Corner Report: Week 9

This article will go game by game 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. The corners named will parenthetically cite the rank of their coverage grade from Pro Football Focus from the 2019 season. The snap counts listed are not a projection, but rather the totals from so far this year.

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. 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.

HOU vs JAC

HOUSTON WR SNAPS

DeAndre Hopkins: 539 snaps – 318 wide (205 left, 113 right), 220 slot (130 left, 90 right), one back

Will Fuller: 392 snaps – 188 wide (85 left, 103 right), 198 slot (73 left, 125 right), two tight 

Kenny Stills: 230 snaps – 89 wide (27 left, 62 right), 136 slot (56 left, 80 right), five back

Keke Coutee: 201 snaps – 40 wide (22 left, 18 right), 144 slot (73 left, 71 right), two tight (one left, one right), 15 back

DeAndre Carter: 75 snaps – 10 wide (five left, five right), 48 slot (22 left, 26 right),six tight (two left, four right), 11 back

Keke Coutee surprisingly did not play last week – active but with zero snaps – while DeAndre Carter played in his place. Who knows whether that lasts more than a week, but since Houston isn't acknowledging any injury for Coutee he should at least be physically able to return to the game plan at any point. Carter might have some talent, though, and there's a chance he takes the Houston slot receiver role by merit, at least until Will Fuller (hamstring) returns. Carter played 47 snaps against the Raiders, catching one of three targets for 46 yards, and in 22 career games he's caught 24 of 29 targets for 261 yards (zero touchdowns) on 362 snaps. That's super efficient but on a low target rate, which is kind of concerning since Carter's targets to this point have generally been on shallow routes, which are easier to hit than deeper ones. It could just be explained by Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins earning targets at a high rate, or it could mean Carter simply doesn't get open as quickly as some other slot receivers. The most interesting thing about Carter (5-foot-9, 185 pounds) is his timed athleticism, as he was timed at a 4.44-second 40 out of Sacramento State, and he was more importantly credited with an insane agility score (10.44). Whoever plays the slot for Houston would see a formidable matchup against D.J. Hayden (70.4 PFF), but Hayden might miss the game with a neck/shoulder issue. If not Hayden, the Jaguars will evidently consider Breon Borders and Tae Hayes at the third corner spot. Borders has played only 14 cover snaps, while Hayes is a practice squad callup who hasn't played a snap yet. Both corners are smallish and neither is better than average as an athlete, so there's a good chance that a weakness would occur somewhere in the Jacksonville secondary if Hayden were to sit. The question of where is more difficult – defensive coordinator Todd Wash said the team could also use outside corner Tre Herndon (49.2 PFF) in the slot. He had a big game last week, and is in any case a much more experienced and higher-quality prospect than Borders or Hayes. If Herndon plays in the slot in the event of a Hayden absence, it would probably be an 'even' grade for Carter/Coutee, whereas it'd be an upgrade if it's Borders or/and Hayes.

Kenny Stills was a dud in his first game as the WR2 in Fuller's absence, catching three of five targets for 22 yards on 80 snaps. It's frustrating for recent investors, but it's probably explained more by variance than much else. Stills would normally project for about eight targets on 80 snaps, so perhaps he'll be a little more useful going forward. It's not clear how the coverage snaps might split for Stills and Hopkins against outside corners A.J. Bouye (68.2 PFF) and Herndon. Bouye has generally played more on the right side this year, according to PFF, but he and Herndon have shown more even left/right splits in recent weeks. I don't know whether it was a shadow situation, but it sure seems like Herndon faced off against Robby Anderson quite a bit last week, and he of course had a big game doing so, intercepting two passes. Perhaps it was a shadow situation, perhaps it was related to safety help designs, I'm not sure. Bouye is generally considered the CB1 with Jalen Ramsey gone and certainly has higher PFF grades than Herndon this year, but perhaps the Jaguars are beginning to consider Herndon his equal.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: DeAndre Hopkins, Kenny Stills, DeAndre Carter, Keke Coutee

JACKSONVILLE WR SNAPS

Chris Conley: 423 snaps – 356 wide (196 left, 160 right), 66 slot (36 left, 30 right), one tight (one right)

D.J. Chark: 416 snaps – 199 wide (81 left, 118 right), 195 slot (81 left, 114 right), 15 tight (eight left, seven right), seven back

Dede Westbrook: 383 snaps – 46 wide (22 left, 24 right), 323 slot (146 left, 177 right), four tight (one left, three right), 10 back

Keelan Cole: 96 snaps – 56 wide (33 left, 23 right), 38 slot (20 left, 18 right), one tight (one right), one back

Marqise Lee is on IR, leaving Keelan Cole as the clear fourth receiver to step up in the event that slot receiver Dede Westbrook continues to suffer from his neck/shoulder issue, which limited him to one target on 31 snaps against the Jets. Westbrook is practicing more this week, so perhaps he'll be able to play closer to a full game against the Texans. If he does, he'll have a challenging matchup waiting for him against Bradley Roby (68.9 PFF), who's probably the team's best corner. Typically lining up as the outermost receiver, Chris Conley should see a fairly even split between left corner Johnathan Joseph (55.3 PFF) and whoever is playing on the right side. That might normally have been Lonnie Johnson (30.1 PFF), but he might miss the game due to a concussion. If Johnson is out, it would seemingly leave Gareon Conley (57.5 PFF) as the remaining outside corner, but he played mostly on the left side when Joseph missed last week's game. It might not matter much – each of the top three Texans outside corners appear to be vulnerable, and much easier to pick on that Roby in the slot. Whoever lines up on D.J. Chark will probably need safety help.

