Taking a look at the NFL week 5 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. I covered the first four games of week five in part one of this article series, let’s keep going.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

Packers: The Packers did not look great on either side of the ball this week and due to gameflow their IDP production was limited. The Lions were able to score quickly on big plays and didn’t run nearly as many plays as needed for great IDP production from the Packers, keep that in mind as we go through these stats.

Blake Martinez (LB) once again led the way for the Packers with 5 combined tackles, 2 sacks and 2 TFL while playing 100% of snaps this week. Those tackle numbers aren’t great but Martinez was able to salvage his week with two huge sacks. He remains a weekly automatic start for me.

Oren Burks (LB) and Antonio Morrison (LB) have been splitting time at the other ILB spot next to Martinez and both had down games. Burks had 4 solo tackles on 40% of snaps while Morrison recorded 5 combined tackles and 1 TFL on 29% of snaps played. It was assumed by many in the IDP community that Burks would completely take over that slot once healthy and that hasn’t happened yet. Until it does he remains a dynasty piece for the future and both aren’t playable in redraft in my opinion.

Ha Ha Clinton Dix (S) has been pretty reliable all season and managed to save his day with a sack and a TFL (2 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 100% of snaps played). I would keep playing him this just wasn’t a great game for the Packers IDP production in general. I’ve been warning people off Kentrel Brice (S) who had 3 solo tackles and 1 PD while playing 98% of snaps this week in one of the “better” game lately. He had one nice game to start the year and has been hot garbage ever since, avoid.

No one else had a really relevant game for IDP production this week due to the way this game went. This kind of thing is just part of IDP sometimes you’re going to go up against either an inept offense that can’t run enough plays for your IDP production and sometimes the other teams offense scores with big plays and needs far fewer plays and shorter drives to win the game negatively effecting IDP production as well. This second scenario was definitely in play in this game, just got to move on and hope next week is better for your Packers IDP players.

Lions: The Lions two IDP relevant safeties, Glover Quin (S) and Quandre Diggs (S) both had monster games this week. Quin recorded 13 combined tackles on 100% of snaps while Diggs had 10 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps this week. Both have been consistent and productive this season but this is their biggest output by far, I wouldn’t expect this kind of thing every week.

Jarrad Davis (LB) was next on the box score with 8 combined tackles and 2 PD on 95% of snaps played. He’s been the best linebacker on the Lions for IDP production two years in a row now and is the only Lions IDP I semi-confidently start every week.

Darius Slay (CB) took advantage of a matchup we all knew would feature a ton of passes from Aaron Rodgers with 5 solo tackles on 96% of snaps played. Slay is matchup dependent in my book but is capable of having nice games despite being a “shutdown” corner. Play him against teams that throw a lot and you’re in for a good game the majority of the time.

Da’Shawn Hand (DE) had a nice game with 4 solo tackles and 1 sack while playing 77% of snaps this week, it’s the first time I’ve mentioned him this year that I can remember so I would steer clear. A’Shawn Robinson (DT) is back to being a bum this week recording 1 solo tackle while playing 40% of snaps this week. So much for the comeback.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Kansas City Chiefs

Jags: Stud IDP linebackers Telvin Smith (LB) and Myles Jack (LB) were both back in form this week and took advantage of the Chiefs efficient offense cashing in with plenty of tackles. Smith recorded 13 combined tackles on 100% of snaps while Jack put up 9 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps this week.

Both of these guys are studs and weekly starts for me but it would seem that Jack does better with matchups against efficient offenses while Smith has been able to produce all year no matter who they’re playing.

AJ Buoye (CB) and Jalen Ramsey (CB) were good starts this week with the amount of passing we all knew the Chiefs would do in this game and both did well. Buoye recorded 5 combined tackles and 2 PD playing 100% of snaps while Ramsey had 4 solo tackles on 99% of snaps played. Both of those are solid numbers for an IDP corner and both remain startable if the matchup is right.

