Wide Receiver Matchups To Target in Week 7

October 25, 2020

Mike Riggall's favorite WR vs. CB matchups to exploit for Week 7 of 2020 DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel. These wide receivers should be tournament and cash game targets based on matchups.

The Week 6 wide receiver matchup article featured Justin Jefferson who finished as the No. 1 wide receiver on the week after absolutely exploding against the Falcons Defense. Will Fuller went over 100 yards and scored again, finishing as the No. 3 wide receiver while Kenny Golladay was only targeted six times but he still had 105 yards, finishing in the top-20. DeVante Parker didn't do much in the blowout win over the Jets and in the same game, Jamison Crowder was targeted 13 times but only reeled in seven of them for 48 yards. Laviska Shenault Jr. flopped and while Isaiah Wright appeared to be involved, he got hurt in the game, so that risky play did not pan out.

Nothing is more important than evaluating matchups when making lineup decisions. Through the first six weeks of the season, while the Buccaneers, Steelers, Colts, Saints, Browns and Seahawks Defenses are all giving up under 4.0 yards-per-carry on the ground, they have been exposed in the passing game. The Vikings, Texans, Chargers, Seahawks and Lions Defenses are all giving up at least 12.2 yards-per-reception, which makes them units you want to exploit.

Heading into the weekend, Tre'Quan Smith has some serious potential with both Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders being ruled out, but he will likely be heavily used in DFS contests given his low salary. A situation worth monitoring is Jamison Crowder's injury status, because if he doesn't play, Braxton Berrios would be in play at just $4,700 on FanDuel and $3,200 on DraftKings. Now, here are the top WR vs CB matchups for Week 7. Use these to set season-long lineups, as well as gain a competitive edge in the DFS games.

Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions

$7,600 FanDuel / $6,700 DraftKings – vs Kendall Sheffield

Kendall Sheffield gives up 2.79 yards-per-route covered which is one of the worst marks in the league. As a unit, the Falcons Defense gives up an average of 14.3 catches, 217.5 yards and 1.2 touchdowns-per-game to wide receivers which amounts to 44.65 fantasy points-per-game. The Falcons have now allowed eight different receivers to score more than 15 fantasy points in a game this season, including a 28.3-point game to Allen Robinson and a 39.6-point game to Justin Jefferson. The over/under in this contest is set at 55.5 points, so this one could be a shootout.

CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

$6,200 FanDuel / $6,500 DraftKings – vs Jimmy Moreland

Michael Gallup will be matched up against Kendall Fuller who only allows a 27% catch-rate and Amari Cooper will see coverage from Ronald Darby for much of the game which won't be easy. This leaves CeeDee Lamb against Jimmy Moreland which will be the best matchup in the Washington secondary. Moreland surrenders a 75% catch-rate and 1.7 yards-per-route covered which are both among the worst marks in the league. In his first game playing with Andy Dalton, Lamb had five catches for 59 yards, so Dalton appears to be looking his way.

Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

$5,800 FanDuel / $4,200 DraftKings – vs Malcolm Butler

Malcolm Butler does not have the wheels to keep up with Diontae Johnson which means the second-year receiver could go off for a few big plays against the Titans. Butler surrenders a 60% catch rate which isn't terrible but he does give up 1.78 yards-per-route covered, so when he does give up a catch, it usually counts. As a unit, the Titans Defense surrenders the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including two 20-point performances from Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks in Week 6, and big games from Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson. All four of these receivers that went off against the Titans have legitimate speed.

Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

$5,400 FanDuel / $5,000 DraftKings – vs J.C. Jackson

The Patriots Defense is fairly stingy against the run giving up just 4.2 yards-per-carry and the 49ers are short handed in the running game with Raheem Mostert out for a few weeks. The Patriots are also fairly good against the pass as well and while the 49ers don't have any wide receivers that can really get behind a defense, they are very good after-the-catch, especially Deebo Samuel. The Patriots haven't really been burned by any wide receivers for huge games this year, but Deebo Samuel is a different type of player and has the ability to run after the catch which the Patriots haven't really seen yet this season.

Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills

$4,800 FanDuel / $3,600 DraftKings - vs Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson gives up a league-worst 2.88 yards-per-route covered and an 87% catch-rate. Historically, John Brown has crushed the Jets while playing for the Bills. Earlier in the year, Brown had six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, and he torched them for 123 yards and a touchdown in 2019 as well. Brown was ruled out for Week 7 on Friday, which means Gabriel Davis will take his place in the starting lineup and likely reap the benefits of this great matchup. Davis has been great for the Bills in limited action so far this year, and saw nine targets against the Titans in Week 5 when Brown was last inactive.

Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers

$6,400 FanDuel / $6,000 DraftKings – vs Patrick Robinson

This game has the potential to be a shootout with an over/under set at 51.5 points with the Saints favored by more than a touchdown. The Panthers will need to throw a lot in Week 7 because they likely won't be able to run on a Saints Defense that gives up just 3.6 yards-per-carry which is fourth-best in the NFL. While the Saints haven't been terrible against wide receivers, they have been exposed for some big plays.

Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team

$7,100 FanDuel / $5,800 DraftKings – vs Daryl Worley

Terry McLaurin will see a lot of Daryl Worley in coverage this week who gives up an 83% catch-rate. As a unit, the Cowboys Defense gives up 44.16 fantasy points-per-game which is the sixth-most in the NFL. Over the last few weeks, the Cowboys have given up 30-plus point games to Tyler Lockett and Odell Beckham Jr. and over 20 fantasy points to five different wide receivers this season.

Pivot: Dontrelle Inman, Washington - $4,900 FanDuel / $3,600 DraftKings - vs Trevon Diggs

Trevon Diggs has given up a modest catch-rate of just 60% but he's given up 1.82 yards-per-route covered which ranks him in the bottom-10 in the league. The Cowboys secondary has been terrible this season, and Inman could be a sneaky play in deeper leagues if you need help in your season-long league or you're looking for a flier in a DFS tournament.

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