Welcome to the Championship edition of the weekly wide receiver/cornerback breakdown! We will review each of the outside matchups, as well as my ten favorite matchups in the slot. Then, below the charts in this article, I break down my five absolute favorite matchups. This article is also critical for daily players, as this will help you gain a competitive advantage when setting your lineups. This is for all the marbles now, so your lineup decisions have never been more critical. Follow me on Twitter (@fightingchance) as well!
| Left WR | Right CB | Analysis |
| DeAndre Hopkins ARI | Richard Sherman SF | After a rough few weeks Hopkins is scorching hot again as he had another game of nine catches and a touchdown against the Eagles. In fairness, Philly had little chance against him with a banged up secondary. Hopkins now has 305 yards in the last two games. He does face Richard Sherman who has had a great career, but is already talking about not being back in San Francisco next year so I wonder about his motivation. He has allowed a 116.2 quarterback rating against this year and Hopkins blew up the first meeting with 14 catches for 151 yards to start the season. Kyler Murray has always had success against San Francisco and I see Hopkins having another big game. |
| Calvin Ridley ATL | Bashaud Breeland KC | As I said last week, it honestly doesn't matter if Julio Jones plays in this one. His injury problems have been a monster issue for fantasy players all season long. If he is active, get him in there. Ridley, on the other hand, has been pretty consistent all season long. He has a touchdown in back to back games and has three straight 100-yard games. It helps him some if Jones is out, but he is going to get his either way. The Chiefs have a solid secondary, but they do give up a solid amount of yards on the ground and if Matt Ryan has one or two touchdowns in the game, one for sure is going to go to Ridley. |
| Marquise Brown BAL | James Bradberry NYG | He has been much better in the last month with three touchdowns and a 98-yard effort. The Ravens offense is looking much more like the 2019 Ravens, and not like what they have been for most of 2020. However, this will be a tough one against an elite corner this season. With James Bradberry blanketing Brown he could still come up with eight to ten fantasy points, but I don't see him having a big game or scoring a touchdown. Despite the nice run over the past four weeks, Brown is a fade in my book for Week 16. |
| Stefon Diggs BUF | J.C. Jackson NE | The bad news for Diggs is that he is nursing a bit of an ankle injury, but the good news for him is that Stephon Gilmore is out for the rest of the season. J.C. Jackson is still a top-30 cornerback according to Pro Football Focus, but it is a serious step down from Gilmore. He is still the most targeted receiver in the league and he has three straight weeks with ten receptions. He did have six catches for 92 yards the first time that the Bills played the Patriots. There will be receivers with better matchups at the price point, but Diggs isn't a bad contrarian pick for you DFS games and a must-start for your fantasy championships. |
| D.J. Moore CAR | Kendall Fuller WSH | He has been an up and down player all season long, but he is on the upswing at the right time as he had six catches for 131 yards last week against the Packers. He caught a break as it seemed that Jaire Alexander followed Robby Anderson more. This will be a tough one for him as Fuller allows just a 56 percent catch rate and .99 yards per route covered both of which are strong numbers. Washington was just tough on the Seahawks and won't be easy on Moore either. He shouldn't be on your DFS radar, but Moore still projects as a WR3 for Week 16. |
| Allen Robinson CHI | Sidney Jones JAX | I mean do we have to deep dive into this one? Robinson has four straight games of 74 yards or more and has 38 targets in the last four weeks. Mitchell Trubisky has been playing well enough, and they are playing the Jaguars. If you have even paid the slightest bit of attention to football this year you know that the Jaguars defense is terrible and this is an absolute smash spot for Robinson to help you win your championship and in your DFS lineups. |
| Tee Higgins CIN | Vernon Hargreaves HOU | The only possible rationale for trusting Higgins is that the Texans secondary is pretty bad and Tyler Boyd might be out with a concussion. However, the offense on the Bengals is worse than the Houston secondary. He had just three catches for 31 yards on Monday night as Ryan Finley didn't even throw for 100 yards. The kid is full of talent, but the situation is just too risky to give him a starting spot in your fantasy championship roster. |
| Rashard Higgins CLE | Bryce Hall NYJ | He has had a nice run in the last three weeks as Higgins has 239 yards and two touchdowns over that span. The Bronws have had a nice run of playing some lower rated defenses and Higgins has taken advantage. And that touchdown in the game against Baltimore the defender fell down. He is far from a sure thing as he had games of just one catch against the terrible Raiders and awful Jaguars, but he seems to be a bigger part of the offense lately. The Jets had a good game last week against the Rams, but their defense is terrible. Higgins is a nice flex play for your fantasy championship and could be a nice value option in cash games or GPPs for DFS contests. |
