Fantasy football is a weekly game, and knowing the matchups can help you make the best lineup decisions. By analyzing play-by-play data, we can identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. This allows us to offer the best projections, rankings, sit/start advice, and waiver wire suggestions each week.
Here are the receivers with the best and worst matchups this week, along with the corresponding fantasy impact:
**Projected Shadow Matchups**
* Raiders’ Davante Adams vs. Broncos’ Pat Surtain II (Shadow): Despite Adams’ past success, Surtain’s elite play this season can’t be ignored. Las Vegas’ receiver should be downgraded.
* Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill vs. Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez (Shadow): Hill moves around the formation a ton, and considering the WR production we’ve seen against New England this season, this matchup isn’t a major concern.
* Seahawks’ DK Metcalf vs. Giants’ Deonte Banks (Shadow): Metcalf is in a terrific spot and can be upgraded.
* Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb vs. Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. (Perimeter Shadow): Lamb won’t see Porter enough for us to worry about this matchup.
* Buccaneers’ Mike Evans vs. Falcons’ A.J. Terrell (Shadow): Evans will dodge Terrell when he’s in the slot, and considering how well Pickens and Smith performed, there’s no need to downgrade him more than slightly.
* Browns’ Amari Cooper vs. Commanders’ Benjamin St-Juste (Shadow): Upgrade Cooper and the entire Cleveland wide receiver room.
**Tough Matchups**
* Texans’ Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell vs. Bills’ Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, and Rasul Douglas: Downgrade the Houston wide receiver room.
* Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, Brandon Powell, and Jordan Addison vs. Jets’ D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, and Sauce Gardner: Jefferson is fairly matchup-proof, but this will be one of the toughest challenges for him and his running mates.
**Advantageous Matchups**
* Jets’ Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and Mike Williams vs. Vikings’ Shaquill Griffin, Byron Murphy Jr., and Stephon Gilmore: If you expect the Vikings to continue their strong play, Jets receivers will be in a good spot this week.
* Bears’ DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze vs. Panthers’ Jaycee Horn, Troy Hill, and Michael Jackson: Moore and Odunze benefit most from this matchup, but Allen also gets the edge on Hill in the slot.
* Packers’ Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks vs. Rams’ Tre’Davious White and Cobie Durant: Doubs and Wicks benefit most from this matchup.
* Colts’ Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Jaguars’ Montaric Brown, Darnell Savage, and Ronald Darby: Pittman and Pierce can be upgraded, and Downs can also be upgraded if Savage doesn’t play.
* Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr., Christian Kirk, and Gabe Davis vs. Colts’ Jaylon Jones, Kenny Moore II, and Samuel Womack III: Both Thomas and Davis can be upgraded, and Kirk can be upgraded if Moore doesn’t play.
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