Welcome to our team’s weekly article on IDP Fantasy Football Upside in player performance for the upcoming week!
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 article on IDP Fantasy Football Upside in Week 4!
Dorance Armstrong (DAL) v Washington Commanders- ECR DL50
When Randy Gregory left for Denver, many wondered who would step up in his absence. Dorance Armstrong has answered that question astoundingly! If you go back to Week 15 of 2021, Armstrong has 6 sacks over that stretch. Add in the 8 QB hits, and you have a DL2/3 who is being highly underrated. This week, Armstrong and the Cowboys have the pleasure of going up against the Commanders and their swiss cheese offensive line. The way that the Cowboys are using Parsons is creating a lot of good matchups for both DeMarcus Lawrence and Armstrong. Let’s hope for another 50+ snap game for Dorance and bank on a sack!
Kayvon Thibodeaux (NYG) v Chicago Bears- ECR DL67
Kayvon Thibodeaux (@kayvont) gets his hands up & tips the pass. If caught, that could’ve put the Cowboys in FG range. Big play by Thibodeaux! #nygiants #togetherblue pic.twitter.com/M1Y79mtI0T
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) September 27, 2022
The Giants’ 1st-round pick is making just his 2nd career start after making his debut last week against the Cowboys. While he did collect his first career tackle, he is still chasing his first career sack. I believe that he gets it in this matchup against the Bears. While the Bears are an extreme run-heavy team, they are extremely suspect in pass-blocking. Justin Fields may have taken the fewest drop-backs in the NFL, but he leads all QBs in sack%. Not helping Fields in any way is an offensive line that has allowed pressure on 39% of their pass snaps. It combines the aforementioned blocking woes and the excellent value Kayvon provides as the DL67. It remains to be seen just how good of a run defender he is, but if his reports out of Oregon are any indication, he should be a factor in this matchup.
Mykal Walker (ATL) v Cleveland Browns- ECR LB24
If you ever want to find upside plays at LB, simply look at any team playing the Browns. In back-to-back weeks, the Browns have allowed an ILB to finish inside the Top 24. The Browns currently lead the NFL in rushing attempts and will look to keep their running ways as their defense recovers from injury. With Deion Jones on the IR, Mykal Walker has stepped in and really carried the load. If the Browns decide to try their luck in the passing game over the middle, Walker will be prepared as he leads all LB in pass-play tackles. Looking around the league, Walker and Jordan Hicks are the only LB with >15 solo tackles, 1 FF, 1 INT, and 1 Sack. This type of “across the board” production just screams upside!
Julian Love (NYG) v Chicago Bears-ECR DB22
#FFIDP – NYG safety Julian Love in Week 2 was essentially the Giants' second linebacker.
— Jon Macri (@PFF_Macri) September 19, 2022
Played 62% of his snaps lined up as an off-ball LB!🚀
Posted 7 tackles & a sack📈
With Dane Belton in the lineup (playing 79% of snaps), NYG was able to lean heavily on their dime defense: pic.twitter.com/fUq9kf7m9S
While it may not be wise to focus too much of your attention on a defense playing against the Bears, I feel like there is a real opportunity at upside. Julian Love has really been a huge piece to the Giants’ defense, as he leads the team in tackles and has a share of the lead in TFLs. This week against the Bears has all the making for a huge game for Julian Love. As mentioned above, the Bears have allowed a pressure on 39% of drop-backs. In this Wink Martindale defense, Love is given some free run, as his 13 pass rush snaps is 2nd among S. It’s definitely not the pass-rush that I am banking this recommendation on, but more the expected tackle volume. With the Bears being such a run-heavy team, the need for strong tackling at LB is paramount. Unfortunately for the Giants, they have Tae Crowder. This is not a knock on Crowder, but he leads the NFL in missed tackle rate on run plays.
All of these facts just helps me build this very solid IDP floor for Julian Love, and really reinforces the belief that he is worth chasing the upside!
Thanks for reading our article on IDP Fantasy Football Upside in Week 4 article.
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Now go out there and crush your matchups this week!
