Taking a look at the NFL Week 8 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 next week. We look at possible waivers and trends, snap counts and issues that affect production for your IDP team. Part three will cover the next three games of week eight. Keep an eye out for part four dropping tomorrow. Let’s get into it.

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Browns: With the huge producer Joe Schobert (LB) out again this week we all knew that Jamie Collins (LB) and Christian Kirksey (LB) would both have great opportunities to pick up the slack, and that they did. Collins finished with 11 combined tackles and 1 TFL on 100% of snaps while Kirksey recorded 7 combined tackles, 0.5 TFL and 1 PD also on 100% of snaps, these two are automatic starts for me while Schobert is out.

TJ Carrie (CB) was the meat in this box score sandwich with 7 solo tackles on 85% of snaps this week but this is the first time I’ve mentioned him this year so I’m all set.

Denzel Ward (CB) and Damarious Randal (S) continue to be productive with Ward putting up 7 combined tackles, 1 TFL and 1 PD on 100% of snaps while Randal had an OK week with 4 solo tackles and 1 PD on 100% of snaps played also, both have been great all year continue to play them with confidence.

Larry Ogunjobi (DT) and Myles Garret (DE) are the other guys I track on the Browns and both had slow weeks. Ogunjobi had just 2 solo tackles on 85% of snaps while Garret had 1 solo tackle, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 87% of snaps, both remain tier one guys but due to the nature of the position we know that we won’t be getting huge weeks every single game, it happens, they’ll be fine.

Steelers: It was TJ Watt’s (LB, EDGE) turn to be productive this week with 7 combined tackles, 1 sack and 2.5 TFL on 83% of snaps. He either puts up a week like this or gets you nothing, there is no in-between, there is no consistency and there is no reliability, no thanks.

The other two standout IDP linebackers, Jon Bostic (LB) and Vince Williams (LB) both had 4 combined tackles and both played 66% of snaps. Williams has been playing a ton more then that every other game this season so something is up with that snap percentage, for now let’s just keep an eye on it one bad week is nothing to panic over.

Stephon Tuitt (DE) and Cameron Heyward (DT, DE) are the two defensive linemen we track on the Steelers for IDP purposes and they had very opposite days. Tuitt recorded 7 combined tackles, 1 sack and 2 TFL on 70% of snaps while Heyward only had 2 tackle assists playing 83% of snaps. They both remain spot starts or short term roll of the dice guys unless in deeper leagues.

Sean Davis (S) and Terrel Edmunds (S) started at safety this week with Morgan Burnett (S) only playing 36% of snaps and not recording any stats this week. Davis had 5 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps while Edmunds put up 4 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps as well, both of these guys are end of tier two producers and neither are guys I play on any of my teams, IDP safety is deep and there are better guys out there than these two.

Baltimore Ravens @ Carolina Panthers

Ravens: It was business as usual for the Ravens IDP this week with CJ Mosley (LB) at the top of the box score with 11 combined tackles playing 97% of snaps this week, he’s a weekly auto start. Matthew Judon (LB) was next with 10 combined tackles and 1 TFL on 60% of snaps played.

With that little playing time this kind of production isn’t sustainable (see Jon Bostic) so I’m all set with this flash in the pan game from Judon. Standout IDP safety Tony Jefferson (S) was next with 7 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 97% of snaps this week. He’s been great all year and remains a weekly auto start for me.

The other safety, Eric Weddle (S), who is always boom or bust, was boom this week with 6 combined tackles on 97% of snaps played. He’s a good short term roll of the dice (which is exactly how I played him this week) but besides that he’s too inconsistent to start weekly.

Terrel Suggs (LB, EDGE) had only 2 tackle assists on 66% of snaps which is expected from edge rush linebackers like him, that’s why I don’t play guys like that unless it’s a specific OLB or EDGE slot.

Panthers: We always expect to see linebacker Luke Kuechly (LB) at the top of the Panthers box score but it was a different linebacker this week leading the way. Shaq Thompson (LB) recorded 13 combined tackles on only 57% of snaps this week, it’s the first huge game from him this year and those aren’t enough snaps for any kind of consistent production so I’ll pass.

Kuechly had a serviceable game with 5 combined tackles and 1 PD on 91% of snaps this week, definitely a down week for him he’ll be fine though, it happens. Thomas Davis (LB) is the last member of this IDP relevant linebacker trio and had 5 combined tackles and 1 PD on 74% of snaps which is great for a waiver wire guy you got after week 4.

The real story this week was Eric Reid (S) who had his biggest game as a Panther yet with 7 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1.5 TFL on a season high 94% of snaps played this week. His playing time and production have gone up three weeks in a row now so get in on him while you still can!

James Bradberry (CB) had another nice week with 6 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps, great numbers for an IDP corner. He’s solid against any team that can pass the ball even semi well.

Mike Adams (S) and Kawan Short (DT) are the other two guys I track on the Panthers. Adams had a serviceable week with 3 solo tackles, 1 PD and 1 INT on 100% of snaps this week and remains a consistent end of tier two guy. Short recorded no stats of any kind playing 63% of snaps in a down week for him, he’ll be fine though.

Indianapolis Colts @ Oakland Raiders

Colts: It was a normal day for the Colts with Darius Leonard (LB) once again on top of the box score with 9 combined tackles on 100% of snaps this week. He’s been awesome all year and is THE auto start.

Corner Pierre Desir (CB) was next with 7 combined tackles on 90% of snaps but hasn’t been consistent so I’m looking elsewhere for corner help. Anthony Walker (LB) was next with 6 combined tackles on 82% of snaps this week which is around his normal production, he’s been a nice end of tier two guy this season.

Denico Autry (DT), Jabaal Sheard (DE) and Margus Hunt (DE, DT) all had terrible games but have been productive most of the season so I’m not pulling the plug yet. Clayton Geathers (S) surprisingly played 100% of snaps but only had 3 solo tackles so that neck injury might still be bothering him, if he’s still bombing next week then I’ll start to worry.

Raiders: It was up and down linebacker Marquel Lee (LB) atop the box score for the Raiders this week with 11 combined tackles and 0,5 TFL on only 55% of snaps this week. He’s been more down than up and that’s not enough playing time to be consistent so I’ll pass here.

Jonathan Hankins (DT) had his first big game for the Raiders with 9 combined tackles playing 73% of snaps and could be a waiver add if this playing time stays at that level, we know he can produce he was a top IDP defensive tackle last season I just need to see it a little more on the Raiders before pulling the trigger.

Tahir Whitehead (LB) is the only IDP on the Raiders I would actually play each week and had 7 combined tackles and 2 TFL on 100% of snaps in a decent game this week. He’s been a decent tier two option all season. I literally don’t want anyone else on the Raiders this year, maybe Maurice Hurst (DT) in dynasty for the future but that’s it.

Make sure you catch part four dropping tomorrow and read parts one and two if you missed it from earlier this week, also 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.

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.