Wide Receiver/Cornerback matchups can be a bit tricky in Week 1, given the dynamic nature of player development and how frequently we see players move from one team to another. There are still plenty of historic data points we can leverage to identify matchups that offer and upgrade and others that could stifle production. WR/CB matchups should not be the only thing you consider when making your lineup decision and are a much greater resource on those playing DFS. 

 

 

2024 Fantasy Football WR/CB Matchup Report For Week 1

WR CB Matchup Report
      
Left WR vs Right CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD $CornerbackOppMatchup
Marvin HarrisonARI$7200 / $6600Rasul DouglasBUFUpgrade
The Arizona Cardinals have high hopes for their rookie 1st-rounder, Marvin Harrison, and his ability to move the needle for this offense. He’ll have an opportunity to make a good first impression this week as he matches up with Rasul Douglas for the majority of his snaps. Despite a 6-year career in the NFL, Douglas has played precious few snaps at corner. In the 2019 season, where he saw his career-high coverage snaps, Douglas allowed a 77.8% catch rate and nearly 20 yards per reception.
Drake LondonATL$6000 / $6700Donte JacksonPITUpgrade
Drake London has the opportunity to kick off the Kirk Cousins era with a bang this week, thanks in large part to his matchup with Donte Jackson. Jackson has seen limited coverage snaps over the course of his 5 years in the league. His 11.6 yards per reception allowed is respectable for an outside corner but the 75% catch rate he allows is what opens the door for London. Not only should we see London make plenty of grabs, but the YAC potential is very high as he stands 6 inches taller and has over 30lbs on the Steelers’ RCB.
Rashod BatemanBAL$3600 / $4600Jaylen WatsonKCNeutral
If I had to grade this matchup, I’d give it an “Incomplete.” Bateman doesn’t match up favorably against many starting corners in the league. This week, however, Bateman gets to line up against Jaylen Watson; a 2022 7th rounder who is making is regular-season debut. We make our hay targeting rookie corners and this situation is no different. Given the limitations Bateman has shown in his young career, however, we should still proceed with caution.
Keon ColemanBUF$5000 / $6000Starling Thomas VARIUpgrade
The way in which the Bills deploy their pass catchers is one of the biggest questions heading into Week 1. What we do know is that rookie Keon Coleman is likely to see the highest percentage of his snaps in the coverage of Starling Thomas V; given that Sean Murphy-Bunting almost exclusively plays the left and Garrett Williams is the Cardinals dedicated slot corner. In limited run last season, Thomas gave up an 80.4% catch rate but kept his opponents in front of him (mostly) with just 11.9 yards per reception allowed. That type of catch rate should create a nice on-ramp for Coleman, who enters the NFL with legitimate questions about his ability to separate.
Jonathan MingoCAR$3400 / $4400Marshon LattimoreNODowngrade
Jonathan Mingo enters this season after a lack-luster rookie campaign and will have his work cut out for him in Week 1; where he’ll run most of his routes in the coverage of Pro-Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore. Last year Lattimore allowed just 58.7% of targets directed his way to be caught and help QBs to a 77.9 passer rating when throwing into his coverage. Bryce Young would be wise to target a different matchup and that should have Mingo on the all-cardio team this week.
DJ MooreCHI$6500 / $6900Chidobe AwuzieTENNeutral
DJ Moore will have a chance to show the true potential of his partnership with Caleb Williams as he gets ready to face off against Chidobe Awuzie in Week 1. Awuzie is a typical “middle-of-the-road” type corner who doesn’t have any stats that jump off the page but has been known to end up on the wrong side of a receiver's highlight reel touchdown. Moore will certainly have the advantage over him but the same could be said for many of the corners in the NFL.
Ja'Marr ChaseCIN$7800 / $9100Christian GonzalezNENeutral
Ja'Marr Chase’s matchup in Week 1 is one of the more compelling across the entire slate. He’ll be primarily squaring off against Christian Gonzalez, who was starting to put together a breakout campaign as a rookie before injury derailed his season. Gonzalez’s 66.7% catch rate is near league-average but 9.8 yards per catch allowed quickly puts him in elite company. More impressive is that he posted these numbers while covering Tyreek Hill, AJ Brown, and Garrett Wilson in 3 of his 4 games. Gonzalez looks like he will be a tough out for wide receivers in this league but I’m marking this matchup as “Neutral” given the small sample size.
Amari CooperCLE$6400 / $6600Trevon DiggsDALDowngrade
Running the majority of your routes in the coverage of Trevon Diggs is not a great way to start the season and that is exactly what’s in store for Amari Cooper this week. Diggs is back after missing most of the 2023 season due to an ACL tear suffered last September. Despite the short stint on the field, he was already accumulating gaudy numbers; including a 25% catch rate, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception on just 8 balls thrown into his coverage. I fully expect Diggs to return to form and that means a long day at the office for Cooper this week.
Brandin CooksDAL$5400 / $5300Martin Emerson JrCLEDowngrade
Brandin Cooks is back and lining up on the outside again this year for the Dallas Cowboys. Their Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns means one of the tougher secondaries in the league is awaiting Bradin Cooks; who will see Martin Emerson Jr on most of his routes. Emerson Jr has been a nice find for the Browns, who drafted him in the 3rd round back in 2022. Last year Emerson allowed the 2nd-lowest catch rate among qualifying corners at just 47.1% and is growing into quite the ball hawk; breaking up 9 passes, intercepting 4 others, and narrowly missing on 2 additional picks. Cooks is a clear downgrade in this situation.
Courtland SuttonDEN$5600 / $5500Tariq WoolenSEADowngrade
Courtland Sutton is essentially the last man standing in this Broncos’ wide receiver corps and enters the season as their clear #1 option. Unfortunately for him that means he’ll often be facing an opponent’s best corner and this week its the Seahawks’ Tariq Woolen. The UTSA product is pretty pedestrian in terms of the catch rate he allows but keeping everything underneath is where he shines. Allowing less than 10 yards per catch as an outside corner is incredibly hard to do and works to severely limit Sutton’s upside this week.
Jameson WilliamsDET$4500 / $5800Tre'Davious WhiteLARNeutral
Lions faithful and fantasy managers alike are hoping this can be the year we see something out of Jameson Williams. He is reportedly coming into the year as healthy and prepared as he’s been at this level and the Lions’ offense is poised to be dangerous yet again. In Week 1, Williams will square off against Tre'Davious White of the LA Rams. White’s most notable state is a stingy 6.7 yards per reception allowed but a relatively small sample size begs the question of whether or not White can repeat this type of performance. Both of these players enter the 2024 season at an inflection point.
Romeo DoubsGB$5600 / $4600Kelee RingoPHINeutral
The Green Bay Packers will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles on the First Friday of football this season, meaning that Romeo Doubs will be facing off against Kelee Ringo. Doubs has shown to be a reliable option for Jordan Love and gets plenty of looks in high-leverage situations for the Packers. Ringo, however, is a bit more of an open question. He played just 116 coverage snaps as a rookie last year and most of his statistics fall into the “unremarkable” category. Doubs should have an incremental advantage against Ringo but nothing that would effect his ranking in a meaningful way. 
 