Upgrade: D.J. Chark, Chris Conley

Downgrade: Dede Westbrook

Even: Keelan Cole

PHI vs CHI

PHILADELPHIA WR SNAPS

Nelson Agholor: 492 snaps – 85 wide (36 left, 49 right), 372 slot (186 left, 186 right), 22 tight (six left, 16 right), 13 back

Alshon Jeffery: 345 snaps – 262 wide (148 left, 114 right), 79 slot (38 left, 41 right), four tight (two left, two right)

Mack Hollins: 332 snaps – 175 wide (91 left, 84 right), 147 slot (60 left, 87 right), three tight (three right), seven back

DeSean Jackson: 61 snaps – 28 wide (14 left, 14 right), 32 slot (nine left, 23 right), one back

Alshon Jeffery should spend the vast majority of his time running against Prince Amukamara (71.5 PFF) and Kyle Fuller (61.4 PFF) – perhaps Amukamara a bit more than Fuller, since Jeffery has lined up on the left slightly more than the right so far, and the Bears reliably split Amukamara and Fuller between the right and left side of the defense, respectively. If DeSean Jackson (questionable) can return then we could generally expect him to line up as the outermost receiver opposite Jeffery, with occasional slot looks. That means mostly Amukamara and Fuller but maybe also a few shots at the more vulnerable slot corner Buster Skrine (55.6 PFF). Skrine's primary matchup, though, should be Nelson Agholor, who has an easy matchup in Skrine but one he has shown the ability to squander. Mack Hollins should get phased out upon Jackson's return.

Upgrade: Nelson Agholor

Downgrade: Alshon Jeffery

Even: DeSean Jackson

CHICAGO WR SNAPS

Allen Robinson: 428 snaps – 187 wide (98 left, 89 right), 227 slot (120 left, 107 right), 12 tight (six left, six right), two back

Taylor Gabriel: 259 snaps – 136 wide (62 left, 74 right), 119 slot (52 left, 67 right), three tight (one left, two right),one back

Anthony Miller: 253 snaps – 29 wide (15 left, 14 right), 209 slot (119 left, 90 right), 12 tight (nine left, three right), three back

The Eagles seemingly benched Rasul Douglas (50.0 PFF) last week after previously trotting him out in a three-down role at right outside corner. Ronald Darby (42.1 PFF) was his replacement, with Jalen Mills (73.6 PFF) playing the left corner spot and Sidney Jones (57.2 PFF) the slot. If that setup persists into Week 9, then the matchups in this game should be relatively predictable.

Allen Robinson should split the vast majority of his snaps against Mills and Darby, and either is an upgrade for a player as good as Robinson. Taylor Gabriel should see a similar split of Mills/Darby but at a lower percentage of his snaps, the most likely alternative being Jones on the applicable slot snaps. But it's Anthony Miller who tends to play in the slot when the Bears go three wide, so Jones should primarily defend Miller. It's basically a new position for Jones and he could improve with time, but I'm inclined to call it an upgrade for Miller. Perhaps there's no way to fix Mitch Trubisky, but his receivers should be open Sunday.

Upgrade: Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

KC vs MIN

KANSAS CITY WR SNAPS

Demarcus Robinson: 428 snaps – 265 wide (158 left, 107 right), 138 slot (69 left, 69 right), 17 tight (eight left, nine right), eight back

Sammy Watkins: 320 snaps – 87 wide (42 left, 45 right), 211 slot (101 left, 110 right), 18 tight (four left, 14 right), four back

Mecole Hardman: 297 snaps – 118 wide (66 left, 52 right), 148 slot (80 left, 68 right), 10 tight (three left, seven right), 21 back

Tyreek Hill: 146 snaps – 59 wide (28 left, 31 right), 74 slot (44 left, 30 right), eight tight (three left, five right), five back

Mecole Hardman played only nine snaps last week, but his compelling explosiveness might give reason for Andy Reid to consider phasing out Demarcus Robinson to make more room for the rookie. Robinson is just a backup and it's hard to see what he offers other than better run blocking. I'd in any case mark Hardman and Robinson as antagonistic interests, and even in what was more or less a starting role last week Robinson saw his snap count drop to 38 – his lowest total of the year. Although the early-season injury to Tyreek Hill may have informed the data somewhat, Robinson and Hardman have generally lined up on the left a little more than on the right, and if that persists then they might see Xavier Rhodes (47.5 PFF) more than any other corner. Rhodes has struggled this year, and it'd be a wasted opportunity on Reid's part to waste Rhodes' vulnerable snaps on Robinson, who is basically harmless. But Hill and Sammy Watkins should also get a few shots at Rhodes, and all four of the previously mentioned receivers should see some helping of left corner Trae Waynes (54.6 PFF), who's doing better than Rhodes but still struggling. Any of the named Chiefs receivers other than Robinson should have a matchup advantage over either Minnesota outside corner. The toughest Vikings corner is probably slot guy Mackensie Alexander (63.9 PFF), but for reasons I could never guess Mike Zimmer appears to be souring on him, cutting his playing time last week for Mike Hughes (60.8 PFF). 

