Week 13 WR/CB Matchups: DeAndre Hopkins vs. Jalen Ramsey, Shadow Grades & More

Wide receiver-cornerback showdowns might be the most important individual matchups in football.

In this piece, I leverage snap data from Pro Football Focus (PFF) to project NFL Week 13 WR/CB matchups, especially shadow situations.

For more, see the FantasyLabs Matchups page, where we provide basic and advanced data — including fantasy and red-zone performance — for each offensive skill-position player based on his matchup.

As we get more clarity during the week on the injury status of receivers and corners, I will update my WR/CB projections.

Let’s start with this week’s featured matchup and then run through all the potential shadow matchups, the most notable upgrades and downgrades and the injury situations to monitor.

WR/CB Injury Updates

UPDATE (Sat. 12/5): I have made updates based on injury reports for the week. Here are some changes and key situations to note.

Wide Receivers: OUT

• Texans WR Will Fuller (suspension) is OUT.
• Lions WRs Kenny Golladay (hip) is projected OUT.
• Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald (COVID-19) is projected OUT.
• Texans WR Randall Cobb (foot, IR) is OUT.
• Bills WR John Brown (ankle, IR) is OUT.
• Browns WR KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring) is OUT.
• Ravens WR Willie Snead IV (COVID-19) is projected OUT.
• Bengals WR Auden Tate (shoulder, IR) is OUT.
• Falcons WR Olamide Zaccheaus (toe, IR) is OUT.
• Saints WRs Marquez Callaway (knee) and Deonte Harris (knee) are projected OUT.

Wide Receivers: IN

• Falcons WR Julio Jones (hamstring) is tentatively projected IN.
• Titans WRs A.J. Brown (hip) & Adam Humphries (concussion) are projected IN.
• Vikings WR Adam Thielen (COVID-19) is IN.
• Football Team WR Terry McLaurin (ankle) is projected IN.
• 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk (COVID-19) is projected IN.
• Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy (ankle) is projected IN.
• Jaguars WRs D.J. Chark Jr. (ribs) & Chris Conley (hip) are respectively IN & projected IN.
• Bears WRs Allen Robinson (knee) & Darnell Mooney (knee) are projected IN.
• Lions WR Danny Amendola (hip) is projected IN.
• Dolphins WR Malcolm Perry (chest) is tentatively projected IN.

Cornerbacks: OUT

• Texans CB Bradley Roby (suspension) is OUT.
• Broncos CB Bryce Callahan (foot, IR) is OUT.
• Saints CB Janoris Jenkins (knee) is projected OUT.
• Steelers CB Steven Nelson (knee) is tentatively projected OUT.
• Lions CBs Desmond Trufant (hamstring, IR) & Jeff Okudah (shoulder) are respectively OUT & projected OUT.
• Cowboys CBs Trevon Diggs (foot, IR) & Anthony Brown (ribs) are projected OUT.
• Titans CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee) is projected OUT.
• Jaguars CBs C.J. Henderson (groin, IR), Sidney Jones (Achilles), D.J. Hayden (hamstring, IR) & Chris Claybrooks (shoulder, IR) are OUT.
• Browns CBs Denzel Ward (calf) & Greedy Williams (shoulder, IR) are projected OUT.
• Raiders CB Lamarcus Joyner (COVID-19) is projected OUT.
• 49ers CB K’Waun Williams (ankle) is projected OUT.
• Falcons CB Kendall Sheffield (illness) is projected OUT.
• Seahawks CB Quinton Dunbar (knee, IR) & Tre Flowers (hamstring) are respectively OUT & projected OUT.
• Jets CBs Brian Poole (knee, IR) & Blessuan Austin (neck, IR) are OUT.
• Vikings CBs Mike Hughes (neck, IR), Holton Hill (foot, IR) & Mark Fields II (chest, IR) are projected OUT.

Cornerbacks: IN

• Chargers CB Casey Hayward Jr. (groin) is tentatively projected IN.
• Ravens CB Jimmy Smith (groin) is tentatively projected IN.
• Eagles CB Darius Slay (calf) is projected IN.
• Lions CB Darryl Roberts (hip/groin, IR) is tentatively projected IN.
• Bengals CB Darius Phillips (illness) is tentatively projected IN.
• Raiders CBs Lamarcus Joyner (COVID-19), Trayvon Mullen (illness) & Isaiah Johnson (groin) are tentatively projected IN.

