Receivers with Good and Bad Matchups: Week 15

This article highlights 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.) and 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 considered, so obviously, the values could shift depending on where you are playing. The main intent of this article is to call out some players who could be significantly helped or hurt by their situations each week.

Favorable Matchups

WR DJ Moore (CHI vs MIN) vs Stephon Gilmore

The Vikings continue to find ways to win games despite the defense allowing the most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Gilmore is their top cover option and has been asked to shadow in several games this season. He has not excelled in this role, including the last time he met Moore a few weeks ago, allowing 7 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. Gilmore currently allows 0.33 fantasy points per coverage snap and is being targeted 23% of the time. There is great value with Moore this week in a plus matchup against the Vikings.

WR Jakobi Meyers (LV vs ATL) vs Dee Alford

There has not been much to be excited about in Las Vegas regarding fantasy football. However, Meyers is walking into a great matchup against a secondary that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Brock Bowers garners most of the attention on the offense, but Meyers will face Alford in the slot. The slot corner currently allows 0.44 fantasy points per coverage snap and is being targeted 23% of the time. Bowers and Meyers are the only viable options on this team right now, and both can be upgraded this week against a poor Atlanta secondary.

WR Terry McLaurin (WAS vs NO) vs Kool-Aid McKinstry

Things have gone downhill quickly in New Orleans after their hot start to the season. They are missing several pieces on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. This bodes well for McLaurin and the Washington offense. Rookie corner McKinstry is currently allowing 0.24 fantasy points per coverage snap and is being targeted 18% of the time. These may be the best defensive numbers on the team, but New Orleans is allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. With Noah Brown likely out the rest of the season, McLaurin will see an even bigger target share than he already does the rest of the way.

WR Calvin Ridley (TEN vs CIN) vs Cam Taylor-Britt

Cincinnati has had a hard time covering any receiver from any team over the past eight weeks. They have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points overall and the seventh-most to the perimeter. Taylor-Britt is one of the biggest culprits in allowing 0.46 fantasy points per coverage snap and is targeted 20% of the time. This week, Tennessee receivers can be upgraded in a plus matchup against the Bengals.

WR Jauan Jennings (SF vs LAR) vs Quentin Lake

Jennings has been one of the few non-injured options in the San Francisco offense. He has outplayed Deebo Samuel Sr. all year and is commanding an equal target share with George Kittle. The Rams are getting healthy at the right time to make a run at the playoffs, but Lake has been a weak spot in the defense all season. He currently allows 0.37 fantasy points per coverage snap and is being targeted 19% of the time. Jennings has been reliable since Brandon Aiyuk got hurt and has a great matchup this week.

WR Zay Flowers (BAL vs NYG) vs Deonte Banks

Banks has struggled mightily this season and was even benched for a short period. He has been asked to shadow some of the top receivers in the league and has very poor results to show for it. He is not expected to follow Flowers this week but will likely match up against him more than half the time. Banks currently allows 0.47 fantasy points per coverage snap and is being targeted 24% of the time. Baltimore has a lot of weapons and can do damage all over the field, but Flowers has the best matchup this week and should be upgraded.

TE Jonnu Smith (MIA vs HOU)

Smith has been one of the best fantasy football tight ends over the past few weeks. He has scored 21+ points in three out of his last four and has not scored lower than 13.2 points in that span. Houston has not played a truly elite tight end in over a month and has still been beaten for 15+ points twice. The target share and the matchup will easily make Smith a top-10 tight end this week.