Upgrade: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

MINNESOTA WR SNAPS

Stefon Diggs: 395 snaps – 255 wide (130 left, 125 right), 131 slot (71 left, 60 right), nine back

Adam Thielen: 346 snaps – 141 wide (79 left, 62 right), 180 slot (71 left, 109 right), seven tight (five left, two right), 18 back

Bisi Johnson: 211 snaps – 89 wide (44 left, 45 right), 115 slot (60 left, 55 right), four tight (two left, two right), three back

Running reliably as the outermost receiver but on both the left and right equally, Stefon Diggs should split his time fairly evenly between Charvarius Ward (70.8 PFF) at right corner and a committee between Bashaud Breeland (39.2 PFF)/Morris Claiborne (58.3 PFF) at left corner. Ward is the clearly toughest of the three, but Diggs can still beat him. Breeland and Claiborne don't stand a chance. Bisi Johnson should get the leftover outside corner that Diggs doesn't see, while Adam Thielen should primarily run against some slot committee of Rashad Fenton (66.7 PFF), Kendall Fuller (60.5 PFF), and Tyrann Mathieu (61.4 PFF).

Upgrade: Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Bisi Johnson

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A
 

CAR vs TEN

CAROLINA WR SNAPS

D.J. Moore: 419 snaps – 307 wide (225 left, 82 right), 101 slot (60 left, 41 right), two tight (two left), nine back

Curtis Samuel: 413 snaps – 215 wide (67 left, 148 right), 173 slot (85 left, 88 right), two tight (one left, one right), 21 back

Jarius Wright: 285 snaps – 41 wide (23 left, 18 right), 231 slot (114 left, 117 right), seven tight (five left, two right), six back

Curtis Samuel (shoulder) didn't practice all week and might need to sit out, which would create a void at the right outside position for Carolina. If Samuel sits then the Panthers will need to either get more snaps from slot specialist Jarius Wright, or otherwise lean on some unclear split of Brandon Zylstra and DeAndrew White. Zylstra and White basically appear to be burned out non-prospects, so that's not good. Whoever is playing in the role will need to face arguably Tennessee's top corner in Adoree Jackson (72.3 PFF), so it's hard to get excited for the opportunity. Slot corner Logan Ryan (69.1 PFF) probably has an advantage over wright, and he'd pose a formidable test for Samuel/D.J. Moore for however many times they run from the slot. Malcolm Butler (62.3 PFF) should be the primary assignment for Moore, though, and Moore has no excuse for losing that matchup.

Upgrade: D.J. Moore

Downgrade: Curtis Samuel, Brandon Zylstra, DeAndrew White

Even: Jarius Wright

TENNESSEE WR SNAPS

Corey Davis: 395 snaps – 150 wide (60 left, 90 right), 229 slot (107 left, 122 right), 15 tight (seven left, eight right), one back

A.J. Brown: 268 snaps – 165 wide (89 left, 76 right), 93 slot (43 left, 50 right), seven tight (four left, three right), three back

Adam Humphries: 262 snaps – 25 wide (13 left, 12 right), 221 slot (110 left, 111 right), 10 tight (eight left, two right), six back

Tajae Sharpe: 225 snaps – 139 wide (86 left, 53 right), 83 slot (49 left, 34 right), one tight (one left), two back

Tajae Sharpe is one of the worst receivers in the league but last week Mike Vrabel chose to increase the playing time of A.J. Brown at the expense of Corey Davis rather than Sharpe. It's indefensible judgment from a coach who can't get fired soon enough, but it's something we need to account for in projections going forward. Davis in any case normally runs mostly on the right side, where he should primarily see James Bradberry (74.6 PFF), a problematic matchup for Davis. Brown should see a little of Bradberry, but he should more so match up against Donte Jackson (70.6 PFF), a formidable player but one who's about 45 pounds lighter than Brown and might be vulnerable to bullying. Adam Humphries will generally run against Ross Cockrell (65.4 PFF).

