It’s always a popular question – or line of questions – during my time Friday Live Streams on NBC’s NFL YouTube Channel: Which slot receivers have the best matchups? And what external openings (borders) are in good spots?
While it shouldn’t be the deciding factor in how you make your weekly lineup decisions, knowing whether a pass catcher has a particularly good or bad matchup is valuable information that can sometimes serve as a hindrance to your more vexing starting-down decisions.
This season I’ll use this space to break down the best (and worst) matchups for pass catchers who operate from the slot and those who line up primarily on the edge. Some pass catchers, as you know, split their time between the boundary and the slot, making this little exercise more complicated. I’ll do my best to identify the most attractive (and unattractive) weekly matchups, first with data from the 2025 season and then — after a week or two — with 2026 data.
Slot games
Falcons vs Steel: Pittsburgh’s struggles against slot pass catchers should bode well for him Kyle Pittswho last season ran 36 percent of his routes from the slot (and 44 percent from the line position). There’s reason to believe Pitts will see his slot usage increase — even moderately — in Kevin Stefanski’s offense. That armed popcorn Your Tagovailoa Pitts being targeted heavily in the preseason (and reportedly during 11-on-11 games in training camp) is another plus for the tight end.
Eagles vs Commanders: DeVonta Smith led the Eagles in sack rate last season. However, you don’t need another reason to start Smith. This is about more Dallas Goedertwhich ran half of its 2025 routes from the slot and was among the NFL’s most efficient teams while doing so. Goedert’s 21 percent first-read target rate from last season will increase with AJ Brown sent to New England. Goedert can be overlooked in a solid game, with the Eagles heading into the season opener with an implied total of 24.5 points. The same goes for the beginner Police lemonwhich should run from the slot more often than not.
Jets vs. Titans: The Tennessee high school last year was tormented by the enemy playboys. That’s why my Friday live streamers targeted the Titans with pass-catchers for most of the season. While coach Robert Saleh has made some adjustments that could make the Titans a little better against slot receivers, I think we’ll have to see before we believe. Mason Taylor in 2025 ran 34 percent of his routes from the slot and could play a surprisingly large role in New York’s passing offense while Kenyon Sadiq recovers from offseason hernia surgery. Isaiah Williamslisted as the Jets’ starting slot wideout, has completed 68 percent of his routes from the slot in 2025 and could be a (very) deep option in the league for Week 1. However, this matchup is primarily about Taylor as a tight end streaming option.
Raiders vs Dolphins: Miami’s secondary was primed last season from the slot, giving up the league’s fourth-highest-than-expected completion rate in slot shots. Michael Mayer, with Brock Bowers (knee) overlooked as usual, could be the main beneficiary of this juicy match. Mayer in 2025 saw a target on a literal 23 percent of his routes in the disaster we called the Vegas offense, and in games without Bowers he saw a target on a borderline elite 26 percent of his routes. Mayer has a real chance to cook against Miami in Week 1. I wouldn’t blame you for playing Mayer for options like Jake Ferguson, Travis KelceOR Mark Andrews.
Commanders vs. Eagles: It can be a rough start Stefon Diggs if he runs primarily from the slot in Washington’s offense. That Eagles coverage unit was a nightmare for slot guys in 2025 (and 2024, for that matter). Last year they allowed the sixth lowest completion rate above expectation on slot targets along with the fourth lowest yards per play from the slot.
Rivers McCown comes up with a list of players he hopes will challenge their low cost to be fantasy football heroes for Week 1.
Border matches
Giants vs. Cowboys: Dallas’ defense, which improved last season to the league’s fourth-highest EPA and third-highest passing success rate, will be better this season. The addition of Caleb Downsif nothing else, it all but guarantees this. I wouldn’t read too much into the Cowboys getting burned on the perimeter last season as they head into their Week 1 matchup against John Harbaugh’s Giants. Malik Nabersin case you’re wondering, ran routes from the edge at a 76 percent clip last year before his season-ending injury. And don’t be cute with Malachi’s Fields in this country.
Jets vs. Titans: Between the slot metric and these numbers the limit appears Garrett Wilson is in a pretty good spot for the Jets opener. Only two teams allowed a higher completion rate on expected kickoffs than the Titans in 2025, and only four secondaries gave up more yards per game (118) to outside receivers. Wilson certainly looks like a Week 1 shot.
Vikings vs. Packers: Jordan Addison last year had a grand total of one catch for eight yards in two games against Green Bay. Maybe we can be generous and write it off as part of JJ McCarthy’s failed experiment. That Addison operates from the edge on about 80 percent of his passing routes could translate into an interesting matchup in Week 1 against the Pack. Addison, who is said to have worked extensively with him Kyler Murray this offseason, should be in lineups this week. You probably already knew.
Chiefs vs. Broncos: It’s a nightmare Week 1 for Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thorntonand anyone else who will run cross paths from the border. Denver’s elite coverage unit wiped out opposing outside receivers last season, allowing just 90 total yards per game to pass catchers. That should mean more channeling of targets to pass catchers, that is Rashi Rice — who last year ran about half of his routes from the slot — and Travis Kelce.
