Corner Report: Week 16

Apologies for the postponement of this article, the COVID situations made it difficult to assemble. I would describe the Saturday games as 'even' matchups for everyone in both games.

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.

NE vs BUF

NEW ENGLAND WIDE RECEIVERS

Kendrick Bourne (COVID) apparently still has a chance to play in this game, but if so he'll do it without practicing all week. Nelson Agholor (concussion) is out. That leaves the likes of N'Keal Harry, Gunner Olszewski, and Kristian Wilkerson as candidates to play outside snaps against the Bills while Jakobi Meyers takes his customary slot role. Agholor's speed made him the biggest threat to the Bills defense in light of Tre'Davious White's absence, but none of Harry, Olszewski or Wilkerson are truly fast. Dane Jackson and Levi Wallace are probably below average outside corners, but it's not clear whether this group of New England pass catchers can make the Bills pay for the fact. Taron Johnson is a tough matchup for Meyers in the slot otherwise, though Meyers' target volume should be relatively stable.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: Jakobi Meyers
Even: N'Keal Harry, Gunner Olszewski, Kristian Wilkerson, Kendrick Bourne

BUFFALO WIDE RECEIVERS

J.C. Jackson is a menace but that didn't stop Stefon Diggs from absolutely annihilating the Patriots defense in Foxborough last year. Jalen Mills is more beatable but it's not clear whether Emmanuel Sanders (knee) will be in good enough condition to threaten him. Slot corner Myles Bryant is less likely to lose to a fellow slot specialist like Isaiah McKenzie than he is a bigger receiver, but it's not clear whether Buffalo will have the personnel on hand to put forth that sort of threat. Practice-squad callup Isaiah Hodgins would probably be more challenging for Bryant.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Isaiah McKenzie, Isaiah Hodgins

PHI vs NYG

PHILADELPHIA WIDE RECEIVERS

While James Bradberry is a very good corner, his otherwise imposing build does nothing to counter the strengths of DeVonta Smith. Bradberry's size is great for countering a big wideout like Mike Evans, but Smith is nearly 50 pounds lighter than Bradberry and liable to leave him gripping at air over the course of a route. Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins are less likely to get anywhere, especially with the recent emergence of Dallas Goedert.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins

GIANTS WIDE RECEIVERS

Kenny Golladay might see Darius Slay most of the time, and that might be a difficult matchup to win when dealing with subpar quarterback play. Darius Slayton is more dangerous to Steven Nelson than Golladay is to Slay, but Slayton's speed might not matter if Jake Fromm can't push the ball downfield. Kadarius Toney faces a competent player in slot corner Avonte Maddox, though Maddox matches up better against short receivers.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: Kenny Golladay
Even: Kadarius Toney, Darius Slayton

MIN vs LAR

MINNESOTA WIDE RECEIVERS

The Rams have shown more willingness to line up Jalen Ramsey outside than earlier this year, when he stayed in the slot to a confusing extent. That should mean Ramsey follows around Justin Jefferson nearly every snap in this game. Adam Thielen (ankle) will hopefully be able to capitalize against the Rams' lesser corners but if he can't then the Vikings are in trouble. K.J. Osborn has shown well enough this year and poses a danger to the Rams' lesser corners, too, but without Dalvin Cook the Rams need at least two strong receiving outputs in this one.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: Justin Jefferson
Even: Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn

RAMS WIDE RECEIVERS

There's nothing concerning here for the Rams receivers. Patrick Peterson, Cameron Dantzler and Mackensie Alexander aren't bad players exactly, but they each can be beaten for the big play downfield. That's not a great general detail to carry as a secondary when you're about to face Odell Beckham and Van Jefferson. Cooper Kupp of course has the upper hand in almost any matchup, this one included.

Upgrade: Cooper Kupp, Odell Beckham, Van Jefferson
Downgrade: N/A
Even: N/A

CAR vs TB

CAROLINA WIDE RECEIVERS

We know DJ Moore is very good, but these circumstances are brutal. The Panthers are a joke of a team with an incoherent quarterback rotation, and now Moore gets to deal with Carlton Davis.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: Everyone
Even: N/A

TAMPA BAY WIDE RECEIVERS

Antonio Brown figures to see lots of Stephon Gilmore, but it's probably a matchup he can work with and more importantly the volume projection easily overrules any efficiency concerns. Tyler Johnson, Scotty Miller and Jaelon Darden project less confidently against the otherwise solid Carolina pass defense.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Antonio Brown, Tyler Johnson, Scotty Miller, Jaelon Darden

NYJ vs JAC

JETS WIDE RECEIVERS

Braxton Berrios will need to play a lot in this one with Jamison Crowder out. The matchup isn't exactly great against a Jacksonville defense that has been bizarrely good in the season's second half, but top pass rusher Josh Allen (COVID) is out. Berrios will mostly see Rudy Ford, who might be decent but is nonetheless less intimidating than Tyson Campbell and especially Shaquill Griffin. Griffin is a discouraging matchup for whoever sees him, be it Keelan Cole or Denzel Mims. Campbell is the more vulnerable one – Campbell is very toolsy but a technician like Cole can make him pay for poor technique.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Braxton Berrios, Keelan Cole, Denzel Mims

