Wide Receiver Matchup Grades: Week 9

We are looking ahead at week 9, 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. 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.

Top Tier Matchups

Antonio Brown - With Le'Veon Bell down for the season, expect the passing game to get a bump in usage, especially this week. Bryant has an excellent matchup against David Amerson, who ranks as the 115th rated corner. Martavis Bryant is also in play, with a B matchup this week. Oakland ranks middle of the road in passing defense.

Jarvis Landry - Buffalo has a pair of top tier cornerbacks, and do rank in the top ten for pass defense. Jarvis Landry could matchup against Nickell Roby in the slot, who has an F grade. Landry ranks as the 22nd rated wideout, and could be a sneaky play, especially on DK.

Julian Edelman - New England has a dream matchup, facing a poor Washington secondary. Now there are a lot of options for Brady to use, but Edelman draws an excellent matchup against Chris Culliver. Unfortunately, everyone has an excellent matchup, so it could be a guessing game for who goes off.

Odell Beckham Jr. - Coming off of a three touchdown performance, he set the bar pretty high. Giants will get the Bucs defense, who just allowed a massive line to Julio Jones. Beckham will see Jonathan Banks, who has an F- rating, and the Bucs have been thrashed in the passing game this season. He could be in line for another big week.

Julio Jones - Surprise, surprise, Julio Jones has another elite matchup. Josh Norman might be the only corner in the league to keep me off Jones. 49ers secondary looks better than advertised, due to their opponents. Expect Jones to have a field day against Kenneth Acker.

Emmanuel Sanders - Vontae Davis will be on Demaryius Thomas, not that is scaring me off Thomas, but this leaves Greg Toler on Emmanuel Sanders. He is looking like a great GPP this week, where he has racked up a few big games this season. Toler is ranked 104th among corners, while Sanders is a borderline A wideout, per PFF.

Alshon Jeffrey - PFF has Jeffrey has the number two receiver, with him just playing two games this season. We have seen him put up dominant lines. He will lineup with Jason Verrett, who has a C+ grade, but Jeffrey has simply been dominant in his return.

Middle Tier Matchups

Michael Crabtree - We saw Michael Crabtree torch the Jets secondary last week, as Revis stuck on Amari Cooper. Crabtree will have a decent matchup against Ross Cockrell. With the Oakland passing attack thriving, Crabtree remains an excellent value play. Amari Cooper is also in play again, but doesn't have the cheap price tag Crabtree does.

Brandon Marshall - Brandon Marshall is questionable for this game, but is coming off of a game, where he saw 19 targets. He finished the game, and should be okay for Sunday. He will face Davon House, who has a D+ rating this season.

Allen Hurns - Last week we saw Crabtree torch Antonio Cromartie, while Revis locked up Cooper. This could be a similar situation this week, where Allen Robinson will see Revis. Hurns is definitely a GPP play, but the Jags passing attack has ben fantasy friendly this season.

Robert Woods - Woods has the potential to be the WR1 this week, with Sammy Watkins questionable Now Woods has a D grade, but has not been graded on much. Jamar Taylor will likely lineup across from him, who is the 165th rated corner this season. For his price, he is a logical punt play this week, with plenty of upside.

Willie Snead - After the Saints aerial showing on Sunday, Snead is on the radar. The Saints are still at home, where the passing game receives a boost. Snead has a matchup against Jason McCourty, who has been abysmal this season. Brees spread things out this past week, but Snead is still in line as the WR2 here.

Mike Evans - This matchup is a push for me, but Evans is still one of the attractive GPP plays of week 9. Both passing attacks have potential, and Evans should be a volume target guy. He had nine last week. Evans grade has been rising over the last few weeks.

Matchups To Fade

Allen Robinson - There are not many wideouts that have me scared this week, outside of a few nightmare matchups with corners. Allen Robinson is one, taking a trip to Allen Robinson. With his price tag, I just rather go elsewhere. Revis is ranked as the 9th best corner, but we know he shuts down most wideouts on the other side of him.

Stefon Diggs - Now Diggs has put up some great lines recently, but has faced below average defenses. Now he will have his first test against Janoris Jenkins, who just missed an A- grade. I would be hesitant to pull the trigger on DK, even with his price tag still sitting low. On FanDuel, I will be going elsewhere, there are better matchups to attack. Jenkins is the 6th best rated corner.

Davante Adams - Someone is going to be matched up against Josh Norman, and if everything lines up, it would be Adams. However, Randall Cobb could also see a bit of him, being the Packers' best wideout. He is the best corner in football, and if you play daily fantasy baseball, you are not going to take hitters against Clayton Kershaw. Norman equals the Clayton Kershaw of cornerbacks.

T.Y. Hilton - Coming off of a Josh Norman matchup, Hilton had one catch on seven targets. That catch came in overtime. He will face the best defense in the league this week, and see Aqib Talib, who has a C+ grade. With Luck struggling, and Denver's defense holding Rodgers to 77 yards this past week, probably not a good option to go with Hilton.