As the season progresses, our database grows as the NFL fantasy news keeps pouring in. This week, we begin providing the matchup exploits to aid in your NFL fantasy football lineup selection process. Plus, you can peruse the NFL injury reports as of late Friday to help set your starting IDP roster.

 

 

 

NFL IDP Report Week 3

Elevator Going Up 

Linebackers

Frankie Luvu, CAR

Collecting 10 total tackles (TT) will launch you to the top of the ascending linebackers… that and being the LB with the majority of snaps on defense (96% of the defensive plays featured him in Week 2). Four of his 10 stops were for a loss of yards (TFL), always a positive aspect for an IDP. Toss in a pass deflection (PD) and he becomes a valued defensive asset, although the matchup against the Saints this week could be better.

 

Ernest Jones, LAR

Jones was rewarded with an increase in time on the field in Week 2, and rewarded his owners with 12 TT (five solo, one TFL). Nothing in the big play area, but double-digit tackles are always valuable for an IDP. Keep an eye on his playing time (PT) as the season progresses. 

 

Jayon Brown, LVR

Here is another LB that racked up a dozen TT in Week 2, but here eight were for a loss of yards. He is benefiting from the absence of Denzel Perryman in the defensive scheme for the Raiders, and it is not looking positive for Perryman to return against the host Titans this week, so figure more tackle production for at least this game.

 

Nicholas Morrow, CHI

Morrow has been an every-down LB so far in 2022, which makes him a valued IDP asset so long as that trend continues. He collected 11 TT (seven solo, one TFL) against the host Packers, and this week delivers a superb matchup for an outside linebacker against the visiting Houston offense.

 

Leighton Vander Esch, DAL

His star has faded due to injuries over the past three seasons, but he is healthy now and had seven TT in Week 2 (four solo, one TFL. He also contributed in the big play area, with a sack, a PD, a QB hit/hurry (QH) while playing 90% of the snaps on defense. So long as he is able to stay on the field, he has potential as a solid LB2 going forward.

 

Defensive Linemen

Aidan Hutchinson, DE, DET 

The top pick of the Lions in the 2022 draft had a big coming out party in Week 2, nabbing three sacks in the first half of the victory over the visiting Commanders. He also contributed six TT (five solo, two TFL) to provide value in leagues that emphasize tackle production. He was close to other sacks in the contest, as evidenced by the three QH he was credited with on the stat sheet. The Lions will let him develop with plenty of PT in his rookie campaign, and now would be a fine time to snap him up off the wire in the event your league has not acted already.

 

Rasheem Green, DE, HOU

It has been suggested that the Houston defense will be productive for fantasy IDP purposes as their rebuild continues, and Green debuted in Week 2 to demonstrate that idea with five TT (three solo, one TFL) along with some big plays: 1.5 sacks and a pair of QH. His coach was praising his rush technique and his run defense in the post-game discussions, so his star is on the rise.

 

Dre’Mont Jones, DE, DEN

The defensive end saw a majority of snaps on defense in Week 2, and provided a couple of sacks, a QH and forced a fumble (FF) against the visiting Texan offense. He also kicked in six TT (four solo, one TFL), making for a strong effort which he will look to continue against the visiting 49ers, a favorable matchup.

 

Boye Mafe, DE, SEA

Mafe is being limited in terms of on-field time due to a shoulder issue and his rookie status, but he amassed four solo tackles (one TFL) in his short time on the field in Week 2 (30% of snaps). He also had a sack (the Seahawks’ only sack in Week 2) and a QH. As his PT increases, his value will grow.

 

Daron Payne, DT, WAS

Payne is the first of the DTs profiled this go-around, and benefitted a ton from an increased workload this past contest (87% of snaps), posting some big play numbers: a sack and two QH. He also had four TT (two solo, one TFL). In a DT-mandatory league, those are desirable stats.

 

Justin Jones, DT, CHI

Jones was not able to offer big play value in Week 2, but eight TT (five solo, two TFL) from a defensive tackle is superior production nonetheless. Again, if you play in leagues that mandate fielding a DT, Jones is a low-percentage owned option to explore.

 

Defensive Backs

Marcus Williams, S, BAL

Williams played every down on defense against the Dolphins in Week 2, and rolled up with 10 TT (seven solo), a pair of INT and two PD. If he continues to see a majority of the defensive snaps in the backfield, he will continue to put up fantasy-friendly numbers.

 

Julian Love, S, NYG

The Giants have a definite deficiency in their linebacking corps, so the safeties will have to step up to shut down opposing offenses. Love racked up eight TT (all solo, two TFL) along with a QH and a sack against the Panthers and now has a division contest against the depleted visiting Cowboys, a decent matchup.

 

Jaquan Brisker, S, CHI

The rookie put up 10 TT (seven solo) against the Packers who rushed the ball 38 times in their conquest of the Bears in Week 2. Brisker is being used in the box on defense, which will allow him to continue to put up excellent tackle results.

