Taking a look at the NFL week 4 from a IDP perspective; notes on what our writer @Orangeman3142 saw this weekend.
This is a continuation of my 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 effect production for your IDP team. We covered the first twelve games of week four in parts one, two and three, let’s keep going.
San Francisco 49ers @ LA Chargers
49ers: We all knew it was going to be the Fred Warner (LB) and Ruben Foster (LB) show now that they’ve solidified their positions at MLB and WLB and that was certainly the case. Warner had 10 combined tackles on 100% of snaps played while Foster put up 7 combined tackles and 1 TFL also playing 100% of snaps.
Both are automatic weekly starts for me, especially with CJ Beathard now at quarterback I expect more three and outs, stalled drives and interceptions leading to plenty of time for the 49ers IDP producers to do their thing.
The next best producers were K’Waun Williams (CB) and Malcolm Smith (LB). Williams had 6 solo tackles on 66% of snaps played while Smith had 5 combined tackles and 1 TFL on 34% of snaps. Neither are waiver wire options for me but their days were noteworthy.
Antone Exum (S) has been filling in for injured Jaquiski Tartt (S) for two weeks now and has had nice production. He had 3 solo tackles, 3 PD and 1 INT playing 100% of snaps, he remains a solid option at safety while Tartt is injured but the second he gets back Exum will disappear so use him while you can.
Notable defensive linemen and known IDP quantities DeForest Buckner (DT) and Solomon Thomas (DE) both had down days this week. Buckner had 2 combined tackles on 76% of snaps played while Thomas put up 2 solo tackles playing 72% of snaps this week.
Buckner is a tier one performer who has had a couple down weeks but like Aaron Donald and JaDaveon Clowney you know he’s going to have a monster game soon enough you just need to be patient. Thomas though has been dissappointing all year and has been on my avoid list for some time now.
Chargers: With Kyzir White (S, LB) injured and out this week we knew the Chargers linebackers situation was going to be in flux this week. It would appear that while White is out the immediate winner is Jatavis Brown (LB) who played a team high 98% of snaps for all linebackers this year. He recorded 9 combined tackles and 1 PD and would seem to be a solid option while White is out with injury.
Trevor Williams (CB) had the next best day with 8 combined tackles, 1 PD and 1 INT on 98% of snaps. While that’s a great day it’s the first I’ve seen this guys name, like, ever. So I’m all set with that until I see some more consistency.
Derwin James (S) and Denzel Perryman (LB) are some of the other notable IDP producers on the Chargers this season. This week James had another solid output with 7 combined tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL and 1 PD on 100% of snaps. He’s an automatic start for me and the future of safety at IDP.
Perryman has consistently been the number two linebacker on the Chargers behind White and now Brown. He had 4 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 78% of snaps this week. He’s been decent most of the year but there are better options out there unless your league is super deep.
Melvin Ingram (DE) could really use his buddy Joey Bosa (DE) back as soon as humanly possible. Offensive lines have been able to double team him and negate his pass rush the majority of the season with no Bosa on the other side demanding their equal attention.
He had 1 solo tackle on 97% of snaps this week and may not be relevant again until Bosa returns some time after week eight. Until then you can either keep playing him and prey for a sack or develop a backup plan.
Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Ravens: Death, taxes and CJ Mosley (LB) at the top of the Ravens defensive box score. Some things never change. Man it was nice seeing him back up there where he belongs after a multi-week injury that scared the hell out of the IDP community.
He roared back to life with 8 combined tackles, 0.5 TFL and 1 PD on 100% of snaps. He’s a tier one producer and a weekly automatic start for me. Tony Jefferson (S) had the next best day with 6 combined tackles on 100% of snaps played, he’s been solid all year and somehow I keep seeing him on waiver wires, fix that mistake if you see it in your leagues.
Anthony Levine (CB) came in next with 6 combined tackles and 3 PD playing 45% of snaps. While that’s a nice day 45% of snaps is not sustainable at all, find help elsewhere. Eric Weddle (S) and Terrel Suggs (LB, EDGE) have been IDP producers for many years but have been inconsistent lately.
They both had OK weeks with Weddle recording 4 solo tackles on 100% of snaps while Suggs had 4 combined tackles, 2 TFL and 1 PD on 66% of snaps. While I’ve had both these guys on my teams in the past they’ve long since landed on my avoid list and remain there.
It’s also noteworthy that Kenny Young (LB) only played 39% of snaps this week and recorded zero stats of any kind with a healthy CJ Mosley on the field. If you still own him I would probably move on and find help somewhere else, it would seem that his usage will be minimal with Mosley back healthy.
Steelers: The two linebackers that have been IDP relevant on the Steelers this year, Jon Bostic (LB) and Vince Williams (LB), both had nice days this week. Bostic had 9 combined tackles and 0.5 TFL on 76% of snaps played while Williams had 9 combined tackles on 86% of snaps this week. Bostic has been playing fewer snaps than Williams all year but has been producing as much if not more than him every week.
