By using our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defense 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 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.
Here 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.
Unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjust to a per-game basis to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.
Advantageous matchups
Falcons' Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus and Damiere Byrd vs. Steelers' Levi Wallace, Cameron Sutton and Ahkello Witherspoon/James Pierre
The Steelers have allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, as well as the fourth most to the perimeter and to the slot. It doesn't get much worse than that, and it certainly doesn't help that Witherspoon has missed six of the last seven games with a hamstring injury. Atlanta receivers are extremely tough to trust in what is one of the league's heaviest run schemes, but perhaps London has some deep league flex appeal in this matchup. Aligning on the perimeter 83% of the time, he'll work primarily against struggling Wallace and some combination of Witherspoon (if back), top corner Sutton and Pierre. Zaccheaus and Byrd should only be considered for DFS tournament lineups.