Corner Report: Week 14

This article will go game by game for the Sunday main slate looking at the top wide receivers from an offense and, based on the inside/outside and left/right splits in the alignment data of those receivers, identify the cornerbacks most likely to face them in man coverage.

Receivers very rarely see the same corner every play, be it due to formational quirks or zone coverage calls by the defense, so a receiver's fortunes depend on much more than just the quality of the corner they're likely to see the most in a given game. Even against a bad corner, a good receiver can be denied the opportunity if the pass rush or something else outside his control complicates things. But it's part of the puzzle, and it's worth keeping track of.

Receivers are left with an Upgrade, Downgrade, or Even verdict based on their projected matchup. This shouldn't be read as 'good' or 'bad' but rather a measured tweak from the receiver's baseline projection.

This article is normally posted on Fridays behind paywall, and this week will still feature a Friday post regarding the Sunday games, but this one-off unlocked post will break down the Thanksgiving games.
 

WAS vs DAL

WASHINGTON WIDE RECEIVERS

The Cowboys haven't moved their corners around much since the first month of the year, meaning Terry McLaurin might not see shadow coverage from Trevon Diggs. Diggs is no major obstacle for a player of McLaurin's abilities, but Diggs is still almost certainly a tougher matchup than Anthony Brown on the other side. This is sooner an upgrade for McLaurin than a downgrade. Curtis Samuel (groin) is barely playing and it's difficult to tell if that changes anytime soon. If not before this game, then DeAndre Carter will be the main second outside receiver and Adam Humphries the main slot receiver, neither of them consistently threatening to corners like Brown and slot man Jourdan Lewis.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Terry McLaurin, DeAndre Carter, Adam Humphries
 

DALLAS WIDE RECEIVERS

It's not clear whether Amari Cooper will be able to play more snaps than the 21 he did against New Orleans in Week 13, but if he does then it makes him an auto-start in most formats. Cooper and to a lesser extent CeeDee Lamb should get the most looks at slot coverage from Danny Johnson and to a lesser extent safety Kamren Curl. That might be the weakest spot of the Washington coverage, because outside corners Kendall Fuller and William Jackson have seen better returns lately after badly struggling to open the year. 

Upgrade: Amari Cooper
Downgrade: N/A
Even: CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup

TEN vs JAC

TENNESSEE WIDE RECEIVERS

Shaquill Griffin is back for the Jaguars and he might make it tough for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine when the receiver lines up on his side. Cody Hollister probably can't get open against any NFL corners, and especially not one like Griffin. Dez Fitzpatrick and Chester Rogers are evidently competing for the scarce remaining snaps, though Tennessee's personnel tendencies have fluctuated wildly from week to week over the year.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Cody Hollister

JACKSONVILLE WIDE RECEIVERS

The Jaguars are the worst-run team the league has seen or ever will see. Mike Vrabel hates Urban Meyer and out of the bye the Titans will have had time to gameplan some surprising looks on defense. Marvin Jones and Laquon Treadwell do not project well against Kristian Fulton. Nor would they project well against Janoris Jenkins, but he might be out with an ankle issue. Perhaps Jones and Treadwell can't capitalize, but if they get shots at Buster Skrine then that's a favorable matchup. Laviska Shenault would have beat up against a guy like slot corner Elijah Molden in the Pac 12, but apparently those days are on hold at the very least.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Marvin Jones, Laquon Treadwell, Laviska Shenault

HOU vs SEA

HOUSTON WIDE RECEIVERS

The Texans are melting down so who knows how much their players can play to the best of their abilities, but this isn't a bad matchup for the Houston receivers. Chris Conley and Nico Collins are both matchup problems for these short, not especially athletic Seattle corners. Brandin Cooks is of course a beast and has the advantage over corners much better than these.

Upgrade: Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley, Nico Collins
Downgrade: N/A
Even: N/A

SEATTLE WIDE RECEIVERS

DK Metalf (foot/illness) has another great on-paper matchup here, but who knows whether he'll be able to capitalize. Players like Desmond King and Terrance Mitchell can't run with him, but neither could Josh Norman. Tyler Lockett has stayed hot even through the struggles of Metcalf and Russell Wilson, and there's no especial reason to think he'll slow down here. He's dangerous to King and Mitchell for speed reasons also. Dee Eskridge can beat these guys, too.

