NFL Week 12 WR/CB Matchup Report
Week 12 is here and with only a handful of weeks left in the season, everyone is starting to feel the pressure of trying to make the fantasy football playoffs throughout their leagues. As I’ve done with every article this season, I’m going to focus on five wide receivers, ranked in my top 24, that I feel have good matchups. I’m also going to look at my top 24 WR rankings and select five players that I feel don’t have very good matchups. Finally, I’m going to select five WRs outside of my top 24 rankings that I feel have some upside this week. You can use these picks in your season-long leagues (as a guide, not as a start/sit), or even when selecting your DFS lineups.
The Good:
MIke Evans vs. Isaiah Oliver:
Evans is the number two fantasy wide receiver, behind Michael Thomas, and his matchup this week against Isaiah Oliver could push him into the number one spot. This season, Oliver has allowed nine yards per target, over 500 receiving yards, and a catch rate of 68 percent. The Falcons defense has been playing much better over the last two weeks, but I’m still giving the edge to Evans here.
Tyler Lockett vs. Avonte Maddox:
Lockett has double digit PPR (points per reception) performances in all but two games this season. This week he is up against the Eagles’ Avonte Maddox. He is allowing just over eight yards per target and a catch rate of 67 percent this season, and while he hasn’t been that bad in coverage I do think that Lockett gets the best of him this week.
Calvin Ridley vs. Sean Murphy-Bunting:
Ridley had just his second one hundred yard receiving game of the season last week. This week against the Buccaneers he could have number three, as he should see a lot of Murphy-Bunting. So far, in his 2019 campaign, Murphy-Bunting has allowed four touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 112.1. This game has an over-under of 52, so there should be plenty of fantasy goodness to go around.
Allen Robinson vs. DeAndre Baker:
Mitchell Trubisky has been named the starter for this week, and that’s good news for Allen Robinson as he has been targeted more with Trubisky under center. This week, Robinson gets DeAndre Baker of the Giants. Baker, a first round pick this past year, has certainly had some growing pains in his rookie season. So far this year he has allowed 12 yards per target, over 600 receiving yards, six touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 149.9.
Kenny Golladay vs. Josh Norman:
Golladay is just two touchdowns away from hitting double digit scores for this season, and I think he could get there this week against Washington. He is being targeted almost eight times per game, and at least once per game in the red zone. Josh Norman has allowed almost as many touchdowns as Golladay has scored this season. Along with the seven touchdowns allowed, Norman has given up 10 yards per target and a quarterback rating of 133.1
The Bad:
Julio Jones vs. Carlton Davis:
I feel like this could come back to bite me in the butt, but I’m sticking with the call. Jones hasn’t found the end zone since week three and he only has nine targets over his last two games. This week he faces Carlton Davis, who is allowing just five yards per target and a catch rate of only 48 percent.
Amari Cooper vs. Stephon Gilmore:
This is the matchup that I’ve been waiting for all season! Cooper has played fairly well against opposing team’s top corners, especially in week five when he lit up Jaire Alexander for 11/226/1. On the other hand, Gilmore has been arguably the league’s top shutdown corner this year. Gilmore hasn’t allowed a touchdown yet, he has given up a catch rate of just 46 percent, and a quarterback rating of only 43.5.
Courtland Sutton vs. Tre’Davious White:
I have really enjoyed watching Sutton play this year, as he is having a very solid sophomore season, regardless of who his quarterback has been. Unfortunately, this week he has a not-so-great matchup with Tre’Davious White. White is allowing a quarterback rating of just 60, he hasn’t allowed a touchdown all season, and last week was his first game where he allowed 100 yards or more.
DeVante Parker vs. Denzel Ward:
Speaking of the above 100 yard performance given up by White, that was to none other than DeVante Parker. Since Preston Williams was lost for the season, Parker has seen double digit targets in his last two games. This week, Denzel Ward will be tasked with covering Parker. This season, Ward has allowed just one touchdown, six yards per target, and a catch rate of only 38 percent.
Terry McLaurin vs. Darius Slay:
McLaurin was off to such a hot start to the season, but over his last four games he is averaging just three catches and 40 yards per game. Last week, Darius Slay held Amari Cooper to five catches for 74 yards. Until Dwyane Haskins can show some kind of chemistry with McLaurin, I’m proceeding with caution each week.
The Upside:
Deebo Samuel vs. Kevin King:
This season, King has allowed 10 yards per target and almost 650 receiving yards. Emmanuel Sanders has been practicing, but not in any contact drills. If he doesn’t play, I give Samuel an even bigger boost here.
James Washington vs. B.W. Webb:
It looks like JuJu Smith-Schuster won’t play this week, and banged up Diontae Johnson should be able to go. That makes Washington one of the top targets against the Bengals. B.W. Webb has given up 12 yards per target, a catch rate of 69 percent, and a quarterback rating of 122.5.
Marquise Brown vs. Jalen Ramsey:
Ramsey has been pretty stingy with opposing WR1 this season. What I like about this matchup is that Lamar Jackson only really targets Brown and Andrews. I know that’s not a great analytical reason, but I do think that Brown’s speed can win him some matchups this week.
Cole Beasley vs. Duke Dawson:
Beasley is averaging almost seven targets a game, which is really good for someone who plays just 67 percent of the snaps. This week he gets Duke Dawson in coverage. This season, Dawson is allowing nine yards per target, a 76 percent catch rate, and a quarterback rating of 122.7.
Danny Amendola vs. Fabian Moreau:
Amendola has seen at least five targets in all but two games this season. Fabian Moreau is allowing almost 12 yards per target this season, along with a catch rate of 89 percent.