Nico CollinsHOU$7000 / $7100Jaylon JonesINDUpgrade
The Week 1 matchup between the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts should be one of the more electric games on the slate and much of that has to do with the passing environment that the Colts’ secondary creates. In the case of Nico Collins, he’ll be in position to exploit a very juicy matchup against Jaylon Jones. Jones was a 7th round selection last season who saw 475 coverage snaps and turned in pretty solid numbers in terms of catch rate and yards per catch. What has him sitting near the bottom of the list in PFF’s coverage grade is his tendency to give up touchdowns; where he surrendered 6 on the season. Jones is easily the most favorable matchup in the Colts’ secondary so I’d expect to see a lot of passes thrown his way, opening the door for a big day for Nico.
Alec PierceIND$4000 / $5100Kamari LassiterHOUUpgrade
On the other side of this matchup, the Colts will have their work cut out for them against a stout defensive secondary for the Houston Texans. Perhaps the most favorable of the matchups, however, is the one that Alec Pierce will see; running his routes in the coverage of 2nd round rookie Kamari Lassiter. Lassiter looks to be a very solid prospect in his own right but I’d still expect a learning curve moving up to the pro level. Given the alternatives of throwing into the coverage of Derek Stingley and Jalen Pitre, I’d expect an above-average target volume for Pierce this week. Still not quite enough to put him on the fantasy radar in anything but the deepest of leagues or as a DFS dart throw.
Gabe DavisJAC$4500 / $6100Jalen RamseyMIADowngrade
Gabe Davis isn’t exactly getting the nicest of housewarming gifts has he’ll make his Jaguars debut running the majority of his routes in Jalen Ramsey’s coverage. Ramsey is no-longer in the conversation for “best corner in the league” but he is still a tough out for opposing receivers. Last year Ramsey allowed a respectable 55.6% catch rate and led the Dolphins with 3 interceptions, all while surrendering only a single touchdown. Davis has the ability to get behind anyone and post a big score but realistically I’m expecting a fairly quiet Week 1 for the Buffalo import.
Xavier WorthyKC$5500 / $6000Brandon StephensBALNeutral
Xavier Worthy stole the show at this year’s NFL combine; breaking the 40-yard dash record with a blazing 4.21 effort. Add that type of speed to the Kansas City offense and fantasy managers are drooling. Worthy will be introduced to NFL coverage by the Ravens’ Brandon Stephens. Stephens’ stat sheet is fairly unremarkable other than allowing 10.7 yards per reception last year. This makes sense given the tight brand of coverage he plays but it also creates opportunity in this specific instance. The margin for error gets incredibly thin when pressing and one misstep against a speedster like Worthy and it could be a house call. This will be a fun one to watch!
Davante AdamsLV$7600 / $7500Kristan FultonLACUpgrade
Davante Adams walks into Week 1 with a new quarterback and an absolute DREAM matchup against the Chargers’ Kristian Fulton. The 2023 Chargers were a team known for being exposed in their secondary, allowing nearly 250 passing yards per game, and they decided to address that issue by bringing in the guy who (among qualifying corners) had PFF’s 10th worst coverage grade. Adams will be squaring off against a corner who allowed a 72.5% catch rate, 15.6 yards per reception, and who missed a tackle more than 14% of the time. This should be a banner day for Adams, especially given Gardner Minshew’s propensity for locking in on his best target.
Joshua PalmerLAC$5200 / $5000Jakorian BennettLVUpgrade
Things look pretty good on the other side of this game as well; specifically for Joshua Palmer and his matchup against Jakorian Bennett. Bennett would be near the bottom of most lists had he played enough snaps to qualify but his 223 are enough of a sample to understand that he can be exploited. He allowed a catch on nearly 66% of the targets thrown his direction and is another player who is known for miss more than his fair share of tackles. Conventional wisdom is that the Chargers won’t be throwing a ton but this matchup is enough to place Palmer on the edge of the fantasy radar.
Demarcus RobinsonLAR$3900 / $4200Terrion ArnoldDETNeutral
It’s hard to judge how this will week’s matchup will play out for Demarcus Robinson as he is set to face off against the Lions’ rookie Corner, Terrion Arnold. Arnold was the 2nd corner back off the board in this year’s draft, the Lions’ 1st round selection, so there is no shortage of excitement about his prospects at the next level. We have however, seen even the most hyped of cornerback prospects take a bit of time to adjust to the NFL level. I’ll mark this one as “Neutral” giving Arnold the benefit of the doubt but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him struggle.
Jaylen WaddleMIA$6300 / $7200Tyson CampbellJACUpgrade
Jaylen Waddle is another player walking into a very favorable spot in Week 1. He’ll be the primary coverage responsibility of Tyson Campbell, a 2021 2nd round draft selection who has struggled to keep his head above water at the NFL level. Last year specifically, Campbell allowed 70% catch rate but held receivers to a modest 11.9 yards per catch. The biggest issue in his game is the frequency at which he’s giving up touchdowns. Campbell surrendered 8 scores, the most of any Jaguars defender, on just 42 receptions allowed. If Waddle is scoring a touchdown every 5 catches, he’s in line for a big Week 1.
 
