Man vs. Zone Matchups for WR/TEs in Week 6: Stars Aligning for Carnell Tate

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 6.

Week 6 Man vs. Zone Matchups for WR/TEs

Isaiah Likely vs. New Orleans Saints

Following a two-touchdown performance against the Commanders on Sunday, Likely is now the TE3 in fantasy points per game, trailing only Trey McBride and Brock Bowers. His role is elite, as Likely currently leads all tight ends in both TPRR (30%) and target share (30%).

When Jameis Winston drops back to pass, one of three things tends to happen: He either throws the ball to Malik Nabers, Likely or the other team.

Winston should continue throwing the ball Likely’s way a lot in Week 6. The Giants face a struggling New Orleans team allowing the eighth-most fantasy points (13.1) and second-most targets (9.4) per game to opposing tight ends this season. The Saints are deploying Cover 3 at one of the highest rates in the league, which bodes well for Likely, who has been targeted on 29% of his routes against zone coverage this year.

An area to attack Cover 3 is in the flats, and we could see Likely utilized there often in this matchup. The Saints have allowed the third-most targets (26), 10th-most receptions (14) and 11th-most PPR PPG (7.7) on out routes this season. Likely, meanwhile, has run out routes 25.6% of the time this season.

I love this spot for Likely to keep it going this weekend.

Kendrick Bourne @ Los Angeles Rams

Once the Cardinals traded Marvin Harrison Jr., Bourne became a sneaky Week 5 FLEX play. He was solid, catching eight passes for 70 yards. Sure, it was against the Lions, and after the game, head coach Mike LaFleur mentioned how Detroit was constantly doubling Michael Wilson and Trey McBride, which contributed to Bourne’s eight targets.

But what if it happens again?

While MHJ wasn’t producing, he’s way more of a threat to an opposing defense than Jalen Brooks and Reggie Virgil. So it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Rams, another team that runs plenty of man coverage (including Cover-1 over 27% of the time), use a similar strategy to take Wilson and McBride out of the game.

If that happens, Bourne could once again benefit. Schematically, it makes a lot of sense, too. The Rams are surrendering just 26.8 yards per game to opposing WR1s, easily the fewest in the NFL. You’d like to see Arizona deploy more 11 personnel to get Bourne more routes, but when he’s on the field, he’s going to see plenty of targets, especially in this matchup.

Carnell Tate @ Indianapolis Colts

When you’re stuck in an offense as bad as the Titans, your fantasy production is bound to be a roller coaster. Tate is experiencing that firsthand, going from a breakout nine-catch, 145-yard game in Week 4 to a one-catch showing this past weekend.

If the every-other-week trend continues, Tate is due for a good game on Sunday. Given the matchup, I can see it happening.

The Colts' pass defense has been poor this season, coughing up the third-most yards per reception in football (12.8). Indianapolis is deploying Cover 1 nearly 20% of the time this season, a top-10 rate in the league. Against Cover 1 so far this season, Tate has been targeted on 34.2% of his routes, the fourth-highest rate among all wide receivers.

The Colts are also sporting the fourth-lowest pressure rate in the NFL, so hopefully this is a spot where Cam Ward and the offense can find some success and sustain drives.