Week 11 WR-CB Matchups: Pittman Ain’t It, Man

by Aaron Stewart · Matchups Start/Sit

This is the Week 11 WR-CB Matchups! Last week, I nailed the Los Angeles Chargers WRs by recommending DeAndre Carter (WR17), while fading the popular Josh Palmer (WR57). Unfortunately, fading Terry McLaurin (WR10) left a black eye on my Week 10 record. We’re consistently going 2-1 each week. Can we get a perfect 3-0 week?

Let’s recap what I’m looking to accomplish in this series:

  • First, 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.
  • Second, 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 – Michael Pittman (CB Matchup: Darius Slay – No. 1)

Fading a wide receiver with a 25.6-percent (No. 19) Target Share and 603 (No. 16) receiving yards is a gamble, but Michael Pittman has not finished as a top-30 WR since Week 6. While volume is not the issue with Pittman, his 6.4 (No. 90) Average Target Distance makes him an undesirable play against top cornerbacks and strong secondaries.

Darius Slay is top-10 in both Coverage Rating and Catch Rate Allowed. Yes, Terry McLaurin gave Slay his worst game of the season, but McLaurin has 20 (No. 2) Deep Targets. Meanwhile, Pittman’s one singular Deep Target is No. 135. Short, contested, covered passes will not result in a fantasy-relevant performance from Pittman.

PLAY – Nico Collins (CB Matchup: Kendall Fuller – No. 71)

In Nico Collins‘ first game back from a groin injury, he had an 80-percent Snap Share, 10 targets, and a top-20 fantasy performance against a formidable defense for wide receivers to face against. Collins and his 74.1 Air Yards Per Game is in a perfect situation to produce.

Nico Collins Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

This week he gets the Washington Commanders, who allow the second-highest Average Target Distance and fourth-most Air Yards according to Pro Football Reference. Kendall Fuller is outside the top-90 in Average Target Distance and Yards Per Reception Allowed and No. 70 in Fantasy Points Allowed Per Target with 1.75.

PLAY – Terrace Marshall (CB Matchup: Marcus Peters – No. 84)

One bad game has caused 80-percent of Sleeper leagues to forget that Terrace Marshall had back-to-back top-30 fantasy football performances before Week 10. Last week, Marshall had a 90-percent Snap Share for a third-straight week, but only ran 14 routes due to game flow. On the season, Marshall is No. 32 in Yards Per Route (1.98) and No. 7 in Yards Per Reception (17.4).

Terrace Marshall Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

His big play potential will be matched up with Marcus Peters and the Baltimore Ravens secondary allowing the No. 4-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers and top-8 in both Air Yards and Yards After Catch according to Pro Football Reference. Peters, in particular, is outside the top-80 in Yards Per Reception Allowed and Yards Per Target Allowed.