Last week’s column saw great success in the advantageous matchups as well as the challenging matchups. And if you want to find an edge in those difficult start/sit decisions, the following matchups will certainly provide some insight.
Here are this week’s 6 fantasy football WR/CB matchups to know for Week 2.
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WR/CB Matchups: Week 2
Advantageous Wide Receiver Matchups
Michael Pittman (WR – IND) vs. Jaire Alexander (CB – GB)
There is an argument for Alec Pierce to be the one in this matchup to target versus Eric Stokes. However, due to the way I see the game script, Michael Pittman is the one I will be locking into matchups this week. Pittman is coming off a disappointing Week 1. Despite getting eight of Anthony Richardson‘s 19 attempts thrown his way, he only managed a disappointing four receptions for 31 yards.
However, with the Green Bay Packers coming into this game with Jordan Love out after his Week 1 injury, the landscape of this is very different. Likely to start this week is Malik Willis, who only signed with the Packers a month ago. Willis has thrown 67 passes in his NFL career. Unfortunately, none of them have ever resulted in a touchdown. That means the Indianapolis Colts will be heavy favorites in this game. Therefore, they will take fewer risks than they did last week in their loss to the Houston Texans.
Expect Pittman to see targets regularly in this one. And Jaire Alexander, who has given up 0.33 fantasy points per route run against him, according to Fantasy Points, will have to defend a lot of additional possessions due to the change of quarterback. It is hard to see how the defense will get their usual rest in this game, which will mean more snaps and more work for Alexander. Expect Pittman to return a top-15 WR performance this week.
Josh Palmer (WR – LAC) vs. Mike Jackson (CB – CAR)
Josh Palmer was projected to be the No. 1 receiver in the Los Angeles Chargers offense this season. However, after Week 1, there are question marks over that status. He saw only four targets and had two catches for 15 yards versus the Las Vegas Raiders. However, it was fair to say the running game dominated for the Chargers.
Expect similar results in the running game this week. However, Jim Harbaugh knows he cannot win games running the football alone. Therefore, he will want Justin Herbert to expand upon his Week 1 performance, after missing all of preseason, and pass the football more. Especially against a Carolina Panthers team void of confidence after conceding 47 points to the New Orleans Saints in the opener.
Therefore, due to the extra possessions they are likely to possess, expect Palmer to exploit this matchup against Mike Jackson. Jackson has conceded 0.33 fantasy points per route run. While Palmer is currently, at the time of writing, limited in practice, should he be fine for the weekend, take advantage of this matchup. It is very possible Palmer, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston can all be top-30 wide receivers this week due to this matchup.
Rashee Rice (WR – KC) vs. Mike Hilton (CB – CIN)
It is not often that I would look at a matchup against Mike Hilton, one of the best slot corners in the NFL, and think there was an advantage to be had by an opponent. However, Rashee Rice certainly can take advantage of this matchup this Sunday.
Hilton is in his age-30 season. And he has, at times in his career, struggled with explosive receivers. Rashee Rice is certainly someone with a burst who will cause Hilton problems. His 0.61 fantasy points per route run, while being targeted on almost 30% of his routes, according to Fantasy Points, makes Rice a favourite to dominate this matchup.
Despite Hilton conceding a respectable 0.16 fantasy points per route run, he will struggle to contain Rice. Even if he is usually conceding fewer than 0.20 fantasy points per route run over the course of a season. This is one matchup where he will struggle to contain Rice. On opening weekend, Rice had nine targets and had a 32% target share. While that number might be unsustainable across the season, it is likely he will remain above 25% this week. Especially considering how effective he was last week.
Rice is easily a top-10 fantasy wide receiver this week, with top-five upside.
Other Notable Advantageous Matchups
- Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF) vs. Shaquill Griffin (CB – MIN)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET) vs. Tykee Smith (CB – TB)
- Deebo Samuel (WR – SF) vs. Stephon Gilmore (CB – MIN)
- Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC) vs. Troy Hill (CB – CAR)
- Demarcus Robinson (WR – LAR) vs. Starling Thomas (CB – ARI)
Challenging Wide Receiver Matchups
Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN) vs. Sauce Gardner (CB – NYJ)
All fantasy managers are aware of the devastating nature of a matchup against Sauce Gardner. Gardner is only allowing 0.14 fantasy points per route run against him. However, what is more worrying is he is only being targeted on 10.4% of the routes run against him. Opposing offensive coordinators have yet to find the secret sauce to win against Gardner consistently.
The other concern for this matchup is Will Levis did not look good in Week 1. Especially in the second half against the Chicago Bears. This is going to cause some concern for Ridley and Hopkins owners. It is tough to bank on Ridley this week, in this tough matchup off the back of Levis’ Week 1 performance. Fantasy managers should sit Ridley and see what happens.
Jakobi Meyers (WR – LV) vs. Marlon Humphrey (CB – BAL)
Jakobi Meyers had a fairly respectable Week 1. However, facing Marlon Humphrey and the Baltimore Ravens defense is a completely different story. While the Raiders didn’t look especially potent against the Chargers, they did show signs they could move the football. However, they will struggle a lot more this week.
Humphrey has only allowed 0.16 fantasy points per route run against him, while only being targeted on a league low 8.6% of routes run against him. Fantasy managers hoping for a volume-based safe floor from Meyers this week might be best to stay away from him in this matchup and look for an upside swing instead.
Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN) vs. Trent McDuffie (CB – KC)
While Ja’Marr Chase wasn’t ineffective in his season debut last week against the New England Patriots, he certainly didn’t look like he was up to full speed. Which, given his contractual dispute and holding out all offseason, is not a surprise. However, given that he has to face the Kansas City Chiefs and Trent McDuffie this week, the fact he is not quite at game sharpness will make it harder to see where his upside will come this week. He will also likely not have Tee Higgins on the other side this week, who is questionable with the same injury that held him out Week 1.
McDuffie has only allowed 0.17 fantasy points per route run and is targeted on just 10.6% of the routes run against him. While Chase will likely see a lot more targets than most opponents will get against McDuffie, it is hard to see where he will challenge as a top-five wide receiver this week. He should still be started in all leagues. However, just cap the optimism a little bit due to this matchup.
Other Notable Challenging Matchups
- DK Metcalf (WR – SEA) vs. Christian Gonzalez (CB – NE)
- Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ) vs. L’Jarius Sneed (CB – TEN)
- A.J. Brown (WR – PHI) vs. A.J. Terrell (CB – ATL)
- Davante Adams (WR – LV) vs. Brandon Stephens (CB – BAL)
- Brandin Cooks (WR – DAL) vs. Marshon Lattimore (CB – NO)
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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @5yardrush.