Welcome to the weekly wide receiver/cornerback breakdown! We will review each of the outside matchups, as well as my 10 favorite matchups in the slot. Then, below the charts in this article, I break down my five absolute favorite matchups. The first week of the year always brings about uncertainty so but when in doubt, play the guys you drafted to be your starters. This article is also critical for daily players, as this will help you gain a competitive advantage when setting your lineups. Good luck to you all and let’s crush it not only in Week 1 but all season long! Follow me on Twitter (@fightingchance) as well!
| Left WR | Right CB | Analysis |
| DeAndre Hopkins ARZ | Janoris Jenkins TEN | He didn’t score many touchdowns last season, but the volume that Hopkins got was amazing. His first season with Kyler Murray was everything that fantasy players hoped for. The Cardinals brought in A.J. Green and drafted Rondale Moore but neither are serious threats. Jackrabbit used to be one of the better corners in football, but he is not the cover guy he used to be, and is not someone you need to avoid. Some might recognize Jenkins name and stay away from Hopkins but volume + talent = production. |
| Calvin Ridley ATL | Steven Nelson PHI | It is Year 1 of Ridley being the man in Atlanta and he certainly doesn't draw an easy matchup. Nelson took a bit of a step back last year for the Steelers but he comes over to be the top corner for the Eagles. He allowed just a 57% catch rate last year. Ridley was targeted in 24% of his routes run. The Falcons are sure to be passing the ball plenty and Ridley is definitely the number one target. He might not be an elite option in DFS contests this week with the Eagles upgraded secondary, but he still should have a very solid week. |
| Marquise Brown BAL | Casey Hayward LV | The hammy has me concerned as does a matchup with Hayward who is still a solid corner. The new Raiders corner allowed just 48% of passes thrown his way to be caught, and Brown is already a very low volume catch guy who relies on the big play to keep his fantasy managers happy. I still don't think that the Ravens are going to throw much more this year than last, and we all know that Sammy Watkins is a Week 1 stud. If you drafted him as one of your starting wide receivers you can hold your breath and hope, but it might not be a bad idea to consider an alternative. |
| Stefon Diggs BUF | Joe Haden PIT | This one should be fascinating to watch as one of the best receivers in the league faces off against a very solid corner. Haden had six games last year where he gave up fewer than 20 receiving yards against him and allowed just 51% of balls to be caught. Diggs was everything you hoped for and more last year and is in the discussion for the overall WR1. Diggs is another elite receiver that doesn't have the easiest matchup to open the season, but you never consider not using. |
| D.J. Moore CAR | Bryce Hall NYJ | Moore is always a polarizing player as some really like him and some won't draft him. Let's look at the facts though. While he always racks up a good number of yards, he has never had 90 catches and has ten touchdowns in three years. He gets a new quarterback, but I'm not sure how much of an upgrade it is. However, he gets a great matchup with Hall who allowed 75% of passes to be caught and allowed five or more receptions in five of the eight games he played in last year. I'm not a huge Moore fan, but this matchup is hard to ignore. |
| Allen Robinson CHI | Jalen Ramsey LAR | Another year, another average quarterback throwing him the ball. The good news for Robinson is at some point we should get the exciting rookie, but for now it is still Andy Dalton. No matter though, Robinson has made a career of producing with subpar quarterbacks and Dalton isn't THAT bad. The problem isn't the quarterback but the matchup with Jalen Ramsey who shut down elite receivers all last year. I dont' see 2021 being any different so Robinson is a fade for DFS contests but he is too good to ever consider benching in your season long leagues. |
| Tee Higgins CIN | Patrick Peterson MIN | Ja'Marr Chase got all of the hype after being selected in the top ten, but Higgins is my guy. He showed strength, quickness, agility, good hands, and a red zone presence that is hard to ignore. There is a lot of chatter around Joe Burrow being ready for the season, but I feel like it is being overblown. Patrick Peterson is another corner that you used to avoid at all costs that is starting to hit the downside of his career. He allowed two-thirds of balls to be caught last year and surrendered five touchdowns. If you are worried about the quarterback play, don't be, Higgins should come out of the gates firing. |
| Odell Beckham Jr CLE | Mike Hughes KC | Say it with me now! Over. Rated! Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap! People are still holding on to this 2016 season Beckham had where he hauled in 100 catches but he hasn't been close to that since even without the health problems. Even before the injury last year he was barely averaging three catches or 45 yards a game. The Browns are still a ground and pound offense, and I just don't get behind Beckham or his reputation as an high-level receiver. Mike Hughes is far from a great corner so I would certainly play Beckham in a season-long league, but I would need to see several weeks of success before I considered him in DFS. |
