This article is part of our On Target series.
Last week was a pretty interesting one with our highlighted WR/CB matchups. I took great joy in watching these individual matchups unfold. Josh Gordon was not fully unleashed against Malcolm Butler due to Tom Brady having his worst game of the season, but Gordon was frequently open. Corey Davis torched Stephon Gilmore, showing that he truly is one of the best WRs in football. Chris Conley indeed started for the Chiefs, but he barely had to be used against Budda Baker. Bashaud Breeland showed that he is still ready for prime time as DeVante Parker had no space all day, and the Bears just blew the Lions out of the water so the Taylor Gabriel gadget plays stayed on the shelf. Let's get into the good, bad and interesting this week!
Josh Reynolds vs. Orlando Scandrick
Reynolds will be thrust yet again into a starting role in the Rams offense this week against the Chiefs. His first audition went decently, as he was unused in his first game starting but then scored two touchdowns the following week. I happen to be a believer in Reynolds' talent, but he is likely to draw a matchup against the one Chiefs DB that has actually performed well this year in Scandrick. Scandrick is allowing only a 51 percent completion rate while in coverage, and I am interested to see if Reynolds is mostly a decoy on his routes to get Scandrick away from Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks (though I am
Last week was a pretty interesting one with our highlighted WR/CB matchups. I took great joy in watching these individual matchups unfold. Josh Gordon was not fully unleashed against Malcolm Butler due to Tom Brady having his worst game of the season, but Gordon was frequently open. Corey Davis torched Stephon Gilmore, showing that he truly is one of the best WRs in football. Chris Conley indeed started for the Chiefs, but he barely had to be used against Budda Baker. Bashaud Breeland showed that he is still ready for prime time as DeVante Parker had no space all day, and the Bears just blew the Lions out of the water so the Taylor Gabriel gadget plays stayed on the shelf. Let's get into the good, bad and interesting this week!
Josh Reynolds vs. Orlando Scandrick
Reynolds will be thrust yet again into a starting role in the Rams offense this week against the Chiefs. His first audition went decently, as he was unused in his first game starting but then scored two touchdowns the following week. I happen to be a believer in Reynolds' talent, but he is likely to draw a matchup against the one Chiefs DB that has actually performed well this year in Scandrick. Scandrick is allowing only a 51 percent completion rate while in coverage, and I am interested to see if Reynolds is mostly a decoy on his routes to get Scandrick away from Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks (though I am still starting Reynolds in several 12-teamers this week).
Michael Thomas vs. Eagles CBs
The Eagles are currently dealing with a plethora of injuries in their secondary, which could leave Thomas facing a corner who has defended only eight routes all season in Chandon Sullivan. The other options are Rasul Douglas, who has allowed a 61 percent catch rate in coverage, or Avonte Maddox, who has defended only 70 routes this year himself. This is a super-cushy spot for Thomas, who is on pace to break every receiving efficiency record that there is; we are all in on MT in DFS this week.
Anthony Miller vs. Mackensie Alexander
Coming into the year I had a pretty high opinion of Alexander's game, but it seems that he is taking a little while to get adjusted to the NFL's defending rules. Miller has been a breakout player in the second half of the season for the Bears and is flourishing in Matt Nagy's awesome offense. He's gaining 1.58 yards per route run, and Alexander is allowing an absurd 85 percent completion rate while in coverage, which bodes well for the young Bear this week.
As a self-hating Cowboys fan, the one part of this season that has made me happy is that my favorite defensive back ever (Lord Byron) is having an absolute stud season. He is allowing the lowest fantasy points per route run against of any CB active this week and only 0.88 yards per route run! Julio is of course one of the best WRs in football and is likely to give Byron his toughest cover of the year, so this will be the matchup I'm most looking forward to watching.
Calvin Ridley vs. Chidobe Awuzie
While Julio draws the most difficult matchup the week has to offer, Ridley draws the exact opposite. Awuzie has defended 244 routes opposite Jones this year and has allowed a completion when targeted 72 percent of the time, with 0.46 fantasy points route run against. Ridley is essentially an easy start in DFS this week, as I would expect this to be his highest volume game of the year with Steve Sarkasian using this matchup to the Falcons' advantage.
T.Y. Hilton vs. Malcolm Butler
Hilton is by far my favorite tournament play of the week for DFS. The Titans' outside corners have put on a slow and sluggish performance for much of the year, and a breakout game is coming for Hilton. Butler has allowed 0.53 fantasy points per route ran against and a 76 percent completion rate when in coverage. Hilton only needs two or three plays to put up a massive score, and his speed advantage against Butler is huge.
