Different team same Logan Ryan
Welcome to Johny The Greek’s Cornerbacks Corner week four. Week three was another solid week with a ton of excellent corner streams and double digit massive hits yet again. We’ve got three weeks in the books now and I’m starting to figure out about how accurate I’m going to be all season, it looks like it will end up hovering somewhere around or just under 70% each week which I don’t think is too bad at all. Corner is the most inconsistent and spotty position in IDP fantasy football, the same can be said for defensive tackle or defensive end but if you have Aaron Donald (DT) and Myles Garrett (DE) you know you’re in for more good weeks than bad every season, the same can’t be said at corner.
If you’re new to this article series the idea behind it is that in the IDP world cornerbacks are the red headed step child, often neglected or scoffed at. Not here. I freaking love streaming corners and have for some time now. We’re going to be looking at things like expected game script, opposing offensive tendencies, snap counts, role and historical production to inform our weekly decisions on what corners are an “ideal” streaming option. By giving this entire thing more than two seconds thought we will have a distinct advantage over our opponents who are not doing this over the course of the season. We are going to put ourselves in the best position possible every week to score the most IDP points humanly possible from our cornerback slots.
Just a little background, I’ve been playing IDP for seventeen years now and streaming corners for well over a decade of that time. I have won many titles in both redraft and dynasty and also in best ball and DFS as well as college fantasy football. I am a true degenerate. Personally I like to stream not only whatever the current week is but if my bench is big enough I’ll load up two more ideal streamers for the following week and by doing so I’ve already taken my pick of the litter a week before anyone else is even thinking about their corners. Corner is a naturally spotty position but by looking at all the factors I listed above we will have better outcomes than the majority of IDP owners who simply put in a “known” corner with a big name (Richard Sherman for example) into their corner slots and ride out the production whether or not that matchup makes sense each week. That won’t be us, we’re going to waterboard our opponents with ideal matchups all season until they drown from our flood of IDP points.
It looks like we’ll have some pretty solid matchups this week and we’ll continue to target those for our ideal matchups but in today’s NFL where passing is the name of the game I’m sure we’ll find solid streaming options in just about every matchup so even those of us in the deepest of leagues have some options. Alright let’s have a look at how we did last week with some transparency and have a look at this week’s matchups.
Last week I recommended 55 “Ideal” or “Solid” corners to stream, of those 4 were either inactive or injured, 34 were correct and 17 were incorrect (didn’t at least meet projection). Of the 34 correct streaming calls 14 of those were “massive hits” (doubled or tripled projection). We were 66% correct overall this week and are sitting at 68% correct for the season. We had a 41% massive hit percentage of correct streaming calls this past week which is the high mark for the season so far.
Disclaimer Time! I’m not going to get all of these correct. Cornerback especially is a wildly inconsistent position for production in IDP fantasy football. That’s why most people hate it with a passion. My whole thing is to put yourself in the best position to succeed by looking at all the variables and making the absolute best streaming call possible. After that you pray. Your team is your responsibility and yours alone, you set the lineup not me. Take ownership if things go south, these are only suggestions. I will do my absolute best to make sure that these recommendations are the best possible and will base these on factual information and statistics from places like NFLGsis.com, PFF and other fantasy and NFL data and statistics sites. I will also use the force, sometimes a gut feeling is all I have to go on in an unknown situation but if it comes down to that just know this isn’t my first rodeo.
I don’t work for the NFL, I don’t get to sit in on defensive team meetings for all thirty-two teams, I don’t get inside information. If a player has looked solid all season and has been playing a ton of snaps and they get yanked right before a game obviously I had nothing to do with it and since I don’t work for said team no one told me. (See Vernon Hargreaves 2019). If someone goes down with an ACL it’s not because I made a voodoo doll of them and stuck it with pins. These decisions are the same ones I’m making for my teams so if things go bad for you they go bad for me as well. I’m just here to help, don’t kill the messenger.
Article Key:
Outlook: This will be a brief overview of the two offenses and how that will effect the outlook for each teams cornerbacks corps. We’ll look at offensive ranks, expected game scripts and how the game should go. This will help us identify if this is a matchup we want to target for streaming corners or not.
