Corner Report: Week 13

Note: all games are loaded now

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.

JAC vs TB

JACKSONVILLE WR SNAPS

D.J. Chark: 619 snaps – 322 wide (121 left, 201 right), 271 slot (108 left, 163 right), 18 tight (nine left, nine right), eight back

Chris Conley: 604 snaps – 503 wide (292 left, 211 right), 100 slot (57 left, 43 right), one tight (one right)
Dede Westbrook: 508 snaps – 70 wide (36 left, 34 right), 422 slot (185 left, 237 right), four tight (one left, three right), 12 back

Keelan Cole: 204 snaps – 83 wide (48 left, 35 right), 118 slot (51 left, 67 right), one tight (one right), two back

Chris Conley has no injury designation for Sunday, but he might be playing through a slight hamstring issue. Although he logged a more than plenty 65 snaps last week, Conley still played fewer than D.J. Chark (83) and Dede Westbrook (74) while Keelan Cole (31) played a somewhat inflated snap count too. The Jaguars won't usually run 86 snaps in a game, though, so Conley might be on more of a 50-snap projection for most scenarios at the moment. He in any case runs outside more than the other Jacksonville wideouts, and with slight leftward slant. D.J. Chark therefore takes the right side more often, though appearing in the slot much more often. Carlton Davis (69.5 PFF) played mostly on the right side last week while the rookie duo of Jamel Dean (73.9 PFF) and Sean Murphy-Bunting (59.7 PFF) mostly played the left side and the slot, respectively. This matchup is a tough call for me – these young Tampa corner prospects have the tools to improve quickly, especially Dean and SMB. On the other hand, they're still more raw than they are proven at this point, and each of the Jacksonville's top three wideouts has the speed to pose a burn risk. I'm going to be a bit withholding all the same, because I think the appeal of this matchup for the Jaguars receivers has less to do with the corner personnel than it does the pass funnel dictated by Tampa's strong run defense.

Upgrade: Dede Westbrook

Downgrade: N/A

Even: D.J. Chark, Chris Conley

TAMPA BAY WR SNAPS

Chris Godwin: 749 snaps – 128 wide (61 left, 67 right), 466 slot (215 left, 251 right), 150 tight (79 left, 71 right), five back

Mike Evans: 712 snaps – 540 wide (303 left, 237 right), 165 slot (79 left, 86 right), six tight (three left, three right), one back

Breshad Perriman: 351 snaps – 190 wide (89 left, 101 right), 136 slot (65 left, 71 right), 23 tight (14 left, nine right), two back

Chris Godwin should see D.J. Hayden (72.3 PFF) the vast majority of the time, which should make for an interesting case study in strength against strength. Godwin has the sort of talent to overrule tough matchups occasionally, so I can't really call it a downgrade for him. A similar situation is the case with Mike Evans, who might see shadow coverage from A.J. Bouye (65.8 PFF), especially since fellow outside corner Tre Herndon (46.1 PFF) is both a worse player and questionable with a shoulder issue. You'd ideally see Evans on a weaker corner than Bouye, but a player like Bouye still isn't good enough to meaningfully change Evans' projection. If Bouye follows Evans then Breshad Perriman should run against Herndon the most. If Herndon is out, then Perriman's assignment might be Breon Borders (56.8 PFF). For all of three receivers it's worth noting that safety Ronnie Harrison (concussion) is out and linebacker Myles Jack (knee) is questionable, adding further potential strain on Jacksonville's defensive resources.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Breshad Perriman

CAR vs WAS

CAROLINA WR SNAPS

D.J. Moore: 692 snaps – 504 wide (364 left, 140 right), 165 slot (103 left, 62 right), six tight (six left), 17 back

Curtis Samuel: 659 snaps – 330 wide (107 left, 223 right), 273 slot (137 left, 136 right), eight tight (two left, six right), 48 back

Jarius Wright: 461 snaps – 68 wide (36 left, 32 right), 371 slot (184 left, 187 right), 14 tight (six left, eight right), eight back

The base Carolina offense reliably features D.J. Moore at left receiver and Curtis Samuel on the right, with Jarius Wright playing the slot in three-wide sets. Moore and Samuel both move around otherwise, with Samuel playing more slot while Moore tends to stay outside. That likely leaves Moore with his toughest test in weeks, as he should mostly run against right corner Quinton Dunbar (89.9 PFF). Replacing Josh Norman at left corner is Fabian Moreau (54.4 PFF), who struggled at slot corner this year before taking Norman's outside spot last week. Moreau might be a better fit on the boundary, where his 4.35 speed might show up more. Moreau will need all of that speed with Samuel as his primary matchup. Rookie Jimmy Moreland (62.1 PFF) is the new slot corner, and he's not an obvious mismatch for Wright.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: D.J. Moore

Even: Curtis Samuel, Jarius Wright

WASHINGTON WR SNAPS

Terry McLaurin: 542 snaps – 387 wide (233 left, 154 right), 140 slot (72 left, 68 right), two tight (one left, one right), 13 back

