Written by Heath Cummings at CBSSports.com
We talk about matchups in Fantasy Football a lot, but too often we look at it on the macro level. We think if a team is good or bad against the pass then that affects all receivers the same.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Thankfully, our friends at ProFootballFocus provide data on the coverage skills of individual players, which gives us a much more reliable starting point. Each week in this column I’ll focus on some of my favorite matchups for wide receivers and at least one matchup you should try to avoid.
I look at PFF’s individual coverage grades. This helps sort out some of the noise and give us an idea of how each individual cornerback has performed, where they generally line up and who they’ll cover most often.
I’ve included the PFF grade of each corner we’re targeting this week. This grade is on a scale of 0 to 100, making it easily digestible.
Alshon Jeffery vs. Vernon Hargreaves (PFF Grade: 38.4)
The theme this week is that disappointing receivers will start to get right. Jeffery’s rebound started before his bye, but I’d expect his best game of the year against the overmatched (and undersized) Hargreaves. In his past two games, Hargreaves has allowed 14 receptions for 202 yards on 16 targets to Julio Jones and Amari Cooper.
The rookie corner has big-play potential, he just doesn’t have the ability to physically match up up with the best receivers in the league at this stage of his career. That’s why he has given up a league-worst 551 yards receiving already in 2016. The funny thing is he’s only given up one touchdown, which matches perfectly with Alshon Jeffery who has only scored one.
Randall Cobb vs. Brice McCain (PFF Grade: 71.5)
While Hargreaves has been touchdown-averse, McCain has been practically escorting opposing receivers into the red zone. McCain’s five touchdowns allowed in the slot are the worst in the league and contribute greatly to his 134.7 passer rating against. But he hasn’t just been unlucky.
McCain has also given up 143 yards after contact, which is exactly what the Packers are looking for when they throw to Randall Cobb. Cobb played a limited role in Week 9 but I’d expect him to be a full go for one of the best matchups a slot receiver can have.
Julian Edelman vs. Jeremy Lane (PFF Grade: 57.1)
While McCain is one of the best slot matchups for a receiver, Jeremy Lane is by far the best matchup for a receiver facing the Seahawks. Lane has given up a reception every 7.8 coverage snaps compares to Richard Sherman, who has gone 14.1 coverage snaps between receptions. Edelman is always better in PPR formats and that holds true again this week. Tom Brady and the Patriots are known for exploiting their opponent’s weakness, and Lane is the clear weakness in this secondary.
Jarvis Landry vs. Brandon Flowers (PFF Grade: 80.8)
OK, so this looks weird, I know. Flowers grade paints him as a very good corner and in some respects that has been true. Flowers has had a pair of games where he graded very highly and a few where he wasn’t very good at all. The problems for him have mostly come in the slot. Flowers has allowed the second most yards per coverage snap out of the slot this year at 1.7 and has also allowed a reception once every 8.2 coverage snaps which is below average.
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