Taking a look at the NFL week 6 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 this week. We look at possible waivers and trends, snap counts and issues that affect production for your IDP team. Part two will cover the next three games of week six. Make sure you read part one for the first four games of week six and keep an eye out for part three and four coming soon. Let’s keep going.
Seattle Seahawks @ Oakland Raiders (In London)
Seahawks: It seems like every time a game is played in London something weird comes from it and this time it was the IDP production of the Seahawks. Barkevious Mingo (LB) and Justin Coleman (CB) sit atop the box score this week in what can only be described as a once in a lifetime situation. Mingo recorded 7 solo tackles and 1 TFL on 93% of snaps while Coleman recorded 6 solo tackles playing 77% of snaps this week.
Mingo may be able to replicate this production while KJ Wright (LB) remains out but I doubt we’ll see Coleman’s name on top of the box score again any time soon. He may be worth a waiver wire add but I keep hearing KJ Wright is close to returning and when he does that will negate Mingo as an option in my book.
Jarran Reed (DT) had his third nice week in a row with 5 solo tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 53% of snaps this week. He has now shown some real consistency and reliability and should definitely be on everyones radar for a defensive tackle option if you need help in that department. Bobby Wagner (LB) was next on the list with 4 solo tackles and 1 PD on 100% of snaps in a down week for him. He just hasn’t been himself this year but you have to keep playing him, we all know what he’s capable of and we all spent too much draft capitol to get him to just sit him at this point.
Bradley McDougald (S) had his “worst” game this year with 4 solo tackles on 100% of snaps this week. This was a down week for him and was still serviceable. He remains a weekly auto start for me, this game was just weird all around for Seattle IDP production. Frank Clark (DE) had a huge game with 4 combined tackles and 2.5 sacks playing 48% of snaps this week, he’s been a solid DE2 all season with flashes of tier one production the last couple weeks.
Tedric Thompson (S) cooled down from last weeks game and only had 3 solo tackles on 100% of snaps this week. It’s too early in his career as a replacement for the injured Earl Thomas (S) to make a call one way or the other so I think you play him next week unless you have a better option and hope for the best. He has the playing time so if the matchup is good and the opponent throws a ton I would feel comfortable giving him another shot.
Shaq Griffin (CB) and Tre Fowers (CB) both had down games but Derek Carr (QB) spent most of this game on his butt and didn’t complete many passes (23 completions) so the Seattle corners weren’t very involved in this one. They should be fine especially against teams with a more effective pass game.
Raiders: We all knew Tahir Whitehead (LB) would lead the way for the Raiders IDP production this week and he certainly did with 6 combined tackles on 100% of snaps played. That isn’t a ton of tackles though and he was at the top of their box score. So I guess the London effect was evident in both teams cause after Whitehead I would really have to reach to find any IDP highlights for you guys from the Raiders.
Daryl Worley (CB) had a nice game but Maurice Hurst (DT) was nowhere to be found and Gilchrist (S) and Nelson (S) had five tackles between the two of them. I’m never going to play Worley, Hurst is a dynasty piece for me and if you’re being forced to play either Raiders safety every week you’re in deep shit.
Chalk this one up to playing a game on a neutral field in a strange country at a time they’re not used to playing at and keep it moving. Whitehead will do better in the future, so will all the Seattle IDP producers. This one was a wash for both teams.
Chicago Bears @ Miami Dolphins:
Bears: This game was a back and forth affair that also benefited from nearly all over an overtime period so the IDP points were plentiful for these two squads this week. Roquan Smith (LB) led the Bears with 13 combined tackles playing 92% of snaps this week. He’s a great LB2 or LB3 depending on league size and pretty much a weekly start unless you’ve got a better option. Adrian Amos (S) had the next best day with 9 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 100% of snaps this week. It’s the first time I’ve mentioned Amos in a positive light this year so I’m not buying, there are better safeties out there.
Danny Trevethan (LB) was up next with 8 combined tackles on 97% of snaps played. He’s been a good linebacker play in deeper leagues. Kyle Fuller (CB) finally had a great day with 7 combined tackles, 2 PD and 2 INT on 99% of snaps played. He was a terrific IDP safety last season but teams seem to be throwing at him far less this season so I’ve moved on to better options (like his brother in KC).
