Welcome to the 2025 Fantasy Football WR vs. CB Matchup Report for Wild Card Weekend - your postseason guide to the wide receiver and cornerback battles that still matter. The regular season may be in the books, but the fantasy grind isn’t over, with playoff leagues and DFS contests keeping the competition alive. This special edition breaks down the WRs positioned to capitalize on playoff matchups and the CBs capable of derailing big performances, all through the lens of recent production trends and postseason tendencies. Whether you're chasing a playoff fantasy title or building the perfect DFS lineup, this Wild Card Weekend report delivers the insights you need to stay sharp. Let’s dive in and attack the matchups that will define the opening round of the playoffs.  

 
   
Left WR vs Right CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Brandin CooksBUF3.7 / 3.3
CornerbackOppMatchup
Greg NewsomeJACSafe
Brandin Cooks was inactive in Week 18 resting with the Bills starters, which means we should be able to expect him to hold onto his role at the beginning of the playoffs where we saw Cooks play 51% of snaps. That's the highest total Cooks has seen since joining the Bills in Week 13. Cooks had four receptions for 101 yards on six targets, but this was the first time Cooks had more than one reception in a game for Buffalo. Cooks shouldn’t be considered anything more than a dart throw this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Tetairoa McMillanCAR12.9 / 10.7
CornerbackOppMatchup
Emmanuel ForbesLARSafe
Tetairoa McMillan finished the season as the Panthers clear top wide receiver with a 23.1% target share and was the only Carolina pass catcher with a target share over 14%. McMillan was targeted twice in the Panthers regular season matchup against the Rams in Week 13, finishing with just one reception that went for an 85-yard touchdown. McMillan’s fantasy upside is tied to which version of Bryce Young will show up, but he could have a big game if his QB puts it together this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
DJ MooreCHI10.1 / 8.5
CornerbackOppMatchup
Carrington ValentineGBModerate
It was an up-and-down season for DJ Moore, and the end of the year was no different. Since Week 10, Moore finished the season with three games of 60 or more receiving yards but also had six games with less than 20 receiving yards. Of the top three Bears wide receivers, Moore is the one I have the least amount of confidence in for the playoffs.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Romeo DoubsGB10.3 / 8.6
CornerbackOppMatchup
Nahshon WrightCHISafe
Romeo Doubs had a solid first half of the season with five or more targets in seven of the first ten games but had over five targets just once for the rest of the season. I’d prefer both other Packers wide receivers over Doubs in the playoffs for fantasy purposes.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Nico CollinsHOU15.8 / 13.3
CornerbackOppMatchup
Joey PorterPITRisky
As expected, Nico Collins finished the season as the main target in the Texans offense, finishing with a 23.1% target share and 28.1% first read percentage. Collins saw eight or more targets in seven of his last ten games of the season and was over 50 receiving yards in each of those games as well. He’s got a tough matchup against a Steelers' secondary that played well down the stretch, but should have a solid floor due to his expected target volume.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Brian ThomasJAC9.9 / 8.2
CornerbackOppMatchup
Christian BenfordBUFRisky