Ideal Matchup: This is the best possible matchup for this teams cornerbacks, streaming any corners from this team, especially guys that are talented and play all the snaps gives you the best chances at excellent production from those corners.
Solid Matchup: This isn’t a perfect matchup to stream corner but it’s still pretty good, if you’re in a deeper league and have fewer options to stream from this matchup is still a better option than most.
Avoid: This matchup will likely be terrible to stream corner from, due to anything from a god awful opposing quarterback who can’t complete passes to a banged up wide receiver corps or even a run first offense like the 2019 Ravens were (they didn’t pass all that often because frankly they didn’t need to, their run game was ridiculous) there’s something that makes this a bad matchup to stream corners from, avoid if possible. However there may be specific corners who get a “solid” in an otherwise “avoid” matchup simply due to their talent and ability to make plays in all aspects of the defense (see Logan Ryan (CB)).
Colts @ Bears
Outlook: Two solid defenses, two mediocre passing offenses. Colts pass defense is actually first in the league which is surprising, that could have more to do with their opponents so far. Still, Long Pole Foles has entered the building, this Bears passing attack could be better this week, I know I feel better about my Robinson shares. When we factor in the solid producers from each teams secondary I know we’ll see some solids here.
Indianapolis Colts
Rock Ya Sin (CB) *If healthy* Solid
Kenny Moore (CB) Solid
Xavier Rhodes (CB) Avoid
TJ Carrie (CB) Solid *If Ya Sin is out*
Chicago Bears
Kyle Fuller (CB) Solid
Jaylon Johnson (CB) Solid
Buster Skrine (CB) Avoid
Jaguars @ Bengals
Outlook: The surprise here is the Bengals pass defense is sixth in the league right now, I don’t know how much I buy that personally but that’s what the stats say. What I do believe is both passing offenses are mediocre, middle of the pack. I think both of these young quarterbacks have a chance for a solid day here and some offensive fireworks, should see some solids here as well.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tre Herndon (CB) Solid
DJ Hayden (CB) Avoid
CJ Henderson (CB) Solid
Cincinnati Bengals
Darious Phillips (CB) Solid
William Jackson (CB) Solid
Mackensie Alexander (CB) Solid
Browns @ Cowboys
Outlook: Browns passing defense is middle of the pack, Cowboys is at the ass end of the pack. Cowboys passing offense is first, Browns is 30th. That’s a recipe for some fireworks, if we get a healthy Denzel Ward (CB) I think we’re looking at a massive hit as long as he plays the whole game, definitely some solids here and likely an ideal start or two as well.
Cleveland Browns
Denzel Ward (CB) Ideal (If healthy)
Greedy Williams (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Tavierre Thomas (CB) Avoid
Terrance Mitchell (CB) Solid
Dallas Cowboys
Trevon Diggs (CB) Solid
Jourdan Lewis (CB) Avoid
Darryl Worley (CB) Avoid
Saints @ Lions
Outlook: Two middle of the pack pass defenses, two great passing quarterbacks with top half of the league passing attacks. This matchup is already nice, it gets even better if Micheal Thomas (WR) comes back this week and Kenny Golloday (WR) plays again. When we factor in guys like Janoris Jenkins (CB) and Jeff Okudah (CB) I already know we have solid streamers here, should be a nice matchup to give us options this week.
New Orleans Saints
Marshon Lattimore (CB) Solid
Janoris Jenkins (CB) Solid
No third corner with significant playing time
Detroit Lions
Jeff Okudah (CB) Solid
Amani Oruwariye (CB) Solid
Darryl Roberts (CB) Avoid
Seahawks @ Dolphins
Outlook: Both pass defenses are hot garbage. Russ is obviously cooking and will very likely create another culinary masterpiece this week, the Dolphins passing attack is ranked pretty bad but I think the injuries in the Seattle secondary and them being literally dead last in the league on pass defense helps out Fitzmagic a little, good recipe for some streamers in this game.
