IDP Report Week 11
I realize that the NFL does not make its schedule to accommodate fantasy players, but the league has been one of the friendliest to fantasy participants with injury information. So why oh why was the decision made to set up the last bye week in what is traditionally the final week of the pre-playoff fantasy season? At least it is only two teams that are unavailable, one being the lackluster Browns, but losing Marcus Mariota is not a good thing going into a potential do-or-die situation.
Enough ranting about things I cannot change. This week gives us another fine set of waiver wire options to shore up your IDP roster in the last of the four team bye weeks. Not too many that I would cut, either, although as ever, there are plenty of injury concerns taking up the final pages of this article. Let us peruse the options, shall we?
Bye Weeks coming up:
Week 11: Atlanta, Denver, New York Jets, San Diego
Week 12: None
Week 13: Cleveland, Tennessee (and we are done with the bye weeks)
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Dannell Ellerbe NO -- Ellerbe was able to practice fully last week and also managed to be on the field for most of the snaps on defense. He collected seven total tackles (only two solo, though but also one for a loss), with a sack, pass deflection (PD) and two quarterback hits (QH). If he can stay healthy, now would be a spectacular time to snag him off the wire.
Preston Smith WAS -- Smith now has racked up 3.5 sacks over the last four weeks, collecting two on Sunday against the Vikings, to go with four total tackles (two solo, two for a loss), two QH, an INT, and a pass deflection. A great stat line and it appears he is heating up at just the right time to plug into your roster.
Leonard Floyd CHI -- Floyd has a good matchup in Week 11 when the Bears take on the Giants, who allow the 15th most points to opposing linebackers (good, not great, as the matchup information below indicates). He is coming off a five tackle (three solo)/1.5 sack/one PD effort against the Buccaneers, and has quietly gathered 4.5 sacks over his last three games. He is just a pedestrian tackler, but the big plays make him a value right now. I realize that Chicago is a hot mess, but Floyd is worth pursuing as a free agent.
Blake Martinez GB -- Martinez may benefit from the injury that Jake Ryan suffered early in Week 10 against the Titans, on special teams no less. He put up a 10 tackle effort in relief (seven solo), and with the way the Packers are struggling, should he start in place of Ryan he can offer nice tackle stats.
Vic Beasley ATL (Qualifies as DE on ESPN, LB on Yahoo) -- Beasley wraps up the linebacker recommendations this week, but be aware of his position qualification on ESPN. I tend to like to plug linebackers in as defensive linesmen whenever I can, and while he is on a bye this week, that just means he is likely to be more available for the taking. He is coming off a two sack effort at Philly, with a forced fumble, a QH and four tackles (three solo, one for a loss), so others may have him on their radar. If you have the roster space, he is definitely an IDP to stash for your playoff run.
Defensive Linemen
Noah Spence DE TB -- Spence has posted a sack in three of his last four games, and the rookie is demonstrating his pass rush abilities. He also forced a fumble and a QH against the Bears in Week 10, with two solo tackles. His Week 11 opponent, Kansas City, is generous with allowing points to opposing DEs, so this is a favorable matchup coming up, as well.
Trey Flowers DE NE -- Flowers got to start against Seattle in Week 10, and now has four sacks over his last two games. He also was credited with two QH and three solo tackles (two for a loss). He is seeing more snaps that Jabaal Sheard, and so long as he keeps producing, that situation should continue going forward.
Frank Clark DE SEA (Qualifies as both LB and DE on ESPN) -- Clark is a nice dual eligibility player in the ESPN universe, and nabbed another sack in Week 10, giving him 4.5 over the past four games. He forms a nice tandem on the Seattle defensive line with long-time stud DE Cliff Avril, but has much lower ownership numbers.
Eddie Goldman DT CHI -- Goldman is the first of three DTs profiled this week, although you can look one tick lower and see that his teammate Hicks is also being recommended. Goldy picked up a sack in his return to the lineup, with four tackles (three solo, one for a loss) and also collected a QH.
Akiem Hicks DT CHI -- Hicks did not sack the QB, and only had three tackles to his credit (two solo), but has been a solid tackle producer this season. He and Goldman face the Giants, and I would expect one or both to get a sack this week.