| Amari Cooper DAL | Darius Slay PHI | He was a total non-factor last week with just two catches and ten yards against the 49ers, but Cooper is better than this. The Cowboys offense has looked better the past couple weeks, but it hasn't translated to much for Cooper. Darius Slay should be fine to play this week after missing Week 15 with a concussion, and we know he is a top-level cornerback. Cooper had just one catch for five yards in Week 8 against the Eagles, but Ben DiNucci was the quarterback on that day. Cooper won't be a DFS option for the rest of the season, but I do expect a bounceback and for him to have 12-14 fantasy points in this one in PPR leagues. |
| Jerry Jeudy DEN | Michael Davis LAC | I love the kid, but he has fallen off, and his role in the offense has slid as well. In four games in November he had 40 targets. In the last four games he has just 14. He has just four catches in those four games for 66 yards and he hasn't scored since Week 9. He did have four catches for 73 yards the first time they played the Chargers, but it is a different time now, and Jeudy isn't a fantasy factor. You can avoid him even in a good matchup in Week 16. |
| Marvin Jones DET | Jamel Dean TB | He has been a very up and down player over the last month, and the problem is when he is good, he is really good so you kind of have to start him. He has great volume as he has 44 targets in the last four weeks, so based on that alone he will be worth a start in your fantasy championship. Dean hasn't allowed more than 35 receiving yards in the last four weeks, but he also has been torched for four touchdowns in the last four weeks as well. The Bucs pass defense hasn't been great in the second half of the season, which gives us hope that Jones can have a great game in Week 16. |
| Davante Adams GB | Malcolm Butler TEN | The best receiver against one of the worst secondaries in the league? Yes please! Adams had one of his worst games last Saturday with just 42 yards, but he still had seven catches. I am not the slightest bit concerned. The Packers and Titans should be a fairly close game so there is almost no thought of them slowing down on passing in the fourth quarter. He will be one of the top plays of the week. |
| Brandin Cooks HOU | William Jackson CIN | He hasn't had any big games lately, but Cooks has had a nice safe floor. He has had 11-13 fantasy points in each of the last four weeks, and two were against the Colts and one against the Patriots so he is doing it against solid defenses. The Bengals are not a quality defense, but Jackson is actually a good corner and in the top 25 of PFF rankings. This keeps me just liking Cooks and not loving him. I am not buying into the way that the Bengals played on Monday night being the norm and I think Cooks will fall in that same range of fantasy points this week that he has in the last month. |
| T.Y. Hilton IND | Steven Nelson PIT | I've been bullish on Hilton in the last month, but that is coming to its end now. He did have four catches for 71 yards last week, but more than half of that came in one catch when the game was almost over. I think the Colts are going to revert back to a heavy running team again, and Philip Rivers is starting to fade again. The Steelers are still playing very strong against the pass even if their offense isn't doing well. Hilton could be a flex play, but I am not expecting more than ten fantasy points in PPR leagues for Hilton in Week 16. |
| D.J. Chark JAX | Jaylon Johnson CHI | We were hoping that Chark might improve with Gardner Minshew back under center, and while he was slightly better, he still didn't excite anyone with his four catches and 53 yards. The matchup against the Ravens didn't help him, and this week against the Bears won't be any easier. The Jags are having trouble moving the ball and scoring, and that really doesn't help Chark's fantasy value. I am finished with him for 2020 and I would keep him on your bench if he is even still on your roster. |
| Sammy Watkins KC | Darqueze Dennard ATL | He does have two straight games of 50+ receiving yards, but Watkins has been a disappointment most of the season again. This offense revolves around Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill , but in this amazingly cushy matchup against the Falcons I could see giving Watkins a chance. And when I say give him a chance it is only if your roster is in a little trouble at receiver and are dealing with injuries. If you need an emergency start off the waiver wire, Watkins isn't a terrible choice. |
| Robert Woods LAR | Shaquill Griffin SEA | He was the only receiver who came to play last week for the Rams in that debacle against the Jets as he had six catches for 56 yards with a touchdown and a 40-yard run. The Rams pass game has really struggled the past two weeks and Jared Goff threw no touchdowns the first time against Seattle. We certainly have to keep expectations in check for Woods this week in a less than ideal matchup outdoors in Seattle in December, but he is still worthy of a WR3 spot in your Week 16 lineups as you win your championship. |
| Mike Williams LAC | Michael Ojemudia DEN | His back injury forced him to play just 28 snaps last Thursday against the Raiders, and that was a game that went into overtime. This one will come down to Williams health. We know he is a boom or bust candidate, which is always a concern in Week 16, but he did have five catches for 99 yards and a score the first time he played Denver. With the Broncos secondary down multiple backs, Williams is someone to consider playing if he is 100 percent healthy. If the back injury is still a concern, he isn't generally someone who plays well through adversity. |
| Nelson Agholor LV | Xavien Howard MIA | He is still the best wide receiver that the Raiders have, although he is only good for a solid game every third week or so. He has been targeted 28 times in the last three weeks, but that has only been good for 13 catches. He has topped 55 yards just once in the last four weeks and with a tough matchup against one of the best corners in the league this season you should probably find a better option in your fantasy playoffs. |
