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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 7.
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 | 20.1 | 18.5 | 42.3 | 48% |
| MIA | 15.5 | 18.5 | 36.6 | 42% |
| CHI | 14.9 | 13.9 | 32.1 | 47% |
| PIT | 14.6 | 19.1 | 32.8 | 44% |
| CLE | 14.5 | 17.5 | 34.6 | 42% |
| SEA | 14.4 | 16.5 | 33.4 | 43% |
| WAS | 13.5 | 23.3 | 43.8 | 31% |
| NE | 12.9 | 16.5 | 30.8 | 42% |
| SF | 12.2 | 14.6 | 30.6 | 40% |
| MIN | 12.2 | 15.2 | 30.2 | 40% |
| NYG | 12.1 | 16.4 | 33.8 | 36% |
| NO | 11.2 | 19.6 | 32.7 | 34% |
| BAL | 11.1 | 12.1 | 24.8 | 45% |
| CIN | 10.9 | 16.9 | 29.1 | 37% |
| LAR | 10.8 | 16.6 | 31.3 | 34% |
| IND | 10.7 | 21.4 | 34.1 | 31% |
| JAC | 10.7 | 18.5 | 30.6 | 35% |
| ATL | 10.6 | 17.7 | 32 | 33% |
| DEN | 10.1 | 19.7 | 30.3 | 33% |
| PHI | 10 | 12.2 | 25.9 | 39% |
| ARI | 9.6 | 21.2 | 33.4 | 29% |
| TB | 9.1 | 22.4 | 36.7 | 25% |
| NYJ | 9 | 10.3 | 24 | 37% |
| BUF | 8.4 | 10.1 | 21.5 | 39% |
| CAR | 8.3 | 19.3 | 29.1 | 29% |
| HOU | 8.2 | 15.3 | 25.4 | 32% |
| LV | 8.1 | 13.3 | 23.7 | 34% |
| DAL | 7.8 | 24 | 34.2 | 23% |
| KC | 7.6 | 16.5 | 28 | 27% |
| GB | 7.3 | 18.6 | 26.8 | 27% |
| DET | 7 | 19.2 | 27.6 | 25% |
| LAC | 5.9 | 10.1 | 20.3 | 29% |
| NFL AVG | 10.9 | 17 | 30.7 | 35% |
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: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opponent: Chicago Bears
Matchup Upgrade: Chris Godwin
After a red-hot start to the season where Chris Godwin had 3 straight games of 15 or more PPR fantasy points, Godwin has cooled off as of late. Since week 4 Godwin has not topped 14 PPR points in any game since. In two of those contests, he failed to even hit double digit fantasy points. The biggest issue for Godwin has been Antonio Brown looks to be reborn as the WR1 in Tampa. This has left Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to see lower target counts. The good news for fantasy owners is he is still featured in the red zone. Godwin over these 3 down games still leads the team in red zone targets with 10 but has failed to find the end zone on any of them.
This should change in week 7 as the Buccaneers take on the Chicago Bears. The Bears have allowed the 3rd most fantasy points to the slot so far in 2021. This includes solid PPR days to Cooper Kupp (7-108-1), Tyler Boyd (7-73), Amon-Ra St. Brown (6-70) and Hunter Renfrow (6-56). Get Godwin in your DFS lineups especially in DK for week 7.
Team: New York Jets
Opponent: New England Patriots
Matchup Upgrade: Jamison Crowder
In his first game of the season Jamison Crowder immediately took over as the primary weapon leading the team in targets (9), receptions (7) and finding the end zone. Crowder became the focal point of the offense in the red zone as well seeing 6 targets on the week inside the opponents 20 yard line. Unfortunately for many fantasy owners, Crowder and the entire Jets offense laid an egg in London the following week.
Now after the bye it is easy to forget how impactful Crowder has been right away for the Jets. This week he should get his opportunity to bounce back as the Jets take on a Patriots team that has allowed the 8th most points to the slot. This includes a game in week 2 where the Patriots allowed a solid PPR day to Braxton Berrios (7-73) while replacing Crowder in the slot. Finally, it looks like primary slot CB Jonathan Jones is doubtful for week 7 which improves Crowder’s matchup even more. With all the bye weeks in week 7, Crowder is a solid WR3 this week.
