Receivers with Great or Bad Matchups Week 9

Photo: USA Today Sports

This article attempts to highlight some of the best and worst matchups for wide receivers and tight ends each week. Using player tracking data from various sources (NFL.com, Pro Football Focus, ESPN, etc.) as well as reviews of recent trends, I look for situations to exploit or avoid when setting your weekly lineups. Given that this article is intended to help across all sites (both DFS and season-long), variations in pricing and scoring systems are not taken into account, so obviously, the values could shift depending on where you are playing. The main intent of this article is simply to call out some players who could be significantly helped or hurt by their situations each week.

Favorable Matchup

WR A.J. Brown (PHI vs HOU) vs Derek Stingley

At first glance, it may seem like this will be a down matchup for Brown. Houston is currently allowing the 5th fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. However, Stingley has struggled immensely so far and has allowed the second-most yards in coverage this season (507). He was asked to follow Courtland Sutton, Mike Williams, and Davante Adams, who all had seven or more catches and averaged 110 yards between them. It is a tough spot for Stingley, and Brown is coming off his dominant performance against the Steelers. Look for another solid performance from Brown this week.

WR Joshua Palmer (LAC vs ATL) Isaiah Oliver

The Chargers’ offense has struggled at times this season, but they are walking into a great matchup against a struggling defense coming off their Bye week. Atlanta is currently giving up the most fantasy points to opposing receivers, including the third-most to outside receivers. With Mike Williams injured, Palmer will get a free run on the outside. Keenan Allen is still banged up and has not returned to form on the other side, and A.J. Terrell, the Falcons’ best cover corner, has also missed time due to injury. If there were ever a week for Palmer to step up in the offense, it would be this week

WR Curtis Samuel (WAS vs MIN) vs Chandon Sullivan

Despite being 6-1, the Vikings’ defense has been mediocre so far this season. The secondary continues to be a weak spot and is not something they addressed with the trade deadline this week. Sullivan is being targeted the least out of any primary defender and is still allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to receivers on the team. Despite only being targeted 11% of the time, he is still allowing 0.39 fantasy points per coverage snap. This is narrowly beaten out by Cameron Dantzler allowing 0.42 points, but he is being targeted 24% of the time. Sullivan continues to give up touchdowns and the big play, and those are two things that Samuel is known for.

WR Chris Godwin (TB vs LAR) vs Troy Hill

The Rams do not look like a team that won the Super Bowl a season ago. The offense has struggled to score points, and the defense is being left on the field to try and clean up the mess. Hill has struggled mightily in the slot and allows 0.64 fantasy points per coverage snap while being targeted 20% of the time. He is being picked on in this defense and is going to have a tough time with Godwin this week. Godwin looks fully healthy and has become a favorite target of Tom Brady again. Look for another solid week with a high volume of targets for Godwin.

TE Evan Engram (JAX vs LV)

Engram has seen at least six targets in each of his past four games. A safe target floor for a tight end is about all you can ask for if you do not have any of the top players. Engram has double-digit points in three out of his past four games and scored a season-high 15.5 last week with a touchdown. He has a solid matchup against a Raiders team that is allowing 16.2 fantasy points per game and 6 touchdowns this season to opposing tight ends. Engram is a solid streaming choice this week at the thin tight end position.

TE Zach Ertz (ARZ vs SEA)

The return of DeAndre Hopkins has done little to eat into the production of Ertz so far this year. He has scored double-digit fantasy points in all but one game so far this year and is walking into a solid matchup against Seattle. The Seahawks are allowing 15.1 fantasy points per game to tight ends and have struggled to stay consistent in the secondary as a whole. At a thin position, Ertz is a must-start every week right now.

Unfavorable Matchups

WR Brandin Cooks (HOU vs PHI) vs Darius Slay

There is no guarantee that Slay will shadow Cooks this week, but they line up on the same side roughly 75% of the time, even if he does not follow. The Eagles are currently allowing the 4th fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers, and Slay has allowed just 20 catches for 229 yards and a single touchdown on 230 coverage snaps. Cooks made it known he wants out of Houston and was not moved at the deadline this week. There is not much to be excited about with the Houston offense, and that is even worse in a tough matchup against Philadelphia this week.