscores how impressive Fuller has been in 2024. He’s allowing 1.2 catches and just over 20 yards per game on the season and is largely being avoided as opponents favor throwing toward the slot. This week he’ll matchup against Michael Wilson of the Cardinals who has flashed at times this year but has a ceiling that's capped around a dozen points.
Drake LondonATL$7200 / $7900Zyon McCollumTBNeutral
It was just a few short weeks ago that Zyon McCollum was listed as a clear “Downgrade” and one of the corners to avoid where possible. Then he faced Drake London in Week 5 and the train has completely come off the tracks. He allowed 126 yards and 2 scores in that game alone and has given up over 20 yards per catch over his last 3 games. Drake London, his primary assignment is in the midst of his breakout season and should do well in this now-neutral matchup.
Zay FlowersBAL$6800 / $7100Denzel WardCLEDowngrade
The true mark of an elite player, in my estimation, is the ability to perform in spite of circumstance and that is precisely what Denzel Ward is demonstrating this year. Surrounded by the dumpster fire of the 2024 Browns, Ward is managing to hold his opponents to a 44% catch rate and has yet to allow a touchdown this year. This week he’ll be assigned to Zay Flowers, who has done well to maximize his opportunity this season but the run-heavy nature of his offense makes him inherently boom or bust.
Amari CooperBUF#N/ADee WilliamsSEAUpgrade
Amari Cooper made a nice first impression, catching 4 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in his Bills debut last week. Speaking of debuts, his primary matchup this week, Dee Williams of Seattle, will be entering the starting lineup for the first time in his career in Week 8. The unheralded UDFA out of Tennessee is a bit of a mystery box but we’ll hold steadfast in our dedication to attacking rookie corners, especially in their first few games.
Xavier LegetteCAR$5000 / $5800Riley MossDENDowngrade
Like we detailed with Diontae Johnson above, the return of Bryce Young under center will influence the viability of Xavier Legette far more than his individual matchup this week. That matchup, against Riley Moss of the Broncos, is quite difficult in its own right. I made the decision to move Moss to the “Downgrade” category ahead of last week and he delivered with a 55% catch rate and a stingy 8.2 yards per catch.
Rome OdunzeCHI$5100 / $5500Mike SainristilWASNeutral
The time has come to move one of our favorite punching bags, Mike Sainristil, into the “Neutral” category. Last week marked his 4th-straight game where he improved his coverage rating, where he’s allowing just 2.5 catches on average and under 80 total yards over that stretch. This week he’ll match up against Rome Odunze of the Bears. Odunze and veteran Keenan Allen have been taking turns as the Bears’ 1a receiving option this season but the rookie has flashed nice upside when it’s his turn to shine in this suddenly exciting offense.
Tee HigginsCIN$6500 / $7500Darius SlayPHINeutral
Tee Higgins, and the whole of the Bengals offense, has been coming online of late and this week looks like it has the makings of a shootout against the Bengals. This week Higgins will be the primary assignment for Darius Slay of the Eagles. Slay certainly is not playing at the lock-down level of years past but he’s rounding into form nicely as we near the midpoint of the season. He’s held opponents to 2 or fewer catches in 4 of 6 games and averages just 9.1 yards per catch allowed. He’s not quite in “Downgrade” territory yet, but he’s close.
Jerry JeudyCLE$4800 / $6000Nate WigginsBALNeutral
If Brandon Stephens is the side of the Ravens’ secondary that's giving up volume, his teammate Nate Wiggins is where you can look for chunk yardage. This week Wiggins is set to cover Jerry Jeudy, a player who has been known to get loose in the secondary a time or two. While Wiggins’ 16.2 yards per reception line is inflated, the rest of his counting stats are still pretty reasonable. We’ll mark this one down at “Neutral.”
Jalen TolbertDAL$5300 / $6000Carlton Davis IIISFUpgrade
While his teammate Jalen Brooks saw the biggest uptick in playing time last week, Jalen Tolbert saw a huge increase in utilization. Tolbert set career-highs with 10 targets, 7 catches, and 87 yards as well as a trip to the end zone in Week 5. He’ll have a great chance to repeat this type of performance against Carlton Davis III of the Lions. Davis has given up 313 receiving yards, the 5th-most in the league, and the whole of the Lions secondary has been hemorrhaging production (and penalties) this season.
Troy FranklinDEN$4100 / $5300Mike JacksonCARUpgrade
Rookie, and collegiate teammate of quarterback Bo Nix, Troy Franklin has stepped into the starting role on the right side of the Denver offense and looks to be getting his feet under him. He’ll have a chance to keep the momentum going this week against Mike Jackson of the Panthers. Jackson is a favorite target of opposing quarterbacks looking to avoid the coverage of Jaycee Horn, as evidenced by his 40 targets and 333 yards allowed this year. While most corners are settling into mid-season form, Jackson is officially being moved to the “Upgrade” category.
