Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 4: Keenan Allen, CeeDee Lamb, Deebo Samuel, Tutu Atwell, Adam Thielen

September 30, 2023

Dan Larocca's favorite WR vs. CB matchups to exploit for Week 4 of 2023 - DFS wide receivers to target on DraftKings & FanDuel. These WR/CB matchups are GPP and cash game sleepers.

Week 3 saw many usual suspects finish in the top 12 at receiver, including Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson, and Ja'Marr Chase. A few cheaper DFS standouts exceeded expectations as WR1s, including Adam Thielen, Tank Dell, and Mike Williams (featured here last week).

Week 4 is another tightly priced week in DFS. Players are more likely to pay up at receiver this week, having to pair at least one higher-priced option with mid-cost, high-upside receivers to fill out rosters.

Each week we use matchup data from PFF to determine wide receivers to target based on who they will be primarily lining up against that week. Below are five of the top WR vs. CB matchups for Week 4. Use these to set season-long lineups, make player prop picks, and gain an edge in DFS.

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

$7,900 on DraftKings, $9,500 on FanDuel; vs. Nate Hobbs

Keenan Allen balled out in Week 3 to the tune of 18 receptions for 215 yards to lead all receivers in PPR scoring for the second straight week. Despite the recent dominance, the 31-year-old remains the fifth-highest-priced receiver on DraftKings’ main slate in Week 4.

Allen is projected to line up mainly in the slot across from Raiders CB Nate Hobbs on Sunday, in a matchup that is the 12th-easiest for receivers according to PFF’s Strength of Schedule metric. With Mike Williams out of the lineup for the remainder of the season, Allen’s target volume will likely increase further this week.

Allen has excelled against all coverages so far this year but he especially stands out against man, maintaining a 36% target share for the Chargers against that coverage. The Raiders have played man coverage at a top-10 rate this season.

Allen provides a high-floor alternative to Jefferson and Hill in DraftKings in particular, where he comes at a significant discount to those options.

CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

$7,500 on DraftKings, $7,500 on FanDuel; vs. Myles Bryant

CeeDee Lamb is one of only three receivers with a PFF coverage matchup grade of 90 or higher in Week 4, coming in with a 96.5 grade in his matchup with the Patriots. New England is the sixth-best matchup for opposing receivers according to PFF.

The Patriots secondary has been hit by injuries early this season and Lamb will look to take advantage. CB Myles Bryant is projected to line up in the slot opposite CeeDee Lamb primarily on Sunday, having taken over for injured DB Jonathan Jones last week. Lamb has a significant size and speed advantage over Bryant and will have the added benefit of avoiding standout rookie CB Christian Gonzalez, who has played perimeter corner 90% of his snaps so far this season.

Lamb is a value in FanDuel especially this week, where he is the 13th-priced receiver on the main slate despite being projected as WR9 in FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rankings for the week.

Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

$6,900 on DraftKings, $8,000 on FanDuel; vs. Kei'Trel Clark

Deebo Samuel is enjoying a nice bounce-back to start the 2023 campaign, ranking as the WR9 in PPR on the season.

Samuel and the 49ers have a matchup with the Arizona Cardinals next, who rank as the fourth-best matchup for opposing receivers according to PFF. Lining up most as the Z-receiver, Samuel will match up primarily with CB Kei'Trel Clark who has a dismal 45.6 PFF defensive grade this season.

The Cardinals have played primarily zone coverage this season which Samuel has thrived against, generating the tenth-most fantasy points per route run against zone (0.58). Samuel is a high-ceiling receiver option this week, especially for DraftKings GPP/tournaments.

Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams

$5,500 on DraftKings, $6,300 on FanDuel; vs. Kenny Moore II, Dallis Flowers

Tutu Atwell has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers so far in 2023, coming into Week 4 as the WR13 in PPR with a 21% target share and 31.9% air-yard share for the Rams. Atwell also has the fourth-most routes run out of all receivers this season (131). The consistent opportunities mean a high floor and increased upside despite the mid-tier price tag in DFS.

Los Angeles squares off against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the number one best matchup for opposing receivers this season according to PFF. With Atwell moving around the formation and spending most of his time in the slot he will avoid the Colts’ best coverage corner this year in JuJu Brents (PFF defensive grade of 88.0 to start the season). This makes Atwell a great pivot from Puka Nacua, who comes in $1,200 more expensive on both DraftKings and FanDuel this week.

Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers

$4,500 on DraftKings, $6,800 on FanDuel; vs. Josh Metellus

Adam Thielen enters Week 4 as the WR9 in PPR scoring, including catching 18-for-23 in his last two contests (tied for fourth-best in the league in both categories during that span).

Thielen and the Panthers receivers have the third-best matchup of the week against the Vikings this week according to PFF. Minnesota has allowed the second-most yards per snap when in man coverage (9.2), while Thielen has the seventh-best PFF receiving grade against man coverage (84.6). Thielen is a high-ceiling option for DFS this week.

All data is from PFF. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your DFS contests!

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