New season, same Logan Ryan
Welcome to Johny The Greek’s Cornerbacks Corner week seven. Week six was another solid week with a ton of excellent corner streams and many massive hits yet again. We took advantage of some solid matchups last week and had another double digit massive hit week overall and were at 72% 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 seven 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 45 recommendations, of those 2 were declared inactive or injured, 31 were correct (met or exceeded projection) and 12 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 72% correct last week, 73% accurate for the season overall. Of those 31 correct calls last week 17 of them were “massive hits” (doubled or tripled projection) for a 54% massive hit rate this week, more than half of all my streaming recommendations last week doubled or tripled their projection. 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)).
Lions @ Falcons
Outlook: The Falcons now have the second best passing attack in the league while the Lions is towards the end of the pack, neither defense is good at all, middle of the pack for the Lions and 31st in the league for the Falcons for pass defense. That’s a recipe for excellent cornerback production, the Lions don’t have as good a passing offense but face a god awful Falcons pass defense and a game that looks to be a shootout in a dome where mother nature can’t screw with us. This looks excellent.
Detroit Lions
Jeff Okudah (CB) Ideal
Amani Oruwariye (CB) Solid
Darryl Roberts (CB) Solid
Atlanta Falcons
AJ Terrell (CB) Solid
Kendall Sheffield (CB) Solid
Isaiah Olivder (CB) Avoid
Browns @ Bengals
Outlook: Middle of the pack passing attack for Cincy, towards the end of the pack for Cleveland. Both passing defenses are middle bottom half of the league. The poor passing defenses here could help these quarterbacks be a little better than usual and their first meeting this season was a points bonanza, this also looks like a nice matchup to stream from.
Cleveland Browns
Denzel Ward (CB) Solid
Terrence Mitchell (CB) Solid
Kevin Johnson (CB) Avoid
Cincinnati Bengals
William Jackson (CB) Solid
Mackensie Alexander (CB) Solid
LeShaun Sims (CB) Avoid
Steelers @ Titans
Outlook: The Titans passing attack is just outside the top ten in the league, Steelers is towards the end of the pack. However the Titans pass defense is hot garbage so Big Ben should be able to pass if he wants to this week. The Steelers pass defense is eighth in the league which could be a bit of an issue for Tannehill but this offense for Tennessee is anything but one dimensional, I’m seeing another high scoring affair here this week and yet another nice matchup to stream corner from this week.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steven Nelson (CB) Solid
Joe Haden (CB) Solid
Mike Hilton (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Cameron Sutton (CB) Solid (Only if Hilton is injured and out)
Tennessee Titans
Malcolm Butler (CB) Solid
Jonathan Joseph (CB) Solid
Kristian Fulton (CB) Avoid
Panthers @ Saints
Outlook: The Ninth and Twelfth ranked passing offenses come to town in a division matchup this week. The Panthers pass defense is still top ten, seventh overall while the Saints are just middle of the pack. The Panthers defense could slow down the Saints passing attack a little bit but the Saints are balanced on offense as well, Micheal Thomas (WR) tweaked his hamstring again this week in practice so we may not be seeing him yet again this week which isn’t ideal. I definitely like starting the Saints known producers here, Panthers have some injury issues with Justin Burris (CB/S) and Donte Jackson (CB) so I may just avoid them entirely this week due to that plus the other factors I listed above that aren’t ideal.
Carolina Panthers
Rasul Douglas (CB) Solid
Donte Jackson (CB) Avoid
Corn Elder (CB) Avoid
Troy Pride (CB) Avoid
New Orleans Saints
Marhson Lattimore (CB) Solid
Janoris Jenkins (CB) Solid
Patrick Robinson (CB) Avoid
Bills @ Jets
Outlook: The Sixth ranked passing attack and the absolute dead last ranked passing attack in the league. Neither pass defense is good. This should be an excellent game for Jets corners, not so much for Bills corners just because I feel like they dominate time of possession in this one and the Jets passing offense won’t have a ton of opportunity to get going. Maybe a couple solids just because this is division so you never know but in general I’d look for other options this week if you were going to play Bills corners.
Buffalo Bills
Josh Norman (CB) Solid
Tre’Davious White (CB) Avoid
Taron Johnson (CB) Avoid
New York Jets
Pierre Desir (CB) Solid
Brian Poole (CB) Solid
Bless Austin (CB) Avoid (Still not back to ideal playing time)
Cowboys @ Redskins
Outlook: The stats guys haven’t caught up to the fact that Dak Prescott (QB) isn’t playing again this year, the Cowboys horrible week against Arizona wasn’t enough to knock them off the first overall passing offense spot but we all know this offense is just a shadow of what it was a couple weeks ago. Still I would be fine with Kendall Fuller (CB) here for Washington. The Washington passing attack is horrible, 27th in the league but the Cowboys passing defense is bad just like the overall defense is bad, on the other side Washington has the second overall passing defense. I’m OK with Trevon Diggs (CB) in deeper leagues but that’s it for Dallas, in general this isn’t the greatest matchup by any means.