Trey Quinn: 418 snaps – 41 wide (nine left, 32 right), 337 slot (166 left, 171 right), 33 tight (eight left, 25 right), seven back

Kelvin Harmon: 212 snaps – 103 wide (60 left, 43 right), 84 slot (31 left, 53 right), 18 tight (three left, 15 right), seven back

Playing on the left more reliably than the right, Terry McLaurin would normally see the most of right corner Donte Jackson (67.2 PFF), but there's also a chance McLaurin is shadowed by left corner James Bradberry (68.8 PFF). The general media assumption is that Bradberry will indeed follow McLaurin, but I'm not convinced that it would make much sense. Bradberry and his 4.5 speed are not the ideal counter to McLaurin and his 4.35 jets. With a 4.32 40 of his own, Jackson seems less likely to get burned. If I'm a McLaurin owner, I'd rather see him run against Bradberry than Jackson. Bradberry would match up better against Kelvin Harmon, a 6-foot-3 wideout with below average speed. Trey Quinn and Steven Sims are fighting for the scraps at slot receiver, where they might mostly run against Ross Cockrell (57.6 PFF).

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Kelvin Harmon

Even: Terry McLaurin, Steven Sims, Trey Quinn

PIT vs CLE

PITTSBURGH WR SNAPS

For the Steelers wideouts I'll list their alignments from **last week** rather than the full season, citing PFF's alignment numbers

James Washington: 56 snaps – 42 wide (17 left, 25 right), 11 slot (eight left, three right), three tight (one left, two right)

Diontae Johnson: 48 snaps – 48 wide (30 left, 18 right)

Tevin Jones: 38 snaps – five wide (one left, four right), 32 slot (15 left, 17 right), one tight (one right)

Johnny Holton: 16 snaps – 11 wide (five left, six right), one slot (one left), one tight (one right), three back

Deon Cain: 10 snaps – nine wide (four left, five right), one slot (one left)

Look for Deon Cain to eventually displace Johnny Holton from the lineup, but the primary receiver loadout for Pittsburgh should feature James Washington and Diontae Johnson at outside wideout while Tevin Jones steps into the slot in three-wide formations. Playing the left a little more than the right, Johnson might see the most of Greedy Williams (62.0 PFF), while Washington might catch a bit more of Denzel Ward (72.0 PFF). The slot coverage from T.J. Carrie (49.5 PFF) is unlikely to impress, but a non-prospect like Jones probably isn't best suited to take full advantage.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: James Washington

Even: Diontae Johnson, Tevin Jones

CLEVELAND WR SNAPS

Odell Beckham: 711 snaps – 532 wide (282 left, 250 right), 166 slot (79 left, 87 right), three tight (one left, two right), 10 back

Jarvis Landry: 690 snaps – 172 wide (79 left, 93 right), 478 slot (222 left, 256 right), 27 tight (15 left, 12 right), 13 back

Rashard Higgins: 145 snaps – 78 wide (25 left, 53 right), 67 slot (36 left, 31 right)

Playing with nearly even left/right splits and primarily outside otherwise, Odell Beckham should roughly split his time between right corner Steven Nelson (76.2 PFF) and left corner Joe Haden (66.7 PFF). Neither can run with Beckham, but that Steelers pass rush has a way of protecting them deep. Regardless, the less Beckham sees Nelson the better. Rashard Higgins will take whichever outside corner Beckham does not, leaving Jarvis Landry to run against Mike Hilton (73.7 PFF) in the slot. Landry is on a roll right now, but it's not an easy matchup.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins

BAL vs SF

BALTIMORE WR SNAPS

Willie Snead: 495 snaps – 69 wide (34 left, 35 right), 343 slot (169 left, 174 right), 12 tight (two left, 10 right), 71 back

Seth Roberts: 400 snaps – 328 wide (236 left, 92 right), 69 slot (45 left, 24 right), three back

Marquise Brown: 358 snaps – 195 wide (71 left, 124 right), 139 slot (66 left, 73 right), one tight (one right), 23 back

Miles Boykin: 301 snaps – 238 wide (176 left, 62 right), 56 slot (34 left, 22 right), three tight (three left), four back

Marquise Brown lines up everywhere but with a slight rightward slant to this point. It will be interesting to see if that arrangement persists here, because lining up on the right will generally invite the coverage of Richard Sherman (86.1 PFF). I don't think it's a downgrade – a 32-year-old, 6-foot-3 corner doesn't want to run with Brown, I don't care how good they are. I'd almost consider a shorter, quicker player like right corner Emmanuel Moseley (76.4 PFF) to be a tougher draw for Brown. Moseley might see a bit more of the likes of Seth Roberts and Miles Boykin, however. Willie Snead should mostly run against K'Waun Williams (71.2 PFF).

