RADIO
We've reached that point in the year where teams are getting banged up, and whoever stays the healthiest playing a key role in virtually every matchup. Picking on the backups that precede starting defensive backs is a common strategy among DFS players, simply because it's a solid process. Fortunately, we have plenty of data to break down those matchups, and pick the best ones to target for the coming week.
Nothing is more important than matchup analyzation when it comes to fantasy football. Playing your teams’ best players on a regular basis is important, but picking apart the top matchups on a week to week basis can win you a championship, or even better, some cold hard cash in DFS. Matchups for the wide receiver position aren’t always as black and white as they can be for other positions. Receivers need to be broken down even deeper by analyzing the potential cornerback matchup they’re going to draw. This is especially true in potential shadow coverage cases such as any time an X receiver plays against Patrick Peterson and the Arizona Cardinals. Some analytical data used here such as fantasy points allowed per route covered, and percentage of routes run on the left side, right side, and in the slot is courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
Now, here are the top WR vs CB matchups for Week 6. Use these to set season-long lineups, as well as gain a competitive edge in the Daily Fantasy realm.
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WR/CB Matchups to Target
ATL WR Mohamed Sanu Versus TB CB M.J. Stewart
You can never go wrong when you're picking on nickel corner M.J. Stewart in DFS. Add to the matchup the Falcons rank ninth in total points scored, as well as 14th in total offense, and we have a recipe for a massive smash spot.
Mohamed Sanu has scored at least 15 DK points in each of his last three games, and he's averaging just under eight targets per contest over that same span. He's been remarkably consistent, and there's no way he slows down against Stewart this weekend. Stewart has allowed 10 catches on 12 targets for 140 yards and three touchdowns over his last two outings. Taylor Gabriel ate Stewart alive in Week 4, and Sanu is in a great spot at home to do the same thing.
Sanu's $4800 price point on DK makes him a cash game lock, and he's even worth a look in tournaments despite the medium to high ownership he'll warrant. The field is going to stack this game hard.
Pivot: Keelan Cole
The majority of the field will be off Keelan Cole after three pedestrian games in a row. His price is finally reasonable again (sub-$5k is where I like him), and he's seen at least eight looks in three of five games this season. Leonard Fournette is out again, and the Jaguars will continue to move the ball through the air.
CIN WR Tyler Boyd Versus PIT CB Mike Hilton
Tyler Boyd was a pretty substantial chalk-bust in Week 5, as he was held in check by Minkah Fitzpatrick. Still, he's seen a team-leading 24-percent share of the target market over his last four games, and he trails A.J. Green for the team-lead in air-yards distribution by just five percent over that span. Green is also expected to draw a shadow from Joe Haden, who just shut down Julio Jones last week. This should funnel more usage Boyd's way in what is expected to be another high-scoring affair.
Boyd will matchup with Mike Hilton, who was struggling to guard the slot through the first three weeks of the season. A pair of softer WR matchups have boosted his coverage efficiency over his last two games, but he's a clear mismatch against Boyd and will have targets funneled his way.
I love the idea of picking on this matchup and going right back to Boyd in a game where Green should be held in check.
Pivot: Calvin Ridley
Calvin Ridley is only $300 more than Boyd on DK, and he'll be featured in a game with the slates highest implied total of 57.5. Ridley is also a strong pivot off the Julio Jones chalk.
LAR WR Robert Woods Versus DEN CB Bradley Roby
Robert Woods leads all Rams WRs in PPR points over the last four weeks, and he's the only one of that dynamic trio that's logged a full slate of practices this week. Both Cooper Kupp and Brandin Cooks are expected to play, but the former will be guarded by Chris Harris for the majority of the game. That leaves Woods and Cook with the most upside, and Woods is actually cheaper at $6900.
Woods will see a lot of Bradley Roby, who has been absolutely roasted downfield over the last three weeks. Roby has allowed the sixth-most receiving yards among all CBs over that span, as well as two touchdowns and a 125.4 passer rating when targeted. Roby was single-handedly responsible for Robby Anderson's smash-game in Week 5, and I want to go right back to him with another one of the league's best and most heavily utilized deep-threats in Woods.
Pivot: Brandin Cooks
I don't like Cooks' matchup nearly as much as I like Woods, but he does lead the LAR WR trio in yards per route run, and he's been remarkably efficient with his targets. The Broncos are vulnerable deep across the board, and it wouldn't surprise me if both Cooks and Woods smashed on Sunday.
OAK WR Amari Cooper Versus SEA CB Shaquill Griffin
Amari Cooper has delivered two strong performances and three absolutely dreadful performances through his first five weeks. He's a big enough headache to own in season long, let alone trying to get him right in DFS. We've actually learned that Cooper is only in play when he has a soft CB-matchup, which he does this week against Shaquill Griffin.
Griffin has surrendered 11 catches for 175 yards over his last three games, with the latter being 17th-most among ALL CBs in that span. Griffin's teammate, Tre Flowers, has tightened up in coverage over the past month or so, allowing a passer rating of just 53.5 when thrown at. I expect this recent emergence to funnel targets Griffin's way.
This soft matchup on his home turf is exactly what Cooper needs to remind fantasy players of his ridiculously high ceiling. He's less than two weeks removed from a 30-point outing in that massive shootout against the Cleveland Browns. He's an elite tournament play at just $5200, but I'll be looking elsewhere for cash.
Pivot: Doug Baldwin
Doug Baldwin makes for a great game theory-pivot off Cooper. I actually like the idea of stacking both these players in the same lineup and capping it off with Russell Wilson based on the likelihood that this game shoots out. Baldwin is just too cheap at $5300, and Tyler Lockett is in play as well for the same reasons.
