Taking a look at the NFL Week 9 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 four will cover the last four games of week Nine. Make sure you caught parts one through three from earlier in the week for the full analysis of every teams IDP production this week, let’s get back into it.
LA Chargers @ Seattle Seahawks
Chargers: With Kyzir White (S, LB) going on recently it would seem that Jatavis Brown (LB) is going to permanently be soaking up some of that production, he led the way for the Chargers this week with 11 combined tackles on 63% of snaps this week, while that is great production that kind of playing time isn’t going to lend itself to any kind of consistency so I would pass on him.
Derwin James (S) was next also with 11 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps this week, he’s been awesome all year and is an auto start. Jahleel Addae (S) the sometimes productive safety was next with 10 combined tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL and 1 PD on 100% of snaps, with White out for good he may end up being more productive the remainder of the season I’d like to see more though before pulling the trigger on him.
While the reports say Joey Bosa (DE) is getting close to returning to action he isn’t there yet so for you Melvin Ingram (DE) owners you need to hold on just a little while longer, when Bosa returns his production should sky rocket with opposing offensive lines having more than just him to worry about.
This week Ingram recorded 4 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1.5 TFL on 91% of snaps played. He’s been edge of tier one all season even with the extra attention being paid to him without Bosa on the other end of the defensive line causing havoc, that should resolve itself soon enough.
Seahawks: It was all the usual suspects for the Hawks this week with Bobby Wagner (LB) leading the way with 13 combined tackles and 3 PD playing 100% of snaps, it would be nice if he can keep this kind of production up he’s been underproducing all year.
KJ Wright (LB) was next with 7 combined tackles, 1.5 TFL and 1 PD playing 86% of snaps this week, he’s beem solid since returning from injury last week. Tedric Thompson (S) was next up with 5 solo tackles and 1 PD playing 98% of snaps, he’s been solid in relief of the injured and out for the season Earl Thomas.
Jarran Reed (DT) had a solid day as well with 5 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL playing 88% of snaps, he’s been a tier two defensive tackle this season and the consistency has been pretty good overall. Frank Clark (DE) had a serviceable game with 1 solo tackle, 1 sack and 1 TFL playing 80% of snaps and has been solid all year. He was an absolute steal considering where he (wasn’t) drafted before the season.
Tre Flowers (CB) and Shaq Griffin (CB) both had bad games in an ideal matchup against a solid passing offense so that’s not great, it gives me pause about playing them again. We’ll see how it shakes out.
LA Rams @ New Orleans Saints
Rams: Cory Littleton (LB) had another awesome game to maintain his position as the second best IDP linebacker this season recording 9 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps. He’s been awesome all year and is an auto start.
John Johnson (S) was next with 9 combined tackles as well also playing 100% of snaps, he’s been a tier two guy with flashes of tier one production, the only thing holding him back is the Rams offense has been so good that he doesn’t get as much time on the field as other safeties, nice problem to have for him.
Marc Barron (LB) the temperature sensitive sometimes-good linebacker had a solid game as well with 7 combined tackles on 87% of snaps. He doesn’t play a lot in cold weather and has been inconsistent and injury prone regardless, I’m all set with him this year.
Micheal Brockers (DE) and Marcus Peters (CB) both had nice games as well this week. Brockers put up 5 combined tackles playing 86% of snaps and has been a nice short term guy and is playable weekly in deeper leagues. Peters had 4 solo tackles and 2 PD on 100% of snaps and is a great option against any offense that passes well, this was an ideal matchup for him.
N’Damakong Suh (DT), Aaron Donald (DE) and Dante Fowler (DE) all had clunkers but are all capable of explosive production any week so I would keep playing them.
Saints: It was DeMario Davis (LB) who led the way for the Saints with 7 combined tackles and 1 TFL playing 87% of snaps this week, that’s still a dropoff from his production earlier this season and his snap count has decreased since then as well, those are all warning signs for me, he’s still playable but I wouldn’t count on him being anything more than a tier two guy from here on out.
Eli Apple (CB) had his second nice game since being traded to the Saints recording 5 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 100% of snaps, I would feel comfortable playing him against teams that pass the ball well at this point.
Both safeties are spotty and Lattimore is a shutdown corner and those don’t do well in IDP generally. The defensive line is the only other part of this defense I care about. Cameron Jordan (DE) had a stinker, so did Sheldon Rankins (DT) and Marcus Davenport (DE) was injured and out. Jordan will be fine, Rankins is best used as your second defensive tackle or a bye week guy and Davenport has been hot but will be out a couple more weeks I believe. Let’s keep it moving I’ve got some Red Dead Redemption 2 to play.