Khalil Mack (DE, LB) had 1 solo and 1 tackle assist on 79% of snaps played this week. If you have him as a defensive end that’s one thing, it’s part of that position. Look at DeMarcus Lawrence (DE), he had one tackle assist last week and three sacks the week before that. Defensive end and defensive tackle are up and down positions, you’re just looking for more up then down. And your opponent has the same troubles as you with that position so it evens out. Where you get in trouble is if you’re playing Mack as a linebacker.
Yes, he’s been great so far this year, but this week if you played Mack and your opponent played literally any other tier one linebacker (tier one because that’s where you drafted Mack) he would’ve destroyed you in that one on one matchup. I’d much rather play a guy like Blake Martinez (LB) who may not have the monster weeks that Mack does but will get me solid points every single week because he’s not relying on sacks, picks, forced fumbles and touchdowns for the lions share of his production. Someone like Martinez relies on tackles for the majority of their production, and linebackers are pretty good at getting tackles.
This right here is why I flipped out when other “experts” in the IDP community said Mack lost no value returning to linebacker as his designation. Of course he does! This is why! And it won’t be the last time either, unless you think he’s going to get at least one sack every single game the remainder of the year.
That’s for just a decent floor, he’s had all kinds of forced fumbles, interceptions, and a touchdown as well as the five sacks in the first four games this year and that’s why his weeks have been massive so far. Sacks, forced fumbles, touchdowns and interceptions are impossible to predict and happen very rarely, there was no way he was going to sustain that kind of production all year.
He may be a linebacker in name but he’s really just a defensive end with linebacker designation. His tackle numbers have never been great and will never be great and consistent tackles are what makes an IDP linebacker great. For Mack to have a big game he needs to do many very difficult things every week like getting sacks and forcing fumbles because his tackle numbers will never be there.
If you choose to rely on him getting those kind of stats you’re putting yourself in a situation where when he has a game without any of that stuff you end up with this weeks kind of production; one tackle and one assist. Then you find yourself in a huge hole because your opponent played Kwon Alexander or someone like that in the same linebacker spot you had Mack in.
I have Mack as a defensive end in Yahoo so this weeks dud didn’t really screw me, my opponent had Myles Garret (DE) so it evened out. But if I had played Mack as a linebacker and my opponent had someone like Kwon Alexander (LB) or Darius Leonard (LB) going against him I would’ve gotten my asshole turned inside out. Playing Mack as anything other than a defensive end is incredibly risky. I wouldn’t do it personally.
Everyone is going to do what they want to do with their lineup, all I am saying is that if you do choose to play Mack as a linebacker you need to expect this kind of week and plan for it. Make sure your other linebackers are super consistent guys that won’t let you down so if this kind of thing does happen you can survive it.
I play Budda Baker (S) every week and he’s similar, he can have some real stinkers but I play him cause when he does go off it’s a monster game which is very similar to Macks production style. So just remember this does happen with him, he can’t get two sacks and a forced fumble every week it just doesn’t work like that. Plan for it and be ready for it and you’ll be fine.
Akiem Hicks (DE) had a nice game this week with 7 combined tackles playing 82% of snaps. He’s been a great bye week or injury replacement guy and is certainly playable in deeper leagues. Eddie Jackson (S) had 6 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps in a serviceable game. The Bears safeties are both capable of putting up solid games but do so very infrequently so unless I’m in a very deep league I’m going with other options.
Dolphins: The Miami linebackers situation has been one we’ve all been watching very carefully searching for that second linebacker that we all think can be IDP relevant. We thought we had him in Jerome Baker (LB) but this week really made things fuzzier. Baker only recorded 2 solo tackles playing 63% of snaps this week.
Raekwon McMillan (LB) outproduced Baker for the first time in weeks with 6 combined tackles playing 56% of snaps. Baker had more snaps and has been better overall this year so it may not be time to panic yet. The one thing that has remained constant is the outstanding production of Kiko Alonso (LB) who had yet another monster game with 11 combined tackles on 100% of snaps played, he remains a weekly auto start.