WR/CB Matchup of the Week

Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins vs. Rams CB Jalen Ramsey

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: FOX

For the second week in a row, Hopkins is the featured receiver in our top WR/CB matchup.

In Week 13, we get a three-time All-Pro receiver going against almost certainly the NFL's best cornerback right now.

Hopkins has been fantastic in his first season with the Cardinals. He trails only Tyreek Hill among all wide receivers with his 967 receiving yards.

But Hopkins has been something of an up-and-down producer this year.

Against Xavien Howard and the Dolphins in Week 9, Hopkins was just 3-30-0 receiving on three targets. The next week against Tre’Davious White and the Bills, he was 7-127-1 on 12 targets. And then last week against Stephon Gilmore and the Patriots, he was 5-55-0 on seven targets.

On top of that, Hopkins' volume has diminished as the season has progressed. In the first month of the season, Hopkins had a 34% market share of team targets. Over the past month, he has had a mark of 23%.

And now he faces his former AFC South nemesis in Ramsey.

Against the Cowboys in Week 1, Ramsey had a tough matchup and allowed a line of 8-81-0 receiving on nine targets. On top of that, he was beat deep for a long reception toward the end of the game that was called back by a questionable pass interference.

By the eyes and the numbers, it was a bad performance.

Since then, however, Ramsey has allowed just 4.4 yards per target on a 42.4% catch rate and 3.7 targets per game.

Opposing quarterbacks want no part of Ramsey in 2020.

Since Ramsey entered the league in 2016, Hopkins has faced him seven times with mixed results.

On ridiculously heavy volume, Hopkins has been good but not great. In two games, he has absolutely taken it to Ramsey. Other times, though, Ramsey has more than held his own.

Overall, Ramsey has allowed Hopkins just 6.6 yards per target with a 54.7% catch rate on 7.6 targets per game in his coverage.

Hopkins could go off against Ramsey, but I think it’s likelier that we see yet another muted performance this week.

Action:Large downgrade for Hopkins

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Potential Week 13 Shadow Matchups

Here are the shadow matchups I’m projecting.

Dolphins WR DeVante Parker vs. Bengals CB William Jackson III

Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: CBS

UPDATE (Fri. 12/4): Bengals CB Darius Phillips (groin/illness) seems likely to return to action, so the Bengals might be less likely to use Jackson in shadow coverage.

The Bengals have been without No. 2 perimeter cornerback Darius Phillips (groin, IR) since Week 9, and they have deployed No. 1 corner Jackson in shadow coverage over the past two weeks in his absence.

Although Jackson has just three interceptions, he has been a decidedly above-average cornerback for three of his four NFL seasons (based on PFF coverage grade).

• 2017 (14 games): 90.4
• 2018 (16 games): 72.9
• 2019 (14 games): 55.2
• 2020 (10 games): 71.5

For his career, Jackson has allowed a catch rate of just 53.1%.

Parker had a season-high 14 targets and 119 yards receiving last week in quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's return to the starting lineup, but Jackson has the talent to slow him down at least a little.

Action:Small downgrade for Parker

Jaguars WR Laviska Shenault Jr. vs. Vikings CB Cameron Dantzler

Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: CBS

UPDATE (Fri. 12/4): Jaguars WR D.J. Chark Jr. (ribs) will play this weekend, so I now expect him to draw Dantzler's shadow coverage. Action: Large upgrade for Chark

There's a lot of uncertainty with this matchup. Last week, the Jags were without wide receivers D.J. Chark Jr. (ribs) and Chris Conley (hip). If one of them returns — especially Chark — the Vikings might opt to have Dantzler shadow him instead of Shenault.

And even if Chark and Conley are out this week, Dantzler might shadow fill-in starter Collin Johnson instead of Shenault, given that last week Johnson functioned as the clear No. 1 receiver for quarterback Mike Glennon, leading the team with eight targets and 4-96-1 receiving.

On top of that, the Vikings might choose not to use Dantzler in shadow coverage. In almost half of his games, he has played exclusively at right corner.

But in two starts since returning from injury in Week 11, Dantzler has shadowed opposing No. 1 receivers and I expect that to continue as long as Week 1 starters Mike Hughes (neck, IR) and Holton Hill (foot, IR) are out.

