We are looking ahead at Week 1 to find the elite matchups for wide receivers against corners. Using Pro Football Focus's ratings as a base, we are able to get an advanced look at what matchups we can take advantage of. Defense against opposing WR's is grabbed from FootballOutsiders. They matchups are broken down into the top tier matchups, middle tier matchups, and matchups to fade. Now the opposing cornerback may not always be on the highlighted receiver, but this is a look at who the highlighted receiver will likely see most of the game. Not every number one cornerback covers the opposing team's wide receiver. They usually stay on their side of the field, and on occasion can shadow a number one. I will continue to edit it during the week, if there is given news of a switch in matchups. Blown coverage equals great matchups, zone coverages suggest they are toss-ups, and lockdown coverage is pretty self explanatory.

Blown Coverage

Wide ReceiverDraftKingsFanDuelCornerbackMatchup Grade
Larry Fitzgerald$5,900$6,400Quandre DiggsA+
Julio Jones$8,500$9,000Marcus CooperA+
Kelvin Benjamin$5,900$6,500Rashard RobinsonB+
A.J. Green$8,000$8,400Brandon CarrB
Antonio Brown$8,800$9,100Jamar TaylorA
Amari Cooper$7,200$7,600Adoree JacksonA-
Doug Baldwin$6,700$7,500Quinten RollinsA
Randall Cobb$5,300$5,900Jeremy LaneB

Most of the elite wide receivers get plus matchups this week, and that will be the case in most weeks. We will start with Larry Fitzgerald, who will be a popular play against Quandre Diggs. Fitzgerald ran 64% of his routes out of the slot last season, and had a 70% catch rate. Diggs was strictly a slot corner, and is at a disadvantage with the taller Fitzgerald. Diggs allowed a 90% catch rate, and a 0.36 fantasy points per route run (F/R). Another slot receiver that bodes well this week is Randall Cobb. Jeremy Lane played the slot last year, covering 82% of the time, and allowed 0.32 F/R, with a 71% catch rate. Not only is Cobb cheap this week, I am expecting some positive regression in the touchdown department. I am not worried about the Seattle matchup for the Packers passing game, and neither should you. In that same game, Doug Baldwin is underpriced, and expected to get a fair amount of targets right off the bat. Baldwin will see some of Rollins, who split his time between left and slot corner. Rollins allowed 0.36 F/R, and Baldwin's teammates of Tyler Lockett and Paul Richardson are interesting dart throws. Neither matchup warrant a downgrade.

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