Seattle Seahawks
Quinton Dunbar (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Shaq Griffin (CB) Solid
Tre Flowers (CB) Avoid if Dunbar plays, Solid if he doesn’t
Miami Dolphins
Noah Igbinoghene (CB) Solid
Xavien Howard (CB) Solid
Jomal Perry (CB) Avoid
Chargers @ Buccaneers
Outlook: The Bucs pass defense is mediocre, the Chargers is not. Ranked 9th in the league the Chargers have a nice pass rush and some solid corners, I like their end of things quite a bit, especially with Brady out there slinging it against them and an iffy run game. However for Bucs corners we have a Chargers passing offense led by either a rookie or a beat up veteran that’s never put up numbers in the pass game, we’ll see some solids from LA, fewer from Tampa.
Los Angeles Chargers
Chris Harris (CB) Is now on IR so obviously not an option
Casey Hayward (CB) Solid
Micheal Davis (CB) Solid
Desmond King (CB) Avoid
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carlton Davis (CB) Avoid
Jamel Dean (CB) Avoid
Sean Murphy Bunting (CB) Avoid
Ravens @ Football Team
Outlook: This matchup is not great for streaming corner which is unfortunate because Peters and Humphrey are two of my favorites, don’t get me wrong they’re both talented enough to have a nice game even against an uninspiring quarterback like Dwayne Haskins (QB) and his 28th ranked passing attack but in general the matchup stinks. The Skins corners get Lamar Jackson (QB) who threw for less than 100 passing yards last week and has the leagues worst passing attack, dead last. So like I said, not great, avoid if possible.
Baltimore Ravens
Marcus Peters (CB) Avoid
Marlon Humphrey (CB) Avoid
Jimmy Smith (CB) Avoid
*Peters and Humphrey are good enough to maybe grab a pick and take it to the house or something but in general Washington is likely not going to play enough offense to make this a good week for these guys, if you’re in a jam and you have to start either Peters or Humphrey or go with something far less solid corner-wise you should stick with your studs and we’ll just hope it works out*
Washington Football Team
Kendall Fuller (CB) Avoid
Ronald Darby (CB) Avoid
Jimmy Moreland (CB) Avoid
*Baltimore probably won’t need to pass a whole lot this week, they will likely just run it down their throats and own time of possession and salt this one way early*
Cardinals @ Panthers
Outlook: Surprisingly the Panthers have a top ten passing attack, no way I would have guessed that, on the other end we all know Kyler Murray (QB) and the Cardinals can air it out, great matchup, even better if Donte Jackson (CB) is healthy this week. Should be a few solids here for sure.
Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Peterson (CB) Solid
Byron Murphy (CB) Solid
Dre Kirkpatrick (CB) Avoid
Carolina Panthers
Donte Jackson (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Justin Burris (S/CB) Solid
Rasul Douglas (CB) Avoid
Vikings @ Texans
Outlook: The Vikings passing attack is awful, the Texans is mediocre. The Vikings pass defense is also hot garbage, this is a smash start for Deshaun Watson (QB) owners and in DFS which also means Vikings corners will see a ton of action this week. On the other side I’d probably sit everyone except maybe Bradley Roby (CB) who might end up on Thielen or Jefferson and possibly get enough work for a decent day, also the Vikings offense in general has been horrific and they are dead last in time of possession in the league, they may not even be on offense enough for Texans corners to rack up many points, pass on Houston, smash starts for Vikings corners.
Minnesota Vikings
Holton Hill (CB) Solid
Jeff Gladney (CB) Solid
Mike Hughes (CB) Avoid *Injury*
Mackensie Alexander (CB) Avoid
Kris Boyd (CB) Avoid
Houston Texans
Bradley Roby (CB) Solid
Vernon Hargreaves (CB) Avoid
Lonnie Johnson (CB) Avoid
Giants @ Rams
Outlook: Middle of the pack passing offenses and defenses here, overall the stat that’s moving my brain box is time of possession, Rams are 4th in the league, Giants are 30th. Rams corners may not be on the field enough for massive production but in general I think we start the studs, there should be enough passing on both sides for normal production from guys like Troy Hill (CB) and Jalen Ramsey (CB). For the Giants this is a great matchup for Bradberry and Ryan.