As for the actual matchup itself … meh.

Dantzler has a 53.9 PFF coverage grade and 71.1% catch rate allowed as a rookie, so he's an exploitable player — but that doesn't mean the Jags will actually exploit him.

Still, hope endures.

Action:Large upgrade for Shenault

Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf vs. Giants CB James Bradberry

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. ET on Monday | TV: FOX

Note: I’m writing this before the Seahawks play on Monday Night Football for Week 12.

Metcalf is No. 4 in the league with 135.7 air yards and yards after the catch (AirYAC) and No. 6 with 86.2 yards receiving per game.

AirYAC is a leading indicator of fantasy production and can be found in the RotoViz NFL Player Statistical Summary.

His second-year breakout has been one of the big stories of the season.

But despite Metcalf's big performances against Stephon Gilmore (4-92-1 receiving, Week 2) and Tre’Davious White (7-108-1, Week 9), he has struggled recently against the shadow coverage of Patrick Peterson and Jalen Ramsey.

• Week 7 (at ARI): 2-23-0, five targets
• Week 10 (at LAR): 2-28-0, four targets
• Week 11 (vs. ARI): 3-46-1, five targets

A physical, press-man defender, Bradberry is in the Peterson-Ramsey mold of cornerback. For the year, he has allowed just 5.8 yards per target with a 55.9% catch rate this year.

Metcalf is exactly the type of big-bodied perimeter receiver whom Bradberry tends to shadow (for years he tangled successfully with Julio Jones and Mike Evans in the NFC South). With his 75.3 PFF coverage grade, Bradberry is having the best year of his career.

Action:Large downgrade for Metcalf

Rams WR Robert Woods vs. Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: FOX

Peterson has shadowed in his past five games, and he even played a season-high 11 snaps in the slot last week, so he seems highly like to be on the outside/inside Woods for the supermajority of the game.

Although Woods is having something of a slow season, he has looked every bit like the guy who put up 1,376 and 1,249 yards from scrimmage in 2018-19 over his past four games.

• Receiving: 31-328-2, 41 targets | 24% target share
• Rushing: 6-16-1 | position-high 17% opportunity share on team

A three-time All-Pro corner, Peterson used to be great but has a subpar 50.8 PFF coverage grade this season. Since returning from his PED suspension last year, he has allowed 9.1 yards per target with a 67.0% catch rate.

Woods didn't face Peterson much in his first two years with the Rams, but he was the receiver Peterson covered the most last year — in fact, he shadowed him on 73.9% of his routes in Week 17 — and Woods dominated.

Last year, Woods was 20-239-1 receiving on 30 targets against the Cardinals and 7-113-1 on 11 targets specifically against Peterson.

Whatever the Rams want Woods to do this week, he will probably be able to do.

Action:No change for Woods

Packers WR Davante Adams vs. Eagles CB Darius Slay

Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: CBS

Note: I’m writing this before the Eagles play on Monday Night Football for Week 12.

Adams is the NFL's best receiver. He's No. 1 in the league with 100.9 yards receiving per game. Not much needs to be said about him.

A longtime shadow corner for the Lions, Slay made his bones manning up Packers receivers throughout the years. In 2014, it was Jordy Nelson. In 2015, James Jones. From 2016-17, Nelson again.

In fact, Slay was one of the league’s most reliable cover men for over half a decade in Detroit.

• 2014: 70.0 PFF coverage grade | 7.0 yards per target
• 2015: 77.0 PFF coverage grade | 8.5 yards per target
• 2016: 80.2 PFF coverage grade | 6.8 yards per target
• 2017: 80.0 PFF coverage grade | 6.8 yards per target
• 2018: 78.2 PFF coverage grade | 6.2 yards per target

He was especially strong in 2016-18, a period highlighted by a 2017 All-Pro campaign during which he had league-high marks with eight interceptions and 26 passes defensed.

With the Lions, he regularly faced opposing No. 1 receivers and was one of the few shadow defenders who followed his man from the perimeter to the slot.

But Slay struggled in head coach Matt Patricia's defensive scheme in 2019, and in his two post-Nelson era matchups with Adams (one in 2018, another in 2019), Slay was absolutely dominated by his NFC North rival.

Needless to say, Adams pretty much does what he wants regardless of the cornerback he faces.

