Not only has Garrett Wilson been the top story to come out of the New York Jets’ offense this season, but he has also been among the best players in the league at his position.

As the Jets travel to Foxborough to attempt an upset over the New England Patriots in Week 6, Wilson has a prime opportunity to erupt and keep his hot start alive.

Wilson has a perfect matchup vs. the Patriots’ defense

When you think about where Wilson matches up best, it’s against man coverage. Since entering the league, he has consistently found success there, largely thanks to his shifty route-running.

Well, through five weeks this season, the Patriots are running man coverage at the fourth-highest rate in the league (28.3%).

On the flip side, here is a look at where Wilson ranks among 74 WRs in several key metrics when facing man coverage through five games this season:

  • 3.26 yards per route run (11th)
  • +0.239 EPA per route run (7th)
  • 110.6% DVOA (6th)

It’s also important to consider his history with New England’s top cornerback, Christian Gonzalez, who will be returning from injury this week. They have lined up against each other 51 times, while Wilson has caught eight of his 14 targets for 72 yards and a touchdown. He has more catches and yards against the corner than any other WR in the league.

There is a strong chance Wilson could line up against Gonzalez on Sunday more than he ever has in their clashes. That is because Wilson has settled into primarily an X receiver role, aligning out wide on 75.8% of his routes this season, a career high, after doing so on just 65.2% of routes in his first four seasons. Subsequently, his slot usage has dropped to a career-low 24.2% of routes.

When you pair that with how well Wilson has been playing this season, it is a really solid opportunity for the pass catcher.

As our own Michael Nania highlighted, Wilson also leads all wide receivers in ESPN Analytics’ open score (91), seven points ahead of second-place Mike Evans (84). The metric evaluates how consistently WRs get open and create separation, which Wilson has done at a very high level.

Furthermore, his +16.0% catch rate over expected mark is the best in the league among receivers with at least 40 targets this year. Wilson has also come down with eight catches in his 11 contested situations, equating to a 72.7% conversion rate. That’s the second-highest among WRs with at least 10 contested opportunities, trailing only Evans (81.8%).

Altogether, the Ohio State product has recorded 31 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns across five games, putting him on pace to set career highs in all three categories. Wilson has also surpassed 100 receiving yards in two of his last three outings.

Wilson has had 10+ targets in just two of five games this season. In both of those games, he went for over 100 yards and a touchdown. The trend is clear: get the ball thrown in Wilson’s direction, and he will do his thing.

Keep an eye on how the Patriots’ defense handles Wilson throughout Sunday’s game. Wilson’s numbers against Gonzalez are encouraging, although the CB is still one of the best in the sport. New England will also likely start trying to double-team New York’s top pass catcher.

We saw something similar against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. On the Jets’ opening drive, Wilson hauled in three passes for 70 yards on four targets, capped by a 32-yard touchdown to give the Jets a 7-0 lead. For the rest of the game, though, the Browns doubled him, and he caught just four more passes for 37 yards.

For the Jets to pull off an upset in Foxborough, they will need their top players to do what they do best, and that includes Wilson showing out. His matchup is encouraging. How often can the Jets get the ball in their hands before the double teams start coming, though?