Calais Campbell (DE) keeps heating up having his second nice week in a row with 5 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 74% of snaps this week. He had 14 sacks last year and remains an automatic start since he looks like he’s heading in that direction again.

Yannick Ngakoue (DE) was outstanding last year but has been slow to start this season, he recorded 1 solo tackle, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 66% of snaps this week. Jacksonville in general isn’t sacking the quarterback nearly as much as they were last year so it makes sense that these two are off to a slower start this season.

Barry Church (S) had a down week with 3 combined tackles on 97% of snaps this week, he usually produces better than this but hasn’t had a monster game this season either. I’m looking for better safety options at this point. His counterpart Tashaun Gipson (S) had a better day with 2 solo tackles, 2 PD and 1 INT on  81% of snaps but isn’t a much better option as this is the first time I can remember talking about him this year.

Chiefs: Linebacker Anthony Hitchens (LB) is coming off a down week and looks to be back in form with 10 combined tackles on 92% of snaps played. My favorite cornerback Kendal Fuller (CB) was the next best producer this week with 7 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps this week. I’ve raved about him all year if you haven’t picked him up by now the train has probably already left the station.

Corner Jordan Lucas (CB) and edge linebacker Dee Ford (LB) were next on the box score with Lucas recording 7 combined tackles, 1 INT and 1 PD while playing 67% of snaps while Ford had 5 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 PD playing 67% of snaps this week. I’ve never seen Lucas before in my life and Ford plays a position that’s not usually IDP relevant (outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense) so I’m not recommending picking up either.

Chris Jones (DE) had himself a wild game with 1 solo tackle, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 PD, 1 INT and 1 TD playing 36% of snaps. He’s a decent bye week or injury fill in guy but chasing a week like this is crazy, he’ll probably never put up a stat line like that every again in his life.

Denver Broncos @ New York Jets

Broncos: There have been a couple bright spots on the Broncos IDP squad this season and the foremost of them has been Justin Simmons (S). He was hyped up all offseason by us here at the IDP guys and Sam Lane in particular. He has not disappointed.

He recorded 7 combined tackles on 100% of snaps this week and has not had a “down” week yet this season. Him and Tony Jefferson (S) on the Ravens have quietly been the two most reliable and consistently productive IDP safeties this season in my book.

Inside linebackers Todd Davis (LB) and Brandon Marshall (LB) are supposed to be the two IDP relevant linebackers but so far this year Marshall has been injured and hasn’t seen nearly enough snaps every week to be his old self. Davis had 6 combined tackles playing 63% of snaps this week while Marshall only had 4 combined tackles playing 84% of snaps this week.

While his playing time got better this week his production hasn’t caught up yet. I’m keeping him on my bench in several leagues because I remember the kind of producer he can be, hopefully he’ll get back to that point this year.

Von Miller (LB, EDGE) had a nice game this week with 5 combined tackles, 1.5 TFL and 1 PD on 74% of snaps but remains sack and TFL dependent for a startable game so I’m not playing him unless my league has a specific Edge or OLB slot.

Domata Peko (DT) and Derek Wolfe (DE) both had solid days with Peko recording 3 combined tackles, 0.5 sack and 0.5 TFL on 61% of snaps while Wolfe also had 3 combined tackles, 0.5 sack, 1 INT and 0.5 TFL while playing 73% of snaps this week. Both have not been mentioned yet by me this season so the consistency just isn’t there for me to consider either as a waiver wire option.

Jets: After a slow start in weeks one and two Avery Williamson (LB) has become who we all thought he would be in the offseason. He had another solid game this week with 9 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 100% of snaps this week.

After three solid weeks I am back to feeling totally comfortable starting him every week. Daron Lee (LB) is the other IDP relevant linebacker on the team and was quieter this week with 5 combined tackles on `100% of snaps played, he remains a solid bye week or injury fill in guy.

