There were a lot of fights last week in the NFL and two of those fights were here, in the wide receiver/cornerback matchup article. Both A.J. Green and Mike Evans were featured in the matchups to worry about and they each left the game with just one catch to their name. Top-tier cornerbacks can sometimes frustrate these top-flight receivers who are used to dominating. After all, that’s why we do this article, to let you know which wide receivers are likely to disappoint.
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If this is your first time here, we try to highlight the matchups on that particular week’s slate that are most daunting, as well as those to target from a DFS standpoint. It’s important to note that just because a player is in the “matchups to worry about” section, it doesn’t automatically you send him to the bench. It means that if you’re having trouble trying to decide between two players and they have a tough matchup, go away from them. Let’s talk about which wide receivers you should be targeting and which you should be shying away from in Week 10.
Matchups to Exploit
Antonio Brown vs. Rashaan Melvin
The Colts have already said that Vontae Davis won’t play in this game, making it even easier on Brown. He destroyed this secondary with Davis last year for 91 yards and three touchdowns on just six targets. Melvin has played well this year, but is a former undrafted free agent who hasn’t covered anyone of note to this point. Last week would’ve been the toughest test, but Tom Savage struggles to beat anyone. Brown is a no-brainer in DFS this week, provided you have the funds.
A.J. Green vs. Adoree Jackson/LeShaun Sims
I’m calling it now – Green is going to finish this week as the WR1. A lot of people have praised the Titans secondary for stepping up over the last month, but when you look at their competition, it’s easy to see why. When you play against the Ravens, Browns, Colts, and Dolphins (minus DeVante Parker) wide receiver corps, it’s easy to look good. Going back to the start of the year, they allowed seven top-18 performances in the first four games. Knowing they fail to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the duo of Jackson and Sims are going to have their hands full.
Michael Thomas vs. Shareece Wright (or E.J. Gaines)
It appears that E.J. Gaines is slated to miss another game in Week 10, which is an upgrade to Thomas’ matchup. Wright has been known to give up multiple touchdowns in his coverage at times and Thomas is overdue for some of those. When targeting Wright, quarterbacks have had a 100.7 QB Rating, which is actually an improvement from the 115.2 in 2016 and 116.5 in 2015. In games Wright has seen more than three targets in his coverage, he’s allowed at least 65 yards to the opponent. Thomas should feast.
Sterling Shepard vs. Leon Hall
The 49ers secondary has been decimated by injuries and trades, yet they weren’t good to begin with. They traded Rashard Robinson at the trade deadline and have been without slot cornerback K’Waun Williams for multiple weeks. Knowing they have a bye in Week 11, it’s unlikely they rush him back for this game, leaving Shepard to line up across from Hall, someone who wasn’t on a roster just three weeks ago. Asked to cover Larry Fitzgerald last week (with Drew Stanton), Hall allowed four catches for 47 yards on six targets. Shepard presents a much tougher matchup at this point in his career than Fitzgerald does and will see plenty of targets. He should be a high-end WR2 for this game.
Matchups to Worry About
Kelvin Benjamin vs. Marshon Lattimore
Did you see what happened to Mike Evans last week? You know, the game he left with just one catch for 13 yards? Lattimore is the one who did that. He’s a rookie of the year candidate and let’s not pretend that Benjamin gets a whole lot of separation. Knowing that Tyrod Taylor doesn’t take many risks, it’d be shocking to see Benjamin get more than five targets in his first game with the team. Lattimore has allowed just a 49 percent catch rate in his coverage and just 10.0 yards per reception. Keep in mind that’s while covering No. 1 receivers. Benjamin will need a touchdown not to bust.
Marqise Lee vs. Casey Hayward
There are a lot of people who want to play Lee this week, after he’s now posted at least 72 yards in each of the last three games. But you should dial back expectations for him in Week 10, as Hayward has done a phenomenal job in coverage this year. Here are the stat lines of a few No. 1 receivers he’s covered recently: Brandin Cooks 5/26/0, Demaryius Thomas 2/9/0, Amari Cooper 5/28/0. Now it’s very possible that the Chargers just stay in zone and don’t ask Hayward to shadow, but knowing it’s a possibility is concern enough. Lee is just a WR4 this week.
Josh Doctson vs. Xavier Rhodes
Being a No. 1 wide receiver in an offense has its perks… but it also has its draws. This is one of those times where Doctson wishes he wasn’t the No. 1 receiver, as Rhodes is one of the best shutdown cornerbacks in the game. When targeted in coverage, he’s allowing quarterbacks just a 59.2 QB Rating, one of the best marks in football. Unlike most No. 1 receivers, Doctson isn’t peppered with targets, as his highest total on the year is five. Knowing that, he’s someone to avoid against the Vikings.
Stefon Diggs vs. Josh Norman
The Redskins said prior to the season that they were going to allow Norman to shadow, something he didn’t do in 2016 for them. Well, they lied. He’s played 293 snaps this year and 292 of them were on the left side of the formation. Diggs plays on that side of the formation about 66 percent of the time when he’s on the perimeter, which is cause for concern, as Norman is one of those I’d consider to be very good at shutting down wide receivers. Diggs was removed from the injury report, so I’m not benching him, just lowering expectations, as teammate Adam Thielen has a better matchup in the slot.
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.
