Are you still playing, and vying for a championship? Great. Here is the IDP information you will need to get you over the hump and put that league trophy in your mitts.
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Brian Orakpo WAS
Moise Fokou TEN
Dont'a Hightower NE
Mychal Kendricks PHI
It has been a while since I touted Orakpo, or since he appeared with the Geico caveman, but he has been having a terrific season. He now has 10 sacks after totaling 1.5 last week, and is also putting up good tackle numbers on a weekly basis. Fokou is the key to the Titans' defense, and he can be counted on for more tackles as he faces the Jags this week. Hightower also has a good match up against Baltimore, and should continue to rack up the tackles for his owners. Kendricks keeps getting better and better as the season winds down, and while his hometown scorers don't exactly help his tackle numbers, he is capable of providing big plays along with decent tackle numbers.
Defensive Linemen
Jared Allen DE MIN
Brian Robison DE MIN
George Selvie DE DAL
Jurrell Casey DE TEN
Andre Branch DE JAX
Allen and Robison play for a sub-par defense in Minnesota, but you would not know it by their numbers of late. Both are capable of providing sacks, but you will not benefit in a tackle oriented league. In big play IDP leagues, though, either or both should be rostered. Selvie plays on a truly horrible defense, but he gets the Redskins this week and will be a good candidate for Dl stats. Casey has a fine match up this week, facing Jacksonville and you would do well to insert him into your starting lineup. Branch, on the other side of the field, is also a good candidate for a sack or more this week.
Defensive Backs
Mike Mitchell S CAR
William Moore S ATL
Harrison Smith S MIN
Zackary Bowman CB CHI
Sam Shields CB GB
Mitchell faces the Saints, and I could see close to double digit tackles and possibly an INT in his immediate future. Moore has been a bright spot in an otherwise pedestrian defensive backfield in Atlanta. Grab him if you like big play potential from your safety. Smith has returned to the Viking backfield, and should see more snaps than he did in Week 15, his first week back. I liked him a whole bunch before he went down, and I like him just as much now that he is back on the field. Bowman has filled in quite capably for Charles Tillman, and with offenses targeting him over Tim Jennings, he is a great source for IDP stats. I sat Shields last week, and that is a mistake I will not make again. He is fast with good hands, a fine combination for a CB.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Zach Brown TEN
Brown has been benched for the second time this season. Don't go near him.
Defensive Linemen
Chris Clemons DE SEA
DeMarcus Ware DE DAL
Clemons had zero tackles last week, and I wonder if he isn't hiding some nagging injury. He played well early on, but has been a huge bust for most of the season. Ware is another guy I wonder about, as in "Is he injured?" Maybe he just isn't adapting to the move to DE.
Defensive Backs
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB DEN
In his past 5 games, Rodgers-Cromartie has been a non-factor, putting up a measly 1 solo tackle and 3 PDs. He was once one of the best corners in the NFL, but that was in the past. Avoid him like the plague.
Ouch (My Aching Roster)
All the injury reports below need to be evaluated at kickoff. Teams are notoriously sketchy about injury reports, and we often do not know a player's status until just before game time. The list below is intended as a "heads up" as to what is going on early in the week, and should not be considered definitive.
Linebackers
LaMarr Woodley PIT (calf)
Sean Weatherspoon ATL (knee)
Sean Lee DAL (neck)
Geno Hayes JAX (knee)
Justin Houston KC (elbow)
Lance Briggs CHI (shoulder)
Ernie Sims DAL (groin)
DeAndre Levy DET (foot)
K.J. Wright SEA (foot)
Brandon Spikes NE (knee)
Elvis Dumerville BAL (ankle)
Defensive Linemen
Carlos Dunlap DE CIN (concussion)
Da'Quan Bowers DE TB (knee)
Jason Pierre-Paul DE NYG (shoulder)
Defensive Backs
Marc Barron S TB (hamstring)
Charles Tillman CB CHI (triceps-out for rest of year)
Joe Haden CB CLE (hip)
Xavier Rhodes CB MIN (ankle)
Terence Newman CB CIN (knee)
Gregory Toler CB IND (groin)
Morris Claiborne CB DAL (hamstring)
Chris Houston CB DET (toe)
Kyle Arrington CB NE (groin)
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.