WR/CB Matchups to Target and Downgrade - Week 2

September 17, 2022

Andrew analyzes key fantasy football WR/CB matchups through his cornerback ratings chart to find top wide receivers to target or avoid in Week 2 (2022).

Week 1 is in the books, and fantasy managers are adjusting their strategies after the first game. The Week 2 version of the WR/CB Matchup Chart has the added "PPGA" (Points Per Game Against) column with the Week 1 point assigned to each matchup.

The process for assigning points to a specific matchup has to do with how the entire defense defends the player who lines up at one of the three spots (LWR, RWR, slot) the most.  For example, Jahan Dotson scored a TD from the LWR spot and the right slot, but all of his points were assigned to Shaquil Griffin because Griffin played primarily LCB and Dotson was the Washington receiver with the most snaps at RWR.

Keep in mind that NFL teams are moving receivers around more than ever in today's game. It is difficult to pinpoint which CB each WR will be matched up against. The chart is designed to give a 1-vs-1 matchup for each player, but the reality is that most NFL WRs will see a mix of all the DBs they face each week. For example, in Week 1 A.J. Brown played 27 snaps in the slot and 21 snaps at LWR. However, Quez Watkins played more snaps in the slot and no Eagles' WR played more snaps at LWR than Brown, which explains the chart. The chart is best used to understand how teams are defending outside versus inside receivers if teams are shadowing, and how much emphasis they put on slowing down the opposing WR1 (clearly Green Bay not so much...).

WR vs. CB Chart Details

The CB Matchup Chart below is a snapshot of each team's cornerback group as it relates to allowing fantasy points. There are inherent flaws within the data compilation of cornerback play. The first is the fact that quantifying a 1-on-1 matchup in an NFL game is unfair because of zone coverages, mental errors, certain passing concepts, and a million other things. Assigning fantasy points against a cornerback isn't a perfect science.

The purpose of this chart is to give more of a general sense of how defenses are handling opposing WR groups rather than identifying exactly where, when, and how every single encounter happened. Another factor to consider is that players are listed based on where they line up the majority of the time. Most receivers do not line up on one side on every single snap, so they won't be matched up with the same CB on every snap.

The "Rtng" column is the rating of each cornerback based on film study and analytics. The lower a player is graded, the easier the matchup for the WR, so low ratings are green and high ratings are red. The "PPGA" is the number of fantasy points per game that the player has given up on average this year (in Week 1 it is blank). Keep in mind that team scheme is a huge factor in points assigned to specific players. A name in blue means the corner could possibly shadow the WR1. A name in red means that the player is dealing with an injury.

Cornerback Ratings and Matchups Chart - Week 2

Click image for full-screen view

WR/CB Matchups to Target

A.J. Brown ate against the Lions in Week 1 despite playing his first game with a new QB. Terry McLaurin is set up in a smash spot against the Lions' leaky secondary.

Patrick Mahomes spread the wealth in Week 1 against Arizona. The Cardinals have one of the most exploitable CB groups in the league. Davante Adams is set up for success in Week 2.

Michael Pittman Jr. started off strong against Houston's solid CB trio and this week gets the Jaguars, who are fresh off giving up a lot of WR production to the Commanders' top three pass-catchers. Pittman should keep it going against Tyson Campbell and the Jags.

The Patriots struggled with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in Week 1 and have arguably the worst CB1 in the league in Jalen Mills. Mitch Trubisky didn't look great in his Steeler debut, but Diontae Johnson has an easy matchup in Week 2.

On the other side of that game, Cameron Sutton is fresh off giving up a monster stat line to Ja'Marr Chase. DeVante Parker didn't do much against Miami, but Week 2 could yield better results. Jakobi Meyers is also set up for a productive day, as Arthur Maulet has been burnable as a slot corner for the past two years.

I expect the Ravens to have one of the most pronounced splits in terms of giving up more points to WR2s than WR1s because Marlon Humphrey is so good. Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill both move around the formation but based on last week's trends, Waddle should see more of Humphrey. It gives Hill a bump.

K.J. Osborn played the most slot for the Vikings in Week 1, and this week gets the Eagles' worst corner in Avonte Maddox. Keep in mind that both Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen will also see slot snaps.

Finally, Cooper Kupp just torched arguably the best defense in the league in Week 1, continuing his incredible production right where he left off last year. He gets an easy matchup this week and should have no problem getting open against Atlanta.

WR/CB Matchups to Downgrade

Allen Robinson was incredibly disappointing in Week 1 and now has to deal with the solid Atlanta outside CB duo. It's not the best bounce-back spot dealing with A.J. Terrell and Casey Hayward.

Sammy Watkins and the Packers also struggled in Week 1. Jaylon Johnson has been above average at limiting opposing LWRs, so Watkins gets a downgrade.

The Broncos have a solid CB group led by Patrick Surtain II and are fresh off limiting the Seahawks WRs on Monday night. Nico Collins and Brandin Cooks aren't in great spots.

Rashod Bateman got behind the defense for a long TD against the Jets, but his usage wasn't exactly elite in Week 1. Unfortunately, his Week 2 matchup is a tough one against Xavien Howard and a solid Dolphins defense.

Michael Thomas scored two TDs against the Falcons in Week 1, but it might be hard to keep up that efficiency against the Bucs' solid CB group. It's not a great spot for him or Chris Olave from a matchup standpoint. The game also has a curiously low total at just 44.5.

Whoever plays the slot for the Jets will have to deal with Greg Newsome, who has been a tough matchup for opposing inside receivers. He could see a mix of Jets receivers including Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, and Braxton Berrios.

Christian Kirk looks poised to have a big year as the top WR in the Jaguars' passing attack. Unfortunately, his matchup against Kenny Moore in Week 2 is a tough one. On his snaps at outside receiver, I expect him to see a lot of Stephon Gilmore, who is also one of the top cover men in the NFL.

The Browns aren't expected to have a dynamic passing attack, and this week have to deal with the Jets' solid corner group. Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and David Bell get downgrades.

Thanks for reading and good luck this week.

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