The Sleeper has awakened
Monday Edition
Welcome to "The Monster", now in audio format! This week we'll be doing what we do every week, looking at everything that matters with every single IDP relevant player on every single defense, every week all season and never behind a paywall. Now available before waivers run. We'll look at playing time, production, injuries and waivers because of them, changes in role or demotion (Daniel Sorensen, Jaylon Smith, etc) and we'll follow the ebbs and flows of the season in an effort to make sure you have the best IDP producers starting for your defense every week and don't miss any crucial information.
If things didn’t go how we thought they would we’ll try and figure out why that was, if someone we’ve never heard of went off for a massive week we’ll find out if they’re worth picking up on waivers or if they’re just barely playing and just lucked into a sack or splash play and it likely won’t happen again any time soon. We’ll follow up on weird or iffy situations with information from beat writers and whatever else I can find to connect the dots. We'll also use information from sources such as PFF, NFLGSIS, Pro Football Reference and from other smart people in the IDP community as well. If I can't get the answer I'll go find it. This is the one place you can come every single week and learn everything you could possibly need to know in regards to all things FFIDP and by the end of the audio you'll know what you need to in order to make the best decisions for the upcoming matchups.
Between this article & audio, @Mike_Woellert and his three down linebacker article, listening to The IDP Show podcast and the various information published weekly from our site (idpguys.org) and other excellent FFIDP sources out there (Gary Davenport, Gary Van Dyke, Justin Varnes, Jon Macri, The IDP Show, 4 for 4 IDP, etc) you should be completely locked in for your individual defensive players across the board. If you're short on time though my mission with this content is to get "all of it in one place" so this is a good start. Remember the "why" is just as important as "what" so with all that in mind let's get into it.
The Week Seven Questions
We kicked off week seven in Cleveland with a brutal low scoring affair between the Browns and Broncos. With Baker Mayfield (QB) injured and out along with many, many, many other stars on both side of the ball for both teams this one ended up being a last man standing affair, and his name was D'Ernest Johnson (RB). For the Broncos we lost Micah Kiser (LB) to IR so we'll have yet another waiver wire linebacker option coming off of that plus we got a (possibly) significant injury to Vonn Miller (EDGE/OLB) so we'll see what the latest is on that as well plus check in on all things FFIDP for that entire defense. As for the Browns we were without Jeremiah Owusu Koramoah (LB) this week so we got tons of Anthony Walker (LB), we'll see what the playing time looked like but the production was excellent. We'll also have a look at the cornerback corps that was supposedly healthy this week and give everything else a once over as well. Myles Garrett (DE) continues his career season, just saying that out loud, nothing to look at there.
The Packers faced off against the Football Team this week in the land of cheese and bratwurst. Things we're looking at for the Packers this week include the playing time for the second week of Jaylon Smith (LB), has he completely displaced Krys Barnes (LB) as the "other" inside linebacker along with DeVondre Campbell (LB)? With Kevin King (CB) declared inactive again what did the cornerback corps look like and how does the pass rush look without Za'Darius Smith (OLB)? For the Football Team the biggest question is how much did Jamin Davis (LB) play this week and to a lesser extent what happened with Kamren Curl (S) and Landon Collins (S) in regards to their playing time as well? Was Chase Young (DE) able to continue his hot streak for a third week in a row? Plenty to look at here.
The Chiefs took a trip to the music city to face the Titans and we got a beautiful game for both offense and IDP production out of this one. For the Chiefs what did the Willie Gay (LB) and Nick Bolton (LB) breakdown of snaps look like? What did week two of Juan Thornhill (S) instead of Daniel Sorensen (S) look like? How did Chris Jones (DT) do his first week back in a minute and was Frank Clark (DE) able to even play this week? For the Titans how did the inside linebacker situation shake out? Was David Long (LB) able to maintain 100% of snaps and how did the Avery Williamson (LB) or Rashaan Evans (LB) situation end up for playing time? Without Amani Hooker (S) this week who played the other IDP relevant safety slot and how did Elijah Molden (CB) do his first week as a full time cornerback replacing the recently sent to IR Kristian Fulton (CB)? Tons of good information to be had here.
The Falcons went south for the winter to face the Dolphins in a battle of two teams off to a disappointing start to their respective seasons. For the Falcons there's not a ton to see here this defense is pretty set in stone but we'll check in on the usual suspects and see if the Dante Fowler (OLB) inactive and IR designation led to anything waiver wire worthy. As for the Dolphins this defense is always in flux but we'll check if both the IDP relevant rookies, Jaelen Phillips (DE) and Jevon Holland (S) were able to maintain good playing time this week. We'll give both teams a once over and see what there is to see here.
Next we travel to Foxborough for a rematch of the early season massacre between the Jets and Patriots. For the Jets we got CJ Mosley (LB) as a late scratch and Jamien Sherwood (LB/S) as his direct replacement, we'll see how that worked out and check in on the safety situation looked with several inactives or prior injuries heading into this one. Also is Quincy Williams (LB) playing well enough to keep his job with Jarrad Davis (LB) projected to return to the lineup as early as next week? For the Patriots this is another one of those cursed defenses that is always shifting and moving but we'll check in on the usual suspects and see what there is to see.
From there we'll head to the big apple to have a look at the showdown between the Panthers and Giants. For the Panthers how did Jeremy Chinn (S) do this week against a less than ideal opposing offense and how did Jermaine Carter (LB) look replacing Shaq Thompson (LB) once again this week? How did the cornerback corps look with Stephon Gilmore (CB) theoretically able to play this week? And was Haasan Redick (OLB) able to keep up his hot streak or did he come back down to earth? For the Giants there was much fear, fear is the mind killer, in regards to Tae Crowder (LB) and Bernardrick McKinney (LB) this week and a possible displacement of Crowder, we'll absolutely check in on that plus the always interesting secondary here as well.
