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 during the NFL season. By tracking these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings, sit/start decisions and fantasy advice each week. Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can also help you make the best waiver-wire pickups.
Below are the receivers with the best and worst matchups this week, as well as the corresponding fantasy impact.
To view the primary defenders whom the top three wide receivers for each team will see this weekend, be sure to check out our weekly WR vs. CB cheat sheet.
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.
Advantageous matchups
Chiefs' Mecole Hardman, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. Cardinals' Marco Wilson, Byron Murphy Jr. and Trayvon Mullen Jr.
The Chiefs may no longer have Tyreek Hill, but the new-look WR room will be set up with a great Week 1 matchup against an Arizona team that didn't do a well-enough job improving its cornerback room during the offseason. Murphy returns as the team's No. 1 option, as well as the primary slot man, and second-year player Wilson is again going to have a big role with Antonio Hamilton on IR. Mullen was acquired from the Raiders in late August and likely will need to immediately play an every-down role. Murphy and Wilson were the top corners in an Arizona secondary that allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers last season, and Mullen was targeted on a massive 25% of his 112 coverage snaps in Las Vegas. This is one of the shakiest CB rooms in the league, which will benefit Smith-Schuster, Valdes-Scantling, Hardman and rookie Skyy Moore. Upgrade them across the board.