WR/CB Matchups to Upgrade and Downgrade - Fantasy Football Week 11 (2025)

Corbin analyzes fantasy football WR/CB matchups to find sleepers, targets, avoids for Week 11 of 2025. His WRs to upgrade based on cornerback matchups data.

Welcome back to our WR/CB Matchups for Week 11 of the 2025 fantasy football season. We're in the double-digit weeks of the season, with a large sample of the offensive and defensive advanced metrics. For those unfamiliar, this weekly series looks at fantasy football matchups for wide receivers versus the cornerbacks who are projected to cover them. We're using a similar data-driven process to quantify the offensive and defensive matchups based on underlying metrics.

The data we access for offensive and defensive players continues to skyrocket. Though we mainly focus on offensive players, the defensive matchups and coverages sometimes take a backseat. However, the goal of this weekly column is to cover the potential wide receiver upgrades and downgrades based on the weekly WR/CB matchups for fantasy football.

Most teams mix in defensive backs all over the field, with very few cornerbacks shadowing an opposing top receiver. The main takeaway involves not overreacting to a weaker matchup if the receiver is a high-end to near-elite target earner and producer in their respective offense. Based on the weekly matchups, we'll use various tools to find several matchup upgrades and downgrades for the opposing receivers.

WR vs. CB Chart Details

The WR/CB Matchup Chart is back again for 2025! You can find it below! We'll have the most favorable and unfavorable matchups based on several metrics. We used weighted averages to create an adjusted offensive and defensive score. Some inputs include yards per route run, fantasy points per route run, and targets per route run.

We'll have a weekly matchup score, calculated by adjusting the scores by subtracting the defensive number from the offensive one. The caveat would be the limited data due to injured offensive and defensive players, possibly skewing the matchups to be more or less favorable. Since this is a newer process, there might be some slight tweaks along the way. With more data from the 2025 season, we'll learn what matchups to target and ones to temper expectations.

We're at a point in the season where we can understand a player's role and usage based on the underlying metrics, which should inform how to project players moving forward. Players can underperform and outperform in a given matchup based on luck and skill factors. There are multiple layers to consider in these matchups, especially since team defenses tend to shift their coverages based on the opposing offenses.

How to Use The WR/CB Chart

WR/CB Matchups Chart: Alphabetical

Below, we'll see the WR/CB matchups for Week 11 sorted alphabetically. The Colts and Saints have a bye week during Week 11. We also have players marked differently to indicate a new (red shaded) or injured player (orange text) to monitor. I also noted the magenta colored players as ones that the teams list as safeties, but they tend to cover receivers in the slot.

We added additional team-level metrics to the formula to account for team context. The red numbers indicate a more challenging matchup for the receiver, and the green numbers mean favorable matchups (or the defender allows a high rate of the given metric).

The visual below shows team offenses from the Arizona Cardinals to the Dallas Cowboys.

The visual below shows offenses from the Denver Broncos to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The visual below shows offenses from the Miami Dolphins to the San Francisco 49ers.

Finally, here is the chart sorted by the Seattle Seahawks' offense through the Washington Commanders' offense.

Best Projected Week 11 WR/CB Matchups

Worst Projected Week 11 WR/CB Matchups

Week 11 WR/CB Matchup Upgrades

Jaylen Waddle vs. Noah Igbinoghene

Without Tyreek Hill, Waddle has been averaging just under 16 fantasy points per game (PPR) from Weeks 5-10. Interestingly, Waddle has been efficient, boasting 4.6 fantasy points over expectation (FPOE), the eighth-highest FPOE among receivers that played in two or more games since Week 5.

Throughout the season, Waddle has been leading the team in first-read target share and second in yards per route run behind Hill. Waddle faces a beat-up Commanders' defense that likes to use man coverage at the eighth-highest rate while allowing the 20th-most fantasy points per dropback.

Among the Dolphins' healthy pass catchers, Waddle leads the team in yards per route run with a high-end 30 percent target rate against man coverage. Waddle can win against man coverage, especially with the Commanders having multiple injuries in the secondary. Waddle has been the Dolphins' top zone beater, posting an above-average 2.94 yards per route run and a 25 percent target rate against zone coverage.

Furthermore, the Commanders' pass defense has been shredded for the most fantasy points per dropback against single-high looks while deploying it at the eighth-highest rate. Waddle leads the Dolphins, with a whopping 32 percent target per route rate, tying him with De'Von Achane against single-high looks. He averages a ridiculously high 3.25 yards per route run against single-high, making this a potential smash spot.

With Marshon Lattimore out for the season, Trey Amos sent to injured reserve, and Jonathan Jones dealing with a groin injury, Noah Igbinoghene will probably be relied upon for more coverage snaps out wide. The Commanders already have the worst graded coverage teams, behind the Cowboys. 

It's been a limited sample of 78 coverage snaps, but Igbinoghene allows the most fantasy points per route and yards per route run among qualified cornerbacks. Waddle should have another WR1-type performance in Week 11.

