Man vs. Zone Matchups for WR/TEs in Week 8: Can DK Metcalf Get Back on Track?

Coverage schemes can often dictate what offenses and pass-catchers are able to do on a weekly basis. Being able to identify who excels against man or zone coverage can give you an edge in any fantasy football format, whether season-long, dynasty, DFS, etc.

Let’s take a look at a few players who find themselves in favorable spots ahead of Week 8.

Week Man vs. Zone Matchups for WR/TEs Week 8

DK Metcalf vs. Cleveland Browns

This is a really interesting spot for DK Metcalf. He can be pretty boom/bust for fantasy, especially because you just don’t know which games Aaron Rodgers is going to check it down 20 times or attack down the field.

This week could be the latter.

The Steelers host Cleveland, a very aggressive pass defense that will present opportunities for explosive plays. Cleveland has deployed Cover-1 around 44% of the time this season, one of the highest rates in the NFL. When we last saw these teams match up back in Week 4, Metcalf got off to a slow start but was able to rip off a handful of chunk plays down the field in the fourth quarter, ultimately finishing the day with 115 yards.

During that game, nearly 22% of Rodgers’ pass attempts traveled 20-plus yards, his second-highest rate in a game this season. Metcalf, who has seen a 27.2% target share against Cover-1 this year, was not shadowed by Denzel Ward during that game. We’ll see if that changes this time around, especially with Pittsburgh so depleted at wide receiver. Regardless, this has the potential to be a sneaky upside spot for Metcalf.

Dallas Goedert @ Washington Commanders

Nothing about the Eagles offense is fun right now, but given how depleted this group is, there is plenty of volume to go around. With both DeVonta Smith and Dontayvon Wicks sidelined on Monday, Goedert caught five of seven targets for 48 yards. He’s now seen nine, eight and seven targets since returning from injury in Week 5. The lack of run game and declining defense has led to Tanner McKee attempting 45 and 35 passes across his two starts.

It seems very possible the Eagles are without at least Smith on Sunday against Washington, and I’d expect Goedert to lead this team in targets. The Commanders continue to blitz and play a lot of Cover-2 on the back end. Goedert has been targeted on 23.5% of his routes against Cover-2 this season, while Goedert has been targeted on around 35% of his routes with Smith off the field since the start of the 2024 season.

Against a Washington defense coughing up the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends (18.4), Goedert sets up pretty well this weekend.

T.J. Hockenson @ Detroit Lions

T.J. Hockenson found the end zone last week and now draws the best matchup available for opposing tight ends. The Lions are allowing the most receiving yards, touchdowns and fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, as they continue to deploy as much man coverage as any team in football. Even with Brian Branch back last week, Tucker Kraft still posted 48 yards and a score.

Against man coverage this season, Hockenson is averaging 3.3 yards per route run, the highest mark among all tight ends so far. He’s run out routes nearly 23% of the time, which is notable considering the Lions are allowing the third-most catches (25), fifth-most yards (233) and fourth-highest catch rate (78.1%) off out routes this season.

Minnesota’s passing game has been incredibly underwhelming this year, but a huge part of it has been that opposing offenses simply haven’t pushed the Vikings to score. That should change this week in Detroit, and Hockenson could have some revenge on his mind.