With one of the two most dreaded weeks in the fantasy regular season upon us due to byes (Week 13 is the other one), it is really important to find out where you, as a fantasy manager, can get an edge.
While most fantasy managers might be forced to play players they are not too excited about. There might be an opportunity to score some additional points by looking at these matchups.
However, there are also some matchups that you should be cautious about or even avoid from a wide receiver perspective. So, without further ado, here are six WR/CB matchups to know this week.
With one of the two most dreaded weeks in the fantasy regular season upon us due to byes (Week 13 is the other one), it is really important to find out where you, as a fantasy manager, can get an edge.
While most fantasy managers might be forced to play players they are not too excited about. There might be an opportunity to score some additional points by looking at these matchups.
However, there are also some matchups that you should be cautious about or even avoid from a wide receiver perspective. So, without further ado, here are six WR/CB matchups to know this week.
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WR/CB Matchups: Week 7
Advantageous Wide Receiver Matchups
Outside of the two Seattle Seahawks wide receivers, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Reed has the best matchup of any WR/CB matchup this week. Reed has had moments where he has impressed. In particular, in Week 2. The team, and Jordan Love in particular, feel comfortable throwing to him. Although, he is only running routes 60.6% of the time so far this season.
However, I expect Reed to run more routes this week and the Packers to take advantage of this matchup. McMillian has given up 0.38 fantasy points per route run against him, according to FantasyPoints Data Suite. That is currently the fifth-most of any cornerback entering Week 7.
Reed should get some good one-on-one plays against McMillian if the Packers scheme it well. Therefore, Reed should be someone you play in your flex this week to help you get through this tough bye week.
Samuel has been excellent in recent weeks for the Washington Commanders. Especially in the red zone. Samuel is currently fifth in fantasy points scored inside the 10-yard line amongst all wide receivers this season. He is seventh in fantasy points inside the 20-yard line amongst all wide receivers.
Samuel is also seeing an uptick in routes run. He has quickly become the No. 2 option at wide receiver ahead of Jahan Dotson this season.
Flott is giving up 0.30 fantasy points per route run against him so far this season. This is currently tied for 20th amongst all cornerbacks entering Week 7.
However, given the increased confidence in the Commanders’ offense and their willingness to throw the ball at a higher-than-expected volume (Their passing rate over expected was 8% last week), Samuel could exceed his current WR3 projection for this week. He is, at a minimum, a flex play starter or better this week.
The Los Angeles defense has been terrible so far this season. They have been torched by most opponents so far this season in the air.
This has led to Davies being tied for the most fantasy points allowed per route run against him of any cornerback in the NFL entering Week 7. Davis is tied with Marco Wilson, who has the misfortune of guarding DK Metcalf this week, having allowed 0.45 fantasy points per route run against him so far this season.
And while Moore has not been considered a consistent leading option so far this season in Kansas City, this matchup is one Andy Reid and the Chiefs offense will want to exploit. While Moore might be a risky play this week, the upside due to this matchup is huge.
If you are looking to gamble this week and seek a good return from your flex, adding Skyy Moore from your waivers might be the upside play of the week.
Challenging Wide Receiver Matchups
Robinson is really the only wide receiver you could consider playing on a week-to-week basis. However, he is someone fantasy managers need to sit in all formats this week.
Robinson has amassed a respectable 0.36 fantasy points per route run. However, this week, he is against Johnson, who is only allowing a meager 0.09 fantasy points per route run against him. That ranks him 3rd amongst all cornerbacks starting in Week 7 in terms of the fewest points allowed.
While Robinson would be a flex play most weeks, especially in PPR leagues, he is someone you cannot trust this week, even in desperation. The volume will not help him this week unless he sees 10+ targets.
Bourne is coming into Week 7 as the WR34 in 0.5pt PPR scoring. He is the only wide receiver in New England worth owning and playing currently. However, for this week, he is someone fantasy managers should firmly leave on their benches.
That is because Johnson is currently the best-ranked corner in the NFL in terms of fantasy points per route run against him. His 0.06 fantasy points per route run allowed is the lowest of any cornerback in the NFL entering Week 7. I have put Johnson in my matchups column for a few weeks now. However, this is one matchup you absolutely want to avoid.
There are a ton of issues with the Patriots offense right now. Fantasy managers, in a tight Week 7 matchup, should steer clear at all costs and find alternative options. Curtis Samuel of the Washington Commanders (already mentioned) is available in over half of leagues and is worth drafting in for this week.
Ridley has blown hot and cold over the last few weeks after an incredible start to his Jacksonville Jaguars career. He comes into this week as the WR26 in half PPR scoring. However, this is certainly a matchup to scare Ridley fantasy managers.
Adebo has been excellent so far this season in a New Orleans Saints defense that has not received the credit it deserves. His 0.15 fantasy points per route run against him currently ranks him tied for 9th amongst all cornerbacks entering Week 7.
The New Orleans defense has been stingy, giving up points so far this season. However, Christian Kirk has a much more favorable matchup against Alontae Taylor this week. Expect Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson to funnel the majority of targets to Kirk this week, and he had the lion’s share of the one-on-one matchups.
Pederson has already done this a few times this season, against the Falcons in London in particular, in Week 4. Expect to see a similar pattern to that game here in Week 7 against the Saints.
Fantasy managers might not be able to fade Ridley completely. However, they should be cautious about the return they will get from a fantasy points perspective this week.
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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.
