Welcome to my NFL Week 16 WR/CB Matchups to Attack and Avoid! In this article, I will be analyzing three matchups that we should be looking to exploit and three matchups that we should be looking to shy away from this weekend. Use these plays to better build your DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel!
Matchups to Attack
Steven Sims vs Corey Ballentine
Trey Quinn has missed each of the last two games for the Washington Redskins, allowing Steven Sims to take over. In his last 2 games, Sims has totaled 9 receptions for 85 yards and 1 touchdown on 18 targets. Sims has seen 226 air yards in 2019, posting a ridiculous 5.9 aDOT. In limited snaps, he has seen three red zone targets, turning those into two receptions for two yards and one touchdown.
Sims has played 81% of his snaps as Washington’s slot receiver this season. He gets a matchup against Corey Ballentine, who has played 97% of his snaps as the New York Giants slot corner. He has been targeted on 19% of his routes covered, allowing an 85% catch rate. Ballentine has also allowed his opponents to average 0.47 fantasy points and 2.47 yards per route covered against him in 2019. Overall, he has graded out as Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) worst cornerback in the NFL. Terry McLaurin is the obvious option for Washington, and makes an elite play, but Sims comes with quiet PPR upside for a cheap price tag.
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Tyler Boyd vs Jomal Wiltz
Tyler Boyd has seen plenty of ups and downs throughout the 2019 season. Through 14 games, he has posted 76 receptions for 859 yards and 3 touchdowns on 126 targets. Boyd has only seen 916 air yards with a 7.3 aDOT this season. He has seen seven red zone targets, though. He owns 5 receptions for 56 yards and 2 touchdowns on those targets.
Boyd has played the majority (69%) of his snaps as the Cincinnati Bengals slot receiver this season. He’ll face off against Jomal Wiltz, who has played 87% of his snaps as the Miami Dolphins slot corner in 2019. He has given up a 61% catch rate, while being targeted on 17% of his routes covered. Wiltz has also struggled, allowing his opponents to record 0.42 fantasy points and 1.29 yards per route covered. He has graded out as a bottom-three cornerback in the NFL, according to PFF. Boyd will benefit from Andy Dalton starting at quarterback, and Miami’s slot corner has been something we have attacked all season. That isn’t going to change this late in 2019.
Michael Gallup vs Ronald Darby
Michael Gallup posted 56 receptions for 911 yards and 3 touchdowns on 95 targets through 12 games this season. It has been somewhat of a mini breakout for the Dallas Cowboys WR2. Gallup has seen 1,130 air yards in 2019 to go along with an 11.9 aDOT in 2019. He ranks fifth on the Dallas team with seven red zone targets this season. He has turned those into 3 receptions for 32 yards and 1 touchdown.
Gallup has played 51% of his snaps as the Cowboys left outside receiver this season. He’ll play the majority of his snaps against Ronald Darby. The latter has played 63% of his snaps as the Philadelphia Eagles right outside cornerback this season. He has been targeted on 24% of his routes covered, allowing his opponents to record a 65% catch rate. Darby has given up 0.48 fantasy points and 2.06 yards per route covered in 2019, as well. He has graded out as a bottom-four cornerback in the NFL, per PFF. Gallup isn’t necessarily a safe option, but he comes with tremendous upside, specifically in this particular matchup.
Matchups to Avoid
Odell Beckham Jr. vs Marcus Peters
Odell Beckham Jr. has been struggling throughout the 2019 season. He posted 67 receptions for 910 yards and 2 touchdowns on 121 targets through 14 games. Beckham has seen 1,491 air yards to go along with a 12.3 aDOT, as well. He has turned 10 red zone targets into only 3 receptions for 22 yards. He has yet to record a touchdown in the red zone, as he has been one of the least efficient receivers inside-the-20 this season.
Beckham has moved around the formation for the Cleveland Browns in 2019. He has played 34% of his snaps as the right outside receiver, and that’s the role he’s expected to play this weekend. Beckham will get a matchup against Marcus Peters, who has played 52% of his snaps as the Baltimore Ravens left outside cornerback this season. He has been targeted on 18% of his routes covered, allowing his opponents to post a 63% catch rate. He has also held his opponents to 0.32 fantasy points and 1.48 yards per route covered. Peters has graded out as the best cornerback in the NFL this season, according to PFF. Beckham always comes with some upside, but he isn’t a great option in this particular matchup.
Tyrell Williams vs Casey Hayward Jr.
Tyrell Williams has performed well this season because of his ability to find the end zone. Through 12 games, Williams has posted 38 receptions for 569 yards and 6 touchdowns on 60 targets. He has seen 829 air yards with a 13.8 aDOT in 2019. Surprisingly, Williams has seen eight red zone targets this season. He has turned those into 4 receptions for 42 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Williams has played 31% of his snaps as the Oakland Raiders right outside receiver. That’s where he’s expected to see his snaps this weekend, as well. Williams gets a matchup against Casey Hayward Jr., who has played 63% of his snaps as the Los Angeles Chargers left outside cornerback. He has allowed a 74% catch rate, but has only been targeted on 16% of his routes covered. Hayward has also held his opponents to 0.30 fantasy points and 1.30 yards per route covered. He has graded out as PFF’s third best cornerback in the NFL this season. Williams is averaging only 6.3 DK points per game when he doesn’t score a touchdown, and that is likely to be the case in this matchup.
Russell Gage vs D.J. Hayden
Russell Gage has seen an extended role in the offense since the Atlanta Falcons traded Mohamed Sanu. In 7 games without Sanu, Gage has totaled 33 receptions for 285 yards and 1 touchdowns on 47 targets. He has seen 378 air yards with a low 6.9 aDOT. Surprisingly, he has seen 9 red zone targets, turning those into 5 receptions for 36 yards and 1 touchdown.
Gage has played 67% of his snaps as the Falcons slot receiver. He gets a matchup against D.J. Hayden, who has played 97% of his snaps as the Jacksonville Jaguars slot corner. He has only been targeted on 14% of his routes covered, allowing a 63% catch rate. Hayden has also held his opponents to 0.20 fantasy points and 1.15 yards per route covered in 2019. He has graded out as a top-10 cornerback in the NFL, per PFF. While Gage has flashed upside, he has also shown a terrible floor this season. He’s a player to avoid in this matchup.
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