WR/CB Matchups to Target and Downgrade - Week 7

October 24, 2021

Andrew Lalama evaluates key WR/CB matchups through his cornerback ratings chart to find top wide receivers to target or avoid in Week 6 fantasy football lineups.

Welcome to Week 7 of the WR/CB Matchups article, also known as Bye Week Hell. This weekly series takes a look at fantasy matchups between wide receivers and the cornerbacks projected to cover them most.

Creating the weekly matchup chart has been more challenging than usual this year due to the fact that most teams are moving their WRs around more than they ever have. It is difficult to pinpoint which CB each WR will be matched up. The chart is designed to give a 1-v-1 matchup for each player, but the reality is that most NFL WRs will see a mix of all the DBs they face each week. The chart is best used to understand how teams are defending outside versus inside receivers, if teams are shadowing, and how much emphasis they put on slowing down the opposing WR1.

While matchups do matter and every piece of information can give you an edge, it is important to understand that WR skill level and target share are more predictive than matchup in many cases. Blindly following the chart is not recommended, but it can be useful in making tough lineup decisions between two WRs close in skill level. The chart is best used to understand the context of matchups overall, not predict outcomes.

WR vs. CB Chart Details

The CB Matchup Chart below is a snapshot of each team's cornerback group as it relates to allowing fantasy points. There are inherent flaws within the data compilation of cornerback play. The first being the fact that quantifying a 1-on-1 matchup in an NFL game is unfair because of zone coverages, mental errors, certain passing concepts, and a million other things. Assigning fantasy points against a cornerback isn't a perfect science.

The purpose of this chart is to give more of a general sense of how defenses are handling opposing WR groups rather than identifying exactly where, when, and how every single encounter happened. Another factor to consider is that players are listed based on where they line up the majority of the time.  Most receivers do not line up on the right side on every single snap, so they won't be matched up with the same CB on every snap.

The "Rtng" column is the rating of each cornerback based on film study and analytics. The lower a player is graded, the easier the matchup for the WR, so low ratings are green and high ratings are red. The "PPGA" is the number of fantasy points per game that the player has given up. A name in blue means the corner could possibly shadow the WR1. A name in red means that the player is dealing with an injury. WRs highlighted in bright green have an easy matchup. WRs highlighted in light red have a tough matchup. The chart is a useful tool, but should not be used as a start/sit cheatsheet.

Cornerback Ratings and Matchups Chart - Week 7

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WR/CB Matchups to Target

The 6-0 Cardinals are firing on all cylinders, but their outside corners have given up an above average amount of fantasy points this year. Part of that is due to game script, and I expect that trend to continue this week against the Texans. That gives Texans outside WRs Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins good matchups in a game where Houston may have to pass a lot.

Atlanta is coming off a bye and this week take on the Dolphins. The Falcons have given up the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing WR1s, so if DeVante Parker plays, he gets an upgrade. If Parker is out, expect Jaylen Waddle to lead the team in targets and take more snaps on the outside. He has an easy matchup regardless as a rising fantasy producer.

Green Bay is decimated at corner, which is good news for Terry McLaurin. The Packers give up the most fantasy PPG to opposing WR1s, so a it's a great bounce-back spot for Washington's star receiver.

Calvin Ridley should be back for Atlanta, and Miami has been bad against opposing outside WRs all year. If Xavien Howard is out again, Ridley should have no trouble putting up a big game. If Howard is in, expectations should be lowered a bit, but keep in mind that Howard has been scorched by good WRs this season.

The 49ers give up the 6th-most PPG to opposing WR1s, and a healthy T.Y. Hilton has an advantage over Josh Norman for the Colts. Stay tuned for updates on Hilton's health. Keep in mind that he and Michael Pittman Jr. switch between right and left almost equally, so Pittman could see the easier matchup on many snaps as well.

The Washington Football Team can't cover anyone this season and this week get Davante Adams. Adams didn't have a huge game at Chicago last week but should be in line for a monster performance here. If Adams doesn't go off, it will likely be due to a game plan that allows Allen Lazard and/or Randall Cobb to flourish.

Antonio Brown has re-emerged as a legitimate fantasy WR1, and this week projects to match up with a very burnable LCB in Kindle Vildor. Chicago could choose to shadow Brown with Jaylon Johnson, which would be the ultimate sign that Brown has truly usurped Mike Evans as the Bucs No. 1 option. If Johnson stays on Evans, Brown has the much easier matchup. Keep in mind that all Bucs WRs move around the formation.

Tyler Lockett has been quiet since Russell Wilson went down, but this week has one of the easier WR2 matchups in the league against the Saints. While D.K. Metcalf will have to presumably deal with Marshon Lattimore, Lockett will have a quickness edge over whoever the Saints line up against him.

The Seahawks have been terrible against RWRs all year, so Deonte Harris gets an upgrade.

The Bucs have not been good against slot WRs this year, so Darnell Mooney gets an upgrade.

The burnable Eli Apple has been playing more LCB the past few weeks, and projects to match up with Marquise Brown more than any other Ravens receiver. Brown gets a bump. Chidobe Awuzie has been pretty good this year, so Sammy Watkins has the tougher draw if he plays. If Watkins sits, we still may have to wait a week or two for Rashod Bateman's inevitable breakout game.

Finally, the Chiefs passing game should overmatch the Titans' poor CB group. Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman get a bump.

WR/CB Matchups to Downgrade

The Colts CB group is getting healthier, which means they may be a tougher matchup overall going forward. Brandon Aiyuk projects to see the most Xavier Rhodes, so he gets a downgrade.

Adoree Jackson is having a great year for the Giants, so D.J. Moore gets a downgrade. Keep in mind that Moore has been excellent at beating zone coverage and is basically matchup-proof from a talent standpoint.

The Eagles improved pass defense took a step back against Antonio Brown and the Bucs last week, but Derek Carr isn't exactly Tom Brady. Both Bryan Edwards and Henry Ruggs III get downgrades.

On the other side of that game, Jalen Reagor will see a lot of Casey Hayward, so he gets a downgrade.

In a surprising development, the Jets CB group has been one of the best in the league thus far.  Rookie slot corner Michael Carter has been awesome, and a key reason the Jets have given up the second-fewest fantasy PPG to opposing slots in the league. Jakobi Meyers is still looking for his first career TD, but this is a tough matchup. Kendrick Bourne also gets a downgrade, as Bryce Hall has been outstanding at LCB for the Jets.

Thanks for reading and good luck this week.

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