IDP Report Week 4
We have another week with a plethora of injuries thinning out the defensive players available to use in IDP leagues while also dealing with the first set of byes (no Green Bay or Philadelphia in Week 4). How many of you benefitted from picking up either Zach Orr (LB BAL) or Marcus Peters (CB KC) last week? I will confess both those players helped me record superb IDP results, and even win a couple of leagues. I do attempt to populate my rising player section with new players, so do not expect those guys to get repeat analysis anytime soon. Read on to see what new gems are available to snatch off the wire this week.
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Benardrick McKinney HOU -- McKinney is going to be seeing a ton of action, with both J.J. Watt and Brian Cushing out with injuries. He had 16 total tackles last week (six solo) with a sack, and a QB hurry (QH). Houston may have some injury issues on D, but McKinney is someone to focus on grabbing right now, before your league wises up.
Shane Ray DEN -- Ray is living up to his first round pick status from 2015, with DeMarcus Ware out of action and he picked up three sacks in Week 3 to go with six total tackles, three QHs and two of his tackles were for a loss. Denver's defense is a dominant force, and Ray is just the kind of under-owned star in the making to pick up now.
Denzel Perryman/Jatavis Brown SD -- Perryman and his teammate Brown will see more action, now that Manti Te'o is out with a torn Achilles tendon. Each had a sack in Week 3, and combined for 15 total tackles: seven solos for Perryman (nine TT), five solos for Brown (six TT). Brown also forced a fumble and defensed two passes, while Perryman added a QH. Keep an eye on Perryman's status going into Week 4, though, as he suffered a minor knee injury at the end of the game against the Colts.
Darron Lee NYJ -- Lee is not playing like a rookie, but rather an every-down linebacker. He had five solo tackles (one assist), a half a sack and one QH. Playing alongside David Harris, he should continue to put up good stat lines.
Vontaze Burfict CIN -- Burfict is returning to action after a three-game suspension, and is just sitting out there on the wire, waiting to be activated. He is always a risk for another suspension, given his style of play, but should put up top ten LB numbers going forward.
Nick Perry GB -- While Perry is on a bye in Week 4, if you have some bench room, he is a sneaky add this week. He had seven TT against the Lions in Week 3, with two of those for a loss of yardage, and filled his stat line with two QH, one PD and two sacks. Act while your league sleeps on his potential due to the lack of action in Week 4.
Defensive Linemen
Jabaal Sheard DE NE -- Sheard is coming off a two sack week, and with the Bills coming to town, he should be in line for more production as a pass rushing end.
Everson Griffen DE MIN -- Griffen is part of a dominating defense and should not be available on the wire, but he is in most leagues. He just finished collecting three sacks, four QB hurries, and four total tackles (three solo, three TFL). That was against the Panthers, who looked confused by the Viking defense all day long. Expect that trend to continue.
Kerry Hyder DT DET -- Hyder stood out with Ezekiel Ansah on the sidelines when the Lions headed to Green Bay. He put up a nice balanced stat line: two solo tackles, a sack , one TFL and a QH just to round things out. He should be started in Week 4 when the Lions take on the Bears, who have been generous to DTs this season.
Damon Harrison DT NYG -- Harrison was an effective run-stuffer when the Giants took on Washington, gathering in 10 total tackles (nine solo). The Vikings are not a great matchup for DTs this season, but their attack will feature the run game, so more tackles should be in line for Harrison.
Fletcher Cox DT PHI -- Cox is on a bye this week, and while he is owned in 50% of leagues at this point, with short benches, he could become available in your league, and you should pounce for the balance of the season if you can. He is coming off a two sack, five tackle (three solo, two TFL), two QH and a forced fumble performance, so act fast if he becomes a free agent in your league.
Defensive Backs
Jordan Poyer S CLE -- Poyer will see plenty of time on the field with Ibraheim Campbell out, and he collected 13 TT against the Dolphins in Week 3 (10 solo), and also defended one pass. You have to love a safety that collects tackles, in any type of IDP league.
Karl Joseph S OAK -- Joseph stepped in when the Raiders decided to bench underperforming Keith McGill, and led the team with 10 total tackles (six solo). Oakland decided that they needed to revamp the D, and Joseph is a beneficiary of that initiative.
Troy Hill CB LA
Jacoby Glenn CB CHI
The two corners that round out the rising defensive backs are that particular species of defensive player that is not proven his ability, and thus is targeted by opposing offensive coordinators. This leads to plenty of action, and thus tackles and pass defense opportunities. Hill collected 11 solos in Week 3, and Glenn, who is starting in place of Kyle Fuller, had eight total tackles (six solo) with a PD and forced fumble. A bit of IDP advice: find the young CBs that are unproven, and ride them until they prove their mettle on the field.
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Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Mychal Kendricks PHI
I have finally given up on Kendricks. He has graced many of my rosters over the past several years, but his persistent injuries make him only a part-time LB, and one that does not provide the stats you need to win. Unless the Eagle linebacking corps suffer severe losses due to injury, you should not have him on your roster.
