2018 Projected WR/CB Matchup Individual Strength of Schedule Rankings (Top 50)

alex bylineThis tool is useful for identifying what receivers may benefit the most from facing the worst cornerbacks in projected individual matchups (as opposed to the unit matchups highlighted in the other tools) and who may have trouble with a schedule featuring more talented corners in coverage.

Click here to go to your downloads section and download the tool.

For information on how to interpret and use the tool, read on:

The individual matchup projections are made based on information about where certain receivers usually line up (outside vs. slot, etc.) and the star-coverage or “shadow” tendencies of the best opposing corners’ defensive schemes. Projecting these matchups so far out is an inexact science to say the least, but we should be able to get more right than we get wrong. Often times, the receivers in question will only see the corner we’re projecting the matchup to be against for little more than a majority of their snaps, other times, they’ll be shadowed. Furthermore, Jalen Ramsey could blow an ACL in Week 1 and no one will face him all year. (Not that we want to jinx Ramsey, we love him).

With this said, those WRs with excellent or horrible-looking schedules in the sheet are players you’ll want to take note of and keep in the back of your mind when thinking about how you’ll attack your fantasy draft. Also remember, since slot corners are usually less talented than star outside corners, you’ll notice that slot receivers generally rank a little higher in this tool than outside wide receivers.

Always defer to the latest edition of the RosterWatch Ultimate Cheat Sheet for your final decisions in drafts.

You can read the tool like this:

Names in red cells: corners our models project as being the best in coverage (awful matchups)
Names in pink cells: corners our models project as being very good in coverage (bad matchups)
Names in white cells: corners our models project as being average in coverage (neutral matchups)
Names in light blue cells: corners our models project as being below-average in coverage (good matchups)
Names in blue cells: corners our models project as being #bad in coverage (great matchups)

The cornerbacks are listed in the weeks they are faced by the wide receiver in question. The tool is sorted by the “season” output which is come to by this simple equation:

Names in red cells: -2 points
Names in pink cells: -1 point
Names in white cells: 0 points
Names in light blue cells: 1 point
Names in blue cells: 2 points

All outputs (as calculated above, on the far right of the grid) are color-coded with DARK GREEN being best and WHITE being worst.

The color coding, in turn, indicates worse and worse relative schedules over the period in question as the color of the output lightens from the dark green. For example, if a team has a dark green schedule output on the season, but a white output for the playoffs, you’ll know in just glancing at it that the schedule on the season (overall) looks to be conducive to fantasy scoring, but the small window of Weeks 14, 15 and 16, when the fantasy playoffs are occurring, looks to project as a difficult patch. In summary:

1) TOTAL DIFFICULTY: the full season’s total sum of matchup grades. The higher the total sum of grades, the higher the difficulty of the schedule. The teams are sorted from easiest to worst projected schedule for the position in question.

2) FAST-START: the total sum of matchup grades for the first four games of the season (as we put a HIGH premium on getting off to a fast star). The higher the total sum of grades, the higher the difficulty of the schedule. The teams are sorted from easiest to worst projected schedule for the position in question.

3) PLAYOFFS: the total sum of matchup grades for Weeks 14-16 (the fantasy playoff period in over 95% of leagues). The higher the total sum of grades, the higher the difficulty of the schedule. The teams are sorted from easiest to worst projected schedule for the position in question.

37 Comments

  1. ↓ Post By eyak29

    Loving this new tool. Nicely done boys!

    1. ↓ Post By eyak29

      Wait this isn’t the fast start tool for WRs. There are so many new tools coming out I can’t keep the threads straight

      1. ↓ Post By eyak29

        Or is it? I should not of had so much bourbon on the golf course today

        1. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

          this is the individual tool.

  2. ↓ Post By Senkan

    I can’t download this tool. Takes me to 2017 downloads. Do I need to pay for this?