Jordan Addison vs. Nahshon Wright

Over the past two weeks with J.J. McCarthy back as quarterback, the Vikings' pass offense ranks 26th in EPA per dropback and 26th in passing success rate. Meanwhile, they passed at the 23rd-highest rate (51 percent) during neutral game scripts, yet the second-highest pass rate when trailing in Weeks 9 to 10. Overall, it's a small sample, since McCarthy only played in four games.

The visual above shows the Vikings' receiving usage in Weeks 9 to 10. Over the past two weeks, Justin Jefferson has led the team with a 47.2 percent first-read target share, with Addison ranking second at 22.2 percent. Jalen Nailor leads their top three receivers in yards per route run in Weeks 9-10, but that might not be sustainable. The visual below shows the season-long leaders in the Vikings' receiver advanced stats.

Addison faces a juicy matchup against the Bears, who use man coverage at the ninth-highest rate and allow the 13th-most fantasy points per dropback. Meanwhile, the Bears' pass defense gives up the fourth-most fantasy points per dropback when using zone coverage.

Jefferson leads the Vikings in target rate against man and zone coverage. Addison has been struggling to produce against man coverages, but averages the second-most yards per route run while garnering the second-highest target rate versus zone. The Bears' pass defense has specifically been shredded on deep targets.

The Bears' defense uses zone coverage at the 10th-highest rate against deep passes of 20+ yards downfield and allows the fifth-most fantasy points per dropback. They trail the Cowboys, Steelers, Vikings, and Titans in the most fantasy points per dropback allowed against deep passes versus zone coverage.

Addison has the second-highest target rate and air yards share on deep passes against zone coverage, behind Jefferson. Both Addison and Jefferson have been efficient on those downfield targets of 20 or more yards versus zone, where the Bears' pass defense has been vulnerable.

Addison projects to face Nahshon Wright, who allows the 13th-most fantasy points per route run and the 20th-highest yards per route run. There's a chance Addison might have an inefficient performance since McCarthy hasn't been an efficient passer, ranking 43rd in adjusted yards per attempt, 30th in completion rate over expected (CPOE), and last in catchable target rate among 46 qualified quarterbacks in 2025.

However, Addison's usage and production against zone coverage should lead to a WR2-type performance as a boom-or-bust WR3.

Jameson Williams vs. Adoree' Jackson

Jackson returned from missing time with a concussion, and the Eagles' defense deployed him once again as the primary right cornerback. The Lions move Williams around the formation at times, but he primarily plays as the left wide receiver, though the Eagles might move Quinyon Mitchell over to Williams' side.

One way to quantify players that tend to be volatile and somewhat better in bestball includes looking at their expected fantasy points versus FPOE/G. Williams ranks 66th in expected fantasy points yet boasts the 10th-most efficient in FPOE/G. The Lions' offense has been one of the most efficient, ranking first in EPA per pass attempt and ninth in rushing yards per play.

That's evident in Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Sam LaPorta, who are efficient producers like Williams. The Eagles' pass defense deploys man coverage at the 11th-highest rate, yet the 27th-most fantasy points per dropback. Meanwhile, the Eagles have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points per dropback.

The Lions have multiple pass catchers who can win against man coverage, including St. Brown and Williams, who rock high win rates and near-elite yards per route run. It might be a matchup where it's strength against strength for Williams and the Eagles' pass defense.

They specifically like to deploy Cover 1, using it at the ninth-highest rate. Williams leads the team in yards per route run at 2.88 against Cover 1, with St. Brown close behind (2.49), as seen in the visual above. We know Williams can be a deep threat, so let's examine how the Eagles' pass defense fares against deep targets (20+ yards).

The Eagles' pass defense allows the lowest fantasy points per dropback on deep passes when using man coverage. However, they shift to be more zone-heavy (No. 8) against deep passes while being susceptible to giving up the ninth-most fantasy points per dropback.

It's a small sample of 10-12 routes for St. Brown, Williams, and LaPorta each, but Williams crushes with 7.50 yards per route run on deep targets when facing zone coverage. Williams projects to face Adoree' Jackson, who allows the 18th-most fantasy points per route run and the ninth-highest yards per route run. Expect Williams to beat the Eagles' pass defense at least once or twice, potentially leading to a week-winning performance. 

Week 11 WR/CB Matchup Downgrades

Jerry Jeudy vs. Chidobe Awuzie

Jeudy has one of the most inefficient receivers, specifically in FPOE/G, ranking second-worst, ahead of Mike Evans and behind Darnell Mooney. Week 10 marked Jeudy's first game with over 2.00 yards per route run, and it was his second-best in yards per target over expected (YPTOE).

Jeudy leads the Browns' pass catchers in air yards share (38.8 percent), first-read target share (26.7 percent), and expected fantasy points per game. Cedric Tillman returned from injured reserve in Week 10 due to a hamstring injury. Tillman ran a route on 67.4 percent of the team's dropbacks in Week 10, though Harold Fannin Jr. continued to be second in first-read targets.

The Ravens' pass defense deploys man coverage at the sixth-highest rate, yet allows the 21st-highest fantasy points per dropback. Specifically, they use single-high coverages at the fourth-highest percentage while giving up the 17th-most fantasy points per dropback.