Justin JeffersonMIN$8400 / $9000Deonte BanksNYGNeutral
This week Justin Jefferson will be the primary assignment of 2nd-year corner Deonte Banks. Targeting players facing Banks last year was almost like stealing money but I have to give credit where its due. Banks managed to get his footing under him as the Giants went down the stretch run; turning in a 62 or higher coverage grade on PFF in 4 of his final 5 games. Thats still nothing to right home about but at least he wasn’t the turnstile that we saw to start the season. While he likely won’t be able to offer much resistance against a player of Jefferson’s caliber, I don’t think he is a liability in this backfield any longer. 

 
Tyquan ThorntonNE$3000 / $4000Dax HllCINUpgrade
The defensive secondary for the Cincinnati Bengals is generally regarded as being around the midpoint of the league. If you had to pinpoint a soft spot, however, it’s Dax Hill. Hill is a converted Safety who struggled mightily in his 2nd season last year, allowing over 71% of opponent’s targets to be caught for a sizable 14.3 yards per. He was also on the wrong side of a lot of highlight reels, being tied for a team-high 4 touchdowns allowed. Thornton, or this entire Patriots’ offense for that matter, doesn’t have much in the way of expectations this week but its undeniable that he’s in a favorable spot against Hill.
Cedrick WilsonNO$3700 / $4300Mike JacksonCARDowngrade
Last year’s injury to Jaycee Horn not only tanked the Panthers’ ability to slow opposing offenses but it also exposed how thin they were at corner. To help remedy that situation, they traded for Mike Jackson from the Seattle Seahawks. Jackson let a decent amount of targets get hauled in, 68.8%, but did a stellar job of clamping down once that catch was made. He gave up just 2.3 yards after catch on average and did not allow a single trip to the endzone by a player in his coverage. The journeyman Cedrick Wilson will have his work cut out for him as he makes his Saints debut.
Malik NabersNYG$5900 / $6300Stephon GilmoreMINDowngrade
There is a lot to be excited about with the Giant’s 6th overall pick Malik Nabers. Unfortunately his Week 1 matchup against Stephon Gilmore isn’t on that list. The Vikings signed Gilmore to a $10 Million deal to help sure up a secondary that was an absolute liability last season. Gilmore is no spring chicken as he heads into year number 12 in the NFL but he can still stifle opposing wide receivers with the best of them. He kept opponents to under 55% catch rate and his nose for the ball is still keen; as shown by his 2 interceptions and 9 pass break ups. I wouldn’t throw much into Gilmore’s coverage if I was Daniel Jones and that leaves Nabers being downgraded to start his NFL career.
Mike WilliamsNYJ$5700 / $5900Isaac YiadomSFDowngrade
Monday Night Football will cap off Week 1 with two of the better top-to-bottom defenses facing off as the 49ers host the New York Jets. All of the Niner’s corners grade out well from last year but the addition of Isaac Yiadom quietly puts this unit into the “best in the league” conversation. Yiadom allowed an impressive 50% catch rate and was near the top of the league with 13 forced incompletions and 11 pass break ups. I expect Yiadom to maintain his form and that sets up Mike Williams for a very tough Week 1
DeVonta SmithPHI$6700 / $7300Jaire AlexanderGBNeutral
This one is a bit of a toss up. The story of the Packers’ secondary in 2023 was one that allowed a lot of catches but did a great job of ending the play at the point of the catch. Their best corner, and DeVonta Smith’s primary matchup, Jaire Alexander fit this mold perfectly. He allowed nearly 73% of balls thrown his way to be hauled in but only gave up 82 yards after the catch on the entire season. We’ll see if new Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley has a material change to their approach over the coming weeks but for now I’m calling this one a wash. 
 
George PickensPIT$5700 / $6500A.J. TerrellATLDowngrade
The Atlanta Falcons secondary funneled much of their opponents’ throws over the middle last season, thanks in large part to AJ Terrell patrolling the perimeter. This week that puts George Pickens squarely in his sights and creates a tough spot for the Steelers’ WR1. Pickens has the athleticism to get by almost anyone in the league but it will be easier said than done when facing Terrell; who allowed a 58% catch rate and was tied for 6th in the league in forced incompletions.
Brandon AiyukSF$6800 / $7400Sauce GardnerNYJDowngrade
I’m as big a Brandon Aiyuk fan as anyone but its objectively going to be a very tough matchup for him in Week 1 as he faces PFF’s 2nd rated corner in coverage, Sauce Gardner. 8.7 yards allowed per catch is otherworldly for an outside corner and you’d be hard pressed to find a category where Gardner isn’t near the top of the league. Because of this, opposing QBs only threw into his coverage on about 10% of plays; severely limiting Aiyuk’s volume as well. Benching him would be an overcorrection but this is a call to temper expectations for him in Week 1.
DK MetcalfSEA$6200 / $6900Pat SurtainDENNeutral
Normally a matchup against Pat Surtain is an auto-downgrade in this report but I think we should take a closer look. In 2023 we say him take a bit of a step back, from “Elite” to something closer to “Very Good” and I think that’s notable. 62.9% catch rate, 12.5 yards allowed per reception, just over 200 yards after catch allowed; there are fine stats for the season but not quite up to Surtain’s lofty standards. I’ll mark this matchup as “Neutral” and take note to keep an eye out for a rebound over the course of the season.
Mike EvansTB$7300 / $7900Michael DavisWASUpgrade
The Commanders’ secondary was a laughingstock last season and I don’t know if there’s much optimism that changes this year. The brought in former UDFA and 7-year Charger Michael Davis in an attempt to stop the bleeding but that might be a bit out of scope for the veteran. He brings a 54.3 coverage grade with him from last year and his efforts to make plays on the ball often left him exposed; contributing to a league-high 9 touchdowns allowed. Mike Evans should have a nice start to his 2024 season running in Davis’ coverage.
 
