Welcome back from the ‘bye-pocalypse’. I hope the insight here helped you survive what was a tough output for a lot of fantasy GMs this last week. With almost all options back with only 2 teams on bye (Ravens, Raiders) we have plenty to take a look at. So let’s get rolling with the ‘The Only IDP Sit/Start You Need to Win Week 8’.
As always, the goal of this series will be to take a look at those players we are not quite certain on each week and help identify at each level (DL, LB, DB) an individual you should be starting with confidence (maybe even pursuing if he isn’t on your roster) and one you should be fading at least this week or maybe more.
The big question mark with IDP though is what scoring format are you using. IDP fantasy football leagues haven’t reached a level of a “standard” scoring that the vast majority of leagues play with. So for our purposes, we will focus on a format known as ‘IDP123’ (examples: Tackles 2 points, FF/FR 3 pts, Sacks/Ints 6 pts) With that being said, let’s get into why you came here!
Defensive Line, Start – Chase Young, DE, Washington Football Team
This week we are taking a look at Chase Young. He has struggled to live up to the billing of the top draft capital here in year 2. He wasn’t able to deliver pressure regularly last year but found a way to notch 7.5 sacks and 4 FF’s and 3 FR’s. This year through 7 games he has 1.5 sacks and 1 FF. He is looking like a disappointment, especially compared to the other previous Ohio State DE’s (Joey and Nick Bosa).
A nice salve for this poor performance though would be a Broncos opponent with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater how loves to hold onto the football. With one of the highest ‘times to throw’ at 2.95 seconds (top 5 highest with the likes of Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts) Chase Young gets exactly what he needs. The chance to work longer moves or broken plays to utilize athleticism to create big plays.
This week Chase Young is going to find a way to deliver 2 sacks in this game, however, I would be very careful as this is not indicative of his remaining performance this year, in my opinion. Let’s find a big performance from Young this week and use that as an opportunity to sell his name and recent production. He is probably worth a hold in dynasty formats though as he is still a young pass rusher in terms of his career.
Defensive Line, Sit – Jonathan Greenard, Edge, Houston Texans
Jonathan Greenard has been one of the few bright spots on a bleak Houston Texans season this year and the Texans cutting of Whitney Mercilus speak to the trust they have in their young pass rusher. He has shown promise notching 6 sacks so far this season.
The Texans secondary has been God-awful this year too which has led to teams attacking that and exposing the festering wounds back there. The increased chances have been something that Greenard has capitalized on each week as well in getting after the opposing QB.
This week though, he has a tougher matchup against the Los Angeles Rams and he has the least favorable OL matchup for the week. The Rams and Sean McVay have done a good job at creating clean throwing lanes and a strong running game to help support Matthew Stafford as well as keep defenses from being able to key in on specifics of the passing game and take advantage of those to notch sacks on Stafford.
Greenard is someone you want on your roster going forward (especially dynasty) as he is establishing himself as a consistent pass-rusher off the edge. This week though, let’s take a quick breather as he comes back down to earth a bit against a tough matchup.
Linebacker, Start – Anthony Walker Jr., Cleveland Browns
Anthony Walker Jr. is not the linebacker we want to be starting from the Cleveland Browns (I wanted me some more of the JOK!) but he is the linebacker we have. He is the linebacker who is walking away with 100% of the snaps in that defense and can patrol the middle of that field quite well.
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With him prowling in the middle of that defense, he just needs an offense that loves to attack near the line of scrimmage every game and he would be able to rack up some huge numbers. Enter Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers! Between the dump-offs to Najee Harris (he has 46 targets already this year), the underneath looks to Pat Friermuth that has come along the last few weeks (Heath Miller lite incoming?), and Diontae Johnson and his ADOT of 10.2 means Anthony Walker will get his fill of plays this week.
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Linebacker, Sit – Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Devin White was a very popular IDP piece this offseason and draft season. However, he has not delivered at the level at which people have invested in him. Outside of week 1 where he had a stronger performance, the rest of been pretty mediocre. The real concern is, Lavonte David has been out the past two weeks and there has been no uptick in White’s IDP performance during that time which is quite disappointing.
Now, this week his matchup against the Saints leaves us wondering, will Devin White draw the assignment of trying to wrangle in Alvin Kamara, one of the most elusive backs and best at forcing missed tackles. Something that can happen to Devin White in coverage, especially when he over-pursues angles to the flats. (Sometimes speed is a curse I guess?)
With Lavonte David still questionable and how effective he can be in open space, it would seem White would draw this assignment the most, and with the Buccaneers still banged at cornerback, you have to assume he will be working alone on that island and the IDP production is going to be limited yet again. White is possibly a start in deeper leagues or if you can’t find something more on your waivers. However, I would consider shopping him on the namesake of a big year last year and maybe another piece to upgrade into a more consistent scoring option.
Defensive Back, Start – Khari Willis, S, Indianapolis Colts
Khari Willis is a smash play this week but as a Khari Willis owner, you probably have already seen his capabilities on your fantasy team. So this start ’em call may not feel as helpful as another, but this start ’em is to tell you, this guy is primed for a top 5 week this week against the Titans.
When reviewing previous safeties who have played against the Tennessee “Derrick Henry’s”… I mean Titans, this is when they have exploded for IDP fantasy football production. But Jake, Khari Willis already played the Titans and didn’t explode then? In week 3, Khari suffered a groin injury that effectively removed him from the last third of the game. Up until that point he had already compiled 5 solo tackles and an assist.
Since returning from the groin injury and playing healthy, he has continued to succeed as a consistent tackler and shown increased capabilities in pass coverage. As with the last two weeks, I see turnover in the cards for Khari (the last two weeks were interceptions, this week, I think it may come from a fumble) and that combined with what is setting up to be close to a double-digit tackle floor, you need Khari in your lineups this week as your DB1!
Defensive Back, Sit – Jessie Bates III, S, Cincinatti Bengals
Jessie Bates III is about as consistent as they come in terms of IDP fantasy football production. So how does a consistent performer end up on the bench this week? Well, this one comes down to the matchup this week and the low quality of the opponent’s offense.
The Bengals are taking on a team whose offense has struggled all year to find a real identity and consistent success in the New York Jets. Normally a lesser team is a solid plus matchup for an IDP, however, with a new man helming the QB position in Mike White after Zach Wilson’s injury does not bode well for their ability to sustain a drive. If a team cannot sustain a drive, the IDPs will have significantly reduced opportunities to make plays and rack up those sweet, sweet fantasy points.
Also, the emergence of Logan Wilson in the heart of this defense has started to slowly siphon away some of the production of both Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates. Not to the point that they are not the strong options they have been historically, but enough that in a negative matchup and game script, you will want to steer away from them for this one week.
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