Fannin has been the Browns' best pass catcher in yards per route run against man and zone coverage. However, Jeudy leads the team in target rate (24 percent) against man coverage, ahead of Fannin (22 percent), besides Dylan Sampson's wild small sample. Where Jeudy can win tends to be against single-high coverages.

Jeudy has been targeted on 56 percent of his routes while producing a ridiculously high 4.88 yards per route run versus single-high looks. Fannin trails Jeudy in target rate (29 percent) with 1.21 yards per route run among their top pass catchers with 10 or more routes against single high.

Since the Ravens' bye week, the Ravens' defense ranks 10th in EPA per dropback, fifth in passing success rate allowed, fifth-best in rushing EPA per attempt, and 13th-lowest rushing success rate. For context, the Ravens' pass defense allowed the third-worst EPA per pass attempt while ranking sixth-best in passing success rate in their first six games. They ranked 20th in rushing success rate allowed in Weeks 1-7.

Jeudy projects to face Chidobe Awuzie, who will likely fill in for Marlon Humphrey. Awuzie allows the 13th-fewest fantasy points per route and the ninth-lowest yards per route run. He remains their second-highest graded cornerback or safety, behind Kyle Hamilton.

If Dillon Gabriel looks toward Jeudy as his first read again versus the Ravens and Jeudy wins against single high, this downgrade will blow up in our face. 

Courtland Sutton vs. Trent McDuffie

The talk each week surrounds how Troy Franklin's usage has arguably been better than Sutton's. Franklin bests Sutton in expected fantasy points per game, while Franklin garners a team-high 36.7 percent air yards share, yet they have an identical first-read target share.

The Chiefs' pass defense deploys man coverage at the 12th-highest rate while allowing the lowest fantasy points per dropback. They've been a bit more beatable against zone coverage, giving up the eighth-most fantasy points per dropback. Sutton has been the second-best producer in yards per route run (3.19) against man coverage while earning targets at the second-highest rate (28 percent) behind Franklin (37 percent).

Sutton and Franklin have been mediocre, but they're the Broncos' best pass catchers when facing zone. Meanwhile, the Chiefs' pass defense deploys two-high looks at the seventh-highest rate and the 16th-most fantasy points per dropback. The way to attack two-high involves targeting their tight ends or in the short areas of the field for yards after the catch.

That's typically how the Broncos' offense attacks two-high coverage. Evan Engram, Fraklin, and Mims garner a target rate at 20 percent or higher versus two high. Sutton garners a lowly 16 percent target rate and produces 1.47 yards per route run.

Sutton faces Trent McDuffie, who allows the 26th-lowest fantasy points per route run and 16th-lowest yards per route run. The Chiefs' secondary ranks first in team coverage grade while allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to outside wide receivers, where Sutton lines up the most.

With Sutton's usage on the decline, he remains more of a WR3 than a consistent WR2 that fantasy managers should regularly start in their lineups. Be cautious with Sutton in Week 11.

Chimere Dike vs. Myles Bryant

In Week 9, Dike had five receiving yards on three targets and 275 yards on punt and kick returns. Hopefully, those fantasy leagues reward players for special team scores. If not, Dike's usage as a receiver tends to be more of a part-time player, playing primarily in the slot.

Even if we filter by Week 5 and beyond, when Dike started running more routes, he still only ran a route on 66 percent of the team's dropbacks with a 16 percent target per route rate. Where Dike thrives are the short areas where he can create yards after the catch. He ranks second on the team in yards after the catch per reception (YAC/Rec) at 5.56 yards behind Chig Okonkwo (6.19).

Among pass catchers with 100 routes run since Week 5, Dike ranks 19th in YAC/Rec while being the 28th-most efficient player in yards per target over expected (YPTOE). This is a classic case of trusting a receiver's usage instead of latching onto a small sample and per-route efficiency. While Dike possesses big-play ability, evidenced by the special teams yardage, we need to see more consistent usage before recommending him as a WR/CB matchup upgrade.

The Texans' defense deploys zone coverage at the sixth-highest rate while giving up the fourth-fewest fantasy points per dropback. Their tight ends have been the best producers against zone coverage, as seen below. Okonkwo produces 1.56 yards per route run, with Gunnar Helm at 1.86. If Calvin Ridley returns, he would be the Titans' best pass catcher against zone coverage.

Dike has sneakily been the Titans' best target earner, with a 22 percent target rate and the second-highest yards per route run at 1.59. When using single-high looks, the Texans' defense allows the lowest fantasy points per dropback and the second-fewest fantasy points per dropback when using two-high coverages.

From a coverage standpoint, the Texans' defense specifically deploys Cover 3 at the 11th-highest rate. Okonkwo, Helm, Ridley, Van Jefferson, and Elic Ayomanor garner a 20 percent target rate against Cover 3. Meanwhile, Dike has a team-low 16 percent target rate versus Cover 3. Unsurprisingly, Dike struggles to produce when facing Cover 3, as seen below.

Dike was fun before the bye week, but the Titans' offense hasn't been fantasy-friendly, as they're tied for the second-lowest implied points in Week 11.

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