Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can help you make the best lineup decisions. Using our play-by-play data, we can identify defensive schemes and determine where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. By following these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, we can provide the best projections, rankings, sit/start advice, and waiver wire suggestions each week.

Below are the receivers with this week’s best and worst matchups, as well as their corresponding fantasy impact.

If you want to see the key defenders each team’s top three wide receivers will face this weekend, be sure to check out our weekly WR vs. CB Cheat Sheet.

Please note that unless otherwise stated, references to team rankings in statistical categories are adjusted on a match-by-match basis to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.

Projected Shadow Matchups

Eagles’ AJ Brown vs. Giants’ Deonte Banks (Shadow)

Banks has shadowed Justin Jefferson, Terry McLaurin, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, DK Metcalf and Tee Higgins this season. He targeted receivers on 151 of 198 routes, including 142 of 153 at the edge. Their receiving lines were as follows: Jefferson (6 targets-4 receptions-59 yards-1 touchdown), McLaurin (8-6-22-0), Cooper (12-7-86-2), Lamb (8-7-98 -1), Metcalf (7-4-55-0) and Higgins (7-7-77-0). That equates to an average of 16.5 fantasy points per game.

Banks has clearly had his ups and downs and top receivers haven’t had much trouble against New York. In fact, the Giants have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to perimeter receivers, which is where Brown lines up 75% of the time.

Takeaway: The receiver production being overshadowed by Banks suggests we can upgrade Brown in this matchup, especially since DeVonta Smith will have his hands full with impressive rookie Dru Phillips in the slot.

Seahawks’ DK Metcalf vs. Falcons’ AJ Terrell (Shadow)

Terrell shadowed George Pickens, DeVonta Smith, Mike Evans and Diontae Johnson this season. He covered the receivers on 70 of their 108 routes, including 70 of 77 at the edge. The receiving lines were as follows: Pickens (7-6-85-0), Smith (9-6-69-0), Evans (7-5-62-2) and Johnson (10-6-78-1), which equates to 17.6 fantasy points per game. Metcalf is on the line 84% of the time and he can expect Terrell on all those plays.

Takeaway: Top receivers clearly haven’t had any issues against Terrell and the zone-heavy Falcons this season, so Metcalf doesn’t need to be demoted.

Jets’ Garrett Wilson vs. Joey Porter Jr. of Steelers (Shadow)

Porter hasn’t shadowed full-time since Week 3, but that was somewhat expected against the Colts, Cowboys and Davante Adams-less Raiders. He traveled against Drake London, Courtland Sutton and Quentin Johnston during weeks 1 through 3, lining up against the three on a total of 58 of 84 routes, including 57 of 66 at the edge. London posted a 2-15-0 line on four goals, Sutton posted 1-26-0 on five goals and Johnston posted 2-44-1 on a pair of goals.

The Jets acquired Adams on Tuesday, making Porter less likely to shadow Wilson, but it is still a possibility as Adams gets acclimated to the offense. Plus, Wilson is on one line 35% of the time, so he’ll avoid Porter about a third of the time anyway.

Takeaway: Especially with Adams in the mix, Wilson’s prospects hardly need to be adjusted.

Brian Thomas Jr. of Jaguars vs. Christian Gonzalez of Patriots (Shadow)

Gonzalez has shadowed Ja’Marr Chase, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Brandon Aiyuk and Tyreek Hill and combined to cover the trio on 114 of 159 routes, including 92 of 106 on the perimeter and 22 of 52 in the slot. The receiving lines of those receivers were as follows: Chase (6-6-62-0), Metcalf (14-10-129-1), Wilson (9-5-33-1), Aiyuk (5-2-48 – 0) and Hill (9-6-69-0).

Gonzalez has been heavily targeted (a hefty 27% of coverage numbers — third-highest among cornerbacks expected to play a prominent role this week — and the Patriots, in turn, have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to the perimeter this season. Gonzalez shadowed not last week against the Nico Collins-less Texans, so this isn’t a lock, but opposing defenses have generally treated Thomas as Jacksonville’s top threat (more so than Gabe Davis, especially 75% of the time). that he is on the border.

Takeaway: Gonzalez is a good player, but we clearly don’t have to fear this pass defense.

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Tough matchups

Bills’ Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins and Amari Cooper vs. Titans’ L’Jarius Sneed, Roger McCreary and Jarvis Brownlee Jr.

The Titans have allowed the fewest yards, lowest yards per target (5.7) and second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the second-fewest on the perimeter. Only one receiver has recorded 12.5 fantasy points against him in a game this season.

Coleman (94% perimeter), newcomer Cooper (80% in Cleveland) and Mack Hollins (64%) will team up on the outside against Sneed and Brownlee, while Shakir (28%) will battle McCreary in the closing stages. Downgrade the Buffalo passing game.