DeAndre HopkinsTEN$5700 / $5900Jaylon JohnsonCHIDowngrade
DeAndre Hopkins is expected to make the season opener after suffering an injury in the preseason but he’ll have his work cut out for him facing Jaylon Johson as his primary matchup in Week 1. Johnson took a huge step forward for the Bears last season, finishing with the 4th-best coverage grade according to PFF while snatching 4 interceptions. The most gaudy of his stats is a 7.8 yards allowed per catch that puts him in some very elite company. The start to this season won’t be pretty for Hopkins. 
 
Terry McLaurinWAS$5600 / $6200Jamel DeanTBNeutral
Facing off against Jamel Dean was once a bad omen for a wide receiver but last year brought a bit of a decline for the 5th year man out of Auburn. We would see him flash from time to time but his bad weeks were very bad. HIs number on the whole were hovering around league average and it appears he was taking advantage of poor quarterback play when he did spike. Considering this game is the debut of rookie Jayden Daniels, a solid game from Dean shouldn’t be ruled out but overall I don’t think this matchup is one to fear the way it once was.
 
Right WR vs Left CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDraftKings/FanDuelCornerbackOppMatchup
Michael WilsonARI$4300 / $4500Christian BenfordBUFNeutral
Michael Wilson has a bit of a tough one in front of him in Week 1, squaring of against the Bills’ Christian Benford. Benford earned an 82.4 coverage grade last year according to PFF and was stingy with the yardage at just 10.8 yards allowed per catch. Michael Wilson does have a bit of a size advantage to help balance the scales so I think we’re looking at a fair fight between these two.
Ray-Ray McCloudATL$3000 / $4300Joey Porter JrPITDowngrade
McCloud largely shouldn’t be on anything but the deepest of fantasy rosters but for those in that situation, proceed with caution. Ray-Ray will see the majority of his snaps covered by Joey Porter; who is fresh off a breakout rookie campaign. Porter was 2nd in the league with a 46.3% reception rate and showed a real nose for the ball when in coverage. McCloud should be avoided by all means.
Zay FlowersBAL$6100 / $6400DJ Turner IIKCModerate
Turner is a solid second round rookie who is playing over 65% of thedefensive snaps so with Chidobe Awuzie limited with knee injury it will be a lot of rookie vs rookie with Flowers and Turner. Flowers was back to leading the team in targets last week and caught 5 passes for 73 yards. Turner is only allowing a 45% reception percentage in his coverage so its not agreat matchup for Flowers but his target share still makes him a moderate play.
Mack HollinsBUF$3000 / $4100Sean Murphy-BuntingARIUpgrade
Bringing in Sean Murphy Bunting as the solution for your secondary sort of tells you all you need to know about the Cardinals’ defensive backfield. To be fair, he should serve as a bit of an upgrade but that isn’t the highest bar to clear. Murphy-Bunting posted a 54.4 coverage grade last year as a Tennessee Titan while allowing a catch on more than 65% of targets thrown into his coverage. Mack Hollins should only be considered as a contrarian play in DFS but if you have what it takes to click the button, he’s in a pretty good spot this week.
 