    1. ↓ Post By Byron Lambert

      Sounds like your subscription has gone inactive. Email our admin – RosterWatch@gmail.com to check, or just sign up again

  3. ↓ Post By Kevin374

    I second that very awesome tools here, I am in a 10 team big money league been in with a group of local guys for the last 6 years. Ive done ok, haven’t won it yet but came close a couple times. I have the 2nd pick in the draft this year and I hope I get a team as awesome as this one I just ran in a mock draft using the ppr cheat sheet! I cant wait to destroy those donkeys this year!

    QB Philip Rivers
    RB Ezekiel Elliott
    RB Davonta Freeman
    RB Mark Ingram
    RB Kerryon Johnson
    RB C.J. Anderson
    WR Davonte Adams
    WR Josh Gordon
    WR Demaryius Thomas
    WR Alshon Jeffery
    WR Brandon Cooks
    WR Anthony Miller
    WR Sterling Shepard
    TE George Kittle

  4. ↓ Post By ninerfn49er@aol.com

    What are we doing with Josh Gordon on the cheat sheet? I’m in a best-ball draft and he’s sitting there at the 4/5 turn.

    1. ↓ Post By Byron Lambert

      Take him

  5. ↓ Post By Baron VonIronCock

    Niner Fan “They” are saying that this is a planned leave for Gordon, that its like a maintenance to keep him on the straight and narrow. BUT he is one puff away from a lifetime ban.
    But you have to take some risks to win too !

    If it’s me I take JuJu 1st ( haven’t seen the sheet in a while)

    1. ↓ Post By ninerfn49er@aol.com

      JuJu is gone. Next best WR is Alshon. I’m sitting at the 4/5 (#48/#49) turn with Gurley, AJ Green & Mike Evans on my roster. Not scared of having Gordon as my #3 WR, as RB’s have been picked clean (we’re looking at Dion Lewis/Ronald Jones as best available). Aaron Rodgers still there. Cheat sheet says take Gordon & Alshon. Do I really take my 4th WR before my 2nd RB or Rodgers?

  6. ↓ Post By Baron VonIronCock

    Boys, busy time of year for you
    These are the tools I love the most while prepping for my drafts !

    Question, as the landscape levels out after the 1st few weeks of the season, do you adjust the SOS tools based on how defenses are playing in the season ?

    Peace

    1. ↓ Post By Byron Lambert

      This is a preseason tool. We’ll defer to the matchup too in-season. But, see what you’re saying. This would be a cool tool to update in season w/ the matchup data and keep on board. Will put on project list for future consideration.

  7. ↓ Post By Baron VonIronCock

    KEVIN – Nice team !

    What site is the league hosted on ?
    I’d strongly recommend playing some drafts (mock or actual low dollar leagues) on the host site.
    So you can get a feel for ADP, maybe some guys you can wait an extra round to grab ?
    I know the boys love waiting on QB and TE
    but try a mock where you “reach” for a TE like walker, burton or Rudolph.
    See how your team looks then..
    in a 10 teamer – I like to get top men at every position ( except qb unless major value falls )

    1. ↓ Post By Byron Lambert

      Kevin flexed his own iron cock

  8. ↓ Post By Baron VonIronCock

    On my teams, I have taken a few wrs in the top 4 or 5 rounds, then I know that later I can get guys like mike Williams, Doctson, Miller time, r Matthews, ETC.. so I had been grabbing another rb there
    if its me ( I go Gordon – or dion lewis – Royce freeman – )

    The boys are gonna read this and ban me from posting text !
    because I am BASTARDIZING THE SHEET OF GLORY

    1. ↓ Post By Byron Lambert

      Never go too far off the reservation BVIC!

  9. ↓ Post By Omar Santos

    3rd year in this dynasty and this is my team. Finished 4th last year.

    My question is, do i sit and wait, or do i need to make moves?
    12 team, .5ppr, 25man roster(no superflex)
    Thanks in advance!

