Welcome to the Week 9 WR-CB Matchups! In recent weeks, our PLAYS at WR have hit more consistently than our FADES. Last week, this article series correctly identified FADING Adam Thielen and PLAYING Mack Hollins. Chidobe Awuzie‘s injury opened the door for Amari Cooper to toast the Bengals. A solid 2-1 is something I’ll take. With six teams on bye this week, let’s get into Week 9 and identify wide receivers to play and fade!
Let’s recap what I’m looking to accomplish in this series:
- Firstly, I’m targeting players who are STARTING in over 50-percent of Sleeper Leagues to FADE. I believe that these WRs will finish outside the top-30 wide receivers for the week.
- Secondly, I’m targeting players ROSTERED in less than 50-percent of Sleeper Leagues to PLAY. These are your desperate WR2 and/or FLEX plays. I believe these wide receivers will finish inside the top-30 WRs for the week.
- Finally, the players I recommend playing I would play OVER players I recommend fading.
FADE – Tyler Lockett (CB Matchup: Byron Murphy – No. 18)
Tyler Lockett Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Three weeks ago, Tyler Lockett faced off against Byron Murphy and the Arizona Cardinals secondary, and he has his worst game of the season. Nothing much has changed in this relatively short amount of time. The Cardinals’ weakness on defense is yards after catch (they allow the most in the NFL). Meanwhile, Lockett is No. 55 in Yards After Catch with 83 and averaging 1.4 per target.
Murphy is top-15 in Average Target Distance and No. 30 in Yards Per Target Allowed. Last week, when matched up primarily with Justin Jefferson, he finished with 24 yards allowed on three receptions.
PLAY – Terrace Marshall (CB Matchup: Cam Taylor-Britt – No. 112)
Terrace Marshall Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
One singular injury can change an entire offense. Chidobe Awuzie‘s strong 2022 NFL season is over. With their No. 1 CB out, rookie Cam Taylor-Britt will be called upon to play a significant role in only his third career game. So far his -46.3 Coverage Rating and a near-perfect 142.9 Passer Rating Allowed do little to ease the minds of Bengals’ fans.
2022 has been a rollercoaster for Terrace Marshall. Early in the season, he couldn’t get onto the field, and then Matt Rhule was fired after Week 5. In the three weeks since, Marshall’s snaps, routes run, and targets have gone up each week, culminating in a 9-target Week 8 performance where he finished with 12.7 (No. 29) fantasy points.
And still, he’s available in 90-percent of Sleeper leagues. Marshall is starting and playing over 85-percent of the team’s snaps. He’s No. 20 in Yards Per Reception against an inexperienced corner and a secondary missing a key contributor? Yes, please.
PLAY – DeAndre Carter (CB Matchup: Isaiah Oliver – No. 111)
DeAndre Carter Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
This is a reminder that SIX teams are on bye this week. Playing DeAndre Carter feels nasty. Carter has been thrust into playing time this season because Keenan Allen (hamstring) has been out. Now, Mike Williams is out with a high ankle sprain. In Week 7, Carter had a 94-percent Snap Share, saw 7 targets, and finished with over 70 Air Yards. The Seahawks though allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to WRs and Carter struggled.
This week Carter plays Atlanta’s beat-up secondary that’s allowed the second-most fantasy points to WRs. Only 11 cornerbacks have higher Yards Per Reception Allowed than Isaiah Oliver‘s 15.1 and his 22.2-percent Target Rate is the No. 10-highest if he qualified. Austin Ekeler is dealing with an abdomen injury. There’s an opportunity in this Chargers’ offense for Carter to put up low-WR2 numbers this week.
