Five weeks into the 2025 NFL season, one thing has become clear to fantasy football managers everywhere: do not start any wide receiver facing the Minnesota Vikings. The reason is simple. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers has turned into one of the most dominant shutdown defenders in football, delivering numbers that have left opposing pass catchers and fantasy lineups empty.

According to recent coverage reports from ESPN and Pro Football Focus, Rodgers currently holds one of the highest coverage grades in the NFL through five weeks. His ability to anticipate routes, close separation, and play physical without drawing penalties has made him a nightmare matchup for opposing receivers. Through a month and change of football, his stat line against some of the league’s top talent reads like something from a defensive clinic.

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Analysts and fans alike have pointed to his elite coverage skills, speed, and game-changing ability as reasons he has risen to the top of his position. He drew major attention after earning the highest-ever game grade from Pro Football Focus following his outstanding Week 3 performance. Although he may not lead every statistical category, his impact and consistency have made him a vital part of the Minnesota Vikings’ defense and one of the most respected defensive backs in the league.

Rodgers’s breakout performance came in Week 3 of the 2025 season when the Vikings faced the Cincinnati Bengals. In that game, he delivered one of the most dominant defensive performances in NFL history. He earned a perfect PFF grade of 99.9, the highest since the grading system began nearly two decades ago. Rodgers recorded an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown, a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown, two forced fumbles, and a pass breakup.

His performance marked the first time in league history that a player recorded both a pick-six and a fumble return touchdown, along with two forced fumbles in a single game. That afternoon solidified his reputation as a defensive star capable of changing the outcome of a game almost single-handedly.

Through the first five games of the 2025 NFL season, Rodgers has continued to perform at an elite level, ranking among the league’s best in several key metrics for cornerbacks. His overall PFF grade of 90.9 ranks first among players at his position with at least 50 defensive snaps. He has forced two fumbles, tying him for third-most in the league, and has allowed only five receptions on 12 targets.

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Although he has just one interception, which ties him for 19th in the NFL, his lockdown coverage has limited opposing quarterbacks from challenging him often.

Fantasy managers who ignored these numbers likely paid the price in tough matchups. Right now, starting a receiver against Isaiah Rodgers is one of the fastest paths to a disappointing fantasy score. Until proven otherwise, Rodgers has earned his reputation as one of the league’s premier lockdown corners, and fantasy managers should take note and bench their receivers when they’re facing the Minnesota Vikings.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Why Isaiah Rodgers Is Every Fantasy Manager’s Nightmare Matchup