Did Jamal Adams cement himself as safety one this weekend? Did anyone get my message last week?
Week ten is in the books and fantasy playoffs are just over the horizon. It’s pretty much do or die time and the bye weeks are still causing havoc when we need our studs the most. Some of our solid options from last week have panned out and some haven’t. We’ll do what we always do and keep plugging, clawing and scratching our way into those fantasy playoffs. I’ve got some decent options for you this week for those deep leagues where you need bye week help and we’ll have a look at how some of the more recent waiver wire guys have been doing, what their playing time looks like and what they look like going forward.
I don’t really have a message for this weeks article, usually I use this introduction to talk about something that’s trending in fantasy football or a strategy or mindset I think could help out, but I got nadda this week. These are truly the dog days of fantasy football and we’re doing what we can to make it through the bye weeks intact and put ourselves in good position going into the final weeks of the season. So yeah no message this week, just keep doing what you’ve been doing and we’ll see what the fantasy gods have in store for us all.
Let’s get into week ten and diagnose another week in IDP fantasy football.
Be sure to follow all the IDP writers at idpguys.org for a faster take on waivers and to make sure you’re covered from all angles with your IDP information, @IDP_Dude and @Joeythetooth are must follows. Apologies that this article comes out after waivers but it’s either ALL of the detail and it comes out late or NONE of the detail and you’ll have it for Tuesday night waivers. Anyone that knows me knows I don’t do things “some of the way”. Anyways, let’s get into it and prepare to have our cheeks clapped by the football gods again this week.
A legend is born.
Chargers @ Raiders
Oakland Raiders
Performed as expected: Tahir Whitehead (LB) Nicholas Morrow (LB) Clelin Ferrell (DE) Lamarcus Joyner (S) Karl Joseph (S) Maxx Crosby (DE) Maurice Hurst (DT)
Possible waiver adds: DJ Swearinger (S) was signed after it was learned that Karl Joseph (S) was injured and is out for the season, both Joseph and Harris have seen 100% of snaps every week since the Raiders went to a base three safety set and both have produced consistently as well. I’ve been telling people to add Eric Harris (S) for weeks so I hope you all did before he went nuts last week.
Flash in the pan: PJ Hall (DT) had a decent game but only played 53% of snaps this week and hasn’t caught my eye any other week this season so the consistency isn’t there, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Literally everyone who was supposed to put up numbers on this defense did so this week, remain calm everywhere even with Clelin Ferrell (DE) which was an unexpected surprise.
Los Angeles Chargers
Performed as expected: Thomas Davis (LB) Melvin Ingram (DE) Desmond King (CB)
Possible waiver adds: Drue Tranquil (LB) saw a massive uptick in his snaps this week all the way to 100% played and had a huge game in the box score as well, if this kind of playing time continues it makes him a no brainer waiver wire linebacker if you need help there.
Flash in the pan: Derek Watt (FB) had five combined tackles while managing to not play a single snap on defense, it was all from special teams and via making tackles on offense after turnovers, he’s a fullback. Obviously don’t add a fullback for your IDP team.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Jerry Tillery (DT) only had two tackle assists on the day and his playing time fell once again down to just 22% of snaps played this week. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, he’s an abandon ship in redraft and much like Ed Oliver (DT) he’s going to take some time to be productive in dynasty. Other then that pretty much everyone did what they were supposed to do or is someone you should never consider benching ever (Joey Bosa (DE)) so remain calm. On the Drue Tranquil (LB) thing just a quick note, we’ve seen this movie before, the Chargers linebackers situation has been a mess all season, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if his snaps plummet a game or two down the road so I wouldn’t use him as anything more than a short term option if it were me.
Damon Harrison takes a shit on the field in front of tens of thousands of shocked and horrified fans, Detroit USA Circa 2019
Lions @ Bears
Detroit Lions
Performed as expected: Jarrad Davis (LB) Trey Flowers (DE) Tavon Wilson (S) Damon Harrison (DT)
Possible waiver adds: Jahlani Tavai (LB) is only playing around 60% of snaps each week, 67% this week, but has been able to put up some pretty decent and consistent numbers the last couple weeks, add him in deeper leagues where you need linebacker help.
