One of my chosen few that I look to over and over again, Mr. Ward
Welcome to Johny The Greek’s Cornerbacks Corner week nine. Week eight was another solid week with a ton of excellent corner streams and double digit massive hits yet again. We took advantage of some solid matchups last week and were at 70% accurate for the week. As the season continues I’m becoming more and more comfortable with the rookies and injury replacement corners I haven’t had a ton of experience streaming with before and the overall accuracy has drastically increased since the first couple weeks of the season. As we know what each teams offensive and defensive strengths look like and continue to learn more every week we should get better and better as the season continues. Let’s get the usual stuff out of the way and get into our week eight options for streaming 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. I always give last weeks results as well as an overall season long accuracy because it’s important to be honest and up front with stuff like this, if I’m in a slump and making bad decisions you’ll know it and can decide if you want to follow these streaming suggestions or not.
Last week I made 50 recommendations, of those 6 were declared inactive or injured, 31 were correct (met or exceeded projection) and 13 were incorrect (below projection). We don’t count acts of God here and I specifically ask people to check for inactives before each game so discounting those I was 70% correct last week, 71% accurate for the season overall. Of those 31 correct calls last week 13 of them were “massive hits” (doubled or tripled projection) for a 41% massive hit rate this week which is truly excellent, almost half of all my recommendations last week either doubled or tripled their projection and blew up for a huge week for your IDP defense. This is the way.
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)).
Broncos @ Falcons
Outlook: The Falcons still have the second best passing attack in the league while Denvers is close to last but was significantly better last week and has an even easier matchup with the Falcons 31st ranked passing defense, Denver is ranked right in the middle of the pack for passing defense but this game is at home for the Falcons and they’ve been able to complete passes on basically everyone this season. This looks like a very solid matchup for streaming corners and I’ve even fired up Drew Lock (QB) in some DFS lineups this week to take advantage of this horrible Falcons passing defense and knowing this game will be safely in a dome as to avoid the weather related shenanigans we ran into last week in many games where high winds, snow and freezing rain hurt passing attacks across the league.
Denver Broncos
Bryce Callahan (CB) Solid
Kareem Jackson (CB) Solid
Micheal Ojemudia (CB) Avoid if Bouye plays, Solid if he doesn’t
AJ Bouye (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Atlanta Falcons
Kendall Sheffield (CB) (If healthy) Solid
Blidi Wreh Wilson (CB) Solid (If Sheffield is injured and out)
AJ Terrell (CB) Solid
Isaiah Oliver (CB) Avoid (Playing time)
Seahawks @ Bills
Outlook: The third and tenth ranked passing offenses face off this week in Buffalo, assuming it’s not snowing and blowing at 30mph with high winds I’m loving this matchup for streaming corner among other things, DFS included. And while the Bills have the eleventh ranked pass defense the Seahawks were able to cook effectively against the Niners and their fourth ranked pass defense last week so this doesn’t really worry me, and of course we all know the Seahawks pass defense is dead last in the league so the Bills should complete plenty of passes here as well. This matchup looks excellent, ideal even, for streaming corners this week.
Seattle Seahawks
Ryan Neal (CB/S) Solid (If Jamal Adams is injured and out, Avoid if he plays)
Quandre Diggs (CB/S) Solid
Quinton Dunbar (CB) Solid
Shaq Griffin (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Tre Flowers (CB) Solid (Only if Griffin is injured and out, otherwise Avoid)
Buffalo Bills
Levi Wallace (CB) Solid
Tre White (CB) Solid
Taron Johnson (CB) Solid
Bears @ Titans
Outlook: Neither passing offense is special, the Titans are middle of the pack and the Bears towards the end of the pack. The Bears pass defense is thirteenth in the league while the Titans is towards the back of the rankings. This one could have some fireworks but I’m more seeing a traditional two yards and a cloud of dust run and play defense affair here. We can start the guys who are always good but beyond that I’m skipping this one.
