Taking a look at the NFL week 6 from a IDP perspective; notes on what our writer @Orangeman3142 saw this weekend.

This is a continuation of our weekly article series that breaks down what we saw this week in IDP fantasy football. What happened and why, what we got right and what we got wrong and more importantly how to move forward and get better this week. We look at possible waivers and trends, snap counts and issues that affect production for your IDP team. Part four will cover the last four games of week six. Make sure you caught parts one, two and three where we covered all the week six games to this point. Let’s keep going.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Dallas Cowboys

Jags: No surprise seeing Telvin Smith (LB) at the top of the box score this week but unfortunately Myles Jack (LB) had another blah game even though this was literally the perfect matchup for him with Dallas’s tendency to run a ton and Dak Prescott‘s inability to pass the ball more than a few yards each attempt. Smith recorded 10 combined tackles and 1 TFL on 100% of snaps played and remains a tier one set and forget performer. Jack though only had 5 combined tackles while also playing 100% of snaps this week. J

ack moved to middle linebacker this year and Paul Poszluzny retired so most of us thought his production would at least match last years and probably increase, no such luck so far. He’s been a decent LB2 though, we’ll see what happens.

Tashaun Gipson (S) was next on the box score with 6 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps as well, this is a flash in the pan though there are too many other talented producers stealing tackles for him to have any kind of consistency. Calais Campbell (DE) continues to heat up with 6 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL playing 75% of snaps this week, he’s a tier one producer and is on track to match last seasons mark of 14 sacks.

His counterpart Yannick Ngakoue (DE) also had an awesome game with 4 combined tackles, 2 sacks and 3 TFL on 60% of snaps but has been quiet the majority of this season so I wouldn’t play him weekly unless we see more consistency.

Both IDP relevant corners, Jalen Ramsey (CB) and AJ Bouye (CB) had solid days in a matchup that I didn’t think was ideal for them personally. Ramsey had 4 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 97% of snaps while Bouye recorded 6 combined tackles and 2 PD playing 100% of snaps this week. Both are solid IDP corners this just wasn’t a matchup I imagined them doing well in so I either had them as tier two starts this week or sits, either way I got this one wrong, I didn’t think Dallas would pass effectively enough to make either of them relevant this week and I was wrong.

Cowboys: While Sean Lee (LB) has been out it’s been the Jaylon Smith (LB) and Leighton Vander Esch (mein shizor) (LB) show for the Cowboys. Smith recorded 10 combined tackles playing 98% of snaps while Vander put up 10 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 98% of snaps as well. Both have been awesome this year and have stepped it up another level while Lee has been out with injury.

Sean Lee is notoriously injury prone so when he does return this week or next hold on to both Vander and Smith. They both produced just fine with him in the lineup and I guarantee he’ll be injured again this season, he’s never played an entire 16 game season his entire career.

The production takes a nose dive after those two, Randy Gregory (DE) was next on the box score with 3 solo tackles, 1 sack and 2 TFL playing just 35% of snaps this week. Although the production is nice that playing time worries me, tough to be consistent with that few snaps each week. I’ll pass on adding him. DeMarcus Lawrence (DE) had his second down week in a row with 1 tackle assist playing 50% of snaps this week. They really didn’t need him and he was questionable going into the game with minor nagging injuries. He should be fine and he’s due for a monster game soon.

Chidobe Awuzie (CB) the outstanding IDP corner was injured and out this week and Byron Jones (CB, S) had a slow week with 1 tackle assist and 3 PD playing 98% of snaps this week. He has been on fire and was due for a clunker, both of them will be fine and are must plays against any offense that can pass effectively, which was definitely not the Jaguars.

How about them Cowboys!?!?!?!?!

Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans

Ravens: The leading IDP producer on the Ravens only had 5 combined tackles this week so that should give you some idea how awful the Titans offense was this week. Za’Darius Smith (LB) led the way with 5 combined tackles, 3 sacks and 3.5 TFL playing only 50% of snaps this week. This is flash in the pan production and the majority of his IDP points came from the sacks which are totally random, the tackle numbers aren’t there and neither is the consistency or playing time to add him in waivers.

CJ Mosley (LB) and Tony Jefferson (S) are the known IDP producers and the guys we’re actually interested in every week, both had down games against an ineffective offense that went three and out all game and lost the time of possession battle 38 minutes to 22 minutes which is pretty pretty bad. Mosley recorded 4 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps while Jefferson had 3 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL also playing 100% of snaps this week. Both will be fine especially when they go up against the light years better New Orleans offense this week.

Eric Weddle (S) and Terrel Suggs (LB, EDGE) are the other two IDP producers we follow on the Ravens and only one had a nice week. Weddle put up 4 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps and is still a safety tier three for me, he’s too spotty for a weekly start from me as well. Suggs had a nice game if you plugged him in your EDGE or OLB slot with 3 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL playing 68% of snaps. That’s still the only scenario I would play him though, only if I have an edge rush specific spot. He’s too random for anything else.

Titans: With the Ravens owning time of possession this was a great game for pretty much every IDP producer on the Titans. Adoree Jackson (CB) led the way with 8 solo tackles playing 97% of snaps, he’s been a great IDP corner especially if you’re in a league with return yards. Tier two defensive tackle Jurell Casey (DT) continues to be solid this week with 7 combined tackles playing 75% of snaps. He’s been great all year.

Rookie Rashaan Evans (LB) has been a nice fill in for the injured Wesley Woodyard (LB) and had 7 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 78% of snaps this week. Woodyard should return this upcoming week so tread carefully with Evans and grab Woodyard if he’s on your waiver wire.