Flash in the pan: Devon Kennard (LB) isn’t going to save his week with a sack every week, in general he’s not very good or productive, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Our biggest worries on this defense this season has been Damon Harrison (DT) and Trey Flowers (DE) who both put up numbers this week. Harrison still only played 44% of snaps which isn’t ideal at all so keep looking for better options at defensive line if you’re stuck with him. Flowers however played 88% of snaps and has been hot the last couple weeks, he’s actually looking like the player they payed all the money for. I still think he’s best used as a defensive end two preferably three in deeper leagues but if he can put up weeks like this every once in awhile I can live with it, he’s doing far better than at the start of the season.
Chicago Bears
Performed as expected: Roquan Smith (LB) Kyle Fuller (CB) Prince Amukamara (CB) Ha Ha Clinton Dix (S)
Possible waiver adds: With the injury to Danny Trevethan (LB) our old friend Nick Kwiatkowski (LB) is once again a good option at least for a couple weeks as a waiver wire linebacker. Pick him up and play him with confidence for as long as Trevethan is injured and out for.
Flash in the pan: Brent Urban (DE) had a decent week in the box score but only played 25% of snaps and is someone I haven’t mentioned this year as of yet which means there’s no consistency as well as no playing time, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Khalil Mack (EDGE) had a down week but still gave you three combined tackles so it wasn’t a total loss like it usually is when these OLB or EDGE guys have a bad week. He’s the best EDGE guy in the game continue to start him with confidence in a specific OLB or EDGE slot, if you’re playing him in a regular linebacker slot you either need to learn to live with weeks like this or maybe stop doing it entirely and find yourself a linebacker with a solid tackle floor to plug in each week instead. Eddie “Skidmarks” Jackson (S) had another god awful week despite playing 100% of snaps as usual, just two solo tackles and a pass defended on the day. He’s the ultimate boom or bust guy and why you would want to go with that at safety of all positions, where there are PLENTY of consistent guys out there, is beyond me. I never boarded the ship so I don’t need to abandon it. If you want to keep playing him you need to make peace with weeks like this because the absolute last thing he has is consistency.
Marcus Peters has found new streaming corner life in Baltimore.
Ravens @ Bengals
Baltimore Ravens
Performed as expected: Chuck Clark (S) Matthew Judon (EDGE) Marcus Peters (CB)
Possible waiver adds: Chuck Clark (S) continues to play 100% of snaps each week and is producing pretty nicely recently. He is still available in quite a few places because I’ve been adding him to play during these bye weeks for a few weeks now. Great option if you need safety help.
Flash in the pan: Josh Bynes (LB) led all Ravens IDP in production this week but only played 60% of snaps and recently has been playing only around 40% each week. I’m avoiding the Ravens linebacker situation completely with Matthew Judon (EDGE) being the exception to the rule but only in deeper leagues where I’m starting on OLB or EDGE specific player, as a regular linebacker he’s far too inconsistent to be relied upon.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: The linebacker situation in Baltimore has been weird all year and it keeps getting weirder. Patrick Onwuasor (LB) was playing 100% of snaps and putting up decent numbers before his injury. Since coming back from that injury he’s played around 40% against the Patriots and only 29% of snaps this week, his playing time is going down instead of up like we all expected when the thought was they were just easing him back into the lineup against the Patriots in his first week back. LJ Fort (LB) actually led the Ravens in regular linebacker snaps this week with 60% of snaps this week with Jaylon Ferguson (LB), Josh Bynes (LB) and Tyus Bowser (LB) all getting more playing time than Onwuasor but all still getting less than the team leading 60% of snaps Fort had. None of that is ideal, and I’ve been staring at these numbers every week there’s no pattern to it, I would bet a hot sauce enema that this will look completely different next week once again like it has all season. Short version is there is no “safe” linebacker to be had currently on this defense. I’m steering clear of the entire situation and I would recommend you do the same.