But Slay has rebounded a little in his first year with the Eagles. He hasn’t regained the elite form he had with the Lions, but he has a serviceable 67.3 PFF coverage grade and has forfeited only one touchdown.

He might provide a smidgen of resistance on Adams' way to the end zone.

Action:Small downgrade for Adams

Chargers WR Mike Williams vs. Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore

Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: CBS

Ordinarily, we would see Gilmore shadow opposing No. 1 receivers, especially non-speedsters like Keenan Allen, but he almost never goes into the slot, so I expect he will shadow Williams on the outside, especially since he is the kind of big-bodied perimeter receiver Gilmore tends to handle well.

This season hasn't been kind to Gilmore, who was hit with COVID-19 in Week 5 and a hamstring injury in Weeks 8-10.

And on the field, he hasn’t been his typical All-Pro self.

• 2020: 54.5 PFF coverage grade | 9.5 yards per target
• 2019: 85.4 PFF coverage grade | 5.7 yards per target
• 2018: 90.8 PFF coverage grade | 5.7 yards per target
• 2017: 87.2 PFF coverage grade | 5.1 yards per target

In Week 2, Gilmore pretty much had his soul stolen by Metcalf.

In his three-plus years with the Patriots, Gilmore has held receivers to a 51.7% catch rate and 6.7 yards per target, so he’s still a corner to be feared. But he’s no longer the best cornerback in the game.

Even so, he should be able to limit Williams.

For years, Williams has been one of the league's most under-appreciated and underutilized receivers.

In his six games after returning from injury in Week 5, Williams was 22-403-4 receiving.

But last week Williams faced the shadow coverage of 2019 All-Pro corner Tre'Davious White, and he was just 3-26-0 receiving on five targets.

Williams simply might not get the targets necessary to challenge Gilmore.

Action:Large downgrade for Williams

49ers WR Deebo Samuel vs. Bills CB Tre’Davious White

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday | TV: ESPN

UPDATE (Fri. 12/4): 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk (COVID-19) is expected to return, but I still expect White to shadow Samuel on the outside.

In his Week 12 return from injury, Samuel balled out with 11-133-0 receiving on 13 targets without teammate Brandon Aiyuk (COVID-19). Lining up all across the formation, Samuel infused the 49ers offense with instant playmaking upside.

If Aiyuk misses Week 13, I tentatively expect White to shadow Samuel whenever he's on the perimeter — although we should expect Samuel to play 30-45% of his snaps in the slot, where White almost never plays.

And in the slot, Samuel will have an advantageous matchup against cornerback Taron Johnson, who has a 46.3 PFF coverage this year.

Because of Samuel's ability to escape into the interior, I'm thinking of this as a "light shadow" situation. In reality, the Bills might simply choose to have White play at left corner throughout the game, just as they did in Week 3 against the similarly outside/inside-capable Robert Woods.

A 2019 All-Pro defender, White has had an inconsistent year. On the one hand, he has allowed an egregious 10.0 yards per target. On the other hand, he has shadowed most opposing No. 1 receivers — including Metcalf and DeAndre Hopkins in Weeks 9-10 before the bye — and allowed only 4.6 targets per game. His 72.1 PFF coverage grade this year belies his production.

For his career, White has a 56.5% catch rate allowed.

Action:Medium downgrade for Samuel on perimeter, medium upgrade in slot

Week 13 Shadow Borderline

There are two cornerbacks this week with somewhat complicated potential shadow situations.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson vs. Jaguars CB Tre Herndon

Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: CBS

UPDATE (Fri. 12/4): Vikings WR Adam Thielen (COVID-19) is expected to play this weekend, so if a Vikings receiver draws Herndon's shadow, I think it would be Thielen. Action: Large upgrade for Thielen

At the cornerback position, the Jaguars were without Week 1 starters C.J. Henderson (groin, IR) and D.J. Hayden (hamstring, IR) last week, as well as top backups Sidney Jones (Achilles) and Chris Claybrooks (shoulder).

In their absence, the Jags used Herndon in shadow coverage — and he gave up 4-48-1 receiving on six targets. For the season, he has allowed 9.6 yards per target and four touchdowns to zero interceptions.

Last week without ostensible No. 1 wide receiver Adam Thielen (COVID-19), the rookie Jefferson was 7-70-2 receiving on 13 targets. Since transitioning from the slot to the perimeter in Week 3, Jefferson is No. 2 in the league with 848 yards receiving.

