This article is part of our Corner Report series.
This article will go game by game 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 2019 season. The snap counts listed are not a projection, but rather the totals from so far this year.
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. 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.
HOU vs JAC
HOUSTON WR SNAPS
DeAndre Hopkins: 539 snaps – 318 wide (205 left, 113 right), 220 slot (130 left, 90 right), one back
Will Fuller: 392 snaps – 188 wide (85 left, 103 right), 198 slot (73 left, 125 right), two tight
Kenny Stills: 230 snaps – 89 wide (27 left, 62 right), 136 slot (56 left, 80 right), five back
Keke Coutee: 201 snaps – 40 wide (22 left, 18 right),