Corner Report: Week 4

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Updated on October 2, 2020 9:01PM EST

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. The corners named will parenthetically cite the rank of their coverage grade from Pro Football Focus from the 2020 season, though sometimes with reference to prior years when noted.

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.

WAS vs BAL

WASHINGTON WIDE RECEIVERS

WAS vs BAL

WASHINGTON WIDE RECEIVERS

This is an unfortunate setup for the brilliant Terry McLaurin. Not only is the Washington offense falling apart generally, but he might draw the shadow coverage of Marlon Humphrey (64.5 PFF), a player better than his current PFF coverage grade. McLaurin can win against anyone, but conditions don't get much worse than this. It's also unclear whether Steven Sims (toe) will be in any shape to contribute, but backup Isaiah Wright isn't much of a prospect and is unlikely to project well against any of Marcus Peters (50.7 PFF), Jimmy Smith (64.2 PFF) or Anthony Averett (59.1 PFF). Dontrelle Inman is the better bet to produce against any of those three, but Peters and Smith still likely present downgrades for the journeyman wideout.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Terry McLaurin, Dontrelle Inman, Isaiah Wright

Even: N/A

BALTIMORE WIDE RECEIVERS

After playing slot corner for the Chiefs last year, Kendall Fuller (68.3 PFF) somewhat surprisingly played only right corner in Week 3, moving prior outside starter Fabian Moreau (75.5 PFF) to the bench. Jimmy Moreland (42.1 PFF) and Kamren Curl (71.5 PFF) split the slot snaps otherwise, while Ronald Darby (69.8 PFF) remained at left corner. Marquise Brown mostly lines up on the right and therefore should see the most of Darby, a tough matchup to call because Brown has the skill advantage but Darby is the sort of build and athlete who could counter Brown's traits well enough. It's not a downgrade, whatever the worst case might be for Brown. Miles Boykin should mostly see Fuller in that case, with Willie Snead mostly running against the Moreland/Curl committee in the slot.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Marquise Brown, Willie Snead

DET vs NO

DETROIT WIDE RECEIVERS

The Saints are without both Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins, which isn't the situation you want with Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones up next. The slot was probably New Orelans' weakest cornerback spot in the first place, so Danny Amendola is set up nicely here, also.

Upgrade: Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

NEW ORLEANS WIDE RECEIVERS

With Michael Thomas out, Emmanuel Sanders is the top remaining outside Saints receiver and should see some combination of Desmond Trufant (40.4 PFF), who played left corner before his injury, along with Amani Oruwariye (62.5 PFF), who played left corner last week but right corner the weeks prior, and rookie Jeff Okudah (27.3 PFF), who played right corner last week. Okudah might play the slot especially and therefore might see the most of Tre'Quan Smith, while Sanders should take whichever of Trufant and Oruwariye is on his side. None of the matchups is intimidating, though Okudah is arguably the most vulnerable right now.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Tre'Quan Smith, Emmanuel Sanders

TB vs LAC

TAMPA BAY WIDE RECEIVERS

Chris Godwin (hamstring) is out, leaving Justin Watson as the primary replacement for slot functions. Scott Miller (hip/groin) would normally be a candidate for increased usage in this scenario, but with his injuries that might be asking a lot, and he tends to play outside rather than Godwin's slot position anyway. Mike Evans might have to do heavy lifting outside, where he might or might not see the shadow coverage of Casey Hayward (50.0 PFF), who otherwise played left corner last week. Smaller and slower than Evans, Hayward isn't likely to fare well against a receiver like Evans. The Chargers might prefer to match up Evans with the bigger Michael Davis (64.4 PFF), though that would mark quite a promotion for Davis if he were to shadow Evans. It seems unlikely. The slot corner figures to be Desmond King (70.8 PFF), in any case, and he'll probably see the most of Watson.