Team: Miami Dolphins
Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
Matchup Upgrade: Jaylen Waddle
Jaylen Waddle has stepped up in the absence of top veteran WRs Will Fuller and DeVante Parker. In week 6, Waddle paced the team with a solid 10-70-2. Parker looks to be returning this week, but Waddle has carved out a solid role especially with Tua Tagovailoa at QB. In the two games with Tua, Waddle has seen 18 targets and secured 14-131-3 in those contests. This usage has made Waddle the WR26 and WR 4 in those two games.
This week the Dolphins take on the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have been average vs. the slot, but just lost slot CB Isaiah Oliver to a knee injury. Also, the Falcons haven’t faced a lot of notable slot WRs, but Chris Godwin in week 2 had 4-62-1. The injury to Oliver should open more opportunities up for Waddle in the middle of the field. Plus coming off a solid week 6 where he saw double digit targets, we have confidence Waddle can be a factor in week 7.
Slot Matchup Downgrades
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Opponent: Detroit Lions
Matchup Downgrade: Cooper Kupp
Through week 6 Cooper Kupp is the WR1 in fantasy and it’s not close. Kupp’s 153 PPR fantasy points is 14 more than the #2 WR Tyreek Hill and nearly 30 points more than Davante Adams. Kupp’s early season schedule has been solid as the Rams have faced the 8th easiest slot schedule this season. Now before we go any further with all the big names at WR on bye in week 7, it will be nearly impossible to fade Kupp. This is most likely just a DFS recommendation.
Now that we have covered our tracks let’s talk why Kupp has a matchup downgrade in week 7. The Lions on paper are not an intimating matchup, but somehow they have allowed the 2nd fewest points to the slot this season. This includes holding Tyler Boyd (1-7) and K.J. Osborn (3-14) to their worst outputs on the year. Kupp is on a different level than any other interior WR the Lions have faced, but at his top 2 to 3 price tag in DFS, it’s best to pivot in week 7.
Team: New England Patriots
Opponent: New York Jets
Matchup Downgrade: Jakobi Meyers
Jakobi Meyers continues to operate this season as the Patriots #1 WR. Through week 6, Meyers paces the team in targets (51), receptions (36) and yards (346) by a wide margin. For what it’s worth Meyers has done well as the PPR WR36 this year as the Patriots have faced the 11th toughest slot schedule in 2021.
This week things do not get easier for Meyers as he faces a Jets team that has allowed the 10th fewest points to inside WRs. The Jets back in week 2 held Meyers to his worst game of the year only securing 4-38 on 6 targets. With a lot of key WRs out this week, Meyers currently sits as the WR24 according to Fantasy Pros ECR. If you need a WR3 this week due to the byes, players like Jamison Crowder, Darnell Mooney, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaylen Waddle are all preferred plays in week 7.
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Opponent: Houston Texans
Matchup Downgrade: Christian Kirk
Christian Kirk is quietly the poster boy for post hype sleeper. A popular pick in the middle rounds in 2020, Kirk failed to meet expectations. This season that has changed as Kirk sits as the WR30 in PPR. A lot of this has to do with the Cardinals spreading the wealth this season as top WR DeAndre Hopkins as only seen 38 targets on the year. Kirk has been a bit up and down this season as he has 3 games of 17 PPR points or more and 3 games of 10 or fewer. Something worth noting for Kirk owners is the Cardinals have faced the easiest slot schedule so far in 2021.
This week things get a lot tougher vs. a Houston Texans DST that has allowed the 7th fewest points to the slot. Notable players like Cole Beasley (2-16), Jakobi Meyers (4-56) and Zach Pascal (0-0) had well below average games vs. the Texans. Currently ranked as the WR32 according to Fantasy Pros ECR, it’s best to fade Kirk in week 7.
Top 10 Rest of Season Slot Schedules
| Team | ROS Slot |
|---|---|
| BAL | 12.6 |
| DET | 12.2 |
| SF | 12.1 |
| GB | 12.1 |
| HOU | 11.9 |
| PIT | 11.8 |
| JAC | 11.7 |
| TEN | 11.4 |
| CAR | 11.4 |
| LAR | 11.3 |
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Sources: Razzball, Pro Football Focus, FantasyPros Pro Football Reference, FFToday, and Football Outsiders
