Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 11 - Courtland Sutton, George Pickens, Cedric Tillman, Jauan Jennings, Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Welcome to WR Matchups to Target: Week 11 Edition. Last week we kept our streak alive with one home run pick (DraftKings points equalling 3x their salary) to go along with two more value picks (2x DraftKings salary multiplier). 

Each week, we will use matchup data from PFF to determine which wide receivers to target based on who they will be primarily lining up against that week. These players are more likely to return a 3x multiplier on their DraftKings salary, a benchmark for consistently winning DFS cash games. 

Below are five top WR vs. CB matchups for this week’s DFS main slate. Use these to set season-long lineups, make player-prop picks, and gain an edge in DFS. Let's get to it.

George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers

$7,000 on DraftKings, $7,500 on FanDuel; vs. Brandon Stephens

Pickens has come into his own with QB Russell Wilson, who took over under center for the Steelers in Week 7. The third-year receiver has two 20+ fantasy point performances in his three games with Wilson and is in an absolute smash spot to continue that production in Week 11 against the Ravens. 

Baltimore has given up the most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season, including last week’s jaw-dropping 58.4 DK point output from WR Ja'Marr Chase. Baltimore’s pass defense is among the worst in the NFL, ranking 25th in pass defense DVOA. 

Pickens has a considerable advantage in his primary matchup against CB Brandon Stephens, who holds a 50.1 PFF defensive grade. PFF projects a 98.5 matchup advantage grade for Pickens in this duel, the fifth-best of all WR/CB matchups this week.

Pickens has received 43.8% of receiver targets during Wilson’s three games, including five red zone targets over that span. He is a great bet to exceed his 78.5 over/under and exceed his WR9 DraftKings cost this week.

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

$5,900 on DraftKings, $6,800 on FanDuel; vs. A.J. Terrell

Rookie QB Bo Nix has found his favorite receiver. The rapport between Nix and Courtland Sutton is hitting its stride at the perfect time for the Broncos, with the 29-year-old receiver finishing WR6 in each of his last two games. Sutton is averaging 10 targets, 7 catches, and 97 receiving yards over his last three games, and isn’t showing signs of slowing down any time soon.

The Broncos face off against the Falcons on Sunday, PFF’s 10th-best matchup for receivers on the week. Atlanta has given up the 8th-most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season, including giving up 109 yards and two touchdowns to Marquez Valdes-Scantling last week. The Falcons deploy zone coverage 78.3% of the time. Sutton owns a 22.4% target rate against zone. 

Sutton has always provided big-play potential, but his volume and red-zone attention have given him a healthy floor for DFS over the second half of the season. Sutton ranks second among receivers in air yards (1,020) and fourth in red zone targets (12). 

Sutton is a great bet for cash and tournament games this week.

Bo Nix's 32-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton on Sunday was the first reception of 20+ yards allowed by Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie this season, per @ZebraSports.

Impressive Bo went after him and even more impressive it worked.pic.twitter.com/hoOsj2l7tV

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) November 14, 2024

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— Scott (@scottd923) September 25, 2023

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns

$5,300 on DraftKings, $5,600 on FanDuel; vs. Shemar Jean-Charles

Tillman is another big-play receiver who has been shot out of a cannon of late. The benching of Deshaun Watson has done wonders for the second-year receiver - over his last three contests, Tillman has finished no worse than WR12 while matching his entire 2023 season receiving output. Over Weeks 7-9, Tillman ranked as the NFL’s WR1 in full PPR, averaging 22.2 fantasy points.

Tillman has a matchup with the Saints on Sunday. New Orleans ranks as the third-best matchup for receivers according to PFF’s strength of schedule tool. They have given up the ninth most fantasy points to opposing receivers. 

Tillman primarily lines up in the X-position, where he projects to match up most often opposite CB Shemar Jean-Charles. The Saints corner has a 50.8 PFF defensive grade while allowing a 70% catch rate and 2.04 fantasy points per route covered (second-worst among eligible defensive backs). 

Tillman comes at a discount as the 36th-priced receiver on the main slate. Take advantage of the savings this week.

Browns WR Cedric Tillman should be in lineups.

Cleveland’s off a bye, Jameis Winston is back, and Tillman’s his top target. NO has allowed the 4th-most yards to WRs.

Tillman’s scored 18+ fantasy points in 3 straight and seen 10+ targets in 2 of them: pic.twitter.com/o8lH2au6KN

— Moody (@EricNMoody) November 15, 2024

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

$5,300 on DraftKings, $6,200 on FanDuel; vs. Tariq Woolen

Jennings has been a major beneficiary of the injury to Brandon Aiyuk. He is averaging 6.7 targets and 71 receiving yards per game in 2024, compared to previous season bests of 3.5 targets and 26 yards per game. He appears to be a predominant part of the 49ers offensive gameplan of late as well, totaling a season-high 91% of offensive snaps last week against the Buccaneers.

Next up for Jennings is a game against the Seahawks. Seattle is giving up an average of 21.3 fantasy points to opposing receivers (seventh-worst) while ranking as PFF’s 4th best receiving matchup for Week 11.

Seattle plays a league-average amount of man and zone coverage. Jennings leads 49ers receivers in fantasy points per route run against both coverages (0.39 and 0.61 against man and zone, respectively). Jennings has an excellent 84.3 PFF offensive grade, a sizeable advantage over all of Seattle’s starting corners. 

Jennings is another player that figures to skyrocket in DFS price in upcoming weeks. Use him this week in a great buy-low spot.

INJURY UPDATE: 49ers tight end George Kittle is unlikely to play due to a hamstring injury. His absence would increase Jennings' value.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, New Orleans Saints

$4,400 on DraftKings, $5,900 on FanDuel; vs. Martin Emerson

MVS raised eyebrows last week for a hurting Saints team, tallying 28.9 DK points against the Falcons to finish as the WR2. With receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed on IR, Valdes-Scantling figures to continue filling the role of big-play threat for QB Derek Carr. 

The Saints welcome Cleveland to town on Sunday, the third-best matchup for receivers this week according to PFF’s strength of schedule tool. The Browns deploy man coverage at a top-five rate. MVS saw all of his success last week against man coverage, helping him to a team-leading 0.59 fantasy points per route run against man in his two games with the Saints.

MVS ranks 52nd among main slate receivers in DK salary, making him an excellent dart throw pick in Week 11.

Thanks for reading, and good luck with your DFS contests!

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