NFL Wide Receiver Matchup Grades: Week 17

We are looking ahead at Week 17 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

The Cardinals might have nothing to play for, but there wide receivers are in a great spot, including J.J. Nelson who isn't listed above. While David Johnson is priority number one in this offense, Larry Fitzgerald is in a great spot against a corner we have been picking on for most of this season, E.J. Gaines. He is allowing 0.42 fantasy points per route, and being targeted 23% of the time. Fitz should draw extremely low ownership this week given the lack of production in the second half. Adam Thielen is coming off of a monster 200-yard week, and found the end zone twice. I am not particularly worried with the matchup against Jonathan Banks, who has played limited time this season for Chicago.

Lions-Packers is the game of the week, and given both secondaries have been poor this season, we get a competitive game that should feature plenty of fantasy points through the air. Golden Tate moves around a lot, but will see Damarious Randall, who has allowed 0.47 fantasy points per route this season. Marvin Jones had a monster game against them earlier this season, and is a GPP play at most again. Both Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams are in good spots this week, and Nelson is clearly the top option of the week. He is seeing 23% of the targets on his routes, and averaging 0.45 fantasy points per route. If Randall Cobb plays, is would be a swerve off of Adams, and in a good.

The Seahawks can lock up a possible bye this week, so there is something to play for, and they draw an easy matchup against the 49ers. The secondary is essentially filled with backups, and Keith Reaser will have duties of covering Doug Baldwin. In limited time, Reaser is allowing 0.43 fantasy points per route. Baldwin is a high upside play, and while he might draw a bit higher ownership given last week, I still expect him to be overlooked.

Kelvin Benjamin and DeAndre Hopkins have churned out disappointing seasons, but find themselves in good matchups for Week 17. Houston has come out and said they will be playing to win, and Hopkins has looked a bit more fantasy relevant under Tom Savage. This Tennessee secondary is horrendous, and Hopkins is in a sneaky spot. LeShaun Sims is allowing 0.43 fantasy points per route so far in his starts. Vernon Hargreaves has been alright this season, and is being targeted 22% of the time. Benjamin has been lackluster this year, and the snap counts aren't necessarily where I like them. I don't mind him in a GPP though.

Tampa Bay needs a lot of help to make the playoffs, and Mike Evans should be seeing 10+ targets in this one, and Carolina has struggled against WR1s. Evans is certainly up there with the elite, and is a mismatch for most corners. I did not list Julio Jones up above, given Atlanta will likely be careful with him this week, but he is in a top matchup. I will likely fade given his snaps should be limited.

Zone Coverage

The Narrative Street game for Steve Smith is here, as he is likely to retire after this season. There also has been some banter between the Bengals corners and him, as well most corners have with Smith. It is not a plus matchup, but Cincinnati isn't one to shy away from either. Smith will draw some ownership due to the incoming of narrative tweets from industry members. Get yourself some shares. Sammy Watkins gets a downgrade this week with Tyrod Taylor moving to the bench. E.J. Manuel will start, which is a bummer for fantasy production. The Jets have been beat by the long ball, and while Darrelle Revis has improved as the season went on, he is still capable of being beat deep. Watkins has averaged 0.37 fantasy points per route in his few 2016 games.

Oakland has allowed the big plays to opposing wideouts, and Emmanuel Sanders is the big home run threat wideout in Denver. The Broncos passing game is funneled to Demaryius Thomas and Sanders, so there isn't much competition. As far as a floor this week, there a better options, but David Amerson is allowing a pedestrian 0.32 fantasy points per route. Brandon Marshall's season suffered with the Jets lack of offensive ability everywhere else. Buffalo has struggled against WR1s, but the Jets quarterback play is what scares me the most. It is a tossup matchup, but one Marshall can take advantage of.

This Jags-Colts game could be pretty fun for fantasy, and the correlation of Allen Robinson and T.Y. Hilton is an interesting way to go. Hilton will likely see a fair amount of Jalen Ramsey, which is an issue for me Hilton is a GPP play for me this week, averaging 0.44 fantasy points per route, and is targeted 24% of the time. Robinson is coming off of a strong week, and while Vontae Davis isn't graded highly, he is only allowing 0.23 fantasy points per route. Robinson moved around a bit last week, which might have been a reason for the Week 16 surge. I like him at these prices again.

Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas will get to exploit an average Atlanta secondary this week. We just have to hope for less Mark Ingram and Tavaris Cadet touchdowns. Either way these two are solid pairing options with Drew Brees in a game that should be one of the higher scoring ones on the weekend.

This game matters more to Washington than it does to New York, and this certainly isn't the most optimal matchup for a pass heavy offense. While New York ranks 22nd in passing yards allowed, they keep opposing teams out of the end zone. Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson, and Jamison Crowder will have tough tasks this week, but volume alone should be enough to push them ahead. I don't mind using one of the three, and would have to say Jackson has the most upside given his big play ability. Both him and Crowder found the end zone earlier against the Giants this season.

Lockdown Coverage

While we hope that Minnesota's secondary can figure out who they should cover this week, Xavier Rhodes is expected to draw Alshon Jeffery. Rhodes isn't a guy I typically target, allowing just 0.20 fantasy points per route. With Matt Barkley under center, and his performance last week, I am not all that confident in the Chicago receiving core. Jeremy Maclin is in a similar boat, who has been out of the offense for the most part this season. Casey Hayward has done a damn good job taking over as the top corner since Jason Verrett went down, and has been a guy to avoid over the last few weeks. He is allowing just 0.22 fantasy points per route, and is only being targeted 17% of the time.

Kenny Britt is questionable for this week, but if he plays, will see Patrick Peterson. This is certainly a stay away situation for me, and for me always. Peterson is only targeted 15% of the time, and is allowing 0.20 fantasy points per route. Malcolm Butler has been close to a sure thing to avoid this season, and will find himself shadowing Jarvis Landry. Add in Matt Moore to this equation, and you have me staying away from the Miami offense entirely. Butler is allowing 0.24 fantasy points per route. this season.

Oakland's offense will be a fade for me this week, as the offense will have their first game without Derek Carr. It was already a matchup in the red against Denver this week, and their top secondary. Matt McGloin will enjoy this as his first test. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree are surpassed by many other options. No Denver corner is allowing over 0.22 fantasy points per route this season.

I have see some reports on the Giants offense being limited to playing, but Odell Beckham Jr would see Josh Norman if suits up and gives it a go. Sterling Sheppard would be an attractive swerve if that was the case. Beckham isn't a fade, but I prefer Evans/Nelson over him despite higher ownership.