Diontae JohnsonCAR$5300 / $5600Paulson AdeboNODowngrade
The Panthers brought in an elite separator this off-season in Diontae Johnson but he might not return dividends in Week 1. He’ll be running most of his routes against Paulson Adebo, who was a bright spot for the Saints’ secondary a year ago. Adebo allowed just 56.8% of targets to be brought in and emerged as a legitimate ball hawk; forcing 19 incompletions, breaking up 11 passes, and coming down with an interception 4 times. Johnson moves around the formation enough to still contribute but it likely won’t be when he’s lined up against Adebo.
Rome OdunzeCHI$4000 / $5800L'Jarius SneedTENDowngrade
The Bears’ rookie 1st rounder is in for a rough welcoming to the NFL level this week as he’ll square off against L'Jarius Sneed. The Titans traded for Sneed this off-season to anchor their defensive backfield and I expect he’ll do just that. Sneed has proven to be among the best disruptors in any secondary across the league and guys lining up across from him are often put in the clamps. A catch rate in the low 50’s, sub-10 in yards per reception, not a single touchdown allowed last year. Sneed has the goods and Rome is in for a rude awakening this week.
Tee HigginsCIN$6100 / $6800Jonathan JonesNENeutral
Tee Higgins is back for at least one more year in Cincinnati and, assuming we see Ja'Marr Chase returns, Higgins will assume his position on the right side of the field and see plenty of Jonathan Jones in Week 1. Jones is entering his 9th season and most of his tenure can be categorized somewhere between league-average and good. Last year was headlined by a 57.4% catch rate allowed by Jones who is also known as a reliable tackler at his position. There’s nothing remarkable about this matchup but I do expect Higgins to have the advantage overall.
Cedric TillmanCLE$3200 / $4200Caelen CarsonDALUpgrade
We don’t have any tape or stats to point for for Cedric Tillman’s matchup as he prepares to face 5th-round rookie Caelen Carson of the Cowboys. Leaning on history, we know that rookie corners have a way of getting exposed early in the transition to the NFL and I’d expect this case to be no different. Tillman isn’t a priority in the fantasy context but he might earn his way there with a big day against Carson.
Jalen TolbertDAL$3400 / $4700Martin Emerson Jr.CLEDowngrade
The retirement of Michael Gallup has opened the door to more playing time for Jalen Tolbert but he’s likely in for a rough outing this week; lining up against Martin Emerson Jr. of the Browns. Emerson was the 3rd-best corner in the league in terms of catch rate; allowing just 47.1% of targets thrown into his coverage to be caught. Quarterbacks had a 45.3 passer rating when throwing his direction and I’d expect Dak Prescott to look elsewhere this week.
Marvin MimsDEN$3500 / $4300Tre BrownSEANeutral
2nd-year Bronco Marvin Mims has a big opportunity to establish himself as soon as this week. He is the clear 2nd option in this passing offense and has an ok matchup against Tre Brown of the Seahawks. Brown was pretty unremarkable overall last year, with most of his statistics falling near the midpoint of the league. Mims might have a chance to flex his big-play ability as Brown isn’t the best tackler out there but ultimately this one feels pretty even.
Kalif RaymondDET$3300 / $4900Josh WallaceLARUpgrade
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Rookie cornerbacks, especially early in the season, present a favorable matchup. There is some camp buzz around Raymond’s defender, Josh Wallace, but that has to be taken with a grain of salt. The expectations of a UDFA are so low that any glimmers of progress tend to stand out. Raymond isn’t a primary target but is in a favorable spot if you’re looking for unique ways to get into this game in DFS.
Christian WatsonGB$4700 / $5600Darius SlayPHINeutral
It looks like Christian Watson drew the short straw and will spend a lot of time in Darius Slay’s coverage this week in Brazil. It appears the “Big Play Slay” days might be behind the 10-year rookie but he is still plenty serviceable in his current form. He doesn’t make as many interceptions as he once did but he’s still great at limiting yardage; as shown by his 11.3 yards allowed per reception last year. Slay is still the best defender among the Eagles’ secondary but he doesn’t move the needle one way or the other from a matchup perspective.
Tank DellHOU$5500 / $6400Juju BrentsINDUpgrade
At first glance it would appear that Juju Brents, Tank Dell’s primary matchup in Week 1, did alright for himself as a rookie last year. Taking a closer look, however, we see that two outlier performance pulled up his grade from bottom of the barrel to something closer to league average. Brents gave up 3 touchdowns despite playing limited snaps and opposing quarterbacks had a 109.1 rating when throwing into his coverage. I’d expect C.J. Stroud to look Dell’s direction when he’s lined up on the right.