There’s no doubt about it that Brian Thomas was a disappointment based on where he was drafted this offseason finishing with just an 18% target share and has looked like the third option at best of late behind both Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington. Not to mention, teams typically see the most success running the ball against the Bills offense, so the passing volume might not necessarily be there this weekend either. Thomas still has big play ability that could pay off with just a few big receptions, but he’s going to be tough for fantasy managers to trust.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Davante AdamsLAR16.1 / 14
CornerbackOppMatchup
Jaycee HornCARModerate
Davante Adams is off the injury report and ready to go for the Rams Wild Card matchup after missing the last three games of the season due to a hamstring injury. Adams likely could have come back before this weekend if the Rams needed him, so it’s probably safe to expect Adams to go back to his full-time role in this matchup against Carolina. Adams has been nothing short of awesome for the Rams when healthy, finishing with a 23.6% target share and league high 14 receiving touchdowns. Adams is back to being one of the most intriguing fantasy options on the weekend now that he’s healthy.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Quentin JohnstonLAC12.5 / 11.4
CornerbackOppMatchup
Christian GonzalezNERisky
It was a strange third season for Quentin Johnston, who started out with more than 70 receiving yards in each of the first four games of the season and the not surpassing that number again until he did it in back-to-back games in Weeks 16 and 17 before sitting out the last game of the season. Johnston still has the risk of completely disappearing as he’s shown he can do, but he also has arguably the most upside of any Chargers wide receiver this weekend as well.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Kayshon BoutteNE9.1 / 7.9
CornerbackOppMatchup
Donte JacksonLACModerate
The Patriots' passing offense was one of the most frustrating to navigate for fantasy purposes, but Kayshon Boutte has held his same downfield role the entire season when he’s been healthy finishing with the highest yards per reception among wide receivers with at least 25 targets. Boutte might be an intriguing dart throw in a better matchup, but against a tough Chargers secondary, I’d rather look elsewhere.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
A.J. BrownPHI15.7 / 13.1
CornerbackOppMatchup
Renardo GreenSFSafe
It was a frustrating season at times for A.J. Brown's fantasy managers, but he still finished the season with a 27.5% target share which led all Eagles' pass catchers. Brown didn’t play the last game of the season, but saw double-digit targets in five of his last seven games and had over 90 receiving yards in four of those games as well. If the 49ers keep this game competitive like we expect and force the Eagles to throw more than they prefer, Brown could have a ton of upside.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
DK MetcalfPIT12.9 / 10.9
CornerbackOppMatchup
Kamari LassiterHOURisky
DK Metcalf is set to make his return to the Steelers lineup after serving a two-game suspension following the altercation with a fan in Detroit. Metcalf ended up being the only Steelers pass catcher with a target share over 20% and also led the team with a 27.7% first read percentage. It’s a brutal matchup against the Texans, but Metcalf is the only Steelers WR I have any interest in playing if I have to play one.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Jauan JenningsSF11.6 / 9.7
CornerbackOppMatchup
Quinyon MitchellPHIRisky
Jauan Jennings heads into the NFL playoffs operating as the clear WR1 for the 49ers, finishing the season with a 17.8% target share which was second only behind TE George Kittle. Jennings saw six or more targets in eight out of his last 11 games. The Eagles' secondary presents a difficult challenge, but Jennings still has upside in this matchup where a lot of points could need to be scored.
   
