Mr. White put in work last week
Welcome to Johny The Greek’s Cornerbacks Corner week thirteen. Week twelve was solid as we put in yet another week of good results and effective streams. Last week and were at 75% accurate for the week, that keeps us around 74% for the season which is pretty pretty good for a position as naturally spotty and inconsistent as cornerback. 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 55 recommendations, of those 4 were declared inactive or injured, 38 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 75% correct last week, 74% accurate for the season overall. Of those 38 correct calls last week 15 of them were “massive hits” (doubled or tripled projection) for a 39% massive hit rate this week which is excellent, more than two thirds of the correct recommendations last week were massive hits and blew up for a huge week in your corner slot.
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)).
This is the way: If you see this it means this game has the seal of Baby Yoda and is “The Way”. These are my favorite matchups to stream from this week and have the blessing of the child.
This is not the way: If you see this it means this is probably not a great game to stream corner from, this game does not have the blessing of the child. It is not the way. This game could be possibly cursed by the “wat”.
***There will be games where I don’t recommend streaming corners from one team or another in the “outlook” portion of the matchup but still have some guys listed as “solid” etc in the actual player recommendations, this is because I’ve been in those 32 team leagues and all IDP leagues and that’s what those are aimed at, if you HAVE to use guys from that matchup because you don’t have any other options then I’ll help identify who are the best of the worst options.***
Saints @ Falcons
Outlook: We literally had this exact game a couple weeks back and it was solid for streaming corner production, a little less so for the Falcons since Taysom Hill (QB) hasn’t been slinging it nearly as good as Brees was or Winston could but still this is a solid matchup in a dome that could be high scoring. I definitely love the Saints corners in this one, since I’m less enthused about the Falcons this one doesn’t quite get the blessing of the child but it’s still solid.
New Orleans Saints
Janoris Jenkins (CB) Solid borderline Ideal
Marshon Lattimore (CB) Solid borderline Ideal
No third corner of any significance
Atlanta Falcons
AJ Terrell (CB) Solid
Isaiah Oliver (CB) Avoid
Darqueze Dennard (CB) Avoid
Lions @ Bears
Outlook: Two very mediocre pass offenses outside in the cold and maybe snow and definitely wind, not ideal. We can start the Bears obvious guys but with the new administration in Detroit I’m not even sure who they’ll roll out this week so I’ll be avoiding them like the plague. So it’s Fuller for sure, Johnson as well and Skrine in stupid deep leagues and that’s it. This is almost bad enough to get the “Wat” rating but I have confidence the Bears will shut down the Lions run game enough to force some passing and that should be good for their corner production.
Detroit Lions
Jeff Okudah (CB) Solid (If healthy) Risky though, deeper leagues only
Amani Oruwariye (CB) Avoid
Justin Coleman (CB) Avoid
Chicago Bears
Kyle Fuller (CB) Solid
Jaylon Johnson (CB) Solid
Buster Skrine (CB) Avoid (Decent in much deeper leagues)
Browns @ Titans
Outlook: The Browns passing attack is one of the worst in the league and the Titans don’t pass unless they have to and are middle of the pack overall in passing offense. The Titans pass defense is one of the worst in the league and the Browns is middle of the pack plus this game will be outside so we’ve got competing factors for and against streaming here. In the end I think it will be a mediocre matchup where we can start the obvious guys and leave the rest, only stream here in deeper leagues where you have fewer options. No blessing of the child or curse of the “Wat”.
Cleveland Browns
Terrence Mitchell (CB) Solid
Kevin Johnson (CB) Solid
Tavierre Thomas (CB) Avoid
Tennessee Titans
Malcolm Butler (CB) Solid
Breon Borders (CB) Avoid
Desmond King (CB) Avoid
Bengals @ Dolphins
Outlook: The pass rankings fellas at ESPN haven’t caught up to the fact that Joe Burrow (QB) isn’t walking down that tunnel again this season, this pass offense is now very bad for the Bengals and isn’t much better as far as the Dolphins are concerned. If Fitzmagic is in things might be better and that would give us some options to stream from the Bengals but in general this one doesn’t look great. Once again we can start the obvious guys in Miami in deeper leagues with fewer options and our Bengals that play enough if we get Fitzmagic but beyond that this is a no go. Even if we do get Fitzpatrick they might just run the ball like the Giants did last week and dominate time of possession and just suck the life out of this one, and if it’s Tua it will definitely suck. Yeah this one gets the cursed rating.
