For 2022, I will be coming to you with weekly IDP Sleepers to help you set your lineups. Who should you look at obtaining for your roster before the price skyrockets?
Here are your Week 5 IDP Sleepers, one from each level of the defense.
1. Justin Madubuike, DL, Baltimore Ravens
Justin Madubuike is the starting DE for the Baltimore Ravens. Drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft, this will be his third year with the Broncos. He has gotten significantly better each year, increasing his snap count.
Back to the Good Ole Days
Madubuike wants to help bring the Ravens’ defense back to its glory days. He contributed immediately in his rookie year with 19 tackles (11 solos), 2 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, and a sack. Madubuike nearly doubled those stats last year, which was his second year. He produced 36 tackles (23 solos), 7 tackles for a loss, 5 QB hits, 2 sacks, and 2 passes defended.
Madubuike has played and started three of the four games this season. He is on pace to set career highs in tackles and sacks. In his four games this year, Madubuike already has 13 tackles (6 solos), 4 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, 1.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended. This pace would have Madubuike with greater than 50 tackles and close to 10 sacks. Those numbers are what you would want from any of the Week 5 IDP Sleepers.
Snap Count Increase
For 2022, Madubuike is the DE17 and DL40 in my leagues of record and is the DL122 on FantasyPros ROS ranking. This value is worth considering for your roster. Since he has already increased his snap count from roughly 50% to 60% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps, you have a DE that can be in your weekly starting lineup, depending on your league and roster sizes.
Productive DEs seem to be in high demand this year, so take a shot at someone who has produced and is getting increased playtime each week. Madubuike is motivated to help you win a championship.
2. Rashan Gary, LB, Green Bay Packers
Rashan Gary is in his fourth year with the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted in Michigan’s first round of the 2019 NFL draft. Gary has produced better numbers in each of his first three years. As a rookie, he delivered 21 tackles (13 solos), 3 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
Gary improves each and every year
In 2020, Gary delivered 35 tackles (19 solos), 5 tackles for a loss, 11 QB hits, 5 sacks, 1 pass defended, and a fumble recovery. In 2021, Gary earned the full-time starter role and set new career benchmarks. He had 47 tackles (27 solos), 8 tackles for a loss, a whooping 28 QB hits, 9.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
After posting LB85 in our league of record last year, Gary has come out on fire and is set to prove his place on dynasty IDP rosters nationwide. He has posted 19 tackles (11 solos), 5 tackles for a loss, 6 QB hits, 5 sacks already, 1 forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
This is an increase of 51 spots in our league of record rankings. Gary is the LB34 this year and has posted a sack in each of the four games thus far, with two sacks coming last week. He has done this on just about 76% of the defensive snaps.
Gary is the LB66 on the FantasyPros ROS ranking page. He is being overlooked and was a free agent in our 12-team league. The league starts with three linebackers, and it was quite surprising to see Gary void of any roster. Check your waiver wire. You might find he is free and clear to join your roster.
3. Jaylen Watson, DB, Kansas City Chiefs
Jaylen Watson is a 24-year-old rookie out of Washington State. He was drafted is the seventh round of last year’s NFL draft. Most were unsure if Watson would earn a roster spot and significant playing time on the field. He was not a standout in college having recorded less than three tackles a game and getting just two interceptions in his 15 games with the Cougars.
After his Cougar career ended, Gary immediately started training for his Pro Day and the NFL Combine. His numbers looked good but not great. At 6′ 2″ and about 200 lbs, Gary ran a 4.49 40-yard dash and recorded a 38″ vertical jump and a 11′ broad jump. Some scouts had him being drafted as early as the fourth round, but he ultimately fell to the seventh and into the Chiefs’ laps.
Let’s Turn up the Heat
Gary did not start his first game but did play 51% of the defensive snaps. In those 33 plays, he had two tackles and one pass defended. Game #2 brought a start for Watson, and he delivered four tackles (three solos), one pass defended, and a huge 99-yard interception return for a TD. His defensive snaps increased to 68%.
Week 3 was another start. Watson produced seven tackles (six solos), one tackle for a loss, and a pass defended. His last start saw him get another five solo tackles and a pass defended.
Watson is on waiver wires for free. Not bad for the CB4 and DB13 in our league of record. You can get him for free right now because he is not ranked on the FantasyPros ROS rankings. If you are in a CB-required league, do yourself a favor and roster this guy soon. Watson will be one of the great week 5 IDP sleepers.
Thank you for checking out my Week 5 IDP Sleepers article! You can read all of my articles on my IDP Guys author page. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @OldMan_FF and @IDPGuys (we have offense, too), and please consider becoming a subscriber!
