Week 7 Notable WR/CB Matchups

Attempting to predict outcomes in the NFL can seem fairly easy when looking at it from a macro view. Anyone who follows the league can point out that one team may have a good offense and their opponent may have a bad defense, but if that's all there was to it, the exhilaration we feel from watching football every Sunday would cease to exist. When you zoom in on any game you’ll see the individual battles taking place all over the field. These are often where the real story is told, so let's dive into some of the Pro Football Focus data on matchups between Wide Receivers and Defensive Backs that could really tip the scales in week seven.

Golden Opportunity WR of the Week

Mike Evans vs Carolina Panthers

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As this season moves along, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look like a team that can no longer can compete with the league’s best. Week 7 will be as good an opportunity as any for the offense to get right as they take on the 1-5 dumpster fire Carolina Panthers. Mike Evans should be able to nearly win the Game himself matched up against Carolina’s Donte Jackson, who is currently sporting a less-than desirable 53.3 PFF grade. Jackson spends nearly all of his snaps playing outside corner and is projected to be lined up across from Evans for 20 plays. Even if he can keep Evans somewhat covered, the 7-inch, 50 lb size discrepancy between the two is no small hurdle for Jackson to overcome. This excellent 94.6 PFF matchup advantage is the perfect way for the Bucs to get back on track.

‘Better Luck Next Time’ WR of the Week

Corey Davis vs Denver Broncos

I think I speak for pretty much everyone when I say the Broncos offense has been woefully boring to watch. The Denver defense has been holding up their end of the bargain, however, and that starts with young stud Cornerback Patrick Surtain II. This could spell some bad news for the red hot New York Jets. With Garrett Wilson doing most of his work from the slot, the Jets need to rely on Corey Davis to produce on the outside, where he will see a lot of Patrick Surtain. Not that Davis hasn’t played well, but Surtain in year two is already looking like one of the best Corners in the NFL. In addition to his outstanding 87.7 PFF coverage grade, Surtain is also only giving up a catch 56% of the time that he is targeted and is only allowing .65 yards per route in his coverage. It is hard to see Corey Davis being productive in this type of matchup. 

Dogfight of the Week

Christian Kirk vs Julian Love

This matchup has some real value for fantasy managers as Christian Kirk has continued his inconsistent ways to start the season. The Jacksonville Jaguars have been pretty spunky in the post Urban Meyer era and the newly acquired Christian Kirk has been a nice addition but after getting such a massive contract, the Jaguars need him to start producing as a consistent high end WR option. The New York Giants are on a heater at 5-1 but much of the public and betting markets still do not believe that they are a real contender. The Giants slot corner, Julian Love, is projected to cover Christian Kirk for 31 snaps (T-5th most of any matchup). While Love’s contract may not be as large, he is getting a ton of playing time and his 70.4 PFF grade is higher than Kirk’s 63.9 by a fair margin. The Jags are paying Christian Kirk to feast on any non-elite corners and the Giants have a tough case to make for themselves being an NFL powerhouse if they get torched by Jacksonville. Kirk and Love may not be the biggest names but a heavy swing to one side in this matchup could change the game, as well as the narrative surrounding these teams.

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By Taren Caravella