By using our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defense schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. By tracking these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings, sit/start decisions and fantasy advice each week. Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can also help you make the best waiver wire pickups.
Below are the receivers with the best and worst matchups this week, as well as the corresponding fantasy impact.
To view the primary defenders the top three wide receivers for each team will see this weekend, be sure to check out our weekly WR vs. CB Cheat Sheet.
Unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjust to a per-game basis in order to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.
Projected shadow matchups
Raiders' Davante Adams vs. Bills' Tre'Davious White (Shadow)
White opened the season by shadowing Garrett Wilson on 16 of his 21 perimeter routes and he's likely to give Adams the same treatment in Week 2. These two haven't faced off since Week 4 of 2018, and Adams (then with Green Bay) was covered by White on 34 of his 42 routes. Adams racked up 13 targets and posted a solid 8-81-0 receiving line, with most of that damage coming on 10 targets against White. Lower expectations for Adams slightly. If he's able to play, Jakobi Meyers can be upgraded on the other side of the formation against Christian Benford.
Bears' DJ Moore vs. Buccaneers' Carlton Davis III (Shadow) and Bears' Chase Claypool vs. Buccaneers' Jamel Dean
Tampa Bay turned to Davis as a shadow corner a few times down the stretch last season, and that carried over to a Week 1 matchup with Justin Jefferson. Davis aligned against Jefferson on 34 of his 46 routes, including 33 of 34 on the perimeter. Moore aligned out wide on 82% of his routes in his Chicago debut, so these two figure to see a ton of one another this week. These two have some history, having both played in the NFC South over the past few seasons. Davis missed both games against Carolina in 2022, but he shadowed Moore in both 2021 matchups. Moore totaled a 12-142-0 receiving line on 21 targets during those two games, which included a 5-52-0 line on 11 targets against Davis. Moore can be downgraded, and the same goes for Claypool against Dean on the other side of the field.
Commanders' Terry McLaurin vs. Broncos' Pat Surtain II (Shadow)
Surtain shadowed top receivers throughout 2022 and did so against Davante Adams in Week 1. Washington has a great one-two punch at receiver in McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, but McLaurin figures to get the Surtain spotlight since he aligns outside 87% of the time, compared to 42% for Dotson and 18% for Curtis Samuel. Surtain rarely travels inside, so if he shadows McLaurin, these two will be matched up throughout most of this game. With McLaurin in jeopardy of the shadow, Dotson can be upgraded, as he'll see a lot of Damarri Mathis, who allowed most of Jakobi Meyers' 8-76-2 receiving line last week (not coincidentally while Surtain was shadowing Adams).
Vikings' Justin Jefferson vs. Eagles' Darius Slay (Shadow)
When these teams met in Week 2 last season, Slay shadowed Jefferson on 16 of his 20 perimeter routes and none of his 25 slot routes. Jefferson was held in check (6-48-0 receiving line on 12 targets), which included an ugly 1-7-0 receiving line on six targets against Slay. Despite Jefferson's down game exactly one year ago, you're obviously starting him on Thursday night. The more actionable note here is that rookie Jordan Addison could be in a smash spot. James Bradberry (concussion) seems unlikely to play, which sets Addison up with a plus matchup against 2022 undrafted free agent Josh Jobe, who has played 22 career snaps.
Falcons' Drake London vs. Packers' Jaire Alexander (Shadow)
Alexander shadowed only occasionally in 2022, but he was thrown right into that role in Week 1 when he covered DJ Moore on all 21 of his perimeter routes prior to resting late in the game. Alexander did not follow Moore to the slot, but that won't matter much this week as London aligned on the perimeter 90% of the time in Week 1. London was a fantasy nonfactor in Week 1 (zero catches), and life won't be any easier this week against Alexander. Downgrade him to flex territory.
Tough matchups
Cowboys' Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks vs. Jets' D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner
Last season, the Jets allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, as well as the fewest to the perimeter. This is problematic for all of Dallas' receivers, but especially Gallup and Cooks, who aligned on the perimeter 83% of the time in Week 1. Those two will see standouts Gardner and Reed on those plays and should be downgraded. Lamb aligned in the slot 75% of the time in Week 1 and, since Gardner and Reed almost never move inside, Dallas' top receiver figures to see a lot of Carter. He should only be downgraded slightly.
Jets' Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard vs. Cowboys' Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore
The Cowboys' new-look cornerback room helped limit the Giants to 110 yards, 0 TDs and 2 INTs through the air on Sunday night. Giants wide receivers totaled a 5-41-0 receiving line on 14 targets. This week, Wilson (84% perimeter) and Lazard (75%) will face off with Diggs and Gilmore on the perimeter and expectations should be reduced. That's especially the case with Aaron Rodgers out for the season.
Steelers' George Pickens, Allen Robinson II and Calvin Austin III vs. Browns' Martin Emerson Jr., Greg Newsome II and Denzel Ward
The Browns' pass defense was outstanding in Week 1, limiting Joe Burrow and the Bengals to 82 yards and 0 TDs on 32 attempts. Cincinnati's elite WR room totaled 49 yards on 19 targets. This week, Steelers outside receivers Pickens (87%) perimeter and Austin (85%) -- the latter replacing injured Diontae Johnson -- will face off with Cleveland boundary corners Ward and Emerson, leaving Robinson (14%) to face off with Newsome in the slot. Steelers receivers should be downgraded.
Advantageous matchups
Eagles' DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and A.J. Brown vs. Vikings' Akayleb Evans, Josh Metellus and Byron Murphy Jr.
The Vikings' new-look cornerback room debuted in Week 1, with Murphy and Evans handling the perimeter and S/CB Metellus manning the slot. The result was a pair of solid-to-good stat lines for Mike Evans (6-66-1) and Chris Godwin (5-51-0), and rookie Trey Palmer also found the end zone. Murphy is a solid corner, but Brown and especially Smith will see enough of Evans, Metellus and rookie Mekhi Blackmon to allow a big game.
Texans' Nico Collins, Noah Brown and Robert Woods vs. Colts' JuJu Brents, Kenny Moore II and Dallis Flowers
Jaguars wide receivers had little trouble against the Colts' secondary in Week 1, totaling a 14-165-2 receiving line on 21 targets. That was the expected result with 2022 UDFAs Flowers and Darrell Baker Jr. manning the perimeter. Indianapolis could have Brents back this week (he was out for personal reasons in Week 1), though that may not move the needle much considering he's a rookie who has missed practice time. Regardless, Woods and Collins are set up nicely against some combination of Brents, Flowers and Baker and can be upgraded. Brown gets only a slight boost against Moore in the slot.
Cardinals' Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore and Michael Wilson vs. Giants' Deonte Banks, Adoree' Jackson and Tre Hawkins III
We didn't get much of a look at New York's new-look CB room during Sunday's 40-0 loss to Dallas, but it's fair to remain concerned after the Giants surrendered 120 yards on only 14 WR targets in that loss. Banks (first-round rookie) and Hawkins (sixth-round rookie) are the team's boundary corners, with Jackson adjusting to life as a slot corner in nickel. Brown and Wilson are the perimeter receivers for Arizona, with Moore in the slot. All three get a slight boost in Week 2.