Taking a look at the NFL Week 12 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 one will cover the first three games of week twelve. Keep an eye out for part two dropping tomorrow morning.

Let’s get into it.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions

Bears: With all the injuries to the Lions wide receivers corps there was an emphasis on the run game this week which led to monster days for both Roquan Smith (LB) and Danny Trevethan (LB). Smith recorded 11 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 86% of snaps this week while Trevethan had 8 combined tackles and 1 TFL on 97% of snaps. Smith is getting better and better every week and is definitely in the tier one conversation now while Trevethan remains a consistent tier two option.

Kyle Fuller (CB) had an ideal matchup against a team that passes early and often and took advantage with 8 combined tackles, 2 PD and 1 INT on 98% of snaps this week, he’s a solid play against teams like the Lions that throw often. Prince Amukamara (CB) had his third solid week in a row with 6 combined tackles and 1 TFL on 91% of snaps, he’s shown me in the past month or so that this production is not just a flash in the pan so I would feel comfortable playing him in ideal matchups against teams with efficient pass offenses like this week.

Akiem Hicks (DE) continues to be solid recording 4 combined tackles on 86% of snaps this week in a serviceable performance, he’s having a career year so keep playing him with confidence. Adrian Amos (S) and Eddie Jackson (S) both had down days with the exception of Jacksons pick 6, besides that play neither had north of 4 combined tackles.

If you played Jackson it turned out OK but my issue with these guys is unpredictability and relying on big plays for good production, that kind of thing could bite you in the butt come playoff time so buyer beware.

Khalil Mack (DE, LB) had only 1 solo tackle on 89% of snaps this week which would’ve been survivable if you played him as a defensive end (your opponent most likely had someone throw up a dud as well, nature of the position) but could’ve doomed your matchup this week if you played him as a linebacker.

Lions: It was safety Glover Quinn (S) leading the way for the Lions this week with 7 solo tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 100% of snaps this week, he’s been a reliable tier two option most of this season. Quandre Diggs (S) the other IDP relevant safety had a serviceable game with 5 solo tackles on 100% of snaps, same story with him.

Jarrad Davis (LB) had a down week with only 3 combined tackles playing 100% of snaps this week but should be fine, it happens. Damon Harrison (DT) continues to look like a new man on his new team putting up 3 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks and 0.5 TFL on 52% of snaps this week, he’s back to being a tier one defensive tackle option on the Lions.

Darius Slay (CB) and Ezekiel Ansah (DE) both had serviceable games this week with Slay recording 4 solo tackles on 100% of snaps while Ansah had 3 combined tackles and 1 sack on 50% of snaps this week. Slay remains a good option in ideal passing offense matchups while Ansah is still a risky option at defensive end who’s usually injured and out most weeks.

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys

Redskins: It was Jonathan Allen (DE) and Preston Smith (LB) who led the way for the Skins this week but seeing as it’s the first time I’ve mentioned either of their names this season I won’t waste your time or mine talking about them, flash in the pan with no consistency to be seen here so not interested.

Mason Foster (LB) was next with 8 combined tackles on 100% of snaps this week and remains a tier one option with a great floor and rock solid reliability. Josh Norman (CB) had a nice game in a matchup I didn’t think he would do well in at all, he had 6 combined tackles and 1 PD on 100% of snaps this week and is a good option against teams that pass early and often which usually isn’t Dallas.

DJ Swearinger (S) had a nice game this week with 5 solo tackles and 1 PD on 100% of snaps this week but has definitely taken a downward swing since Ha Ha Clinton Dix (S), who had just 4 combined tackles on 100% of snaps, joined the team from the Packers earlier this season, I haven’t been able to trust Swearinger since. Dix had a down week but should be fine he’s been a monster since joining the Redskins.

Both Ryan Kerrigan (LB, EDGE) and Zach Brown (LB) had serviceable games this week. Kerrigan recording 4 combined tackles, 0.5 sacks and 1 TFL on 91% of snaps, while Brown had 5 combined tackles playing only 69% of snaps this week. Kerrigan is a decent option in an EDGE or OLB specific slot but is a disaster waiting to happen if you’re playing him in a regular linebacker slot.

While Brown used to be a top five IDP linebacker but has been a huge disappointment this season in regards to both playing time and overall production, he’s best used as an end of tier two linebacker in deeper leagues these days.

Cowboys: For the second time in three weeks it was Jeff Heath (S) leading the way for the Cowboys in IDP production this week recording 9 combined tackles, 1 TFL and 1 PD on 100% of snaps this week. He’s been inconsistent over the course of the season and there are plenty of Indians and Chiefs on this defense and he’s generally not one of them, so I guess you could do worse if you need safety help but I’m looking elsewhere unless I see this a few more times over the next month or so.