Upgrade: Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Dee Eskridge
Downgrade: N/A
Even: N/A

KC vs LV

KANSAS CITY WIDE RECEIVERS

Tyreek Hill can't be contained by the Cover-3 type defense that Gus Bradley tends to run, so the Raiders can either change their approach here or get lit up again. Patrick Mahomes seems to struggle this year when defenses spam coverage deep and evenly across the field, but Bradley might take certain risks he shouldn't. As Mahomes goes so primarily go Hill and Travis Kelce, but there also might be enough to go around for Byron Pringle or even Demarcus Robinson to do something useful.

Upgrade: Tyreek Hill, Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson
Downgrade: N/A
Even: N/A
 

LAS VEGAS WIDE RECEIVERS

The Chiefs defense might have been bad to start the year, but it's playing better and more in line with pre-season expectations in recent weeks. Given that, the Arrowhead setting and the general decline of the Raiders offense, this might be a tough spot for the Raiders passing game. Hunter Renfrow projects for high usage to the point that you don't care much about the matchup, but he does have a challenging draw against the likes of L'Jarius Sneed and Tyrann Mathieu. Bryan Edwards doesn't project well against Charvarius Ward, nor DeAndre Baker or former college teammate Rashad Fenton. DeSean Jackson is more dangerous to corners like these, but between his light workload and Derek Carr's struggles it's tough to take much for a given there.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: Bryan Edwards
Even: Hunter Renfrow, DeSean Jackson

NYJ vs NO

JETS WIDE RECEIVERS

Bradley Roby and Paulson Adebo have supplied good outside cornerback play opposite Marshon Lattimore, so Keelan Cole will have a challenging matchup even if Lattimore doesn't follow him. Denzel Mims is interesting for his athleticism, but he's well-countered by these outside corners, too. In the slot Jamison Crowder probably has the upper hand over P.J. Williams.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: Keelan Cole, Denzel Mims
Even: Jamison Crowder

NEW ORLEANS WIDE RECEIVERS

Marquez Callaway and especially Deonte Harris can open against these corners, but Taysom Hill playing with a splinted finger is a handicap no one needs. The Saints might not aspire to throw much in this game, and when they do you have to worry about Hill shotputting the ball out of the receiver's reach. But they should be open.

Upgrade: Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris
Downgrade: N/A
Even: N/A

CAR vs ATL

CAROLINA WIDE RECEIVERS

The Falcons still don't play A.J. Terrell anywhere but the left side, so whoever lines up at left receiver will instead run against right corner Fabian Moreau. Terrell is very good, Moreau is not good. The more the Panthers line up D.J. Moore or Robby Anderson against Moreau, the better for that receiver and the worse for the one who gets Terrell instead. Terrace Marshall can dunk on slot corner Avery Williams all day but the Panthers to this point have instead asked him to catch short passes in pursuit of yards after the catch, which Marshall cannot do.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall

ATLANTA WIDE RECEIVERS

Russell Gage and Tajae Sharpe project poorly against almost any secondary, and the Panthers have enough talent between Stephon Gilmore, Donte Jackson and slot corner A.J. Bouye to project for a major advantage here. That's before you factor in the pass rush, which is among the league's most dangerous. Olamide Zaccheaus doesn't project well, either.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: Russell Gage, Tajae Sharpe, Olamide Zaccheaus
Even: N/A

CLE vs BAL

CLEVELAND WIDE RECEIVERS

With no Marlon Humphrey or Marcus Peters the Baltimore pass defense likely just turns to 'bad.' Not average, but bad. So maybe Baker Mayfield is bad, and maybe a lead wideout duo of Jarvis Landry and Donovan Peoples-Jones isn't a lot to work with, but the Ravens are still vulnerable here. Humphrey's absence is probably more of a boon to Peoples-Jones and other outside Cleveland receivers, because Landry might more so see Tavon Young in the slot either way, but the health of the Browns passing game trends upward here.

