We have finally reached the second “Bye-pocalypse” of the season. However, having one so close to the fantasy playoffs is not ideal, especially if you are a fantasy manager in the hunt for a postseason spot.
Therefore, I am back with my “6 Fantasy Football WR/CB Matchups to Know in Week 13.” Fantasy managers should use this as a good tiebreaker in close start/sit decisions and also to look at potential alternatives if a player has a challenging matchup.
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WR/CB Matchups: Week 13
Advantageous Wide Receiver Matchups
Chris Godwin (TB) vs. David Long (CAR)
It is hard to get too excited about Chris Godwin at the moment. Godwin comes into Week 13 as the WR39 and is probably well entrenched on fantasy managers’ benches. However, this week, he arguably has the best WR/CB matchup on the board. Although Godwin is facing the Carolina Panthers, he is up against David Long.
The Panthers allow 22.7 fantasy points per game to wide receivers coming into Week 13. Only the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens are conceding fewer fantasy points per game to wide receivers. However, Long is the weak link in the chain.
Long, according to FantasyPoints Data, is currently conceding 0.40 fantasy points per route run. This is ranked as the second-most among all cornerbacks in the NFL, behind only J.C. Jackson of the New England Patriots. Expect Godwin to be a flex play or better this week, with potential upside if he can take advantage of the matchup.
Christian Watson (GB) vs. Jaylen Watson (KC)
Christian Watson finally returned some points for his faithful fantasy managers who have waited desperately all season for him to deliver something for them. His 17.9 half-point PPR fantasy points haul is his first double-digit performance of the season and could potentially be a springboard for a late end-of-season run.
Christian Watson faces Jaylen Watson of the Chiefs this week. Jaylen Watson is currently conceding 0.36 fantasy points per route run against him so far this season. That is the fourth-most of any cornerback appearing in Week 13. If Christian Watson can take advantage of this matchup, he could be a useful outlet for quarterback Jordan Love, who will need to throw a great deal to keep up with the reigning Super Bowl Champions.
Diontae Johnson (PIT) vs. Starling Thomas (ARI)
Diontae Johnson has been struggling over the past season and a half under the offensive coaching of Matt Canada. However, since Canada’s firing, the Steelers found a way to generate more offense and throw more down the middle of the field.
The big beneficiaries of this will be tight end Pat Friermuth and Johnson. This week, Johnson is facing Starling Thomas and the Arizona Cardinals. Thomas is currently allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per route run (0.35) against him.
Fantasy managers can feel confident in starting Johnson and will hope he continues this post-Canada era with success.
Challenging Wide Receiver Matchups
Christian Kirk (JAX) vs. Mike Hilton (CIN)
Christian Kirk has easily been the No. 1 receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season. However, Calvin Ridley finally showed some life after a string of disappointing performances for fantasy managers in Weeks 11 and 12. That said, Kirk might be playing second fiddle to Ridley again this week.
Kirk is up against Mike Hilton, who has been shutting down a lot of wide receivers so far this season. Hilton only allows 0.18 fantasy points per route run against him and is only being targeted on 13.3 percent of routes run against him.
Expect head coach Doug Pederson to avoid this matchup and feed Ridley more as a result this week. It will be hard for fantasy managers to bench Kirk this week, given the amount of players on bye. However, fantasy managers should look to limit their expectations on a huge score coming from Kirk in Week 13.
DeAndre Hopkins (TEN) vs. Jaylon Jones (IND)
DeAndre Hopkins comes into Week 13 as the WR24 on the year. He has put together an extremely quiet yet effective season so far. However, this might be a week in which fantasy managers should consider leaving him on their benches if they can.
Hopkins is up against Jaylon Jones and the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are allowing just 26.6 fantasy points per game to wide receivers. At the same time, Jones is only allowing 0.15 fantasy points per route run against him and being targeted on 11.7% of routes run against him. Jones is currently tied for the fourth-fewest fantasy points allowed per route run this season. Despite Hopkins’ talent, sitting Hopkins should be a consideration for fantasy managers this week.
Jahan Dotson (WAS) vs. Jalen Ramsey (MIA)
Jahan Dotson comes into Week 13 as the WR44 after failing to hit double digits in each of his last three games. He will likely extend that run to four games, as he has a tough matchup against Jalen Ramsey and the Miami Dolphins this week.
Ramsey is allowing just 0.15 fantasy points per route run against him since his return from injury. With Dotson not currently in favor and behind the likes of Curtis Samuel, Terry McLaurin and Logan Thomas in terms of targets, this matchup should make it an easier decision to sit him this week.
Dotson is a flex play at best this week. Unless desperate, fantasy managers should sit the former Nittany Lion, despite him being on bye in Week 14.
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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @Murf_NFL.