Cincinnati Bengals
Performed as expected: Jessie Bates (S) Shawn Williams (S) Nick Vigil (LB)
Possible waiver adds: With the news that the Bengals waived Preston Brown (LB) this makes Germaine Pratt (LB), who has been steadily gaining playing time in recent weeks anyways, as a solid linebacker option going forward, preferably in deeper leagues though. Pratt only saw 50% of snaps this week but the 35% that Preston Brown (LB) saw will likely go towards Pratts playing time going forward. It’s looking like Pratt will get his chance to show us what he can do.
Flash in the pan: You can go ahead and ignore Preston Brown (LB) production this week, he got blasted out the airlock and is now looking for a new team to play for. Pass unless he lands somewhere that guarantees him solid playing time and production by default, which isn’t likely.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Sam Hubbard (DE), Carlos Dunlap (DE) and Geno Atkins (DT) all had terrible games and couldn’t establish any kind of pass rush or pressure on the wizard like Lamar Jackson (QB) who carved the Bengals defense up all day long. This isn’t the biggest shock to be honest, the Ravens and the Bengals are not just on different levels but they’re in different solar systems if we’re being real here. The Ravens run game is phenomenal and they didn’t need to drop back and pass that much at all which limited the opportunities to rush the passer for the Bengals. And when they did it also doesn’t shock me that these three tier two defensive linemen weren’t able to wrangle Lamar Jackson (QB) for any sacks. Hubbard has met or blown way past his projection in five of nine games this season and Dunlap and Atkins have also both performed around where we expected them to at around a tier two level. Remain calm across the board, there are more productive days in store for all three of these guys before the season ends.
Tremaine Edmunds has been as hot as a post taco bell poop recently.
Bills @ Browns
Buffalo Bills
Performed as expected: Levi Wallace (CB) Tra’Davious White (CB) Tremaine Edmunds (LB) Jordan Poyer (S) Trent Murphy (DE) Micah Hyde (S) Matt Milano (LB)
Possible waiver adds: Trent Muphy (DE) or Jerry Hughes (DE) make a nice bye week defensive end option in deeper leagues, I’ve done it a couple times this season and they have enough nice weeks that it’s a good idea. Plus they usually never put up a donut and play around 70% of snaps a game each pretty regularly.
Flash in the pan: NA, all the right names at the top of the box score.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Jordan Phillips (DT) had a down week but saw elevated snaps the second week in a row, 71% played this week, while Ed Oliver (DT) saw reduced playing time for the second week in a row, 33% of snaps this week. Phillips has been producing efficiently all season with less than ideal playing time, usually about 45% of snaps each week, and has earned this bump in playing time so despite the bad week I am far more confident playing him now with the extra snaps than I was weeks ago when he was putting up numbers but not playing enough, he’ll be fine. Oliver however proved to us once again that he’s still just a dynasty piece for the future and essentially useless in redraft this season, abandon ship, still.
Cleveland Browns
Performed as expected: Morgan Burnett (S) Damarious Randal (S) Joe Schobert (LB) Denzel Ward (CB) Mack Wilson (LB) Sheldon Richardson (DT)
Possible waiver adds: Morgan Burnett (S) is playing 100% of snaps consistently now that Jermaine Whitehead (S) is gone for being a moron on social media, if either him or Damarious Randal (S) who have both been recently injured or playing far fewer snaps due to Whitehead starting are available on waivers either would make a nice safety option for the rest of the season.
Flash in the pan: TJ Carrie (CB) had a nice week but only played 75% of snaps, not nearly enough for any kind of consistency at cornerback, and isn’t named Ward or Williams so I’m not interested, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Myles Garrett (DE) and Larry Ogunjobi (DT) both had terrible weeks but played 94% and 99% of snaps respectively and have been doing what they were projected to do the majority of this season. Danielle Hunter (DE) had a bad week as well, Cameron Jordan (DE) too. Even the best defensive line guys have bad weeks, it’s not an every week production position like inside linebacker or safety is and can be. Remain calm, he’s Myles freaking Garrett, monster weeks are still coming. As for Ogunjobi this was an ideal matchup against a run first team but he should be fine as well, the playing time is there more than most defensive tackles and we all know he’s capable of putting up numbers so let’s have some patience and they will come once again.
After a slow start Frank Clark has been dominating in recent weeks.
