One of the more important position battles when it comes to fantasy is between the WR and the secondary. Being able to target the bad secondaries can produce massive weeks for WRs.
However, knowing when one of your WRs is being shadowed by an elite CB is valuable as well.
Here are our three best and worst fantasy football matchups WRs have in Week 2.
FANTASY WEEK 2 RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Non-PPR Flex Cheat Sheet
WR matchups to target
George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
The one true great thing about having a WR from the Cowboys is that the game script is always pass. Even if Dallas blows out the Giants, the WRs will still be involved.
Pickens might have had a frustrating fantasy performance against the Eagles, but the Eagles bracketed Ceedee Lamb and shadowed Pickens with Quinyon Mitchell (arguably their best cornerback). However, there were a lot of positives from this game, such as the fact that Pickens ran the most routes and created two pass interference penalties on big plays. If he could’ve even caught one of them, his number would’ve been better from a fantasy performance.
While the Giants don’t have one of the worst secondaries in football, it’s certainly not as good as Philadelphia’s. Expect Pickens to have a bounce-back game in Week 2.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
BTJ finished as the WR42 in Week 1 against Carolina, one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. However, Jaycee Horn was all over the field as well. While Horn does not shadow, he still made some plays on BTJ. The Jags also had the game controlled the entire way, and Travis Etienne was gashing up the Panthers on the ground. By no means did BTJ play poorly, the fantasy numbers jsut weren’t there.
Most unrealized air yards in Week 1 on incompletions that occurred for any reason OTHER than receiver error, per @PFF:
1. Elic Ayomanor – 117
2. Brian Thomas Jr. – 84
3. Tyquan Thornton – 79
4. Ja’Marr Chase – 75
4. Malik Nabers – 75 pic.twitter.com/gdhwMaFdSU— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) September 10, 2025
In Week 2, the Jags take on the Bengals in what should be an exciting shootout. Neither secondary is good, which should result in some big plays at the WR position.
The Bengals’ secondary, ranked 27th last season is yards on third downs after allowed 7.6 yards per attempt. BTJ should be able to carve this secondary up and have a great fantasy day.
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs
These two are grouped up for a couple of reasons. First, they both were incredibly disappointing in Week 1. Smith finished as the WR74 and Brown as the WR100. In Week 2, we get a Super Bowl rematch with the Chiefs.
The Chiefs’ defense in Week 1 shut down the Chargers’ run game, but allowed their wide receivers to shred them. The Chargers had three wide receivers finish WR25 or better and two top ten WRs.
In Week 2, the Eagles will not have as easy a time running the football and may have to lean more on their passing game. The Chargers showed that more than one wide receiver can have a great fantasy finish. Expect Brown and Smith to both have decent fantasy outputs.
FANTASY LINEUP TIPS: Week 2 Start-Sit | Week 2 Sleepers | Week 2 Busts
WR matchups to avoid
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos
Everything went well for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1. However, things should come back down to earth when they take on the Denver Broncos.
It’s pretty clear that the Broncos have one of, if not the best secondary in the NFL. A huge reason for the success is that the Broncos definitely have the best cornerback in the NFL in Patrick Surtain. Surtain is a fantasy nightmare for WRs. He is expected to shadow Michael Pittman Jr., making MPJ a must-avoid in Week 2.
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans vs. Los Angeles Rams
Coming into this season, the Los Angeles Rams were projected to have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. In Week 1, they faced a great WR room in the Houston Texans. Nico Collins had his worst fantasy finish since Week 14 of the 2023 NFL season.
Ridley could never truly get going in Week 1 due to the Surtain shadow we previously mentioned. However, if the Rams defense can contain C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ passing offense, they should be able to hold their own against a rookie QB with a worse passing attack.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
Flowers was the WR1 in Week 1 for fantasy football. This is not saying that you should absolutely bench Flowers, but the Browns just played excellently against the Bengals, who many believe have the best passing attack in the NFL.
Flowers has never caught a TD pass against the Broncos in his four matchups with them. It’s certainly something to monitor going into Week 2.