Upgrade: Mike Evans

Downgrade: Justin Watson

Even: N/A

CHARGERS WIDE RECEIVERS

Keenan Allen might see the shadow coverage of Carlton Davis (64.8 PFF), but Davis doesn't have much of a history of playing in the slot. Sean Murphy-Bunting (72.8 PFF) is Tampa's default slot corner, and he should match up well enough with Allen to leave Davis outside. Jamel Dean (68.2 PFF) is the outside corner opposite Davis, and both present challenging matchups for Mike Williams (hamstring/back) if he somehow plays, but K.J. Hill and Jalen Guyton will be the primary outside wide receivers otherwise. Neither player projects well against Davis or Dean.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton, K.J. Hill

Even: Keenan Allen

CHI vs IND

CHICAGO WIDE RECEIVERS

Allen Robinson lines up everywhere, but still more on the left than the right and more outside than the slot. That means he should see the most of right corner Xavier Rhodes (89.7 PFF), who so far looks like a good fit for Matt Eberflus' defense. Left corner Rock Ya-Sin (59.6 PFF) might be more beatable on the other side, but he too should prove a good fit for this defense eventually. Ya-Sin should see Robinson plenty but still more so Darnell Mooney, a promising rookie but one who probably hasn't yet earned a presumption of advantage over a player like Ya-Sin. Anthony Miller will need to run more slot snaps, though in this matchup his snap or/and target increase faces a significant obstacle in slot corner Kenny Moore (64.4 PFF).

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Darnell Mooney

INDIANAPOLIS WIDE RECEIVERS

T.Y. Hilton should split his time somewhat evenly between the formidable outside corner duo of Jaylon Johnson (68.5 PFF) and Kyle Fuller (76.0 PFF). Hilton should be able to turn them around, but whether Philip Rivers can get the ball there in time is less certain. Zach Pascal should see the remaining corner when in two-wide sets, though in three-wide sets he'll likely move to the slot and run against the easier Buster Skrine (54.3 PFF). It should be a decent matchup for Pascal. The third outside receiver appears to be Daurice Fountain, but he'd likely be hard-pressed to beat these outside Bears corners.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Daurice Fountain

Even: T.Y. Hilton, Zach Pascal

CAR vs ARI

CAROLINA WIDE RECEIVERS

The Cardinals might use Patrick Peterson (51.5 PFF) to shadow D.J. Moore, but Peterson's skills are declining and the Cardinals might otherwise just prefer to keep Peterson on the left side given the threat posed by Robby Anderson outside. Moore tends to run outside and on the left a little more than the right, so if he isn't shadowed by Peterson then he should see Dre Kirkpatrick (34.6 PFF) a little more often than Peterson. If Peterson stays on the left then he should see the most of Anderson, who tends to line up more often on the offense's right side. Curtis Samuel should mostly see slot corner Byron Murphy (51.3 PFF), who really can't run with Samuel if Carolina tries to use Samuel downfield (they generally have not).

Upgrade: D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Curtis Samuel

ARIZONA WIDE RECEIVERS

DeAndre Hopkins (ankle) didn't practice all week and therefore is highly questionable. Running from the left side the vast majority of the time, most of the Cardinals' replacement options have primarily lined up on the right side. It's therefore not obvious who would take Hopkins' place if necessary, but with Larry Fitzgerald locked into the slot and the duo of Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella otherwise their most talented remaining receivers, it would make sense for Kliff Kingsbury to put Kirk or Isabella on the left side in the event of a Hopkins absence. Isabella has seen negligibly more snaps on the left than Kirk, but Kirk's skill set is better for imitating the functions of Hopkins. If Isabella plays on the left and Kirk the right, then the left wideout spot will need to run different routes.

Rasul Douglas (72.4 PFF) seemed to shadow Mike Williams last week, and he might shadow Hopkins if Hopkins is active. Douglas is a very matchup-dependent corner who needs to run against big receivers so that his own size doesn't become a liability against quick-cut wideouts. Both Kirk and Isabella qualify as such, so Douglas somewhat counter-intuitively might be more threatened by Isabella and Kirk than Hopkins. Whichever of Hopkins/Isabella/Kirk isn't on Douglas should see Donte Jackson (64.5 PFF), a speedy corner better built to deal with Isabella or Kirk than Douglas is. After mostly covering the slot with safeties and rovers in the first two weeks, the Panthers utilized Corn Elder (72.5 PFF) at slot corner against the Chargers last week. If he stays in that role here then he should see Fitzgerald the most.

