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: Romeo Doubs
- Matchup: Jaguars
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 1
The Jaguars are the best out wide matchup in football and they have been all season, so this isn’t surprising. What is surprising is where Romeo Doubs sits in the Packers’ WR pecking order. Doubs has had more targets than Jayden Reed in over half of his healthy weeks and he’s the only Green Bay receiver playing over 80% snaps. He’s sneakily a really good start.
- Player: Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman
- Matchup: Ravens
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 2
The combination of the aggressive Jameis Winston and a porous Ravens secondary should lead to a high-upside matchup for the Browns outside receivers. There’s plenty of risk but if you’re shooting for cheap points, here’s a viable option.
- Player: Darnell Mooney
- Matchup: Buccaneers
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 6
A few weeks ago, Darnell Mooney wrecked the Buccaneers for 16 targets, 105 yards and two touchdowns. Return fixtures rarely follow the same script but I’m not sitting Darnell Mooney just in case he goes off again.
- Player: Ladd McConkey
- Matchup: Saints
- Slot Matchup Rank: 7
He’s been disappointing the last couple of weeks but Ladd McConkey remains Justin Herbert’s top target. He’s a viable PPR start against a Saints defense that can be attacked most effectively by slot receivers.
Desperation WR Starts
Courtland Sutton (DEN vs CAR): After laying an ugly goose egg against the Saints last week, Courtland Sutton is primed to bounce back against the awful Panthers. He has major touchdown upside and it wouldn’t surprise me if they intentionally scheme him looks after last week’s donut.
Sterling Shepard (TB vs ATL): After Chris Godwin’s injury, Sterling Shepard surprisingly moved to the slot despite having mostly played out wide to that point. That’s convenient this week as the Falcons concede almost half of their WR fantasy points to guys lined up in the slot. Of course, there’s also a heap of risk. Maybe the Buccaneers rotate through the slot or give the job to someone else. Maybe they lean on Cade Otton out of the slot instead. Maybe this whole offense crumbles. Who knows? But Shepard is a cheap option if you need one.
Top WR Sits
- Player: Marvin Harrison Jr
- Matchup: Dolphins
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 30
Talented rookie Marvin Harrison Jr has had a disappointing run the last few weeks. Over the last three games (one of which was admittedly shortened by a concussion) he’s turned 15 targets into 5 receptions and 57 yards. That’s unlikely to improve this week against the strong Dolphins secondary.
- Player: Xavier Legette (and MAYBE Diontae Johnson)
- Matchup: Broncos
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 29
I love Xavier Legette’s talent and he could develop into an excellent wide receiver, but for fantasy he’s in my no-go zone. The rookie has 6 receptions for 34 yards over the last three weeks. In Week 8 he faces the Broncos who have me very concerned about Diontae Johnson (unless he finishes the week with a full practice, I’m not starting him against his defense). Hence I’m absolutely not starting Xavier Legette.
- Player: Chris Olave
- Matchup: Chargers
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 27
Chris Olave may return in Week 8, but he won’t be returning to my starting lineup. The Saints look awful without Derek Carr and this week they face a frugal Chargers secondary. I also don’t love the idea of starting a player his first week back from injury when he’s so questionable.
- Player: Christian Kirk
- Matchup: Packers
- Slot Matchup Rank: 28
Christian Kirk has been frustratingly inconsistent this season. He has three games over 60 yards with Trevor Lawrence giving him double digit targets twice. But Kirk also has three games with just one reception. Against the Packers, who are excellent against the slot, he’s at risk of another breadstick. I’m not touching him in this matchup.
WR Exceptions
Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks (GB @ JAC): It’s entirely unclear what the X-receiver split in Green Bay will look like week-to-week. That makes Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks impossible to start while both are healthy. At best, you can roster one or both and hope for an injury.
Tutu Atwell (LAR vs MIN): Tutu Atwell has been very solid without Cooper Kupp and this week he gets a great matchup against the Vikings. But there’s no way I’m risking starting him with Kupp back unless I’m really desperate.
Good luck in Week 8 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 |