Chiefs @ Titans
Kansas City Chiefs
Performed as expected: Chris Jones (DT) Anthony Hitchens (LB) Juan Thornhill (S) Frank Clark (DE) Emmanuel Ogbah (DE)
Possible waiver adds: Tanoh Kpassagnon (DE) will likely see increased playing time with the news that Emmanuel Ogbah (DE) is injured and out for the rest of the season. Tanoh saw increased snaps and decent production when Frank Clark (DE) was injured and out and I expect the same with this similar situation, consider adding him if you need short term help at defensive end in deeper leagues.
Flash in the pan: Daniel Sorensen (S) had a really nice game in the box score but only played 64% of snaps this week and hasn’t played much more than that any other week this season, not enough playing time for any kind of consistency and he hasn’t gotten my attention at any other point this season so he doesn’t put up numbers all that often. Pass unless you need safety help in a ridiculously deep league and can live with that little playing time.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Tyrann Mathieu (S) had a down week but still played 100% of snaps and has had more than a few monster games this season, he’s not the kind of consistent week to week safety that I personally go after, guys like Jessie Bates (S) or Jamal Adams (S). Those guys have a floor and you know you’re getting it week in and week out. Guys like Mathieu remind me of other safeties like Eddie Skidmarks Jackson (S) or Kevin Byard (S). Mathieu and his production is more typical of a free safety rather than an in the box strong safety, he’s always going to be boom or bust and if you can live with it you’ll have some monster weeks, but there will also be weeks like this where he gives you two solo tackles while playing literally every single defensive snap. It’s a matter of preference, I prefer not to draft him so I don’t have to deal with this shit.
Tennessee Titans
Performed as expected: Logan Ryan (CB) Adoree Jackson (CB) Rashaan Evans (LB) Kenny Vaccaro (S) Wesley Woodyard (LB) Kevin Byard (S) Harold Landry (EDGE)
Possible waiver adds: Wesley Woodyard (LB) continues to be an excellent short term linebacker option while Jayon Brown (LB) is injured and out, that will cease to exist though when Brown gets back into the lineup so keep that in mind.
Flash in the pan: David Long (LB) had a massive day in the box score but only played 34% of snaps and likely only that much because Jayon Brown (LB) was injured and out this week, Regardless that’s not enough playing time to sustain any kind of consistency so I’ll pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: NA, everyone who was supposed to put up numbers did so this week, remain calm across the board. I mean Cameron Wake (EDGE) and Da’Quan Jones (DT) could have theoretically put up numbers but I wasn’t exactly betting the house on that and you probably shouldn’t have been either.
Demario Davis was a one man wrecking crew this week.
Falcons @ Saints
Atlanta Falcons
Performed as expected: Isiah Oliver (CB) Devondre Campbell (LB) Damontae Kazee (S) Ricardo Allen (S) Kendall Sheffield (CB) Deion Jones (LB) Grady Jarrett (DT) Vic Beasley (EDGE) Adrian Clayborn (DE)
Possible waiver adds: NA, Oluokon not worth an add currently.
Flash in the pan: Foye Oluokon (LB) had a monster day but only played 44% of snaps this week and hasn’t done anything of note the entire season until this point, if he gets more playing time going forward or can maintain this efficiency then it might be worth a move but not yet, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Devondre Campbell (LB) saw a decrease in playing time down to 70% of snaps this week, he still managed to have a decent game in the box score but this is something we haven’t seen yet this season. Deion Jones (LB) still played the majority of snaps, 97%, but Campbell has been playing 100% almost every game this season and has been very productive so this is literally out of left field. We’ll keep an eye on it but for now my guess is it was just a gamescript thing, they likely added more corners and safeties for the second half of this game as New Orleans shifted to catch up mode and had to throw the ball on nearly every down in the third and fourth quarter. Regardless I’ll keep an eye on it, besides that weird note everyone who was supposed to put up numbers pretty much did so including the always underwhelming Falcons pass rush.
