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: Jordan Addison
- Matchup: Falcons
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 2
The Falcons have struggled out wide in the latter part of the season and now take on a revitalized Sam Darnold. In a trio of tough matchups, Jordan Addison has three consecutive 50+ yard outings with a pair of touchdowns. With six teams on bye, Addison is a viable flex option in Week 14.
- Player: Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman
- Matchup: Steelers
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 6
Jerry Jeudy looks like a no brainer after his Week 13 explosion for 235 yards and a score, but I’m also starting Cedric Tillman if he’s back from injury. Tillman was the man in Cleveland before their bye week, with Jeudy only truly emerging after Tillman’s concussion. I expect more balance in the coming weeks, making both low-end starters.
- Player: Ladd McConkey
- Matchup: Chiefs
- Slot Matchup Rank: 2
The Chiefs are a very difficult wide receiver matchup, but the few points they do concede usually come from the slot. This makes Ladd McConkey a viable start in Week 14, while you must sit Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer.
- Player: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Matchup: Cardinals
- Slot Matchup Rank: 8
JSN has 421 yards and 3 touchdowns in the last month and now gets a good slot matchup. He’s a must start against a Cardinals team he belted for 77 yards and a score a fortnight ago.
Desperation WR Starts
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (TEN vs JAC): With eight touchdowns in the last eight games, I can no longer recommend sitting NWI, especially with so many players unavailable this weekend. But I also can’t recommend starting him without emphasizing just how boom-bust he is. A total zero is not at all out of the question for a player with 19 total yards receiving through 7 weeks this season.
Sterling Shepard (TB vs LV): The Raiders have a strong, though injured, secondary and concede most of their wide receiver points to the slot. Sterling Shepard has been the primary man there for the Buccaneers and has 14 targets over the last two games.
Calvin Austin (PIT vs CLE): Calvin Austin has 107 yards and 2 touchdowns over the last fortnight and he now faces one of the league’s best slot matchups. But Austin is now in the concussion protocol and he concerningly received just five targets over those last two games. He’s a true deep-league desperation play.
Top WR Sits
- Player: Xavier Legette
- Matchup: Eagles
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 31
It’s hard to sit any starters in Week 14 with so many teams on bye, but I simply can’t justify using Xavier Legette in a brutal matchup against the improved Eagles secondary. Legette is at best a touchdown or bust proposition, as he has been all season.
- Player: Jaylen Waddle
- Matchup: Jets
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 29
Jaylen Waddle has had an awful season and it’s hard to see it getting better against a 29th ranked Jets out-wide defense. The good news is that things get easier for the Dolphins in the fantasy playoffs, so Waddle is certainly someone to hold onto or maybe even pick up if he becomes available.
- Player: Jameson Williams
- Matchup: Packers
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 28
Jameson Williams has had plenty of success in favorable matchups this season, but this isn’t one of those. I don’t trust him at all against a very good Packers cornerback crew.
- Player: Keenan Allen
- Matchup: 49ers
- Slot Matchup Rank: 30
Keenan Allen has two good games and all of a sudden, he’s the second coming of, well, Keenan Allen. But let’s be very clear: The Vikings and Lions were both excellent matchups and well suited to Allen’s strengths. That is not the case against the 49ers, who cover the slot very effectively. It’ll be tough, but if possible, I’d sit the veteran Bear in Week 14.
WR Exceptions
Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp (LAR vs BUF): Yes, the Bills have a very good secondary and have been shutting down opposing receivers all season. But I’m still starting Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp this week.
Deandre Hopkins and Xavier Worthy (KC vs LAC): The Chiefs have been cycling their wide receivers, meaning no player is playing over 60% of snaps. This makes it impossible to start any of them with confidence.
DK Metcalf (SEA @ ARI): Against the Cardinals two weeks ago, DK Metcalf turned 5 targets into 59 yards as the Cardinals struggled to create anything offensively. I anticipate a better DK outing this week, despite the tough matchup.
Good luck in Week 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | 47.4 | 17.0 | 30.4 | 36% | 64% | KC | |
| MIN | 42.4 | 16.2 | 26.3 | 38% | 62% | DET | |
| DAL | 41.6 | 16.5 | 25.1 | 40% | 60% | WAS | |
| BUF | 40.9 | 16.1 | 24.7 | 39% | 61% | NE | |
| DET | 39.6 | 14.9 | 24.7 | 38% | 62% | MIN | |
| PIT | 39.0 | 11.2 | 27.8 | 29% | 71% | CIN | |
| NYJ | 38.9 | 18.8 | 20.1 | 48% | 52% | MIA | |
| PHI | 36.5 | 14.3 | 22.2 | 39% | 61% | NYG | |
| NYG | 36.2 | 9.9 | 26.3 | 27% | 73% | PHI | |
| CAR | 35.8 | 9.7 | 26.1 | 27% | 73% | ATL | |
| TB | 35.5 | 15.3 | 20.2 | 43% | 57% | NO | |
| CLV | 35.4 | 12.8 | 22.5 | 36% | 64% | BLT | |
| ATL | 35.3 | 9.3 | 26.1 | 26% | 74% | CAR | |
| LAC | 34.7 | 12.4 | 22.3 | 36% | 64% | LV | |
| TEN | 34.5 | 12.7 | 21.8 | 37% | 63% | HST | |
| LV | 34.3 | 10.7 | 23.7 | 31% | 69% | LAC | |
| NFL Average | 34.2 | 12.8 | 21.4 | 38% | 62% | ||
| CHI | 34.1 | 14.5 | 19.6 | 42% | 58% | GB | |
| IND | 34.1 | 9.7 | 24.5 | 28% | 72% | JAX | |
| NO | 33.5 | 12.8 | 20.7 | 38% | 62% | TB | |
| MIA | 32.6 | 9.5 | 23.1 | 29% | 71% | NYJ | |
| KC | 32.1 | 16.4 | 15.7 | 51% | 49% | DEN | |
| GB | 30.9 | 12.2 | 18.7 | 40% | 60% | CHI | |
| SEA | 30.6 | 11.6 | 19.1 | 38% | 62% | LA | |
| LA | 30.0 | 9.3 | 20.7 | 31% | 69% | SEA | |
| HST | 29.8 | 12.6 | 17.1 | 42% | 58% | TEN | |
| ARZ | 29.6 | 13.1 | 16.5 | 44% | 56% | SF | |
| NE | 29.6 | 12.5 | 17.1 | 42% | 58% | BUF | |
| CIN | 29.5 | 16.9 | 12.6 | 57% | 43% | PIT | |
| WAS | 29.4 | 10.5 | 18.9 | 36% | 64% | DAL | |
| JAX | 27.6 | 9.1 | 18.5 | 33% | 67% | IND | |
| SF | 27.3 | 10.1 | 17.3 | 37% | 63% | ARZ | |
| BLT | 25.5 | 11.3 | 14.2 | 44% | 56% | CLV |
