Corner Report: Week 3

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Updated on September 26, 2020 10:26AM EST

-Apologies for the delay, I had to rewrite a bunch of stuff throughout the injury news.

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.

CLE vs WAS

CLEVELAND WIDE RECEIVERS

Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry are of course the starters for Cleveland, while KhaDarel Hodge generally takes the outside rep opposite Beckham when the Browns go to three wide, in which cases Landry moves

-Apologies for the delay, I had to rewrite a bunch of stuff throughout the injury news.

CLE vs WAS

CLEVELAND WIDE RECEIVERS

Fabian Moreau (75.5 PFF) and Ronald Darby (69.9 PFF) are the outside corners, with Moreau on the right and Darby on the left. Kendall Fuller (55.3 PFF 2019) makes his 2020 debut in the slot, where throughout his career he's generally played better than his 2019 grade implies. Landry should see the most of Fuller, while Beckham should split his time fairly evenly between Moreau and Darby.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: KhaDarel Hodge

Even: Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry

WASHINGTON WIDE RECEIVERS

The Browns might be without top corners Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams, leaving Terrance Mitchell (67.5 PFF) at right corner with Tavierre Thomas (54.2 PFF) and Kevin Johnson (73.6 PFF 2019) to split up the left corner and slot corner roles on some basis. Thomas has played the slot to this point, but Johnson was expected to be the starting slot corner over Thomas in the event that Ward and Williams were healthy. Perhaps if those two are out, then Johnson will take the left corner role given the greater importance of that role.

If you're a Steven Sims investor then you probably want Thomas to remain in the slot, because he seems more suited to special teams than the heavy defensive snaps he's currently playing. Sims should be the primary assignment of whoever the slot corner is, while Terry McLaurin might mostly see Mitchell after playing mostly on the left side to this point. Mitchell's 2020 results have been good enough and he has short-area athleticism to work with, but with a 4.6 40 he probably can't hang with McLaurin for more than 15 yards or so, if that. Dontrelle Inman should mostly play on the left, where he'll probably prove inconsequential regardless of whether it's Thomas or Johnson he sees.

Upgrade: Terry McLaurin

Downgrade: Dontrelle Inman

Even: Steven Sims (arguable upgrade if Tavierre Thomas remains slot corner over Kevin Johnson)

NE vs LV

NEW ENGLAND WIDE RECEIVERS

N'Keal Harry tends to run on the right and Damiere Byrd on the left when New England goes into a three-wide set, with Julian Edelman running the slot. The Raiders tend to use Trayvon Mullen (54.6 PFF) at left corner, Damon Arnette (55.5 PFF) at right corner and Lamarcus Joyner (56.4 PFF) in the slot.

If that remains the case Sunday, then Harry should mostly face Mullen, Byrd should mostly face Arnette and Edelman should mostly face Joyner. Particularly given the poor results of the Raiders corners going back to last year, you could call this an upgrade for each of the top three Patriots receivers. Mullen matches Harry's reach and speed but could get bullied a bit at nearly 30 pounds lighter than Harry, while Byrd is much too fast for the high 4.5-running Arnette. Joyner matches up well with Edelman trait-wise but the results just haven't been there with the Raiders.

Upgrade: Julian Edelman, N'Keal Harry, Damiere Byrd

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

LAS VEGAS WIDE RECEIVERS

With Henry Ruggs out, Nelson Agholor will step up as the outside receiver opposite Bryan Edwards, while Hunter Renfrow might play more snaps than usual with no Ruggs around to take slot snaps from Renfrow. Renfrow should mostly run against slot corner Jonathan Jones (57.5 PFF), who's probably one of the better slot corners in the league despite a rough game against the Seahawks. Stephon Gilmore (50.1 PFF) is a candidate to shadow Darren Waller rather than face the underwhelming Edwards-Agholor duo outside, but he would certainly pose a discouraging matchup for either of those receivers if Gilmore should stay outside. Edwards tends to line up on the left and Agholor on the right, so Edwards and Agholor respectively might see the right and left corner on any given play, whoever is lined up there. If Gilmore is outside, then J.C. Jackson (75.0 PFF) poses a tough matchup for whoever isn't on Gilmore.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Bryan Edwards, Nelson Agholor