| Amari Cooper DAL | Jamel Dean TB | Dak Prescott is going to play, but this high-powered Cowboys offense is going to get a stiff test Thursday night. Dean was the 12th-ranked corner in all of football last year by Pro Football Focus and allowed just 8.5 yards per catch in 2020. Cooper is coming of a 92 catch campaign and is still one of the better receivers in football, even if he isn't among the elite. This is a case of temper your expectations, but still throw him in your lineups. |
| Courtland Sutton DEN | James Bradberry NYG | Coming off ACL surgery, Sutton was able to play in the last preseason game and have a couple catches. The talent is undeniable, it is just a matter of how close to 100% he is. Not to mention he has very little experience with his new quarterback who is also limited in making big throws. Bradberry was only targeted in 13% of routes run against him, and PFF had him as the seventh best corner in football last season. Sutton is still a go in season long leagues unless you really hit the jackpot at wide receiver, but between not playing for a year, a new quarterback, and an elite corner on him, I would look somewhere else |
| Tyrell Williams DET | Jason Verrett SF | I have been known to say "even on bad teams, someone has to score points." Well, the Lions certainly qualify as a bad team, but I don't feel like it is going to be Williams that scores the points. He's a low volume catch guy who used to have a reputation as a big play guy, but hasn't made a big play in a while. Verrett came into his own last year and was the eighth best corner in football by PFFs rankings. The Lions are sure to be playing from behind against the 49ers, but when healthy this defense is great. Stay away from Williams in all formats of fantasy. |
| Davante Adams GB | Marshon Lattimore NO | I really don't feel like I have to say much here. Adams is my top overall fantasy wide receiver. He plays on a good team, he is BY FAR the most targeted receiver on the team, and he scores a good number of touchdowns. Sometimes it seems like Aaron Rodgers forgets any other receiver is out there. He still doesn't have any real competition for targets, and the Packers pass game will still run through him. Defenses know he is getting the ball and can't stop it. Lattimore isn't half the corner he used to be and I absolutely love this matchup this week. |
| Brandin Cooks HOU | C.J. Henderson JAX | Love the player, hate the situation. Cooks was able to return to form last year after a concussion-riddled 2019 season, but I am having a hard time getting excited about this offense with Tyrod Taylor under center. He has a winnable matchup though against Henderson who allowed five or more catches in four of eight games he played in and surrendered 13 yards per catch including four touchdowns. This game should have a nice bit of offense to it, and if Tyrod Taylor is capable of moving the ball, Cooks should have a nice day. He won't be a DFS target, but I'm content to start Cooks in season long leagues. |
| Michael Pittman IND | D.J. Reed SEA | The former second round pick has all the opportunity in the world to break out this year. He has the hands, talent, size, and quarterback to take the next step towards being a star. He has a seven inch height advantage on Reed, who is a top-15 cornerback. The Colts will likely be passing a good deal in this one, and Carson Wentz has a lot of detractors to prove wrong. Pittman will certainly be the most targeted receiver, although they are sure to run plenty and pepper the ball to their many tight ends. Pittman is still a solid low-end WR2 or dynamite WR3 that should be in your lineups on a weekly basis. |
| D.J. Chark JAX | Vernon Hargreaves HOU | My personal ship has sailed on Chark until I see something to change my mind. His hand injury appears to be behind him, but he was so invisible last year I'm having a hard time trusting him. The good news for him, though, is the team now has a great young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, and couple that with the fact that Hargreaves is freaking awful and Chark might not be the worst speculative play in seasonal leagues. Pro Football Focus ranked Hargreaves the 117th best corner in football last season, and no that is not a typo. One. Hundred. Seventeenth. Chark could be worth a flex spot in your Week 1 lineups. |
| Mecole Hardman KC | Denzel Ward CLE | I feel like we were in the same place last year, people hyping up Hardman as the next big thing. And then he had 41 catches in 2020. There were unfounded rumors of Byron Pringle passing him on the depth chart, but even that doesn't matter. Hardman has great speed, but is limited as a receiver and I'll believe this breakout when I see it. The Chiefs passing game goes through Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. At times they throw to the running back. Until I see this big change where Hardman starts to get more than a handful of targets a game, and actually converts it to production, consider me skeptical. |
| Robert Woods LAR | Jaylon Johnson CHI | It was another fine season for Woods, but he still hasn't taken the next step to a top flight receiver. He still hasn't had more than six touchdowns in a season and his career high is 90 receptions. He certainly has a chance to break both of those with Matthew Stafford as his quarterback now.The Bears secondary is good but not elite, and Johnson was burned for five touchdowns last season. He also allowed nearly 15 yards per reception last season, although Woods only averaged 10.4 per catch. Woods will be a solid WR2 for Week 1, but I'm not buying him for DFS purposes. |