Jayon Brown (LB) has been awesome helping to fill in along with Evans for the injured Woodyard, he had 7 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps this week. He also should lose some production and possibly playing time as well with Woodyard returning this week. Kevin Byard (S) has continued his streak of solid games recording 5 combined tackles, 1 PD and 1 INT playing 100% of snaps and remains an end of tier one safety and a weekly auto start for me.

Malcolm Butler (CB) has been a solid IDP corner this season and had another nice game this week with 4 solo tackles and 1 PD playing 64% of snaps this week, he’s a nice option against teams with an effective pass game.

Kansas City Chiefs @ New England Patriots

Chiefs: This was a dream game for IDP production for both squads with over 80 points combined scored and many many offensive plays run by each team. Anthony Hitchens (LB) led the way for the Chiefs with 14 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 100% of snaps this week. He’s been an end of tier one producer and a nice option every week. Jordan Lucas (CB) had the next best game with 10 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 100% of snaps but this is the first time I’ve mentioned him all year so the consistency isn’t there yet.

Besides, Kendall Fuller (CB) is the only corner I’m interested in on the Chiefs. He had only 3 combined tackles this week playing 95% of snaps but has been great all year and as far as clunkers go that’s not so bad for corner. Ron Parker (S) had the next best game with 9 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps but has been inconsistent this year and when Eric Berry (S) does return it will shake up the safety situation so I’m passing here. Reggie Ragland (LB) had a great week with 7 combined tackles, 0.5 sack and 0.5 TFL playing 63% of snaps this week. He’s an OK spot start but the playing time isn’t there and the production has been spotty.

Breeland Speaks (LB) has been helping to fill in for the injured Justin Houston (LB, EDGE) and had a nice game with 6 combined tackles, 0.5 sack and 0.5 TFL playing 97% of snaps, it’s the first time I’ve mentioned him all year so let’s see some consistency before making a move here. Chris Jones (DE) had a nice week for a spot start with 2 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL playing 72% of snaps. He’s a nice injury fill in or bye week guy.

Patriots: There are only a couple guys on the Pats I would even consider playing in my IDP lineups, one of them is Trey Flowers (DE) who had 7 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 76% of snaps this week. He’s a tier two or beginning of tier three defensive end and one of the few on the Patriots with the playing time to be worth consideration. The Pats do so much shuffling with their front seven that it’s really just Flowers and a guy or two in the secondary that have any kind of consistency for IDP production.

Devin McCourty (S) and Jason McCourty (CB) are the two guys in the Pats secondary I would consider playing in my IDP lineups and Jason had a nice game this week. Devin had just 4 solo tackles but played 100% of snaps this week and has had big weeks this season. He’s an option if you can’t find a safety with better consistency. Jason recorded 6 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 100% of snaps and is a nice streaming option against teams like the Chiefs that have an effective passing game.

There are other Patriots who had IDP relevant games this week but I’m not going to write about them, odds are this defense won’t look anything like it did this week next game against the Bears. The Pats defense, snap percentages and production morph into something new for every opponent and besides the players I mentioned above it’s completely unpredictable.

San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers

49ers: The tale of two linebackers, both new to the league, one a perennial screw up and the other an up and comer that just a few weeks ago was being called the “next Patrick Willis“. Ruben Foster (LB) has been solid since returning from suspension and crushed it this week with 9 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 100% of snaps this week. He seems to be what we thought he was, a great producer.

Fred Warner (LB) started the season at an incredible pace and has slowed down a ton. He had only 4 combined tackles on 100% of snaps played this week. Despite his recent slide he’s been far too good to give up on, I’m going to keep playing him, especially this week in an ideal matchup against the Rams.

The safety duo of Jaquiski Tartt (S) and Adrian Colbert (S) both killed it this week. Tartt has been solid since returning from injury and had 9 combined tackles on 99% of snaps played. He has the potential to be a tier one producer if he can stay healthy. Colbert recorded 7 combined tackles playing 87% of snaps but has been real inconsistent so Tartt is the only one I’m interested in.

DeForest Buckner (DT) finally got out of his slump with 2 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 92% of snaps. He was out overall # 1 defensive tackle going into the season and started with a two solid weeks before hitting a slump, hopefully this is him pulling out of it. Solomon Thomas (DE) is the other IDP relevant producer here and had 1 solo tackle and 1 TFL playing 37% of snaps this week. He was hyped in the offseason but hasn’t produced enough or consistently enough for me to be interested this season.

Packers: Even with Rodgers back at the helm and the Packers offense running smoothly Blake Martinez (LB) continues to produce this season and had another great day with 12 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 100% of snaps. Kenny Clark (DT) has been a solid defensive tackle for IDP production this year and had another monster game with 7 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 91% of snaps this week. He’s been borderline tier one for defensive tackle production this season.

Clay Matthews (LB, EDGE) and Ha Ha Clinton Dix (S) are the other known IDP producers for the Packers and Matthews had a nice game with 4 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL playing 65% of snaps. Unless it’s for a EDGE or OLB specific slot I’m all set here. Clinton Dix had a down week with 3 solo tackles playing 100% of snaps but has been awesome all season so no need to panic here.

The Packers corners are IDP relevant sometimes if the matchup is ideal but this week none of them really stood out. Jaire Alexander (CB) was out with injury and Kevin King (CB) had a decent week and those are the two I would look at if the matchup is right. King had 4 solo tackles and 1 PD playing 100% of snaps which is serviceable.

Make sure you catch parts one, two and three of this article and keep an eye out for my start or sit article dropping Saturday. My bad habit of going too far into detail means this article is in multiple parts instead of one novel. If you have any questions or need some advice feel free to hit me up on Twitter (@OrangeMan3142) or use the “Contact Us” box on our website (idpguys.org) to reach us.

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