Cincinnati Bengals
Le’Shaun Sims (CB) Solid (If Fitzpatrick)
William Jackson (CB) Solid (If Fitzpatrick)
Mackensie Alexander (CB) Avoid (Playing time)
Miami Dolphins
Xavien Howard (CB) Solid
Byron Jones (CB) Solid
Nik Needham (CB) Avoid
Jags @ Vikings
Outlook: Both passing attacks are mediocre but Minnesota’s has been much improved in recent weeks while Jacksonville could be working with another backup of some sort again if things remain unlucky for them. However neither pass defense is good at all and this one is in a dome so mother nature can’t mess things up, we can start the guys that play enough in deeper leagues on both sides and roll the dice. That could be difficult for Jacksonville where their cornerback corps is riddled with injuries but if we can nail down any decent options I shall present them. No blessing from the child but now a “Wat” either.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Sidney Jones (CB) Solid (If Healthy)
CJ Henderson (CB) Solid (If Healthy)
DJ Hayden (CB) Solid (If Healthy)
Tre Herndon (CB) Solid (If those guys don’t play, sit otherwise)
Luq Barcoo (CB) Avoid
Minnesota Vikings
Jeff Gladney (CB) Solid
Cameron Dantzler (CB) Avoid
Kris Boyd (CB) Avoid
Raiders @ Jets
Outlook: The Raiders were embarrassed last week and will very likely get the ship back on course in New York this week but I don’t know if they’ll even need to pass a bunch to blow away the Jets. We can start the Jets two corners that play enough because the Jets are dead last in time of possession and will lose that battle again this week in all likelihood and the best ability is availability, for that reason if no other they have value. As for Raiders corners I’m all set, the Jets pass attack is dead last in the league and their offense is barely on the field since they’re so bad in the time of possession battle, the Raiders have been one of the best in that category for the majority of this season so we could see very little offense at all from the Jets this week let alone passing offense. Jets are a go, Raiders are not. No blessing, but no “Wat” either.
Las Vegas Raiders
Damon Arnette (CB) Avoid
Lamarcus Joyner (CB) Avoid
Travon Mullen (CB) Avoid
Nevin Lawson (CB) Avoid
New York Jets
Bryce Hall (CB) Solid
Lamar Jackson (CB) Solid
Arthur Maulet (CB) Avoid
Football Team @ Steelers
Outlook: These teams are the number one and two overall pass defenses respectively, while the Steelers have the firepower to overcome that and complete some passes the Washington football team does not. Start Kendall Fuller (CB), start whoever sees the second most snaps for Washington each week (long day can’t remember who that is at the moment) and sit your Steelers. We’ll see if Mike Hilton (CB) is playing enough yet to play for that possible sack when those snaps come out, they’re late this week due to the Wednesday game but in general this doesn’t look like a Steelers corner game unless we’re directly relying on a pick or sack for production which is always dangerous. Another neutral game here.
Washington Football Team
Kendall Fuller (CB) Solid
Ronald Darby (CB) Solid
Jimmy Moreland (CB) Avoid
Pittsburgh Steelers
Joe Haden (CB) Risky, big play dependent, your call
Steven Nelson (CB) Risky, big play dependent, your call
Mike Hilton (CB) Avoid
Colts @ Texans
Outlook: The third and tenth ranked passing offenses face off in a division matchup in a dome! Who gives a shit about the defenses! This is the way! This one is definitely blessed by the child.
Indianapolis Colts
Kenny Moore (CB) Ideal
Xavier Rhodes (CB) Solid
Rock Ya Sin (CB) Solid
Houston Texans
Vernon Hargreaves (CB) Solid
Lonnie Johnson (CB) Solid
No idea who the third corner will be now that Roby is suspended, will know next week
Rams @ Cardinals
Outlook: Divisional matchup in a dome between two explosive offenses with both teams coming off close losses and contending for both the division and a wild card berth, this one will for sure be a back and forth affair and while the Rams pass defense is third overall the Cardinals being at home and indoors and this being a division game cancels out some of that, the Cardinals pass defense is just mediocre so no worries there. This one feels good, I wouldn’t be surprised if it has one of the highest over/under totals for the week. This is the way, this one is blessed by the child.