| Mike Williams LAC | William Jackson WFT | Here's another guy that a lot are buying into again that I just can't understand. He has big play capability, but his catch rate was only 59% last season. Justin Herbert is a great quarterback, but he was the guy last year too and Williams had 48 catches. Williams has had seven touchdowns total in the last two years and I am just not buying in. William Jackson comes over from Cincinnati where he was a top-20 corner and the only part of the dismal defense the Bengals had last year. You can start Williams in your flex, but I don't have high hopes. |
| Henry Ruggs LV | Marlon Humphrey BAL | There is a lot of assuming that Ruggs is going to ascend to be the top receiver of the Raiders. And it makes sense, there isn't a plethora of talented receiver on the roster. Problem is there wasn't last year either and he was only targeted 43 times. I like the talent, I like the speed, but I am not sold just yet that he takes the next step. Marlon Humphrey is also a top-15 corner in the league, and this certainly won't be a high scoring game for the Raiders. Ruggs hopefully will have some good games going forward, but I wouldn't be risking my DFS lineups on him in Week 1. |
| DeVante Parker MIA | J.C. Jackson NE | He took a pretty significant step back in 2020 with nearly ten fewer catches and 400 yards fewer than in 2019. His touchdown percentage was cut in more than half. Will Fuller is suspended for this game which gives Parker more chances to succeed, but the Patriots defense should be back closer to its 2019 form and Jackson is a top-30 corner. I do think that we see a step forward from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this year, but it looks very hard to trust Parker this week. |
| Justin Jefferson MIN | Chidobe Awuzie CIN | The fantasy darling of last season, Jefferson looks to build on his rookie campaign with an even more impressive second season. The good news for him is that the schedule makers got him off to a good start with the Bengals secondary. A few years ago Awuzie was a top corner and the cornerstone of the Cowboys leaky secondary. Last year he was ranked 93rd by Pro Football Focus and gave up nearly 16 yards per catch. Jefferson is one of the elite receivers in football already and a dynamite option to lead your seasonal and DFS lineups for Week 1. |
| Nelson Agholor NE | Xavien Howard MIA | The Patriots paid a healthy amount for Agholor after his solid season last year, but if you dive in a bit, nearly 600 of his 900 yards game in six games. That means 300 yards came in the other ten. It wasn't that much different than his time with the Eagles. He's a nice receiver, but he is far from anyone I am excited about. I have more confidence with him with Mac Jones at quarterback than I would have with Cam Newton, but he still isn't moving the needle. Howard was also the second rated cornerback in all of football in 2020 by Pro Football Focus so Agholor is a no go for me in Week 1. |
| Marquez Callaway NO | Jaire Alexander GB | Personally, I am not quite sold on Callaway yet after a couple preseason games. He certainly has the opportunity on a talent barren Saints team and with the gun slinging Jameis Winston under center. The Packers also bring the top rated corner last year in Jaire Alexander who shut down way better receivers than Callaway last year. You can take a chance on him in seasonal leagues, but I want to see this Saints team come together in the regular season and Callaway to prove it to me. |
| Kenny Golladay NYG | Kyle Fuller DEN | He has a world of talent but this is now an entire year of Golladay being injured. He hasn't been able to do much of anything this preseason with the hamstring injury. The Denver defense is solid and PFF had him graded over 70 in pass coverage which is a very good number. We have no idea of the chemistry, if any, between Golladay and Daniel Jones and he might just be a great fade in all formats to start the season. |
| Corey Davis NYJ | Donte Jackson CAR | Coming over from Tennessee to be the Jets top receiver, Davis looked the part in the preseason, and now we see if he can be a regular season performer. He is yet to top 1,000 yards, 65 catches, or five touchdowns so pardon me if I am not jumping up and down over him. Jackson allowed just 58% of passes thrown his way to be caught and 11.1 yards per catch. Davis has every opportunity to be the man, we will just have to wait and see if Zach Wilson is the guy and if the Jets offense is able to move the ball. |
| Devonta Smith PHI | Fabian Moreau ATL | The tenth overall pick got a lot of coverage this season for his spindly legs and his injury, but he is set to start on Sunday and has a prime matchup. The Eagles receiving room isn't bloated with talent, and Smith has a chance to be the most targeted wide receiver. Moreau allowed 16.5 yards per catch last season and I don't know if he can keep up with Smith. It is hard to trust a rookie in Week 1 DFS, but I do feel comfortable with Smith in my season long lineups. |