| DeVante Parker MIA | Trayvon Mullen LV | He did practice on a limited basis on Tuesday, so it seems likely that Parker could be back this week after missing Week 15 with a hamstring injury. This would be huge for him to come back as the Raiders secondary is pretty damn bad. Mullen is ranked 80th among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus and he allows just under 12 yards per catch. Miami will be very banged up at receiver, so if Parker can get in there he will likely be targeted heavily. There is a concern that he could leave the game early if he gets hurt again, but unless he is a game-time decision he will be worth starting in Week 16. |
| Adam Thielen MIN | Marshon Lattimore NO | He has just five catches and 50 receiving yards over the past two weeks, and that has been extremely disappointing. However, he is a touchdown machine though with six scores in the last five weeks. The Saints secondary has been much better of late, and Lattimore is the best they have. He has allowed just 59 yards in the last two weeks combined, but he still has given up a touchdown in each of the last two games. Justin Jefferson has kind of passed Thielen as far as targets are concerned, but he still gets plenty. He won't be a strong DFS choice, but Thielen has to be started in your fantasy championship. |
| Damiere Byrd NE | Tre'Davious White BUF | The Patriots are a terrible offense and Byrd isn't a very good receiver. He will draw the coverage of one of the Bills tough corners and it will likely be White who is one of the best in the game. New England will be lucky to score 10-13 points in this one and Byrd isn't a start unless you are in a league where you have to start ten receivers. |
| Emmanuel Sanders NO | Cameron Dantzler MIN | With Michael Thomas done for the year and Tre'Quan Smith not 100 percent, this makes Sanders a very valuable receiver this week. The Vikings secondary isn't very good, but Dantzler is the best on the team and ranked the 16th best corner by Pro Football Focus. Don't let this scare you away from Sanders. He will be the top receiver on the team for the last two weeks, and will be a solid fantasy option down the stretch. He can be a lesser used DFS option, but even better used as a WR3 in your fantasy championship. |
| Darius Slay ton NYG | Jimmy Smith BAL | He has been erratic all year and much more bad than good, but Slayton has at least been getting good volume the past couple of weeks as he has 17 targets in the last two games. Of course, he has just seven catches in that span. He did have 74 yards last week but it was the first time he topped 35 receiving yards since Week 10. The Ravens secondary has had some injuries, but they are still way more talented to think that any Giants receiver is going to do damage against then. You can''t trust Slayton in Week 16. |
| Breshad Perriman NYJ | Denzel Ward CLE | He has five catches in the last three weeks and hasn't scored since Week 11. Perriman had a few good games when Joe Flacco was under center, but he is nearly worthless with Sam Darnold under center. Whether Denzel Ward is on him or Denzel Mims Perriman isn't someone to consider for Week 16. |
| Jalen Reagor PHI | Chidobe Awuzie DAL | He did suffer an injury in last week's game, but I am getting the impression that he will be able to go in this one. He had eight targets in less than a full game last week, so he is definitely a receiver that Jalen Hurts has some confidence in. I know Greg Ward caught the two touchdowns last week, but he had just four targets in the game. We all know the Cowboys secondary is trash and if Reagor is able to play he is the Eagles wide receiver we want in our lineups. |
| Diontae Johnson PIT | Xavier Rhodes IND | He is the only guy who has had the smallest drop in production with the rough stretch that the Steelers pass game is having. He proved that he could again catch the ball on Monday night against the Bengals as he had eight grabs for 59 yards and a touchdown. He gets a tough matchup against Rhodes who is a top-ten corner according to Pro Football Focus, but Johnson just gets so many targets that he is nearly a guarantee to have a solid game every week. He has one of the safest floors among wide receivers in fantasy football in these final weeks, and a guy who is guaranteed to score you at least 12 points in PPR leagues is just what we need. Johnson might not be a great DFS choice, but he should be a rock solid fixture in your fantasy championship. |
| D.K. Metcalf SEA | Jalen Ramsey LAR | One of my favorite fantasy receivers has really fallen off in the past few weeks. Metcalf hasn't topped 80 yards in any of the last three weeks and has just one touchdown. The Seahawks are running a far more conservative offense lately for whatever reason, and Metcalf's production is suffering because of it. His worst game of the season was Week 10 against Ramsey and the Rams, and I don't have high hopes for him in this one. However, he is still an elite talent who I am sure wants to atone for that poor showing in November. Despite his struggles, Metcalf is a must-start in Week 16 although not a DFS option. |
| Brandon Aiyuk SF | Patrick Peterson ARZ | He continues to be a stud down the stretch as Aiyuk topped 70 yards for the sixth straight game and has four scores in the last five weeks. George Kittle might return, but he won't be heavily featured. Aiyuk gets a tough matchup against Patrick Peterson , but he is not the elite guy he has been in the past. Aiyuk is still likely to get a 30 percent target share, even if that is coming from C.J. Beathard . I don't love him as much this week for DFS purposes, but the rookie is a rock solid WR2 for this championship week. |
