This season, I’ll be taking you through my favorite wide receiver start/sits using the brilliant Slot vs Wide tool on the Razzball website. This tool is revolutionary in analyzing not just the difficulty of a wide receiver’s matchup but also the success of their opponent against a specific style of player. I recommend using it to help you with those tough start-sit decisions though you’re welcome to add your questions in the comments too. Please also check out my rankings at ffdfantasyfootball.com and you can find my long-form videos on the Fantasy First Down YouTube channel and my Slot/Wide analysis on the Razzball Fantasy YouTube channel.
Be sure to check out the latest tools on Razzball.com: Slot vs. Wide PPG Allowed | WR Slot vs. Wide| DEF Targets Allowed | Home vs. Away | Wins vs. Losses | TD Tool
Top WR Starts
- Player: Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall
- Matchup: Seahawks
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 3
Jauan Jennings returned to the starting lineup alongside Christian McCaffrey and outscored his highly vaunted teammate. He turned 11 targets into 93 yards and is clearly the 49ers’ WR2. But that doesn’t mean he’ll have a big game every week. With CMC, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Ricky Pearsall all out there, they can’t all eat every week. But against the Seahawks, Jennings, who has been playing on the outside, is in for a good chance of a repeat performance. Meanwhile, Ricky Pearsall is also in play as more of a low-end flex option.
- Player: Quentin Johnston
- Matchup: Bengals
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 4
Over a year of mediocrity made Quentin Johnston difficult to trust and rightly so. He saved his Week 10 performance with a touchdown but he’s ultimately very matchup-dependent. Luckily, he faces the Bengals this week and that’s a situation I’m willing to risk.
- Player: Courtland Sutton
- Matchup: Falcons
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 6
After over a month of mediocrity, Courtland Sutton has emerged as a clear starter in the Broncos’ surprisingly good offense. If you can find 70 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs, I’m using you against the Falcons.
- Player: Khalil Shakir
- Matchup: Chiefs
- Slot Matchup Rank: 4
The Chiefs have been consistently susceptible against slot receivers and tight ends and that appears likely to continue against a Bills team that uses Khalil Shakir as their WR1. He’s a solid start this week.
Desperation WR Starts
Jameson Williams (DET v JAC): Jameson Williams wasn’t a key contributor in the Lions’ comeback win in Week 10 but it was always going to be hard to be effective when your quarterback throws five interceptions. He gets another good matchup this week but to me he’s very risky.
Elijah Moore (CLE @ NO): Jameis Winston has certainly improved Elijah Moore’s stock but he’s far from an every-down starter. This week though, he gets a great Saints matchup and is in play as a streamer that is likely available in your league.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (NO v CLE): This is about as desperate as it gets. MVS has had 36 snaps in the last two weeks combined and that led to just four targets. But gosh was he effective with them. He went for 109 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons and is in play as a desperation start against the Browns.
Top WR Sits
- Player: Jaylen Waddle
- Matchup: Raiders
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 32
Jaylen Waddle hasn’t had five receptions since Week 1 and he faces the toughest out-wide matchup in football this week. Now he does have a history of booming against good defenses but I’m not willing to take that gamble.
- Player: DJ Moore
- Matchup: Packers
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 31
The Bears’ passing offense has been awful for over a month and that’s highly unlikely to get better against the Packers in Week 11. Until things change in Chicago, their wide receivers are no more than desperation options for me.
- Player: Amari Cooper
- Matchup: Chiefs
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 30
I tend to avoid injured players and I tend to avoid outside receivers playing against the Chiefs. So, I guess I’m avoiding Amari Cooper this week!
- Player: Jayden Reed
- Matchup: Bears
- Slot Matchup Rank: 29
Jayden Reed impressed in a great matchup against the Lions heading into their bye week but it’s hard to imagine a repeat performance. The Bears are tough against slot receivers and Reed has struggled of late outside his Week 9 113-yard effort. I’d be sitting him if possible.
WR Exceptions
Terry McLaurin (WAS @ PHI): After a slow start to the season, Terry McLaurin has been nothing short of a revelation. Despite the scary matchup, I can’t sit Scary Terry.
