We have made it to the fantasy football playoffs. Congratulations to all of you who have secured a berth, whether you are playing this week or secured a bye.
As no easy games are on the schedule, finding an edge where possible becomes vitally important. I will give you the top fantasy football WR/CB matchups to know in Week 15.
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WR/CB Matchups: Week 15
Advantageous Wide Receiver Matchups
Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) vs. Tyrique Stevenson (CB – CHI)
Justin Jefferson has had a decent year despite the challenges at quarterback. He is currently QB2 on the year and looks set to finish the year strong.
For those fantasy managers who have made the playoffs drafting Jefferson in the first round of their drafts this summer, they are about to be rewarded with a dream matchup against Tyrique Stevenson.
According to Fantasy Points Data, only Houston Texans cornerback Eric Murray allows more fantasy points per route run than Stevenson — Stevenson allows 0.41 fantasy points per route run.
He is also being targeted on 22.4% of routes run against him, which is also second to Murray among all cornerbacks in the NFL. Jefferson should have a spike week this week and finish in contention for the overall fantasy WR1 in Week 15.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR – NO) vs. Benjamin St-Juste (CB – WAS)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been the WR15 over the past five weeks and is looking to extend that further this weekend against Benjamin St-Juste and the Washington Commanders. This current production is even more staggering considering he had a bye week during this span. He is the WR11 in points per game over this span.
There is some risk to this matchup as the New Orleans Saints will be without Derek Carr, who has been responsible for the uptick in Valdes-Scantling’s production. The Saints will look to start second-year quarterback Jake Haener or rookie Spencer Rattler on Sunday.
According to Fantasy Points Data, St-Juste is allowing 0.35 fantasy points per route run. This is currently tied for the third most allowed by a cornerback behind Stevenson and Murray.
There is an opportunity for Valdes-Scantling to have a great outing. Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi is trying to coach himself into the head coaching job permanently and has shown no signs of throwing the towel on the season. Therefore, expect the Saints to try and play hard on Sunday and look to play to their strengths. This matchup is one of the best strengths they have.
There is some risk with the change of quarterback that may not allow them to exploit the matchup. However, for fantasy managers to win championships, they will need to take some risks. And this one looks like a risk worth taking.
Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN) vs. Josh Newton (CB – CIN)
Calvin Ridley has been the WR17 over the past five weeks with a couple of good ceiling performances against weaker defenses. However, he has also had a couple of low-floor finishes against stronger defenses in that time.
This week, however, Ridley has an excellent matchup against one of the worst defenses in the NFL — the Cincinnati Bengals. Ridley, who is managing 0.39 fantasy points per route run, is up against Josh Newton, who is allowing 0.32 fantasy points per route run.
This is a matchup that should suit quarterback Will Levis and Ridley, as they will need to throw more to keep pace with the blistering Bengals offense. Ridley should be viewed as a mid-range WR2 this week with upside when making fantasy start sit decisions.
Other Notable Advantageous Matchups
- Tyreek Hill (WR – MIA) vs. Derek Stingley (CB – HOU)
- Jakobi Meyers (WR – LV) vs. Mike Hughes (CB – ATL)
- DeAndre Hopkins (WR – KC) vs. Martin Emerson (CB – CLE)
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI) vs. Christian Gonzalez (CB – NE)
- Jauan Jennings (WR – SF) vs. Quentin Lake (CB – LAR)
Challenging Wide Receiver Matchups
Jordan Addison (WR – MIN) vs. Jaylon Johnson (CB – CHI)
Jordan Addison finished Week 14 as the fantasy WR3 after having a huge game against the Atlanta Falcons. However, there is an expectation he could crash down to earth this week.
As already mentioned, Justin Jefferson has the better matchup. And there is the expectation he could be flooded with targets. Not to mention that the Chicago Bears allow the 10th-most fantasy points to tight ends, which should also mean a good outing for T.J. Hockenson.
Not to mention that Jaylon Johnson has been one of the best corners in the NFL this season. According to Fantasy Points Data, Johnson is only allowing 0.13 fantasy points per route run, tied for the best mark for a starting cornerback.
Fantasy managers might find it hard to fade Addison this week. However, he should be viewed as a WR3 heading into the weekend.
Jerry Jeudy (WR – CLE) vs. Joshua Williams (CB – KC)
Jerry Jeudy is currently the WR2 since his Week 10 bye. The Browns coaching staff has been working with quarterback Jameis Winston and Jeudy to get them on the same page and be the focal point of the attack.
However, despite this uptick in volume, there is concern about the ceiling of this week’s matchup. Jeudy is going up against the Kansas City Chiefs and Joshua Williams.
According to Fantasy Points Data, Williams is tied with Jaylon Johnson and Patrick Surtain in terms of the fewest amount of fantasy points allowed per route run by a cornerback. His 0.13 fantasy points per route run will make it hard for Jeudy to reach his ceiling.
Fantasy managers might need or want to start Jeudy this week. And they absolutely should do that. However, there is concern about the ceiling he might have this week. Fantasy managers should view Jeudy as a volume-based WR2 fantasy start sit option this week.
Michael Pittman (WR – IND) vs. Patrick Surtain (CB – DEN)
Michael Pittman has been a nightmare pick for fantasy managers this season. After the huge contract he received this offseason, it was expected Pittman would be a solid WR2 with WR1 upside thanks to being paired with exciting quarterback Anthony Richardson. However, that has not been the case as he comes into this week as the WR53 on the season.
If Pittman is still on your roster (probably due to Josh Downs’ injury), he absolutely should not be started under any circumstances this week. In addition to playing in the lowest passing volume offense this week, the scariest thing about Pittman this week is the shadow coverage of Defensive Player of the Year candidate Patrick Surtain.
Surtain is only allowing 0.13 fantasy points per route run, which is tied for the lowest in the NFL alongside Jaylon Johnson and Joshua Williams. Surtain is also only targeted on a measly 9.3% of targets run against him.
Now is the time to drop Pittman to the waiver wire and replace with a running back handcuff. Because there is no circumstance where he should be in a starting lineup this week.
Other Notable Challenging Matchups
- Tee Higgins (WR – CIN) vs. Jarvis Brownlee (CB – TEN)
- Jayden Reed (WR – GB) vs. Devon Witherspoon (CB – SEA)
- Adam Thielen (WR – CAR) vs. Jourdan Lewis (CB – DAL)
- Nico Collins (WR – HOU) vs. Jalen Ramsey (CB – MIA)
- A.J. Brown (WR – PHI) vs. Joey Porter (CB – PIT)
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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @5yardrush.