Welcome to our first Chasing IDP Upside in Fantasy Football article for Week Two of the 2022 Fantasy Football season!
Each week we’re going to list players that we believe will outperform their Fantasy Pros IDP Expert Consensus Rankings, thereby giving you the advantage in setting your lineups for each week’s slate of games. So sit back, relax, and enjoy reading our Chasing IDP Upside in Week Two!
Josh Sweat v. Minnesota Vikings- DL54
Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles will host the Minnesota Vikings which should be a high-scoring affair. Sweat is the ECR 54th ranked DL for Week 2 and should have a great shot to outproduce that ranking. Sweat created 3 pressures in Week 1, despite only seeing 28 pass-rush opportunities. With Derek Barnett out for the season after suffering an ACL tear, look for Josh Sweat to see an increase in snaps and for him to turn those pressures into sacks. I expect a pretty high-scoring game, with plenty of pass-rush opportunities. If I am chasing upside with Josh Sweat, I will need at least a sack or a splash play because his tackle upside is extremely capped.
Josh Sweat has come a long way as a pass rusher. This little inside hop move gave him a lot of pressures on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/n5r4uOxoT1
— Nick (@PhillyNick100) September 14, 2022
Alex Highsmith v New England Patriots- DL22
It would appear that this may be the last time that there is a “buy-low” window on Alex Highsmith. With T.J. Watt expected to miss the next 2-3 months with a torn pec, Alex Highsmith needs to step up for the Steelers. While it may seem like the attention will focus on Highsmith with Watt out, Alex hasn’t shied away from attention in the past. Last year, in the games without Watt, Highsmith was productive in the majority of the games. Over the course of the 4 games without Watt, or at least limited, Highsmith totaled 19 tackles, 5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a QB hit.
With Mac Jones a little less mobile (hard to believe), the Steelers will look to keep the pressure mounting due to a back injury suffered in Wk 1. The presence of Cameron Heyward is always a welcome sight to edge rushers, knowing that he will get the push up the middle. If the Patriots elect to run the ball to protect Jones, Highsmith is more than capable in the run game. Highsmith led all Edge rushers in solo tackles on run plays (41).
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah v New York Jets- LB35
JOK saw an 85% snap share in Week 1, which he only did 5 times last year. This is significant because it was never a situation of IF but rather WHEN. Fortunately for fantasy managers, the true ceiling hasn’t been exposed yet, but I believe we are in store for that type of game in Week 2. JOK was productive in the games where he saw an 85% snap share, giving fantasy managers 29 tackles, 2 FF, and multiple sacks.
I look for a game that attacks the middle of the Cleveland defense with heavy target volume to JOK. Patrick Queen just saw 11 targets in Week 1! With the Jets’ inability to stretch the field, a double-digit tackle game with impact plays is a distinct possibility.
JOK is a different cat pic.twitter.com/qsSaiAkmb7
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 12, 2022
Divine Deablo vs Arizona Cardinals- LB47
We have been saying since last season that all Deablo needs to succeed in an opportunity. Last year, when allowed to play nearly every down, he responded with an LB1 finish in Wk 17 and an LB23 finish in Wk13. It is that type of production that resonated with the Frames crew. The fact that he had DB eligibility across multiple platforms was just an added bonus.
One major hurdle for Deablo to overcome was the looming presence of Denzel Perryman, which won’t be an issue in Week 2. Perryman suffered an ankle injury that will keep him out of the Week 2 contest and should almost assuredly make Deablo a three-down back. The Cardinals kept everything in the middle of the field against the Chiefs in Week 1, leading to a very efficient and voluminous day for Nick Bolton. Look for Deablo to be all over the place and heavily involved in this game.
Divine Deablo looked really good in week 1 against the run. He was all over the field making plays. #Raiders @DeabloDivine pic.twitter.com/6hOYy7PGPr
— Sanjit T. (@Sanjit__T) September 15, 2022
Josh Jones @ SF 49ers-DB60
Fantasy managers took a huge blow when Jamal Adams went down with an injury on Monday Night. While replacing Adams is nearly impossible, there is an in-house option that could lessen the blow. Josh Jones is no stranger to stepping in and attempting to fill the void left by Jamal Adams. Last year, Jones and Ryan Neal filled in for Adams as he missed 9 games. With Ryan Neal also out, Jones’s role is solely alongside Quandre Diggs. Last year, in Wk 18, when getting the majority of the snaps, he responded with 10 tackles!
Pete Carroll has expressed his commitment and trust in Jones, and we should also. The role is designed to score fantasy points, and the matchup in Week 2 is prime for solid upside. Currently, the DB60, there is a good chance that he gives us the production of a DB3.