Tank Dell (HOU @ DAL): Nico Collins is back and that reverts Tank Dell back to WR2 status. That would usually be enough against a struggling Cowboys defense but I feel like this profiles as a Joe Mixon game. The Cowboys pass rush is much better with Micah Parsons back and it’s unlikely the Cowboys will pile enough points on the board to make Houston need to attack through the air. Dell is a far lower option for me this week than many may think.
Mike Williams (PIT v BAL): After his big touchdown last weekend, there will be a temptation to start Mike Williams against the Ravens given he’s got the best out-wide matchup in the league. But that’s a no from me, dog. Heck, I wouldn’t even be rostering Williams! He had 9 total snaps last week and will likely remain in some sort of committee with Van Jefferson.
Good luck in Week 11 and remember, every player will be a sit in some leagues and a start in others so if you have any start-sit questions, drop them in the comments below or hit me up on Instagram @TheFantasyFirstDown
| Download Table as CSV | |||
| Note: Filters and sorting in the table below apply to the output | |||
| # | Defense | Total PPG Allowed | Slot PPG Allowed | Wide PPG Allowed | Slot% | Wide% | Next Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO | 39.9 | 16.2 | 23.7 | 41% | 59% | NYG | |
| HST | 38.9 | 19.5 | 19.4 | 50% | 50% | BYE | |
| DEN | 38.4 | 10.4 | 28.0 | 27% | 73% | BYE | |
| ATL | 38.3 | 10.6 | 27.7 | 28% | 72% | MIN | |
| LAC | 38.3 | 14.6 | 23.7 | 38% | 62% | KC | |
| CIN | 36.9 | 12.1 | 24.9 | 33% | 67% | DAL | |
| KC | 36.8 | 18.4 | 18.4 | 50% | 50% | LAC | |
| TB | 36.2 | 12.8 | 23.4 | 35% | 65% | LV | |
| CLV | 35.9 | 15.9 | 20.0 | 44% | 56% | PIT | |
| JAX | 35.5 | 9.7 | 25.8 | 27% | 73% | TEN | |
| BLT | 35.1 | 10.2 | 24.9 | 29% | 71% | BYE | |
| SEA | 35.0 | 13.3 | 21.7 | 38% | 62% | ARZ | |
| MIN | 34.7 | 11.9 | 22.8 | 34% | 66% | ATL | |
| LV | 34.3 | 13.8 | 20.5 | 40% | 60% | TB | |
| NE | 33.9 | 13.1 | 20.9 | 39% | 61% | BYE | |
| LA | 33.7 | 12.9 | 20.9 | 38% | 62% | BUF | |
| DET | 33.6 | 13.2 | 20.4 | 39% | 61% | GB | |
| NFL Average | 32.8 | 12.0 | 20.8 | 37% | 63% | ||
| IND | 32.5 | 10.1 | 22.4 | 31% | 69% | BYE | |
| PIT | 31.9 | 7.5 | 24.4 | 23% | 77% | CLV | |
| DAL | 31.6 | 13.0 | 18.7 | 41% | 59% | CIN | |
| NYG | 31.0 | 13.7 | 17.2 | 44% | 56% | NO | |
| MIA | 30.8 | 10.2 | 20.6 | 33% | 67% | NYJ | |
| TEN | 30.7 | 7.7 | 23.0 | 25% | 75% | JAX | |
| WAS | 28.4 | 9.7 | 18.7 | 34% | 66% | BYE | |
| SF | 28.2 | 8.3 | 19.9 | 29% | 71% | CHI | |
| CHI | 28.1 | 9.9 | 18.2 | 35% | 65% | SF | |
| ARZ | 27.9 | 13.5 | 14.4 | 48% | 52% | SEA | |
| CAR | 27.8 | 8.4 | 19.5 | 30% | 70% | PHI | |
| GB | 27.8 | 11.6 | 16.2 | 42% | 58% | DET | |
| BUF | 27.0 | 12.4 | 14.6 | 46% | 54% | LA | |
| NYJ | 26.6 | 10.7 | 15.9 | 40% | 60% | MIA | |
| PHI | 23.2 | 8.7 | 14.5 | 38% | 62% | CAR |
