Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 8: Drake London, Brian Thomas Jr., Jaylen Waddle, Rashod Bateman

Welcome to Week 8 WR Matchups to Target. Last week was the lowest scoring slate for receivers so far in 2024, with only five wideouts scoring 20 or more DraftKings points. Our picks yielded one top-10 finisher in Tee Higgins.  

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. Let's get to it.

Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

$7,200 on DraftKings, $7,900 on FanDuel; vs. Zyon McCollum

London has been a star for the Falcons this season, entering Week 8 as the WR4 in full PPR. In his seven games with QB Kirk Cousins, the third-year receiver has finished with 17 points or more five times. His 62 targets and 44 receptions rank third in the NFL.

The Falcons are up against the Buccaneers on Sunday, an exploitable defense ranking 29th in fantasy points against receivers. The Buccs have deployed zone coverage at a top-five rate (76%). London has enjoyed a 30.4% target rate against zone so far, ranking inside the top 12 receivers in fantasy points per route run against zone.

This is the second meeting of these division rivals this season. London had an eye-popping 154 yards on 12 catches in their Week 5 matchup, finishing with 33.4 full PPR points. London is a great bet for cash games on Sunday.

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

$6,400 on DraftKings, $6,500 on FanDuel; vs. Keisean Nixon

Thomas Jr. has had an impressive start to his rookie season, ranking sixth in receiving yards and WR9 in full PPR points through Week 7. He has 20+ point finishes in three of his last four.

Thomas Jr. and the Jacksonville receivers have the sixth-best matchup of the week according to PFF. The rookie lines up primarily on the outside (76%) but has split his time evenly between sides of the field, meaning he will have a healthy amount of snaps away from CB Jaire Alexander.

The Packers play zone 68.7% of the time. BTJ ranks in the top 10 among all receivers in fantasy points per route run against zone coverage and ranks fifth in yards per route run. Start him with confidence.

GB: Single high with 55.3% of their defensive snaps

Brian Thomas Jr. vs. single high
(per @FantasyPtsData)

23.4% target share
3.12 YPRR
26.3% first-read share pic.twitter.com/cI4c2u5Thv

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) October 25, 2024

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Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

$5,600 on DraftKings, $5,600 on FanDuel; vs. Nehemiah Pritchett

Despite the arrival of WR Amari Cooper, Coleman had his best outing of the season last week against the Titans, finishing with seven catches for 125 yards.

The Bills travel to Seattle on Sunday. The Seahawks are middle of the pack against receivers this year, but Coleman has a favorable matchup on the outside against CB Nehemiah Pritchett, who ranks dead last among starting cornerbacks in PFF defensive grade. 

This should give ample opportunity for Coleman’s big play ability to shine through. Despite ranking 32nd in receiving yards this season, the rookie is third among receivers in yards per reception (20.4) and 14th in yards after catch. Coleman has a great chance at another top-15 performance this week.

Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

$5,400 on DraftKings, $5,900 on FanDuel; vs. Starling Thomas

Waddle has been unplayable for much of this year, but that changes this week in a matchup against the Cardinals with QB Tua Tagovailoa back under center. 

The Cardinals are PFF’s number-one matchup for opposing receivers. Their pass defense ranks 29th in DVOA and 27th in fantasy points given up to receivers.

The Cards have played zone coverage 71% of the time this season yet rank 31st in PFF team coverage grade (44.2). They are last in both defensive success rate (32.8%) and first down-plus-touchdown rate allowed (43.9%).

Waddle comes at a significant discount this week as the 38th receiver by DraftKings price. Expect Waddle and Tyreek Hill to get back on track this week.

Jaylen Waddle’s last 17 games with Tua:

➖122 Targets
➖85 Receptions
➖1,380 Yards
➖6 TD’s

That’s 259.0 fantasy points which would’ve been the WR13 last season.

LEAGUE WINNER pic.twitter.com/XBVD4YLPcG

— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) October 25, 2024

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens

$4,300 on DraftKings, $5,700 on FanDuel; vs. Martin Emerson

As the WR2 on the third-ranked passing offense in the NFL, Rashod Bateman is well on his way to career highs in all receiving categories this season. The fourth-year pro ranks fourth in yards per target and sixth in both average depth of target and fantasy points per target. 

Bateman and the Ravens receiving corps have a great matchup against the Browns this week. Cleveland ranks as the 9th-best matchup for pass catchers per PFF while giving up the 5th most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

Bateman lines up in the X position about 54% of the time meaning he will match up most often against CB Martin Emerson. Emerson has the third-worst PFF defensive grade among starting cornerbacks.

You can do much worse than Bateman as a discount dart throw in DFS this week.

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

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