Welcome to our team’s weekly article on IDP Fantasy Football Upside in player performance for the upcoming week!
It is Playoff Time! Win or Go Home! 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 15.
Defensive Line
Azeez Ojulari (New York Giants)
Since coming off of the IR, Ojulari has been very impressive, sporting a 21% win rate with ten pressures and three sacks. Ojulari and the Giants have their sights set on another opportunistic matchup in the Washington Commanders. The Commanders have been one of the more generous Offensive Lines to pass-rushers, allowing the 7th most sacks in the NFL.
The Giants could have Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams back for their Week 15 matchup, which would increase the already solid floor for Ojulari. Currently listed as the DL31 according to FantasyPros ECR, I see a solid path to DL1 upside!
Well, at least Azeez Ojulari crushed it yesterday! He’s been awesome since returning from injury 💪 pic.twitter.com/1OW6f5Wncz
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) December 12, 2022
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (Houston Texans)
Okoronkwo has now had back-to-back sacks vs. Cleveland and Dallas. Over that span, he also has back-to-back win rates north of 24%. This type of production has earned him additional playing time (50% snaps) and has translated into fantasy production.
This is a deep-league option for IDP, but one that shouldn’t go overlooked. Yes, the Chiefs will get Joe Thuney back and sport one of the more dominant O-Lines in football, but they have given up multiple sacks over the past two games. With Mahomes’ willingness to hold the ball for something to develop, there is always an opportunity for a sack to fall in Okoronkwo’s lap.
Ogbo Okoronkwo wreaking havoc on back-to-back plays. 😤 #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/cWl0GS2z9S
— 𝕆𝕂𝕃𝔸ℍ𝕆𝕄𝔸-𝕍𝕊-𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕃𝔻 (@soonergridiron) December 11, 2022
Linebacker
Deion Jones (Cleveland Browns)
The Browns have been snakebitten at linebacker this season, which leads us to Deion Jones. With JOK and Takitaki set to miss the remainder of our fantasy season, Deion Jones will handle the playcalling duties and a near 100% snap share.
Jones and the Browns will host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15, which could lead to IDP upside. Currently, the LB40, according to FP ECR, wouldn’t shock me to see an LB2/LB3 week with relative ease. The Ravens will look to control this game on the ground without Lamar and a healthy J.K. Dobbins.
The Ravens have been a solid offense for opposing LB, with ten different LBs scoring 13+ fantasy points.
The last time the Browns faced the Ravens (week 5), Jones recorded five tackles in only 50% of the snaps. The change from Lamar to Huntley and a healthier running game could mean a double-digit tackle performance for Jones.
If Deion Jones has his eyes in the backfield for a split second that’s a pick 6 compliments of Myles Garret https://t.co/SKhrqulRXy
— Colin Sprague (@csprague22) December 12, 2022
Preston Smith (Green Bay Packers)
If I am chasing upside, traditionally, I am looking for a tackle-heavy inside linebacker, not an OLB. This may be one of the exceptions to the rule, especially if you play in a deeper league where Smith isn’t DL-eligible.
The Packers will host the Rams in what should be a good game for the pass-rushers in GB. The rams have allowed the most sacks and the Packers possess the 2nd highest blitz% in the NFL. This is what I like to call a match made in heaven. If the Rams decide to try and keep the ball on the ground, Smith has excelled over the past three weeks in run-play tackles. His nine tackles are good for 5th among OLB, which helps support that tackle floor to go along with the inevitable QB sacks!
Preston Smith submarines the block to box the run in pic.twitter.com/rU7r63Cu4p
— Andrew Kent (@JiMOTHYisALIVE) December 7, 2022
Defensive Back
Andre Cisco (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Cisco appears ready to regain his starting FS role for the Jags after logging back-to-back full practices.
The Cowboys have been one of the most generous teams to opposing Free Safeties, and Cisco would appear to be the recipient of that upside! Over the past five weeks, the Cowboys have yielded weekly finishes of DB3, DB32, DB36, and DB4 to the primary Free Safety.
When given the chance, Cisco has the playmaking ability to replicate the DB1 finishes that the Cowboys have given up. His 57 tackles, nine deflected passes, and three INTs are all near the top of the FS leaderboard, despite missing a couple of games due to injury.
Currently the DB64 in FP ECR, I am more than willing to insert him into my DB3 role if your league carries that many spots!