| Mike Evans TB | Darryl Roberts DET | He had a very easy matchup last week against the Falcons and perhaps has an even easier one this week against the Lions. Detroit was absolutely gashed by the Titans last week, and unlike Tennessee, the Bucs offense isn't dominated by a big, bruising back. This makes me believe that Tom Brady is going to do a ton of damage, and Mike Evans is the touchdown machine on the team. Roberts is barely even an actual NFL corner and Evans should be in line for a great game with a touchdown all but assured. |
| A.J. Brown TEN | Jaire Alexander GB | I expected a huge pop off from Brown last week against the Lions, but it was Corey Davis who stole the show. This week seems like a tough one for him as well as Jaire Alexander is one of the best corners in the league. Ranked second among all corners by Pro Football Focus, Alexander allows just a 51 percent catch rate and under ten yards a catch. I won't consider Brown for DFS purposes, but this guy has ten touchdowns in 12 games and even against an elite corner I would never sit him as you play for your fantasy championship. |
| Terry McLaurin WAS | Rasul Douglas CAR | His seven catches for 77 yards was his best game in three weeks in Week 15, but the usual beastly McLaurin hasn't scored since Week 9 now. The Football Team passing game isn't an overly intimidating one, but he is still the only reliable wide receiver the team has. Rasul Douglas was ranked among the top corners earlier in the season, but he has dropped to 68th in PFF's rankings. He has allowed three touchdowns in the last three weeks, and the Panthers have nothing to play for. Our expectations for McLaurin aren't what they were in October and I haven't used him in DFS is a while, but he is a very strong WR2 for Week 16. |
| Right WR | Left CB | Analysis |
| Christian Kirk ARI | Jason Verrett SF | It has been nearly two months since we thought about Christian Kirk for fantasy purposes, and this week doesn't look any better. He had just three catches for 33 yards last week, and his best game since Week 9 was just four catches for 50 yards. He had just one catch the first time they played San Francisco, and you can't even consider putting Kirk in any fantasy lineup this week. |
| Russell Gage ATL | Charvarious Ward KC | Obviously his value will come down to whether Julio Jones plays or not. Gage has been hot the past few weeks as he has had 13 fantasy points or more in three straight games. He also has 25 targets in the last three weeks, and clearly has become a bigger part of this offense. The Falcons are going to be way behind to the Chiefs this week which will leave plenty of garbage time for Gage to rack up some production. He has scored in two of the last three weeks, and looks to be a flex option if Julio is out. Ward allows 12.6 yards per reception and a 109.1 quarterback rating against this season. |
| Miles Boykin BAL | Isaac Yiadom NYG | He did score for the second time in three weeks, but Boykin has one or no catches in nine of the last ten weeks. Despite the Giants not being a strong secondary, Boykin is still not even close to a consideration for any fantasy contest this week. |
| John Brown BUF | Jason McCourty NE | After getting back to practice in the middle of last week, we should expect Brown to return for this game against the Patriots. He certainly gets a break with the injury to Stephon Gilmore , which means he will get more of McCourty and not J.C. Jackson . I am a little hesitant to trust Brown when it has been since November 15th since he played last, but he has produced in most games he has played in fully. McCourty does allow 16 yards per reception, and the Patriots have been eliminated from playoff contention. If this was Week 11 I would be much more apt to give Brown a start, but in your fantasy championship week it would be tough to trust a guy who hasn't played a game in 43 days. |
| Robby Anderson CAR | Ronald Darby WSH | After a season of production Anderson picked a horrible time to have his worst game of the season as he had just two catches for 21 yards against the Packers. Sure, Green Bay has a solid secondary, and Anderson did draw some attention from Jaire Alexander , but man is this bad. Now he faces another tough defense in Washington who did a great job of keeping the firepower of the Seahawks in check. Darby is ranked 11th among cornerbacks according to Pro Football Focus in 2020, and allows just a 57 percent catch rate. The Panthers are likely going to struggle to score a lot in this one, and Anderson has fewer touchdowns than D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel . He could be your flex play, but I would be surprised if he tops ten fantasy points in PPR leagues this week. |
| Darnell Mooney CHI | Greg Mabin JAX | Allen Robinson clearly is the man in the passing game, but Mooney has been right on the edge of fantasy relevance all season long. He has now scored in two straight weeks against the Vikings and Texans. He gets an even easier matchup this week against the Jaguars who have allowed a league worst 31 passing touchdowns in 14 games this season. Mitch Trubisky is playing well, and Mooney has been his second best guy. This one might be a bit of a long shot, but I like Mooney as a flex play for Week 16 and a dart throw for DFS contests on Sunday. |