Both of the Jets safeties Jamal Adams (S) and Marcus Maye (S) had solid days as well. Adams recorded 6 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 100% of snaps in a “down” week for him, he remains a weekly start for me. Maye had his second huge game in a row returning from injury with 8 combined tackles, 0.5 sack, 0.5 TFL, 1 PD and 1 INT with 99 return yards. If you listened to me and canned Doug Middleton (S) for Maye you’ve been rewarded with two great weeks in a row.

Corner Daryl Roberts (CB) had a huge week as well with 7 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 95% of snaps this week but hasn’t been consistent and it seems like it’s a different Jets corner with a huge game every week with no signs of consistency anywhere to be found.

Leonard Williams (DE) had his second great week in a row also with 5 combined tackles, 2 sacks and 2 TFL playing 77% of snaps. He’s been a nice injury fill in for guys like Everson Griffen (DE) and Joey Bosa (DE) while we wait for both to return.

Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Falcons: With Keanu Neal (S) out for the season it’s been a nice surprise to see Damontae Kazee (S) fill in for him so effectively. Kazee recorded 6 combined tackles, 1 PD and 1 INT playing 100% of snaps. He’s been solid ever since he came in for Neal and has been a weekly start for me.

The other safety, Jordan Richards (S), also had a nice day with 7 combined tackles while playing 77% of snaps this week. He could end up being a nice waiver option but I’d like to see him put up solid numbers more than just this once first.

All three of the Falcons linebackers that have been in consideration for sucking up some of the production left on the table from the Deion Jones (LB) injury had down weeks this week. Duke Riley (LB), Foye Oluokon (LB) and DeVondre Campbell (LB) all had sub par games this week.

Riley recorded 4 combined tackles playing 84% of snaps while Oluokon had 5 combined tackles on 54% of snaps and Campbell put up 3 combined tackles on 85% of snaps this week. Riley and Campbell still have the playing time to make it happen so those are the guys I would continue to play in much deeper leagues, in shallower leagues though I would avoid this headache entirely.

Brooks Reed (DE) had a solid day while defensive end Takkarist McKinley (DE) came back to earth after his three sack performance last week. Both are incredibly spotty and Reed only played 56% of snaps this week while McKinley played 59%. Both of those guys haven’t been playing enough or producing consistently enough for me to consider either for waivers.

Steelers: At the top of the Steelers box score this week was TJ Watt (LB, EDGE) who despite this huge game is a huge risk to play every week since he’s mostly dependent on sacks for his production and has been quiet since week one. He recorded 8 combined tackles, 3 sacks and 4.5 TFL playing 72% of snaps this week. While stats like those are hard to ignore I’m still not starting a guy who’s had two good weeks out of five, that’s far too inconsistent for me.

Terrel Edmunds (S) continues to take advantage of the injury to Morgan Burnett (S) and has made the most of the last two weeks opportunities to be the starter at safety. This week he put up 7 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps and remains a great option as long as Burnett is injured and out.

Linebackers LJ Fort (LB) and Tyler Matakevich (LB) had nice games this week but one is an OLB and one filled in for the injured Vince Williams (LB) who should return next week, that means that both aren’t worth a pickup on the waiver wire so I won’t waste your time here.

Jon Bostic (LB) continues to be a steady producer this season despite not playing as many snaps as I would like, he had 5 combined tackles, 0.5 sack and 0.5 TFL playing only 60% of snaps this week. He continues to defy logic putting up pretty good numbers despite his low snap percentage.

Cameron Heyward (DT, DE) had a great week while the other IDP relevant defensive lineman on the Steelers, Stephon Tuitt (DE) didn’t do so hot. Heyward recorded 3 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks and 1.5 TFL playing 71% of snaps this week while Tuitt only had 2 combined tackles on 72% of snaps.

Both are nice injury fill in and bye week pieces and I’ve been playing Heyward all year in bigger leagues and especially in leagues where he has the dual designation of defensive end and defensive tackle.

Sean Davis (S) had a down game with 5 combined tackles on 100% of snaps played and has been up and down all year, at this point I would be looking for someone more consistent and reliable at safety.

Make sure you catch part one of this article and keep an eye out for part three and 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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