Week Twelve poses a problem to many teams as it is the last week of byes. If you find yourself stretched too thin this week, look here to who you can add to stay competitive.
After week eleven you may be running into a few lineup snags. Week twelve has the Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Chargers all on a bye. Plus after the Thursday Night Football massacre from week eleven, you may be without some big-name players due to suspension. Let’s take a look here who the top IDP adds are following week eleven.
Kiko Alonso– Linebacker New Orleans Saints
2019 Stats: 24 tackles (19 solo), one tackle for a loss and one pass defensed.
If you have written of Kiko Alonso from IDP relevance already, you may have acted too soon. Many thought that when he was traded away from the Dolphins that his fantasy career was over. I, on the contrary, thought that it would just take a little opportunity in New Orleans as they do not employ the most imposing linebacker corps. This was not fully the case as Alex Anzalone went down early in the season going on IR and Alonso did not see any regular playing time until recently.
With that said Kiko has played on 52.5% of the team’s defensive snaps over the last four games, including 66% in week eleven. Over his last two games, he has totaled 13 tackles. one for a loss, a pass defensed and a QB hit. If you are hurting for LB production, it looks like Alonso is coming on strong late in the season.
Juston Burris – Safety/Cornerback Cleveland Browns
2019 Stats: 12 tackles (11 solo), one sack, two passes defensed, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Juston Burris has only played significant snap numbers two times this season. That was in week three where he played on 100% of snaps and week eleven where he played 57% of the team’s defensive snaps. Outside of those two games, he has not eclipsed 32% in any week. With that said during weeks three and eleven combined he totaled nine tackles, one sack, two passes defensed, two interceptions and a forced fumble. Every time he is given the opportunity he produces, and opportunity is knocking.
No team took a bigger hit during week eleven than the Cleveland Browns. The Thursday Night Massacre as we like to call it left the Browns in a bit of shambles. We all saw what happened with Myles Garrett, will talk about his replacement later, but the secondary took a bigger hit. Morgan Burnett had been playing very well recently but he tore his Achilles and is done for the season. Damarious Randall is one of the many likely suspended after his hellacious helmet to helmet hit on Diontae Johnson. Jermaine Whitehead was also recently released for threatening comments to media. Burris should slide in as a starting safety and in some leagues has a duel designation of safety and cornerback. Drop him in your cornerback position with confidence.
Brennan Scarlett – Linebacker Houston Texans
2019 Stats: 27 tackles (19 solo), two tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
It is time to start taking Brennan Scarlett seriously. In deep playmaking scoring IDP leagues, Scarlett can be a difference-maker. The Texans have lost Jadeveon Clowney to trade earlier this season and also J.J. Watt to IR. Now the team’s two best pass-rushing options are Whitney Mercilus and Brennan Scarlett. Scarlett has played on 67% of the team’s defensive snaps over that last four games. During those four games, he has produced 20 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. If you need big-play production, Scarlett could be your guy.
Chad Thomas – Defensive End Cleveland Browns
2019 Stats: 13 tackles (eight solo), three tackles for a loss, three sacks, one pass defensed and a fumble recovery.
Chad Thomas had been filling in for Olivier Vernon since he has been injured the past two weeks. During those weeks Thomas played on 78% of the team’s defensive snaps and was very productive. He totaled five tackles, two tackles for a loss, a pass defensed and two sacks in those games. Vernon is still questionable for week twelve and Myles Garrett, which we touched on earlier, is now suspended indefinitely after he turned into Clubber Lang. This leaves Chad Thomas as the team’s primary pass rusher and looks up to the task. He was a third-round pick for a reason and this could be his opportunity to shine.
Jimmie Ward – Safety San Francisco 49ers
2019 Stats: 33 tackles (28 solo), one tackle for a loss, one sack and five passes defensed.
Jimmie Ward is finally healthy and is playing up to his first-round status with the 49ers. He reclaimed his starting role with the team during week five and has been an almost every-down player since. Ward is a sound tackler and his tackle numbers have seemed to climb since Kwon Alexander suffered a torn pectoral muscle. In the three games since Alexander’s departure, Ward has accumulated 19 tackles, one for a loss, one sack and two passes defensed. Ward is part of an extraordinary defense with the 49ers and should be able to finish the season very strong.
Conclusion
Suspension, injury, and byes now make for a tough week twelve for many fantasy owners. Though many studs will be missing from lineups this does not mean that talent is not looming in the shadows to fill in. Play the waiver wire correctly and week twelve can turn into a gold mine to finish up the season.
Be sure to check out @MorganMcLane’s article here for offensive waivers here.
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