First, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. It’s an incredible time of year when we feast on family, friends, food and football.
Second, thank you for reading this column. Whether it is just this week and you are fighting for a title, or if you have read all of them since Week 1, I appreciate you all the same for taking the time to enjoy this journey and season with me.
This week, we will be fighting for fantasy championships. The margins for error are smaller than ever. Therefore, we must try and gain an edge wherever possible. So, without further delay, here are my top WR/CB matchups to know in Week 17.
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Fantasy Football WR/CB Matchups: Week 17
Advantageous Wide Receiver Matchups
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) vs. Cam Taylor-Britt (CB – CIN)
Courtland Sutton was a little quiet in Week 16. However, he will look to bounce back in Week 17. The Denver Broncos are in a win-and-in situation concerning the playoffs and won’t want to have to wait a week to secure their place in the playoffs.
Sutton is up against Cam Taylor-Britt. According to Fantasy Points Data, Taylor-Britt is tied for ninth in terms of most fantasy points allowed per route run (0,34). With Sutton managing 0.43 fantasy points per route run and getting targeted on 26% of his routes, he should be viewed as a WR2 with upside in fantasy start sit decisions week.
DK Metcalf (WR – SEA) vs. Tyrique Stevenson (CB – CHI)
DK Metcalf came to life in Week 16 after a terrible run of form. He had the best WR/CB matchup last week. And he follows up that performance with a great matchup against Tyrique Stevenson.
Fantasy Points Data tells us Stevenson is allowing the third-most fantasy points per route run (0.41). While Metcalf is only managing 0.36 fantasy points per route run, he has every chance to exceed that mark this week.
Fantasy managers should view Metcalf as a low-end WR2 with upside in this must-win matchup for Seattle.
Tyreek Hill (WR – MIA) vs. Denzel Ward (CB – CLE)
Tyreek Hill has been a disappointment for fantasy managers. As a first-round pick, he will not provide value on his average draft position (ADP) investment. However, should he manage a significant fantasy points haul this week and deliver a fantasy championship for his managers, all will be forgiven.
Hill is up against Denzel Ward, who has had a season to forget for the Cleveland Browns. Ward is allowing 0.26 fantasy points per route run, according to Fantasy Points Data.
With Hill managing 0.46 fantasy points per route run, he is in a prime opportunity to score against this porous Browns defense. He will need to see a slight increase in his 24.4% target rate per route run. If quarterback Tua Tagovailoa trusts him in this must-win game for the Miami Dolphins he could carry significant upside this week.
Hill should be viewed as a solid WR2 with upside this week for fantasy managers.
Other Notable Advantageous Matchups
- Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC) vs. Jonathan Jones (CB – NE)
- Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN) vs. Montaric Brown (CB – JAX)
- Jameson Williams (WR – DET) vs. Renardo Green (CB – SF)
- Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS) vs. A.J. Terrell (CB – ATL)
- A.J. Brown (WR – PHI) vs. DaRon Bland (CB – DAL)
Challenging Wide Receiver Matchups
Tee Higgins (WR – CIN) vs. Pat Surtain (CB – DEN)
No cornerback has been mentioned more times than Pat Surtain in this column this season. Tee Higgins has the matchup all wide receivers and offensive coordinators dread.
Of all the cornerbacks that have started nine or more games, no one has allowed fewer fantasy points on routes run against him than Surtain. According to Fantasy Points Data, Surtain is only allowing 0.12 fantasy points per route run against him. He is also tied for a league-low 9.4% targets per route run rate.
Higgins and the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive certainly have the offense to overcome this matchup. Fantasy managers should start Higgins given where you drafted him, but be advised there is little upside in this matchup.
Darnell Mooney (WR – ATL) vs. Marshon Lattimore (CB – WAS)
Darnell Mooney had a decent Week 16 after some challenges in the Atlanta Falcons’ offense in recent weeks. However, this week he is up against one of the best corners in football in Marshon Lattimore.
Lattimore, fully recovered from injury, is second in corners who have managed to play nine or more times this season with just 0.15 fantasy points per route run allowed. He is also tied with Surtain by only being targeted on 9.4% of routes run against him.
Mooney is a risky play this week for fantasy managers. Michael Penix Jr. sees a much better calibre of opposition in the Washington Commanders defense and Mooney has struggled in certain coverages this season.
Mooney, in shallower leagues, might be best placed on fantasy benches this week in replacement for players with safer floors or higher upsides.
DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI) vs. Jourdan Lewis (CB – DAL)
DeVonta Smith has delivered to all expectations this season. However, in this final week of the fantasy season, fantasy managers might want to temper expectations.
Smith is up against Jourdan Lewis, who comes into Week 17 tied for fifth of all cornerbacks in terms of fantasy points per route run allowed. His 0.17 fantasy points per route run should be a concern for Smith managers
However, because Smith is a deep ball threat, he carries a 0.49 fantasy points per route run average. Fantasy managers might choose to stick with him and let the talent prevail. However, just watch the upside in this matchup as it should be capped. Especially as this Dallas Cowboys defense has stepped up in the last six games and pulled off some shocks along the way.
Other Notable Challenging Matchups
- Jordan Addison (WR – MIN) vs. Carrington Valentine (CB – GB)
- Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR) vs. Garrett Williams (CB – ARI)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET) vs. Deommodore Lenoir (CB – SF)
- Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF) vs. Isaiah Oliver (CB – NYJ)
- CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL) vs. Cooper DeJean (CB – PHI)
Thank you for checking out this column. There will not be a Week 18 edition, so this is the last one of the season. Thank you for reading.
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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @5yardrush.