Even: Hunter Renfrow

PIT vs HOU

PITTSBURGH WIDE RECEIVERS

Corner Bradley Roby (56.9 PFF) may or may not shadow a Pittsburgh wide receiver, but if he did Houston would presumably choose between JuJu Smith-Schuster or Diontae Johnson. Smith-Schuster plays the slot and Johnson plays wide, but as a corner who's viable inside and out, Roby doesn't obviously gravitate toward one or the other. It's also probably true to say that while Roby is good, he's not good enough to constitute a downgrade for either of JSS or Johnson.

If Roby shadows JSS, then it would leave Johnson with a favorable matchup against the likes of Vernon Hargreaves (53.8 PFF) and maybe one of Lonnie Johnson (51.0 PFF) or Phillip Gaines (65.3 PFF). James Washington and Chase Claypool would see those same corners when outside, but Washington appears to be the team's backup slot receiver and when lined up there he should mostly see safety Eric Murray, who's probably not good.

Upgrade: Diontae Johnson

Downgrade: N/A

Even: JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Chase Claypool

HOUSTON WIDE RECEIVERS

Will Fuller tends to be the outermost Houston receiver and generally on the left side of the offense more than the right. When running from the left side Fuller should see Steven Nelson (66.9 PFF), and then Joe Haden (57.5 PFF) when running on the right side. Brandin Cooks should see the most of Haden, and the second most of slot corner Mike Hilton (54.7 PFF). Hilton should primarily face off against Randall Cobb, though. The Texans receivers can beat these corners, but when you play Pittsburgh the struggle usually has less to do with the secondary matchups and more to do with the results of their blitzing.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb

MIN vs TEN

MINNESOTA WIDE RECEIVERS

Top corner Adoree' Jackson is still out for Tennessee, leaving Johnathan Joseph (75.1 PFF) and Malcolm Butler (50.2 PFF) as the starters at left and right corner, respectively. Struggling slot corner Chris Jackson is otherwise out for Tennessee, which might force rookie second-round pick Kristian Fulton to play the slot after mostly playing left corner behind Joseph to this point. Fulton is definitely more talented than Jackson – if he struggles more than Jackson it would probably just be due to learning the position on the fly. None of these three corners can cover Adam Thielen, in any case, but last week showed how Kirk Cousins is as much of a threat to Thielen as any particular defense. Bisi Johnson should split Joseph and Butler reps with Thielen, while Justin Jefferson should see the slot corner the vast majority of his snaps, which so far are mostly restricted to Minnesota's three-wide sets, which they've used only sparsely.

Upgrade: Adam Thielen

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Bisi Johnson, Justin Jefferson

TENNESSEE WIDE RECEIVERS

Corey Davis should see all of the Minnesota corners at various points, but based on his current splits he should see Jeff Gladney (40.6 PFF) the most. That might be an easier matchup than Holton Hill (28.9 PFF) for trait reasons – Hill is big, whereas Gladney is at a major size disadvantage at 5-10, 190 or so. Hill lacks skill set, though, so they both are upgrades for Davis. Kalif Raymond should be able to create separation from either of those corners, but he seems more like a speed decoy than a realistic target. Slot receiver Adam Humphries should be the second-leading receiver for the Titans in this one, and I can't figure out who the Vikings will try to cover him with.

Upgrade: Corey Davis, Adam Humphries

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Kalif Raymond

ATL vs CHI

ATLANTA WIDE RECEIVERS

If Julio Jones (hamstring) plays then he and Calvin Ridley should split their reps against Jaylon Johnson (80.4 PFF) and Kyle Fuller (72.6 PFF), both of them talented corners. Slot corner Buster Skrine (54.5 PFF) is more easily beaten, and he should be the primary matchup for Russell Gage.

