Wide Receiver vs. Cornerback Matchups: Week 1

Sep 09, 2022

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Below is a chart detailing each wide receiver versus cornerback matchup for Week 1, target rates, cornerback yards per target and reception, catch rate allowed, yards and fantasy points per target allowed. We'll be using data from 2021 (minimum 20 targets in coverage), as well as our own knowledge of how good or bad the cornerbacks are for the first few weeks of the season. The two most important columns are fantasy points per target and the last one (+/-), which indicates whether the matchup is an upgrade or downgrade for the receiver (N indicates a neutral matchup).

After the chart, I also provide notes such as veteran receivers that will square off against rookies, how a wide receiver matchup might affect the team's tight end, etc. There are some key injuries to watch throughout the rest of the week and this chart will be updated to reflect breaking news.

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More Week 1 DFS Strategy: Cash Game Breakdown | GPP Breakdown | Daigle’s Top Values and Picks

Week 1 Wide Receiver vs. Cornerback Matchups

I've called out rookies, so those are matchups you may want to exploit. 'N' in the Upgrade/Downgrade (+/-) column indicates a neutral matchup. Click the header to sort. Outside of shadow situations, LWRs and RWRs generally match up with both outside cornerbacks over the course of a game, as almost every wide receiver moves around the offensive formation to varying degrees, and almost every defense plays zone coverage on at least half of its snaps.

M/U = aFPA ranking vs. WR. Tar % = targets per snap in coverage. C% = catch rate allowed. YPR = yards per reception allowed. YPT = yards per target allowed. FP/T = PPR fantasy points per target allowed.