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Willie Snead, Seth Roberts, Miles Boykin

Even: Marquise Brown

SAN FRANCISCO WR SNAPS

Deebo Samuel: 461 snaps – 173 wide (96 left, 76 right), 245 slot (164 left, 81 right), 17 tight (seven left, 10 right), 26 back

Emmanuel Sanders: 207 snaps* (from PFF) – 143 wide (70 left, 73 right), 60 slot (31 left, 29 right), three tight (one left, two right), one back

Kendrick Bourne: 329 snaps – 76 wide (36 left, 40 right), 220 slot (104 left, 116 right), 10 tight (six left, four right), 23 back

The 49ers wideouts play all over the place and motion often, but in a three-wide set we can generally expect the alignment to lean toward Deebo Samuel at left wideout, Kendrick Bourne in the slot, and Emmanuel Sanders on the right. There will be many exceptions to these rules, making it appear the 49ers wideouts will see varied matchups. It will be interesting to see if the Ravens shadow Sanders with Marlon Humphrey (78.5 PFF), but the Ravens have generally used him as a slot specialist lately. That would likely leave him on Bourne more than the other two. Samuel would mostly run against Jimmy Smith (68.0 PFF) and to a lesser extent Marcus Peters (86.9 PFF). It seems like Smith is the most beatable Ravens corner, so whoever is on him might project best on a given play.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Emmanuel Sanders, Deebo Samuel, Kendrick Bourne

Even: N/A

CIN vs NYJ

CINCINNATI WR SNAPS

Tyler Boyd: 673 snaps – 124 wide (75 left, 49 right), 491 slot (253 left, 238 right), 24 tight (12 left, 12 right), 34 back

Auden Tate: 564 snaps – 306 wide (186 left, 120 right), 247 slot (139 left, 108 right), seven tight (two left, five right), four back

Alex Erickson: 339 snaps – 134 wide (63 left, 71 right), 178 slot (73 left, 105 right), 14 tight (three left, 11 right), 13 back

Strength meets strength as Tyler Boyd faces off against Brian Poole (80.0 PFF) in the slot. The target volume should be there for Boyd, and he's a good enough player to win in a tough matchup (see San Francisco, Week 2), but Poole will be a real obstacle. There are plenty of exceptions in various formations, but the general three-wide loadout for Cincinnati features Auden Tate on the left and Alex Erickson on the right in addition to Boyd in the slot. If that persists here then Tate should see a bit more of Blessuan Austin (86.4 PFF), who has earned exceedingly high grades through 104 coverage snaps. It's not an easy matchup for Tate, but Austin is a rookie sixth-round pick out of Rutgers who almost certainly is due for some regression. Erickson will see Austin too, but probably a bit more of Nate Hairston (49.1 PFF). It's safe to say that PFF's grading system finds Hairston the preferable target between himself and Austin. 

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Tyler Boyd

Even: Auden Tate, Alex Erickson

JETS WR SNAPS

Robby Anderson: 615 snaps – 471 wide (270 left, 201 right), 144 slot (84 left, 60 right)

Jamison Crowder: 526 snaps – 87 wide (45 left, 42 right), 425 slot (218 left, 207 right), one tight (one left), 13 back

Demaryius Thomas: 368 snaps – 156 wide (75 left, 81 right), 204 slot (104 left, 100 right), five tight (two left, three right), three back

Playing mostly outside and a little more on the left than the right, Robby Anderson should mostly split his snaps between William Jackson (61.1 PFF) and, to a lesser extent, B.W. Webb (53.6 PFF). Jackson has a poor PFF grade this year but is a toolsy player with a recent history of standout play. The same probably isn't the true of Webb. If Jackson is mostly on Anderson, then that would generally leave Demaryius Thomas to run against Webb. The slot corner is Darqueze Dennard (72.1 PFF), who should generally cover Jamison Crowder. I'd probably give Crowder the advantage there, yet this might be his toughest on-paper matchup in weeks.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Jamison Crowder, Robby Anderson, Demaryius Thomas

MIA vs PHI

MIAMI WR SNAPS

DeVante Parker: 621 snaps – 340 wide (165 left, 175 right), 270 slot (127 left, 143 right), 11 tight (six left, five right)

Allen Hurns: 342 snaps – 110 wide (50 left, 60 right), 220 slot (95 left, 115 right), five tight (five right), seven back
Albert Wilson: 195 snaps – 16 wide (eight left, eight right), 170 slot (83 left, 87 right), two tight (two left), seven back

With Jakeem Grant out for the year we can probably expect these three Miami wideouts to reliably log the top three snaps at receiver going forward. DeVante Parker and Allen Hurns should take pretty much all of the outside snaps, though they'll both see the slot at least occasionally, especially Hurns. By contrast, Albert Wilson should be the lead slot guy and rarely play elsewhere. Parker should evenly split his time between Ronald Darby (48.9 PFF) and Jalen Mills (67.2 PFF), who should respectively line up on the right and left sides of the defense. Darby is probably better than his PFF grade and Mills probably worse. Parker has a size advantage on Darby and an athleticism advantage over Mills, so either side should be viable if Ryan Fitzpatrick has time to throw (he might not). Hurns will generally see the leftover outside corner from Parker on any given play, while otherwise seeing more of slot corner Avonte Maddox (49.4 PFF) than Parker. Hurns doesn't really have an obvious advantage over the outside corners, but at 6-foot-3 he has a major size advantage over Maddox (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) in the slot. Maddox might be an effective counter to Wilson in the slot, though Wilson has been heavily targeted on a per-snap basis (32 on 196), so he might get a few shots at Maddox all the same in a game where he's projected to play around 35 snaps. Keep in mind, the Philadelphia pass rush might be a problem here and receivers can only get so far into their routes if Fitzpatrick is getting hit before they can run them fully.