New Orleans Saints
Performed as expected: Demario Davis (LB) AJ Klein (LB) Vonn Bell (S) Marcus Williams (S) Eli Apple (CB)
Possible waiver adds:
Flash in the pan: Kiko Alonso (LB) had a really nice box score but only played 45% of snaps and is generally terrible, avoid like the plague.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Chauncey Gardner Johnson (S) saw his playing time plummet to just 47% of snaps this week after being elevated, along with his production, the last two weeks. People were just starting to buy into this guy, me included, and now there’s not just a turd but a full shit in the punch bowl. I don’t think we can trust that the Saints will be staying in a three safety set for the majority of their defensive snaps the rest of the season so I would abandon ship on Gardner Johnson just to be safe and save yourself an extra headache and weekly guessing game. Cameron Jordan (DE), Marcus Davenport (DE) and the Saints pass rush in general did nothing this week, Jordan has been a monster all season he’ll be fine it was just a bad week all around for the Saints. Sheldon Rankins (DT) however was down to 47% of snaps played this week and hasn’t put up numbers in over a month now, it’s time to pack our shit and move on. I’m looking for other options you guys should too.
It was a career day for Adams this week.
Giants @ Jets
New York Giants
Performed as expected: Dalvin Tomlinson (DT) Alec Ogletree (LB) Jabrill Peppers (S) Antoine Bethea (S) David Mayo (LB) Janoris Jenkins (CB) Markus Golden (EDGE)
Possible waiver adds: NA, Dalvin Tomlinson (DT) might be available and could be a nice bye week option if you need defensive tackle help but the consistency isn’t there yet.
Flash in the pan: NA, Dalvin Tomlinson (DT) might qualify but he’s been on the radar enough that I hesitate to say so.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: David Mayo (LB) bounced back this week with five combined tackles playing only 58% of snaps this week, the playing time continues to drop and not be ideal and production has suffered in recent weeks so don’t let this one week bounce back with decent numbers fool you into trusting him again, that ship has sailed. There were no real let downs this week, it wasn’t an ideal matchup to stream or start Giants corners so seeing just Jenkins with the nice game makes sense. Remain calm across the board, the people who were supposed to put up numbers did so this week.
New York Jets
Performed as expected: Jamal Adams (S) James Burgess (LB) Brandon Copeland (LB)
Possible waiver adds: James Burgess (LB) will likely be the survivor in regards to the replacement linebackers that are playing 100% of snaps and have been pretty productive since we lost CJ Mosley (LB) and Blake Cashman (LB) a couple weeks ago. Copeland will go back to OLB when Neville Hewitt (LB) returns from his short term injury which will likely be this week. It won’t hurt to hold onto both Burgess and Copeland though if you have the space, make sure you get to keep the survivor when Hewitt comes back and we see how it looks in a game after that point.
Flash in the pan: Nathan Shepard (DE) had a nice week but only played 36% of snaps and is a player I didn’t know existed until this very minute. Pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Marcus Maye (S) had a pretty crappy game despite playing 100% of snaps, he’s still only a safety two preferably three in deeper leagues anyways so I won’t be losing any sleep over it, he’s not even in the top fifty safeties for IDP purposes this season I would bet. So yeah, if you’re playing him things aren’t great anyways. Besides that everyone else who was supposed to put up numbers did so except Maye and Quinnen Williams (DT) who is still a rookie and will have weeks like this, he’ll be fine.
Like a bad case of EPI Shaq Barrett just won’t go away.
Cardinals @ Buccaneers
Arizona Cardinals
Performed as expected: Budda Baker (S) Jordan Hicks (LB) Haason Redick (LB) Terrell Suggs (EDGE) Chandler Jones (EDGE) Byron Jones (CB)
Possible waiver adds: Jalen Thompson (S) is the other full time safety for the Cardinals and clearly the lesser known of the two, he plays nearly every snap but isn’t even close in terms of production when compared to Budda Baker (S). He would make a decent bye week roll of the dice in much deeper leagues though, he does at least have the playing time and he had six solo tackles this week.