Kalif RaymondDET$3400 / $4800Darrell Baker JrTENNeutral
The suspension of Jameson Williams arguably creates the biggest increase in opportunity for Kalif Raymond. He’s projected to step into the starting role on the right side of the offensive alignment but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll see many targets. He’ll run routes against Darrell Baker Jr of the Titans, who is fresh off his 1st start the season where he played at a replacement-level.
Christian WatsonGB$5200 / $5800Ronald DarbyJACUpgrade
The boom or bust nature of Christian Watson’s production can be a point of frustration for fantasy managers but I think we’re in for a boom in Week 8. He’ll run his routes in the coverage of Ronald Darby who, in addition to giving up 6 inches in height to Watson, has allowed 373 yards and 3 touchdowns to his opponents this year. The upside is unreal but we always have to contend with a low floor from Watson.
Stefon DiggsHOU$7500 / $8500Samuel Womack IIIINDDowngrade
Stefon Diggs is somewhat quietly putting up WR6 statistics this year and much of that production came even prior to the point where Nico Collins left the lineup. This week Diggs will have his work cut out for him running against the coverage of Samuel Womack III. Womack is in the midst of a breakout season and hasn’t allowed more than 13 yards receiving in any game this year. Categorically a tough spot for Diggs, but he’s managed to overcome this circumstance plenty of times throughout his career.
Michael PittmanIND$6000 / $6100Derek Stingly JrHOUDowngrade
finishing with 3 catches for 63 yards in Week 7. He’ll have an even steeper hill to climb this week as he’s set to see Derek Stingley Jr of the Texans. Stingley has bit on a couple double moves this year but those are the outlier. On the whole, he’s allowing a catch rate under 58% and just 10.1 yards per reception while demonstrating some of the tightest coverage in the league.
Gabe DavisJAC$4500 / $5800Keisean NixonGBUpgrade
In addition to the difficulties of navigating Jaire Alexander in the Packers’ secondary, opponents are having to contend with an improving Keisean Nixon. This year Nixon has held his assignment to under 10 yards per catch and a sub-60% catch rate in 4 of 6 games. In Week 8 he’ll face Gabe Davis, who has been far more bust than boom as a Jaguar.
Mecole HardmanKC$4000 / $5200Jack JonesLVNeutral
The Chiefs are sticking with their playbook of leaning on lack-luster stars of yesterday as they try to navigate seemingly endless injuries to their receiver corps. The absence of Juju Smith-Schuster opens a role for Mecole Hardman on the right side of the alignment, where he’ll face Jack Jones of the Raiders this week. Jones has a catch rate (70%) that is higher than you’d want it but is doing well to hold receivers to just 10.6 yards per reception this season.
Tre TuckerLV$4400 / $5600Cobie DurantKCNeutral
We get one or two of these every week; a matchup where both receiver and cornerback are nearly at the exact midpoint of the rankings at their respective positions. Tre Tucker has been enjoying more volume as Davante Adams has transitioned out of the Raiders offense and Durant has worked his catch rate down to a respectable 52.6% for the year.
Joshua PalmerLAC$4400 / $5800Marshon LattimoreNODowngrade
The Charger’s Joshua Palmer largely wasn’t someone that fantasy managers should be considering as it was, and it only gets worse this week as he’s set to run against Marshon Lattimore of the Saints. Lattimore has allowed just 7 catches and 68 yards this year and is largely taking his assignment out of the game plan on a weekly basis.
Tyreek HillMIA$7000 / $7600Sean Murphy-BuntingARIDowngrade
Like with Jaylen waddle, quarterback play is going to have the largest impact on Tyreek Hill's fantasy production and reinforcements are on the way with the expected return of Tua Tagovailoa. The rich get richer as Hill himself is in a plus matchup this week, running against Sean Murphy-Bunting of the Cardinals. Murphy-Bunting has one of the lowest coverage grades in the league and is allowing a catch on 80% of targets this season
Justin JeffersonMIN$8800 / $9300Carleton DavisLARUpgrade
Occasionally, we as fantasy managers find ourselves in these nearly unbelievable situations where everything lines up for a player. This is one of those instances. Justin Jefferson is, for my money, the best wide receiver in football and in a passing offense that supports elite productivity. This week he has the benefit of matching up against Carlton Davis of the Lions, who has allowed 336 receiving yards this year and drawn 7 penalties. Justin Jefferson is the odds on favorite to finish this week as the WR1.
Bub MeansNO$4000 / $5800Cam HartLACNeutral
The return of Chris Olave doesn’t move Bub Means out of the lineup, just over to the other side of the formation. The rookie 5th rounder failed to replicate the magic of his first game in Week 7, finishing with just 37 yards on 3 catches. This week he’ll match up against Cam Hart, another 5th-round rookie, of the Chargers. Hart is also seeing playing time due to injury and has done pretty well for himself, holding opponents to just 8.2 yards per catch.
Darius SlaytonNYG$4800 / $5700Donte JacksonPITDowngrade
I slotted Donte Jackson in as a downgrade last week and he lived up to those standards against the Jets, allowing just 2 catches for 23 yards in Week 7. This week he’ll be assigned to cover Darius Slayton of the Giants. Slayton filled in admirably while rookie phenom Malik Nabers was out of the lineup but resumed his typical rank as fantasy afterthought last week with Nabers back in the lineup.