Defensive Linemen
Chris Long DE NE
Khalil Mack DE OAK
Long may be past his prime, and once Rob Ninkovich is done with his suspension, expect his playing time to take a hit. Drop him now and find another player to take his place. Mack is the victim of his own success, as teams seem to be scheming against him this season. Thus, the lack of sacks. He should not be started but if Oakland can reconfigure their defense to let him loose again, he could return to elite status. It is just not there right now.
Defensive Backs
Lardarius Webb S BAL
The move to safety from corner has not been kind to Webb. He only has six solo tackles on the season, which is not the kind of production you want from a starting safety in an IDP league. Feel free to drop him for someone who can provide a better stat line consistently.
Matchups to Exploit
Indianapolis @ Jacksonville
Jacksonville is just bad. I may just put them at the top of this list every week, without adding any commentary, until they turn things around. Overall, they are the worst team at stopping defensive production. Or maybe, the best for us that play in IDP leagues. In any event, despite the London venue, I would play the Indy IDPs against the Jags. Of course, there is the huge defensive secondary injury issue with Indy, but if unproven CBs are playing, then expect them to get plenty of IDP scoring opportunities.
New Orleans @ San Diego
I would expect this to be a shootout. Therefore, I am expecting the coverage guys on both teams to get plenty of opportunities to make plays, either tackles or PDs, or perhaps INTs.
San Francisco vs Dallas
The Cowboys love to run the ball, and the news is that Dallas' best WR has a hairline fracture to his knee. Expect the Cowboys to favor the run aspect of their offense, leading to a boatload of tackle opportunities for the 49ers in Week 4.
Miami @ Cincinnati
The Bengals are going to try to run the ball all night long. That will lead to big numbers for the Miami front seven and perhaps their safeties as they try to fill the gaps. Ryan Tannehill will not be passing except to keep the defense honest, so plug your Dolphin DLs and LBs (and safeties) into your lineups.
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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
Benardrick McKinney HOU (his ownership is at 28%, time to act)
Shane Ray DEN
Darron Lee NYJ
Vontaze Burfict CIN
Nick Perry GB
Defensive Linesmen
Jabaal Sheard DE NE
Everson Griffen DE MIN (owned in one third of leagues, grab him now if he is on the wire)
Kerry Hyder DT DET
Damon Harrison DT NYG
Fletcher Cox DT PHI (owned in 50% of leagues, but with the bye this week, could be available for Week 5 usage)
Defensive Backs
Jordan Poyer S CLE
Karl Joseph S OAK
Troy Hill CB LA
Jacoby Glenn CB CHI
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
Paul Worrilow ATL groin
De'Vondre Campbell ATL ankle
Elvis Dumervil BAL foot
Danny Trevathan CHI thumb
DeMarcus Ware DEN back
DeAndre Levy DET quadriceps
Clay Matthews GB ankle
Brian Cushing HOU knee
Sam Barrington KC hamstring
Koa Misi MIA neck
Jelani Jenkins MIA groin
Kiko Alonso MIA hamstring
Don’t'a Hightower NE knee
Dannell Ellerbe NO quadriceps
Erin Henderson NYJ foot
Lawrence Timmons PIT shin
Ryan Shazier PIT knee
Manti Te'o SD Achilles
Defensive Linemen
DE
Frostee Rucker ARI knee
Robert Nkemdiche ARI ankle
Ezekiel Ansah DET ankle
J.J. Watt HOU back
Jared Odrick JAX elbow
William Hayes LA ankle
Lawrence Thomas NYJ shoulder
Joey Bosa SD hamstring
Robert Ayers TB ankle
Kendall Reyes WAS groin
DT
Vernon Butler CAR ankle
Letroy Guion GB knee
Sharrif Floyd MIN knee
Defensive Backs
S
Colt Anderson BUF foot
Ibraheim Campbell CLE hamstring
Tavon Wilson DET neck
Morgan Burnett GB groin
Reshad Jones MIA knee
Kenny Vaccaro NO ankle
Jaheel Addae SD collarbone
Marcus Cromartie SF ankle
Da'Norris Search TEN ankle
CB
Ronald Darby BUF hamstring
Dre Kirkpatrick CIN hamstring
Tramon Williams CLE shoulder
Joe Haden CLE groin
Orlando Scandrick DAL hamstring
Sam Shields GB concussion
Darius Butler IND hamstring
Patrick Robinson IND concussion
Jalil Brown IND ankle
Tevin Mitchell IND hamstring
D'Joun Smith IND ankle
Prince Amukamara JAX hamstring
Xavier Howard MIA quadriceps
Delvin Breaux NO lower leg
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie NYG groin
Eli Apple NYG hamstring
Leodis McKelvin PHI hamstring
Jimmy Ward SF quadriceps
Bashaud Breeland WAS ankle
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.