Green Bay Packers @ New England Patriots
Packers: Surprisingly it wasn’t Blake Martinez (LB) at the top of the Packers box score this week in an ideal matchup, he had a solid game with 7 combined tackles on 79% of snaps and sat out a series due to a minor injury, he’ll be fine.
Antonio Morrison (LB) is the story here with 8 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL playing only 44% of snaps. That’s not nearly enough playing time to do this consistently so don’t fall for it, besides Oren Burks (LB) is the future here in regards to that second inside linebacker slot next to Blake. Burks isn’t there yet though as evidenced by his 1 solo tackle on 21% of snaps played this week.
With Ha Ha Clinton Dix (S) being traded to the Redskins there are questions about exactly who will play safety for the Packers now and how much they will contribute, no one distinguished themselves in this game but I’ll keep an eye on it.
Jaire Alexander (CB) had a decent game with 4 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 100% of snaps and has strung together a couple weeks of decent production, he could end up being a nice option at corner but it’s still to soon to make a call either way. No one else on the Packers had a great game this week.
Patriots: It was Kyle Van Noy (LB) and Patrick Chung (S) leading the way for the Patriots this week. Van Noy had 9 combined tackles and 0.5 TFL playing 91% of snaps while Chung put up 6 combined tackles on 97% of snaps. Van Noy has been pretty consistent lately but Belichick can change things up any time in regards to this defense, trust no one on this team for IDP production.
Maybe Trey Flowers (DE), he’s pretty awesome routinely and had 5 combined tackles, 0.5 sacks and 0.5 TFL playing 97% of snaps this week. He’s literally the only Patriots IDP I have on any of my teams, I couldn’t care less about any of the others. Even Devin McCourty (S) has been inconsistent and disappointing this season, routinely playing Patriots IDP every week is a recipe for disaster.
Tennessee Titans @ Dallas Cowboys
Titans: It was the return of a fully healthy Wesley Woodyard (LB) this week with him recording 10 combined tackles, 1 sack and 0.5 TFL on 83% of snaps this week, he’s not even back to 100% of snaps yet and his production went through the roof this week, he’s back to a tier one guy you play every week in my mind.
Kenny Vaccaro (S), Malcolm Butler (CB) and Kevin Byard (S) all had solid games with 5 combined tackles each while Byard also racked up an interception and all played 80% of snaps or more. Byard can be spotty but is tier one more often than not, Vaccaro is back to being a good tier two option for short term situations and Butler is a good play (Adoree Jackson also) against teams that have to pass alot, this wasn’t an ideal matchup but he flourished regardless.
Jayon Brown (LB) had his production take a nose dive although he still ended up with a serviceable game recording 4 combined tackles, 1 sack and 2 TFL on 85% of snaps this week. The sack saved his day, his tackle numbers have plummetted since Woodyard returned and he’s not playing 100% of snaps anymore either, have a backup plan in place if this trend continues.
Jurell Casey (DT) had a stinker this week but will be fine, he’s getting the playing time (78% of snaps) and has had a great season it’s just nature of the position.
Cowboys: Death, taxes and Sean Lee (LB) getting injured. These things are certain in life. He’ll be out again for a few weeks at least so that means that Leighton Vander Esch Mein Shizor (LB) is back baby!!! Vander Esch Mein Shizor had 9 combined tackles, 0.5 TFL and 1 PD playing 87% of snaps, he’ll play more than that this week with Lee out, pick him up if you can he’s a monster without Lee there to mess with him.
Jaylon Smith (LB) was awesome as usual with 9 combined tackles and 0.5 TFL playing 90% of snaps this week and remains a tier one weekly auto start. Chidobe Awuzie (CB) is healthy again and is back to being a great producer putting up 7 combined tackles on 99% of snaps this week, pick him up if someone dropped him and play him against literally any team with a breathing person who can throw a ball forward a few times a game.
DeMarcus Lawrence (DE) had another awesome game with 4 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 57% of snaps this week, he’s a tier one auto start so let’s keep going. Xavier Woods (S) had the only other notable game with week with 7 combined tackles playing 99% of snaps but has been generally pretty bad this season so I’m all set with that.
Make sure you caught parts one through three from earlier this week and keep an eye out for my start or sit article dropping Sunday morning. 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.
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