NFL Week 16 WR/CB Matchup Report

Week 16 is here, and that means it’s the fantasy football championship round for most 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. Good luck in the finals this week!

The Good:

Davante Adams vs. Xavier Rhodes:

Adams has four touchdowns over his last four games, averaging double-digit targets and over seven receptions per game. This week he faces off against Xavier Rhodes, who is allowing 10 yards per target, over 650 total receiving yards, and a catch rate of 84 percent.

Tyler Lockett vs. Byron Murphy:

If not for last week’s eruption, Tyler Lockett would have had quite the five-game slide. I don’t know if he will repeat his week 15 game with eight catches for 120 yards and a touchdown, but this is certainly a great matchup to try and do it. He gets Byron Murphy in coverage this week, who has been one of the most targeted cornerbacks in the league this season. This year, Murphy has allowed nine touchdowns, a catch rate of 69 percent, and a quarterback rating of 115.5.

Terry McLaurin vs. DeAndre Baker:

McLaurin now has back to back touchdown performances for the first time since the first three weeks of the season. It seems as though he and Haskins have started to gel a bit. I think that can continue this week against DeAndre Baker and the Giants. This season, Baker has allowed 10 yards per target, over 700 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns.

D.K. Metcalf vs. Kevin Peterson:

The Seahawks passing game has a big advantage this week over the Cardinals secondary, and I think Metcalf can find the same success that Lockett does. Metcalf should see a lot of Kevin Peterson, who is giving up 11 yards per target, a 73 percent catch rate, and a quarterback rating of 110 this year.

Kenny Golladay vs. Chris Harris:

I’m a little bit on the fence with this matchup. Golladay hasn’t had big numbers over the last couple of weeks, especially against fairly easier competition than what he will face against Chris Harris and the Broncos this weekend. I’m going with the talent in Golladay, here. Harris has been good, but not great this season. He’s allowing 10 yards per target and a catch rate of 71 percent. I’m giving the slight edge to Golladay in this one.

The Bad:

Allen Robinson vs. Charvarious Ward:

We know the volume will be there for Robinson, as he’s averaging over 10 targets per game this season, but will the production be there. The Chiefs rank sixth in the league in pass defense DVOA this season, and Robinson should be matched up against Charvarious Ward. This year, Ward is allowing a catch rate of just 52 percent and has given up only one touchdown.

Amari Cooper vs. Jalen Mills:

I love Amari Cooper, but I don’t love him on the road. On the road this season he’s averaging just three catches for 42 yards per game. This week he faces off against Jalen Mills, who hasn’t been fantastic in coverage this year, but he is allowing a catch percentage of just 58. 

A.J. Brown vs. Marshon Lattimore:

A.J. Brown and Ryan Tannehill have formed quite the connect this season. It will be interesting to see how that connection holds up this week against Marshon Lattimore. Since week five, Lattimore is allowing just three catches for 22 yards per game. It will be a fun matchup to watch, but it could be tough sledding for Brown.

Courtland Sutton vs. Darius Slay:

It seems as though it doesn’t matter who is under center for the Broncos, Sutton just keeps on producing. Sutton has had at least 74 receiving yards in three of his last five games, with two touchdowns. Though, on Sunday he will see lots and lots of Darius Slay. Slay did give up a big game to Stefon Diggs in Week 14 but has held opposing receivers to single-digit fantasy performances in half of his games this year. 

Jarvis Landry vs. Marlon Humphrey:

Landry is a player that needs a high volume of passes to be productive in fantasy football. Over the last two weeks, he’s averaging just seven targets and four receptions per game. It will be interesting to see how he performs against Marlon Humphrey. This year, Humphrey is giving up just six yards per target, a catch rate of 60 percent, and a quarterback rating of only 81.

The Upside:

T.Y. Hilton vs. Donte Jackson:

While Hilton has been a shell of himself since his injury, forcing him to miss seven games this season, I do like the matchup against Donte Jackson. This year, Jackson is allowing 11 yards per target, a quarterback rating of 112, and has given up a total of six touchdowns.

Michael Gallup vs. Ronald Darby:

So, I’m not a fan of Amari Cooper’s matchup this week, but I’m all in on Michael Gallup. Going up against Ronald Darby, Darby has given up 10 yards per target for over 600 yards and six touchdowns this year.

Darius Slayton vs. Fabian Moreau:

Darius Slayton has been having quite the rookie season, and that success should continue against Washington this week. He will see Fabian Moreau in coverage, who is giving up 10 yards per target and a catch rate of 80 percent this season.

Chris Conley vs. Isaiah Oliver:

Without DJ Chark in the lineup last week, that meant more targets for Conley and that showed as he led the team with eight. He also found the endzone twice. This week he gets Isiah Oliver on the other side of him, and while Oliver has only allowed three touchdowns this year, he has given up almost 680 receiving yards on the season.

James Washington vs. Nate Hairston:

JuJu Smith-Schuster was a full participant in practice on Thursday, and barring any setbacks he should be able to suit up this week. Since Smith-Schuster has been out, Washington has at least 83 receiving yards in three of his last four games to go along with two touchdowns. Washington should still be the number two target for the Steelers, and he gets to go up against Nate Hairston, who has allowed 11 yards per target, a catch rate of 76 percent, and a quarterback rating of 127.9.