Davante AdamsNYJ$7100 / $7800Christian GonzalezNEDowngrade
Davante Adams, in his Jets debut, actually played more slot snaps than anything but led his team in routes run from the right side of the formation, so we’ll list him there. Regardless of where he lines up, expect him to be the primary assignment for Christian Gonzalez this week, who shadows at the 3rd highest rate in the league. Gonzalez has given up more catches than you’d want to see but his 10 yards per catch allowed works to limit his assignment’s upside considerably. Adams has the type of skillset to overcome, for certain, but his ceiling is a bit capped.
Jahan DotsonPHI$4200 / $4700DJ TurnerCINNeutral
Don’t look now, but the Bengals’ DJ Turner is starting to shape into a nice player in their secondary. Quarterbacks have a passer rating of 66.8 when throwing his direction and he’s only allowed 12 catches for 133 yards on the season. This week he’ll be assigned to cover Jahan Dotson of the Eagles who, despite seeing plenty of time on the field, has failed to surpass 11 receiving yards in any game this season. Turner isn’t quite in the “Downgrade” conversation, but he’s trending that way.
Van JeffersonPIT$3300 / $5000Cor'Dale FlottNYGNeutral
Van Jefferson got in on the fun of this new Russell Wilson-led offense, turning in his best game of the season. Unfortunately that bar is fairly low and Jefferson tallied 2 for 15 yards and a score to clear it; underscoring how uninvolved he is in the game plan overall. This week he’ll run Cor'Dale Flott of the Giants who is settling nicely into mid-season form. Flott has allowed 2 or fewer catches in 3 straight games and hasn’t given up a touchdown since Week 1.
Deebo SamuelSF$6900 / $8000Andrew Booth JrDALUpgrade
This situation is one to monitor closely. Deebo Samuel was checked into a hospital early this week with pneumonia and, while he himself is assuring fans on social media that he’ll play, the 49ers are non-committal about his availability this week. If he suits up he’ll be in a tremendous spot against Andrew Booth Jr of the Cowboys. Booth Jr hasn’t been able to see the field much in 3-year career but when he’s out there he’s allowing nearly 78% of his targets to be caught and has trouble limiting yards after catch.
Tyler LockettSEA$5600 / $6100Christian BenfordBUFDowngrade
Last week I suggested that Christian Benford’s poor performance in Week 6 was the exception, not the rule, and he underscored that in Week 7. He allowed 1 catch for just 9 yards against Tennessee, the 5th time his year he’s held opponents to 10 yards or less. This week he’ll be assigned to cove Tyler Lockett of the Seahawks who, with the presumed absence of DK Metcalf, is poised to step into a larger role in the Seattle offense.
Sterling ShepardTB$3800 / $5100Marlon HumphreyATLNeutral
While we have to project a lot of things about the receiving deployment for the Buccaneers, I think we’ve got some stability in Sterling Shepard. Shepard was largely the primary player aligned to the right side of the offense, he just wasn’t seeing many looks with Evans and Godwin on the field. The downside of being the new WR1 for the Bucs is that he’ll draw the focus of A.J. Terrell this week. Terrell is playing like his typical self this year and doing a nice job holding his opponents to about 3 yards after the catch per reception on the season.
Calvin RidleyTEN$5200 / $5600Carleton Davis IIIDETUpgrade
If there was ever a week for Calvin Ridley to shine, its this one. The Titans shipped off all-pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins and with him goes the only real target competition for Ridley and he gets a juicy matchup against Carlton Davis III of the Lions. Davis has given up 365 receiving yards this year, the 5th most in the league, and is still drawing penalties left and right when he often finds himself beat on a route. Whether or not his quarterback is capable of distributing the ball is a separate consideration entirely but this matchup has everything you could ask for.
Noah BrownWAS$3900 / $4800Tyrique StevensonCHINeutral
Noah Brown is another classic example of the “all cardio” team, as sees the field on the vast majority of plays but is generally an afterthought in the game plan. His matchup this week against Tyrique Stevenson is about as middle of the road as you can get. Stevenson is holding opponents to just 51% catch rate but often gets gashed downfield, inflating his yardage to 235 in just 5 games. Hopefully you’re not in a position to consider Brown this week but his individual matchup shouldn’t influence your decision
      
Slot WR vs Slot CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDraftKings/FanDuelCornerbackOppMatchup
Jaxon Smith-NjigbaDET$6100 / $6400Taron JohnsonTENUpgrade
While the absence of DK Metcalf isn’t expected to impact Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s alignment in the offense, where he’ll continue to run out of the slot primarily, it will drastically increase his involvement. His positioning in the slot grants him a nice matchup this week, running against Taron Johnson of the Bills. Johnson has been called into action due to injury and quickly became a favorite target of his opponents. Despite playing just 88 coverage snaps, Johnson has been targeted 14 times and is allowing a catch on nearly 80% of them.