 

Darrick Forrest, S, WAS

Forrest has been active on the defensive side of the ball with Kamren Curl sidelined, and even when Curl returns, his efforts should secure him continue action on the gridiron. He had 10 TT (eight solo) in Week 2. No big plays in Week 2, but he has a great matchup against the Eagles on tap for this week.

 

Nate Hobbs, CB, LVR

Hobbs is collecting plenty of tackles to open the season, and like Forrest above, had some big play action in Week 1. He is an every-down defensive player at this point, with a good not great matchup against the Titans in store for Week 3.

 

Derek Stingley Jr., CB, HOU

As a rookie CB, expect the opposing offenses to continue to challenge the Texans’ first round pick (third overall), as is the usual procedure. This has led to the accumulation of fantasy stats due to the increased focus, and Stingley was credited with eight solo tackles and a couple of PD while playing the majority of snaps (94%) in Week 2’s game against the host Broncos. 

 

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Jerome Baker, MIA

Despite playing every down while the defense was on the field, Baker was able to rack up just a pair of tackles (one solo) and nothing else in terms of fantasy production. He has been inconsistent the course of his career in the NFL, and that is too risky to take a chance on when there are more stable options to select off the wire.

 

Tae Crowder, NYG

Having an opportunity presented, such as the cutting of Blake Martinez by your team in August, should lead to increased fantasy production. Crowder did not respond, compiling a mere two assists against the Panthers, and that simply is too meager to devote a roster slot to, in all honesty.\

 

Defensive Linemen

Jerry Hughes, DE, HOU

Hughes was probably considered a steal after his surprising Week 1 effort, but those that acted on that small sample size were served up a disappointing one assist effort in Week 2. This week’s opponent is a slightly better matchup, but Hughes has disappointed before and thus, no reason to take a chance on him after last week’s sad results.

 

Marcus Davenport, DE, NO

The DE is off to a slow start in his fifth season in the Big Easy, and while his nine sacks in 2021 led to some hope for big play production this season, those hopes are unrealized at this point. 

 

Carlos Dunlap, DE, KC

Dunlap saw a major reduction in his PT between Week 1 and Week 2, and that resulted in low fantasy production. Presuming his time on with the defense is going to be limited going forward, it is best to step away from the new addition to the Chiefs defensive line.

 

Jaelan Phillips, DE, MIA

Phillips is another DL that is providing extremely little for his fantasy owners. A pair of tackles while playing three quarters of the snaps on defense through two contests is not sufficient to secure his roster spot and finding a replacement immediately would be suggested.

 

Javon Kinlaw, DT, SF

He has just one solo tackle through the first two contests of 2022, and saw a decline in PT between Week 1 and last week’s action. He could get hot, as he was sidelined most of last season and is slow to come back into action. It is not in your best interests to anticipate his return to effective production, and you should bench or cut him immediately.

 

Defensive Backs

None to write about this week, save for those profiled in the Injury Report below.

 

 

 

Matchups to Exploit

Remember, the first team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. Do not go crazy, and play a LB5 against the Colts, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB, DE or S on the Chiefs, or a Titan LB that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

 

Inside Linebackers

  • Indianapolis Colts vs Kansas City
  • Denver Broncos vs San Francisco
  • Washington Commanders vs Philadelphia
  • Las Vegas Raiders @ Tennessee

 

Outside Linebackers

  • Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets
  • Las Vegas Raiders @ Tennessee
  • New England Patriots vs Baltimore

 

Defensive Ends

  • Los Angeles Chargers vs Jacksonville
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Green Bay
  • Baltimore Ravens @ New England
  • Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams
  • Indianapolis Colts vs Kansas City

 

Defensive Tackles 

  • New York Giants vs Dallas
  • San Francisco 49ers @ Denver
  • Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay

 

Safeties

  • Indianapolis Colts vs Kansas City
  • Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo
  • Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington

 

Cornerbacks

  • Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets
  • Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona
  • Buffalo Bills @ Miami
  • Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit

 

Waiver Wire Targets

This section is intended to serve as a shortened cheat sheet listing those waiver wire targets you should be considering if you need to plug a hole in your starting lineup. All these players are spotlighted above, and you can read my comments about them in the "Elevator Going Up" section of this article. 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

 

Defensive Linemen

 

Defensive Backs

 

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

 

Defensive Linemen / DE

 

Defensive Linemen / DT

 

Defensive Backs / S

 

Defensive Backs / CB

 

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, you can also send a message to ia@fantasyalarm.com for a personal response from the writer of this article. Naturally, the more detail you can send about your league, such as number of teams, platform you play in (Yahoo, ESPN, etc.), scoring and roster system, the better the ability to provide accurate advice.


 

 


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