RADIO
Nothing is more important than matchup analyzation when it comes to fantasy football. Playing your teams’ best players on a regular basis is important, but picking apart the top matchups on a week to week basis can win you a championship, or even better, some cold, hard cash in DFS.
Matchups for the wide receiver position aren’t always as black and white as they can be for other positions. Receivers need to be broken down even deeper by analyzing the potential cornerback matchup they’re going to draw. This is especially true in potential shadow coverage cases such as any time an X receiver plays against Patrick Peterson and the Arizona Cardinals. Some analytical data used here such as fantasy points allowed per route covered, and percentage of routes run on the left side, right side, and in the slot is courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
These are the top WR vs CB matchups for Week 15. Use these to set season-long lineups, as well as gain a competitive edge on FanDuel and DraftKings.
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Wide Receiver Advantages to Exploit
GB WR Randall Cobb vs CAR CB Captain Munnerlyn
I picked on the Carolina Panthers' nickel back in last week's matchup column, and I am doing it again this week.
Captain Munnerlyn allowed Vikings slot receiver Adam Thielen to score 22 PPR fantasy points in Week 14. It's worth noting that Thielen dropped two touchdowns in this contest as well, meaning this day could have been much more special. This week, he draws a matchup with Packers receiver Randall Cobb. Cobb is projected to be one of the lowest owned wide receivers on the Sunday slate for Week 15, making him a great leverage play at just $4,900 on DraftKings.
This typically wouldn't be a great spot to play Cobb, seeing as how he has been an afterthought since Brett Hundley took over signal-calling duties for Green Bay. That is no longer an issue, being that Aaron Rodgers is set to return to action this week with the Packers still in the running for a playoff spot. Cobb benefits from this in a tremendous way; he has averaged five fantasy points more per game with Rodgers throwing him the football than he has with any other quarterback since 2013.
ATL WR Mohamed Sanu vs TB CB Robert McClain
Mohamed Sanu has been as consistent as they come in PPR formats over the last six weeks; the veteran slot receiver has hauled in at least five passes in four of his past six games. He's taken advantage of his 18.1 percent target share this year, as he boasts a catch rate in the 70th percentile. Sanu draws a matchup versus slot corner Robert McClain, who has allowed the sixth-highest catch rate among nickel backs this season.
Sanu won't present a great advantage over the field for DFS purposes, but he will be a strong option in season-long formats where a safe floor is key in fantasy playoff crunch time.
JAC WR Dede Westbrook vs HOU CB Kevin Johnson
Dede Westbrook broke out last week with a 19.1 fantasy point showing on DraftKings. That marks his third straight game with double-digit fantasy points in just four contests. The Oklahoma speedster has seen a hefty target share since his return from injured reserve, drawing at least eight looks in each of his last three contests. Westbrook will now see a fair share of struggling Houston Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson.
Johnson has been another recurring name in my matchups column and for a good reason. He has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per route in coverage this season on top of maintaining the lowest coverage grade on PFF out of 119 eligible defensive backs.
This is a priceless spot for Westbrook, who is quickly transitioning into a potential league-winner in season-long formats. He is a great option in cash games on daily fantasy as well, with a price tag of just $5,100 on DraftKings.
LAR WR Robert Woods vs SEA CB Byron Maxwell
Robert Woods hasn't played since Week 11, but he is making his return from the injury report at a perfect time. His Los Angeles Rams are set to do battle with the Seattle Seahawks in what is sure to be one of the most entertaining shootouts of the Sunday slate. The line is set at 47.5, which is the second-highest O/U on the slate behind just Patriots versus Steelers.
Woods was arguably the hottest wide receiver in football leading up to his injury. The former USC Trojan had caught four touchdowns on a whopping 26 targets in Weeks 9 through 11. Woods is now healthy and draws a matchup from Byron Maxwell. To say Maxwell has struggled this season would be an understatement, seeing as how he has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per route in coverage this year. He has also surrendered a 74 percent catch rate this year; third-highest among outside cornerbacks this season.
It's hard to trust Woods in your fantasy playoff or championship contests, but Woods is a great option for GPPs on DraftKings with a price tag of just $5,700 on DraftKings.