Flash in the pan: Joe Walker (LB) flew too close to the sun and is no more, after seemingly displacing Haason Redick (LB) and taking his job last week and splitting snaps with him the week before Walker’s playing time fell to just 28% of snaps this week while Redick saw his playing time shoot back up to 76% of snaps and he was productive once again. This situation probably isn’t over with yet so playing either with confidence isn’t something I would recommend, but at the moment it looks like Reddick is safe for the time being. This is one of those week to week situations that we are always going to be at least a week behind on since I don’t work for the Cardinals defensive staff and don’t attend their meetings. In situations like this you either make a guess an hope it works out or avoid both and play it safe, I usually do the latter unless I have no other option.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: NA, the situation I described above with Joe Walker (LB) counts but besides that pretty much everyone who was supposed to put up numbers did so this week with the notable exception of Patrick Peterson (CB) who only played 83% of snaps due to a calf injury that ended his day early. He’ll be fine once he’s healthy enough to return to the lineup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Performed as expected: Lavonte David (LB) Jordan Whitehead (S) Devin White (LB) Shaq Barrett (EDGE) N’Damakong Suh (DT)
Possible waiver adds: NA, maybe Sean Murphy Bunting (CB) in deeper leagues but with Hargreaves getting waived the Tampa Bay corners situation is in flux and I want to see what it looks like this week in a game and without Hargreaves before making any concrete recommendations.
Flash in the pan: MJ Stewart (CB) had a terrific week but only played 58% of snaps and hasn’t done much else this season, he could be worth an add if his playing time increases significantly without Hargreaves around but that remains to be seen, for now he’s an inconsistent corner with less than ideal playing time, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Andrew Adams (S) and Jason Pierre Paul (DE) under performed this week. Mike Edwards (S) returned from injury and took some of Adams playing time reducing him to just 52% of snaps played this week, at the moment it looks like both Edwards and Adams can both be blasted into space, especially if they continue to cannibalize each others playing time and effectively turn Tampa Bay into a one safety team in regards to IDP production. Jason Pierre Paul (DE) played 91% of snaps and has already put up numbers in the handful of games he’s been back for this season since returning from his offseason neck injury late this season, for him it’s still like week three or four, he’ll get into the groove and put up some big weeks have some patience and keep the faith.
Darius Leonard played football this week.
Dolphins @ Colts
Miami Dolphins
Performed as expected: Jerome Baker (LB) Dolphins Cornerbacks, Vince Biegel (LB) Raekwon McMillan (LB)
Possible waiver adds: Vince Biegel (LB) continues to see a good amount of snaps, 80% this week, and the production is starting to catch up, he could be worth an add in much deeper leagues.
Flash in the pan: Charles Harris (LB) had a decent week but only played 23% of snaps and is a player I didn’t know existed until this very second, not enough playing time and no consistency, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Taco Charlton (DE) saw his snaps rebound this week back up to 81% but the early production for the Dolphins has evaporated. There was a reason why Dallas shitcanned him. He is playing enough though that he is bound to stumble into some stats and might be worth playing in really super ridiculously deep leagues. Besides that we are still just awaiting the return of Reshad Jones (S) from injury to see if we can get a late season safety option from the waiver wire.
Indianapolis Colts
Performed as expected: Darius Leonard (LB) Kenny Moore (CB) Rock Ya Sin (CB) Justin Houston (DE) Jabal Sheard (DE)
Possible waiver adds: Khari Willis (S) has displaced Clayton Geathers (S) as the other starting safety it would appear. Geathers only played 9% of snaps this week while Willis logged 91%, assuming this sticks Khari Willis (S) makes a nice safety option going forward.
Flash in the pan: Bobby Okereke (LB) had a decent week but only played 29% of snaps and doesn’t play much more then that when Leonard and Walker are healthy, he remains a dynasty piece unless there’s an injury that pushes him into the lineup.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Denico Autry (DT) had a better week with half a sack and a couple passes defended but still isn’t living up to expectations to keep looking for a backup option. Anthony Walker (LB) had a terrible game statistically but still played 73% of snaps and is more than capable of putting numbers, he should be fine it’s not like the Dolphins are known for their stellar offense and run game so this wasn’t going to be a great game for the Colts IDP production anyways.
Kevin King has put himself in the streaming corner conversation permanently.
