IDP Rookie Watch: Week 5 Rookie Round-Up

Uncategorized Posted on  —by Sam Lane
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Week 5 was a disappointing week for several rookie IDPs. And yet, a few had career games.

Bradley Chubb

The Denver Broncos rookie linebacker has been... underwhelming in his first five weeks as a pro. Against the New York Jets in week 5, Chubb only produced two tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss. He also added a pass defended. To date, Chubb has only accumulated 12 tackles,1.5 sacks, and one pass defended. That just is not going to do it in fantasy football. To compound the issue, Chubb plays at outside linebacker, so he is even less valuable in IDP.

Chubb should only be rostered and stashed in dynasty leagues. He has the talent to become a top-tier pass rusher in the future. You just cannot trust him right now.

Josey Jewell

With middle linebacker Brandon Marshall returning to healthy, Jewell has been relegated to his backup role, to many people's chagrin. Despite the entire defense struggling, giving up 323 yards on the ground, Jewell did not play much. Jewell only recorded two tackles, including one for loss.

Jewell demonstrated his playmaking ability when he was given the start in week 3 against the Ravens. He will be an impactful linebacker in the future, just not the near future. Jewell should be stashed in dynasty leagues but is not worth putting in your lineups until the Broncos coaching staff comes to their senses, are fired, or there is an injury.

Isaac Yiadom

A newcomer to the Rookie Round-up. The Broncos rookie cornerback played in 18 snaps in place of Pacman Jones, who left due to a hamstring injury. In Jones' absence, Yiadom accounted for three tackles, two solo. He was also burned for a long touchdown by Jets wide receiver Terrelle Pryor.

Yiadom may see more playing time if Jones' hamstring injury lingers. He may see more snaps because that entire defense looked awful against the Jets and starting cornerback Bradley Roby was torched all day. Regardless, he is not worth rostering unless you are in a deep dynasty league that separates the defensive backs into cornerbacks and safeties.

Rashaan Evans

Evans had the best statistical game of his career in the Tennessee Titans week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills. With starting inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard out with a shoulder injury, Evans was given more snaps, 48 to be exact. In those snaps, Evans accounted for six tackles, five solo. However, Evans could have had a lot better day. He missed a few tackles and looked slow. Evans is still learning the inside linebacker position as he was used often as an edge rusher in college. Better days are ahead for Evans.

Evans should be rostered in most IDP leagues. He has started the past three weeks. He will garner more playing time as he learns the position.

Harold Landry

Landry has been an absolute monster for the Titans since making his debut on week 2. The statistics just do not show it. Landry has been absolutely terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, he just is not getting home. Against the Bills, Landry only had two tackles, one solo. But he was getting pressure on Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Landry only has eight tackles and one sack on the season. He also has a forced fumble.

Unfortunately, like Chubb, Landry is an outside linebacker. Until he starts to rack up sacks, he is not valuable in IDP leagues. Even then, Landry is most valuable in sack-heavy leagues. Landry is not worth a roster spot at this time.

Tremaine Edmunds

Ho-hum. Another week, another seven-plus tackle game for Edmunds. Edmunds stuffed the stat sheet in week 5 against the Titans, producing eight tackles, four solo, one pass defended, one quarterback hit, and a forced fumble. Edmunds has 38 tackles, five passes defended, one sack, and two forced fumbles on the season.

Edmunds has not put up the huge numbers we expected and have seen from fellow rookies Darius Leonard and Fred Warner. But he has been very serviceable and has shown to have a good floor. Edmunds should be rostered in every league and is startable every week.

Jerome Baker

Baker followed up a double-digit tackle week with another huge game in week 5 for the Miami Dolphins. Though he did not reach double-digit tackles, he did accrue seven tackles, six solo, including two sacks. Over the last three games, Baker has 26 tackles and two sacks.

Unfortunately, Baker is still only getting the third most snaps at linebacker for the Dolphins, despite being arguably the best linebacker on the team. His numbers the last three games are very likely unsustainable if his snap numbers do not go up. Baker should be rostered in all leagues and is a good bye week start until his snap counts go up.

Minkah Fitzpatrick

Despite Dolphins starting safety Reshad Jones return from injury, Fitzpatrick still had a productive day. Playing 70% of the defensive snaps, Fitzpatrick produced five tackles, four solo, and a tackle for loss. On the season, Fitzpatrick has 34 tackles, three passes defended, and one interception.

Like his teammate Baker, Fitzpatrick should be rostered in all leagues and is a good bye week fill in.

Kenny Young

With the return of Baltimore Ravens teammate CJ Mosley, Young has seen his snaps drop precipitously. Young only played in 25% of the Ravens defensive snaps against the Cleveland Browns, accounting for only two tackles. He did, however, produce half of a sack.

Young has accumulated 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks on the season. He should only be stashed in dynasty leagues and is really only startable if Mosley is out due to injury. If he does become a starter, Young will be a top talent in the league.

Denzel Ward

The Browns rookie cornerback has had a tremendous start to his career. Against the Ravens, Ward played in 100% of the Browns defensive snaps, accounting for five tackles, four solo, three passes defended, and one interception. Ward also blocked a field goal. On the season, Ward 25 tackles, six passes defended, three interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick.

Ward is borderline startable in defensive backs leagues. He should be rostered and started in all leagues that separate the defensive backs.

Oren Burks

Burks played in his most snaps of the season in week 5 for the Green Bay Packers against the Detroit Lions. In those snaps, Burks produced four tackles. Burks also displayed his speed.