Upgrade: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Jarvis Landry

BALTIMORE WIDE RECEIVERS

Marquise Brown can get open against almost anyone, even good corners like Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome, but the Ravens offense is fully decoded at this point and defenses basically sit on every route the Baltimore receivers run. Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay don't project to separate as well as Brown, so any systemic collapse of the Ravens passing game is likely to afflict them even worse than Brown. It's a frustrating situation.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay
Even: N/A

LAC vs NYG

CHARGERS WIDE RECEIVERS

Who know what happens with Keenan Allen or Mike Williams and their COVID situations, but if active Williams should see the shadow coverage of James Bradberry – a downgrade but not one you need to bench Williams over. Allen would get sitting duck Jaren Robinson. Jalen Guyton should run against rookie Aaron Robinson if Williams is active, but if Williams is not active then Guyton might get Bradberry, which is probably a no-go. If Allen is out then Josh Palmer might be his primary replacement.

Upgrade: Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer
Downgrade: Mike Williams
Even: Jalen Guyton (lower to Downgrade if Williams is out)

GIANTS WIDE RECEIVERS

Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton and John Ross can run past the outside Chargers corners, but it's unlikely that Mike Glennon is the man to get them the ball if so. The toughest part of the Chargers corner rotation is probably Chris Harris in the slot, where he'll be waiting for Sterling Shepard or Kadarius Toney if either of them can play through their respective injuries.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton, John Ross, Kadarius Toney

DEN vs DET

DENVER WIDE RECEIVERS

It's been a brutal stretch for Courtland Sutton and most of the other parts of the Denver passing game, but they have a chance to bounce back in this setting. Amani Oruwariye is the one good Detroit corner, but even he can lose to players like Sutton or maybe even Tim Patrick. If Sutton or Patrick is on Jerry Jacobs then they have the advantage on that play. The slot coverage should be no hindrance for Jerry Jeudy, either.

Upgrade: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick
Downgrade: N/A
Even: N/A

DETROIT WIDE RECEIVERS

Kalif Raymond is the best bet to beat the Denver defense, because they're probably most beatable deep, but Jared Goff doesn't throw well to that part of the field. Josh Reynolds and Amon-Ra St. Brown are more likely to run the routes that Goff can actually complete, not that we can take that for granted either. It's hard to see this as anything but a downgrade for Goff.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds, Amon-Ra St. Brown

CIN vs SF

CINCINNATI WIDE RECEIVERS

Even if the San Francisco pass rush is a problem, the Bengals have no excuse for failing against these corners. Josh Norman can't cover anyone, least of all Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins. CB1 Emmanuel Moseley is out on the other side, leaving the 49ers with slot corner K'Waun Williams forced to play a three-down role. Williams is 5-foot-9 and not well-built to go against receivers like this. Tyler Boyd will get Williams' otherwise competent slot coverage in three-wide looks, when the rookie Deommodore Lenoir might step in opposite Norman.

Upgrade: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Tyler Boyd

SAN FRANCISCO WIDE RECEIVERS

If Deebo Samuel can't play then the Bengals might be protected somewhat by the absence or limited presence of CB1 Chidobe Awuzie, though Samuel goes into the slot often enough that he might avoid Awuzie plenty and get a few looks at the undersized Mike Hilton. Brandon Aiyuk might get Awuzie on plays where Samuel is in the slot, or if Samuel is out. Jauan Jennings doesn't project to get open but might be able to box out for a few catches against Eli Apple or Hilton. If Awuzie is out then the 49ers get potential upgrades across the board.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings

TB vs BUF

TAMPA BAY WIDE RECEIVERS

The Bills might be in trouble without Tre'Davious White, which leaves the skinny and slowish Levi Wallace and the unproven Dane Jackson to match up with Mike Evans outside. Those two will need help against Evans, and if the Bills don't provide it then Evans can beat them deep all day. Chris Godwin should see tougher coverage in the slot against Taron Johnson, but not to any extent that's concerning.

Upgrade: Mike Evans
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Chris Godwin
 

BUFFALO WIDE RECEIVERS

Stefon Diggs can't be covered in press coverage, which the Buccaneers might normally run with Carlton Davis against an opponent's No. 1 wideout. If they try that here then Diggs will almost certainly burn him, or anyone else. The Buccaneers learned this against Tyreek Hill in the regular season last year – some receivers you just can't cover in man coverage, and you need to accept that and counter with zone adaptations instead. If the Bills play off coverage then they'll give Diggs a cushion, but at least he'll be in front of them on the target instead of running away from them. Emmanuel Sanders can't run away from a burner like Jamel Dean but Dean probably doesn't want to chase Sanders laterally, either. Sean Murphy-Bunting probably isn't intimidated by Cole Beasley in the slot.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley, Gabriel Davis