Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 3: Nico Collins, Brandon Aiyuk, Jameson Williams, Rashid Shaheed, more

Welcome to Week 3 WR Matchups to Target. Last week’s picks stayed red hot, returning two home-run picks (3x multiplier on DraftKings salary) in Malik Nabers and Chris Godwin, who finished third and sixth at the receiver position, respectively. 

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

Below are five of the 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.

Nico Collins, Houston Texans

$7,300 on DraftKings, $7,600 on FanDuel; vs. Shaquill Griffin

Collins has been a star in the explosive Texans offense through two games, with 14 catches for 252 yards and a touchdown so far. Last week he garnered a 28% target share while averaging 16.9 yards per reception against the Bears.

The 25-year-old has a matchup with the Vikings in Week 3, PFF’s seventh-best matchup for receivers. Collins has lined up 49% of the time as the X-receiver, meaning he will match up most often against CB Shaquill Griffin. PFF projects a heavy advantage for Collins in this matchup, with a 29-point PFF grading gap between these two players.

The Vikings have played zone coverage at a top-seven rate thus far. Collins has been stellar against zone coverage this year, generating 0.62 fantasy points per route run, seventh-best among receivers with at least 30 routes run.

Collins is the ninth most expensive receiver on the DK main slate despite top-five upside at the position.

Nico Collins isn't real. Good lord what a player he's become. pic.twitter.com/QRaKuzH9I5

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) September 18, 2024

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

$6,200 on DraftKings, $6,500 on FanDuel; vs. Tre'Davious White

Aiyuk comes at a significant discount in DFS this week, listed as the 22nd and 23rd most expensive WR in DraftKings and FanDuel, respectively. 

Aiyuk faces off against the Rams on Sunday and is likely to be shadowed by veteran CB Tre'Davious White. This is a matchup to target as White is not the cover corner he once was - his 47.4 PFF secondary grade ranks bottom-8 among starters in the NFL so far this season. The Rams also deploy zone coverage at a top-three rate. Aiyuk finished as a top-12 receiver against zone last year per PFF.

With Deebo Samuel out and George Kittle banged up, Aiyuk will likely see more than the five targets per game he has tallied through two weeks. He is a great buy-low pick this week with a tremendous ceiling.

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— Scott (@scottd923) September 25, 2023

Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

$5,800 on DraftKings, $6,300 on FanDuel; vs. Sean Murphy-Bunting

Williams has been a pleasant surprise for the Lions this season, ranking eighth among receivers in fantasy points per game thus far (19.4). Continuing that streak of points would easily put the 23-year-old in the money for DFS in Week 3.

Williams is among the league leaders in a variety of underlying receiving metrics. He is third in air yards, fifth in targets, and first in red zone targets. He currently ranks third in FantasyPoints’ Average Separation Score while tallying a 43% win rate and a 4.32 yards per route run (both fourth-best in the NFL).

Williams has a favorable matchup this week against the Cardinals, who rank as PFF’s easiest matchup for receivers. This game also has the highest over/under of the week at 51.5. Williams is a high-ceiling play and a good bet to go over his 52.5 receiving yardage prop.

Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints

$5,300 on DraftKings, $6,300 on FanDuel; vs. Darius Slay

Shaheed is another high-ceiling option playing up to his potential in Klint Kubiak’s fiery Saints offense. After two games he leads the league in yards per route run (5.28), yards per target (18.8), and fantasy points per route run (1.16). Derek Carr also has a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeting the speedster.

Shaheed and the Saints face off against the Eagles on Sunday, the third-easiest matchup for receivers according to PFF. Philadelphia has given up the most fantasy points to opposing receivers through Week 2 (42.8 per game). 

The Eagles have struggled in zone coverage thus far, ranking bottom-ten according to PFF. Shaheed has done all of his damage against zone, with 100% of his fantasy production coming against that coverage. Shaheed and WR Chris Olave are great picks again this week.

Rashid Shaheed been unreal on bombs through two weeks, as he's always been. But adding more this year:

* 36 routes on 43 Derek Carr dropbacks
* 58 snaps wide, 24 slot, 2 backfield
* Team-high 23% target share
* aDOT 18.0 yards, 6th-longest in NFL. However, Klint Kubiak has also… pic.twitter.com/VPSLsCE15H

— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) September 16, 2024

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

$5,000 on DraftKings, $5,700 on FanDuel; vs. Beanie Bishop

McConkey has had a lackluster start to his NFL career, tallying 65 yards on seven catches through two games. This week he gets a matchup against the Steelers, PFF’s fourth-easiest matchup for receivers. Pittsburgh gave up 8 catches and 143 yards to receivers Josh Reynolds and Lil'Jordan Humphrey last week.

McConkey should have a heavy advantage over corner Beanie Bishop in the slot on Sunday. He has an excellent 95.9 matchup advantage grade per PFF, one of the highest on the week. 

With Joshua Palmer questionable for Week 3, McConkey could be in line for an elevated target share that should help him far outpace his $5,000 DK price tag.

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

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