Los Angeles Rams
Troy Hill (CB) Solid
Jalen Ramsey (CB) Solid
Darious Williams (CB) Solid
Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Peterson (CB) Solid
Dre Kirkpatrick (CB) Solid
Byron Murphy (CB) Avoid (Playing time)
Giants @ Seahawks
Outlook: Finally something to eat for James Bradberry (CB)!!! We 100% start our Giants corners this week with a top five passing attack in town. As for the Seahawks corners their pass defense is still ranked dead last in the league so while the Giants could be running a backup quarterback out this week they should be able to complete some passes, they’re going to have to if they want to have any chance of keeping up. Solid matchup, not blessed by the child but pretty pretty good.
New York Giants
Logan Ryan (CB/S) Ideal
James Bradberry (CB) Solid borderline ideal
Isaac Yiadom (CB) Solid
Seattle Seahawks
Tre Flowers (CB) Solid
Shaq Griffin (CB) Solid
Quandre Diggs (CB/S) Avoid
Eagles @ Packers
Outlook: The Eagles have the eighth best pass defense and were able to somewhat slow down the Seahawks last week in the air, we can start Slay for sure, beyond that we’ll see. As for Packers corners we’ll go with the usual two studs but nothing beyond that, the Eagles passing offense has looked anything but effective lately but both Jaire Alexander (CB) and Kevin King (CB) are good enough to grab some random run stopping tackles as well as their pass defense work as well. Decent for medium to deeper leagues and mediocre overall matchup.
Philadelphia Eagles
Avonte Maddox (CB) Solid
Jalen Ramsey (CB) Solid borderline ideal
Nickel Robey Coleman (CB) Avoid
Green Bay Packers
Jaire Alexander (CB) Solid
Kevin King (CB) Solid
Chandon Sullivan (CB) Avoid
Patriots @ Chargers
Outlook: We will 100% start our Patriots corners against an offense that passes first and does everything else later, as for Chargers corners we’ve got the 29th overall Patriots passing offense in the building this week so we can probably forgo our Chargers corners this week unless you don’t have any other options. One half of a good matchup equals mediocre overall.
New England Patriots
Stephon Gilmore (CB) Solid borderline ideal
JC Jackson (CB) Solid
Jonathan Jones (CB) Avoid (Playing time)
Jason McCourty (CB) Avoid (Playing time)
Los Angeles Chargers
Micheal Davis (CB) Avoid
Chris Harris (CB) Avoid
Te’Vaughn Campbell (CB) Avoid
Broncos @ Chiefs
Outlook: Obviously we’ll be starting all the Broncos corners this week, they’ve got the best passing offense in the game in town this week. As for Chiefs corners it depends, is it Drew Lock (QB) or an actual real life quarterback playing this week or a practice squad wide receiver pretending to play quarterback? Even if it is a real quarterback I’m hesitant to start any Chiefs with the 25th best pass offense in the building. Broncos are a go, Chiefs an avoid unless you don’t have any other options.
Denver Broncos
Kareem Jackson (CB) Solid
AJ Bouye (CB) Solid
Bryce Callahan (CB) Solid
Kansas City Chiefs
Chavarious Ward (CB) Avoid
Bashaud Breeland (CB) Avoid
Rashad Fenton (CB) Avoid (Playing time)
Bills @ Niners
Outlook: The Niners quietly have the 12th best passing offense in the league, I know I missed that fact, and they’ve got a middle of the pack Bills pass defense this week. And of course the Bills have a top ten passing attack that can cook so despite the Niners fourth overall pass defense I think we can safely say this matchup will see more than a few completed passes. This one could be a shootout or it could be a defensive struggle but I do think there will be enough passes completed to float our favorite corners from both defenses. Not quite enough for the blessing of the child but pretty solid overall.
Buffalo Bills
Tre’Davious White (CB) Solid
Levi Wallace (CB) Solid
Taron Johnson (CB) Avoid (Decent in deeper leagues though)
San Francisco 49ers
Richard Sherman (CB) Ideal
Jason Verrett (CB) Solid
Emmanuel Moseley (CB) Avoid (Playing time)
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