| Diontae Johnson PIT | Tre'Davious White BUF | Few receivers were targets in 2020 as much as Johnson. And sure, he had a couple bouts of dropsies, but it didn't stop Ben Roethlisberger from targeting him. The Steelers offense is still going to revolve around the pass, and Johnson gets more looks than anyone. He draws Tre'Davious White who wasn't quite the same guy last year, allowing five touchdowns and nearly 14 yards per catch, but he is still one of the more talented corners in football. That would make me shy away from Diontae in DFS contests, but in redraft leagues it is all systems go! |
| D.K. Metcalf SEA | Xavier Rhodes IND | He had a few drop problems last year and the Seahawks offense became run heavy late in the season, but he still had 1,300 yards and ten touchdowns. Metcalf is just physically impressive. He will face off against a top ten corner this week in Rhodes, who allowed only 51% of passes thrown near him to be caught. However, Metcalf has been targeted over 100 times in both of his NFL seasons and has averaged 15.6 yards per catch so he doesn't need a ton of volume to fill the box score. He is a must start in Week 1. |
| Brandon Aiyuk SF | Jeff Okudah DET | He is dealing with a slight hamstring issue, but Aiyuk's availability isn't in question. The second year player proved down the stretch in 2020 that he was not only great in space with the ball in his hands, but also a special deep threat. He gets a dynamite matchup in Okudah, who improved towards the end of last year, but still hasn't lived up to his high draft stock. Pro Football Focus had him ranked outside the top-100 for corners in the league and his coverage rating is barely over 30 which is abysmal. The 49ers should have their way moving the ball this week and Aiyuk is a great start in any fantasy game. |
| Mike Evans TB | Anthony Brown DAL | We know the Bucs are going to come out throwing to show that their offense will be just as good in 2021. We also know what Mike Evans excelled at last year was red zone targets. Well, not only is Anthony Brown not a reliable corner by any stretch of the word, but Brown is also six inches taller and 25 pounds heavier than the Cowboys defender. We know Evans is a stud, and I would be shocked if he didn't come away with a short touchdown in this game. In a showdown slate, he is the Bucs receiver to roster if you can work him into the cap. |
| A.J. Brown TEN | Robert Alford ARZ | He is physically impressive, but then also has solid hands and good speed which makes Brown the total package. He will only be helped by the addition of Julio Jones as the defense will have to pay attention to him too. The Cardinals bring a very inexperienced defensive backfield into this game, and Alford gives up four inches and 40 pounds to Brown. The Titans should pick up right where they left off offensively and Brown is a great choice to anchor your DFS lineups at wide receiver and he is always a must start in season long leagues. |
| Terry McLaurin WAS | Michael Davis LAC | The combination of McLaurin and Ryan Fitzpatrick has me excited for 2021. McLaurin has had absolute garbage quarterback play and no one who could effectively get him the ball downfield before in his career. That is over now. Fitzpatrick might not be the best quarterback in the league, but he certainly takes chances down the field. Davis isn't quite the shutdown corner he used to be, but he is still a very solid guy, however, he isn't someone you openly avoid. You might want to wait a week in DFS to see how this Washington offense gels with its new quarterback and new parts but in season long leagues it is F1 to the moon! |
| Right WR | Left CB | Analysis |
| A.J. Green ARZ | Kristian Fulton TEN | Green has had injury problems and then has just been a shell of his former self as he only caught 47 of 104 targets last season. He hasn't topped 75 receptions since 2015, and at 33 doesn't have much left in the tank. He could benefit from the defense paying so much attention to DeAndre Hopkins but I would not want to trust Green in either seasonal or DFS contests even against a less than stellar Titans defense. |
| Olamide Zaccheaus ATL | Darius Slay PHI | With Julio Jones gone that should put Zaccheaus as the other outside receiver, and while he showed some promise when the Falcons had injuries last year, I have no faith that he will be a meaningful contributor without more injuries. Russell Gage in the slot, Kyle Pitts at tight end, and even Mike Davis at running back will come before Zaccheaus, so you can safely avoid him to start the year. |
| Sammy Watkins BAL | Trayvon Mullen LV | Sound the alarm it is Week 1! If you've been playing fantasy football the past couple seasons you know that Watkins has gone HAM in Week 1 in each of the past two seasons. He now calls Baltimore home, but I like his chances to keep it up. The Ravens are thin at wide receiver due to injury, and Watkins should be the most targeted guy. He is a great, inexpensive option in DFS lineups and can slide into your flex in season long leagues. |
| Emmanuel Sanders BUF | Ahkello Witherspoon PIT | He has a bit of a foot injury which won't keep him out of the game, but it could limit him some. With the Bills running the offense through Stefon Diggs, and options like Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis also there to throw to the ball to, I am not sure that I see Sanders having a major impact in this one. He hasn't topped even 70 receptions in three years and although Witherspoon isn't an All-Pro he was a reliable corner for the 49ers the past few years. You should be able to find a better option in your seasonal leagues. |