Steve McLendon DT NYJ -- McClendon winds up the DTs this week, and he has big play potential for those of you who must start a DT. He put up a nice stat line in Week 10: four tackles (three solo, two for a loss), two QH, and 1.5 sacks. His tackle numbers are acceptable, given the big play possibilities he presents his owners.
Defensive Backs
Eric Berry S KC -- Berry is certainly not owned as much as previous seasons, so he may be sitting on your wire right now. A nine tackle (seven solo, one for a loss), one INT, two PD and a TD effort against the Panthers may change those ownership percentages, so go grab him now if you need safety help going forward.
Byron Jones S DAL -- Jones had 12 total tackles against the Steelers (11 solo, one for a loss). He was a force to be reckoned with, certainly, and is showing that the first-round pick used to add him to the Dallas secondary was justified.
Kevin Byard S TEN -- Byard does not have the best matchup this week, but he is also coming off an effort where he put up a sack, eight solo tackles (one for a loss) and a QH, so he does show good upside for a rookie. Plus, his ownership percentages almost certainly guarantee he is available on your wire.
Darian Stewart S DEN -- Stewart has finally figured out how to pick off passes, equaling his production over the first seven years of his career in just the last three weeks of the current season. His Week 10 stat line: two solos, two INT, two PD and a fumble recovery. Looks like a low-owned safety to target to me, especially given the increased coverage responsibility he has this season in Denver.
Tony Lippett CB MIA -- Lippett is the first of the corners I am promoting this week, based on his seven solo tackle effort (one for a loss), two INT and two PD effort against the Chargers. He is a tall drink of water at 6'3", so is able to cover WRs effectively due to his size advantage, and Miami's developing defense will allow him to develop as a starting CB.
Kareem Jackson CB HOU -- Jackson had a nice effort against the host Jaguars in Week 10, with a six solo tackle effort, backed up with an INT, a PD and a touchdown. Good big play potential with solid tackle effort makes for a useful CB, or even just as a DB3.
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Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Nate Stupar NO -- Stupar is going to be downgraded now that Dannell Ellerbe is back starting. He was a good fill in, but with his snaps being limited, it is now time to cut the cord on him.
Lavonte David TB -- David was undoubtedly taken as one of the first LBs off the board in your IDP drafts. That has not worked out well for us who predicted him to continue to produce as a LB1. I would suggest you drop him for a more productive LB immediately. 36 tackles on the year does not equal a LB1.
Defensive Linemen
Adrian Clayborn DE ATL -- Clayborn put up a huge goose egg in Week 10, and that was against an Eagles team that rushed the ball 38 times and passed on another 36 downs. He was a productive player prior to Week 10, however, but with a Week 11 bye, he is easily someone you can ignore and potentially drop for the short term.
Defensive Backs
Kenny Vaccaro S NO -- Vaccaro makes this list due to a concern that he will be suspended for violating the league PED policy. He is coming off an excellent performance in Week 10, but all that will be for naught if he cannot take to the field in Week 11 and forward. Keep an eye on his status.
Matchups to Exploit
Remember, under this new procedure, you want to use the team that is playing against the first team listed in the list. For example, Indianapolis is a good bet to allow fantasy points to Tennessee linebackers, based on their prior weeks' performances. Do not just blindly grab any Titan LB, of course, you still need to make wise decisions and not trust some LB5 to put up big numbers for you.
Linebackers
Indianapolis vs Tennessee
Baltimore @ Dallas
Jacksonville @ Detroit
Defensive Ends
Buffalo @ Cincinnati
Cincinnati vs Buffalo
Defensive Tackles
Washington vs Green Bay
Chicago at New York Giants
Safeties
New Orleans @ Carolina
Tennessee @ Indianapolis
Washington vs Green Bay
New York Giants vs Chicago
Philadelphia @ Seattle
Cornerbacks
Jacksonville @ Detroit
Carolina vs New Orleans
Tampa Bay @ Kansas City
Green Bay @ Washington
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Waiver Wire Targets
All these players are spotlighted above, and you can read my comments about them in the "Elevator Going Up" section of this article. Not all the players I comment on are here, however, as I am not going to waste your time searching for players that are heavily owned. This group consists of those that you may have a chance of locating on your league's waiver wire in that they are owned in significantly less than 50% of leagues. Happy claiming for your weekly matchups.