Panthers @ Packers
Carolina Panthers
Performed as expected: Eric Reid (S) Ross Cockrell (CB) Donte Jackson (CB) Shaq Thompson (LB) Gerald McCoy (DT)
Possible waiver adds: James Bradberry (CB) is supposedly practicing and should be back this week, if that’s the case and he does play he’s one of the absolute best streaming cornerbacks out there and if someone dropped him he’s more than worth the roster spot.
Flash in the pan: Javien Elliot (CB) had a nice game but only played 48% of snaps and isn’t named Jackson, Bradberry or Cockrell so I’m not interested.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Luke Kuechly (LB) and basically all of the Panthers IDP corps had a down week against the Packers this week. The Packers had some trouble getting their offense going so despite them owning time of possession that doesn’t paint the entire picture, this was a sloppy game played in the cold and snow of Lambeau field and at the end of the day the Packers didn’t run enough plays to allow all of the Panthers IDP corps to eat. Shit happens. They’ll be fine, Kuechly especially.
Green Bay Packers
Performed as expected: Kevin King (CB) Blake Martinez (LB) Jaire Alexander (CB) Preston Smith (EDGE) Adrian Amos (S) Darnell Savage (S) Kenny Clark (DT)
Possible waiver adds: NA, Keith Fackrell (LB) or BJ Goodson (LB) will just make you want to scoop your eyeballs out with a spoon so I’ll save you the pain.
Flash in the pan: NA, all the right names in the box score this week.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Za’Darius Smith (EDGE) still played 88% of snaps this week but only had one tackle assist and no other stats of any significance. This is what happens with these edge guys, we’ve had this talk before. This is normal. He’ll have more monster weeks and he’ll have more of these weeks down the line, it is what it is. Remain calm.
Minkah has shown us what he’s got. Good job.
Rams @ Steelers
Los Angeles Rams
Performed as expected: Cory Littleton (LB) Taylor Rapp (S) Eric Weddle (S) Aaron Donald (DT) Clay Matthews (EDGE) Dante Fowler (EDGE) Micheal Brockers (DE)
Possible waiver adds: Clay Matthews (EDGE) is back if you need a decent EDGE guy for either the short term or rest of season, he has the playing time, production and historical production so I would trust him over guys like Whitney Mercilus (EDGE) who has historically not been great but made a splash early this season.
Flash in the pan: Nickell Robey Coleman (CB) had a nice week but only played 62% of snaps so the consistency won’t be there with that little playing time each week, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Everyone who was supposed to produce did so this week, no complaints. Troy Reeder (LB) is no more but we’ve already talked about that. Same thing with Marqui Christian (S) who had the one week of hype before Taylor Rapp (S) established dominance as the safety to own in Los Angeles in the post John Johnson world.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Performed as expected: Mark Barron (LB) Terrell Edmunds (S) Minkah Fitzpatrick (S) Joe Haden (CB) Javon Hargrave (DT) TJ Watt (EDGE) Cameron Heyward (DT)
Possible waiver adds: NA, this defense is pretty well picked over.
Flash in the pan: NA, all the right names at the top of the box score.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Devin Bush (LB) saw his snaps drop drastically down to 45% of snaps this week and all hell broke loose on IDP Twitter, the reality is that this was likely just an adjustment to help shut down the Rams passing attack and it worked, Cooper Kupp (WR) was god awful. I would be shocked if Devin Bush (LB) who has been such a ridiculous monster this year stays at around 45% of snaps the rest of the season, this will be fine, he will be fine, it’s fine. Vince Williams (LB) only played 15% of snaps this week but we talked about blowing him out the airlock in past articles so I hope you did so by now.
Both the predator and wolf took advantage of a perfect matchup and went crazy this week.
Vikings @ Cowboys
Minnesota Vikings
Performed as expected: Anthony Barr (EDGE) Eric Kendricks (LB) Everson Griffen (DE) Harrison Smith (S)
Possible waiver adds: NA, no new producers worth an add.
Flash in the pan: NA, all the right names at the top of the box score.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Danielle Hunter (DE) had a down week but he wasn’t alone, Myles Garrett (DE) has been in a two week slump as well, both will be fine they are clearly the best two IDP defensive ends out there. Linval Joseph (DT) will be back to an easy weekly start when he returns from injury. Trae Waynes (CB) was also injured and out and is always a nice option to stream at cornerback, so remain calm across the board.
