Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 15 - Adam Thielen, DeAndre Hopkins, DeMario Douglas, Rashod Bateman

Welcome to WR Matchups to Target for Week 15. Last week we landed two 2x multiplier picks but failed to secure any home run (3x DK salary multiplier) picks for only the third time this year. This week’s main slate is missing a handful of the highest floor receivers, giving way to pay up elsewhere in favor of more sleeper pass-catching picks lower down the salary chart.

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.

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

$7.2k on DraftKings, $8.2k on FanDuel; vs. Kool-Aid McKinstry

McLaurin enters Week 15 on a hot streak, finishing in the top eight at the position with 21 full PPR points or more in back-to-back weeks. He has already set a career-high in touchdowns while ranking WR11 in fantasy points per game and seventh in deep targets with rookie Jayden Daniels under center.

McLaurin will be up against the Saints this week, who have given up the 7th most fantasy points to opposing receivers. PFF’s strength of schedule tool gives the Commanders receivers the second-best matchup of the week.

The Saints have the 30th-ranked defense by yardage through 14 weeks. New Orleans ranks in the top 10 in man coverage rate despite allowing the second-most yards per reception in man. McLaurin ranks top 20 in fantasy points per route run among 118 eligible receivers this season. 

McLaurin is a great bet for another 20 DK point performance on Sunday.

Terry McLaurin has gained 98 yards and/or scored a touchdown in 10 of his last 11 games. God bless America!

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 12, 2024

Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers

$5.4k on DraftKings, $6.1k on FanDuel; vs. Jourdan Lewis

The 34-year-old Adam Thielen has had a resurgence since coming back from injury with QB Bryce Young back under center. In his last two games, he has held a 26.3% target share, a 32.1% air-yard share, and a 31.5% first-read share while finishing with 19.2 points or more in each game.

Thielen gets the Cowboys in Week 15, PFF’s seventh-best matchup of the week, and the NFL’s 10th-worst defense against receivers by fantasy points against. Over the last six weeks, Dallas has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game and the sixth-most PPR points per target to slot receivers.

Thielen has the 17th most yards per route run among receivers this week (2.10). He is a great play in cash and tournaments.

DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs

$5.3k on DraftKings, $6.5k on FanDuel; vs. Martin Emerson

Hopkins’s target and air yard shares have steadily increased over his last three games, including a bonkers 64.0% air yard share last week against the Chargers.

Hopkins has the Browns next up and is projected to line up primarily against CB Martin Emerson. The Browns have given up the 9th most fantasy points to opposing WRs while ranking 25th in passing defense DVOA.

Since Week 9, Cleveland has allowed the tenth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers per FantasyPros. Hopkins has the eighth-best receiver matchup of the week according to FantasyPoints.

Hopkins has finished in the top 32 receivers in each of the last three weeks, leading the Chiefs with 24 targets over that span. He has an attractive ceiling this week.

DeAndre Hopkins. Always a red zone threat.

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— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 9, 2024

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DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots

$4.5k on DraftKings, $5.3k on FanDuel; vs. Garrett Williams

Douglas has lacked production in QB Drake Maye’s first season, ranking WR61 in fantasy points per game while only topping 10 full PPR points twice in his last five. He has, however, led New England’s WR room with 70 targets this season, including averaging 5.7 targets per game in his last six games with Maye under center.

The Patriots have a matchup with the Cardinals this week. Since Week 10, Arizona has used two high safeties at the highest rate in the NFL (63.9%). In that time versus two high, Douglas has seen his target share rise to 20% and his first-read share spike to 24%.

Arizona also ranks in the top 10 in zone coverage rate despite ranking second-last in defensive success rate and fifth-worst in first down-plus-touchdown rate allowed. Douglas leads New England in target rate and fantasy points per route run against zone coverage. 

The 24-year-old is a good contrarian play in cash this week with a relatively high floor for the low WR44 price on DraftKings.

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens

$4.4k on DraftKings, $5.8k on FanDuel; vs. Deonte Banks

Bateman has been boom-or-bust this season, with three games over 15 full PPR points and three games at five points or less. He has fit the bill as a volatile deep threat, ranking WR53 in fantasy points per game while being top-20 in average target distance, yards per reception, and touchdowns.

Bateman is projected to line up primarily opposite Giants’ CB Deonte Banks on Sunday, provided he plays through a questionable tag. Banks is giving up the second most fantasy points per route run of any starting cornerback this week according to FantasyPoints (0.43). 

Over the last five games, the Giants have given up the 11th-most deep passing yards per game while allowing the eighth-most PPR points per target this season to perimeter wide receivers. They rank 14th in PFF’s strength of schedule metric this week while coming into Sunday ranked 28th in passing defense DVOA. 

Look for a long ball or touchdown from Bateman this week in a game that should not need much of fellow WR Zay Flowers, with the Ravens favored by 16.5 points.

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

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