New York Giants
Logan Ryan (CB) Ideal
James Bradberry (CB) Ideal
Isaac Yiadom (CB) Avoid
Julian Love (CB/S) Solid if listed as CB in your league
Los Angeles Rams
Troy Hill (CB) Solid
Jalen Ramsey (CB) Solid
Darious Williams (CB) Avoid
Patriots @ Chiefs
Outlook: The Chiefs are really good at throwing the ball and defending the pass. The Patriots are really bad at throwing the ball and middle of the pack at defending it. The Patriots will obviously try and run to control time of possession and keep the overall score down so I’m steering clear of Chiefs corners this week, on the other side this is a smash start for Gilmore and there will likely be several other Patriots corners that are startable this week.
New England Patriots
Stephon Gilmore (CB) Ideal
Jonathan Jones (CB) Solid
JC Jackson (CB) Solid
Kansas City Chiefs
Rashad Fenton (CB) Avoid
Chavarious Ward (CB) Solid
3rd CB Uknown, L’Jarius Sneed (CB) injured and out
Bills @ Raiders
Outlook: The Bills currently have the second best passing attack in the league, I think it’s time for the overlords to reset the simulation it’s clearly glitching. The Raiders are just OK at passing. Both passing defenses are middle of the pack. Both offenses are top half of the league in time of possession, this feels like a close game that comes down to the wire with plenty of offense on both sides, solid matchup to start the known producing corners on both teams.
Buffalo Bills
Tre’Davious White (CB) Solid
Levi Wallace (CB) Solid
Taron Johnson (CB) Avoid
Las Vegas Raiders
Trayvon Mullen (CB) Solid
Damon Arnette (CB) Solid
Lamarcus Joyner (CB) Solid
Eagles @ 49ers
Outlook: Both teams have solid passing defenses, both passing attacks are OK not great. The stat that breaks the Camels back here is time of possession for me, the 49ers are third in the league and from everything I’ve seen are going to absolutely steam roll the Eagles who can’t even beat Cincy. The 49ers will likely be able to just run it down their throats with whatever warm bodies are playing running back for them this week and control this one from start to finish. There could be some points from forcing Philly to pass to stay in this but in general this feels like a lower scoring affair with not a ton of fireworks, also nothing is really set in stone here this game could go a bunch of different ways so in general I’m steering clear of this one.
Philadelphia Eagles
Darius Slay (CB) Solid
Cre’Von Leblanc (CB) Avoid
Avonte Maddox (CB) Avoid
San Francisco 49ers
Between the injuries and lack of clarity on who they will even roll out at corner this week I’m not real comfortable recommending anyone here, have a look personally if you want to try and figure out the 49ers corner situation I’m not going to dump a ton of time into it.
Falcons @ Packers
Outlook: The third and sixth ranked passing offenses respectively. The Falcons pass defense is 30th, so essentially dead last in the league while the Packers isn’t much better, middle of the pack. There should be fireworks here, ideal matchups all around for streaming corner in this game.
Atlanta Falcons
Isaiah Oliver (CB) Solid
Darqueze Dennard (CB) Solid
Blidi Wreh Wilson (CB) Avoid
Green Bay Packers
Kevin King (CB) Ideal
Jaire Alexander (CB) Ideal
Chandon Sullivan (CB) Avoid
Please remember to check inactives before submitting your final lineups Thursday night, Sunday at 11am Eastern and 330pm Eastern Time, prior to Sunday night football and Monday night. Players can and will suddenly become inactive after looking “good to go” all week (See “Robert Woods 2019″). That’s on you to keep an eye on. Also this article was published days before kickoff and I have zero intention of updating it a hundred times with injuries and inactives prior to kickoff. That stuff is on you, figure it out, or don’t, it’s not my lineup.
These are only suggestions, your lineup is ultimately your responsibility and yours alone. Good luck this week and all season, go get that hardware and cash.
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