Taking a look at the NFL Week 15 from a IDP perspective; notes on what our writer @Orangeman3142 saw this weekend.

It’s playoff time which means no more bye weeks, no more short term guys and far fewer spot starts. You dance with the girl that you brought with you. The analysis series I’ve done all year is pretty much done, at this point we all know who we’re playing during playoffs and the only questions left are basically start or sit type stuff.

I’ll still be putting that weekly start or sit article out this Sunday morning and we’ll be doing the weekly start or sit live show on Twitter and Periscope with Gary Van Dyke, Sam Lane, myself and Joe Haggan this week at 11am Eastern time.

That’s a great place to go for last minute questions for your lineup, we cover inactives on that show also. This weeks instant reaction series is going to be very short since there aren’t a ton of new developments and my new job is eating up any time I have free besides that.

So let’s get into it.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Chargers: Adrian Phillips (S) and Jatavis Brown (LB) had the big games for the Chargers this week, Phillips is still a start of tier two or end of tier one safety for playoffs and Brown remains a rock solid tier two linebacker going forward. Derwin James (S) had a down game but it was still serviceable, he remains a must start for tier one safety each week.

Jahleel Addae (S) had a down game but is still a tier two guy in deeper leagues, Melvin Ingram (DE) had a great game and remains an end of tier one defensive end. Joey Bosa (DE) had a stinker but has been hot before that and remains a weekly auto start for tier one defensive end.

Chiefs: Anthony Hitchens (LB) had the best day for the Chiefs but the matchup was ideal, he’s pretty much a spotty start of tier two guy at linebacker going forward. Ron Parker (S) and Eric Berry (S) both had really solid games, Berry is back to a tier one start at safety now that he’s healthy again and Parker is still a spotty tier two guy I’m not interested in.

I don’t do edge rush linebackers so no Dee Ford (LB) or Justin Houston (LB). Chris Jones (DE) had a monster game and has quietly had a monster season, continue to start him as a start of tier two or end of tier one defensive end. Kendall Fuller (CB) had a pick to salvage his day and has been a great IDP corner all season, he remains a must start in good matchups like this one was.

Houston Texans @ New York Jets

Texans: Bernardrick McKinney (LB) and Zach Cunningham (LB) both had pretty decent games in a matchup that was far from perfect, continue to play them both as start of tier two guys against teams that run a lot and have decent offenses ideally. Justin Reid (S) had a nice day but has been cold lately after being hot most of the season, he remains a pretty good start of tier two safety.

JJ Watt (DE) and Jadaveon Clowney (DE, LB) both had monster games and Watt is obviously a tier one auto start while healthy while Clowney is a tier one start at defensive end and a spotty tier two guy at linebacker. Tyrann Mathieu (S) had a down game but has been awesome most of the season so keep playing him.

Jets: Jamal Adams (S) salvaged his day with a late sack and ended up with a pretty good stat line, he remains a top ten option at safety and a weekly auto start tier one producer. Avery Williamson (LB) had a down game but it was more a gameflow thing, once Lamar Miller (RB) went down the run game went with him, keep plugging in Williamson he’s been awesome 90% of this season. Leonard Williams (DE) is not a great option at defensive end but I’m in plenty of leagues where I see him played weekly as a defensive end two or three, he’s been really cold lately so try and find another option if you can.

Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos

Browns: Joe Schobert (LB) and Jamie Collins (LB) both showed up in an ideal matchup against a Denver team that runs a ton and both had solid days, Schobert is the better of the two but Collins is startable as a tier two guy with spotty tendencies. Jabril Peppers (S) had the biggest play of the day with the sack that wrapped it up, overall though he’s been inconsistent and unreliable this season so despite the big day I’m not sold, play him with caution.

The entire IDP relevant of the Browns defensive line, Myles Garrett (DE), Larry Ogunjobi (DT) and Emanuel Ogbah (DE) all had bad or sub par games this week, Garrett remains a tier one auto start and Ogunjobi is still a decent dice roll at defensive tackle while Ogbah shouldn’t be played unless you have no other options. Damarious Randal (S) had a really terrible game but has been solid all season, it happens but the timing was disastrous, he should be fine going forward though.

Broncos: Justin Simmons (S) recovered from his slow first half start to end up with the best day for the Broncos IDP production. He’s been a solid tier one safety all season keep playing him. Todd Davis (LB) had an off day but is having a career year overall, keep playing him as a solid tier two option. Bradley Chubb (DE, LB) had a not so hot day as well but is a great option at defensive tackle and a bad idea at linebacker. Von Miller (LB) had a serviceable game but is an edge rush guy so I’m not interested. Derek Wolfe (DE) had a terrible day and shouldn’t be an option unless you’re in deep trouble this late in the season.

Arizona Cardinals @ Atlanta Falcons

Cardinals: Tre Boston (S) and Antoine Bethea (S) had the two best games for the birds this week, they remain a tier two and tier one option going forward respectively. Hasaan Redick (LB) and Gerald Hodges (LB) both turned in serviceable days and are fine as linebackers two or ideally three in deeper leagues. Budda Baker (S) had a down game and hasn’t looked the same since his recent injury, it may be time to find or stream another option at safety going forward.

Chandler Jones (DE) had a down week but remains a tier one auto start at defensive end. Patrick Peterson (CB) turned in a serviceable game in an ideal matchup this week, I expected more out of him to be honest. Marcus Golden (DE) had a sack and a nice game and is a decent option if you need defensive end help.

Falcons: Damontae Kazee (S) turned in a really nice game and has been a pretty reliable start of tier two safety most of the season, if you have him as a safety two or three you’re looking good. Deion Jones (LB) had a pick-six that saved his otherwise pretty bad day, he’s a tier one auto start though and will have much better games when the opposing offense isn’t dog crap like Arizona’s is. Foye Oluokun (LB) had a serviceable game and is fine as a linebacker three or four in deeper leagues. Grady Jarrett (DT) had a monster game and remains a tier one producer at defensive tackle.

Keep an eye out for my weekly start or sit article dropping Sunday and catch our weekly start or sit periscope live show this Sunday @ 11AM Eastern.

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. Our team of writers has over 100 combined years of experience in IDP fantasy football and we are always accessible and transparent with both our hits and misses.

We’ve got you covered with player profiles, waivers, analysis, snap counts and injury updates all with no paywall @ idpguys.org.