Reshad Jones (S) had a bit of a down game for him with 5 combined tackles and 1 PD on 100% of snaps. He had a huge game last week and those numbers are still serviceable. He’s far too good to bench so you gotta keep playing him. Davon Godchaux (DT) had another serviceable week with 3 solo tackles on 69% of snaps played this week. Those numbers are decent for a DT2 but frankly I expected more out of Godchaux this week with all the run plays the Bears are into and especially with the extra time from the overtime period. He’s been good this year but I’m still waiting for him to take the next step.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (S, CB) came back down to earth with 3 combined tackles and 1 PD playing 80% of snaps this week. He is valuable if you can play him as a corner or when Reshad Jones is injured and Minkah is able to replace him at the strong safety position, he did extremely well in both chances he got at that position this year. He’s mostly someone you’re keeping around in dynasty for the future. When he does get his own safety slot to work with he’ll be a guy who produces like Derwin James (S) I would think.
Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings
Cardinals: The Killer “B’s” were at it again this week. Budda Baker (S) and Antoine Bethea (S) had awesome weeks once again. Baker went crazy with 9 solo tackles, 2 TFL, 1 fumble recovery and 1 touchdown on 100% of snaps played while Bethea recorded 10 combined tackles on 100% of snaps as well. The third safety, Tre Boston (S), had a solid day as well with 4 combined tackles, 1 PD and 1 INT on 89% of snaps. All three have been consistent, reliable and awesome producers all year and all three continue to be weekly auto starts.
Josh Bynes (LB) the last of the “Killer B’s” was super productive as well with 8 combined tackles and 1 TFL on 100% of snaps played. Chandler Jones (DE) is back to pretty consistent production as well with 5 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFL and 1 PD on 86% of snaps this week. He is getting back to his tier one defensive end ways and is back to a weekly auto start for me.
Patrick Peterson (CB) and Robert Nkemdiche (DT) have both been pretty solid IDP producers this season as well. Peterson recorded 5 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps despite his shutdown corner reputation. Against any team that throws the ball enough is a solid play this year. Nkemdiche had 5 combined tackles on 69% of snaps and has been a reliable DT2 this season.
Deone Buchanon (LB) had his snaps disappear this week while Hasaan Redick (LB) got significant playing time for the second week in a row with 7 combined tackles and 1 PD on 100% of snaps played. He’s had two games in a row with solid playing time after literally no playing time prior to that, I still don’t trust it yet. If he plays this much next week maybe I’ll bite.
Vikings: With safety Andrew Sendejo (S) being a late scratch due to injury it was finally George Illoka (S) turn to start for the Vikings and he took full advantage of it with 8 combined tackles playing 74% of snaps this week. He was just a short term fill in for Sendejo I don’t expect him to play this much when he returns. Harrison Smith (S) was next on the box score with 7 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 100% of snaps this week. He has been up and down this year but this is the type of game we know he’s capable of and why we play him.
Danielle Hunter (DE) and Stephen Weatherly (DE) are the two defensive ends on the Vikings that have been in a lot of lineups this year. Hunter because he’s awesome and Weatherly because you drafted Everson Griffen (DE) and are now screwed waiting for him to get his head straight and return to the field.
Hunter had yet another great week with 5 combined tackles, 2 sacks and 2 TFL on 86% of snaps while Weatherly is back to putting up stinkers recording 3 combined tackles on 88% of snaps this week. Unless you have a better option Weatherly has been able to put up serviceable weeks in two out of his four starts this year so if the pattern continues he’s due for a nice game next week, we shall see.
Both Sheldon Richardson (DT) and Linval Joseph (DT) have been reliable defensive tackle options this year and both had down weeks with Richardson recording 2 solo tackles on 67% of snaps while Joseph came back down to earth after last weeks monster week with 3 combined tackles playing 71% of snaps played this week. Both have been solid more often than not so I’m still playing them despite this down week.
Eric Kendricks (LB) had a predictably bad week going against a struggling Cardinals offense that didn’t run many plays and lost the time of possession battle 35 minutes to 25 this week. Kendricks had 5 combined tackles on 100% of snaps played and will do better against more effective offenses.
Make sure you catch part one of this article and keep an eye out for parts three and four 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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