Dallas Cowboys
Performed as expected: Jaylon Smith (LB) Leighton Vander Esch (LB) Demarcus Lawrence (DE) Chidobe Awuzie (CB) Robert Quinn (DE)
Possible waiver adds: Darian Thompson (S) saw a massive increase in playing time with Jeff Heath (S) still a little beat up, you could add him in a massively deep league but I wouldn’t, Heath should be back soon enough.
Flash in the pan: Antwuan Woods (DT) had a nice game but only played 53% of snaps so and hasn’t been consistent this season, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Micheal Bennett (DE) came back to earth after his huge first week with his new team. His playing time also fell slightly to 59% of snaps this week, he should still remain a decent bye week play or a defensive end two preferably three in deeper leagues. Offensive lines will be concentrating on Lawrence and Quinn far more than Bennett so he should have some nice chances to rush the passer in one on one situations. Remain calm.
Clowney put some work in this week.
Seahawks @ 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Performed as expected: Bobby Wagner (LB) Bradley McDougald (S) Tre Flowers (CB) Shaq Griffin (CB) Jadaveon Clowney (DE) Jarran Reed (DT)
Possible waiver adds: Quandre Diggs (S) has taken over the other safety spot but instead of displacing Bradley McDougald (S) as many had predicted it ended up being Marquis Blair (S) who was the loser in this deal. Definitely add Diggs and it would appear that Blair can be dropped.
Flash in the pan: Al Woods (DT) had a great game but only played 47% of snaps and hasn’t done much else this season, pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Mychal Kendricks (LB) had a down week but he’s been over performing for his playing time so it was bound to happen, he remains a linebacker three or four in deeper leagues. Jarran Reed (DT) got it going this week and anyone who started him had their patience pay off in spades. The Seahawks safety situation was the biggest bombshell going forward and we’ve already addressed that.
San Francisco 49ers
Performed as expected: Fred Warner (LB) 49ers Cornerbacks, Dre Greenlaw (LB) Nick Bosa (DE) Jimmy Ward (S) Jaquiski Tartt (S) Deforest Buckner (DT) Arik Armstead (DT)
Possible waiver adds: Dre Greenlaw (LB) played 96% of snaps in relief of the injured and out for the season Kwon Alexander (LB) and did an excellent job taking over for him, he’s definitely worth the waiver wire add if you need linebacker help and he’s still out there. I did ring the bell on him last week so hopefully you pulled the trigger in time.
Flash in the pan: K’Waun Williams (CB) had a nice game but only played 79% of snaps, not enough for any kind of consistency at cornerback, and he’s not named Sherman or Moseley so I’ll pass.
Abandon ship or Remain calm: Dee Ford (EDGE) only played 32% of snaps this week and his production has finally fallen along with his not ideal playing time. He was a big name offseason acquisition but it just hasn’t translated to production this season, he’s been droppable in redraft but is probably still a hold in dynasty. Besides that everyone else who was expected to put up numbers did so this week. Jesus christ this article takes forever to write each week my brains are leaking out of my head I just want to submit this shit and go watch the Mandalorian.
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of my (semi) instant reaction and defensive waivers. I’ll be here all season breaking down the crazy shenanigans that is the week in IDP production, playing time and consistency. Some may want to just know who to pick up off waivers but for the truly committed we want to know WHY. We’ll keep plugging together as we scrape and claw our way to those week sixteen title games just like we do every year.
Be sure to keep an eye out for my weekly start or sit article dropping Saturday mornings every week, for the Thursday night game that start or sit will be in tweet form, follow me @Orangeman3142 for that information. Also, our podcast drops every Wednesday morning or Tuesday night all season long as well. Be sure to follow @IDP_Dude and @Joeythetooth to be sure you get defensive waivers and reactions to the week’s production covered from all sides. All this can be found, for free, at your one-stop shop for all things IDP here at idpguys.org or @idpguys on Twitter. Good luck in your matchups this week.
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