RADIO
Last week's wide receiver matchup article featured five receivers that finished inside the top-20, including Odell Beckham Jr. who finished as the highest scoring wide receiver in Week 4. While some of the calls worked out, some did not. A.J. Green simply isn't getting it done, and if he doesn't come through in Week 5 I likely won't consider him moving forward. Marvin Jones Jr. was non-existent in the Lions offense, while Randall Cobb and Golden Tate were two low-end recommendations that underwhelmed.
As we've seen over the first few weeks of the season, nothing is more important than matchup analysis when it comes to fantasy football. Through four weeks of action, the Colts, 49ers, Chargers and Patriots Defenses are looking like units you want to avoid starting wide receivers against because they really slow down opposing passing attacks, although the Chargers Defense was burned by Tom Brady last week. On the other side of things the Seahawks, Falcons, Vikings and Cowboys Defenses can't really stop anybody through the air, and until further notice they're the defenses you want to exploit in the passing game.
Now, here are the top WR vs CB matchups for Week 5. Use these to set season-long lineups, as well as gain a competitive edge in the DFS games.
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Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers
$6,200 Fanduel/$5,900 DraftKings - vs Kendall Sheffield
The Falcons Defense surrenders the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and has been beaten for league-worst 21-explosive plays in the passing game which sets up Robby Anderson, who is a deep-threat, for a big game. In addition to giving up the most explosive plays in the league, the Falcons have also given up a league-worst 13 touchdown passes.
Will Fuller, Houston Texans
$6,600 FanDuel / $6,600 DraftKings - vs Chris Claybrooks
While the Jaguars Defense gives up the 14th-fewest fantasy points-per-game to wide receivers, they do allow quarterbacks to throw for 8.4 yards-per-attempt which is third-worst in the league. Will Fuller has only been targeted 22 times on the season, but that includes a zero-target game against the Ravens, and he has hauled in 18-of-22 targets which makes him very efficient. The Texans are struggling to run the ball and will need to throw to keep pace with the Jaguars. The over/under in this game is set at 54 points, so this may be a shootout which Fuller could play a large role in.
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
$5,900 FanDuel/$6,000 DraftKings - vs Darnay Holmes
The Giants are giving up the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, but James Bradberry, who figures to shadow Amari Cooper this week, is actually playing pretty well. On the other hand, Darnay Holmes is starting to be a weekly fixture in this matchup article and Cooper Kupp had a decent day against him in Week 4. As a unit, the Giants secondary is decent, but Holmes is the guy quarterbacks have been picking on which means CeeDee Lamb should have a big game in Week 5.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
$5,400 Fanduel/$4,900 DraftKings - vs Marcus Peters
The Ravens Defense gives up the 16th-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers so this matchup isn't exactly great, but the Bengals offense likely won't be able to run the ball much because the Ravens surrender just 4.0 yards-per-carry and less than 100 yards-per-game on the ground. The Bengals have been moving Tee Higgins around, playing him 33% on the left side of the formation and 39% on the right side, which means he will see Marcus Peters in coverage, who can be burned, and Anthony Averett, who has been the weak-link in the Ravens secondary. Tyler Boyd lines up in the slot 82% of the time so he will see Marlon Humphrey for most of the day which is problematic. Between all of the Bengals wide receivers, Tee Higgins has the most favorable matchup which means he is likely to see decent volume in a game where the Bengals are 12-point underdogs.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
$6,000 FanDuel/$5,300 DraftKings - vs Noah Igbinoghene
Noah Igbinoghene gives up 2.09 yards-per-route covered which is one of the worst marks in the NFL. Deebo Samuel looked good in Week 4 and played 34% of the offensive snaps in his first game back from injury. Samuel should be more involved in the offense after getting through Week 4 setback-free and with Jimmy Garoppolo set to return, it will boost him in a big way. The Dolphins give up the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers which also makes Samuel appealing in this matchup. Deebo Samuel should probably only be used in deeper leagues or as a tournament play in DFS because he's not a lock to play a full compliment of snaps in Week 5, but if he does, he will come through in a big way.
Jamison Crowder, N.Y. Jets
$6,300 FanDuel/$5,800 DraftKings - vs Byron Murphy
Joe Flacco will start for the Jets in Week 5 with Sam Darnold nursing a shoulder injury, and honestly, the change at quarterback may actually be an upgrade for Crowder and the entire Jets passing game. The Cardinals Defense gives up the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, but those numbers are a little deceiving, because they're having trouble in coverage opposite Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals have also played against some mediocre receiver corps, but have given up at least 17-fantasy points to a wide receiver in three-of-four games.
Pivot: Golden Tate, N.Y. Giants - $5,500 FanDuel/$4,600 DraftKings - vs Jourdan Lewis
The Cowboys defense surrenders the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. The over/under is set at 54 points and the Cowboys are favored, which means the Giants will be throwing the ball a ton. Jourdan Lewis missed most of training camp and the start of the season with an ankle-injury so he's still shaking off the rust. Golden Tate has been slow off the mark in 2020, but maybe he can get on track against this brutal Cowboys pass defense.
Laviska Shenault Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
$5,300 FanDuel/$4,500 DraftKings - vs Vernon Hargreaves III
The Texans Defense is extremely soft against the run, giving up 4.9 yards-per-carry, but the Jaguars will still need to throw the ball a lot in order to keep pace with Deshaun Watson and the Texans offense. Shenault should avoid Bradley Roby in coverage which means he may be Gardner Minshew's go-to receiver in Week 5.
Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens
$6,100 FanDuel/$6,300 DraftKings - vs Darius Phillips
The Bengals Defense has been decent against the pass in 2020, giving up just 7.2 yards-per-attempt and five touchdown passes on the season, which is seventh-best in the league. However, the Bengals have given up 15-explosive pass-plays so far this year, which is one of the worst marks in the league. Marquise Brown lines up out of the slot 29% of the time, and when he does in Week 5 he will see LeShaun Phillips who gives up 2.43 yards-per-route covered which is second-worst in the NFL. Lamar Jackson has narrowly missed connecting with Marquise Brown on some deep-balls over the last few weeks, but chances are he catches a bomb against the Bengals.
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