The Bengals met the Ravens in Baltimore this week in a divisional showdown between two teams off to a great start to the season. For Cincy did we get any further information on who the better "other" inside linebacker here is between Germaine Pratt (LB) or Akeem Davis Gaither (LB) and we'll also see if the cornerback corps has settled down and given us any stability beyond Chidobe Awuzie (CB). For the Ravens we'll obviously check in on the Patrick Queen (LB) situation and see if there's been any improvement there or if Josh Bynes (LB) is still the best inside linebacker combined tackle floor option there, crazy but true. Everything beyond that is pretty set in stone but we'll see what there is to see.
Orbiting high above Yavin Four in the Death Star we got the Raiders and Eagles in a showdown between two teams that were heading in vastly different directions prior to kickoff. For Las Vegas we'll check in on the inside linebackers as is tradition and also the rookie safety, Trevon Moehrig (S), plus see if Maxx Crosby (DE) was the Max or Min version this week, beyond that the cornerback corps was the only thing really in flux here for the Raiders. For the Eagles we'll see if Davion Taylor (LB) has continued his forward momentum towards displacing Eric Wilson (LB) as the "other" inside linebacker to start weekly here next to Alex Singleton (LB) each week. Beyond that not a ton to see, perhaps there will be another IDP relevant safety here besides Anthony Harris (S) weekly but so far not really, we'll see what there is to see.
Out in sunny California we got a blood bath between the Rams and Lions. For Los Angeles we're really just checking in on the linebacker situation overall, there's been a ton of fluctuation there so we'll check for any signs of stability. And as is tradition we'll see if either safety has established themselves as the "better" option here weekly. For the Lions this is the third and final cursed defense but there are some things to see here, was Tracy Walker (S) given enough snaps to be IDP relevant this week? What did the cornerback corps look like beyond Amani Oruwariye (CB)? Besides Alex Anzalone (LB) do we have another IDP relevant combined tackle floor linebacker here yet? Derrick Barnes (LB) perhaps? And last but not least what does the pass rush look like currently with the recent spat of injuries?
Heading East from there we'll visit the Cardinals and Texans where the Cardinals looked to hammer yet another nail into the Texan's coffin. For the Cardinals we'll check in on the inside linebackers, is Zaven Collins (LB) a thing yet or still just Isaiah Simmons (LB) and Jordan Hicks (LB)? At safety was Jalen Thompson (S) able to continue his hot streak and did Budda Baker (S), despite playing well as usual for real football purposes, bounce back for IDP production against the Texans? Where the hell is Chandler Jones (OLB) and did JJ Watt (DE) continue his hot streak? Plenty to look at for the Cardinals this week. For the Texans we'll make sure Zach Cunningham (LB) is really done and that Kamu Grugier Hill (LB) remains the other inside linebacker option here along with Christian Kirksey (LB). The cornerback corps continues to be a mess so we'll check for stability there as well.
Following the theme of one sided massacres this week we'll next head down to Tampa Bay where the Bucs annihilated the Bears. For Tampa Bay was it another week of Kevin Minter (LB) and if so how did he look as a waiver wire linebacker? Did we get Antoine Winfield Jr (S) back this week and if not who was the replacement? And how does the cornerback corps look with all the injuries? For the Bears not a ton to see here but we'll check that third cornerback slot that's been moving the last couple weeks and give all the known and relied upon weekly IDP options here a once over like we always do.
Sunday night we got the Colts and the 49ers because someone decided that would make a great prime time game. For the Colts we'll check in on Darius Leonard (LB) and Bobby Okereke (LB) plus see how the safety situation played out with some recent injuries, same with the cornerbacks. Beyond that not a ton to see with them but for the Niners we'll see if Dre Greenlaw (LB) returned to the lineup this week or if it was another week of Azeez Al Shaair (LB). Beyond that also not a ton to see here but we'll check over whatever there is to see here and keep it moving.
And to round out the week we finished up with the Saints and Seahawks in Seattle because week seven wasn't depressing enough we needed to visit Seattle on top of all the byes and injuries to start with. For the Saints we'll absolutely check in on Pete Werner (LB) who has been excellent as a waiver wire linebacker but with Kwon Alexander (LB) theoretically able to return this week we need to see how that shook out. Beyond that we'll see if we got Marcus Davenport (DE), who is eligible to return from IR, back this week as well plus check on the usual suspects. For Seattle we've had some fluctuation at the second cornerback slot so we'll see what there is to see with that and also check if the defensive line has found any stability week to week in terms of playing time yet. And we'll see if Jamal Adams (S) has returned on both IDP investment and real football (two first round picks lol) investment yet as well.
All that and more as we spend minimum two hours in audio format discussing all things IDP from all teams every week all season. It's the (audio) monster, this is week seven, let's get into it.
The Week Seven Answers
(Listen to the audio above, also available on the idpguys podcast feed)
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Check out Johny the Greek’s Cornerbacks Corner every Friday morning at the site all season long, we’ll be looking at the best matchups to stream corner from and the best cornerback options in each matchup. This article will continue to drop every Tuesday morning all season as well. Tune in to DF$ on The IDP Show Network and now on the IDPGUYS podcast feed for some shenanigans and daily fantasy with my friend @Adamidp every other week all season and make sure you don’t miss The Big Nickel Podcast with me and @PFF_Macri once a month all season as well. Me and PFF’s Jon Macri will be looking at the big picture topics in FFIDP and breaking down the latest trends, best waiver options, strategies and macro level topics for your individual defensive players for the 2021/22 season.
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