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Corey Davis

Even: A.J. Brown, Adam Humphries

PIT vs IND

PITTSBURGH WR SNAPS

JuJu Smith-Schuster: 360 snaps – 89 wide (56 left, 33 right), 247 slot (108 left, 139 right), 18 tight (seven left, 11 right), six back

Diontae Johnson: 256 snaps – 175 wide (102 left, 73 right), 74 slot (45 left, 29 right), one tight (one right), six back

James Washington: 226 snaps – 111 wide (54 left, 57 right), 79 slot (33 left, 46 right), 31 tight (nine left, 22 right), five back 

James Washington and Johnny Holton split snaps with Diontae Johnson last week, but the playing time might tilt more decisively in Johnson's favor after another good game for the rookie (and another forgettable one for Washington and Holton). JuJu Smith-Schuster is locked in as the go-to slot guy, where he'll face off against Kenny Moore (58.8 PFF), who probably isn't fully healthy. I'm inclined to call it an upgrade for JuJu, though understand the Colts are liable to use one-off zone schemes to account for JSS, especially if they're worried about Moore's knee. Pierre Desir did not practice all week and therefore appears out again, leaving the Colts with Rock Ya-Sin (45.2 PFF) and Marvell Tell (68.8 PFF) as the top outside corners. Both of them are rookies.

Upgrade: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson

Downgrade: N/A

Even: James Washington

INDIANAPOLIS WR SNAPS

T.Y. Hilton: 348 snaps – 217 wide (96 left, 121 right), 127 slot (52 left, 75 right), three tight (one left, two right), one back

Zach Pascal: 273 snaps – 102 wide (70 left, 32 right), 139 slot (63 left, 76 right), 22 tight (seven left, 15 right), 10 back

Chester Rogers: 253 snaps – 27 wide (nine left, 18 right), 209 slot (103 left, 106 right), 15 tight (four left, 11 right), two back

Deon Cain: 211 snaps – 181 wide (96 left, 85 right), 29 slot (18 left, 11 right), one tight (one right)

Parris Campbell: 122 snaps – 42 wide (19 left, 23 right), 72 slot (29 left, 43 right), three tight (three right), five back

Hilton is out, rattling what was already a thin rotation. Deon Cain was scratched last week after serving as the team's primary field-stretching presence before that, and I have to wonder how much of that isn't Cain's fault. Jacoby Brissett just doesn't throw downfield much, and the decoy Cain might have presented otherwise lost its credibility when Brissett never established the threat. I still don't think we've seen the last of him, but for all I know Hilton's absence could mostly go to the benefit of Parris Campbell, who only played five snaps in his return from injury last week. Zach Pascal is in any case the lead outside wideout with Hilton unavailable, and so far he has run on the left a bit more than the right. It will be interesting to see if he plays more on the right, where Hilton runs, or if it will be Cain/Campbell who replace Hilton's right-side snaps. The left corner – the matchup for the right receiver, whoever it is – is Joe Haden (58.5 PFF), who may be declining with age 31 up in April. If you're a Pascal investor, you'd probably rather see him on the right of the offense to face Haden rather than the left of the offense, where he'd face right corner Steven Nelson (75.6 PFF). Chester Rogers and to a lesser extent Campbell seem like the obvious slot guys, and they should run against the formidable Mike Hilton (79.1 PFF), a brutal matchup for the small, unathletic Rogers especially. Campbell can at least outrun Hilton and is about 20 pounds heavier.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Chester Rogers

Even: Zach Pascal, Parris Campbell, Deon Cain

MIA vs NYJ

MIAMI WR SNAPS

DeVante Parker: 377 snaps – 168 wide (67 left, 101 right), 199 slot (96 left, 103 right), 10 tight (six left, four right)

Preston Williams: 353 snaps – 308 wide (193 left, 115 right), 45 slot (26 left, 19 right)

The Dolphins are utilizing a three-man committee at slot receiver between Allen Hurns, Jakeem Grant, and Albert Wilson, leaving me uninterested in all three. DeVante Parker and Preston Williams, though, set up just fine in terms of their on-paper matchups. The Jets are tough at slot corner, where Brian Poole has had a great year so far, but outside the corners have struggled. Darryl Roberts (53.0 PFF) has struggled at right corner, where he'll see a lot of Williams, and Nate Hairston (64.7 PFF) will need to replace the injured Trumaine Johnson at left corner. Hairston has solid grades from PFF through 127 cover snaps, but he struggled with the Colts the last two years over 609 snaps. There's reason to believe Hairston is an upgrade for Parker's matchup.

Upgrade: DeVante Parker, Preston Williams

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

JETS WR SNAPS

Robby Anderson: 387 snaps – 295 wide (176 left, 119 right), 92 slot (61 left,31 right)

Jamison Crowder: 341 snaps – 64 wide (31 left, 33 right), 273 slot (129 left, 144 right), one tight (one left), three back

Demaryius Thomas: 179 snaps – 81 wide (39 left, 42 right), 94 slot (51 left, 43 right), one tight (one right), three back

Vyncint Smith: 55 snaps – 24 wide (15 left, nine right), 30 slot (16 left, 14 right), one back

With Xavien Howard out the Dolphins quite simply have a bunch of cornerbacks at this point who won't be in the league in a few years for the most part. Eric Rowe (57.0 PFF) is the best of them, but even he's having a rough year. The others are the likes of Nik Needham and Ryan Lewis outside – two guys I had never heard of before last week – and Jomal Wiltz (38.5 PFF) in the slot, where he should struggle to track Jamison Crowder. Demaryius Thomas but especially Robby Anderson can both light up the outside corners. Vyncint Smith might get in on things a bit if Thomas continues to labor through his nagging hamstring and ankle issues.

