The weeks keep on coming thick and fast. Most leagues have just six weeks left in the fantasy regular season. And, with the wide receiver pool getting weaker by the week, it is time to hone in on the fine edges that can turn losses into wins.
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This week’s top fantasy football WR/CB matchups to know for Week 9 have some surprising names. Take note and set your lineups accordingly.
WR/CB Matchups: Week 9
Advantageous Wide Receiver Matchups
Josh Downs (WR – IND) vs. Byron Murphy (WR – MIN)
This week is another chance for Josh Downs to return WR1 numbers. Last week, he finished as the WR4 overall. He has Joe Flacco throwing him the football this week in a game script that will suit the ball going in the air more often. That is because they will be chasing the Minnesota Vikings as they look to continue to chase a playoff berth.
Downs is also up against Byron Murphy. According to Fantasy Points, Murphy is giving up 0.36 fantasy points per route run against him. This is tied for the sixth-most allowed by any cornerback through eight weeks of the season.
Downs has WR1 potential this week and should be a must-start in all formats this week and moving forward.
Sterling Shepard (WR – TB) vs. Christian Roland-Wallace (CB – KC)
Sterling Shepard was a disappointment for fantasy managers who were looking to get a boost from Chris Godwin and Mike Evans not being available on Sunday for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, there should be more targets available for him this week.
While the Chiefs are a strong defensive unit, their one glaring weakness is at slot corner. Christian Roland-Wallace is allowing 0.40 fantasy points per route run against him this season. This is the third-most among cornerbacks in the NFL.
The Buccaneers will also look to use Bucky Irving and Rachaad White against Roland-Wallace. However, expect Shepard to see an uptick in targets this week as the Buccaneers look to try and end a run of only one win in their last four games. It is worth noting, however, that the Buccaneers led the NFL in scoring in that time, having put up 138 points, which is the equivalent of 34.5 points per game.
Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC) vs. Greg Newsome (CB – CLE)
Ladd McConkey is coming into Week 9 off the back of a WR2 overall performance in Week 8. There finally seems to be some real chemistry between him and Justin Herbert.
McConkey comes up against Greg Newsome, who is allowing 0.36 fantasy points per route run against him so far this season. This alongside Murphy, Cam Taylor-Britt, and Marcus Jones, is tied for the sixth-most among all cornerbacks in the NFL this season.
With the Cleveland Browns rejuvenated on offense under Jameis Winston last week, it might take more points to beat the Browns this week than it might have done a few weeks ago. Therefore, expect McConkey to be heavily involved this week.
Fantasy managers can expect McConkey to return a WR2 week with WR1 upside. He therefore is a must-start in all formats.
Other Notable Advantageous Matchups
- Chris Olave (WR – NO) vs. Jaycee Horn (CB – CAR)
- Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) vs. Brandon Stephens (CB – BAL)
- Troy Franklin (WR – DEN) vs. Jalyn Armour-Davis (CB – BAL)
- CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL) vs. Dee Alford (CB – ATL)
- Jalen Tolbert (WR – DAL) vs. A.J. Terrell (CB – ATL)
Challenging Wide Receiver Matchups
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA) vs. Josh Wallace (CB – LAR)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba failed to put up a big week without DK Metcalf taking away targets. Smith-Njigba has only managed more than 11.5 fantasy points on just one occasion so far this season.
This week, Smith-Njigba has Josh Wallace covering him. According to Fantasy Points, Wallace is currently only allowing 0.08 fantasy points per route run against him. That is the best mark of any cornerback in the NFL this season.
It is hard to see a ceiling for Smith-Njigba. And this matchup is not one to hope for a reversal of fortunes. Therefore, it’s best if fantasy managers sit Smith-Njigba when making fantasy start sit decisions this week and look for better alternatives. Especially as Metcalf is likely to return and take his target share back.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI) vs. Jaylon Johnson (CB – CHI)
I will hold an accountability check in here and say I absolutely called it wrong on Marvin Harrison Jr. last week. Maybe he read the article and decided to teach me a lesson for doubting him. Who knows? However, while Harrison had the second-best outing of his career on Sunday, it does not mean he will replicate it this week.
According to Fantasy Points and their average separation score, Harrison has a score of 0.093 on 150 routes against zone coverage this year. Of receivers who have run a minimum of 50 routes against zone coverage, that score ranks 44th. The reason for focusing on zone is that the Chicago Bears cover in zone almost 75% of the time, which is the sixth-most in the NFL so far this season.
Then you add to the fact that Jaylon Johnson is tied for the fifth-fewest fantasy points allowed per route run against him. He has also seen the eighth-fewest percentage of targets on routes run against him among cornerbacks in the NFL. Offensive coordinators and play-callers don’t want to pass on Johnson.
This is a stay-away-from matchup. However, if fantasy managers cannot steer clear, then at the very least, lower your expectations this week with your fantasy start decisions.
Diontae Johnson (WR – BAL) vs. Pat Surtain (CB – DEN)
Diontae Johnson made the move from the Carolina Panthers, who are looking like the worst team in football, to the Baltimore Ravens, who are looking like one of the best teams in football. However, while he will relish being on a better team, with a better quarterback, in a better system for his skill set, this week is a real baptism of fire for him.
He squares up against Pat Surtain, who is in the All-Pro conversation through the first half of the season. He is only allowing 0.15 fantasy points per route run against him. He is also only being targeted on 9.6% of the routes run against him. That mark is the sixth-lowest in the NFL among all cornerbacks.
Fantasy managers should fade Johnson at all costs in what is a short week, where he is learning a new system and playbook. Especially against Surtain.
Other Notable Challenging Matchups
- Tank Dell (WR – HOU) vs. Sauce Gardner (CB – NYJ)
- Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE) vs. Cam Hart (CB – LAC)
- Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA) vs. Rasul Douglas (CB – BUF)
- Tyler Lockett (WR – SEA) vs. Cobie Durant (CB – LAR)
- Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF) vs. Jalen Ramsey (CB – MIA)
Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @5yardrush.
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