Upgrade: DeVante Parker

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Allen Hurns, Albert Wilson

PHILADELPHIA WR SNAPS

Nelson Agholor: 630 snaps – 132 wide (48 left, 84 right), 448 slot (234 left, 214 right), 25 tight (seven left, 18 right), 25 back

Alshon Jeffery: 411 snaps – 313 wide (185 left, 128 right), 94 slot (47 left, 47 right), four tight (two left, two right)

J.J. Arcega-Whiteside: 244 snaps – 174 wide (91 left, 83 right), 58 slot (32 left, 27 right), one tight (one left), 11 back

Alshon Jeffery (ankle) is finally back and for better or worse, Nelson Agholor (knee) appears to be ready to return as well. Target monster tight end Zach Ertz (hamstring) is likely less than 100 percent, too, so the wideouts return with more usage up for grabs than ever just as they take on the weak Miami defense. Jeffery might get a shadow from rookie 4.7 corner Nik Needham (69.8 PFF), who has some skill but very little in the way of tools. Needham only played the left side against Cleveland last week, perhaps to limit his exposure to Odell Beckham, but Jeffery's comparative lack of speed might make them comfortable using Needham as a shadow again. Even if so, it's an upgrade for Jeffery. But Jeffery runs a bit more of his snaps on the left side than the right, so if Needham stays on the left side of the defense then Jeffery might see more of right corner Ken Crawley (53.3 PFF) if he can play through his shoulder injury, and if not then Ryan Lewis (37.1 PFF). Again, all upgrades for Jeffery. They're even upgrades for Agholor on the applicable snaps, though as the team's primary slot target Agholor might more so run against slot corner Jomal Wiltz (44.3 PFF). It will be interesting to see if Agholor gets his playing time scaled back in favor of Greg Ward on slot snaps and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside on outside snaps, as both youngsters have more long-term hope to offer. The matchup is an upgrade for all Philadelphia receivers – the question is whether anyone other than Jeffery gets featured extensively enough to capitalize.

Upgrade: Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

NYG vs GB

GIANTS WR SNAPS

Darius Slayton: 467 snaps – 400 wide (238 left, 162 right), 54 slot (31 left, 23 right), 12 tight (five left, seven right), one back

Golden Tate: 415 snaps – 62 wide (31 left, 31 right), 334 slot (174 left, 160 right), nine tight (four left, five right), 10 back

Sterling Shepard: 309 snaps – 94 wide (34 left, 60 right), 200 slot (101 left, 99 right), five tight (four left, one right), 10 back

Golden Tate (concussion) is out, which might result in Sterling Shepard mostly leaving his spot at right outside receiver in favor of a full-time slot role like he played during Tate's suspension earlier this year. The most enviable wideout position against the Packers is always the left side, who gets to run against the burnable Kevin King (53.5 PFF). In this case that's mostly Darius Slayton, who's run 57.6 percent of his routes on the left side so far. But Slayton will head to the right sometimes and Shepard sometimes the left, so no one will own exclusive rights to King. The least enviable wideout spot against Green Bay is on the right, where Jaire Alexander (76.6 PFF) tends to line up, at least when he's not shadowing. I'd guess that task will mostly be left to Bennie Fowler, though there's a chance that Alexander shadows Shepard. I just doubt he will, because the default slot corner for Green Bay is Tramon Williams (78.9 PFF), who's been remarkably good with age 37 just around the corner. If you're a Shepard owner you should consider this game a general upgrade for him, but that's only due to heightened usage in the absence of Tate. The matchup itself, though less pertinent than the usage shift, likely is not favorable for him if he mostly sees Williams and Alexander.

Upgrade: Darius Slayton

Downgrade: Bennie Fowler

Even: Sterling Shepard

GREEN BAY WR SNAPS

Marquez Valdes-Scantling: 477 snaps – 279 wide (160 left, 119 right), 173 slot (105 left, 68 right), three tight (two left, one right), 22 back

Geronimo Allison: 444 snaps – 70 wide (25 left, 45 right), 349 slot (173 left, 176 right), 21 tight (10 left, 11 right), four back

Davante Adams: 382 snaps – 184 wide (89 left, 95 right), 188 slot (89 left, 99 right), one tight (one right), nine back

Allen Lazard: 239 snaps – 80 wide (40 left, 40 right), 143 slot (70 left, 73 right), seven tight (four left, three right), nine back