| A.J. Green CIN | Keion Crossen HOU | A week after having six catches and 60 yards, Green was right back to his normal less than fantasy relevant self with two catches for 40 yards. The Texans secondary sucks, but with Ryan Finley at quarterback the offense will continue to struggle. You can't trust Green in a crucial week when he has just 41 catches all season long. |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones CLE | Blessuan Austin NYJ | He has suddenly come alive in the past three weeks as Peoples-Jones has had at least 55 yards in each of the last three weeks. It is hard to trust him too much as he only has 11 targets in those three weeks, but he is finding a nice rapport with Baker Mayfield and is becoming a bigger part of the offense. The Jets are absolutely terrible on defense and Mayfield could throw three touchdowns, but it would be a bit of a stretch to put too much confidence in DPJ. He can be a dart throw in DFS GPPs, but not one that I would rely on too heavily. |
| Noah Brown DAL | Jalen Mills PHI | Michael Gallup left last week's game with a hip pointer, and he might not be available this week. Brown had just one catch on six targets last week, and hasn't been someone that the Cowboys have looked to very much in 2020. The Eagles secondary has been really beat up with injuries and not very good when they were fully healthy. However, the Cowboys passing game is struggling to make Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb fantasy relevant on a consistent basis so trusting Brown seems to be a recipe for ending up with less than five fantasy points from one of your starting spots. In other words, don't use him for Week 16. |
| Tim Patrick DEN | Casey Hayward LAC | Barring touchdowns, Patrick has not been very good lately. The entire pass game of the Broncos have fallen off in the last month. He does have three touchdowns in the last three weeks, but he also has just 94 yards in the last three weeks combined. Patrick had just three catches for 14 yards last week against the Bills. The Chargers don't have a great secondary, but allows just a 48 percent catch rate, but at the same time gives up 17 yards per catch. This will come down to how well Drew Lock plays and if that is the major factor then I don't love Patrick's potential in this one. He could be a flex play, but I would feel better if you had anything that resembled a better option. |
| Quintez Cephus DET | Carlton Davis TB | The Lions pass game was better than was expected against the Titans last week considering how banged up Matthew Stafford was, however, after Marvin Jones and T.J. Hockenson there is no one to consider for fantasy purposes. We heard that the team wanted to see more of Cephus down the stretch but he has just nine targets in the last three weeks. He is not even remotely fantasy relevant for Week 16 lineups. |
| Allen Lazard GB | Desmond King TEN | The Packers have said that they will keep Lazard on a bit of a snap count, but did have five catches for 56 yards last week against the Panthers in a game that Marquez Valdes-Scantling didn't record a catch. The Titans have a terrible secondary, although King allows less than nine yards per catch. Lazard is 6'5" and King is 5'10" which could be a factor if the Packers are in the red zone, but overall Lazard isn't a very strong option for your Week 16 lineups. |
| Chad Hansen HOU | LeShaun Sims CIN | The Texans pass game has been great of late when it comes to yardage, and Hansen has been fantasy relevant in each of the last three weeks. The Bengals have allowed 25 pass touchdowns in 14 games, and Sims is not a great corner. He is ranked 113th among corners with Pro Football Focus, and allows a 134.5 quarterback rating against the season. Sims has allowed a touchdown in three straight weeks, and Hansen is a very sneaky flex play and possible DFS dart throw against a terrible Cincinnati secondary. |
| Michael Pittman IND | Joe Haden PIT | He had a nice quick burst of fantasy value back in November, but it disappeared as quick as it started. Pittman has had just two catches in three of the last four weeks, and he hasn't topped 50 receiing yards since Week 11. The Colts haven't been a very potent pass offense of late despite facing some weak defenses. Pittman hasn't topped ten fantasy points in any of the last four games and is now facing a really good defense in the Steelers. Leave Pittman on the waiver wire and he is not to be considered in DFS contests either. |
| Laviska Shenault JAX | Kyle Fuller CHI | While he is getting a solid number of targets, it isn't translating to anything to get excited about for fantasy purposes. Shenault is batting D.J. Chark and Keelan Cole for targets, and in a Jacksonville pass game that isn't very powerful that makes it hard for him to do a lot. The Bears pass defense has fallen off a bit as the season has progressed, but they should still have little trouble holding Gardner Minshew and Shenault in check. He could be a flex play if ten fantasy points in PPR leagues at the most is good enough for you. |
| Demarcus Robinson KC | A.J. Terrell ATL | The Chiefs are going to score a ton of points this week, but I still can't hope for Robinson to do anything relevant. He hasn't had more than two catches in any of the last three weeks and hasn't scored since Week 9. Terrell is awful and allows a 75 percent catch rate, but Robinson is fourth on the target hierarchy on the Chiefs and likely won't see more than three or four targets. Even in a plus plus plus plus plus matchup, Robinson can't be trusted |
| Josh Reynolds LAR | D.J. Reed SEA | After a short stretch of being a big part of the offense, Reynolds has completely disappeared. He has just four catches on five targets in the last three weeks for 36 yards combined. He did have eight catches for 94 yards the first time they played the Seahawks, but the Rams are not running the same kind of offense these days. In the five weeks since that game, Reynolds has just 108 yards combined. He is no longer a fantasy factor and the fact that they are playing a team he had success against earlier this season is not relevant. |
