Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can help you make the best lineup decisions. By utilizing our play-by-play data, we’re able to identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. By tracking these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings, sit/start advice and waiver wire suggestions each week.

Down below are the receivers with the best and worst matchups this week, as well as the corresponding fantasy impact.

To view the primary defenders the top three wide receivers for each team will see this weekend, be sure to check out our weekly WR vs. CB Cheatsheet.

Note that, unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjusts to a per-game basis in order to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.

Projected shadow matchups

Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase vs. Giants’ Deonte Banks (shadow)

Banks has shadowed Justin Jefferson, Terry McLaurin, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and DK Metcalf this season. He aligned against the receivers on 126 of 169 routes, including 119 of 127 on the perimeter. The receiving lines of the four were as follows: Jefferson (6 targets-4 receptions-59 yards-1 touchdown), McLaurin (8-6-22-0), Cooper (12-7-86-2), Lamb (8-7-98-1) and Metcalf (7-4-55-0).

Banks did a nice job on Metcalf last week, but top receivers have otherwise crushed against New York. In fact, the Giants have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to perimeter receivers, which is where Chase aligns 65% of the time. Expect these two to be matched up on 100% of Chase’s boundary routes, as well as a few slot plays in Week 6.

Takeaway: Perhaps Banks turned a corner last week, but the overall success of No. 1 receivers against the Giants suggests Chase can be upgraded.

Panthers’ Diontae Johnson vs. Falcons’ A.J. Terrell (shadow)

Terrell has shadowed in three of five games, traveling with George Pickens, DeVonta Smith and Mike Evans. Terrell covered the three receivers on 48 of their 73 routes, including 48 of 50 on the perimeter. The receiving lines were as follows: Pickens (7-6-85-0), Smith (9-6-69-0) and Evans (7-5-62-2).

Terrell didn’t shadow against the Chiefs or Saints, so this one isn’t a lock, but Johnson’s hefty target share and the fact that he aligns on the boundary 77% of the time suggests these two will face off quite a bit this weekend.

Takeaway: Receivers who faced off with Terrell have posted good-to-great fantasy outings, so Johnson’s outlook doesn’t need to be adjusted.

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Ravens’ Zay Flowers vs. Commanders’ Benjamin St-Juste (shadow)

St-Juste has shadowed in three of five games, traveling with Mike Evans, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Amari Cooper. He aligned against the trio on 65 of 83 routes, including 58 of 64 on the perimeter and seven of 19 in the slot. He didn’t travel against the Giants or Bengals, so shadow coverage against Flowers shouldn’t be considered a lock, but it does appear likely.

Regardless, it’s a good spot for Flowers and his fellow receivers. Evans (5-5-61-2), Harrison (6-5-45-1) and Cooper (10-4-60-0) were all productive to various extents, and Washington has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season (most over the past four weeks), including the 12th most to the perimeter and 10th most to the slot. Washington has allowed a league-high 10 TDs to wide receivers and four receivers have produced 22-plus fantasy points against the Commanders.

Takeaway: Flowers can be upgraded.

Colts’ Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Titans’ L’Jarius Sneed (shadow)

The Titans return from their bye having allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. That includes the second-fewest points to the perimeter and eighth fewest to the slot. Tennessee has yet to allow a touchdown to a wide receiver and has also allowed the fewest receiving yards and lowest yards per target (6.1) to the position.

Sneed shadowed Garrett Wilson and Tyreek Hill on their perimeter routes (combined 30 of 30) and also aligned against DJ Moore quite a bit (14 of 19 perimeter routes) back in Week 1. Moore (9-5-36-0), Wilson (6-4-57-0) and Hill (7-4-23-0) were all very much held in check in those games, so this a concerning matchup for Pittman, who aligns on the boundary 70% of the time.

Takeaway: Downgrade the Colts’ passing game, especially Pittman, who will see Sneed on roughly three-quarters of his routes.

Texans’ Stefon Diggs vs. Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez (shadow)

Gonzalez has shadowed Ja’Marr Chase, DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Brandon Aiyuk and Tyreek Hill, combining to cover that group on 114 of 159 routes, including 92 of 106 on the perimeter and 22 of 52 in the slot. The receiving lines of those receivers were as follows: Chase (6-6-62-0), Metcalf (14-10-129-1), Wilson (9-5-33-1), Aiyuk (5-2-48-0) and Hill (9-6-69-0).

Offenses clearly haven’t been afraid to test Gonzalez (the receiver he has been aligned against has been targeted a hefty 27% of the time) and the Patriots have, in turn, allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers over the past four weeks. They’ve allowed the sixth-most points to the slot this season, which is where Diggs aligns 64% of the time. This likely won’t be a full-time shadow, as the aforementioned numbers show that Gonzalez travels inside only sometimes, but Diggs should expect to see New England’s top corner at leasthalf the time on Sunday.

Note that this analysis assumes Nico Collins (hamstring) is out. If Collins plays, Gonzalez will shadow the league’s leading receiver.

Takeaway: The production of top receivers against New England suggests we shouldn’t be more than mildly worried about this matchup.

Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. Packers’ Jaire Alexander (shadow)

Alexander has missed Green Bay’s past two games due to injury, but if he returns for Week 6, we should expect him to shadow Harrison. Green Bay’s top corner traveled with A.J. Brown in Week 1 and Calvin Ridley in Week 2. He aligned against those two receivers on 44 of 64 routes, including 44 of 46 on the perimeter. Brown had little trouble in the game (5-119-1 on 10 targets), but Ridley was shut down (1-9-0 on three targets).

Green Bay has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the fourth most to the perimeter, which is where Harrison aligns 75% of the time.

Takeaway: If Alexander returns, Harrison can be downgraded slightly. If Alexander remains out, Harrison’s outlook is better. Either way, Michael Wilson can be upgraded.

Tough matchups

Bills’ Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins vs. Jets’ D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Sauce Gardner

The Jets’ domination of wide receivers continues for the third consecutive season. New York has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position (second fewest over expected), including the fewest points to the perimeter. Coleman (96% perimeter) will work against Reed and Gardner on nearly all of his routes and should be downgraded. If he returns from injury, Shakir (75% slot) will mostly avoid that perimeter duo, but his outlook will depend a bit on the health of Jets’ slot corner, Carter, who left Week 5 with an injury of his own. Shakir will be in a better spot if Isaiah Oliver is forced into action.

Jets’ Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Mike Williams vs. Bills’ Christian Benford, Taron Johnson and Rasul Douglas

The zone-heavy Bills have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to receivers, as well as the fifth fewest to the perimeter. Though Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs had decent games this past Sunday, no receiver has reached 16 fantasy points against Buffalo this season.

Williams (85% perimeter) will run most of his routes against Benford and Douglas, whereas Wilson (65%) and Lazard (51%) move around quite a bit and will see a pretty even share of Benford, Douglas and slot man Johnson (or, if he remains out, Cam Lewis). Downgrade the Jets’ wide receiver room.

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Chargers’ Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey and Joshua Palmer vs. Broncos’ Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian and Pat Surtain II

Surtain is generally featured in the “shadow” section of this piece, but he didn’t travel full time against the Davante Adams-less Raiders last week and may not again this week, considering the Chargers don’t have a clear-cut standout No. 1 perimeter receiver.

Johnston is most likely to receive that treatment, but either way, he’s best avoided this week against a Denver defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to receivers, including the seventh fewest to the perimeter and sixth fewest to the slot. Palmer should also be avoided, and Ladd McConkey’s hefty 26% target share is all that keeps him in the flex discussion.

Advantageous matchups

Falcons’ Ray-Ray McCloud, Drake London and Darnell Mooney vs. Panthers’ Jaycee Horn and Michael Jackson

Carolina is struggling against perimeter receivers this season, having allowed the second-most points to the boundary (most over the past four weeks). The Panthers have allowed the 10th-most points to the position overall (third most over expected) and have surrendered eight TDs (third most) to receivers.

Red-hot London and Mooney, as well as unheralded McCloud, move around the formation quite a bit and all three are in a smash spot this week.

Giants’ Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton vs. Bengals’ Cam Taylor-Britt, Mike Hilton and DJ Turner II

The Bengals are a mess at corner, with Taylor-Britt having already been demoted this season, Turner having sat on the bench for three games to open the season, Week 1 starter Dax Hill seemingly benched and then injured last week and primary slot Hilton having missed Week 5 due to injury. The Bengals are somehow only midpack in fantasy points allowed to receivers, though they’ve allowed the fourth most to the perimeter over the past four weeks. At least one receiver has produced 19-plus points against them during each of their past three games.

Nabers (77% perimeter) and Slayton (77%) will work the boundary against Taylor-Britt, and Turner and can be upgraded. Robinson (77% slot) will have it tougher if Hilton returns, but if not, he can be upgraded against Jalen Davis.

Commanders’ Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey and Noah Brown vs. Ravens’ Brandon Stephens, Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins

Baltimore got rocked by the Bengals’ passing game in Week 5 and has now allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season (most over expected), as well as the third-most points to the perimeter and most to the slot.

McLaurin (79% perimeter) is likely the only receiver you’re considering here, and he’s in a terrific spot against Stephens and the rookie Wiggins. Consider Brown (if he’s back from injury) and McCaffrey deep-league sleepers for Week 6.

Bears’ DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze vs. Jaguars’ Montaric Brown, Darnell Savage and Ronald Darby

Following a rough Week 5 against the Colts, the Jaguars have surrendered the most fantasy points to wide receivers (second most over expected), including the most to the perimeter and 12th most to the slot. They’re top three in points allowed to both right and left boundary receivers and sit third in catches and second in yards allowed to the position. Seven receivers have already produced 15-plus fantasy points against them.

Moore (82% perimeter) and Odunze (65%) will see a ton of Darby and Brown and can be upgraded. Allen (58% slot) will also get some perimeter run, but he’ll also see a lot of Savage (who missed Weeks 2-4), which will make for a tougher challenge.

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