Chicago Bears
Kyle Fuller (CB) Solid
Jaylon Johnson (CB) Avoid
Buster Skrine (CB) Avoid
Tennessee Titans
Malcolm Butler (CB) Solid
Desmond King (CB) Avoid
Jonathan Joseph (CB) Avoid (Released)
Adoree Jackson (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Chris Jackson (CB/S) Avoid
Ravens @ Colts
Outlook: The Ravens passing attack is the second worst in the league while the Colts is surprisingly eleventh currently, however the Ravens passing defense is tenth in the league and the Colts is sixth. Completed passes will be few and far between is how this looks, it could very well be a competitive game and a back and forth affair but the numbers and gut feeling point towards start the studs and sit everyone else. There are better matchups to stream from this week.
Baltimore Ravens
Marlon Humphrey (CB) Avoid (Covid IR)
Marcus Peters (CB) Solid
Jimmy Smith (CB) Avoid (Playing time)
Whoever replaces Humphrey, Avoid, no solid information on who that will be and not a great matchup regardless
Indianapolis Colts
Kenny Moore (CB) Solid
Xavier Rhodes (CB) Avoid
Rock Ya Sin (CB) Avoid
Panthers @ Chiefs
Outlook: The Chiefs passing attack is now fourth in the league and the Panthers has dropped back a bit after a couple bad weeks to middle of the pack. The Chiefs pass defense is third in the league and the Panthers is middle of the Pack. This looks like a solid week for Panthers corners if we can figure out who plays with all the injuries and Covid shenanigans, this isn’t a great week for Chiefs corners though I would avoid them entirely.
Carolina Panthers
Donte Jackson (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Troy Pride (CB) Solid
Rasul Douglas (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Corn Elder (CB) Avoid
Kansas City Chiefs
Bashaud Breeland (CB) Avoid
Chavarious Ward (CB) Avoid
Rashad Fenton (CB) Avoid
Lions @ Vikings
Outlook: The Lions passing offense is middle of the pack but they will be without their starting quarterback and best wide receiver this week so despite the 30th ranked Vikings pass defense being in town this week I’m off of Vikings corners, there just won’t be enough completed passes for them to be involved enough this week. As for Lions corners their pass defense isn’t special either, middle of the pack, so I’m alright with firing up the known and consistent producers for them this week.
Detroit Lions
Amani Oruwariye (CB) Solid
Jeff Okudah (CB) Solid
Justin Coleman (CB) Avoid
Minnesota Vikings
Jeff Gladney (CB) Avoid
Holton Hill (CB) Avoid
Mike Hughes (CB) Avoid
Anyone else (CB) Avoid
Giants @ Football Team
Outlook: The 28th and 29th ranked passing offenses and the first ranked pass defense for the Washington football team equals not a ton of completed passes for the Giants this week, no Washington corners for me this week. As for the Giants their pass defense is towards the end of the pack so Washington should be able to complete some passes this week, we can start the obvious guys but beyond that I’m staying away from anyone else for New York. Not a great matchup overall.
New York Giants
James Bradberry (CB) Solid
Logan Ryan (CB) Solid
Isaac Yiadom (CB) Avoid
Darnay Holmes (CB) Avoid
Washington Football Team
Kendall Fuller (CB) Avoid
Ronald Darby (CB) Avoid
Jimmy Moreland (CB) Avoid
Texans @ Jaguars
Outlook: The Jaguars are middle of the pack in passing offense however they’re rolling out a guy who’s never seen a NFL snap before and he gets JJ Watt (DE) and Whitney Mercilus (EDGE) all up in his shit as a welcome gift, Jags won’t be completing many passes in my opinion, no Texans corners for me. However if we can figure out who the Jags corners are this week they face off against the fifth ranked Texans passing attack and only have the 27th ranked pass defense themselves, this is a solid week for Jags corners, not so much for the Texans corners.
Houston Texans
Bradley Roby (CB) Avoid
Vernon Hargreaves (CB) Avoid
Phillip Gaines (CB) Avoid
Jacksonville Jaguars
CJ Henderson (CB) Solid
Tre Herndon (CB) Solid
DJ Hayden (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Brandon Watson (CB) Solid (If DJ Hayden is injured and out, otherwise Avoid)
Raiders @ Chargers
Outlook: The Raiders passing attack is currently middle of the pack but that outlier game against the Browns with like 40mph winds plus sleet and rain pushed them out of the top ten passing attacks the week prior so I’m taking their new ranking with a grain of salt. The Chargers passing attack has been red hot and ranks sixth in the league currently. Neither passing defense is good, both are middle to end of the pack so both these offenses should be able to complete passes with ease. Both corner groups should be ready to rock this week, fire both sides up with confidence.
