Part The Cloud: A Deep Dive into Wide Receivers and Coverage Schemes

🦃 Gobble, Gobble Fantasy Lovers! 🦃

Welcome to the Thanksgiving edition of “Part the Cloud”, where we take a break from basting the turkey to dive deep into defensive coverage schemes. The goal? To uncover hidden gem Wide Receivers who could give you an edge in your fantasy lineup this week.

Setting the Table 🍽️

Let’s start by identifying some intriguing wide receiver options and the defensive matchups that could make them breakout stars this week!

KaVontae Turpin

DraftKings: $3300 (Projected Ownership: 1.05%)
FanDuel: $4800 (Projected Ownership: 0.94%)

Turpin may have only run 29 routes in the last 3 games, but he has made the most of his opportunities, catching all 4 of his targets. With 2nd place on the team in YAC (Yards After Catch), and nearly double the yardage of the next closest player, could he be in line for more snaps?

Dallas has been struggling with their third receiver, having given Jalen Brooks a shot—who’s failed to make an impact. Even Ryan Flournoy, with 44 routes run over the last 3 weeks, hasn’t been targeted once against Man Coverage.

Speaking of which, the Giants run Cover 1 at the 6th highest rate and Man Coverage at the 11th highest rate. Turpin’s best work comes against Man Coverage (29.4% win rate on the season). Given his ability to get separation and Dallas’ need for more production outside of CeeDee Lamb, it would make sense for them to get Turpin more involved.

Darius Slayton

DraftKings: $4400 (Projected Ownership: 1.52%)
FanDuel: $5400 (Projected Ownership: 1.65%)

If Tommy DeVito plays, I’d probably lean towards Wan’Dale Robinson over Slayton. But if Drew Lock is in at quarterback, I’m intrigued by Slayton’s upside. Remember, Lock has something to prove. This is his opportunity to audition, and with Daniel Jones no longer in the picture, Lock is going to be looking for a reliable target when his first option isn’t available.

Slayton could be that target. The familiarity between Lock and Slayton, who was a key part of the second receiving unit, could lead to more looks. Dallas, while known for mixing up their coverages, has struggled against Cover 1, which is where Slayton shines. He’s also no slouch against Zone Coverage, making him a versatile weapon.

Christian Watson

DraftKings: $4900 (Projected Ownership: 19.49%)
FanDuel: $6000 (Projected Ownership: 18.31%)

Miami has one of the highest rates of Zone Coverage, ranking 11th in usage. They also play Cover 2 (5th most) and Cover 3 (10th most), which plays right into Christian Watson’s hands. Watson is the best at beating Cover 2 on his team, and he excels in the downfield game.

While he will compete for targets against Cover 3, Watson still has the skills to succeed in this coverage as well. Jordan Love, who ranks in the top 10 against Cover 2, is about to face it almost twice as often as usual. Watson should also see Jalen Ramsey, who has been playing through injuries this season and is allowing a 71% catch rate—another reason why Watson could be in for a good game.

In Summary

These are just a few intriguing matchups to keep an eye on this week. I’ve handpicked these wide receivers based on their ability to exploit certain defensive schemes, so look for them to provide value in your lineup.

If you have any questions or want to discuss other players, you can always reach me at TreyJ989 in the channels. Feel free to tag me! Let’s make some bold moves and have a successful fantasy week. 🦃

Happy Thanksgiving, and may your lineups be as stacked as your dinner plate! 🍗🍽️