Upgrade: Robby Anderson, Jamison Crowder, Demaryius Thomas, Vyncint Smith

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

BUF vs WAS

BUFFALO WR SNAPS

John Brown: 416 snaps – 283 wide (178 left, 105 right), 128 slot (71 left, 57 right), five back

Cole Beasley: 310 snaps – 40 wide (23 left, 17 right), 268 slot (138 left, 130 right), two back

I couldn't get the data to load for third WR Duke Williams, but according to PFF he played evenly in the slot and outside on his 39 snaps (17 to 22) while playing on the right side for the most part (23 to 13). If that occurs again here, then Williams should mostly see Josh Norman (50.4 PFF), who's basically toast. Buffalo may want to switch up their tendencies and more so put John Brown on the right side, giving him a shot at the beatable Norman rather than wasting Brown's snaps against the more imposing Quinton Dunbar (91.4 PFF) on the defense's right side. Brown still could lose the more upright Dunbar (6-foot-2), but Dunbar is very toolsy and isn't easily outrun. Cole Beasley should run against Fabian Moreau (49.2 PFF), probably an upgrade for Beasley.

Upgrade: Cole Beasley, Duke Williams (unless Buffalo lines him up on the left against Dunbar, in which case downgrade)

Downgrade: N/A

Even: John Brown (unless Buffalo lines him up on the right against Norman, in which case upgrade)

WASHINGTON WR SNAPS

Terry McLaurin: 376 snaps – 274 wide (173 left, 101 right), 91 slot (45 left, 46 right), two tight (one left, one right), nine back

Paul Richardson: 365 snaps – 143 wide (61 left, 82 right), 204 slot (84 left, 120 right), 10 tight (four left, six right), eight back

Trey Quinn: 328 snaps – 35 wide (eight left, 27 right), 259 slot (133 left, 126 right), 31 tight (eight left, 23 right), three back

Dwayne Haskins is starting at quarterback, so this is a pretty concerning setup for all the Washington receivers. It would have been concerning even if it were Case Keenum at quarterback, too. 

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Terry McLaurin, Paul Richardson, Trey Quinn

Even: N/A

SEA vs TB

SEATTLE WR SNAPS

Tyler Lockett: 527 snaps – 99 wide (50 left, 49 right), 392 slot (171 left, 221 right), seven tight (four left, three right), 29 back

DK Metcalf: 435 snaps – 327 wide (218 left, 109 right), 104 slot (80 left, 24 right), three tight (one left, two right), one back

Jaron Brown: 318 snaps – 135 wide (41 left, 74 right), 167 slot (85 left, 82 right), 15 tight (eight left, seven right), one back
David Moore: 138 snaps – 96 wide (47 left, 49 right), 39 slot (18 left, 21 right), two tight (two right), one back

Tyler Lockett should primarily run against Vernon Hargreaves (44.7 PFF), who was moved to slot corner in place of M.J. Stewart last week. Stewart received good grades from PFF, so it's an odd move. There's in any case no reason to think Hargreaves stands any chance against Lockett. With Hargreaves moving inside, rookie second-round pick Sean Murphy-Bunting (60.5 PFF) was designated the outside corner opposite Carlton Davis (60.3 PFF). I don't know whether it was because of a shadow situation or just some other incidental reason, but after playing on the left side all year Davis split his time on both sides last week, with Murphy-Bunting also playing both sides. If that persists, DK Metcalf would see both outside corners even though he primarily runs from the left side of the offense. Either player is no worse than an 'even' verdict for DKM, and arguably an upgrade. David Moore played 31 snaps last week while Jaron Brown saw his playing time drop to 17 snaps. If that's the game plan again with the Buccaneers, Moore should serve as the right outside receiver while DKM stays on the left and Lockett very rarely leaves the slot.

Upgrade: Tyler Lockett

Downgrade: N/A

Even: DK Metcalf, David Moore, Jaron Brown

TAMPA WR SNAPS

Chris Godwin: 476 snaps – 79 wide (40 left, 39 right), 300 slot (146 left, 154 right), 94 tight (53 left, 41 right), three back

Mike Evans: 451 snaps – 359 wide (199 left, 160 right), 90 slot (45 left, 45 right), one tight (one right), one back

Breshad Perriman: 187 snaps – 99 wide (47 left, 52 right), 76 slot (35 left, 41 right), 10 tight (seven left, three right), two back