Upgrade: DeAndre Hopkins (but mind the injury)

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Christian Kirk, Andy Isabella (upgrade if Hopkins is out), Larry Fitzgerald

CIN vs JAC

CINCINNATI WIDE RECEIVERS

Tee Higgins played big snaps and drew big air yardage over the last two weeks, drawing 15 targets on 117 snaps. Although he should see a good number of snaps on the left over the course of the game, Higgins should line up at right outside receiver a little more often than the left. If the Jaguars keep C.J. Henderson (64.5 PFF) on the left side then he should see the most of Higgins, though the Jaguars could choose to use Henderson as a shadow against A.J. Green. Tre Herndon (51.5 PFF) is the remaining outside corner for whoever isn't on Henderson, and both Higgins and Green would get an upgrade against Herndon. Slot corner D.J. Hayden (29.7 PFF) has struggled to this point and probably constitutes an upgrade for Tyler Boyd.

Upgrade: Tyler Boyd

Downgrade: N/A

Even: A.J. Green, Tee Higgins (upgrade if Henderson shadows Green)

JACKSONVILLE WIDE RECEIVERS

Slot corner Mackensie Alexander is out, leaving Cincinnati with one of Darius Phillips (60.1 PFF) or Leshaun Sims (91.2 PFF) to cover slot wideout Keelan Cole in three-wide sets. I would guess it's Phillips, who should otherwise start and serve as the left corner in two-wide sets, opposite right corner William Jackson (74.5 PFF). Jackson is pretty easily Cincinnati's best hope of covering D.J. Chark, and to this point the Jaguars have run Chark toward Jackson's part of the field. Chark will get cracks at Phillips and Sims all the same, so this matchup is closer to an upgrade than a downgrade for Chark. Laviska Shenault, meanwhile, should mostly see Phillips and Sims.

Upgrade: Laviska Shenault, Keelan Cole

Downgrade: N/A

Even: D.J. Chark

HOU vs MIN

HOUSTON WIDE RECEIVERS

Jeff Gladney (39.3 PFF) served as the lead left and slot corner for the Vikings in Week 3, and he might retain that role with Mike Hughes out. Cameron Dantzler (63.5 PFF) is back from injury, though, and might take some of Gladney's snaps at left corner. Holton Hill (35.1 PFF) appears to be the right corner.

Randall Cobb is Houston's lead slot receiver, so he should be the primary assignment of Gladney. Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks mix up their alignments in most games, but Fuller tends to play a bit more on the left and Cooks a little more on the right. In this case that should leave Fuller with a little more of Hill and Cooks a little more of Dantzler, though both outside Minnesota corners are highly vulnerable to the speedy outside Texans receivers.

Upgrade: Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb

Downgrade: N/a

Even: N/A

MINNESOTA WIDE RECEIVERS

The Vikings finally set free Justin Jefferson in Week 3, and he immediately went nuts for an offense that desperately needed his help. The help has arrived, and it's almost inconceivable that Minnesota would turn away from Jefferson after a game like that. The Vikings used Jefferson as the second outside starting receiver opposite Adam Thielen last week, moving Jefferson away from the slot and subtracting former starter Bisi Johnson from the offense in favor of slot receiver Chad Beebe.

If it's Beebe in the slot, then it makes sense for Houston to play slot-viable corner Bradley Roby entirely outside, perhaps to shadow Thielen. If Roby shadows Thielen then that would likely leave Beebe in the slot against Eric Murray (62.2 PFF) and Jefferson against outside corner Vernon Hargreaves (51.1 PFF).

Upgrade: Justin Jefferson

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Adam Thielen, Chad Beebe

MIA vs SEA

MIAMI WIDE RECEIVERS

Shaquill Griffin (57.5 PFF) is good at left corner, but Quinton Dunbar is out and leaves the easily-beaten Tre Flowers (40.1 PFF) playing at right corner. Griffin and Flowers should in any case split their reps fairly evenly between DeVante Parker and Preston Williams. Ugo Amadi (69.4 PFF) might be a decent slot corner for the Seahawks, and he'll have a chance to make his case further when lined up against Isaiah Ford.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Isaiah Ford

SEATTLE WIDE RECEIVERS

Not much to say here.