Davante Adams is the only sure thing with this group, as all of Geronimo Allison, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Jake Kumerow have seen their playing time and usage fluctuate as Green Bay desperately looks for a second reliable contributor at receiver. I think Kumerow is in fourth between them, having played 22 snaps last week while Lazard (52), MVS (30), and Allison (54) all logged more, but nothing much seems guaranteed here. It seems that Lazard's interests are at odds with MVS for outside snaps and Allison for slot snaps, and it wouldn't surprise if any of the three saw their playing time spike upward or downward for no apparent reason. This game is in any case a great matchup for whoever is running on the left side and in the slot. Janoris Jenkins (67.9 PFF) tends to play the left corner spot and presents a much tougher matchup than the comically burnable rookie DeAndre Baker (35.4 PFF). The Giants could use Jenkins as a shadow on Adams, which at once would be an upgrade and the least desirable outcome, but if not then it'd be easy for Green Bay to isolate Adams against Baker or slot corner and fellow rookie Corey Ballentine (29.3 PFF) in the slot. Baker seemed to lose some playing time last week to second-year, third-round Supplemental Draft pick Sam Beal (61.2 PFF), whose PFF grade is meaningless through just 19 snaps. Anyway, I would guess Adams and MVS get the most shots at the weak corners on the right side of the defense, while Allison mostly faces Ballentine. Lazard plays everywhere, but might mostly split his time between Ballentine in the slot and Jenkins outside.

Upgrade: Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

IND vs TEN

INDIANAPOLIS WR SNAPS

Zach Pascal: 530 snaps – 235 wide (140 left, 95 right), 246 slot (125 left, 121 right), 36 tight (11 left, 25 right), 13 back

Chester Rogers: 405 snaps – 48 wide (18 left, 30 right), 332 slot (158 left, 174 right), 20 tight (five left, 15 right), five back

Marcus Johnson: 158 snaps – 127 wide (70 left, 57 right), 31 slot (17 left, 14 right)

Brutal. T.Y. Hilton is out, leaving Zach Pascal once again miscast as the WR1 in this sinking Colts offense. With this group we've seen a general three-wide loadout of Pascal at left receiver, Chester Rogers in the slot, and Marcus Johnson on the right side. Pascal sees the slot more than Johnson, who very rarely does, so Pascal might see slot corner Logan Ryan (65.1 PFF) a few times. Pascal would likely see more of Leshaun Sims (44.3 PFF) outside and on the left, though, and that's the most beatable corner in this group. The right receiver will generally face Adoree' Jackson (75.4 PFF), who should neutralize Johnson. The previously mentioned Ryan would likely hold a general advantage over Rogers in the slot, like pretty much any NFL slot corner.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Marcus Johnson, Chester Rogers

Even: Zach Pascal

TENNESSEE WR SNAPS

Corey Davis: 490 snaps – 191 wide (72 left, 119 right), 278 slot (124 left, 154 right), 20 tight (10 left, 10 right), one back

A.J. Brown: 402 snaps – 262 wide (163 left, 99 right), 127 slot (67 left, 60 right), seven tight (four left, three right), six back

Adam Humphries: 353 snaps – 31 wide (17 left, 14 right), 294 slot (162 left, 132 right), 14 tight (nine left, five right), 14 back

Tennessee uses plenty of two-tight end sets, which can limit the snaps for slot wideout Adam Humphries, but in the case of three-wide sets we can generally expect Humphries inside while A.J. Brown plays the left and Corey Davis the right. Exceptions are of course sprinkled in, but in that scenario Humphries should run almost exclusively against slot corner Kenny Moore (72.5 PFF), by far the toughest Colts corner at the moment. Pierre Desir (43.9 PFF) mostly played the right side last week, making his primary matchup Brown. Rookie Rock Ya-Sin (55.3 PFF) was demoted to fourth corner last week, behind fellow rookie Marvell Tell (76.2 PFF), but the two should in any case provide most of the outside snaps on the defense's left, where Davis runs. Tell looks like a good player, so I think he's a tougher matchup than Desir on the other side.

Upgrade: A.J. Brown

Downgrade: Adam Humphries

Even: Corey Davis

ARZ vs LAR

ARIZONA WR SNAPS

Larry Fitzgerald: 609 snaps – 60 wide (39 left, 21 right), 522 slot (279 left, 243 right), 19 tight (13 left, six right), eight back

Christian Kirk: 489 snaps – 205 wide (37 left, 168 right), 254 slot (76 left, 178 right), six tight (two left, four right), 24 back

KeeSean Johnson: 371 snaps – 307 wide (87 left, 220 right), 55 slot (12 left, 43 right), three tight (three right), six back

Pharoh Cooper: 123 snaps – six wide (two left, four right), 102 slot (42 left, 60 right), three tight (one left, two right), 12 back

Andy Isabella: 98 snaps – 49 wide (47 left, two right), 40 slot (24 left, 16 right), nine back

I'm still begging Kliff Kingsbury to reduce KeeSean Johnson's snaps down to zero, because Andy Isabella and Pharoh Cooper are both better than the rookie sixth-round pick. Isabella has seen his snap count pick up both on the left side at Johnson's expense, and even a bit in the slot at the expense of Larry Fitzgerald. Kingsbury would be smart to push for a three-wide look with Isabella on the left, Fitz in the slot, and Christian Kirk on the right side. I believe that day is not far off, though nothing is guaranteed in the meantime. For now we have reason to believe Isabella will split the left side with Johnson, while Isabella and Cooper otherwise poach a few slot snaps from Fitzgerald. If that arrangement persists then Isabella's snap cap is around 25 snaps and Cooper around 20. If Johnson stops needlessly playing then Isabella would have a real shot at 40 snaps.