Look for the Seahawks to try to give Jamar Taylor (55.2 PFF) some help against Chris Godwin, especially in the form of outside linebacker doubles. Godwin has presumably faced extra attention already and thrived despite it, so I don't mention this as a cause for concern with Godwin. It's more to temper the expectations because if Godwin is left against Taylor 1-on-1 – something that I suppose is still possible if we want to be less than charitable to Pete Carroll's game-planning ability – Taylor stands no chance of containing him. If Seattle is smart enough to double Godwin with linebackers underneath, then Bruce Arians will hopefully be smart enough to line up Mike Evans on Tre Flowers (53.9 PFF) as much as possible, because Flowers is a much easier target than Shaquil Griffin (79.7 PFF). Griffin has played almost exclusively on the left side to this point, meaning if Evans just lines up on the defense's right (the offense's left) then he can face Flowers every single play. Evans incidentally lines up a bit more on the left than the right, but if I buy Evans in DFS I'm praying the Buccaneers show an uncharacteristic flicker of intelligence and take the easy money against Flowers.
 

Upgrade: Chris Godwin

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Mike Evans (upgrade if Tampa targets Flowers), Breshad Perriman

OAK vs DET

Tyrell Williams: 275 snaps – 192 wide (128 left, 64 right), 78 slot (38 left, 40 right), three tight (one left, two right), two back

Hunter Renfrow: 227 snaps – five wide (three left, two right), 217 slot (103 left, 114 right), four tight (two left, two right), one back

Trevor Davis: 187 snaps – 67 wide (33 left, 34 right), 113 slot (49 left, 64 right), one tight (one right), six back

Zay Jones: 22 snaps – 15 wide (seven left, eight right), seven slot (three left, four right)

If Darius Slay can return from his hamstring issue then he'll presumably shadow Tyrell Williams – a downgrade for Williams in that event, but one he can still manage given his role and own formidable talent level. If Slay is out then Mike Ford (60.7 PFF) would need to join Rashaan Melvin (47.6 PFF), and either player is a green light for Williams. Justin Coleman (61.7 PFF) has received low grades the last two weeks, tanking his season grade in the process, but he should shut down Hunter Renfrow. Zay Jones and Trevor Davis split the outside snaps opposite Williams last week, making it difficult to capitalize with either in what otherwise should be a favorable matchup.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Hunter Renfrow

Even: Tyrell Williams (upgrade if Slay is out), Zay Jones, Trevor Davis

DETROIT WR SNAPS

Marvin Jones: 422 snaps – 196 wide (80 left, 116 right), 212 slot (87 left, 125 right), 12 tight (five left, seven right), two back

Kenny Golladay: 410 snaps – 266 wide (164 left, 102 right), 138 slot (82 left, 56 right), four tight (two left, two right), two back

Danny Amendola: 215 snaps – 21 wide (15 left, six right), 186 slot (105 left, 81 right), six tight (three left, three right), two back

Trayvon Mullen started in place of the recently traded Gareon Conley last week and had strong results to show for it, earning a 70.8 coverage grade from PFF. It's anyone's guess whether the rookie keeps it up, but he'll get another tough test in Marvin Jones this week. Running on the left more than the right, Kenny Golladay should run against Daryl Worley (61.0 PFF) when Jones is working against Mullen. Danny Amendola should primarily run against Lamarcus Joyner (35.7 PFF), who is badly struggling this year. Perhaps I should give Mullen more credit, but I'm inclined to call all of these upgrades for the Detroit wideouts.

Upgrade: Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

LAC vs GB

CHARGERS WR SNAPS

Keenan Allen: 453 snaps – 145 wide (84 left, 61 right), 280 slot (125 left, 155 right), 18 tight (nine left, nine right), nine back

Mike Williams: 371 snaps – 190 wide (105 left, 85 right), 175 slot (88 left, 87 right), three tight (three right), three back

Andre Patton: 97 snaps – 40 wide (18 left, 22 right), 46 slot (28 left, 18 right), four tight (three left, one right), seven back

Keenan Allen may or may not see the shadow coverage of Jaire Alexander (81.4 PFF), because Allen tends to run from the slot yet Green Bay's normal slot corner, Tramon Williams (79.2 PFF), is enjoying a strong season. Both corners are smallish, though, so Allen might not need separation to create a viable target for Philip Rivers. I'm going to call it even, while acknowledging it's arguably a downgrade. Mike Williams, similarly, may or may not see the shadow coverage of Alexander. The Packers might make the calculation that at 5-foot-10 Alexander might be vulnerable to the 6-foot-4 Williams as a box-out threat, and they might even be right. I would much rather see Alexander on Williams if I were Green Bay, though, because the corner with which the Packers would counter size is Kevin King (53.4 PFF), who is big and athletic but just doesn't look like a natural corner to me. If the Packers put King on Williams then Williams gets a green light by my estimation, whereas Alexander would be an 'even' verdict at best. Andre Patton probably doesn't matter, but he would run against King in the event that Alexander and Tramon Williams face off against Allen and Mike Williams in whatever combo.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Andre Patton

GREEN BAY WR SNAPS

Marquez Valdes-Scantling: 404 snaps – 229 wide (140 left, 89 right), 161 slot (99 left, 62 right), two tight (one left, one right), 12 back