JACKSONVILLE WIDE RECEIVERS

Laquon Treadwell doesn't project for an obvious advantage against a similarly-built corner like Bryce Hall, but the skinny rookie Brandin Echols is less suited to play against a physical receiver like Treadwell. That's not to say Echols would do better against Marvin Jones – the rookie is the more vulnerable corner whatever the case. The slot coverage should be beatable for the Jets, but can Tavon Austin beat anyone? Maybe, maybe not.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Laquon Treadwell, Marvin Jones, Tavon Austin

ATL vs DET

ATLANTA WIDE RECEIVERS

Russell Gage is on a tear and there's nothing about the Detroit defense that gives reason to fear for him here. The Lions corners were bad to start with, and now they're without both of their best ones. It's not even clear who will play for them. Olamide Zaccheaus could do well here too, though the Falcons tend to give Zaccheaus' ideal routes to Gage in the slot and underneath. At just 5-foot-8 and without burning speed, Zaccheaus doesn't project as well outside.

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

DETROIT WIDE RECEIVERS

This sucks. It appears the Lions will start Tim Boyle at quarterback, which should ruin the opportunity for just about everyone on the Lions offense. Boyle got annihilated at both Connecticut and Eastern Kentucky, and his NFL results are exactly as bad as you'd anticipate base on the prior details. Amon-Ra St. Brown might be the best candidate to withstand Boyle's poor play, if only because he runs the shortest routes. Josh Reynolds and especially Kalif Raymond might struggle to get open enough for Boyle to land the target.

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

CIN vs BAL

CINCINNATI WIDE RECEIVERS

With the Ravens defense annihilated the Bengals have good matchups across the board.

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

BALTIMORE WIDE RECEIVERS

Marquise Brown can probably beat Chidobe Awuzie more often than not and the duo of Trae Waynes and Eli Apple stands almost no prayer of matching Brown's strides, but Tyler Huntley struggles to push the ball downfield. Rashod Bateman is less likely to burn those corners but still poses a danger. James Proche doesn't seem especially threatening to Mike Hilton from the slot.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, James Proche

SEA vs CHI

SEATTLE WIDE RECEIVERS

If Jaylon Johnson (COVID) is out then the Bears will be quite vulnerable to the pass. Rookie Thomas Graham offers hope of an upgrade opposite Johnson, at least, where Kindle Vildor had otherwise struggled.

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

CHICAGO WIDE RECEIVERS

Who knows what's up with Allen Robinson (COVID), but these Seattle corners probably can't cover him if he's himself. Darnell Mooney doesn't have a build advantage against corners like D.J. Reed or Sidney Jones, but his speed and separation ability are well above their grades.

Upgrade: Darnell Mooney
Downgrade: N/A
Even: Allen Robinson

KC vs PIT

KANSAS CITY WIDE RECEIVERS

If Tyreek Hill (COVID) can't go then it would be an urgent moment for Mecole Hardman to step up along with Byron Pringle. Demarcus Robinson can only get open against busted coverage and Josh Gordon has given no different indication to this point. A corner like Joe Haden can't trail Hardman or Pringle farther than 15 yards or so, and Cameron Sutton doesn't want to go into those depths, either, good as he might be overall. Ahkello Witherspoon is a good enough athlete but he matches up better against Pringle than Hardman.

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

PITTSBURGH WIDE RECEIVERS

Chase Claypool needs to be on the field for the Pittsburgh offense to have a prayer, yet last week against Tennessee they voluntarily kept him off the field in favor of Ray Ray McCloud, who shouldn't be in the NFL. Bold strategy, etc. Diontae Johnson should project fine against the otherwise solid Kansas City corners – a guy like Charvarius Ward is a better physical counter to a fellow big/fast type like Claypool than he is an undersized zig-zagger like Johnson.

Upgrade: N/A
Downgrade: Ray Ray McCloud
Even: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool

LV vs DEN

LAS VEGAS WIDE RECEIVERS

Hunter Renfrow might be in a surprisingly decent spot here, if only because it's more difficult to land targets against boundary corners Patrick Surtain and Ronald Darby than it is against slot corner Kyle Fuller. There's no reason to think Fuller can cover Renfrow, so if Denver slows Renfrow it was probably the result of effectively-applied help from the linebackers and safeties. The other Raiders receivers are in a tough spot here – DeSean Jackson as a deep threat is probably their only other hope.

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

DENVER WIDE RECEIVERS

Nate Hobbs has been very good this year but COVID has his availability and viability in question. Jerry Jeudy stands to benefit the most if Hobbs is limited or out. Casey Hayward, meanwhile, might match up worse against big wideouts like Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick than he would against someone of Jeudy's build. Drew Lock doesn't have any excuse for failure here, somewhat likely as it might be that he fails anyway.

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