Fantasy Football Strategy: Top 5 Weak Secondaries to Target |

Fantasy Football Strategy: Top 5 Weak Secondaries to Target

Fantasy football is all about matchups. Some receivers, like the Lions’ Calvin Johnson, are so good that he will produce against any opposing secondary. But most receivers’ production will be affected by how good a cornerback they are facing on a given week. Here are 5 NFL teams will especially weak secondaries that will enhance your receivers’ production.

5. Buffalo Bills

Starting cornerbacks: outside CB Leodis McKelvin, outside CB Stephon Gilmore, slot CB Corey Graham

Starting safeties: SS Aaron Williams, FS Da’Norris Searcy

There are no real weak links here, but there are no players with above-average talent, either. Forget Calvin Johnson: lesser players like Megatron’s teammate Golden Tate, Jacksonville’s Cecil Shorts, Indianapolis’s T.Y. Hilton: these “Tier 2” receivers will have no problem producing against this forgettable Buffalo secondary. Elite free safety Jarius Byrd left for New Orleans in the offseason and will be sorely missed.

4. Detroit Lions

Starting cornerbacks: outside CB Rashean Mathis, outside CB Darius Slay, slot CB Dwight Bentley

Starting safeties: SS James Ihedigbo, FS Grover Quin

Quin is the lone bright spot here; he provides the Lions with a quality centerfielder. Mathis was solid last year, but at 34 years old, a decline in his play should be expected. Slay and Ihedigbo are just average, and Bentley is an obvious weakness. There is no reason not to play outside WRs, and a great reason to play slot WRs against Detroit.

3. Washington Redskins

Starting cornerbacks: outside CB DeAngelo Hall, outside CB David Amerson, slot CB Tracy Porter

Starting safeties: SS Brandon Meriweather, FS Ryan Clark

Like the Lions, the Redskins actually have a good free safety. They also have a decent CB1 in DeAngelo Hall, good enough that you may want to consider fading on WR1s matched up with Washington.

That’s as far as the talent goes on the Washington secondary: CB2 David Amerson is a below-average starter, and slot man Tracy Porter and strong safety Brandon Meriweather are below-below-average: it’s hard to imagine those last two players making most rosters even as a backups. WR2s and slot WRs have an excellent matchup against Washington.

2. Dallas Cowboys

Starting Cornerbacks: outside CB Brandon Carr, outside CB Morris Claiborne, slot CB Orlando Scandrick

Starting Safeties: SS J.J. Wilcox, FS Barry Church

The Cowboys have an explosive offense: supported by one of the best o-lines in the league and an offensive core of QB Tony Romo, WR Dez Bryant, RB DeMarco Murray, and TE Jason Witten that is going to score a lot of points for America’s team in 2014.

Unfortunately for the ‘Boys, they are also going to get scored on plenty. This defense is full of holes, especially CB2 Morris Claiborne and SS J.J. Wilcox, who are, without a doubt, below-average starters. Strongly consider picking any WR2 playing Dallas.

1. Carolina Panthers

Starting Cornerbacks: outside CB Antoine Cason, outside CB Melvin White, slot CB Charles Godfrey

Starting Safeties: SS Roman Harper, FS Thomas DeCoud

Wait a second: Carolina won their division last year, thanks in large part to having one the best defenses in the NFL. How can they possibly be No. 1 on this list?

While it’s true that the Panthers defense as a whole is excellent, this is due entirely to their defensive line and linebacker corps being stacked with talent, with guys like DE Greg Hardy, OLB Thomas Davis, and MLB Luke Kuechly being among the best players in the NFL at their respective positions.

The secondary is a different story. Last year the only player to perform at an above-average level for the Panthers was Captain Munnerlyn, and he now plays for the Vikings. Every position, from outside CBs to slot CB to both safety positions, are weaknesses for Carolina. Every week, you should pick at least one receiver playing Carolina. The matchup is that good.