Anyway, in this matchup I'd expect Jalen Ramsey (62.9 PFF) to almost exclusive cover Kirk. It's a tough call matchup-wise – Ramsey has struggled with the Rams but I think it's clear those struggles will prove temporary. It's possible, though, that they linger into this matchup, and it must be noted that Kirk is one of the most talented receivers in the league. Still, it's closer to a downgrade than an upgrade to me. I'll call it Even in a compromise. Isabella, Johnson, or whoever might be at left wideout should run against Troy Hill (70.7 PFF), a guy with a solid PFF grade but one I'd still expect to decline with time. Nickell Robey-Coleman (78.6 PFF) is a very tough slot corner matchup for Fitzgerald, though I wonder if the 5-foot-7 Robey-Coleman might get boxed out by the 6-foot-3 Fitzgerald even if the coverage is tight. I don't see any obvious advantages for the Cardinals wideouts, though, and the Rams defense is not as bad as Lamar Jackson's numbers from last week would imply, but when projecting the Cardinals receivers in this game I think we need to keep the tempo of the matchup in mind. Because both of these teams run plays much faster than most other teams, efficiency concerns might offset somewhat with a high play count.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Christian Kirk, Larry Fitzgerald, Andy Isabella, Pharoh Cooper, KeeSean Johnson

RAMS WR SNAPS

Cooper Kupp: 647 snaps – 49 wide (38 left, 11 right), 459 slot (273 left, 186 right), 117 tight (48 left, 69 right), 22 back

Robert Woods: 630 snaps – 165 wide (41 left, 124 right), 362 slot (115 left, 247 right), 60 tight (six left, 54 right), 43 back

Brandin Cooks: 471 snaps – 186 wide (147 left, 39 right), 246 slot (194 left, 52 right), one tight (one left), 38 back

I don't know what specifically to expect from Patrick Peterson (50.3 PFF), both in the sense of alignment and quality of play. Like Ramsey with the Rams, I generally expect Peterson is shaking off rust as he gets acclimated to his new defense. But the results are lacking in the meantime, and a big test is ahead with the finally healthy Rams wideouts incoming. While Peterson would normally be a candidate to shadow the WR1, Cooper Kupp plays away from Peterson in the slot, and it's not obvious whether it's Robert Woods or Brandin Cooks who's more worth Peterson's time on the outside. Peterson mostly played on the left side of the defense in his last game, which would in this case primarily line him up against Woods as the right wideout. Cooks rarely leaves the left side, where rookie second-round pick Byron Murphy (53.7 PFF) played last week. Murphy is a promising prospect, but speed is not his game (4.55-second 40), so he's a major burn candidate if he lines up against Cooks on Sunday.

Upgrade: Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Robert Woods

DEN vs LAC

DENVER WR SNAPS

Courtland Sutton: 653 snaps – 396 wide (244 left, 152 right), 241 slot (150 left, 91 right), seven tight (four left, three right), nine back

DaeSean Hamilton: 441 snaps – 51 wide (23 left, 28 right), 354 slot (182 left, 172 right), 31 tight (21 left, 10 right), five back

Tim Patrick: 97 snaps – 52 wide (25 left, 27 right), 40 slot (20 left, 20 right), five tight (two left, three right)

Perhaps the Chargers use Casey Hayward (85.8 PFF) to shadow Courtland Sutton, but the bigger concern for Sutton is probably the quarterback play in Denver. Rookie second-round pick Drew Lock at least is able and willing to throw downfield, and Sutton has a major reach and athleticism advantage over Hayward. Tim Patrick would mostly see Michael Davis (54.4 PFF) in this scenario, and Patrick probably projects as the favorite there. DaeSean Hamilton draws a brutal matchup against Desmond King (67.7 PFF) in the slot.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: DaeSean Hamilton

Even: Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick

CHARGERS WR SNAPS

Keenan Allen: 649 snaps – 196 wide (109 left, 87 right), 400 slot (174 left, 226 right), 35 tight (19 left, 16 right), 18 back

Mike Williams: 580 snaps – 323 wide (168 left, 155 right), 249 slot (128 left, 121 right), three tight (three right), five back

Andre Patton: 275 snaps – 116 wide (57 left, 109 right), 127 slot (71 left, 56 right), 10 tight (seven left, three right), 22 back