Geronimo Allison: 318 snaps – 54 wide (20 left, 34 right), 250 slot (134 left, 116 right), 11 tight (six left, five right), three back

Davante Adams: 231 snaps – 94 wide (41 left, 53 right), 131 slot (57 left, 74 right), one tight (one right), five back

Jake Kumerow: 195 snaps – 95 wide (47 left, 48 right), 92 slot (42 left, 50 right), one tight (one left), seven back

Allen Lazard: 132 snaps – 42 wide (23 left, 19 right), 82 slot (40 left, 42 right), one tight (one left), seven back

It remains to be seen whether Davante Adams can return Sunday from his turf toe issue, but if he's able to play he would be a candidate for the shadow coverage of former Packer Casey Hayward (81.9 PFF). If Adams can't play, then Hayward's shadow might follow Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but Hayward is neither big nor fast and I'd actually like MVS' chances of pulling off the upset there. Geronimo Allison may or may not hold on to his role as the lead slot receiver – both Allen Lazard and Jake Kumerow are applying pressure for more snaps – but if Allison maintains his position for this game he should primarily run against Desmond King (62.4 PFF), whose grade is climbing after some early-season struggles. King was a top slot corner before this year, so it generally looks like a downgrade for Allison, though Allison has a significant height advantage (6-foot-3 to 5-foot-10). Whether it's MVS, Kumerow, or Lazard serving as the second outside WR, that player will likely run against Michael Davis (56.0 PFF), a corner with good size (6-foot-2) who generally matches up well with Kumerow/Lazard despite the mediocre PFF grade.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison

Even: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, Allen Lazard

DEN vs CLE

DENVER WR SNAPS

Courtland Sutton: 488 snaps – 292 wide (184 left, 108 right), 187 slot (119 left, 68 right), five tight (three left, two right), four back

DaeSean Hamilton: 336 snaps – 38 wide (18 left, 20 right), 271 slot (135 left, 136 right), 24 tight (15 left, nine right), three back

Fred Brown: 72 snaps – 28 wide (14 left, 14 right), 37 slot (16 left, 21 right), eight tight (two left, six right)

The Denver wideout rotation is a mess after Courtland Sutton, whose tendency to line up on the left should primarily leave him against right corner Greedy Williams (67.9), with Denzel Ward (58.1 PFF) the second-most common matchup for Sutton. Both corners are talented, but Sutton is a beast. DaeSean Hamilton was supposed to be Denver's slot receiver but he might need to worry about Diontae Spencer stealing some snaps after Fred Brown already got his foot in the door last week. If Brown remains the outside receiver opposite Sutton, then he should see Ward for the most part. If Hamilton remains the slot receiver he should in any case mostly run against Eric Murray (59.1 PFF).

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Fred Brown

Even: Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton

CLEVELAND WR SNAPS

Odell Beckham: 436 snaps – 322 wide (172 left, 150 right), 105 slot (51 left, 54 right), three tight (one left, two right), six back

Jarvis Landry: 421 snaps – 83 wide (34 left, 49 right), 313 slot (146 left, 167 right), 17 tight (12 left, five right), eight back

Antonio Callaway: 115 snaps – 80 wide (41 left, 39 right), 35 slot (19 left, 16 right)

Odell Beckham should see the shadow coverage of Chris Harris (74.8 PFF), which is a downgrade but one that Beckham can overruled if he plays to his abilities. He hasn't this year for the most part. Jarvis Landry should primarily run against Duke Dawson (64.6 PFF), an unproven 2018 second-round pick the Patriots gave up on after one year. The remaining corner is Davontae Harris (51.5 PFF), who can mostly match the speed of Antonio Callaway but is otherwise unproven at best.

Upgrade: Jarvis Landry

Downgrade: Odell Beckham

Even: Antonio Callaway

BAL vs NE

BALTIMORE WR SNAPS

Willie Snead: 346 snaps – 41 wide (16 left, 25 right), 261 slot (129 left, 132 right), eight tight (one left, seven right), 36 back

Seth Roberts: 275 snaps – 231 wide (172 left, 59 right), 41 slot (31 left, 10 right), three back

Marquise Brown: 217 snaps – 119 wide (32 left, 87 right), 90 slot (44 left, 46 right), one tight (one right), seven back

Miles Boykin: 196 snaps – 165 wide (120 left, 45 right), 30 slot (23 left, seven right), one tight (one left)

If Marquise Brown (ankle) can return he still might not be able to play a standard workload in this one, which might require some significant snap count for Miles Boykin or/and Chris Moore. As you might see from these splits, Boykin and Roberts have both played on the left to this point, but Roberts saw his snap count reduced to 19 while Boykin played 32 before the bye. Perhaps the bye week let the Ravens get Boykin prepared for more right-side snaps. We should hope so, because Moore isn't a real threat at receiver, whereas as least Boykin is huge and fast. Moore has played mostly on the right to this point, though, so it might be Moore again who gets the snaps when Brown is sitting. If Brown is active he might see the shadow coverage of Stephon Gilmore (73.1 PFF), though I think there's also a real possibility Gilmore shadows tight end Mark Andrews, who may as well be the WR1 in this offense anyway. If Gilmore shadows anyone in particular, then Jason McCourty (82.6 PFF) or J.C. Jackson (57.1 PFF) take the remainder outside targets. Perhaps Jackson is beatable, but probably not by receivers like this. Willie Snead should primarily run against Jonathan Jones (87.4 PFF), which looks like another dead end.
 