Michael PittmanIND$6800 / $6500Derek Stingley JrHOUDowngrade
Michael Pittman moves around the formation to the point where he’ll see a fair amount of each corner in any given week. Towards the end of the year last season, however, we saw the Derek Stingly Jr do much more shadowing and I’d expect that to be the game plan against Pittman in Week 1. Stingley’s nose for interceptions had him targeted on less than 10% of routes covered last year and passes that were thrown his way were only caught at a 53.8% rate. Tough spot for Pittman.
Brian ThomasJAC$4700 / $5100Kendall FullerMIANeutral
Its hard to say how quickly Brian Thomas Jr will adjust to the NFL level but he has a chance to make a splash Week 1 when he lines up across from Kendall Fuller. To his credit, Fuller grades out fairly well in coverage and keeps yardage to a minimum at just 10.0 yards allowed per reception. He also has been known to get torched for a score, giving up 6 in 2023. This all nets out to a pretty even playing field between the two.
Justin WatsonKC$3200 / $5000Darius SlayBALRisky
Any of these rotational Chiefs outside receivers are nothing more than a touchdown dependent dart throw. In a matchup against Slay this week, theyre all even riskier than usual.
Jakobi MeyersLV$5000 / $5100Asante SamuelLACNeutral
There isn’t much to say about how the matchup between Jakobi Meyers and Asante Samuel grades out this week. These two guys are the epitome of league average at their respective positions and the only real advantage to mention is that Meyers has a bit of size over the 5’10 Samuel.
Brenden RiceLAC$3000 / $4000Jack JonesLVNeutral
This one is tricky as Brenden Rice’s primary opponent has a clear split in his number last season. Jack Jones was pedestrian at best to start the year with New England but found a nice groove to close the year after getting trade to Las Vegas. He posted a coverage grade of 77 or higher in 3 of his final 4 games las year and allowed a 54.5% catch rate in his time as a Raider. Given the small sample size and the relative unknown that is Brenden Rice, we’ll call this one a wash.
Puka NacuaLAR$7400 / $8400Carlton DavisDETUpgrade
It appears the days of fearing a matchup against Carlton Davis are drawing to a close. He is coming off 3 straight years of declining coverage grade and last season he allowed a 65% catch rate, 15 yards per reception, and 5 trips to the end zone. Unless Davis has found the fountain of youth, Puka Nacua is set up for a nice start to the season.
Tyreek HillMIA$8700 / $9600Ronald DarbyJACNeutral
The Jaguars will deploy the newest weapon in their secondary, Ronald Darby, in an effort to stymie Tyreek Hill in Week 1. Darby has flashed at point throughout his career but settled into an above average campaign in 2023. His 49% catch rate was among the best in the league but he offers little in the way of ability to create turnovers. Tyreek Hill will certainly have the advantage here, as he does in most cases, but this matchup overall is much more in the “Neutral” category.
Jordan AddisonMIN$5300 / $5700Adoree' JacksonNYGUpgrade
Jordan Addison’s primary matchup, Adoree’ Jackson, is another favorite target of ours and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Jackson had the 6th worst coverage grade among qualifying corners last year and was known for hemorrhaging yards after the catch, allowing nearly 400 on the year. Addison might see a dropoff this year compared to last, but that has nothing to do with his Week 1 matchup.
K.J. OsbornNE$3500 / $4600Cam Taylor-BrittCINDowngrade
This is one of those special cases where the matchup grade is dependant on the receiver’s skill-set. KJ Osborn will mostly run against Cam Taylor Britt of the Bengals. Taylor Britt is a pretty solid coverage corner on the whole but is known to let a guys get by him from time to time. This inflates his yards per reception number up to a hefty 17.2. This would be an “Upgrade” spot if Osborn was a burner but unfortunately he plays right into Cam Taylor Britt’s strengths.
Chris OlaveNO$6600 / $7000Jaycee HornCARDowngrade
I’ve been pounding the drum for Chris Olave all off-season but I think I’ll have to delay my gratification a bit. Largely because he’ll see a ton of the Panthers’ Jaycee Horn to open the year and that is a tough spot for anyone. Horn battled through injury last year but when he was on the field he was bordering on “lockdown” status. Olave has the skills to overcome a difficult matchup but he’ll have his work cutout for him here. 
 