As it stands now, Burks is not worth a roster spot except in dynasty leagues. If he continues to see his snap counts increase, Burks will be rosterable in all formats. Find out more about Burks here.

Josh Jackson

With injuries to the Packers secondary, rookie cornerback Jackson has seen a lot more snaps over the past few weeks. Against the Lions, Jackson accounted for two solo tackles and a pass defended. Jackson has 17 tackles on the season and three passes defended. Jackson is not worth a roster spot at this time.

Da'Shawn Hand

Another newcomer to the list, Lions rookie defensive end Hand had a monster game against the Packers. Hand was pressuring Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers all day, ending the game with four tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. To start his career, Hand has accumulated 19 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. Hand has also been graded as the best rookie defensive interior lineman by PFF.

Hand has lowkey been a force in the league. He rosterable in all formats. If he continues to show growth, he will be startable in all formats.

Foye Oluokun

Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Oluokun has seen his snap counts increase every week this season. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oluokun had his best statistical game, producing five tackles. Oluokun outproduced his teammate, Duke Riley, who had only four tackles on 18 more snaps.

Oluokun is someone to watch. If his snap counts continue to climb, he will be rosterable and even startable as he is a playmaker.

Terrell Edmunds

Steelers rookie safety Edmunds has played in 100% of the defensive snaps over the last three weeks in the absence of starting safety Morgan Burnett. In those three weeks, Edmunds has accounted for 15 tackles and one interception, including seven tackles, five solo against the Falcons. Edmunds has started to develop into a very good safety, with back-to-to back seven tackle performances.

At this point in time, Edmunds is startable in all league formats. However, it is unknown how his snap share will be affected when Burnett returns from injury. In any case, Edmunds should be rostered in all leagues.

Maurice Hurst

Hurst has been the Oakland Raiders best defensive lineman this season. He has also been getting better every week. Against the Los Angeles Chargers, Hurst had two solo tackles and a pass defended. In the 2018 season, Hurst has 11 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, and two passes defended.

Hurst is not a top-end defensive tackle, yet. While he has a bright future, Hurst really is not rosterable in IDP leagues. Watch his progression closely and pounce if he starts to rack up stats.

Derwin James

James had a quiet game by his standards against the Raiders. He only put up five tackles, four solo, and one for loss. James has 31 tackles, one interception, six passes defended, and three sacks on the season. James is making an argument for the 2018 defensive rookie of the year. He should be rostered and started weekly in all formats.

Fred Warner

The San Francisco 49ers star rookie linebacker had a disappointing game. After producing double-digit tackles in the first four games of his career, Warner only managed three against the Arizona Cardinals. There is no need to panic, as this was likely just a down game for Warner and the 49ers defense as a whole. Warner is a weekly starter in all formats. Read more about Warner here.

Leighton Vander Esch

Vander Esch had his best game as a pro for the Dallas Cowboys against the Houston Texans. The Cowboys rookie linebacker accumulated a monster 14 tackles against the Texans, leading all defensive players. Vander Esch has been fantastic against the run, ranking third amongst linebackers against the run. He has also been good in coverage, ranking sixth among linebackers, overall ranking as PFF's second-best linebacker.

Since becoming a starter in week 2, Vander Esch has 37 tackles. With starting weakside linebacker Sean Lee nursing a hamstring, Vander Esch will continue to be one of the better linebackers in the league. Even when Lee returns, Vander Esch will be startable in most formats. Find out more about Vander Eash here.

Justin Reid

While not the most prolific statistical producer, Reid has been startable as a safety for the Texans. Reid had a fantastic game against the Cowboys with six tackles, five solo, and his first career interception. Over the past four games, Reid has averaged five tackles per game. He also has three passes defended on the season.

Reid has produced good, not great numbers. He is rosterable in most leagues and good bye week fill-in.

Marcus Davenport

Davenport had a bit of a breakout game against Washington. He was all over Washington quarterback Alex Smith. Davenport finished the game with three tackles, two solo, one sack, one tackle for loss, one pass defended, and one quarterback hit. He also forced a fumble on his sack.

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Davenport has not been overly productive, yet, but he is beginning to emerge. Davenport has helped the Saints run defense become one of the best in the league. He has also started to show his pass rush prowess. While not worth a roster spot right now, watch and jump when he starts to produce better stats.

Kyzir White

Los Angeles Chargers rookie linebacker Kyzer White sat out week 4 with a knee injury. White is a startable linebacker in IDP leagues. Monitor his status for next weeks game against the Cleveland Browns. Read more about White here.

Darius Leonard

Leonard sat out the Indianapolis Colts week 5, Thursday night game against the New England Patriots with an ankle injury. Leonard would have dressed if had the game been played on Sunday. He will likely be able to play in week 6 against the New York Jets and among the top producers at linebacker.

Jaire Alexander

Alexander sat out the Green Bay Packers week 5 game against the Detroit Lions with a groin injury. He may be back in week six against the San Francisco 49ers. Keep an eye out for any news to the contrary.

For more tips and analysis, follow Sam on twitter here. Get even more depth analysis and tips from the IDP Tipster here. Listen to the guys talk about news, analysis, and strategy on the podcast, and follow the show on twitter @IDPGuys.

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Sam Lane

Started playing fantasy football with my dad 15 years ago. Still have no idea what I am doing. Just trying to pass on any analysis I can to help you win.
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