Linebackers
Dannell Ellerbe NO
Preston Smith WAS
Leonard Floyd CHI
Vic Beasley ATL (On bye Week 11)
Defensive Linesmen
Noah Spence DE TB
Trey Flowers DE NE
Frank Clark DE SEA
Eddie Goldman DT CHI
Akiem Hicks DT CHI
Steve McLendon DT NYJ (On bye Week 11)
Defensive Backs
Eric Berry S KC
Byron Jones S DAL
Kevin Byard S TEN
Darian Stewart S DEN (On bye Week 11)
Tony Lippett CB MIA
Kareem Jackson CB HOU
Ouch (My Aching Roster)
All the injury reports below need evaluation prior to kickoff. Teams are notoriously sketchy about injury reports, and we often do not know a player's status until just before game time. Consider the list below as a "heads up" as to what is going on early in the week, and should not be considered definitive.
Linebackers
Elvis Dumervil BAL foot (really, drop him if you are holding him. NOW)
Kamalei Correa BAL thumb
Jamari Lattimore BUF nose
A.J. Klein CAR concussion
Rey Maualuga Cin lower leg
Jackson Jeffcoat CLE hamstring
DeAndre Levy DET knee (practicing, may be back for Thursday's game against Green Bay)
Clay Matthews GB hamstring
Jake Ryan GB ankle
Brian Peters HOU quadriceps
Chris Carter IND hamstring
Justin Houston KD knee
Eric Kendricks MIN hip
Dannell Ellerbe NO quadriceps (expected to play)
Stephone Anthony NO hamstring
Bruce Carter NYJ quadriceps
Josh Martin NYJ concussion
Kamu Grugier-Hill PHI hamstring
Denzel Perryman SD hamstring
Jatavis Brown SD knee
Kevin Pierre-Louis SEA hamstring
Aaron Lynch SF ankle
Aaron Wallace TEN shoulder
Defensive Linemen
DE
Mitch Unrein CHI back
Wallace Gilberry CIN calf
Margus Hunt CIN coaches' decision
Derek Wolfe DEN elbow
Kendall Langford IND knee
Henry Anderson IND knee
Chris Smith JAX eye
Jaye Howard KC hip
Eugene Sims LA concussion
Robert Quinn LA illness
Matt Longacre LA HIP
Mario Williams MIA knee
Kerry Wynn NYG concussion
Stacy McGee OAK ankle
Cameron Heyward PIT pectoral
Michael Bennett SEA knee
DT
Marcell Dareus BUF groin
Corbin Bryant BUF shoulder
Vince Wilfork HOU groin
Sharrif Floyd MIN knee
David Onyemata NO knee
Taylor Hart PHI ankle
Brandon Mebane SD biceps
Defensive Backs
S
Tyrann Mathieu ARI shoulder
Barry Church DAL forearm
Mike Adams IND groin
Terrence Brooks PHI hamstring
Shamarko Thomas PIT groin
Jordan Dangerfield PIT groin
Jahleel Addae SD collarbone
Kyshoen Jarrett WAS shoulder
CB
Tharold Simon ARI ankle
Desmond Trufant ATL shoulder
Shareece Wright BAL thigh
Bryce Callahan CHI hamstring
Deiondre' Hall CHI ankle
Tramon Williams CLE ankle
Jamar Taylor CLE groin
Morris Claiborne DAL sports hernia
Orlando Scandrick DAL concussion
Aqib Talib DEN back
Darius Slay DET hamstring
Nevin Lawson DET calf
Damarious Randall GB groin
A.J. Bouye HOU ankle
Jalil Brown IND ankle
Tevin Mitchell IND hamstring
Phillip Gaines KC neck
D.J. White KC hand
Chris Culliver MIA knee
Chimdi Chekwa MIA hamstring
Xavien Howard MIA knee (meniscus)
Captain Munnerlyn MIN ankle
Marcus Sherels MIN ankle
Xavier Rhodes MIN concussion
Delvin Breaux NO lower leg
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie NYG back
Marcus Williams NYJ ankle
Nick Marshall NYJ ankle
Sean Smith OAK shoulder
Nolan Carroll PHI concussion
Brandon Flowers SD concussion
Rashard Robinson SF knee (MCL)
As ever, good luck and Godspeed in your fantasy efforts. Make sure to read all of our great articles to help you win your fantasy match ups every week and ultimately bask in championship glory. If you have any fantasy football questions, especially about IDP leagues, I can be reached at ia@fantasyalarm.com.