Matchups to Attack
Devin Funchess vs Brandon Carr
Devin Funchess has been a big part of the Carolina Panthers receiving game this season, as he has seen seven or more targets in each of his last five games. On the season, Funchess is averaging 4.8 receptions for 62.3 yards and 0.5 touchdowns on 7.8 targets per game. He has also scored a touchdown in three of his last four games. Funchess has posted his best two games of the season back-to-back, scoring 18.2 and 18.4 DK points in the last two weeks.
He has played 60% of his snaps as the Panthers outside left receiver, but that likely won’t matter this week. Brandon Carr is currently expected to shadow Funchess, and he has been one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL this season. Carr currently grades out as Pro Football Focus’ second worst cornerback in the NFL, behind only Darius Slay. Carr is allowing a 55% catch rate, while being targeted on 18% of his routes covered. Funchess is one of the focal points of the Carolina offense, and this is a matchup he can take advantage of.
Jordy Nelson vs Quincy Wilson
Jordy Nelson has looked outstanding in three games this season, while struggling in his other three games. In his three successful games, Nelson has totaled 15 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns, while also totaling seven receptions for 59 yards in his other three games. He’s only averaging 5.2 targets per game this season, but that could increase with Amari Cooper being traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
Nelson has moved all over the Oakland Raiders formation this season, but he’s expected to see the majority of his time without Cooper in the lineup as the Raiders left outside receiver. If that’s the case, he’ll spend the majority of his time against Quincy Wilson, who has played 67% of his snaps as the Indianapolis Colts right outside corner. Wilson has allowed a ridiculous 80% catch rate, while being targeted on 19% of his routes covered. He currently has graded out as the seventh worst cornerback in the NFL this season, per Pro Football Focus. Wilson is allowing 0.44 fantasy points per route covered, as well. This is a matchup Nelson can take advantage of if he is gifted more targets.
Davante Adams vs Marcus Peters
Davante Adams has been the one consistent in the Green Bay Packers offense this season. Through six games, he’s averaging 7.8 receptions for 92.8 yards and 1.0 touchdown on 11.8 targets per game. He has also been playing at a higher level over his last three games, averaging a 9.0/117.7/1.0 line on 14.0 targets per game. Adams also ranks third in the NFL with 15 red zone targets this season.
Adams moves around the Green Bay formation at times, but he has played 55% of his snaps as their outside left receiver. He’s expected to play the majority of the game against Marcus Peters, who has moved around the Los Angeles Rams secondary this season. Adams should also see time against Sam Shields and Troy Hill, but Peters should be his main matchup this week. Peters has only been targeted on 13% of his routes covered, but he has allowed a 74% catch rate this season. He has struggled, according to Pro Football Focus, grading out as a bottom-10 cornerback in the NFL this season.
Matchups to Avoid
Randall Cobb vs Nickell Robey-Coleman
Randall Cobb has been dealing with a hamstring injury, and the last time he played was Week 3. He has found some success when on the field, totaling 17 receptions for 194 yards and one touchdown on 27 targets in three weeks. He saw double digit targets in two of his three healthy games this season, and he could return to a similar role in this game. With that being said, there should still be concern about his hamstring, as he has only been limited in practice early this week. This is an injury to keep an eye on throughout the week.
Cobbs has only played limited snaps this season, but 88% of his snaps have been as a slot receiver. He’ll matchup against Nickell Robey-Coleman, who has played 96% of his snaps as the Los Angeles Rams slot corner. He has graded out as a top-10 cornerback in the NFL, per PFF, allowing only a 54% catch rate, while being targeted on 16% of his routes covered. NRC has been one of the best slot corners in the NFL this season, and Cobb could struggle in his first game back from injury.
New York Jets WRs vs Chicago Bears CBs
The New York Jets feature an underwhelming receiving group to go along with a rookie quarterback. Quincy Enunwa has been ruled out this week, leaving Jermaine Kearse, Robby Anderson (questionable), and newly signed Rishard Matthews to play the majority of the snaps. Kearse and Anderson are combining for only 9.3 targets per game this season, while Matthews will be making his New York debut. None of the trio of receivers have been overly impressive in their snaps this season.
Prince Amukamara, Kyle Fuller, and Bryce Callahan make up one of the best secondaries in the NFL. They have graded out as the fourth, sixth, and 11th best cornerbacks in the NFL, according to PFF. Amukamara is expected to guard Matthews, while Fuller handles Anderson and Callahan matches up with Kearse. Of the group, Kearse gets the best matchup, but none of these corners have allowed much success to receivers this season. Overall, the Jets are a receiving group to avoid, as the Bears have more than enough talent in the secondary to slow down their passing attack.
Allen Robinson vs Darryl Roberts
Allen Robinson continues to be in a “what could have been” type of situation. He has struggled quite a bit through six games this season, as he’s averaging 4.2 receptions for 47.5 yards and 0.3 touchdowns on 7.2 targets per game. He has scored in two of his last three games, but he has also seen less than seven targets in each of those games. Robinson was expected to be a workhorse type of receiver for the Bears this season, but that simply hasn’t happened.
Robinson has moved around the Chicago formation quite a bit this season, but he has played 33% of his snaps as the right outside receiver. He’ll face off against Darryl Roberts, who has spent 83% of his snaps as the New York Jets left outside cornerback. Roberts is allowing a 71% catch rate this season, but he has only been targeted on 19% of his routes covered. He has also graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 10th best cornerback in the NFL this season.
