The NFL season is finally here! It’s been a long seven months. However, now is the time to go and win our fantasy leagues once again. One of the key pieces of information you need is to look at advantageous matchups for your wide receivers. It is also focusing on which of your wide receivers have tough matchups as well.

Being smart with the matchups could allow you to make clever flex plays and fades. As a result, you could potentially sneak a win in a very close fantasy matchup.

So without further ado, here are Week 1 wide receiver vs. cornerback matchups to exploit and fade.

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WR/CB Matchups: Week 1 (Fantasy Football 2023)

Advantageous Wide Receiver Matchups

Calvin Ridley (JAX) vs. Darrell Baker Jr. (IND)

While this will be Calvin Ridley’s first game in almost two years and his first with a new team, he could not have asked for a better matchup.

Ridley is up against second-year undrafted cornerback Darrell Baker. This is certainly a plus matchup for Ridley. The Colts could experiment and switch up the matchup to have rookie Dallis Flowers cover Ridley. However, no matter who it might be, Ridley could be in line for a blockbuster debut.

Terry McLaurin (WAS)/Jahan Dotson (WAS) vs. Marco Wilson (ARI)

There is some uncertainty on the status of Terry McLaurin heading into Week 1. I don’t feel he will be quite ready to go. However, whoever is lining up outside for Washington will have a great matchup against former fourth-round pick Marco Wilson. Wilson did improve in 2022 with three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. However, he is easily in the bottom half of ranked starting cornerbacks in the NFL, and this Arizona secondary is expected to allow a lot of points in 2023.

Expect the starting X for the Commanders to have a field day come Sunday.

Mike Williams (LAC) vs. Eli Apple (MIA)

Mike Williams will see a great opportunity to start the season well with a start against the veteran Eli Apple. Apple has been shown up against speedsters in recent years in New Orleans and Cincinnati. Therefore, with another year of playing time under his belt, there is even more tread on his tires. Williams can expect to fly past Apple.

This game has the second-highest total on the weekend, with the over/under set at 51. With that logic, both Keenan Allen and Williams could have top-20 WR days Sunday with their advantageous match-ups. However, Williams certainly has the better of the matchups.

Challenging Wide Receiver Matchups

Nico Collins (HOU) vs. Marlon Humphrey (BAL) or Rock Ya-Sin

All the hype from the preseason is that Collins will be the No. 1 target for C.J. Stroud. However, I would still be fading Collings even if he is the No. 1 read option for Stroud. Marlon Humphrey is a tough corner to handle. With a rookie quarterback at the helm, it could be a long day for Collins. And even if Marlon Humphrey is out this week, which is looking more likely by the day, Rock Ya-Sin, a former second-rounder, will have more than enough to handle Stroud and Collins.

I have Collins outside my top-50 wide receivers this week as a result. Fade at all costs.

D.J. Moore (CHI) vs. Jaire Alexander (GB)

In what will be an eagerly awaited debut for the Bears’ newest star wide receiver, brought in by the trade with Carolina for the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, D.J. Moore got a tough draw right off the bat. Jaire Alexander has been an excellent, physical cornerback for quite some time and is one of the elite in the NFC.

As a result, with Moore having a tough matchup and Justin Fields struggling to complete 60% of his passes consistently, this could easily be a fade matchup for Moore. Don’t set those expectations too high in Week 1. Moore will have better days ahead this season.

Stefon Diggs (BUF) vs. Sauce Gardner (NYJ)

Though you will not fade Stefon Diggs and bench him, just keep an eye on this matchup. Sauce Gardner was so good last season that opposing quarterbacks stopped throwing the ball his way. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year allowed a 53.5% completion rate against him and only allowed one touchdown in 17 games last season.

Whilst talent will usually prevail, and you should always start your studs, don’t expect a huge game from Diggs this week. He will have better matchups to come. But those wishing for a multiple-touchdown game from Diggs on “Monday Night Football” might be wishing their wish away.

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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.