The WR/CB matchup chart is one of the most popular fantasy football tools we have here at PFF. It’s an invaluable tool that allows you to see matchups at a more granular level. In the past, we’ve only offered this tool for the NFL, but that all changed this season with the brand new AAF WR/CB Matchup Chart.
If you’re new to this chart, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, the chart displays primary coverage and not all coverage. We are not suggesting Receiver X will be covered by Corner Y all game. Receivers move around the formation and the percentage of routes they run from each spot is displayed on the chart. The only exception here is if we expect shadow coverage. In that case, the receiver’s name would appear in ALL CAPS. But no AAF teams used shadow coverage this season, so we do not expect any shadows in Week 8.
(Click here to see the Week 8 AAF fantasy rankings/projections.)
The most important column is the matchup advantage column in the middle. The higher the number, the better. Green is good. Red is bad. This column takes a few things into account, but the major piece of data here is PFF grades. We also show targets per route (T/R), fantasy points per route (F/R), catch rate (C%), and yards per route run/covered (YPRR/YPRC).
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Upgrades
Play the hits this week with both Rashad Ross and Charles Johnson drawing plus matchups. Of course, neither player comes at a discount. For better value, you may want to consider Nelson Spruce ($6,200) and De’Mornay Pierson-El ($6,100). Spruce is coming off a massive 12-catch performance, and Pierson-El is currently forth among wide receivers in fantasy scoring. Quinton Patton is also appealing given his favorable matchup and the fact that his quarterback, Luis Perez, has racked up five touchdown passes over the last two weeks.
Downgrades
Reece Horn has been one of the hottest receivers in the AAF over the last three weeks, but you may want to fade him this week. Horn has to square off against an impressive Orlando secondary that features the top two corners in PFF grading: Keith Reaser and Cody Riggs. Neither corner has surrendered a touchdown on the season with Riggs allowing just 7.8 yards per catch and Reaser holding opposing wideouts to a 46% catch rate.