Upgrade: Russell Gage

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley

CHICAGO WIDE RECEIVERS

Allen Robinson lines up all over the place and should therefore see each of left corner A.J. Terrell (63.4 PFF), right corner Isaiah Oliver (53.3 PFF) and slot corner Darqueze Dennard (50.8 PFF). Robinson is one of the best, and these corners are something safely less than that. Darnell Mooney has seemingly emerged as the second outside receiver in this offense behind Robinson, leaving him to take the leftover outside corner in most three-wide sets. Anthony Miller has been fully restricted to the slot, limiting his snap count, but he should be capable of beating Dennard.

Upgrade: Allen Robinson

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Anthony Miller, Darnell Mooney

PHI vs CIN

PHILADELPHIA WIDE RECEIVERS

DeSean Jackson should mostly run outside, seeing a fairly even split of right corner William Jackson (79.5 PFF) and left corner Darius Phillips (47.7 PFF). It'd be better for DeSean if he more so ran at Phillips, but there's no guarantee that happens. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside appears to be pushing Greg Ward from the lead slot receiver spot, but whichever of them gets the snaps Sunday figures to mostly run against Mackensie Alexander (71.2 PFF) – a tough assignment. It's also possible that Arcega-Whiteside mostly plays outside and Ward mostly the slot with Jalen Reagor out, but if not then John Hightower might get most of the snaps that previously went to Reagor.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: DeSean Jackson, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward, John Hightower

CINCINNATI WIDE RECEIVERS

The Eagles might change something up at corner, where former slot corner Avonte Maddox (35.5 PFF) is really struggling outside. Current slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman (48.8 PFF) is coming off a rough game, but that happens to most slot corners when they play the Rams. NRC's history in the NFL is reliably good, so while it's possible that the Eagles move Maddox to the slot and NRC to the bench, it strikes me as more likely that NRC stays in the slot and Maddox goes to the bench in favor of either Trevor Williams or Cre'von LeBlanc.

It's also possible that none of that happens and the Eagles keep Maddox starting opposite Darius Slay (55.5 PFF). Especially if so and probably even if not, the Bengals would probably have a mismatch in their favor on most plays. Given his reputation and acquisition cost, we might have reason to expect Slay to shadow A.J. Green, leaving the other outside corner (Maddox?) to cover Tee Higgins, who appears to be their main plan opposite Green. At 6-4, 216 Higgins doesn't really need to get open to present a viable target against the 5-9, 184 Maddox. But John Ross and Mike Thomas are both threats to play 30 snaps, too, and Green can probably beat Slay, so the ball could go to a lot of different targets. Not the least of which is Tyler Boyd, who will likely run most often against NRC. Playing against NRC's Rams last year, Boyd caught six of nine targets for 65 yards on 75 snaps – a 67.0 percent catch rate at 7.2 YPT in a game where Andy Dalton completed 61.5 percent of his attempts at 6.3 YPA. Pass rush will be an ongoing problem for the Bengals, but the coverage is vulnerable.

Upgrade: A.J. Green, Tee Higgins

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Tyler Boyd, John Ross, Mike Thomas

BUF vs LAR

RAMS WIDE RECEIVERS

Buffalo's defense is tough, with shadow corner Tre'Davious White (74.7 PFF) the primary concern for opposing receivers, but there might be ways for Sean McVay to get around some of Buffalo's strengths. The Rams run a lot of trips formation, which entails two slot reps in a given play, and they give the vast majority of those to Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. White doesn't really shadow into the slot that much, but even if he shadows one of Kupp or Woods all game the leftover will always have a shot at Taron Johnson (53.0 PFF), and both Kupp and Woods would have an advantage over him. There's no guarantee that White is as effective in the slot as he is outside, either. Buffalo's safeties (Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer) are qualified reinforcements in the middle of the field, and McDermott might have some tricks to slow Kupp and Woods even if they avoid White, but he'll probably need to come up with something good in this, what's sort of a title fight between the league's best schemers. Van Jefferson and Josh Reynolds are the main outside receivers, in any case, and Jefferson probably has the speed to run past corner Levi Wallace (53.0 PFF).

