This is not a drill!!! This is not a drill!!! We are about to enter Week 12, which means that there are likely only 2 more weeks in the regular season. As I have mentioned for the past weeks, we are in the portion of the season that a lot of these articles will fall on deaf ears, but for those that are still in the hunt, this is for you!
Week 11 was one that was an absolute blast to watch and had to momentous impact on IDP teams moving forward. Covid wanted to pay another visit to Las Vegas, but the Raiders’ players weren’t having anything to do with it. Myles Garrett missed last week and is expected to miss their Week 12 matchup. In Tennessee, Jayon Brown left the game with an apparent injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Finally, in Jacksonville, Josh Allen is expected to miss a few weeks with a knee injury.
While it appears that COVID and injuries rule the IDP landscape in Week 11, there was some very exciting news as well! Let me paint that picture in my Week 12 Waiver Wire Adds for IDP!!
Defensive Line
Olivier Vernon
- 2.3% Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus)
- 28.25 Week 11 Fantasy Points
- 8.06 Fantasy Points per Game
As I mentioned above, Myles Garrett had to miss Week 11 and is expected to miss Week 12 also due to COVID. With the loss of Garrett, someone needed to step up for the Browns, and Olivier Vernon was that person! Vernon played a team-high 80% of the Defensive Line snaps and had a career week! Vernon registered 5 tackles (4 solo), 3 sacks, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, and 1 pass def. The Browns will face off against the Jags in Week 12, who have allowed the 6th most sacks to defenses. While there may be some extra attention paid to Vernon, I fully expect Sheldon Richardson’s impact to keep the attention at bay.
David Onyemata
- 1.9% Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus)
- 16.5 Week 11 Fantasy Points
- 8.13 Fantasy Points per Game
The New Orleans Saints may possess the most IDP relevant Defensive Line in the NFL. Cameron Jordan is the name that everybody knows. Marcus Davenport and Trey Hendrickson have been an absolute wrecking ball duo! David Onyemata is the newest name to keep an eye on! This 6’4”-300lb Canadian monster at Nose Tackle has been on a tear recently! Onyemata totaled 3 tackles (all solo) and 2 sacks, which brings his season total up to 5, a new career-high. Maybe it’s the added attention to the trio of Jordan, Davenport, and Hendrickson, but nonetheless, Onyemata has been doing it all. In Week 9 vs TB, he had 4 QB hits, zero sacks, but grabbed an INT and had a Pass Defended. Week 10 was another 2 QB hits with no sacks to his credit, but he did have another PD. This week the Saints take on a Denver Broncos, which is a good situation for Onyemata to add to his sack totals.
Sam Hubbard
- 8.4% Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus)
- 7.25 Week 11 Fantasy Points
- 7 Fantasy Points per Game
Hubbard was officially activated off of the IR prior to Week 10’s matchup vs the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hubbard immediately slotted into about 60% of the team’s plays and has a couple of tackles and a Pass Defense, not exactly a week winning performance. Fast forward to Week 11 vs WFT, and we see his snap totals jump up to 83% and Sam records 3 Solo tackles (1 TFL). While it’s important to note that his production isn’t exactly something to write home about, it is important to know that his upcoming schedule is VERY favorable. Week 12 is against the Giants, who have allowed the 5th most sacks and the 4th most points to opposing DE’s. Week 14 (Playoffs), he faces off against the Dallas Cowboys, who have allowed the 8th most sacks and the 5th most points to opposing DE’s. If you are still a little skeptical because you spent good draft capital on him, just remember that last year Hubbard only had 3 sacks entering Week 12 and went on to collect 5 1/2 more to end the season.
Linebacker
Isaiah Simmons
- 5.1% Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus)
- 22.25 Week 11 Fantasy Points
- 6.625 Fantasy Points per Game
This is the week that many of us in the IDP circle have been waiting for!!! Now, it is a little unfortunate that it has required injuries to Chandler Jones, Devondre Campbell, and 11 weeks of the season for him to see enough playing time to make an impact. Simmons, in Week 11, was all over the field! It felt like every time a big play was made, number 48 was somewhere nearby! With his snap% hovering around 69%, Simmons played enough to register 10 tackles (9 Solo), 2 TFL, 1QB hit and his 1st sack of his NFL career! This week, the Cardinals will face the Patriots, who have been known to give up a good amount of points to opposing LB. Rejoice IDP fans, our time to watch Simmons is here! Let’s hope that the snap% continues to increase!
Elandon Roberts
- 9.1% Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus)
- 8 Week 11 Fantasy Points
- 8.66 Fantasy Points per Game
Over the past few weeks, we have seen Jerome Baker’s minutes and snaps both continue in the wrong direction (100% in Week 6—-31% in Week 11). While this is bad news for Baker managers (me), it appears to be great news for Elandon Roberts managers, the 9% of you! Over the past 4 weeks, Roberts hasn’t had less than 5 tackles and has 3 TFL over that time. While Roberts may not posess the high-end upside at LB, he does posess a hard nosed attitude that is bound to lead to turnovers! Keep an eye on his snap counts!
Rashaan Evans
- 6% Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus)
- 10.5 Week 11 Fantasy Points
- 8.91 Fantasy Points per Game
In Week 11, Evans posted his 6th game with at least 7 tackles, totaling 9 (5 solo, 4 assist). While Evans doesn’t exactly have the high Pass Defended or Sack totals, he does possess a relatively safe tackle floor as previously pointed out. With Jayon Brown being ruled out for the rest of the season, expect Evans to take on an even larger role in this defense! His upcoming schedule is also a really good one for ILB with a penchant for the ball carrier. Even if it’s a one week fill-in, his Week 12 matchup vs Ind is very tempting, seeing as how he had 6 tackles with Jayon Brown back in Week 10.
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Defensive Back
Ashtyn Davis
- 1.1% Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus)
- 21 Week 11 Fantasy Points
- 6.6 Fantasy Points per Game
Davis had a huge week 11, totaling a team-high 12 tackles (8 solo), 1 TFL, and a Fumble Recovery. The 3rd round pick out of California is getting a shot at every down playing time with the loss of Brian Poole and Bradley McDougald and taking full advantage. While the Jets may not be a good defense on the football field, Davis possesses the ability and the opportunity to be a solid DB2 across leagues!
Donovan Wilson
- .3% Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus)
- 22.25 Week 11 Fantasy Points
- 10 Fantasy Points per Game
Donovan Wilson has gradually picking away at the starting job of Darian Thompson. When given enough snaps, Wilson has actually had some high upside weeks with true DB1 outcomes (Week 4-DB#4, Week 8-DB#5, Week 11-DB1) These high upside games aren’t the only reason for a Week 12 addition, but you can look ahead at the upcoming schedule and see a very safe tackle floor.
D.J. Reed Jr.
- 11.1 % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus)
- 16.50 Week 11 Fantasy Points
- 15.75 Fantasy Points per Game
Over the past 3 weeks, D.J. Reed has earned a considerable bump in playing time and has taken full advantage of his opportunity. Reed is consistently playing alongside Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, and getting peppered with targets in slot coverage. To go one step further, not only has he led his team in tackles during that time, he leads the league in solo tackles amongst all DB’s and 2nd amongst all positions! Reed and the Seahawks go to Philly where he should get a chance to get peppered again in targets and might get lucky that Wentz makes a mistake that leads to a turnover.
