Week 5 is here, and another week of great WR/CB matchups starts tonight as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Dallas Cowboys in primetime. Here are the matchups you need to watch this week!
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*The following matchups are based on the most recent depth chart announcements and could change due to unforeseen injuries or game plan adjustments.*
WR George Pickens | CB Zyon McCollum
This may seem like a no-brainer, but George Pickens has been underwhelming early in the season and is currently WR37 through three weeks. Despite the Cowboys ranking 7th in passing yards (258.0), Pickens is averaging about 10 points per game, and that won’t cut it where you likely drafted him. He has a tough matchup this week and will need to find the red zone to have a productive day, something he hasn’t done in the first four games.
Zyon McCollum has been average so far this season and sits 65th out of 101 qualified CBs according to PFF. McCollum has allowed 152 yards and 1 TD through 4 games. All things considered, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass defense has been fairly good; losing Jamel Dean via Free Agency hasn’t hindered their performance, as they rank 9th in passing yards allowed (204.3). The Bucs also allow only 24.1 total fantasy points to opposing teams’ WR groups. That’s about 25.8% lower than league average.
Bench George Pickens
WR Wan’Dale Robinson | S Jalen Pitre
The 0-4 Tennessee Titans play the 0-4 Houston Texans. This matchup could be a great opportunity for Head Coach Robert Saleh to get his team back on track by attacking through the air, especially with Tate or Robinson if he’s on the roster this week. Robinson is currently the WR2, and while the Titans offense hasn’t looked its best, this week could be a strong one for him.
Currently, the Texans give up more fantasy points to WRs than any other team (44.6), 37.5% over the league average. Jalen Pitre, though listed at Safety, is the Texans’ slot corner and will match up against Robinson this week. Pitre ranks highly among other safeties, 12th out of 93 qualified. Over 4 games, Pitre has allowed 85 yards and a TD, great numbers all things considered.
Start Wan’Dale Robinson
WR Michael Wilson | CB D.J. Reed
Despite only one TD in the first four weeks, Michael Wilson is the WR15, though he’s listed as the WR2 on his own team. However, I don’t believe that depth chart anymore, as Wilson is clearly the WR1 on the Arizona Cardinals now. Marvin Harrison Jr. hasn’t lived up to expectations, but that’s Harrison’s discussion. That said, Wilson has more yards per game than some elite WRs.
D.J. Reed and the Detroit Lions pass defense have been absolutely abysmal this season. Focusing on Reed first, he’s ranked 55th out of 103 CBs on PFF and has given up 261 yards and 2 TDs. Reed also gives opposing QBs a whopping 141.7 passer rating when they target him. That makes Wilson a strong start this week. The Lions are also giving up the second-most fantasy points to WRs this season (43.5), just behind the Texans, and that matchup should give Wilson room to produce.
Start Michael Wilson
WR Chris Godwin | CB Joey Porter Jr. & S Caleb Downs
Chris Godwin hasn’t been the same since returning from injury last season, but I’ve already said that. Bottom line: he’s averaging about 8 points a game, so he’s not winning you matchups. I wasn’t even going to mention him, but after looking, he’s still rostered in 70% of leagues. That’s fine; what ain’t fine tho is that he’s starting in 23% of leagues this week, and I can’t grasp why.
The Dallas Cowboys allow 36.9 fantasy points to opposing WRs, just 13.9% more than the league average. That’s not enough to start Godwin and expect him to beat his average. Godwin will match up against Porter Jr. throughout the game, and rookie Caleb Downs when he lines up in the slot; either way, it’s not a favorable matchup for Godwin, as Porter Jr. ranks 18th and Downs ranks 22nd, both good overall.
Bench Chris Godwin
WR Stefon Diggs | CB Dru Phillips
Stefon Diggs started strong in Weeks 1 and 2, but he’s cooled off over the last couple of weeks. The targets and receptions are still there, but he hasn’t found the end zone, and with only 4-5 receptions per game, he’s highly TD-dependent. Washington ranks 23rd in passing yards per game, and the silver lining is that Jayden Daniels fully practiced on Wednesday; when Daniels starts, Diggs gets the TDs he needs. Diggs is also listed as questionable and missed Wednesday’s practice.
Dru Phillips has had a bounce-back year, ranking 24th in PFF and allowing just 36 yards and 0 TDs for the New York Giants’ young CB. The Giants have been average in the fantasy points they’ve given up to WRs, ranking 16th at 33.1. New York is also 10th in passing yards allowed and 8th in points allowed. Even if Diggs is healthy, he likely won’t have the game many expect.
Bench Stefon Diggs
Other Content
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