Leighton Vander Esch Mein Shizor (LB) had another monster week with 9 combined tackles and 1 PD on 94% of snaps this week, he’s a tier one auto start every week that he’s healthy and Sean Lee (LB) isn’t. Jaylon Smith (LB) was right behind him with 6 solo tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 100% of snaps this week, he remains a mid tier one option and a weekly auto start for me, what a steal this guy was in the draft, sure waiting for him to heal for a year was crappy but he’s everything that was advertised and more.

Chidobe Awuzie (CB) had a decent game in a not ideal matchup against a backup quarterback who’s never really lit the league on fire with his passing game even when he was a starter years ago, despite that Awuzie had 4 combined tackles and 2 PD on 100% of snaps and remains a nice option in matchups against efficient passing attacks.

DeMarcus Lawrence (DE) has been a monster all season and had another awesome game with 3 combined tackles, 0.5 sacks, 0.5 TFL, 1 PD and 1 INT on 84% of snaps this week. He’s a tier one auto start every week and a man among boys. Randy Gregory (DE) came back to earth with a dud week but is still a decent spot start if you need short term defensive end help.

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints

Falcons: With another week of no Deion Jones (LB) it was the Foye Oluokun (LB) show once again with 10 combined tackles on 77% of snaps this week. Jones was activated off IR and was supposed to play both last week and this week but no such luck, Oluokun remains a nice option without Jones and may end up being the LaVonte David (LB) to Jones Kwon Alexander (LB) if things go how our featured writer Gary Van Dyke thinks they will go.

So he may be worth hanging on to even when Jones get’s back into action. Da’Vondre Campbell (LB) had a nice game as well with 7 combined tackles and 1 TFL on 72% of snaps this week, he should be pretty much useless when Jones comes back so you can get rid of him if you need space elsewhere.

DaMontae Kazee (S) had another nice week with 4 combined tackles, 1 PD and 1 INT on 98% of snaps and has been a terrific replacement for injured Keanu Neal (S) this season, continue to start him weekly with confidence.

Grady Jarrett (DT) and the rest of the Falcons defensive line had terrible games this week against that incredible Saints offensive line, this was expected somewhat, Jarrett remains a solid defensive tackle option and will have better games down the road this year.

Desmond Trufant (CB) had the best day for the Falcons corners with only 3 combined tackles and 1 PD on 100% of snaps. It was disappointment all around considering the ideal matchup against the pass happy Saints offense but it happens, most of the Falcons corners have been startable and IDP relevant all season so don’t bail out on them now cause of one bad game.

Saints: It was the New Orleans secondary leading the way this week with newcomer Eli Apple (CB) the overall leader on the box score this week with 10 combined tackles and 1 PD on 100% of snaps this week. He’s been great since being acquired by the Saints earlier this season and is a solid play against passing offenses like the Falcons.

Vonn Bell (S) had a great game as well with 7 solo tackles and 1 TFL on 89% of snaps this week. He’s too spotty for my tastes and Saints IDP in general suffer from the “our offense is awesome” problem where they don’t see enough playing time to compete with IDP players like Jessie Bates (S) or Jordan Poyer (S) whose offenses are pretty bad which allows them to get more overall playing time than guys like Vonn Bell.

DeMario Davis (LB) had a nice week for once with 6 combined tackles, 1 sack and 2 TFL on 99% of snaps this week, he’s been super unreliable in general so I’ve been off his bandwagon for some time now, good for him though for having one nice week in a month.

Marcus Williams (S) had a solid game this week with 5 solo tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL on 100% of snaps this week, same issue as Vonn Bell (S) for me but at least Williams doesn’t have Kurt Coleman (S) stealing snaps from him every week.

Cameron Jordan (DE) and Sheldon Rankins (DT) are the guys I own and am interested in for this team. Jordan had a monster game with 4 solo tackles, 2 sacks and 3 TFL on 87% of snaps while Rankins had 2 solo tackles, 1 sack and 2 TFL on 66% of snaps this week.

Jordan is an end of tier one defensive end and an auto start every week for more while Rankins has worked his way into the end of tier one defensive tackle discussion with a great season so far, the future is bright for this young man.

Marcus Davenport (DE) is the third piece of this pie but has been injured recently, once he returns I have no issues playing him weekly either he’s got future stud written all over him as well.

Make sure you catch part two dropping tomorrow 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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