| Robby Anderson CAR | Isaiah Dunn NYJ | It is the double revenge game narrative as Anderson is reunited with Sam Darnold and they are both facing the Jets. I am not a huge Darnold fan this year, but the Jets secondary isn't good at all. Dunn is an undrafted free agent from Oregon State and he will be hard pressed to keep up with the speed and route running of Anderson. The Panthers have a real chance of putting up 30 points in this one and Anderson should be the most heavily targeted receiver on the team. |
| Marquise Goodwin CHI | Darious Williams LAR | The Bears don't have great wide receiver depth, but Goodwin opted out last season and has had trouble staying healthy before that. He is one of the fastest receivers in the NFL, but that only means so much. He is an all or nothing type of player and he delivers nothing far more often than he delivers it all. Williams is one of the best young corners in football so avoid Goodwin. |
| Ja'Marr Chase CIN | Bashaud Breeland MIN | His preseason has been marred by drops at every turn, but the kid still has a world of talent. It might take him a bit to get acclimated, but he is reunited with his one time college QB. Breeland is a more than serviceable corner and the Bengals have a lot of options to throw the ball to. I like the potential of Chase at some point this season, but there is too many mouths to feed in Cincinnati and he created too many question marks with the drops for me to trust him in the season's opening week. |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones CLE | Charvarius Ward KC | I touted him last year when the Browns had all kinds of injuries, and now he appears to have played his way to start opposite Beckham on the outside. Peoples-Jones has gotten rave reviews this offseason, but I need to see it before I buy into it. Ward allowed just a 53 percent catch rate and the Browns are still a run first team with several options to throw to. Keep an eye on this matchup, but don't consider DPJ for your lineups this week. |
| Michael Gallup DAL | Carlton Davis TB | I am so interested to see what this season holds for Gallup. He was supposed to have a great year last season, but then was outplayed by CeeDee Lamb. He still ended up with nearly 900 yards in a season where the Cowboys had garbage quarterback play for more than half the year. The kid is fast, shifty, and talented and he should do better this year. However, the Bucs have a great secondary and Davis is really tough to throw on. I would not sit Gallup in season long leagues if he is one of your top three wide receivers, but even in a showdown slate I would look elsewhere at WR. |
| Jerry Jeudy DEN | Adoree Jackson NYG | It was an inefficient rookie year for Jeudy where he caught just 52 of 113 targets, but he did show some flashes of potential. He will be helped by the return of Courtland Sutton as it will take some defensive pressure off of him, and the stability of Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback will also help. Jackson had been a solid corner but fell off a cliff last year and allowed a ridiculous 80% catch rate. Jeudy should light up the box score in Week 1. |
| Quintez Cephus DET | Emmanuel Moseley SF | Who knows where the production will come from with the Lions receivers this year, or if it will even come at all. We know that both running backs are adept at catching the ball out of the backfield and they have a great tight end in Hockenson. Reports are that Cephus has turned some heads this preseason, but this is a total crap shoot and the Niners have a solid secondary. I would avoid this situation at all costs if possible. |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB | Paulson Adebo NO | The very definition of an all-or-nothing player, MVS will likely either have two catches for 23 yards or five grabs for 126 yards and two touchdowns. He is maddening to own in fantasy football, and tough for DFS games. He will face the Saints third round pick from this year who he is three inches taller than, but Adebo has a great reputation coming out of college. I would probably fade anyone on the Packers not named Adams or Jones at the skill positions headed into Week 1. |
| Chris Conley HOU | Shaquill Griffin JAX | He stinks and wouldn't even be sniffing a chance at a starting receiving job if the Texans weren't an absolute dumpster fire of an organization. The Jaguars secondary isn't any good, but Tyrod Taylor isn't a viable starting NFL quarterback either so there is no reason to consider Conley in any fantasy format. |
| Zach Pascal IND | Tre Flowers SEA | Some think that Pascal could be a sneaky play with the injury to T.Y. Hilton, but I think the Colts are going to run a lot on a team that has struggled to stop the run in recent years. They also have two better receivers in Michael Pittman and Parris Campbell and they also love their tight ends. Flowers is far from a good corner, but I don't think the opportunity will be there for Pascal to have a meaningful fantasy impact in this game. |
