Surprisingly, for a sport described as ‘a game of inches,’ we don’t focus on the inches and similar logic can be applied when looking at WR matchups for Week 2.

Undoubtedly, I’m one of the perpetrators. Team-level tendencies like pass rate over expectation or play-action rate are my pillars of understanding and projecting. Drilling down to the player level requires more nuance. However, it doesn’t mean it’s not worth considering.

WR matchups against CBs fall into the ‘tiebreaker’ category for me. They’re part of a pass catcher’s environment to factor into start-sit decisions. And, as we head into Week 2, these six stuck out.

Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 2

Terry McLaurin vs. Deonte Banks

If you want to lend any credence to WR-CB matchups, it starts with Terry McLaurin’s Week 1 performance. Washington’s WR1 saw Tampa’s CB1 (Jamel Dean) as both lined up on the same side of the field for 80.0% or more of their snaps (left WR, right CB). With a rookie QB, a two-catch, 17-yard outing makes sense with the added defensive context.

Week 2 gives us a better shot at fantasy goodness for the six-year wideout.

Of course, we saw Sam Darnold perform well against the Giants secondary. Heck, even Jalen Nailor found the box against New York’s defensive coverage. Although Nailor’s TD came against a slot corner, the G-Men’s outside defenders didn’t offer much resistance either. Both Deonte Banks (PFF Coverage Grade: 47.5) and Nick McCloud (47.5) surrendered a combined 85 yards and a score. At this point, we’d be ecstatic to see McLaurin with that type of boxscore.

Despite the poor results, McLaurin’s metrics point to a bounceback situation. He secured 64.0% of the team’s air yards and ran the most routes of any pass catcher for the Commanders. We’d prefer some layup targets from the interior, but his 10.9% slot rate indicates that’s Luke McCaffrey’s. However, with weak defenders on tap, McLaurin has the runway to become fantasy-relevant again in Week 2.

Michael Wilson vs Tre White

Michael Wilson was the beneficiary of a Kyler Murray scramble drill for a TD in Week 1. However, his peripherals outside of the end-zone grab were lackluster. The second-year WR only earned two targets in what was a tight matchup against the Bills. But his Week 2 draw offers some hope for him and the Cardinals’ passing game.

Wilson lined up as the left WR on 60.0% of his routes. He’ll likely see veteran CB Tre’Davious White, who played over half (29 of 54) of his Week 1 snaps as right CB. Wilson has nearly 20 lbs and two inches on the former Bills defender, who’s coming off an Achilles injury sustained last season. In his debut for the Rams, White gave up a 52-yard bomb to Jameson Williams. While Wilson doesn’t have the same speed, his contested catch ability will be a boon for him and Murray.

Marvin Harrison should see LA’s premiere corner, Cobie Durant. Coincidentally, Durant was the only Rams defender in coverage to earn a PFF grade over 80.0. While I still believe in the rookie for the season, the matchup lends itself to the Cardinals’ ancillary options like Wilson for Week 2.

Sleeper WR Matchups for Week 2

Jalen Nailor vs. Deommodore Lenoir

Jordan Addison’s ankle sprain should elevate Jalen Nailor’s position within the Vikings’ aerial attack. Through the first half of Week 1, Nailor only logged four routes to Addison’s 16. However, Nailor only had two fewer routes than Justin Jefferson once Addison exited in the second half. 

A quarter of Nailor’s looks from Sam Darnold came from the slot. Luckily, the 49ers allowed the seventh-most yards to opposing interior receivers in Week 1. Deommodore Lenoir took 67.3% of his snaps from the inside against the Jets. 

To be fair, Lenoir had to defend bigger (Allen Lazard) or better (Garrett Wilson) talent than Nailor. But, HC Kevin O’Connell was able to scheme his receivers into wide-open windows for Darnold. Justin Jefferson averaged 5.1 yards of separation just last week. Assuming the 49ers impose their will on the Vikings, the game script will push Darnold into a pass-oriented environment, giving Nailor an underrated upside for Week 2.

Tyler Boyd vs. Michael Carter

I’m making an assumption here, but let’s say HC Brian Callahan tries to simplify things for Will Levis this weekend. With the 12th-highest passing aDOT (8.1), the Titans’ QB had the 22nd-best adjusted completion percentage. And hosting the defense that just pressured Brock Purdy on 34.4% of his dropbacks isn’t the easiest bounceback spot. But there’s a way around the Jets’ pass rush.

The 49ers focused on the interior of New York’s coverage. Accordingly, by avoiding CB Sauce Gardner, San Francisco put up the fourth-most yardage through slot targets of any offense in Week 1. Admittedly, it’s not a copy-paste blueprint for success, but the Jets’ weakness brings Tyler Boyd into consideration for deeper leagues.

Boyd and Calvin Ridley were the only Titans to run more than 80.0% of the routes on Sunday. And, just like in Cincinnati (with Callahan as OC), Boyd manned the slot on 70.6% of his snaps. Plus, he was the only other WR to earn a target when Levis was under duress.

The Jets primary slot corner (Michael Carter) tied for the most receptions allowed against the 49ers when in coverage. He’s also about 20 lbs lighter than the former Bengals WR. While the game total (40.5) doesn’t add much appeal, if you’re looking for cheap production, Boyd has the matchup to provide it in Week 2.

Wide Receiver Matchups to Avoid for Week 2

Tank Dell vs Bears Perimeter CBs

On the one hand, I’d trade for Tank Dell if I could. The second-year WR earned (one) more targets than Stefon Diggs in their premiere, nearly matched Nico Collins in air yards (105 to 124), and was the only other HOU wideout to post a TPRR over 20.0%. Diggs’s two TDs likely confirmed offseason priors about his resurgence after leaving Buffalo, but 1.5 air yards per attempt is a tough way to live.

But, on the other hand, the Bears’ matchup in Week 2 gives me pause. And, to be clear, it’s not solely because of Chicago’s Week 1 defensive play. Since the start of the 2023 season, the Bears’ secondary has allowed an average of 175.6 passing yards per game. Only five teams have cracked 200 yards through the air against them. And, as it pertains to Dell, their strongest defensive personnel play on the outside.

Dell’s 26.5% slot rate aligns with his ’23 deployment. At 5’10”-165 lbs., he’s a perimeter WR. However, even with positive usage in Week 1, I’m temperating expectations for Houston’s WR2.

Courtland Sutton vs Joey Porter Jr.

Courtland Sutton already has to deal with having Bo Nix, which puts Sutton in the WR4 conversation. Nix’s 6.0 passing aDOT was sixth-lowest amongst all starters. His inaccuracy (-5.1% CPOE, 22nd) doesn’t help either. I’d throw in the T.J. Watt factor of Pittsburgh’s pass rush, but that’s just icing on a bad-tasting cake for the rookie QB.

Simply put, Sutton’s QB is (likely) going to have a tough day.

Ask Kirk Cousins.

However, it’s not like the Broncos’ WR1 is going to have a better outing. Joey Porter posted Pittsburgh’s top coverage score after their win over Atlanta. While lining up as the left CB on 69.6% of his snaps, Porter Jr. sometimes shifted to the opposite and even into the slot to cover Drake London. Accordingly, Kirk Cousins only attempted one pass in the direction of the Steelers’ top defender. It gained seven yards.

Sutton did line up opposite of Porter Jr.’s typical position on 71.7% of the snaps in Week 1. Consequently, he may see Donte Jackson (58.6 PFF coverage grade) instead. In either case, the combination of Sutton’s QB situation and defensive coverage should be enough to force fantasy managers to look elsewhere this weekend.