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
Buccaneers' Mike Evans vs. Saints' Marshon Lattimore (shadow)
Evans vs. Lattimore Round 12 is upon us. These two have a storied history, and the rivalry took a turn for the worse in Week 2 of the 2022 season. After Lattimore shadowed Evans on 14 of his first 23 routes (including 13 of 15 on the perimeter), the two were involved in a fight and were promptly ejected (Evans was also suspended for Week 3). In the accompanying chart, you can see the full list of games in which Lattimore shadowed Evans. In the lone 2023 showdown, Evans left injured after only 15 pass plays. Evans is averaging 9.8 fantasy PPG in 20 career games against New Orleans, compared to 17.1 in his 148 other games. He last reached 13.0 fantasy points against the Saints in Week 1 of 2018. Lattimore rarely shadows these days, but he has once since the start of 2023 and it was that lone game against Evans, so we should expect it this week.
Takeaway: