After an underwhelming Week 1 for most fantasy studs, we return this week with our wide receiver matchup report. A few familiar faces return this week, but for some, it’s on the opposite end of the spectrum. There are several atrocious pass defenses that are ready to be beaten this week and a few stingy ones that won’t give an inch. Not to mention, a sleeper WR who could have an enormous fantasy breakout this week.
Favorable Matchups
Tyreek Hill vs. Philadelphia Eagles
There’s going to be a common theme in the cheat sheet for a few weeks. As long as Ronald Darby is out, the Eagles’ cornerbacks are going to get shredded. Tyreek Hill is the perfect kind of receiver to take advantage of the Eagles’ putrid corners. Hill is lightning fast and his short area quickness is as good as it gets. That alone will allow him to dominate Jalen Mills and Patrick Robinson, but throw in his route running and Sunday should be a disaster for the Mills/Robinson duo. Hill should be able to take advantage this week and put up similar numbers to Week 1. I’m expecting five to seven receptions with over 100 yards.
Larry Fitzgerald vs. Indianapolis Colts
[the_ad id=”384″]With Vontae Davis out again this Sunday, the Colts are primed to give up plenty of points. Larry Fitzgerald should be the main beneficiary for the Cardinals this week. He’s Carson Palmer’s security blanket and his favorite red zone target. Even when the Cardinals struggled offensively last week, Fitzgerald reeled in six of his 13 targets for 74 yards. Now that David Johnson is out, the Cardinals will have to rely on the passing game even more, increasing the opportunities for Fitzgerald. He should continue to receive a large number of targets and some of those will inevitably come in the red zone. The expectation for Fitzgerald should be around eight catches and 90+ yards with a strong chance of finding the end zone.
Alshon Jeffery @ Kansas City Chiefs
After an underwhelming fantasy debut last week, Alshon Jeffery will have ample opportunity to rebound this week. According to Mike Clay of ESPN, Alshon Jeffery lined up to Carson Wentz’s left 51% of the time last week. That would line him up against Terrance Mitchell, who played that side of the field 81% of the time against the Patriots, according to Clay. That matchup is a dream come true for Jeffery, who will use his physicality and catch radius to take advantage of Mitchell. The Chiefs stingy run defense will force the Eagles to throw the ball this week, and Jeffery should be the primary beneficiary. He should receive 10 targets this week, with a strong opportunity to find the end zone as the Eagles’ best goal line receiver.
Unfavorable Matchups
Pierre Garcon @ Seattle Seahawks
Pierre Garcon had 6 catches for 81 yards last week against a bad Carolina secondary. This week, things will get much tougher as Garcon goes up against the Seahawks vaunted secondary. The 49ers passing offense should be nonexistent this week. This game features two anemic offenses and two good defenses. This is primed to be a low-scoring matchup, which does not benefit Garcon at all. He’s a WR4 for me this week, and a guy that will be touchdown dependent for the week. If he doesn’t reach the end zone, Garcon should be rendered useless in non-PPR formats this week.
Dez Bryant @ Denver Broncos
Expect a Cowboys’ offense this week similar to the one we saw last week. That is a bad sign for Dez Bryant owners, who saw their wide receiver pull in two of his nine targets for 43 yards against the Giants. Bryant has another difficult matchup this week, facing one of the best cornerback trios in football in the Denver Broncos. The Cowboys will most likely feed Ezekiel Elliott constantly this week in a low-scoring game. Bryant will be facing one of Bradley Roby, Chris Harris Jr., or Aqib Talib, all of whom will give him fits. Expect Bryant to struggle again, even if he reaches eight or more targets. Bryant, like Garcon, will be touchdown dependent this week, and that’s not something I’d want to count on.
Sammy Watkins vs. Washington Redskins
Even though Josh Norman didn’t shadow Alshon Jeffery last week, he still covered him enough to cause problems for Jeffery. Expect a similar treatment for Sammy Watkins this week, who will see Norman more than enough on Sunday. Watkins had only five targets last week as the Rams spread the ball around when they chose to pass. Watkins needs only one play to be fantasy relevant, but until he starts drawing more targets, it will be difficult to start him most weeks. Mix in enough of Josh Norman this week, and he should be riding the bench for most fantasy teams.
Sleeper of the Week
Chris Hogan @ New Orleans Saints
After an underwhelming season debut against the Chiefs, Chris Hogan is primed for a rebound performance. Hogan and the Patriots will be facing a paltry Saints defense that got torched by the Vikings for 341 passing yards. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs had a field day Monday night, and they did so by stretching the field vertically. Hogan is a great deep threat who should be able to take advantage of that this week. He can take the top off of the Saints defense, and he will have ample opportunity to score on deep throws. Even if he can’t find the end zone, Hogan should receive enough deep targets to be extremely fantasy relevant this week. He should get six to eight targets this week, with at least two of them coming 20+ yards down the field.