NFL Week 4 WR/CB Matchups
Week 3 saw a few notable cornerback injuries, with both the Redskins and Giants suffering injuries to multiple starters. In order to stay ahead of the game, fantasy players need to make quick adjustments in their analysis of these situations. Let’s break down this week’s notable WR/CB matchups using our Matchups tool as a guide.
The Studs
Antonio Brown vs. Phillip Gaines and Marcus Peters
I’m sure everyone wants to talk about Brown versus Peters, but Brown should spend the majority of his day running routes against Phillip Gaines. Gaines grades as Pro Football Focus’ 90th-ranked cornerback on the season. However, I’m not too sure that anyone should be afraid of Peters on the other side, either. Peters is a risk-taking cornerback (of the Asante Samuel mold) who gives up plenty of fantasy production as he tries for interceptions.
According to Football Outsiders’ DVOA (Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average), the Chiefs rank second-best in production allowed to WR1s. This is largely due to the fact that interceptions are weighed into this formula and Peters has four through three weeks. Fortunately for us, interceptions don’t count as negatives for our wide receivers. Brown is seeing almost 34 percent of Pittsburgh’s targets and has the highest ceiling among WRs in Adam Levitan’s Player Model.
Julio Jones vs. Bene Benwikere and James Bradberry
Interestingly, Bene Benwikere has been moving around the formation this season, spending time at all three cornerback positions. On top of that, rookie James Bradberry has been playing much better than expected in his first season. Bene grades out as PFF’s 16th-best cornerback and Bradberry grades as the 31st.
While I wouldn’t normally be worried about either of these cornerbacks against a healthy Julio, I think they are a downgrade for him this week. Julio was obviously less than 100 percent on Monday night, catching only one of seven targets. His calf and ankle are obviously bothering him, making him a risky play again this week. However, he does project to have very low ownership.
Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Xavier Rhodes
While Xavier Rhodes graded poorly according to PFF on his first week back, he did play a part in Kelvin Benjamin‘s zero catches. Rhodes has had an up-and-down career with the Vikings, but he is now playing behind a defensive front that has 15 sacks on the season. The Vikings’ defensive line ranks first in adjusted sack rate this year, per Football Outsiders.
Rhodes may not be a downgrade against OBJ individually, but this impressive Vikings defense is a downgrade for the offense as a whole. After facing Cam Newton and Aaron Rodgers, the Vikings are still allowing the sixth-fewest offensive yards in the NFL. Beckham has only a 10.4-point floor in Adam Levitan’s FanDuel Player Model, and the Vikings allow a low -0.4 Plus/Minus to opposing wide receivers this season.
A.J. Green vs. Byron Maxwell and Xavien Howard
Byron Maxwell is grading out very poorly yet again this season according to PFF, ranking 69th at the position. Howard is right there with him, grading 82nd. Green ranks fifth in the NFL in targets and sixth in receiving yards. However, it is important to note that 61 percent of his receiving production this year has come solely from Week 1. Still, this week he gets to face a secondary that just allowed a 8-144 stat line to Terrelle Pryor. Look for Green to have a big bounce-back game this week against a defense that has allowed a +2.5 Plus/Minus to opposing wide receivers in the past year.
DeAndre Hopkins vs. Titans Secondary
Hopkins should run mostly against Jason McCourty but should also see time against Perrish Cox (PFF’s 104th-ranked CB). Before playing a strong game against Amari Cooper, McCourty had a 54.5 PFF grade (it jumped to 79.0 after Week 3). However, that might be a bit misleading, as last week Derek Carr overthrew Cooper on what would have been a 39-yard touchdown. The Titans are FO’s 17th-ranked passing defense and 10th-ranked rushing defense. This has caused them to funnel opposing offenses into the pass. Upgrade Hopkins this week.
Notable Upgrades
Will Fuller vs. Perrish Cox and Rashad Johnson
After a down Week 3, Fuller should look to bounce back against Cox and Rashad Johnson. With a player like Fuller — he has accounted for 47.92 percent of the Texans’ air yards — it is important to consider the safety coverage as well. Fuller should run the majority of his routes on the left side of the field. There he will match up with PFF’s 104th-ranked cornerback in Cox, who will receive assistance from PFF’s 69th-ranked safety in Johnson. Fuller should have plenty of opportunities to make something happen this week.
Mike Wallace vs. Sean Smith
This year, Sean Smith has easily been the most fantasy-friendly cornerback. He has allowed the most fantasy points per route run and grades 47th at the position according to PFF. While Smith should see time against both Steve Smith and Mike Wallace, the former will be running more routes against David Amerson, who is currently PFF’s top-graded cornerback on the season.
Amari Cooper vs. Shareece Wright
After a slow start to the season, Allen Robinson managed to catch two touchdown passes against Shareece Wright in Week 3. Wright is PFF’s 87th-ranked cornerback and should be covering Cooper on more than half of his snaps while Jimmy Smith mostly covers Michael Crabtree on the other side.
Stefon Diggs vs. Trevin Wade
Both Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Eli Apple are likely to miss this week’s game against Minnesota. That means PFF’s top-graded WR, Diggs, will run the majority of his routes against a cornerback in Wade who replaced Apple in Week 3 and earned a poor 52.8 coverage grade from PFF.
Notable Downgrade
Terrelle Pryor vs. Josh Norman
The Redskins may be down two starters in Dashaun Phillips and Bashaud Breeland. This will most likely lead to Norman spending the majority of his day on the Browns’ only play-maker in Pryor. Pryor went off last week but will have much bigger test than the Miami secondary that doesn’t have a single corner with higher than a 60.0 PFF grade. Pryor’s $4,300 DK salary is difficult to ignore, but he’s an easier fade on FD at $7,000.