Keenan Allen struggled against the Broncos last time, catching only four passes for 18 yards, but he wasn't specifically shadowed by Chris Harris (70.7 PFF). Perhaps Harris shadows on the boundary, but at the very least I think it's true to say he didn't follow Allen into the slot. Given his slot prominence, Allen might run more routes at slot corner Duke Dawson (59.0 PFF). Depending on the playcalling, Mike Williams might see Harris as much as Allen. If Harris pays any special attention to Williams then Andre Patton might get the most reps against Isaac Yiadom (43.0 PFF), the remaining outside corner.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Andre Patton

KC vs OAK

KANSAS CITY WR SNAPS

Demarcus Robinson: 545 snaps – 342 wide (194 left, 148 right), 171 slot (87 left, 84 right), 24 tight (12 left, 12 right), eight back

Sammy Watkins: 491 snaps – 141 wide (64 left, 77 right), 300 slot (140 left, 160 right), 41 tight (14 left, 27 right), nine back

Mecole Hardman: 377 snaps – 144 wide (83 left, 61 right), 187 slot (97 left, 90 right), 18 tight (four left, 14 right), 28 back

Tyreek Hill: 281 snaps – 105 wide (48 left, 57 right), 145 slot (77 left, 78 right), 19 tight (seven left, 12 right), 12 back

For both the Chiefs and the Raiders, keep in mind that their corner matchups might not matter as much as the wind forecasts at Arrowhead. With projected winds around 20 miles per hour, the gusts might be the sort that really take a deep pass off target. If such winds occur then it might hurt both passing games generally, and it at the least would likely force the passing games to work a bit more underneath (especially in Mahomes' case, since Carr was probably throwing underneath anyway).

Demarcus Robinson seemingly lost playing time to Mecole Hardman against the Chargers, with Robinson logging 39 snaps to Hardman's 52. Particularly given the wind, it will be interesting to see if Hardman's after-the-catch abilities play into Andy Reid's gameplanning at Robinson's expense. Robinson probably won't just disappear, though, because he leads the team in outside snaps by a wide margin. Hardman, Tyreek Hill, and Sammy Watkins all spend time in the slot, which might be the most vulnerable part of the Oakland secondary. Left corner Trayvon Mullen (65.5 PFF) and right corner Daryl Worley (73.6 PFF) have both done well for themselves, and there's a chance they both see Robinson more than any other one Chiefs wideout. Slot corners Lamarcus Joyner (41.0 PFF) and Nevin Lawson (66.8 PFF) might be more vulnerable, and Joyner might be a target for the Chiefs in his first game back from a hamstring injury.

Upgrade: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Demarcus Robinson

OAKLAND WR SNAPS

Tyrell Williams: 475 snaps – 284 wide (183 left, 101 right), 181 slot (95 left, 86 right), six tight (two left, four right), four back

Hunter Renfrow: 350 snaps – nine wide (five left, four right), 330 slot (168 left, 162 right), six tight (four left, two right), five back

Zay Jones: 225 snaps* (from PFF) – 150 wide (62 left, 88 right), 75 slot (45 left, 30 right)

The Raiders will be without Hunter Renfrow (ribs) against the Chiefs, depriving Oakland of its full-time slot wideout. Trevor Davis is a candidate to see more snaps but has mostly played outside in Oakland, so it's possible Zay Jones picks up many or most of Renfrow's slot reps. It's also possible that Renfrow's injury mostly just results in more snaps for tight end Foster Moreau, freeing up Darren Waller to take more slot wideout reps. Tyrell Williams should in any case run primarily outside and saw just under two thirds of such snaps occur on the left side so far. That should see him against right corner Charvarius Ward (71.8 PFF), a beatable matchup for Williams but a much tougher one than Bashaud Breeland (41.2 PFF) on the other side. The more Williams lines up on the right the better, but if nothing changes then Jones might see more of Breeland than Williams does. If Jones gets a substantial portion of Renfrow's slot snaps then he might see the most of Kendall Fuller (60.5 PFF) otherwise.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Tyrell Williams, Zay Jones, Trevor Davis

HOU vs NE

HOUSTON WR SNAPS

DeAndre Hopkins: 721 snaps – 415 wide (268 left, 147 right), 305 slot (181 left, 124 right), one back

Will Fuller: 444 snaps – 205 wide (94 left, 111 right), 230 slot (83 left, 147 right), two tight (one left, one right), seven back

Kenny Stills: 383 snaps – 138 wide (44 left, 94 right), 208 slot (96 left, 112 right), one tight (one left), 36 back

This one should be quick, because everyone is getting a downgrade. With that said, I think the Houston wideout rotation is the one best built to hurt the Patriots, especially if the Patriots go heavy on man coverage like they usually do. Stephon Gilmore (77.6 PFF) should shadow DeAndre Hopkins, and Will Fuller might get left with Jason McCourty (80.6 PFF). I'm not convinced anyone can cover Fuller, so the 32-year-old McCourty is in danger if he doesn't get help from the safeties or pass rush, in my opinion. Fuller will also likely see some snaps against Jonathan Jones (82.7 PFF), but the feared slot corner should more so see Kenny Stills.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Kenny Stills