Las Vegas Raiders
Travon Mullen (CB) Solid
Nevin Lawson (CB) Solid (If Damon Arnette is still out, Avoid if otherwise)
Damon Arnette (CB) (If healthy) Solid
Lamarcus Joyner (CB) Avoid
Los Angeles Chargers
Micheal Davis (CB) Solid
Casey Heyward (CB) Solid
Tevaughn Campbell (CB) Avoid
Desmond King (CB) Avoid (Traded to Titans and likely not playing this week)
Steelers @ Cowboys
Outlook: The Steelers passing attack isn’t great but they haven’t had to be, they have an excellent time of possession ranking, currently fourth in the league at just shy of 33 minutes per game, and their seventh ranked pass defense and fifth overall ranked defense will absolutely annihilate the Cowboys this week. When you factor in that some warm body backup quarterback of third or fourth string quality will be starting for Dallas this week this makes it a rough game for Steelers corners, not many Dallas passes will be completed this week, sure there could be some splash plays that get one or more of the Pittsburgh corners to their projections but relying on splash plays is never a good idea, I’m steering clear of the Steelers corners this week and firing up the Dallas corners with confidence because they should be on the field all game long as the Steelers do literally whatever they want on offense against this god awful Cowboys defense that couldn’t stop a team made up of toddlers.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Joe Haden (CB) Avoid
Steven Nelson (CB) Avoid
Cameron Sutton (CB) Avoid (If Mike Hilton doesn’t play)
Mike Hilton (CB) Not solid, risky, but could get a sack if he plays (If healthy)
Dallas Cowboys
Anthony Brown (CB) Solid
Trevon Diggs (CB) Solid
Jourdan Lewis (CB) Solid
Dolphins @ Cardinals
Outlook: The Dolphins had less than 100 yards of passing offense last week as the rookie got his first shot at real playing time in the NFL, I don’t care what their passing offense ranking is I’m not starting any Cardinals corners when we’re talking 100 yards of passing offense. As for Miami their defense spent nearly two thirds of their last game on the field due to the poor production of their offense, the Miami corners should see plenty of work and the middle of the pack Cardinals passing attack should produce enough for the Dolphins corners to eat this week.
Miami Dolphins
Xavien Howard (CB) Solid
Byron Jones (CB) Solid but risky, no one ever throws at him
Nik Needham (CB) Solid but risky, playing time
Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Peterson (CB) Avoid
Dre Kirkpatrick (CB) Avoid
Byron Murphy (CB) Avoid
Saints @ Bucs
Outlook: These passing offenses are ranked eighth and ninth in the league and there should be some fireworks in this one for sure. The pass defenses are both middle of the pack and this is a hotly contested division game anyways so we know this will be back and forth for sure. I’m good with starting the guys we usually rely on for each secondary and leaving the rest, solid matchup here this week.
New Orleans Saints
Janoris Jenkins (CB) Solid
Marshon Lattimore (CB) Solid
No third corner to speak of
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jamel Dean (CB) Solid
Carlton Davis (CB) Solid
Sean Murphy Bunting (CB) Avoid
Patriots @ Jets
Outlook: The 30th and 32nd passing offenses in the league, sure the Jets pass defense is ranked 28th so the Patriots should be able to finally complete some passes so I’m alright with firing up the obvious Jets corners but beyond that I’m not touching this one with a ten foot pole. No Patriots corners for me this week and only the obvious Jets corners and even with those guys I’m not expecting their normal production, Cam Newton (QB) just isn’t good at completing passes anymore. This is not a great matchup in general, I would look elsewhere this week unless I have no other choices.
New England Patriots
Jason McCourty (CB) Avoid
Stephon Gilmore (CB) Avoid
JC Jackson (CB) Avoid
Any other corner, Avoid
New York Jets
Pierre Desir (CB) Solid
Bless Austin (CB) Solid
Brian Poole (CB) Avoid (Usually less playing time than the first two)
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