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson, Josh Reynolds

BILLS WIDE RECEIVERS

Stefon Diggs will likely draw the shadow coverage of Jalen Ramsey (73.9 PFF), leaving John Brown against Darious Williams (74.4 PFF), though the underrated corner is questionable with an ankle issue. Cole Beasley should mostly run against Troy Hill (53.7 PFF), who's evidently struggling a bit in his new slot corner role.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Stefon Diggs, John Brown, Cole Beasley

NYG vs SF

GIANTS WIDE RECEIVERS

Golden Tate should have the slot mostly to himself with Sterling Shepard out, and Darius Slayton should claim most of the outside usage. If the 49ers use a corner to shadow Slayton then Emmanuel Moseley (67.9 PFF) would probably make more sense than Ahkello Witherspoon (45.2 PFF). K'Waun Williams (72.2 PFF) will be the slot corner, and he should mostly be tasked with covering Tate.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Darius Slayton, Golden Tate

SAN FRANCISCO WIDE RECEIVERS

Kendrick Bourne and Brandon Aiyuk are the primary outside receivers for the 49ers, and they should split their time on some basis between James Bradberry (86.1 PFF) and Corey Ballentine (40.3 PFF). Obviously, you want to stay away from Bradberry, but if they don't use him as a shadow then he'll see a roughly even amount of Bourne and Aiyuk. Trent Taylor should remain the lead slot receiver and run mostly against Darnay Holmes (42.8 PFF).

Upgrade: Trent Taylor

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Kendrick Bourne, Brandon Aiyuk

IND vs NYJ

INDIANAPOLIS WIDE RECEIVERS

T.Y. Hilton should see a roughly even amount of right corner Blessuan Austin (40.2 PFF) and left corner Pierre Desir (38.6 PFF), neither of whom are built to cover a receiver like Hilton. Austin and Desir do somewhat match the frame of Michael Pittman, but not in any concerning way. Zach Pascal is the main slot receiver and should see a lot of Brian Poole (67.4 PFF) – probably one of the league's tougher slot corners.

Upgrade: T.Y. Hilton

Downgrade: Zach Pascal

Even: Michael Pittman

JETS WIDE RECEIVERS

No.

LAC vs CAR

CHARGERS WIDE RECEIVERS

The Panthers corner rotation is a mess, so there could be a few possibilities here for Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Although left corner Rasul Douglas (76.9 PFF) matches up reasonably well with Williams, right corner Donte Jackson (63.7 PFF) is too skinny to battle with Williams if the ball is in the air. Allen, meanwhile, might get more routes at safeties and linebackers than he has in a while, because the Panthers largely opted to go without a slot corner to this point, putting a lot of the slot coverage burden on safeties Jeremy Chinn and Juston Burris. Allen is one of the best route runners of distant memory and you don't want to cover him with slot safeties.

Upgrade: Keenan Allen

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Mike Williams

CAROLINA WIDE RECEIVERS

Curtis Samuel might see more running back reps with Christian McCaffrey injured, but the idea of Samuel as a low-ADOT slot receiver hasn't paid off this year or last, so it's tough to see him doing a whole lot against Chris Harris (66.7 PFF). Samuel definitely has the ability to lose Harris downfield, but so far the Panthers have used Samuel in the opposite manner. D.J. Moore might see shadow coverage from Casey Hayward (42.1 PFF), but Moore has a distinct size/athleticism advantage over Hayward. Robby Anderson would in that case mostly run against Michael Davis (64.3 PFF). Tall and fast, Davis generally matches up well with Anderson, but Anderson is very likely a better receiver than Davis is a corner.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Curtis Samuel

