The NFL’s best receiver versus cornerback matchups of Week 12

The NFL’s best action comes from matchups between talented receivers and cornerbacks. Ja'Marr Chase and Jalen Ramsey certainly fit the bill last week. This Sunday’s slate has the potential for more of the same. 

DAZN News’ Gavin Babbitt breaks down three of the best player matchups of Week 12 below. 

Click here for more details and to sign up .

Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN) vs  Keisean Nixon (CB, GB) and Carrington Valentine (CB, GB)

Justin Jefferson is on pace for his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season.  Packers exterior cornerbacks Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine will defend him this week. 

This matchup will play out on Jefferson’s routes between 10 and 20 yards. This season, he has his highest catch rate (68.8%) and more than half of his receiving yardage (377) at that depth.

J.J. McCarthy must capitalize when Nixon covers Jefferson in man coverage. Nixon allows more yardage of the two cornerbacks and relies on forced incompletions. Jefferson will neutralize Nixon’s strengths with his route running. The Vikings will move the chains if they get Jefferson the ball in the seams against man.

Against the Packers' zone coverage, Jefferson will be more dangerous against Valentine. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 135.6 against Valentine when he plays zone. If McCarthy diagnoses this look in the red zone, Jefferson has a very good chance to score in this game.

If Nixon and Valentine keep Jefferson underneath or deep without separation, they will have success. Jefferson has caught only four of 18 targets on deep routes this year and has only 133 receiving yards underneath. 

Nixon and Valentine have an edge this week with the support of two excellent safeties and Green Bay’s defensive scheme. The Packers use extra personnel in coverage regularly. 

CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL) vs. Quinyon Mitchell (CB, PHI) and Cooper DeJean (CB, PHI)

CeeDee Lamb has received 27 targets in his last three games. Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell will see him often this week taking on one of the league’s top passing attacks. 

Lamb has been most dangerous on routes over 20 yards this year. He is averaging nearly 35 yards per reception and scored twice over the top this season. 

Mitchell and DeJean must protect the outside and deep portion of the field. Dak Prescott and Lamb excel along the sidelines. Both Philadelphia cornerbacks have been lights out in man coverage this year. If that continues, they can remove Lamb from plays without any help - a huge blow to the Dallas game plan. 

Against Philadelphia’s zone, look for Prescott and Lamb to go after DeJean. He has allowed more yards after the catch than Mitchell despite being targeted at a shorter depth. DeJean is the lesser of two evils for the Cowboys versus Lamb’s open-field ability. 

Lamb’s best contested-catch rate comes on short routes. If he wins those plays, he can draw coverage tighter and set up plays downfield. Both cornerbacks are great at the point of the catch, but Lamb can keep them off balance with this approach. 

Look for the Cowboys to produce against an excellent Eagles defense. The combination of Lamb and George Pickens will put pressure on both cornerbacks throughout the game. Small mistakes could result in big plays, especially in the second half. 

Emeka Egbuka (WR, TB) vs Cobie Durant (CB, LAR)

Rookie Emeka Egbuka is a top-10 receiver in yardage (717) and touchdowns (6). Cobie Durant has been effective in coverage for the Rams, allowing a passer rating of only 64.8. 

Egbuka is heavily targeted by Baker Mayfield. His reception rate (54.2%) has suffered because of the volume, making his 15.9 yards per reception critical to his production. 

The Rams must play man coverage on Egbuka this week. Egbuka has caught only 21% of his targets for 68 yards against man this season. If Durant keeps his coverage tight, he can stop Egbuka at the point of the catch and reduce the receiver’s yardage per reception. Egbuka is much more effective with the ball against zone than versus man. 

Against zone looks, Mayfield and Egbuka will target Durant deep. Egbuka is second among receivers in yardage on routes over 20 yards (322) this year. 

If Durant is not deep enough in his drops, Mayfield can make throws over him and underneath the Rams’ safeties. When Egbuka converts these targets, he often needs to beat only one defender - a scenario he has scored on multiple times this season. 

The Buccaneers’ rookie excels over the middle. Durant has the range to help his linebackers on seam routes and impact Egbuka’s production between the numbers. 

Durant will fare well in this matchup because of his speed. He is yet to allow a touchdown this season and has two interceptions.

Catch every snap of the NFL season on DAZN

UK fans can pick up an annual pass for the rest of the NFL season – playoffs and Super Bowl included – for the discounted price of £84.99. If you prefer more flexibility, monthly subscriptions are available from just £17.99.

Game Pass gives you access to every game live or on demand, along with RedZone, NFL Network, and round-the-clock programming. You’ll also get DAZN’s weekly original shows, including  Downs 2 Business, Kittle Things, and the X’s & O’s coaching breakdown .