Both are safe for a linebacker two or three from my point of view. Joe Haden (CB) came in next with 7 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 100% of snaps this week but hasn’t been consistent this year so I’ll wait before pulling the trigger on him until we see it more than just one week.
Terrel Edmunds (S) got the start this week for injured Morgan Burnett (S) and had a nice game as well with 7 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps. He is a fine replacement for Burnett but I would expect that production to fall off as soon as he gets back to healthy.
Sean Davis (S) is the other starting safety and had a decent day as well with 6 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps. He’s been pretty reliable this year and isn’t a bad option for a safety two.
TJ Watt (LB, EDGE) is sack dependent for his production and couldn’t get one this week. This is why I don’t play guys like him or Von Miller (LB), Justin Houston (LB) or Terrel Suggs (LB). They are all dependent on sacks for a big day and playing the edge linebacker position usually doesn’t lead to enough tackles to be worth a start each week. Watt had 4 combined tackles on 92% of snaps played.
Cameron Heyward (DT, DE) and Stephon Tuitt (DE) are the well known IDP options on the Pittsburgh defensive line and both had nice days this week. Heyward had 5 combined tackles playing 74% of snaps while Tuitt recorded 4 solo tackles playing 74% of snaps this week. Those are both serviceable days and unless you have a better option I would keep plugging these guys in as a defensive tackle two or defensive end two in your lineups.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
Chiefs: I’ve been raving about Kendall Fuller (CB) for weeks now and he keeps getting better and better. Due to the Chiefs offense being so explosive their opponents find themselves behind early and often and needing to pass the ball for more than they want to. When forced into this situation they tend to target the weak link in the Chiefs secondary which is currently Kendall Fuller.
This has been giving him tons of easy tackles after the catch and a few pass defenses. Plus he’s been playing 100% of snaps every week so you’ll get the occasional run stopping tackle as well. Him and Chidobe Awuzie, Denzel Ward and Janoris Jenkins are my top four IDP corners this year by a good margin. Go get him if you can. He had 7 solo tackles and 1 PD on 100% of snaps played this week.
Eric Murray (CB) and Orlando Scandrick (CB) had the next best days in a strange day for the Chiefs IDP production that saw three corners lead the team in tackles while reliable stud Anthony Hitchens had a clunker. This whole games production was just weird. Anyways Murray had 6 combined tackles. 1 PD and 1 INT on 100% of snaps while Scandrick put up 5 solo tackles and 1 PD playing 68% of snaps. Those are nice days but Fuller is the only corner I want from the Chiefs.
Ron Parker (S) and Dee Ford (LB) both had notable days with Parker recording 5 solo tackles on 100% of snaps played and remains a decent safety option while Eric Berry (S) is injured and out. Ford put up 3 solo tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL playing 50% of snaps this week. I might use Parker if I were in a deep enough league but I’m all set with Ford.
Anthony Hitchens (LB) and Reggie Ragland (LB) have been the two playable IDP linebackers on the Chiefs all season. They both had stinkers this week in a weird game. Hitchens only had 3 combined tackles playing 97% of snaps while Ragland recorded 3 combined tackles playing 43% of snaps. Hitchens will be fine it was just a strange week and Ragland still isn’t getting enough snaps for me to be fully comfortable playing him.
Broncos: Safety Justin Simmons (S) has been reliable and productive all year and had another great week with 8 combined tackles on 100% of snaps played. He has become a tier one producer this year and is a weekly start for me. Todd Davis (LB) had the next best day with 7 combined tackles and 1 sack while playing 77% of snaps. He’s a fine option for linebacker two or three in deeper leagues.
Chris Harris Jr (CB) had a solid day with 6 solo tackles and 1 PD while playing 96% of snaps this week, he’s a solid corner options but can be somewhat spotty, I would play him if the matchup is good and they’re playing a team that throws a lot.
Brandon Marshall (LB) is continuing his comeback from early season injury with 6 combined tackles and 1 PD while playing 73% of snaps this week. As he gets healthier his snap percentage is increasing each week and his production is getting better. If he can return to his old form you’ll have a tier two producer who is reliable and consistent.
Not a bad idea at all to pick him up and sit him next week and if the snap % goes up again and the production is there you could be good to go to plug him back into your lineup.
Von Miler (LB, EDGE) is sack dependent for his points and he didn’t have a sack this week. I don’t know how many times I’ll have to say this but this is why I don’t play edge linebackers in my lineup. Exhibit A: 1 solo tackle and 1 TFL on 68% of snaps played this week. It’s feast or famine with these guys.
Adam Jones (CB) and Darian Stewart (S) both had serviceable days but I’m not touching pacman with a ten foot pole and there are many safeties better than Stewart out there so I’ll spare you the BS.
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.
Keep an eye out for our other articles and info all week and my start em sit em article dropping Saturday morning. Good luck in your matchups this week!
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