We are looking ahead at Wild Card Round 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

WR

Grade

DraftKings

FanDuel

CB

Grade

Matchup Grade

Odell Beckham JrB$9,100$8,900
Ladarius GunterCB+
Sterling ShepardC$4,800$5,100Micah BydeC-B
Antonio BrownB+$9,400$9,100Tony LippettCA-
Doug BaldwinB$7,000$6,900Asa JacksonFA+
Anquan BoldinC$4,000$4,800Jeremy LaneDB-
Kenny StillsC$3,800$5,000Artie BurnsCB

The Giants wideouts are all in a good spot this week against a banged up Green Bay secondary, that really struggled down the stretch. Eli Manning and company should be able to get things going. Odell Beckham Jr is obviously top dog this week, facing off against Ladarius Gunter for most of this one, who has allowed 0.29 fantasy points per route. Sterling Shepard gets Micah Hyde, who has been torched for 0.43 fantasy points per route.

It was been a while since DFS players have locked in on Antonio Brown. The crowded weaponry in Pittsburgh makes him a step behind OBJ for me this week, but as always is in play. Tony Lippett is allowing 0.29 fantasy points per route, and Brown is averaging a cool 0.54.

Doug Baldwin is my top points per dollar play this week at wide receiver, especially on FanDuel. He will see slot corner, Asa Jackson, who has allowed 0.48 fantasy points per route in backup duty this season. While this Seattle offense has been inconsistent, they average 28 points per game at home. Baldwin averages 94 receiving yards per game at home, compared to 47 on the road.

Getting to some cheap guys, I like Anquan Boldin this week as a cheap play, and dominates red zone targets. While getting to the red zone will be tough for Detroit, they are in play on a four game slate. Jeremy Lane has allowed 0.34 fantasy points per route, and is being targeted the second most out of any Seattle corner. With Golden Tate in a tough matchup, I am looking at other Detroit options. Miami will have to keep pace with this Pittsburgh offense, Kenny Stills is riding a four game streak for touchdowns, and gets an easy matchup against Artie Burns at times, who has allowed 0.32 fantasy points per route. This is the most among Pittsburgh Steelers corners.

Zone Coverage

WR

Grade

DraftKings

FanDuel

CB

Grade

Matchup Grade

Marvin JonesC$4,100$5,500DeShawn SheadCC-
Davante AdamsC$5,600$7,000Eli AppleCC
Jarvis LandryB$5,100$6,400William GayBC+
DeVante ParkerC$4,200$6,000Ross CockrellCC
Michael CrabtreeC+$5,300$6,000Jonathan JosephCC-
DeAndre HopkinsC+$6,700$7,400Sean SmithB-C

I am semi-intrigued with Marvin Jones this week as a deep big play threat. This is a tough environment, so my expectations are dampened, but on a four game slate you will need to take some shots. DeShawn Shead is the most targeted corner on the Seahawks, and allows 0.32 fantasy points per route. Jones is a boom or bust tournament play at most.

DeVante Parker and Jarvis Landry draw Ross Cockrell and William Gay, who are allowing identical 0.20 fantasy points allowed per route. Landry is in play this week in all formats, while Parker is more of a GPP dart throw. Matt Moore is serviceable, so I won't be knocking them down for their quarterback play.

With Jordy Nelson and likely Randall Cobb in tough matchups, Davante Adams could be a pivot worth making this week drawing Eli Apple. The rookie has been solid, but is the weaker of the defensive backs. He has allowed 0.28 fantasy points per route, which is the most among the Giants starting corners. Adams is second among Packers receivers in targets.

Well we finally get to the dreadful Houston-Oakland game with Brock Osweiler and Connor Cook starting. Wideouts in this game can be downgraded, but I am not willing to completely rule them out. Oakland has allowed some big plays this season, as Sean Smith allows 0.33 fantasy points per route. DeAndre Hopkins is also targeted on 24% of his routes. I don't mind Hopkins as a contrarian move. Michael Crabtree will avoid A.J. Bouye for the most part, and see Jonathan Joseph, who is allowing 0.26 fantasy points per route. He draws the easier matchup, yet it's still not anything to ride home about.

Lockdown Coverage

WR

Grade

DraftKings

FanDuel

CB

Grade

Matchup Grade

Jordy NelsonB$8,000$8,500Janoris JenkinsB+D
Randall CobbC$4,000$5,300Dominique Rodgers-CromartieAF
Amari CooperB-$5,200$6,500A.J. BouyeA-D
Golden TateC$6,300$6,100Richard ShermanBD-
Paul RichardsonC$3,400$4,700Darius SlayBD-

Janoris Jenkins will be shadowing Jordy Nelson this week, which is certainly troublesome on paper. Nelson is always in play with his chemistry with Aaron Rodgers of course. He also might be able to dodge Jenkins on a few plays. Jenkins has allowed just 0.19 fantasy points per route, which is the fewest on the slate. Nelson is still in play, but this isn't a walk in the park. If Randall Cobb goes, he will see DRC, who has allowed 0.27 fantasy points per route. I am also not banking on Cobb being 100% healthy, so that's another knock. I am off of Cobb this week, due to other cheap options being in better spots and fully healthy.

Amari Cooper might see a tick up in targets, as Connor Cook looked his way quite a bit when he was under center. Either way he draws a very tough matchup against A.J. Bouye, who has allowed just 0.24 fantasy points per route. Cooper does have a discounted price tag, and like most of these guys, is in play.

Golden Tate will see some Richard Sherman this week, which is problematic. He is only being targeted against 15% of the time, and is allowing just 0.22 fantasy points per route. I am not really big on Tate, despite the revenge game narrative this week. There has been some Paul Richardson talk this week, likely from our own Russell Clay, who will draw Darius Slay for most of this one. Slay is targeted more than any other Lions corner, which is a bit odd, but he does usually follow opposing WR1s, except in the slot. Richardson is a GPP play this week worth having a few shares of, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had trouble against Slay.



Comments
gelmashni@yahoo.com
Nice work with Antonio Brown and Doug Baldwin but you were off on OBJ, Shepard, Boldin, Stills, Richardson, and most importantly Cobb. Cobb was amazing and had such good value at $4,000! Plus going with Brown or Baldwin is not rocket science. They are target monsters.