| Marvin Jones JAX | Terrance Mitchell HOU | His shoulder is a little dinged up but he is ready to go for this one. Jones should be the most targeted receiver on the Jaguars, and Trevor Lawrence already showed some chemistry with him this preseason. Terrance Mitchell is a solid corner coming over from the Browns allowing just a 55% catch rate, but Jones has a real chance at double digit targets. There is a little risk trusting this offense with all of its new parts, but Jones seems like a real good bet for the first week. |
| Demarcus Robinson KC | Greg Newsome CLE | I don't even see Mecole Hardman being fantasy worthy in Week 1, I certainly am not even thinking about Demarcus Robinson. He could be unguarded and I wouldn't think about starting him in any fantasy format. |
| DeSean Jackson LAR | Kindle Vildor CHI | He has played just eight games in the last two years and it has been since 2016 since he had anything that resembled a meaningful fantasy season. Jackson has broken out and had a few big Week 1 games kind of like Sammy Watkins, but I just don't see it happening on a Rams team that has so many other options. Honestly, he doesn't even belong on fantasy rosters. |
| Jalen Guyton LAC | Kendall Fuller WFT | It appears he has held off rookie Josh Palmer for the other starting outside receiver for the Chargers, but that is only going to last so long. I have run out of ideas of how to write week after week and year after year that Guyton isn't worth a second thought in fantasy football. |
| Bryan Edwards LV | Marcus Peters BAL | For the second straight year, Edwards has garnered a lot of attention in the preseason, but last year he fell on his face even before he was injured. I am still not really solid on this Raiders offense, especially with a tough draw of the Ravens defense to start the season. Marcus Peters is a solid corner who allowed more than 50 receiving yards just five times in 16 games. Edwards could be a speculative bench piece on your redraft leagues, but not someone you are considering using for Week 1. |
| Preston Williams MIA | Jalen Mills NE | He is still iffy with the foot issue, and the Patriots defense isn't that bad. Even if Williams is on the field, he won't be 100% which right away cancels him from any thought of using him in either seasonal or DFS contests. |
| Adam Thielen MIN | Eli Apple CIN | The Vikings have no tight end to trust and no receivers outside of Thielen and Jefferson to reliably throw the ball to. While Thielen is unlikely to score 14 touchdowns again, he is a lock to be targeted over 100 times again and should have a monster season. Eli Apple has been a colossal disappointment and offers little resistance to Thielen having a big day. |
| Kendrick Bourne NE | Byron Jones MIA | Gotta say I didn't understand the contract that the Patriots gave to Bourne after he had a career high of only 49 catches for an injury ravaged 49ers team last year. He is a decent slot receiver, but certainly should not have commanded the money he got. I need to see this Patriots pass game do it in the regular season with a rookie quarterback and two new outside receivers before I am willing to trust them in any kind of lineup. |
| Deonte Harris NO | Kevin King GB | He isn't a big guy, and he has yet to show any sort of impact in the NFL to this point in his career. The Saints will rely heavily on the run game, the tight end, and perhaps Marquez Callaway. I am having a hard time finding a scenario where Harris makes any sort of impact especially against a pretty solid corner like King. |
| Darius Slayton NYG | Ronald Darby DEN | Slayton took a huge step back last season after an impressive 2019, and it has called into question how good he might be. He fell far back and the Giants additions of Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney have made his usage a mystery as well. Slayton has the speed and the hands to be a successful starting wide receiver, but it will need him to be more consistent and for Daniel Jones to not be a tire fire. Leave Slayton on your bench in all formats in Week 1. |
| Keelan Cole NYJ | Jaycee Horn CAR | He's never really made much of an impact in the NFL, and I am not one to believe he is going to start now on this young offense full of new parts. Cole hasn't exactly played with the best quarterbacks, but his skill set is just limited. I'm interested to see how much this Jets team can move the ball, but I am not even considering putting Cole in any kind of lineup for Sunday. |
| Jalen Reagor PHI | A.J. Terrell ATL | His rookie year was marred by injury and inconsistency and I am interested to see how Year 2 plays out and this entire Philly offense to be honest. Reagor has the skills to be an impact player even if he will never be among the elite. He gets a gift of an opening week matchup against Terrell who allowed a 70% catch rate, nearly 13 yards per catch, and surrendered five touchdowns. I don't like the matchup to go with Reagor in a DFS contest, but I do feel good with him as my flex in any season long league. |
| Chase Claypool PIT | Levi Wallace BUF | One of the more exciting young receivers in football, Claypool broke out last year showing big play ability and a penchant for scoring touchdowns. He comes into the year as a bit of a boom or bust guy, but still second as far as Steelers receivers for fantasy production. He draws a tough draw with the Bills and Levi Wallace. Claypool has four inches and nearly 60 pounds on the Buffalo corner, but Wallace has had a nice career of locking guys down. That doesn't mean that I am not starting Claypool in my seasonal leagues, but there surely are safer options when it comes to your daily lineups. |