Even: N/A

NEW ENGLAND WR SNAPS

Julian Edelman: 713 snaps – 91 wide (35 left, 56 right), 590 slot (272 left, 318 right), 14 tight (four left, 10 right), 18 back

Phillip Dorsett: 437 snaps – 261 wide (177 left, 84 right), 166 slot (100 left, 66 right), two tight (one left, one right), eight back

Mohamed Sanu: 145 snaps* (from PFF) – 76 wide (nine left, 67 right), 61 slot (35 left, 26 right), five tight (one left, four right), three back

Jakobi Meyers: 290 snaps – 53 wide (21 left, 32 right), 228 slot (115 left, 113 right), two tight (two right), seven back

N'Keal Harry: 87 snaps – 73 wide (51 left, 22 right), 14 slot (14 left)

I have no clue where the injury situations of Phillip Dorsett (concussion) and Mohamed Sanu (ankle) might be headed, but at the very least we know where they play and who their replacements would be if they sit out again. Dorsett primarily plays outside and on the left while Sanu primarily plays outside and on the right. If Dorsett is out, then N'Keal Harry is the likely replacement. If Sanu is out then Jakobi Meyers would likely be the primary replacement. Julian Edelman will as always take every rep he can handle in the slot. Bradley Roby (68.9 PFF) finally returns after a six-week hamstring issue, and he is likely the best Houston corner by a decent margin. He plays the slot, and therefore is Edelman's primary matchup. I can't call it a downgrade for Edelman, especially in Roby's first game back from injury, but for whatever it's worth he's probably the toughest Houston corner. Johnathan Joseph (61.8 PFF) plays the left side of the defense, so he will cover Sanu or/and Meyers. Gareon Conley (65.7 PFF) would normally be the favorite to start on the right side, but he's questionable with a hip issue. If he's out, then perhaps fellow first-round bust pickup Vernon Hargreaves (47.0 PFF) might need to start, or rookie second-round pick Lonnie Johnson (30.9 PFF).

Upgrade: Phillip Dorsett, N'Keal Harry

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, Jakobi Meyers
 

SEA vs MIN

SEATTLE WR SNAPS

Tyler Lockett: 699 snaps – 132 wide (65 left, 67 right), 513 slot (217 left, 296 right), 12 tight (six left, six right), 42 back

DK Metcalf: 629 snaps – 465 wide (304 left, 161 right), 159 slot (116 left, 43 right), four tight (two left, two right), one back
David Moore: 214 snaps – 134 wide (60 left, 74 right), 70 slot (37 left, 33 right), eight tight (two left, six right), two back

Josh Gordon: 47 snaps* (from PFF) – 37 wide (12 left, 25 right), 10 slot (eight left, two right)

It's probably just a minor bug thing, but keep an eye on Tyler Lockett and David Moore after they missed Friday's practice for illness reasons. Assuming everyone can play, the offense should settle into a general arrangement where DK Metcalf plays as the left receiver and Lockett plays the slot the vast majority of the time, with Moore and Josh Gordon forming a committee at right receiver. There are some exceptions, but that should be the main look of the offense, with Lockett taking up the right receiver spot in two-wide sets. Playing on the left side, Metcalf should run against Xavier Rhodes (47.7 PFF). That seems like an advantage for Metcalf. When in the slot Lockett should mostly see Mackensie Alexander (66.6 PFF), who's probably the best Minnesota corner. Lockett can beat better ones than him, though, and Lockett should get a few cracks at Trae Waynes (52.2 PFF), a distinctly vulnerable corner. Waynes' primary assignments should be Gordon and Moore, however.

Upgrade: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Josh Gordon, David Moore

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

MINNESOTA WR SNAPS

Stefon Diggs: 576 snaps – 373 wide (182 left, 191 right), 194 slot (106 left, 88 right), nine back

Bisi Johnson: 371 snaps – 174 wide (95 left, 79 right), 187 slot (85 left, 102 right), seven tight (three left, four right), three back

Adam Thielen: 353 snaps – 143 wide (80 left, 63 right), 183 slot (72 left, 111 right), eight tight (six left, two right), 19 back

It's not clear whether Adam Thielen (hamstring) will be able to play, and if he's out then the Vikings might again turn to rookie tight end Irv Smith as their primary slot receiver, with Stefon Diggs and Bisi Johnson focusing on outside snaps. If so, Diggs and Johnson might see a relatively even split between right corner Tre Flowers (47.2 PFF) and left corner Shaquill Griffin (80.8 PFF). As much as Diggs can probably get open against anyone, his owners should probably hope he plays on the left more than usual and stays away from Griffin in the process. Johnson might be able to get open against Flowers, but he probably wouldn't against Griffin. For what it's worth, Smith could have an enviable coverage matchup against slot corner Jamar Taylor (43.6 PFF), though the Seahawks might just stay in a base package and match up Smith with someone like K.J. Wright instead.
 

Upgrade: Stefon Diggs (the more snaps on the left, the bigger the upgrade)

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Bisi Johnson