This article is part of our Corner Report series.
This article will go game by game for the Sunday main slate looking at the top wide receivers from an offense and, based on the inside/outside and left/right splits in the alignment data of those receivers, identify the cornerbacks most likely to face them in man coverage.
Receivers very rarely see the same corner every play, be it due to formational quirks or zone coverage calls by the defense, so a receiver's fortunes depend on much more than just the quality of the corner they're likely to see the most in a given game. Even against a bad corner, a good receiver can be denied the opportunity if the pass rush or something else outside his control complicates things. But it's part of the puzzle, and it's worth keeping track of.
Receivers are left with an Upgrade, Downgrade, or Even verdict based on their projected matchup. This shouldn't be read as 'good' or 'bad' but rather a measured tweak from the receiver's baseline projection.
NYJ vs CLE
JETS WIDE RECEIVERS
Denzel Ward seemed to follow around Darius Slayton last week, but if Ward shadows anyone here the calculus is more complicated. Whereas Slayton is the clear top speed threat in the Giants offense, one could argue that either of Breshad Perriman or Denzel Mims qualify for that distinction within the Jets offense. Perriman is the more established of the two, so he might be the slight favorite, but the Browns could also opt to just have Ward line up on