| Tyron Johnson LAC | De'Vante Bausby DEN | He has scored in each of the past two weeks, and his Johnson's role has increased with injuries to other wide receivers. Honestly, I think he might have started to surpass Mike Williams as the top option at wide receiver after Keenan Allen . However, Austin Ekeler and Hunter Henry are both still options. The Broncos secondary is a mess at the moment and Justin Herbert has gotten his groove back. Johnson is a bit of a longshot though unless the Chargers are still suffering injuries to their wide receivers. |
| Bryan Edwards LV | Byron Jones MIA | Darren Waller is the only reliable pass catching option on the team, and with Henry Ruggs out there is just no reason to consider anyone else. Last week against a porous Chargers defense no other wide receiver even had ten yards in the game. It doesn't matter than Jones is a fairly quality corner, Edwards isn't even worth a consideration. |
| Mack Hollins MIA | Keisean Nixon LV | In a game with no DeVante Parker , Jakeem Grant , or Mike Gesicki , Hollins still finished with just two catches and 18 yards. With Parker and Gesicki all but assured to return this week, that takes Hollins out of any thought of fantasy consideration, even in a plus matchup against a busted Raiders secondary. He has just 13 catches all season long so let's not imagine that he is going to have a solid game in Week 16. |
| Justin Jefferson MIN | Janoris Jenkins NO | Make no mistake about it, Adam Thielen might have more name recognition, but Justin Jefferson is now the number one receiver on this team. He has double digit targes in four of the last six weeks and now has six 100-yards games on the season. He isn't the tallest receiver, but he has an unmistakeable connection with Kirk Cousins and will be a force for a long time to come. Jenkins allows 13 yards per reception this season. While the Saints defense has been playing well, Jefferson is still going to get his and is a very viable WR2 for Week 16. |
| N'Keal Harry NE | Levi Wallace BUF | The Patriots offense is an abomination and they barely throw enough to make one receiver fantasy relevant, and if there is one it is Jakobi Meyers. With Julian Edelman at least making an appearance this week, Harry is even less fantasy relevant than he has been most of the year. |
| Lil'Jordan Humphrey NO | Chris Jones MIN | With Michael Thomas out and Tre'Quan Smith not practing yet this week, it looks like Humphrey will get some more opportunites this week. He had his first two catches of the season last week for 29 yards. The Vikings secondary isn't very good, but are you really considering using Lil'Jordan Humphrey in your fantasy championship? I didn't think so. Let's move on. |
| Sterling Shepard NYG | Marcus Peters BAL | He is one that is a better NFL receiver than he is for fantsy purposes as he has only scored once all season long and has topped 50 receiving yards just twice in the last six weeks. Shepard has reliable hands and is a solid target, but just isn't having enough production to warrant much fantasy usage. The Ravens are a far superior defense to the Giants offense and you should feel lucky if Shepard were to get to ten fantasy points in this one and isn't a great play for your fantasy championship. |
| Denzel Mims NYJ | Terrance Mitchell CLE | The Jets had perhaps their best offensive game of the season as they earned their first win against the Rams. Sam Darnold had his third highest pass yard total of the year with just 207 yards, but even with all of that working for New York, Mims still had just three catches for 18 yards. He has just seven targets in the last two games that he has played in, and his short stint of living on the fringe of fantasy relevance appears to be over. Mims can not be trusted in your fantasy championship week against a fairly decent Browns secondary. |
| Alshon Jeffery PHI | Anthony Brown DAL | He did have 63 yards on the game, but it was on just two catches as the Eagles continue to spread the ball around. The only way that you could even consider Jeffery is if Jalen Reagor is forced to miss the game and even then I have a hard time trusting this guy. He has just 93 yards in six games he has played this season, and I know there is a new quarterback and the Cowboys secondary isn't any good but there has to be a better option on the waiver wire. I am sure of it. For the sake of your fantasy championship, don't do it. |
| Chase Claypool PIT | Rock Ya-Sin IND | He was back among the top guys for targets for the Steelers last week, but Claypool hasn't scored since Week 11 and the Steelers pass game just hasn't been the same in the last month. The injury to Eric Ebron should help him get a few more targets, but this isn't a great matchup against a Colts secondary that has allowed just 19 touchdowns through the air in 14 games. With Diontae Johnson being the guy who gets the most targets and JuJu Smith-Schuster getting more attention in the red zone, Claypool becomes a guy who will either pay off big time, or leave you with five or six fantasy points. Not the most ideal choice when playing for a fantasy championship. |
| Richie James SF | Dre Kirkpatrick ARZ | James has had decent success this season when he has been a part of the game plan, and the injury to Deebo Samuel gave him a chance to be a starting outside receiver. He had four catches for 56 yards on seven targets, but he also muffed a punt that led to a Dallas score. The 49ers will be losing this game which could force them into some extra garbage time throwing, but I can't see the team as a whole having a ton of success. He is a very risky option for Week 16 in general, and if George Kittle does return, that would limit his targets even further. James is not someone I would look to employ for this upcoming matchup. |