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Marquise Brown, Willie Snead, Miles Boykin, Seth Roberts

Even: N/A

NEW ENGLAND WR SNAPS

Julian Edelman: 514 snaps – 60 wide (20 left, 40 right), 429 slot (188 left, 241 right), 13 tight (four left, nine right), 12 back

Phillip Dorsett: 337 snaps – 194 wide (112 left, 82 right), 135 slot (75 left, 60 right), two tight (one left, one right), six back

Mohamed Sanu: 37 snaps – 11 wide (four left, seven right), 25 slot (13 left, 12 right), one back

Julian Edelman and Phillip Dorsett were three-down receivers last week while Mohamed Sanu split snaps with Jakobi Meyers. Given the second-round pick they traded for Sanu, I think we can expect the former Rutgers star to at least gradually push Meyers to the periphery and push for a three-down role. The Patriots will need to create multiple slot looks almost as a matter of default policy to create room for both Edelman and Sanu, which it seems they absolutely intend to do, but that makes it tougher to guess who covers them since most teams have only one slot corner. This dynamic develops as the Ravens undergo a lot of change at corner, where Jimmy Smith returns from injury just as Marcus Peters (83.1 PFF) gets acclimated to his new team. Brandon Carr (60.7 PFF) had been Baltimore's slot corner, but I wonder if he'll get pushed aside for Smith or even Marlon Humphrey (73.8 PFF). Humphrey may be a candidate to shadow Edelman, including into the slot, perhaps leaving Sanu for Carr or Smith. Peters played almost exclusively on the left side in his Ravens debut, meaning he'll be the likely matchup whenever Phillip Dorsett lines up as the outermost receiver. Because of all this ambiguity, though, I feel the need to call this an 'even' for the slot guys, even though Edelman in particular is at risk of getting a downgrade in the form of Humphrey. Of course, Edelman tends to thrive even in his downgrade settings.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Phillip Dorsett

Even: Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu

NYG vs DAL

GIANTS WR SNAPS
 

Darius Slayton: 285 snaps – 244 wide (145 left, 99 right), 31 slot (16 left, 15 right), 10 tight (four left, six right)

Sterling Shepard: 252 snaps – 66 wide (26 left, 40 right), 179 slot (89 left, 90 right), two tight (two left), five back

Golden Tate: 232 snaps – 25 wide (11 left, 14 right), 195 slot (104 left, 91 right), five tight (two left, three right), seven back

Byron Jones (68.7 PFF) plays the right corner spot, meaning he'll cover the outermost left receiver for the most part. That should leave him against Darius Slayton if current wideout splits persist in this setting. It would be a downgrade for Slayton if so. Sterling Shepard is going to play outside more than he did before the activation of Golden Tate, and if Slayton mostly plays on the left then Shepard should play a bit more on the right. There he'll run into Chidobe Awuzie (63.1 PFF), who's an underdog against a receiver as good as Shepard. Tate should run in the slot the vast majority of the time, where he might see Jourdan Lewis (66.6 PFF) but could also see Anthony Brown (61.5 PFF), who played ahead of Lewis before missing last week with injury. PFF regards Lewis as the better player, so perhaps Tate owners should hope for a matchup with Brown instead.

Upgrade: Sterling Shepard

Downgrade: Darius Slayton

Even: Golden Tate

DALLAS WR SNAPS

Amari Cooper: 353 snaps – 233 wide (114 left, 119 right), 105 slot (56 left, 49 right), six tight (three left, three right), nine back

Michael Gallup: 298 snaps – 231 wide (143 left, 88 right), 64 slot (33 left, 31 right), one tight (one left), two back

Randall Cobb: 292 snaps – nine wide (four left, five right), 256 slot (126 left, 130 right), 19 tight (seven left, 12 right), eight back

Amari Cooper lines up everywhere but mostly outside, where he should see a relatively even split of Janoris Jenkins (61.5 PFF) or the vulnerable rookie DeAndre Baker (37.8 PFF), with Jenkins mostly on the left and Baker mostly on the right. Michael Gallup has a slight leftward slant in his left/right splits, meaning he should see Baker more than Jenkins. It's upgrades for Cooper and Gallup both, but with heavier splits going toward Baker it's arguably a greater relative upgrade for Gallup. But even slot receiver Randall Cobb gets an upgrade here, as Giants slot corner Grant Haley (45.5 PFF) has really struggled this year.

Upgrade: Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Randall Cobb

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A