Dallas Cowboys
Trevon Diggs (CB) Solid
Jourdan Lewis (CB) Avoid
Anthony Brown (CB) Avoid
Washington Redskins
Kendall Fuller (CB) Solid
Ronald Darby (CB) Avoid
Jimmy Moreland (CB) Avoid
Packers @ Texans
Outlook: The Packers passing attack is middle of the Pack while the Texans has recovered significantly and is now ranked third in the league. Both pass defenses are middle of the pack with the Texans more towards the back of the pack. Rodgers got embarrassed last week on national television and this is a great spot to get revenge, plus Devante Adams (WR) is healthy. This feels like a possible shoot out with the Packers pulling it out towards the end, there are a few guys I like here quite a bit.
Green Bay Packers
Jaire Alexander (CB) Solid
Kevin King (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Chandon Sullivan (CB) Avoid
Houston Texans
Bradley Roby (CB) Solid
Vernon Hargreaves (CB) Solid
Lonnie Johnson (CB) Avoid
Seahawks @ Cardinals
Outlook: Russ will be cooking and has the 4th best passing attack in the league, the Cardinals passing attack is good but middle of the pack. However the Seahawks pass defense is dead last so that will help Kyler Murray (QB) and company be able to pass with ease so I’m starting Seattle corners with confidence. The Cardinals pass defense is just outside the top ten in the league but won’t be able to slow down this offense all that much, especially since this is division so Seattle knows how to beat this defense. Shootout of epic proportions, this is the way.
Seattle Seahawks
Quandre Diggs (S/CB) Solid (If listed as a corner)
Ryan Neal (S/CB) Solid (If Jamal Adams is out and Neal is listed as a corner)
Shaq Griffin (CB) Solid
Quinton Dunbar (CB) Solid
Tre Flowers (CB) Avoid
Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Peterson (CB) Solid
Byron Murphy (CB) Solid
Dre Kirkpatrick (CB) Avoid
Chiefs @ Broncos
Outlook: A great passing attack and a bad one. A great passing defense and a bad one. I’m starting Broncos corners with confidence, Chiefs corners not so much. Pretty straightforward.
Kansas City Chiefs
Bashaud Breeland (CB) Avoid
Chavarious Ward (CB) Avoid
Rashad Fenton (CB) Avoid
Denver Broncos
Bryce Callahan (CB) Solid
Kareem Jackson (CB) Solid
Micheal Ojemudia (CB) Solid
49ers @ Patriots
Outlook: Both passing offenses are in the bottom half of the league, both passing defenses are top ten. Not a shoot out. Not a ton of passing. Not a great game to stream corner.
San Francisco 49ers
Emmanuel Moseley (CB) Avoid
Jason Verrett (CB) Avoid
Jamar Taylor (CB) Avoid
New England Patriots
Stephon Gilmore (CB) Avoid
Jonathan Jones (CB) Avoid
JC Jackson (CB) Avoid
Jaguars @ Chargers
Outlook: Both passing attacks are in the top half of the league, both passing defenses are bottom half of the league and more towards the end rather than the center. This is a great formula for passing offense and a possible shoot out. Solid matchup to stream corner from either team. Now we just need to figure out who the hell will be playing corner for the Jags this week smh.
Jacksonville Jaguars
CJ Henderson (CB) Solid
DJ Hayden (CB) Solid (If healthy)
Sidney Jones (CB) Solid (Only if DJ Hayden is injured and out, sit otherwise)
Tre Herndon (CB) Solid
Los Angeles Chargers
Micheal Davis (CB) Solid
Desmond King (CB) Avoid
Casey Hayward (CB) Solid
Buccaneers @ Raiders
Outlook: Middle of the pack for Bucs passing attack, Raiders are ranked fifth in the league for passing offense. Bucs have a top ten passing defense and the best overall defense currently. Raiders are just OK, middle of the pack. There could be points here, or the Bucs could just choke the life out of them and dominate time of possession all game long. I’m leaning towards option two especially after hearing a good chunk of this team is on the Covid IR list now. Bucs corners could be decent since they’ll likely get a lead and force the Raiders to pass but for the Raiders I’m probably looking elsewhere, the Bucs haven’t had to pass a ton recently and I don’t think that changes this week. In deeper leagues Lawson and Mullen are playable though since they’ll get Evans and Godwin for a decent portion of this game in all likelihood.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carlton Davis (CB) Solid
Sean Murphy Bunting (CB) Solid
Jamel Dean (CB) Avoid
Las Vegas Raiders
Nevin Lawson (CB) Solid
Travon Mullen (CB) Solid
Lamarcus Joyner (CB) Avoid
Bears @ Rams
Outlook: Neither passing attack is special and both passing defenses are top ten. Not a great recipe for an offensive explosion. Kyle Fuller (CB) and Troy Hill (CB) are almost matchup proof but it still feels iffy. I’d look elsewhere first but in deeper leagues those two might be alright, besides that I’m not touching this one with a ten foot pole.
Chicago Bears
Kyle Fuller (CB) Solid
Jaylon Johnson (CB) Avoid
Buster Skrine (CB) Avoid
Los Angeles Rams
Jalen Ramsey (CB) Avoid
Troy Hill (CB) Solid
Darious Williams (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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