    QB Carson Wentz Russell Wilson Baker Mayfield Lamar Jackson
    RB Alvin Kamara Tevin Coleman D’Onta Foreman Kenneth Dixon Ito Smith
    WR DeAndre Hopkins Josh Gordon Corey Coleman Tyler Lockett Corey Davis Randall Cobb Will Fuller V Cameron Meredith Keke Coutee Antonio Callaway Calvin Ridley Christian Kirk
    TE Zach Ertz Evan Engram
    K Matt Bryant
    DEF Jacksonville Jaguars

    1. ↓ Post By Omar Santos

      oh, and I just added Zay Jones off waivers, and put josh gordon on IR

      1. ↓ Post By eyak29

        I would try to add some rbs by trading some qb or wr depth

    2. ↓ Post By Byron Lambert

      Jesus, this is a disgusting team. I think you can win the title this year by making the correct matchup plays and a few solid waiver moves. LOVE that you got MANIACAL w/ such a deep sleeper RW favorite in Ito Smith to handcuff your Tevin Coleman. Very sharp.

      If anything- I’d shop one of your QBs and Randall Cobb , or maybe possibly Will Fuller for a buy-low RB

      1. ↓ Post By Byron Lambert

        Hell I might package Fuller and Cobb in a worst case scenario for a solid RB if you can’t or don’t want to move a QB

      2. ↓ Post By Omar Santos

        Thanks! This lineup is 2 years worth of the RosterWatch Pro Membership tools. Keep up the great work!

  10. ↓ Post By eyak29

    Man it’s great to see these boards become active again!

    1. ↓ Post By Byron Lambert

      Yes. it is. Thanks Eyak!

  11. ↓ Post By Kazzi20

    I have a keeper question 12 team standard scoring $200 budget for auction. I also have about 15 xtra $ due to trades. I can keep two players David Johnson for $16 no brainer and Odell for $51 or juju for $1 am I way off thinking of taking juju and trying to pick up an elite wr in the draft

  12. ↓ Post By eyak29

    No that isn’t too crazy. He is an amazing value at $1 especially if you can keep him at that price for multiple years. Let everyone else go broke with keepers and then you can dominate the draft.

  13. ↓ Post By Oldschool92

    Keep in mind special players like Alex and the guys talk about too. Obouye of the Jaguars hadn’t gotten beat for a td in 13 games or so when they played the Steelers. Antonio Brown beat him for 2 on special passes to a special player. Red matchups can always be beaten that is what makes football players “elite”

  14. ↓ Post By Oldschool92

    Also when did K. Fuller formerly of the Redskins (who were disappointed in him) become a lock down red matchup with his new team in the Chiefs? Last I heard from local Chief writers was they have the question of the health of Eric Berry and question of the talent of the rest including Fuller.

  15. ↓ Post By Dan

    I have the second pick in an eight team PPR league. L. Bell, E. Elliott, D. Johnson or D. Hopkins will be there.
    I also have to keep Kareem Hunt or Davante Adams before the draft starts.

    Should I keep Hunt, since it’s very possible that Adams will be there as the ninth pick in the second round anyway, after all the elite WRs are picked? I could pair Hunt with one of the above RBs.

    Or should I keep Adams and hope a decent RB is available in the second round after drafting one of the above RBs?

    Or should I keep Hunt and draft DeAndre Hopkins with my first pick?

  16. ↓ Post By kslimmer@hotmail.com

    Can’t access download

  17. ↓ Post By Vikinglover81@yahoo.com

    Hey guys, love the detail on then WR SOS tool!

    Just curious, with Antonio Gates being resigned on the Chargers today, where would you rank him in PPR as far as tight ends go?

    1. ↓ Post By Trashman

      not terribly high, probably around luke willson range. he’ll probably be reserved primarily for the end zone.

  18. ↓ Post By emckenna29@gmail.com

    It’s no longer available on the downloads page. Is the link somewhere else?

  19. ↓ Post By Vick's Doggy Daycare

    Why did you guys take this tool down?

    This is one of the most important tools you guys have. It would be greatly appreciated if you updated this weekly to account for injuries and update the top 50 WRs.

  20. ↓ Post By KHammer88

    Hey ROSTERWATCH FELLAZZZZ!!! Is this tool still available?? I agree with /\ /\ would love to see the MANIACAL INDIVIDUAL WR/CB matchup tool back!!
    OR am I just missing where it is?

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