| David Moore SEA | Darious Williams LAR | It was another game where Moore wasn't close to fantasy relevant as he had just two catches for 10 yards against the Football Team. He hasn't topped 20 yards since Week 9 and had just two catches for 16 yards back in Week 10 against the Rams. Darious Williams is greaet and Moore isn't. Don't even think of using Moore this week. |
| Antonio Brown TB | Amani Oruwariye DET | He finally came through with the easy matchup against the Falcons last week as he had five catches for 93 yards and a score. Even better is he tied for the team lead in targets with seven. He gets another gift from the schedule makers as they face the Lions who are just giving up as a defense. Oruwariye is ranked 97th among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus and allows a ridiculous 17.1 yards per catch against him. The Bucs do spread the ball around a good amount which makes it hard to trust them too much in DFS games, but Brown again will be a viable option for your flex spot for Week 16. |
| Corey Davis TEN | Kevin King GB | He had his fifth 100-yard game of the season last week against the Lions, which included at 75 yard touchdown. The Titans had their way with Detroit, but it won't be as easy this week. I do like Davis more than usual this week because of Packers stud corner Jaire Alexander being on A.J. Brown which could lead to more targets to come Davis way. King is still a solid corner as he allows just a 59 percent catch rate but also has allowed ten of the last 12 targets against him to be caught and he was burned for 127 yards last week against the Panthers. Davis could be a nice paydown option in DFS GPPs and is certainly a WR3 for your fantasy championship. |
| Cam Sims WSH | Donte Jackson CAR | He did have five catches last week, but they were good for just 26 yards, and he has topped 30 receiving yards just once in the last five weeks. The Football Team offense doesn't throw the ball deep down the field much, and only Terry McLaurin is fantasy relevant for wide receivers. Sims breaks a long catch once or twice a month, but isn't someone to consider this week |
Now, here are my ten favorite matchups in the slot in Week 16.
| Slot WR | Slot CB | Analysis |
| Keenan Allen LAC | Will Parks DEN | Assuming he will be fine to play with the hamstring injury, this is one of the best spots for Allen all season long. The Broncos are really beat up in the secondary, and Parks is not a corner that instills fear in any offensive coordinator. He was dumped by the Eagles this year and also missed several weeks to injury. As long as Allen is a full go in practice this week, Allen will be a dynamite option in Week 16 for DFS or your fantasy championship. |
| Tyreek Hill KC | Isaiah Oliver ATL | This is like the fantasy football perfect storm. Tyreek Hill has been one of the best wide receivers all season long and the Falcons have been one of the worst secondaries in 2020. He has scored in every week but three, and has had over 50 receiving yards in all but two weeks this season. The Chiefs are sure to crush the Falcons in this one and with the Kansas City offense running through just Hill and Travis Kelce for the most part, there is no doubt that there will be tons of fantasy points to go around. Hill is a dominant WR1 and one of the best plays on the board in Week 16. |
| Chris Godwin TB | Justin Coleman DET | His production has been way off in the two games since the bye, but Godwin did at least have a touchdown last week against the Falcons. He gets an even easier matchup this week against Coleman and the Lions secondary who were just beaten from pillar to post last week by Ryan Tannehill . Coleman allows a ridiculous 83 percent catch rate and 10.5 yards per catch which is pretty high for a slot corner. The only thing holding Godwin back is that Tom Brady has three great receivers to spread the ball around to, and Tampa will be way ahead in the second half. I still like Godwin in my lineups figuring he will get 15 or more fantasy points in this cupcake matchup in PPR leagues. |
| Keke Coutee HOU | Mackenzie Alexander CIN | Alexander played really well on Monday night as he kept JuJu Smith-Schuster on lock down all game, but the rest of the season tells us he's not as good as that. He is ranked 67th among all cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus and allows 74 percent of balls that come his way to be caught. Coutee has 100 yards or a touchdown in all three games since he has been starting, and they have all been against quality defenses. Forget what you saw Monday night, the Bengals secondary after William Jackson is pretty bad and Coutee should be in line for another great game for you and the Texans. |
| Jarvis Landry CLE | Javelin Guidry NYJ | The whole season has been turned around for Landry in the last month as he hasn't been under 50 yards in any of the last four games and has scored in three of the last four weeks. Granted he hasn't been playing the best defenses, but that just goes in his favor. And just how I said above to forget about the great game from the Bengals defense, you can do the same for the Jets. Their shocking win over the Rams and holding Cooper Kupp in check out of the slot can't be replicated. Despite Rashard Higgins emerging and Donovan Peoples-Jones starting to improve, the pass game in Cleveland revolves around Landry. He has 38 targets in the last four games and that volume will continue. Look for Landry to have a minimum of six catches for 65 yards and a high potential for a touchdown. |
