What’s up, fellow IDP degenerates! I have a brand new series that I will be bringing you all each week called the IDP Roundup!
Looking at the box scores each week has been adequate for many to stay competitive in the IDP streets, but how do you gain a noticeable edge? That is the goal of this article. I want to dig deep into each game and find stats, notes, injuries, trends, etc., all with the intention of giving the tools to be proactive in your approach.
Which players are under-appreciated and deserve another chance? Which teams are putting their players in a better position to score fantasy points? Who is the next big waiver wire add that you can get a week earlier than the competition?
Welcome to The IDP Roundup from Week 9 (2023).
TEN @ PIT
Sean Murphy-Bunting left the game early for the Titans. As if WRs weren’t already cashing in against their defense.
Terrell Edmunds saw his snaps increase in Week 9. Most likely a product of familiarity, the injury to Murphy-Bunting could lead to more playing time for all of the Titans’ safeties.
Cameron Heyward returned from injury and immediately saw 55% of the snaps. Heyward was really solid in run support and would be a worthwhile pickup if dropped in your league.
Cole Holcomb suffered a nasty knee injury and will miss the remainder of the season. While both Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts will see an increase in their snaps, it was announced today that Alexander will wear the coveted “green dot.” Alexander has been less than reliable but should be the LB to target.
MIA @ KC
With the Dolphins’ pass rush intact, it was Andrew Van Ginkel who saw his snap count drop below 50% for consecutive weeks. It is hard to trust with Phillips healthy.
Jerome Baker has now had back-to-back weeks with a sub-10 % tackle rate. Besides Weeks 5 & 7, where he finished inside the LB20 rankings, he has had seven other weeks finishing outside the LB50.
Contrary to what I was led to believe, Willie Gay Jr was good to go and played a healthy amount of snaps (40%). The split between Gay and Leo Chenal limited both upsides.
CHI @ NO
Jack Sanborn didn’t skip a beat returning to a starting role with the Bears. Just like we saw last year, Sanborn can be relied upon to be a solid LB2. At least as long as Tremaine Edmunds is out.
I noted in both last week’s article and on Shoot The Gap (IDP Podcast-Wednesday nights at 10 PM EST), that Montez Sweat may have a difficult time replicating the production that he had in Washington. Montez had three pressures, but a little underwhelming.
Jaquon Brisker had been on a little bit of a hot streak in Weeks 6 & 7 (DB5) before the injury/concussion kept him out of the lineup for the past two weeks. Brisker is set to return in Week 10 against a Colts team that has allowed some huge games to opposing safeties.
Pete Werner continues his inefficient ways, as his three tackles tied a season-low. Werner has a season-long tackle rate of 9.7% and hasn’t eclipsed six tackles in a game since Week 4.
ARI @ CLE
Only three Cardinals’ players saw a 100% snap share: Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, and Kyzir White. Coincidentally, those are the only IDP-relevant players in Arizona.
Za’Darius Smith started off rather slowly, recording zero sacks in the first five weeks. Since that slow start, he has been picking up a little momentum with a sack in two of the past three games. Smith is still splitting snaps with Okoronkwo, but it wouldn’t shock me to see him hang around the DL2/DL3 range.
The Browns’ LB situation is one to avoid in fantasy, but I really wish we could see an 80% snap situation in Week 10. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has had a really solid career facing the Ravens and could have another solid game this week. The Ravens have been very generous to opposing LBs, but I can’t recommend a potential 50-60% snap share from a starting LB.
While I can’t trust the playing time for CLV LBs, I can trust the playing time for their DBs, seeing as Grant Delpit has played 97% of the season’s snaps. Delpit faces a Ravens team that has allowed a 25% tackle rate to opposing safeties.
LAR @ GB
Byron Young had a monster game with ten tackles and two sacks. The two sacks brings his season total up to five, which leads all rookies.
Ernest Jones missed his first game of the season. Christian Rozeboom stepped in and had a mediocre game (2 solo/5 ast). With the Rams on a BYE, it should give Jones plenty of time to rest off the knee and return for Week 11.
Quay Walker missed Week 9, and is not looking ready to return for Week 10. Isaiah McDuffie stepped in and filled Walker’s shoes quite admirably. On the season, McDuffie has been as efficient as they come, sporting a solid 17% tackle rate, while only playing 47% of the snaps.
Green Bay was without both starting safeties, Rudy Ford and Darnell Savage, for Week 9. This opened up playing time for rookie Anthony Johnson, to which he responded with his first career INT.
It was Johnathan Owens who played the all-important box snaps, which he turned into eight tackles. Rudy Ford returned to practice in a limited role, so it may be Owens reverting back to a deep safety role.
TB @ HOU
Devin White finally got his 1st sack of the season. He had the most blitzes without a sack among linebackers until this past week. Now, that belongs to Foye Oluokon.
Ryan Neal was seemingly benched in favor of Dee Delaney. This is staggering news for Neal’s IDP value. I am not certain if it was just disciplinary or a true demotion. We will see this week.
