The goal of this article is to find wide receivers to fade and buy based on how many fantasy points their opponent allows in the slot vs. out wide. In today’s article we will review the key slot matchups for week 6.
The below chart breaks down where each team allows their fantasy points to wide receivers and is listed from the most to the least amount of fantasy points allowed to the slot this season.
| Team | Slot PPG | Wide PPG | Total PPG | % Slot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEN | 18.8 | 21.2 | 40 | 47% |
| SEA | 16 | 19.8 | 35.8 | 45% |
| PIT | 15.8 | 20.3 | 36.1 | 44% |
| CHI | 15.5 | 18.4 | 33.9 | 46% |
| MIA | 15.3 | 21 | 36.3 | 42% |
| BAL | 13.1 | 13.7 | 26.8 | 49% |
| CLE | 12.6 | 17.9 | 30.5 | 41% |
| NE | 12.5 | 14.2 | 26.7 | 47% |
| WAS | 12.4 | 30.9 | 43.3 | 29% |
| SF | 12.2 | 18.4 | 30.6 | 40% |
| IND | 12 | 23.9 | 35.9 | 33% |
| MIN | 11.9 | 18.2 | 30.1 | 40% |
| JAC | 11.8 | 18.1 | 29.9 | 40% |
| CIN | 11.2 | 20.6 | 31.8 | 35% |
| NO | 11.2 | 21.5 | 32.7 | 34% |
| PHI | 10.8 | 14.2 | 25 | 43% |
| ARI | 10.8 | 22 | 32.8 | 33% |
| DEN | 10.8 | 19.6 | 30.4 | 35% |
| ATL | 10.6 | 21.4 | 32 | 33% |
| LAR | 10.4 | 21.6 | 32 | 32% |
| TB | 9.8 | 32.2 | 42 | 23% |
| NYJ | 9 | 15 | 24 | 37% |
| KC | 8.9 | 22.8 | 31.7 | 28% |
| LV | 8.9 | 13.3 | 22.2 | 40% |
| NYG | 8.8 | 22.9 | 31.7 | 28% |
| HOU | 8.4 | 16.5 | 24.9 | 34% |
| DET | 8.1 | 19.9 | 28 | 29% |
| GB | 8 | 19.7 | 27.7 | 29% |
| DAL | 7.9 | 28.3 | 36.2 | 22% |
| LAC | 6.6 | 14.7 | 21.3 | 31% |
| BUF | 6.5 | 14.2 | 20.7 | 31% |
| CAR | 6.1 | 17.8 | 23.9 | 26% |
| NFL AVG | 11 | 19.8 | 30.8 | 36% |
Slot PPG – This represents how many fantasy points a defense allowed to the slot in .5 PPR in 2021
Wide PPG – This represents how many fantasy points a defense allowed on the outside to wide receivers in .5 PPR in 2021
Total PPG – This represents how many total fantasy points a defense allowed to the wide receiver position in .5 PPR in 2021
% Slot – This represents what percentage of the total fantasy points the defense allowed from the slot in 2021
Slot Matchup Upgrades
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Matchup Upgrade: Keenan Allen
Keenan Allen has gotten off to a slower start this season as he has been outside the top 30 in WR PPR scoring in 3 of 5 games this season. This has a lot to do with the emergence of Mike Williams who currently sits as the WR3 in PPR this year. Williams has scored 6 TDs vs. only 1 for Allen which is the biggest driver of their fantasy point differential in 2021. The good news for Allen owners is the usage still leans Allen. Allen paces the team in routes, targets and red zone targets through week 5. This should obviously lead to more scoring as Allen has at least 6 TDs in every season since 2017.
This week Allen takes on the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have allowed the 6th most points to the slot and a league high 49% of their fantasy points to the WR position on the inside. This will clearly favor Allen who sees roughly 45% of his targets in the slot this season. Allen is of course a must start in season long, but get him into your DFS lineups for week 6.
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
Matchup Upgrade: Chase Claypool
We could be going on a limb here, but something interesting happened in week 5 because of the injury to Juju Smith-Schuster. Claypool played a season high 41% of his routes in the slot. This was up from 15% in weeks 1-4. It is hard to tell how the Steelers will handle this situation moving forward as #4 WR James Washington was out in this game as well. Either way it is encouraging sign to Claypool’s fantasy value as he will get more work on the interior.