Even: D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson

DEN vs TB

DENVER WIDE RECEIVERS

Jerry Jeudy (ribs) is a game-time decision for this. If he's out, then DaeSean Hamilton would likely function as Denver's main slot receiver, primarily running against Tampa slot corner Sean Murphy-Bunting (71.2 PFF). It's probably a downgrade for either receiver. K.J. Hamler and Tim Patrick should split most of the outside receiver snaps, potentially with even left/right splits. Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean are the outside corners, and both should be able to shut down Patrick. Hamler is much smaller and faster than Patrick, though, and big corners like Davis/Dean are more so designed with wideouts like Patrick in mind.

Upgrade: N/A

Downgrade: Tim Patrick, DaeSean Hamilton

Even: K.J. Hamler

TAMPA BAY WIDE RECEIVERS

Chris Godwin is back to resume his role as Tampa's lead slot receiver, with Mike Evans leading the way outside. Godwin's main assignment might be Essang Bassey (65.1 PFF), an undrafted rookie out of Wake Forest but one who's done relatively well so far. Evans and Scott Miller can split their coverage time between Bryce Callahan (69.8 PFF) and Michael Ojemudia (57.8 PFF). At 5-9, Callahan flatly can't cover Evans but the same is probably true for Ojemedia too. It's a tough spot for the Broncos defense, though they do have their noteworthy homefield advantage.

Upgrade: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Scott Miller

SEA vs DAL

SEATTLE WIDE RECEIVERS

DK Metcalf should split his snaps against Chidobe Awuzie (65.6 PFF) and Trevon Diggs (50.4 PFF), two players who probably can't cover him. Awuzie might have a prayer, but Diggs is at burn risk vertically and Metcalf will probably see him a little more often than Awuzie. Awuzie might see a little more of Tyler Lockett, but Lockett should more so see Jourdan Lewis (47.4 PFF).

Upgrade: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett

Downgrade: N/A

Even: N/A

DALLAS WIDE RECEIVERS

Quinton Dunbar (64.5 PFF) plays the right corner role for Seattle while Shaquill Griffin (50.7 PFF) plays the left. They'll split their reps mostly against Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. Cooper should see a little more of Grifin, and Gallup more of Dunbar. Despite their poor 2020 PFF grades, Dunbar and Griffin are an intimidating outsider corner duo. CeeDee Lamb probably faces the weaker coverage, running against Ugo Amadi (53.0 PFF), a 5-9 corner who probably keep up with Lamb's vertical elements.

Upgrade: CeeDee Lamb

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup

ARI vs DET

ARIZONA WIDE RECEIVERS

Jeff Okudah (27.2 PFF) should mostly play the left side and Amani Oruwariye (56.1 PFF) should mostly play the right, with Darryl Roberts (65.8 PFF) covering the slot. DeAndre Hopkins should run against Oruwariye the vast majority of the time, and Roberts should see the most of Larry Fitzgerald. Okudah would have seen Christian Kirk all game, but with Kirk out some unspecified rotation between Andy Isabella, KeeSean Johnson and Trent Sherfield will line up at right receiver.

Upgrade: DeAndre Hopkins

Downgrade: N/A

Even: Larry Fitzgerald, Andy Isabella

DETROIT WIDE RECEIVERS

If Kenny Golladay (hamstring) plays then he's a candidate for shadow coverage from Patrick Peterson (48.5 PFF), though that's not as intimidating of a draw as it used to be. In that scenario Marvin Jones would likely see a lot of Dre Kirkpatrick (40.0 PFF), if Kirkpatrick plays through his neck issue. If Kirkpatrick is out then Byron Murphy (60.4 PFF) will probably need to cover Jones more than previously planned, but he'll otherwise have to focus on Danny Amendola.