| Deebo Samuel SF | Amani Oruwariye DET | There are several mouths to feed in the 49ers pass offense, but all should be able to be fed against the Lions. Samuel is a great receiver with reliable hands and then really tough to bring down once he makes the catch. Rarely does the first tackler bring him down alone. Oruwariye only allowed a 55% catch rate, but was burned several times for big plays and gave up a whopping 17.5 yards per catch. He also allowed over 300 yards after the catch last season, which is Samuel's specialty. I have a lot of confidence in San Francisco scoring 30+ points and Samuel should be an integral part of that. |
| D'Wayne Eskridge SEA | T.J. Carrie IND | The second round pick offers some excitement, but will the Seahawks throw the ball enough to their receivers for him to warrant fantasy consideration? History suggests no if we watched David Moore the past few years. The hope is that Eskridge is better, but it is risky to give him any sort of consideration in Week 1, especially against a top 40 corner like Carrie. Seattle is sure to run plenty, hit Lockett and Metcalf, as well as the tight ends. I'm not sure there's enough left over for Eskridge unless he was able to pull a big play. |
| Antonio Brown TB | Trevon Diggs DAL | His production is going to be a little spotty this year just because of how many weapons the Bucs have, but Brown loves the lights of prime time, especially this opening weekend game. As I said earlier, you know Brady and company are going to come out firing, and Brown is goinng to want the camera on him. Diggs actually isn't a horrible corner by Cowboys standards, but he certainly is beatable. Brown is probably the Bucs receiver I want in showdown slates and is a great start at your WR3 in season long leagues. |
| Julio Jones TEN | Marco Wilson ARZ | Ah Julio Jones. We meet again! For those who have read these columns over the past couple of years know that I feel that Jones is fairly overrated. He is starting to show his age, and while he doesn't often miss many games, he is perpetually dinged up and leaving early. However, I don't let this cloud my judgment when he will likely see a lot of a rookie fourth round corner playing in his first NFL game. Jones will also be helped by A.J. Brown commanding a lot of attention. Jones isn't a high priority for me in DFS although I can't rule out using him in some lineups and will be a fine WR2 for your redraft leagues. |
| Curtis Samuel WFT | Asante Samuel LAC | He pulled up lame in practice the other day and now we don't know if he is going to play. I like his talent, I like the situation, but the availability is the question. He also barely practiced all summer, which isn't good considering he switched teams. Asante Samuel is a shell of what he used to be, but unless we get really positive news about Samuel's condition I think I would park him on my bench as the chance of him leaving a game early seems pretty high right now. |
Now, here are my ten favorite matchups in the slot in Week 1.
| Slot WR | Slot CB | Analysis |
| Tyreek Hill KC | Troy Hill CLE | We know everything we need to about Hill. He is a huge deep threat and the top two receiver for the high powered Chiefs offense. There's no time where Hill isn't a good choice for fantasy. Troy Hill is a great corner coming over from the Rams but did allow two-thirds of passes at him to be caught. But Tyreek is too fast to hold down all game. I would feel comfortable using Hill in any scenario. |
| CeeDee Lamb DAL | Sean Murphy-Bunting TB | If there is a weakness in the Bucs secondary, it is Murphy-Bunting even thought he played very well down the stretch and in the playoffs. But I think he is the guy who allowed 76% of targets at him to be caught. Lamb showed explosive capabilities with Dak Prescott at quarterback last year and I expect him to be even better this year. Lamb is always a great choice for fantasy. |
| Keenan Allen LAC | Darryl Roberts WFT | It was another great season for Allen last year and now with Justin Herbert at quarterback the sky truly is the limit. Allen is among the most targeted receivers in football and there's no reason to think that won't continue. Allen is bigger, stronger, and faster than Roberts and he should have no trouble getting away from him. With the number of opportunities he gets, Allen should be one of the better performers of the week. |
| Chris Godwin TB | Jourdan Lewis DAL | There is a bit of a concern as Godwin tweaked a quad earlier this week, but he wasn't on the last injury report so he is a full go on Thursday. Godwin tends to be the most targeted receiver on the Bucs even if he doesn't always have the most production. Lewis actually isn't a terrible slot corner, but did allow nearly 68% catch rate. I'm a fan of all Tampa receivers in season long contests, but in DFS I like them Brown, Godwin, Evans. |
| Tyler Lockett SEA | Kenny Moore IND | Is this going to be a week where Lockett goes bananas or will he come up small? Kenny Moore was a top 16 corner last season and allowed only 10.5 yards per catch. Lockett will be a heavily targeted receiver so is still a great target for your season long leagues, but based on his salary I think you can find a more reliable option. |