This week the Steelers take on the Seattle Seahawks who have allowed the second most points to the slot this season. When you dive into the production vs. Seattle it doesn’t come from just slot WRs either. Deebo Samuel had 3-92-2 and Justin Jefferson caught 3-62 from the slot vs. the Seahawks. Claypool would play a similar hybrid role for the Steelers. Playing more on the inside will most likely raise Claypool’s floor this week and going forward to go with his high ceiling. Currently started in less than 50% of ESPN leagues, play him with confidence in week 6.
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Opponent: Cleveland Browns
Matchup Upgrade: Rondale Moore
Through the first month or so of the season Rondale Moore has been a distant 4th on the team in WR routes. This has led to very inconsistent scoring for Moore as he has 3 games with 10 or more PPR points and 2 games under 7. Things could be looking up for Moore as the injury to Cardinals top TE Maxx Williams could open the door for more 4 WR sets. Another interesting development from week 5 is Moore ran 2 more routes than Christian Kirk. This includes 14 slot routes to only 17 for Kirk on the week.
This week the Cardinals take on the Browns who allow the 7th most points to the slot. Last week the Browns did get torched by the Chargers everywhere. Mike Williams did do most of his damage on the outside, but it is important to note that #1 the Browns lost two DBs early in that game and #2 Williams did catch 1-42-1 from the slot. Either way Moore is an intriguing WR3/flex play as he sees his playing time rise in week 6.
Team: Detroit Lions
Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
Matchup Upgrade: Amon-Ra St. Brown
Sometimes being the last man standing is the best way to become fantasy relevant and Amon-Ra St. Brown is doing just that. In week 5 Quintez Cephus was lost for the year leaving St. Brown to become the defacto #1. St. Brown in week 5 was 2nd on the team in routes and 1st in targets after only being a distant 3rd and 5th through week 4. Week 5 was also the second week in a row that St. Brown saw 8 targets and had at least 6 receptions. This production has put him inside the top 36 WRs in back to back weeks in PPR.
Heading into week 6, Lions QB Jared Goff has already said they need to get St. Brown more involved. This should be music to the ears of fantasy managers as no QB targets the slot more than Goff over the past 5 years. This should help St. Brown continue to see solid targets as Goff looks for him in the slot. Currently ranked as the WR49, Brown can be trusted as a WR3 in PPR this week.
Slot Matchup Downgrades
Team: New England Patriots
Opponent: Dallas Cowboys
Matchup Downgrade: Jakobi Meyers
This is going to be a very positive article this week as we only have one true WR slot fade in week 6. That player is Jakobi Meyers. Meyers has been solid for most of the season as he currently sits as the WR36 in PPR. Last week Meyers had another tough matchup in the slot vs. the Texans where he only finished with 4-56. Meyers does have a nice floor as the top option in the Patriots offense, but he doesn’t have a big ceiling when he has tougher opponents.
This week the Patriots take on the Dallas Cowboys who have allowed the 4th fewest points to slot WRs. On paper primary slot WRs Chris Godwin (9-105-1) and Keenan Allen (4-108) had decent days vs. the Cowboys. However, Godwin (5-73) and Allen (2-36) didn’t have big fantasy days from the slot. This could be an issue for Meyers as nearly 75% of his targets comes from the slot on the year. Currently ranked as a top 36 WR, Meyers should be viewed more as a WR4/5 in week 6.
Top 10
Rest of Season Slot Schedules
| Rank | Team Offense | Opponent Slot PPG Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GB | 12.6 |
| 2 | SF | 12.5 |
| 3 | DET | 12.4 |
| 4 | PIT | 12.3 |
| 5 | HOU | 12.3 |
| 6 | JAX | 12 |
| 7 | BAL | 11.9 |
| 8 | BUF | 11.8 |
| 9 | LAR | 11.6 |
| 10 | CLE | 11.6 |
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Sources: Razzball, Pro Football Focus, FantasyPros Pro Football Reference, FFToday, and Football Outsiders