 

 

   
Right WR vs Left CB
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Joshua PalmerBUF4.4 / 3.4
CornerbackOppMatchup
Montaric BrownJACModerate
Joshua Palmer ended the season fourth among Bills' pass catchers with a 10.4% target share and hasn’t had more than one reception in a game since Week 12. I’m not expecting Palmer to have much of an impact in this game and would look at other options for lineups this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Xavier LegetteCAR6 / 4.8
CornerbackOppMatchup
Ahkello WitherspoonLARSafe
Xavier Legette finished the season second among Panthers' pass catchers with a 13.4% target share and 35 receptions for 363 yards on 61 targets. Legette was held under 40 receiving yards in six straight games to finish this season, so I would look at other options if I’m wanting to find someone to take a long shot on this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Rome OdunzeCHI12.7 / 10.8
CornerbackOppMatchup
Keisean NixonGBModerate
Rome Odunze is expected to return for the Bears' Wild Card matchup this weekend after missing the last five games of the season with a foot injury. Odunze finished the season tops among Chicago pass catchers with a 21.9% target share, but the front end of the season looked a lot better than the back end, even before the injury. Odunze had 60+ receiving yards in three of the first four games of the season but surpassed 60 receiving yards just twice in his next eight games to close out the season. The emergence of the Bears' rookie pass catchers Luther Burden and Colston Loveland down the stretch and Odunze himself trying to return from injury could end up impacting his fantasy value during the playoffs.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Christian WatsonGB13.5 / 11.8
CornerbackOppMatchup
Jaylon JohnsonCHIModerate
Christian Watson didn’t make his season debut until Week 8 due to recovering from an ACL injury to start the year but finished the season strong with five or more targets in six of the last seven games. Watson led all Packers pass catchers with an 18.2% target share and 23.9% first read percentage and has plenty of big play upside finishing the season with 17.46 yards per reception. Whenever you mix target volume with a player that possesses big play upside and put a plus matchup in front of him, that gives us the opportunity for a spike week. Watson caught a total of six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the Packers two games against the Bears during the regular season.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Jayden HigginsHOU7.6 / 6.4
CornerbackOppMatchup
James PierrePITRisky
Jayden Higgins had a quiet start to his rookie year but was third among Texans pass catchers from Week 10 through the remainder of the year with a 15% target share behind just Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz. Despite the expanded role, there still wasn’t much happening for fantasy purposes, with Higgins topping 40 receiving yards just twice across the last seven games of the season. In a tough matchup against the Steelers, there might not be much upside for Higgins this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Jakobi MeyersJAC11.1 / 8.6
CornerbackOppMatchup
Tre'Davious WhiteBUFRisky
Jakobi Meyers has been awesome for the Jaguars since being traded by the Raiders, leading the team with a 21.5% target share and 25.8% first read percentage since Week 10. The Bills have been a difficult matchup for WRs all season, but the target volume should give Meyers a decently safe floor. Meyers would be my highest ranked Jaguars wide receiver for this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Puka NacuaLAR24.6 / 20.5
CornerbackOppMatchup
Mike JacksonCARModerate
The Rams' passing offense is pretty straight forward – invest in Davante Adams and Puka Nacua and ignore everyone else. Nacua finished the year with a 28.8% target share as well as a league high 129 receptions for 1715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Nacua is a no brainer for any lineup this weekend and would be my WR1 overall for the weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Keenan AllenLAC10.9 / 8.5
CornerbackOppMatchup
Carlton DavisNEModerate
Keenan Allen was a reliable option for QB Justin Herbert at the beginning of the season but really faded down the stretch and should be tough to trust this weekend. Allen has been held under 50 receiving yards in six straight games hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 7, which has almost been a requirement for him to have an impactful fantasy performance. Allen will be my third ranked Chargers wide receiver this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Stefon DiggsNE13.3 / 10.8
CornerbackOppMatchup
Cam HartLACSafe
The snap share and production for Stefon Diggs was up and down all season, but he finished the year strong with over 100 receiving yards in two of his last three games. Diggs ended the season with a team high 19.9% target share and is my highest-ranked Patriots wide receiver this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Jahan DotsonPHI3 / 2.7
CornerbackOppMatchup
Deommodore LenoirSFModerate
Jahan Dotson has been a non-factor in the Eagles offense for the majority of the season, with less than 50 receiving yards in every game this season since Week 1. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere if they’re trying to find a long shot option for this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Calvin AustinPIT6.2 / 5
CornerbackOppMatchup
Derek StingleyHOURisky
Calvin Austin was a bright spot for the Steelers in their Week 18 matchup against the Ravens with three receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. Just to put into perspective how sad the Steelers weapons were this year, Austin finished second with a 12.1% target share and had just 31 receptions for 372 yards on the season. I have no interest in Austin against this Texans secondary this weekend.
Wide ReceiverTeamDK / FD PPG
Kendrick BourneSF6.1 / 5.7
CornerbackOppMatchup
Adoree' JacksonPHIModerate
Ricky Pearsall is currently listed as questionable for the 49ers' matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, which could mean increased snaps for Kendrick Bourne, who hasn’t finished with over 50 receiving yards since Week 6. Even if Pearsall is inactive, Bourne is still to far down the pecking order to be considered anything more than a dart throw.
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