Jimmie Ward injured his hamstring in the 2nd quarter of Week 9 and couldn’t return to the game. He hasn’t practiced this week, and the Texans would turn to DeAndre Houston-Carson again in Week 10. Houston-Carson had filled in for the Bears in 2022 but was truly IDP-relevant when playing heavy box or slot snaps.
Will Anderson recorded his second sack of the season. Anderson leads all rookies with a 17.3% win-rate, and should see the sacks eventually come in bunches.
Blake Cashman saw his snaps dip into the 80% range, which is bad news for all Houston LBs. If Demeco Ryans is playing a little LB roulette, nobody wins.
WSH @ NE
One of the biggest takeaways from Week 9 was that it appears to be James Smith-Williams and Casey Toohill who will fill the holes left after the departures of Montez Sweat and Chase Young. After one game, it’s evident that they are both matchup plays…if you’re desperate.
Christian Barmore did everything but actually record a sack. The matchup was ideal, and Barmore responded with seven pressures. Unfortunately, without a sack, the underlying metrics are just “good to know”.
Ja’Whaun Bentley didn’t let a lack of practice and a hamstring injury keep him off the field. He responded and had his best game of the season, recording 13 tackles and two sacks.
SEA @ BLT
Boye Mafe has been a man possessed. With a six-game sack streak, Mafe now stands as the DL6 on a per-game basis. The addition of Leonard Williams will only help Mafe’s pass-rush.
Not to be outdone, Justin Madubuike has a six-game sack (or ½ sack) stretch of his own. During that stretch, he has 6.5 sacks and currently sits as the DL12 on a per-game basis.
Marcus Williams was unable to play in Week 9, but it looks like he will make his return in Week 10. This drastically will cut into Geno Stone’s playing time. Adjust accordingly.
MIN @ ATL
I couldn’t have missed the boat any more on the upside of Jordan Hicks this season. I was pretty convinced he would be a serviceable mid-low LB2, but he has proven me wrong. Hicks had another double-digit tackle performance, making it an even 80 on the season.
Nate Landman has been a weekly contributor to this article, and a wonderful waiver wire addition. Since Week 4, Landman safely sits as the LB17, and the arrow is still pointing up after seeing the most snaps of his career in Week 9.
IND @ CAR
Of course with Zaire Franklin ruled out for Week 9, it would be none other than Segun Olubi that would play 100% of the snaps at LB. I don’t think I have been as blindsided as I was by this move. If Franklin is to miss Week 10 (limited practice on Thu), Olubi would be a decent BYE week fill-in as an LB3 against the Patriots.
Kenny Moore II reminded us why he was one of the 1st CBs taken in last year’s drafts. Despite the DB1 finish in 2021, and the DB22 finish in 2022 (when healthy), he was widely overlooked this year. Now sitting as the DB1, he is firmly a must-start.
Brian Burns suffered a concussion in Week 9 and has been ruled out for Week 10.
Sam Franklin Jr didn’t see a single snap on defense in Week 9, leading to a full-time role for Alex Cook. Cook had seven tackles (1 TFL) and is a replacement level player going forward.
DAL @ PHI
Four of the five edge-rushers for Dallas had pressure and win-rates exceeding 20%. I would expect the same type of production in Week 10 vs NYG.
Markquese Bell played nearly every snap in Week 9, while Rashaan Evans didn’t play a snap. Bell continues to play at a high-level and is a cheat code for leagues that designate him as a DB.
Nakobe Dean suffered a lisfranc injury in the 2nd quarter and is likely headed to the IR. Nicholas Morrow could join Cunningham in an everydown role for the immediate future.
NYG @ LV
Micah McFadden saw an 80% snap share for the first time all season, and had six tackles, with three tackles for loss. McFadden, despite only playing 64% of snaps on the season is tied for 15th among all NFL players with eight TFLs
Divine Deablo and Luke Masterson appear to be returning for Week 10, so we no longer have to know the names Amare Burney or Jaylon Smith…hopefully.
BUF @ CIN
Terel Bernard suffered a concussion in the 2nd quarter, but did get in a limited practice to start the week. Monitor his situation, and if he doesn’t clear protocol, feel free to fire up Tyrel Dodson with confidence.
Jordan Poyer played a strong game for Buffalo, totaling 11 tackles, but he has a DNP to start the week with a leg injury.
Sam Hubbard suffered an ankle injury that looks to keep him out of Week 10. If that’s the case, I would love to see Myles Murphy with an expanded role.
LAC @ NYJ
As mentioned leading up to this game, all hands are on deck for the Chargers’ pass rush. The Chargers ended up with eight sacks with 41 pressures!
The Jets’ pass-rush went punch for punch with the Chargers, finishing with five sacks and 36 pressures.
While Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Tuli Tuipulotu led the way for LAC, it was the lesser names of Bryce Huff, Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald that paced the Jets.
Speaking of Bryce Huff, he created another seven pressures on 23 snaps (30.4% pressure rate). The 23 pass-rush snaps were the 2nd most of his season, and if he could see an increase, we could have a bonafide stud on our hands.