Action:Large upgrade for Jefferson

Titans WR A.J. Brown vs. Browns CB Terrance Mitchell

Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: CBS

With No. 1 cornerback Denzel Ward (calf) out last week — as well as 2019 starter Greedy Williams (shoulder, IR), who is yet to play this year — the Browns used perimeter corner Mitchell in shadow coverage.

A seventh-year, seventh-round journeyman, Mitchell is actually not a bad player. In not one season has he had a PFF coverage grade lower than 60 and for his career, he has allowed a manageable 7.0 yards per target with a 54.0% catch rate.

But Mitchell also has never been the top corner on his team and responsible for defending the opposing team's No. 1 receiver — and Brown isn't any ordinary No. 1 option with 40-638-8 receiving in nine games.

Even average NFL corners look like junior varsity backups against Brown.

Action:No change for Brown

Notable Wide Receiver Upgrades

Here are a couple of advantageous matchups that should not be ignored.

Raiders WR Nelson Agholor vs. Jets CB Lamar Jackson

Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: CBS

In eight games since becoming a regular contributor in Week 3 (minus an extreme wind-impacted Week 8),  Agholor is 27-455-5 receiving.

Jackson is an undrafted rookie backup with 10.9 yards allowed per game and three touchdowns forfeited in five games.

Action:Large upgrade for Agholor

Jets WR Denzel Mims vs. Raiders CB Isaiah Johnson

Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: CBS

UPDATE (Fri. 12/4): Raiders CB Damon Arnette (concussion/neck) seems likelier than not to return, pushing Johnson back to the bench. Here's the thing: It doesn't matter. Arnette is almost as bad as Johnson. Action: Large upgrade for Mims

Mims is No. 6 in the league with 129.2 AirYAC per game, albeit in only five games.

Johnson is a second-year, fourth-round backup with 119 NFL coverage snaps in his career and a 38.7 PFF coverage grade this year.

Action:Large upgrade for Mims

Notable Wide Receiver Downgrades

Here are a couple of disadvantageous matchups to keep in mind.

Browns WR Jarvis Landry vs. Titans CB Desmond King II

Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday | TV: CBS

In his four games without No. 1 wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (knee, IR), Landry has a smoking 33% target share but is still only 17-247-1 receiving.

King is a 2018 All-Pro slot defender allowing 6.5 yards per target on 3.9 targets per game.

Action:Large downgrade for Landry

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb vs. Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey

Kickoff: 8:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday | TV: FOX/NFL

Note: I’m writing this before the Ravens (presumably) play their "Week 12" game vs. the Steelers on the Wednesday before Week 13.

Lamb has flashed as a rookie with 53-650-4 receiving, but his performance has been uneven due to Dallas' uncertain quarterback situation.

Humphrey was an All-Pro slot defender last year, and he has allowed just 6.2 yards per target this year.

Action:Large downgrade for Brown

WR/CB Injuries to Monitor

I take a cautious approach to players I think are likely to be questionable at best. If they look probable to play by the weekend, I will include them in the WR/CB matrix.

Here are the injury situations I’m monitoring and projecting early in the week.

Wide Receivers: OUT

• NA

Wide Receivers: IN

• Panthers WR D.J. Moore (leg) is tentatively projected IN (BYE).

Cornerbacks: OUT

• NA

Cornerbacks: IN

• Panthers CB Donte Jackson (toe) is tentatively projected IN (BYE).
• Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean (concussion) is tentatively projected IN (BYE).

NFL Week 13 WR/CB Matrix

Pos = left, right or slot WR or CB
Projected shadow matchups are CAPITALIZED

WR Exp = Wide Receiver Expectation: I rank from 3 to -3 how much I think we should adjust expectations for wide receivers based on matchups. 3: Large upgrade. 2: Medium upgrade. 1: Small upgrade. 0: No change. -1: Small downgrade. -2: Medium downgrade. -3: Large downgrade.

Thanks to Scott Barrett for providing me with some of PFF’s historical data.

Matthew Freedman is 816-641-29 (56%) overall betting on the NFL. You can follow him in our free app.

The Editor-in-Chief of FantasyLabs, Freedman is commonly called the Oracle & the Labyrinthian.