Darius SlaytonNYG$4400 / $4200Shaquill GriffinMINNeutral
Slayton will also get a dose of the revamped Vikings’ secondary in Week 1, running in the coverage of Shaquill Griffin. Griffin has become a bit of a journeyman over the course of his NFL career who doesn’t have much of a calling card to his game. He won’t get cooked but he also won't alter the game plan in a significant way.
Allen LazardNYJ$3000 / $4200Charvarius WardSFDowngrade
As I detailed above, we’ve got a clash of the defensive titans in Week 1 between San Francisco and the New York Jets. The strength of the 49er secondary last year, Charvarius Ward, will primarily be covering Allen Lazard. Ward’s number for forced incompletions, pass break ups, and interceptions were off the chart last year, which has become a hallmark of his game. Lazard should be faded wherever possible.
A.J. BrownPHI$8000 / $8600Eric StokesGBUpgrade
Week 1 sets up beautifully for AJ Brown as he gets the soft spot of the Packers’ secondary, Eric Stokes. Stoke got limited run last year, playing just 100 coverage snaps, but was often seen on the wrong side of other guys’ highlight reels. He gave 8 catches on 10 balls thrown into his coverage, 3 of which ended up going for touchdowns. Wheels up for Brown this week.
Van JeffersonPIT$3600 / $5000Mike HughesATLNeutral
Mike Hughes, the player tasked with covering Van Jefferson this week, had a fairly unremarkable 2023 season. His coverage grade was among the worst in the league but he kept most plays in front of him, allowing just 9.6 yards per catch operating mostly out of the slot. They’re on level footing this week. 
 
