NFL Week 8 WR/CB Matchup Report

I can’t believe we’re just about at the halfway mark of the NFL season. More and more injuries are occurring on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, so you may find yourself digging through the waiver wire to find plug and play guys for a few weeks. This week, 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:

Julio Jones vs. Tre Flowers:

Julio has been held scoreless over his last four games, but that could change this weekend against the Seahawks. I’m not concerned if Matt Ryan can’t go, due to his ankle injury, because Julio will still see the bulk of the targets against Tre Flowers. This season, Flowers has allowed  25 receptions for 326 yards.

Chris Godwin vs. Logan Ryan:

Godwin has been Tampa Bay’s true number one wide receiver this season, or at least the most consistent one. He has three straight games of at least 125 receiving yards and has scored four touchdowns over that stretch. The Bucs face off against the Titans this week, and Godwin will matchup against Logan Ryan. While Ryan is allowed just 6.7 yards per target this season, he is being targeted a lot and has allowed a catch rate of 65 percent. That bodes well for Godwin as he’s seeing almost ten targets a game this year.

Tyler Lockett vs. Damontae Kazee:

The Falcons have been an absolute pass funnel this season, as they rank fourth in rush defense DVOA and 29th in pass defense DVOA, allowing 81 receiving yards to opposing WR1. This week, the WR1 they get is Tyler Lockett. Locket has scored a touchdown in every other game this season, though he’s failed to reach the 100 yard receiving mark since week three. That could change this week against Damontae Kazee, who is allowing a catch rate of 84 percent so far this year.

Kenny Golladay vs. DeAndre Baker:

Golladay struggles last week, as he saw only two targets all game. Matthew Stafford won’t limit his star wide receiver two weeks in a row, especially going against the porous Giants secondary. The Lions have an implied total of 28 points this week, and Golladay should find sucess against DeAndre Baker. This season, Baker has allowed over 400 receiving yards and a catch rate of 73 percent.

Golden Tate vs. Justin Coleman:

Well, the return of both Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram didn’t hurt Tate’s target share, as he saw 11 targets last week against the Cardinals. Sterling Shepard has a shot of playing this week, but we won’t know for sure until we get closer to Sunday. This week, Tate will see Justin Coleman in coverage, who has allowed 358 receiving yards and five touchdowns this year.

The Bad:

T.Y. Hilton vs. Chris Harris:

Hilton has five touchdowns in the five games that he has played this season. Hilton has yet to top 90 receiving yards, and I don’t know if this is the week that it happens. Chris Harris is allowing just 31 receiving yards per game, and has only given up a single touchdown all season.

Tyreek Hill vs. Tramon Williams:

No Mahomes, no problem? Well, maybe. With Mahomes expected to miss this week’s game, after injuring his knee cap last week, the Chiefs could lean on the running game a bit more. Hill is absolutely electric, but he may not see the targets that he is used to getting. Tramon Williams has been solid in coverage this year, allowing only 184 receiving yards, one touchdown, and a catch rate of just 57 percent.

Odell Beckham vs. Stephon Gilmore:

Odell, along with the entire Browns offense, has really struggles this season. He did top 100 receiving yards last week, and also saw double digit targets for the third time this season. The problem is that this week he’s going up against Bill Belichick and the league’s number one defense. Stephon Gilmore has been an all-world cornerback since joining the Patriots, and it has continued this season as he is giving up a catch rate of only 44 percent and not a single touchdown. 

Robert Woods vs. B.W. Webb:

This year, Woods has zero touchdowns and just three red zone targets, despite playing 94 percent of the snaps. The Rams have an implied total of almost 31 points this week against the Bengals, but I think that B.W. Webb can slow Woods down. Webb has allowed just 193 receiving yards and zero touchdowns this year.

Calvin Ridley vs. Shaquill Griffin:

I love Calvin Ridley, along with his future role with the Falcons as he should see more targets with Sanu being traded to New England. I don’t love his matchup against Shaquill Griffin, though. Griffin hasn’t been stellar or terrible in coverage, but he has allowed just one touchdown all season and a catch rate of 60 percent. This matchup could go either way, but I’ll give the slight edge to Griffin.

The Upside:

D.K. Metcalf vs. Isaiah Oliver:

The Falcons are allowing 77 receiving yards to opposing WR2, and Metcalf is averaging almost 20 yards per reception this year. His matchup against Isaiah Oliver will be a good one, as Oliver has been torched this season for 412 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Mike Williams vs. Kyle Fuller:

Williams is a big red zone target, and has been targeted eight times already this season inside the twenty. He has a five inch advantage over Kyle Fuller, and while this game isn’t supposed to be very high scoring I do see Williams being the go to guy for Rivers when they are in the red zone this week.

Robby Anderson vs. Tre Herndon:

One catch for ten yards. That was Anderson’s stat line against the Patriots last week. That was also all that he needed in order for me to lose one of my fantasy matchups last week (by one point). But, that’s neither here nor there. This week he gets the Jaylen Ramsey-less Jaguars, who are allowing 96 receiving yards per game to opposing WR1. 

Keke Coutee vs. Lamarcus Joyner:

Will Fuller is out…again. That gives a boost to both Kenny Stills and Keke Coutee. Coutee will face Lamarcus Joyner this week. Joyner has allowed just one touchdown this year, but has given up a catch rate of 81 percent.

Ted Ginn vs. Byron Murphy:

It doesn’t look like Tre’Quan Smith will suit up again this week, which leaves Ted Ginn with more opportunities. He is at home and always excels on a faster track. This week he faced off against Byron Murphy, who has allowed 336 receiving yards, three touchdowns and a 71 percent catch rate this season.