Upgrade: Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, David Moore

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

DAL vs CLE

DALLAS WIDE RECEIVERS

Denzel Ward (71.3 PFF) is a very good left corner, at which position he should mostly cover Amari Cooper, who so far has lined up on the offense's right side nearly twice as much on the left. Michael Gallup tends to run on the left the most, and from there he should mostly run against Terrance Mitchell (70.1 PFF). Either Tavierre Thomas (53.3 PFF) or Kevin Johnson (78.2 PFF) should cover the slot, where they'll primarily cover CeeDee Lamb.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb

CLEVELAND WIDE RECEIVERS

Assuming Cleveland actually tries to throw the ball, Odell Beckham should have one of his better on-paper matchups running against left corner Trevon Diggs (49.5 PFF) and right corner Daryl Worley (60.2 PFF). Slot corner Jourdan Lewis (54.3 PFF) is a bit tougher, unfortunately for Jarvis Landry, but it's still a fine matchup for him overall, as well. KhaDarel Hodge will get the remaining outside corner from whichever one covers Beckham.

Upgrade: Odell Beckham

Downgrade: N/A
Even: Jarvis Landry, KhaDarel Hodge

LAR vs NYG

RAMS WIDE RECEIVERS

James Bradberry (84.1 PFF) is a good corner at left corner, and could be a bit of a concern for Robert Woods, who primarily lines up on the offense's right side. But even Bradberry is build more for big, sideline/downfield receivers more than he's built for lateral dicing receivers like Woods. It's not the ideal matchup for Woods, but one where he still holds the advantage. Cooper Kupp has an unambiguous green light against Darnay Holmes (36.7 PFF), whom Woods should see a handful of times, too. Josh Reynolds served as the clear WR3 in Week 3 and from his left-most position he should mostly run against Isaac Yiadom (29.9 PFF).

Upgrade: Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Josh Reynolds

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

GIANTS WIDE RECEIVERS

Darius Slayton is a good player, but with Sterling Shepard out there's no one else but Slayton to draw the focus of Jalen Ramsey (72.9 PFF), who's not only very good in general, but also is a corner whose strengths specifically counter the strengths of Slayton. Golden Tate gets a much easier matchup against Troy Hill (49.9 PFF), who has struggled in his new role as the Rams slot corner.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Darius Slayton

Even: Golden Tate

LV vs BUF

LAS VEGAS WIDE RECEIVERS

Regardless of how they split up reps versus Tre'Davius White and Levi Wallace, outside receivers Nelson Agholor and Zay Jones get a poor matchup grade in this one. Hunter Renfrow should have things comparatively easy in the slot, where the Bills tend to run Taron Johnson (43.9 PFF), who has struggled to this point.

Upgrade: Hunter Renfrow

Downgrade: Nelson Agholor, Zay Jones

Even: N/A

BUFFALO WIDE RECEIVERS

Stefon Diggs and John Brown both have clear advantages over the outside Raiders cornerbacks, and Cole Beasley is looking pretty good too against the so far struggling slot coverage of Lamarcus Joyner (60.7 PFF).

Upgrade: Stefon Diggs, John Brown, Cole Beasley

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

KC vs NE

KANSAS CITY WIDE RECEIVERS

Tyreek Hill would be normally be the shadow coverage interest of Stephon Gilmore (51.8 PFF), but Gilmore might be in the process of losing a step. If the Patriots keep Gilmore on one side it would appear to be the left, in which case J.C. Jackson (72.4 PFF) would be the primary right corner. Jonathan Jones (55.4 PFF) is the main Patriots slot corner, though against an offense like the Chiefs we should expect to see some more amoebic looks in the defense, with extra defensive backs playing as rovers in the middle of the field. The Patriots might otherwise place an emphasis on stopping the deep ball, so that might make it difficult for someone like Hill or Mecole Hardman to get as open deep as they might normally. If the Chiefs need to work underneath, then Sammy Watkins will definitely need to step up, especially in the slot against Jones.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson

Even: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins

NEW ENGLAND WIDE RECEIVERS

Julian Edelman needs to produce in shootouts for the Patriots to have a shot, but in this game he likely draws the coverage of Tyrann Mathieu, which is one of the worst things to see as a slot receiver. Running primarily on the left side, Damiere Byrd should mostly see right corner Rashad Fenton (69.8 PFF), who might be a good player but will need safety help to stay protected from Byrd's sub-4.3 speed. Charvarius Ward (71.5 PFF) should be the primary left corner, where his main matchup should be N'Keal Harry. Ward is a big and fast corner well-suited to covering someone like Harry downfield, but Harry might be able to work underneath a bit at almost 30 pounds heavier than Ward.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Julian Edelman

Even: Damiere Byrd, N'Keal Harry