Titans’ DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley vs. Bills’ Christian Benford, Taron Johnson and Rasul Douglas

The zone-heavy Bills have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to receivers (the second-fewest over the past four weeks), including the eighth-fewest on the perimeter. Two receivers have put up 16.0 fantasy points against Buffalo and one was a product of Allen Lazard’s improbable Hail Mary catch on Monday.

Ridley (82% perimeter) and Hopkins (71%) will run most of their routes against Benford and Douglas on the outside, while Boyd (21%) will work against one of the league’s best slot corners, Johnson. Tennessee’s receivers should be downgraded a bit.

Steelers’ George Pickens, Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson vs. Jets’ DJ Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner

The Jets dominance at wide receivers continues for a third straight season. New York has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points at the position, including the fewest on perimeter and 11th on the slot. The Jets have allowed the fewest receptions, second-fewest yards and three TDs to receivers.

Pickens (69% perimeter) and Jefferson (70%) will have their hands full against one of the league’s best CB duos in Gardner and Reed. Austin (43%) will work inside against slot man Carter. You’re already avoiding Jefferson and Austin, but Pickens will be a riskier flex than usual in this tough matchup.

Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. of Colts vs. Kendall Fuller, Kader Kohou and Jalen Ramsey of Dolphins

Miami returns from its bye having given up the third-fewest fantasy points to WRs, including the seventh-fewest on the perimeter and sixth-fewest on the slot. Ramsey has appeared in two of Miami’s five games (against DK Metcalf and Calvin Ridley), so it’s possible he will travel with Pittman in this matchup.

Either way, Indianapolis’ top receiver will see a lot of Ramsey and/or Fuller, which is a tough assignment. He’s joined out wide by deep threat Pierce (79% perimeter), while Downs (79% slot) works inside against Kohou. Downgrade the Colts’ passing game.

Advantageous matchups

Panthers’ Diontae Johnson, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette vs. Commanders’ Benjamin St-Juste, Noah Igbinoghene and Mike Sainristil

St-Juste played in half of Washington’s games this season (against Mike Evans, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Amari Cooper), but did not do so against the Giants, Bengals and, most recently, the Ravens. It’s possible he follows Johnson this week, but either way, it’s a good spot for the entire Carolina passing game. Washington has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers (most in the past four weeks), including eighth-most on the perimeter and fifth-most on the slot.

Assuming no shadows, Johnson (77% perimeter) and Legette (70%) will work primarily against the heavily targeted St-Juste and rookie Sainristil, leaving undrafted rookie Coker (27%) to face Igbinoghene in the lock. Upgrade Carolina’s receivers.

The Commanders’ Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey and Noah Brown vs. the Panthers’ Jaycee Horn, Troy Hill and Michael Jackson

Carolina continues to struggle against perimeter receivers, having allowed the third-most points to the line (most in the last four weeks). The Panthers have allowed nine TDs (third most) to wide receivers and seven have scored 16.0 fantasy points against them.

McLaurin (78% perimeter) and Brown (79%) will benefit the most from this matchup, as they will compete on the outside against Horn and Jackson. McCaffrey (18%) isn’t on the fantasy radar and Carolina has had a good run, but we’re not overly intimidated by Hill either. This passing game is upgradeable.

Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk vs. Jaguars’ Tyson Campbell/Montaric Brown, Darnell Savage and Ronald Darby

The Jaguars have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers (most above expectations), including the most on the perimeter and the eighth most on the slot. They rank in the top 5 in points allowed to both right and left boundary receivers and rank third in catches and yards allowed for the position. Eight receivers have already produced more than 15 fantasy points against them.

We generally don’t look to New England for help at wide receiver, but this matchup adds some sleeper appeal to this trio. Note that Jacksonville could have top cornerback Campbell back from IR this week, which should help improve the pass defense and make this a less attractive matchup.

Buccaneers’ Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Sterling Shepard vs. Ravens’ Brandon Stephens, Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins

Baltimore has allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, as well as the second-most points on the perimeter and slot. The Ravens have allowed a league-high 11 TDs to wide receivers and five wideouts have already reached the 20-point mark against them.

Evans (67% perimeter) and Shepard (81%) will work primarily against Stevens and Wiggins on the perimeter, while Godwin (37%) will see a lot of Humphrey in the slot. Baltimore has a lot of talent at corner, but that clearly hasn’t translated to the field, so Tampa Bay’s receivers could be upgraded.

Ravens’ Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor and Zay Flowers vs. Buccaneers’ Jamel Dean, Tykee Smith and Zyon McCollum

On the other side of that matchup, we have a zone-heavy Tampa Bay pass defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to receivers this season. That includes the fifth-most to the perimeter and the 12th-most to the slot.

After a solid start to the season, the Buccaneers have allowed over fourteen fantasy points to four receivers over their last two games. Flowers (67% perimeter) and Bateman (92%) will see Dean and McCollum mainly on the outside, while Agholor (49%) will match up with Smith in the final game. Flowers and companionship can be upgraded.