As fantasy football managers gear up for the crucial stretch run, understanding the nuances of wide receiver vs cornerback matchups becomes increasingly important. Each week, we dive into the data to identify potential shadow situations, tough individual battles, and opportune matchups to exploit. Armed with this information, you’ll be better prepared to make those difficult start/sit decisions and optimize your lineup for success.
Projected Shadow Matchups for Week 10
One of the first things we look for when analyzing the upcoming slate is potential shadow matchups, where a defense assigns their top corner to follow an opponent’s alpha receiver across the formation. While not every team employs this tactic, it’s prevalent enough to warrant our attention. Here are the most likely shadow situations for Week 10:
DeAndre Hopkins (KC) vs Pat Surtain II (DEN)
The Denver Broncos have tasked impressive second-year corner Pat Surtain II with shadowing opposing WR1s in recent weeks, and he’s largely risen to the challenge. Surtain held DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Mike Evans, and Garrett Wilson in check, with none of them reaching 85 receiving yards or scoring a TD on his watch. He travels to the perimeter more often than the slot, which matches up with DeAndre Hopkins‘ typical deployment in the Chiefs’ offense. While Hopkins’ talent keeps him in the WR1 mix weekly, the tough draw in Surtain does cap his ceiling a bit in this matchup.
DJ Moore (CHI) vs Christian Gonzalez (NE)
The New England Patriots haven’t been afraid to use rooke stud Christian Gonzalez in a shadow role this season. He’s already tracked Ja’Marr Chase, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Tyreek Hill, and others at various points. While the results have been somewhat mixed, Gonzalez is an ascending talent who raises the degree of difficulty for opposing receivers. DJ Moore has been the Bears’ clear top target since joining them via trade, and he runs a route tree that projects to see plenty of Gonzalez on the boundary. The Pats also play a lot of man coverage, which enables their corners to travel more easily. Moore may struggle to meet expectations in this spot.
Terry McLaurin (WSH) vs Joey Porter Jr. (PIT)
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t used rookie Joey Porter Jr. as a full-time shadow to date, but he has traveled with elite receivers like Drake London, Courtland Sutton, and Quentin Johnston at times. Porter has the size and physicality to hang with alpha receivers on the perimeter. Terry McLaurin certainly fits that bill for the Commanders, aligning wide over 85% of the time. Even if Porter doesn’t strictly shadow McLaurin, he figures to see a lot of him based on their respective alignments. Any extra attention from the ascending rookie would be a knock on McLaurin’s rest-of-season outlook.
Tough Matchups: Downgrade these WRs
Some matchups are tough on paper even without a shadow situation in play. Whether it’s an elite secondary overall or particularly stingy corners on one side of the formation, these are the spots where we’d look to temper expectations for wideouts in Week 10:
- Dallas Cowboys WRs vs Philadelphia Eagles CBs
- The Eagles have arguably the best CB trio in the NFL with Darius Slay, James Bradberry, and Avonte Maddox. They’ve been stingier of late after a somewhat slow start.
- Arizona Cardinals WRs vs New York Jets CBs
- Rookie sensation Sauce Gardner teams up with D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II to form a lockdown Jets secondary. They allow the fewest fantasy points to WRs.
Advantageous Matchups: Upgrade these WRs
On the flip side, some matchups are just too good for fantasy managers to ignore. When a talented receiving corps runs up against a beatable secondary, fireworks often ensue. Consider upgrading your expectations for these WRs in Week 10:
- Cincinnati Bengals WRs vs Baltimore Ravens CBs
- Baltimore’s DBs have been routinely torched by the opposition, surrendering the 2nd-most fantasy points to WRs. Fire up the Bengals’ elite trio with confidence.
- Jacksonville Jaguars WRs vs Minnesota Vikings CBs
- The Vikings’ zone-heavy scheme has proven quite generous to opposing WRs, as they’ve allowed the most total fantasy points to the position. The Jags’ ascending WRs are set up smashingly here.
- San Francisco 49ers WRs vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers CBs
- Tampa Bay’s young CB group has predictably had some growing pains, especially with top cover man Carlton Davis III on IR. The 49ers have a versatile group that can win inside and out.
By digging into the underlying data on WR/CB matchups each week, we can uncover hidden edges to optimize our fantasy lineups. Whether it’s fading a wideout facing a tough shadow assignment or riding a receiver with a cupcake draw, these micro angles can add up over the course of a season. Combine this information with workload projections and pricing/rankings on various DFS sites, and you’ll be well on your way to crushing the competition in Week 10 and beyond. Good luck!