| Cole Beasley BUF | Jonathan Jones NE | This isn't a great matchup and Beasley doesn't always succeed but right now it feels good. The Patriots are eliminated from the playoffs, while the Bills are riding high and have a slight chance left at a first-round bye. Jones is a qualiity slot corner, ranked 34th among all defensive backs by Pro Football Focus and we should see the return of John Brown this week. However, Beasley has already been targeted over 100 times this season and has the 17th most catches in all of football. He isn't just going to be ignored this week, and with Buffalo sure to win, Beasley should still be able to give you five or six catches in Week 16. |
| Jakobi Meyers NE | Taron Johnson BUF | He is really the only receiver on this awful Patriots pass game that you can count on and he showed last week that even in a tough matchup you can use him. Meyers had seven catches for 111 yards last week against Miami, and the thing holding him back from being a more valuable fantasy asset is his awful quarterback play which has led to him being without a touchdown this year. Meyers had six catches for 58 yards back in Week 8 against the Bills, and I can easily see a similar output this week, or perhaps even a little bit better on a Bills secondary that is improving, but is still vulnerable. Meyers makes a very solid WR3 play or a flex if you are loaded at receiver. |
| Jamison Crowder NYJ | M.J. Stewart CLE | The Darnold/Crowder show was back in town last week as he had six catches for 66 yards on eight targets in the Jets incredible win over the Rams. I'm not sure which fan base needs more of an apology for this, the Rams who gave up control of the division or the Jets fans who just watched their dreams of Trevor Lawrence go up in smoke. Regardless, the Browns secondary has allowed 26 touchdowns through the air this season and if they are going to give one up to the Jets we are fairly sure it will be to Crowder. On volume and the matchup, Crowder should be in line for 12-14 fantasy points. |
| Greg Ward PHI | Jourdan Lewis DAL | While his numbers haven't been overly impressive, Ward is getting a consistent five targets a game since Jalen Hurts has taken over. We also like this for the fact that Ward has caught three of Hurts five touchdown passes since he took over. Ward is solid in the red zone, and Lewis isn't a great corner. He is ranked 99th among corners by Pro Football Focus and the Eagles offense has caught fire of late. Ward is likely to be the recipient of another touchdown in Week 16. |
| CeeDee Lamb DAL | Nickell Robey-Coleman PHI | He had his best game in quite a while last week with five catches for 85 yards, and the Dallas offense has started to look less offensive and more like a real team. Lamb continues to be close to the most targeted receiver on the team, and that volume makes him fantasy relevant for this week. The Eagles secondary has been decimated with injuries, and Robey-Coleman allows a mind-blowing 82 percent catch rate. Dallas should have a real chance of winning this one and they appear to be more comfortable throwing the ball lately. Lamb is rounding back into shape at the right time and makes a great play in Week 16 with a floor of 10-12 fantasy points in PPR leagues. |
Elite
I almost feel bad for Oliver and the Falcons for what Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill are going to do to them on Sunday. He already has 83 catches and over 1,200 yards with 15 touchdowns with two games to go. Playing against the Falcons, Hill might be able to get 83 catches and 15 touchdowns. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but this is the smash spot of all smash spots. Hill is going to dominate in an incredible way.
Allen Robinson vs Greg Maybin
We all like to give Mitchell Trubisky a hard time for sucking, and yeah, he deserves it most of the time. However, he has been playing quite well of late. You have to love the 37 catches Robinson has in the last four weeks along with the three touchdowns. The Jaguars were embarrassed last week by Lamar Jackson throwing the ball and even Trubisky is better at throwing than Jackson. Chicago should put up at least 30 points and Robinson will be a huge part of it.
Affordable
Jarvis Landry vs. Javelin Guidry
I also like Rashard Higgins as a pay down option, but Landry is the best play. His volume has gone way up in the last four weeks and he certainly is over the injuries he had earlier this year. The Browns have been playing bad defenses and it certainly has the confidence of Baker Mayfield at a high point for 2020. The Browns are throwing more, and Landry is the main beneficiary. The Jets give up 280 yards per game through the air and 30 passing touchdowns in 14 games. Landry is nearly a guarantee to get one and a minimum of six catches in this one
Diontae Johnson vs. Xavier Rhodes
This is not a cake matchup at all, but I just can’t go away from Johnson and I don’t like a lot of the mid-range options on Sunday’s slate with so many players on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. Outside of the game where he really had the drops, Johnson has had eight catches or more in the other four he has played in since November 22nd. This came against Baltimore and Washington among others, so he has had success against good defenses. The Steelers pass game has been a bit down lately, but Johnson is the one constant.
Bargain Bin
Jalen Reagor vs. Chidobe Awuzie
Greg Ward got the glamour last week, but Reagor had the volume with eight targets and a rushing attempt. It has been a somewhat disappointing rookie season for him, although the quarterback play is certainly a factor. Awuzie has allowed nearly 70 percent of passes to be caught since he came back from injury and he has allowed over 60 yards per game in the last four. Dallas has allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league and I like Reagor to get one this week.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.