| Tyler Boyd CIN | Mackensie Alexander MIN | He was very undervalued this draft season, but Boyd is still in a great spot as the Bengals slot receiver. He doesn't light up the boxscore, but he is always a consistent performer. Alexander is actually a pretty strong slot corner and allowed just 9.5 yards per catch and one touchdown in 2020. Boyd isn't really a DFS threat at this point, but he is still a nice WR3 or flex spot. |
| Laviska Shenault JAX | Desmond King HOU | I'm very excited for his season as we saw flashes of greatness and excitement even with inconsistency. The Jags should use him not only as a receiver but as a runner as well. Shenault is best when he has the ball in space and can make defenders miss. Desmond King is not a bad corner as he came over from the Chargers, but he is going to need help. The whole Texans defense is shoddy and I'm not sure Kingl can hold his guy down. Shenault will be a high-risk, high-reward player for Week 1. |
| Cooper Kupp LAR | Duke Shelly CHI | He has had 90 catches in each of the last two seasons, but it has been his touchdown numbers that have been wildly inconsistent. Kupp looks to change that though with the upgrade in quarterback in Matthew Stafford. Shelley was a rarely used corner last year that allowed a nearly 80% catch rate. The Bears might have to use some safeties to give help to keep Kupp in check. I like the Rams to score a good amount of points this week, and Kupp should be a central figure. |
| Jarvis Landry CLE | L'Jarius Sneed KC | This is a really tough matchup as Sneed is one of the best cover slot corners in the NFL and allowed just 63% of passes to be caught and 8.4 yards per reception. He also surrendered just two touchdowns all season. He did allow four catches to Landry last season, and Jarvis should continue to be the most targeted receiver on the Browns. Cleveland is still going to try to run the ball into the ground to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field, but Landry is still a strong start in your redraft leagues for Week 1. |
| Russell Gage ATL | Avonte Maddox PHI | With Julio Jones gone that opens up a lot of targets and Gage is by far the logical guy to get a good number of them. With the defense focused on Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts, Gage should be free to roam from the slot and have a solid game. Avonte Maddox was ranked outside the top-100 corners by Pro Football Focus and allowed a crazy 13.6 yards per catch from the slot. Gage could be a nice, sneaky low priced DFS play and a great third wide receiver in redrafts. |
Elite
Davante Adams vs Marshon Lattimore. The theme of these picks is going to be volume. Adams gets more volume than almost any receiver in football. He was targeted nine times or more in every game but two and one he was hurt and the other was the last week of the season. There is just no question that Adams is going to perform each and every week. Marshon Lattimore is about three steps slower than he was at his best and he is going to have his hands full with Adams. Actually, having his hands full of Adams jersey might be the only way he can stop him. Adams costs a pretty penny, but he is definitely worth it.
DeAndre Hopkins vs Janoris Jenkins. Did you say volume Hallam? Hopkins had 160 targets last year and only Stefon Diggs had more. His first season in the desert couldn’t have gone better and that was without a preseason! Now it is year two and he and Kyler Murray know each other well. It is going to be a better year in 2021. The Titans are going to have no answer for D-Hop and Jenkins isn’t the answer. There should be no surprise if Hopkins comes out of Week 1 with double digit catches for over 100 yards.
Affordable
Brandon Aiyuk vs Jeff Okudah. I just have one thing to say to DraftKings….excuse me? I am not sure where they got Aiyuk’s salary from but honey we will take it all day long! He is a pretty good deal on FanDuel as well, but Yahoo has him priced more to his ability. Aiyuk is going to be the 49ers number one wide receiver target this season and he showed the ability to run any route. The Lions secondary is absolute hot garbage, even if Okudah is improving a little. Take the value and run in this one as even though San Francisco is likely to play from ahead most of the game, Aiyuk should still see a good deal of volume.
Keenan Allen vs Darryl Roberts. Now this one is going to be a better one to focus if you are playing on Yahoo as Allen isn’t even in the top 20 receivers. Roberts can’t cover a hole with a tarp, and Justin Herbert is sure to look Allen’s way a lot. He was targeted at least ten times in every game but three that Herbert started, and he also nearly found the end zone ten times. I am extremely confident that Allen is going to come away with a minimum of seven catches and a touchdown.
Bargain Bin
Jerry Jeudy vs. Adoree Jackson. Jeudy was inconsistent at times but comes into the season looking good and getting Courtland Sutton on the field with him for the first time which should take some pressure off. I am looking for Jeudy to take the next step this season and it will be with a good start against Jackson who sprained his ankle late in August. Teddy Bridgewater brings stability, and Jeudy should benefit from his leadership, even if the quarterback isn’t going to throw the ball 40 yards down the field. Eat up this price tag and watch the fantasy points roll in.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.