Welcome to our team’s weekly article on IDP Fantasy Football Upside in player performance for the upcoming week!
Fantasy football is a battle of attrition. From BYE weeks to injuries and every other malady along the way, fantasy managers must be able to navigate the waiver wire. I am here to help find hidden gems and players that will provide IDP Upside for Week 14.
Defensive Line
Osa Odighizuwa (Dallas Cowboys)
The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a realtor, considering they are going to be living in the Texans’ backfield. With one of the league’s worst offensive lines taking on one of the league’s best pass rushes, there is bound to be plenty of upside for Dallas’ D-Line.
While it would be easy to go with the likes of Micah Parsons or Demarcus Lawrence, their upside is already baked in. This turns our attention to a DT who could return DE/Edge value, Osa Odighizuwa. Osa has had a good season but has been overshadowed by his teammates’ success. Through 12 games, he has 29 tackles, three sacks, 9 QB hits, 5 TFLs,s and a forced fumble. While these numbers don’t jump off the page, his matchup against the Texans intrigued me.
Houston will use one of my favorite upside targets, Kenyon Green, to try and stop Osa. Green has been in numerous articles of mine due to his 35 pressures allowed on the season, not to mention his league-worst 26.3 PFF pass-block grade.
This recommendation is definitely not for the shallow leagues but for leagues requiring a DT position or teams at the mercy of the BYE monster that is Week 14.
Osa Odighizuwa forces the fumble and Sam Williams recovers (he was ruled down by contact after recovering). pic.twitter.com/L5d6RHweAj
— GroundChameleon (@GroundChameleon) December 7, 2022
Josh Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Josh Allen has had a cold streak worthy of the Antarctic. It has been since Week 4 that Allen has recorded a sack, but the Titans are just the O-Line that he could use to warm up!
Tennessee has been decimated by injuries across the O-Line, which bodes well for Allen and Co. Last week against the Eagles, both Titans’ tackles allowed 4+pressures and multiple sacks.
While it’s easy to be disappointed with Allen’s year-to-date performance, this matchup makes us remember the “other” Josh Allen.
Linebacker
Dylan Cole
The Tennessee Titans will be without David Long for Week 14, and Dylan Cole looks to be the main benefactor for the IDP upside! Cole has played the most LB snaps over the past two weeks, and while not having monstrous production, the opportunity does arise in Week 14. The Titans’ offensive line has been in shambles and could be in line for a long day, which would mean that the Titans’ D could be on the field a lot. Add in Cole’s significant role on Special Teams, and you have a solid LB3 in such a tough week.
Devin Lloyd (Jacksonville Jaguars)
It has definitely been a tale of two halves for Devin Lloyd on the season. Over the first seven weeks, Lloyd ranked in the Top 15 in tackles and led all LBs in deflected passes. Unfortunately, since then, Lloyd has been considerably less effective and lost his starting role to a fellow rookie, Chad Muma.
While Lloyd may have lost his starting gig, the ankle injury suffered by Muma opens the door for another chance at IDP upside! Lloyd and the Jags will look to keep Derrick Henry under wraps, which is conducive to solid tackle floors for Lloyd and Foyesade Oluokon.
If you are looking for a BYE week replacement or that potential boom week, Lloyd has the skill and the opportunity to deliver!
Defensive Back
Jordan Whitehead (New York Jets)
Whitehead has been a solid DB option for the entire 2022 season, but over the past three weeks, we have seen the DB1 upside that he possesses. During that span, Whitehead’s 18 solo tackles are the 3rd most among safeties.
Buffalo and the Jets squared off in Week 9, with Whitehead having one of his highest-scoring IDP weeks on the season. It will be interesting to see if Whitehead can replicate last week’s 11-tackle performance!
Jordan Whitehead getting fined for this hit is ridiculous. This is a spectacular football play by a Safety. #Jets pic.twitter.com/bD7qykUg3u
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) December 9, 2022
Jason Pinnock
Over the past two weeks, Jason Pinnock has overtaken Dane Belton in the secondary for the Giants. During that stretch, Pinnock has demonstrated an ability to contribute in multiple areas across the defense. His eight run-play tackles rank in the Top 12 at his position, which could be huge against a team like the Eagles, the NFL’s 3rd most run-heavy team.
On the season, the Eagles have been the 2nd most generous to opposing safeties, with some really big games for the deep safety, which fits Pinnock to a tee.
One area that adds to Pinnock’s potential upside is Wink Martindale’s (NYG Defensive Coordinator) propensity to send Pinnock on blitzes. Pinnock’s 13 pass-rush snaps over the past three weeks lead all safeties.
Currently ranked as the DB60, I think there is a case to be made in the DB3/DB4 range. As mentioned with many of these options, deeper leagues will benefit the most from this recommendation.