Deebo SamuelSF$7000 / $7600DJ ReedNYJDowngrade
If you want to point to Deebo Samuel’s matchup against DJ Reed and be happy that “at least it isn’t Sauce” - thats fair. But in reality Reed is very tough out in his own right. He has many of the ball-hawking skills that we like to see but doesn’t let much get by him in the way that more aggressive players tend to. This matchup is clearly a downgrade but I’d expect San Francisco to find ways to get Deebo involved when he’s in more favorable spots.
Tyler LockettSEA$5400 / $6000Ja'Quan McMillianDENUpgrade
This week we expect Tyler Lockett to largely avoid the Patrick Surtain matchup and instead see a lot of Ja'Quan McMillian. Attacking the opposite side of Surtain was huge for us last year and we’re going right back to the well. On the whole, McMillian profiles as a serviceable corner but he has an achilles heel. Touchdowns. He allowed 8 house calls last year. Open the door to that type of upside is a clear “Upgrade.”
Chris GodwinTB$5800 / $5600Benjamin St-JusteWASUpgrade
Its widely expected that Chris Godwin returns to the slot this year but I want to see it in practice before moving away from the right side; which is where he’ll see Benjamin St-Juste this week. St-Juste grades out pretty poorly for his coverage and is approaching a 70% catch rate from last year. Because of that, he saw the 4th most targets in the entire league and I’d imagine that will be the game plan for the Bucs this week.
Calvin RidleyTEN$5800 / $6200Tyrique StevensonCHIUpgrade
The Titans were happy to bring in Calvin Ridley this off season and he should feel happy about his Week 1 matchup against Tyrique Stevenson. Stevenson was nothing short of a liability for the Bears last season, giving up 9 touchdowns and allowing 65% of the 110 targets thrown his way to be caught. Ridley should have a nice day in his Titans debut.
Dyami BrownWAS$3000 / $4100Zyon McCollumTBNeutral
Dyami Brown was vaulted into the WR2 conversation for the Commanders after they traded Jahan Dotson and this week finds him facing off against Zyon McCollum of Tampa Bay. McCollum grades very poorly in coverage and gave up over 500 yards last season alone. He did take some steps in the right direction toward the end of the year so we’ll call this one a wash.
 

Top Matchups in The Slot for NFL Week 1

      
Slot WR vs Slot CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDraftKings/FanDuelCornerbackOppMatchup
Amon-Ra St. BrownDET$8200 / $8900Cobie DurantLARUpgrade
Amon Ra St Brown is clearly one of the more talented receivers in all the NFL and his talents are on full display when gets to exploit very favorable matchups against slot corners. This week he has Cobie Durant of the LA Rams, who allowed a catch on nearly 62% of the passes thrown his way last year and a hefty 14.2 yards per catch (a lot for a slot corner.) That advantage only gets furthered in the context of Amon Ra’s projected volume. He should start the season with a bang.
Jerry JeudyCLE$5100 / $5700Jourdan LewisDALUpgrade
Jerry Jeudy is heading into a new situation after being traded to the Cleveland Browns this off-season. Assuming, as I do, that he’ll continue to operate out of the slot in Cleveland, he should have a warm welcome in Week 1. He’ll face Jourdan Lewis of the Cowboys who had one of the lowest coverage grades in the league last year and surrendered 4 touchdowns to go with a nearly 70% catch rate.
Garrett WilsonNYJ$6900 / $7900Deommodore LenoirSFUpgrade
Obviously you don’t need me to tell you to start Garrett Wilson anywhere you have him but I do think it’s important to note that his deployment in the slot insulates him from much of the toughest matchups the 49ers bring to bear. Running out of the slot he’ll most face Deommodore Lenoir, who allowed more than 70% of targets thrown to his coverage to be caught last year. A player of Wilson’s caliber catching passes at that high a rate has the makings of an explosive day.
Rashee RiceKC$6500 / $6500Devon WItherspoonBALSafe
Kupp has seen at least 7 targets in every game since his return, but has struggled since week 6. The Seattle secondary has played well for the most part, but Kupp is too good to be held down any longer and I expect him to come out of the bye fired up and ready for a big game.
Christian KirkSEA$5500 / $6100Kader KohouDENUpgrade
Sometimes the shiny new thing isn’t what should draw out attention. Yes, there are a lot of new faces in Jacksonville but Christian Kirk will remain a focal point of this offense. His role out of the slot is not going to be challenged by these new players and this week it gifts him a juicy matchup against Kader Kohou. Kohou posted an 82.7% catch rate allowed last year and surrendered 7 touchdowns. I love this spot for Kirk.
Khalil ShakirBUF$5100 / $5400Garrett WIlliamsARIUpgrade
Buffalo has more vacated targets than I can recall seeing in quite some time and that leaves Khalil Shakir as the beneficiary. He should meet little resistance in catching those vacated targets as he lines up against Garrett Williams, the Cardinals’ slot corner who allowed a catch on 72.4% of targets in his coverage last year. Its unclear if Shakir stays in the slot for more than 3/4th of snaps like he did last year but I’d expect that he is there plenty this season.