• IDP Sleepers: Week 13 Edition

    Embed from Getty Images

    This might actually be your final week to sneak into the playoffs. Check out some top ceiling plays from @DynastySanta and his Week 13 IDP sleepers!


    Reflection on last week. James Smith-Williams missed. I can't hit on WFT lineman, Shaka freakin' Toney gets the sack! Kamu Grugier-Hill had seven tackles and a sack, can't ask for much better. Anthony Barr busted by my expectations but provided a solid tackle floor. Desmond King and George Odum underwhelmed only recording modest tackle numbers. Let’s hope the Week 13 IDP sleepers fare better!

    Defensive Line

    Odafe Oweh, DE, Baltimore Ravens

    ESPN: 2.4% ST - 3.6% RST - YAHOO: 7.0% RST

    All season long, Odafe Oweh has been a feast or famine fantasy IDP option. It's usually sack-or-bust with him, but when he gets going, he is an absolute menace. Facing a reeling Pittsburgh Steelers team that continues to trot out a barely healthy Ben Roethlisberger, this is a juicy matchup. He doesn't give you much of a tackle floor, so this is purely an impact play starting option. I'm manifesting it since I haven't hit much on D-line besides Marcus Davenport (get healthy!).

    Other deeper league targets

    Zach Allen, DE, Arizona Cardinals - Faces the Chicago Bears who give up the most sacks in the league

    Arik Armstead, DE, San Francisco 49ers - Tough to trust, another matchup play against the Seattle Seahawks

    Linebackers

    Embed from Getty Images

    Azeez Al-Shaair, San Francisco 49ers

    ESPN: 9.4% ST - 12.1% RST - YAHOO: 11.0% RST

    This is the smash "sleeper" IDP play of the week. Azeez Al-Shaair walks into an undisputed LB1 role with Dre Greenlaw ruled out and Fred Warner doubtful to play. Al-Shaair has actually been a solid option all year long but this could be his moment in the sun with the reigns to the defense all to himself this week. Sprinkle on top a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks that should lead to plenty of tackles and big-play potential.

    Alex Anzalone, Detroit Lions

    ESPN: 3.8% ST - 4.7% RST - YAHOO: 5.0% RST

    Much like my Anthony Barr selection last week, Anzalone is not the most exciting or sexy pick. But if you're in need of tackles, he's your man. Alex Anzalone has been on a tackling tear over the past few weeks. Since the Lions' bye week, he's gone 9-7-9 in total tackles.

    He draws a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings this week. Despite being without Dalvin Cook, expect the Vikings to continue to establish the run with their backups. So plenty of tackling opportunities up for grabs and expect Anzalone to vacuum up a bunch of them. I could see him finally breaking the 10 tackle threshold this week. That's a feat he hasn't accomplished since Week 2.

    Other deeper league targets

    Tae Crowder, New York Giants

    Zach Cunningham, Houston Texans - How the mighty have fallen

    Tyus Bowser, Baltimore Ravens - Has been on fire recording sacks and even some tackles lately

    Defensive Backs

    Embed from Getty Images

    Quandre Diggs, S, Seattle Seahawks

    ESPN: 5.2% ST - 7.1% RST - YAHOO: 17.0% RST

    Quandre Diggs might be a stretch to fit here as a "sleeper" but he's a name I haven't heard much throughout the IDP community this year. He has been just a ridiculously consistent and safe fantasy producer. Much more so than his counterpart, Jamal Adams. Adams has the higher ceiling but has whiffed a ton this year as well.

    Diggs plays close to 100% of the snaps and has remained healthy all year long. He also provides a crazy safe tackle floor. Since he isn't the sexy, exciting name like Adams, maybe he's available in your IDP league. And if he is, I'd be starting him above many other top options this week.

    Bobby McCain, S, Washington Football Team

    ESPN: 0.1% ST - 0.2% RST - YAHOO: 1.0% RST

    Since Landon Collins has been ruled out for Week 13, Bobby McCain is purely an opportunistic play here. Kamren Curl is the stud in the defensive backfield. However, McCain could fill in nicely for Collins this week against the Las Vegas Raiders. He's been quiet for the past couple of weeks. So, especially with the assumed increase in snaps coming, he feels like he's due for a productive fantasy outing for a manager in a pinch.

    Other deeper league targets

    Eric Murray, S, Houston Texans - Continuing to try and get his name out there

    D.J. Reed, CB, Seattle Seahawks - Playing a ton of snaps and produces when healthy

    Fabian Moreau, CB, Atlanta Falcons - Quietly piling up tackles past few games. Plays Tampa this week

    Amani Oruwariye, CB, Detroit Lions - INT machine 

    Best of luck in your IDP leagues and thanks for checking out my Week 13 IDP sleepers!


    Follow me on Twitter at @DYNASTYSANTA for lots of spicy fantasy football takes (and taeks). Follow the @IDPGUYS main account for the best articles and fun IDP + offensive fantasy football banter, and check out our rookie draft magazines for that nostalgic aroma of using a book to help win your drafts!

    Steve Tomasin (@DynastySanta)

    After being introduced to fantasy football in 1999 as a wee lad still in middle school, I was hooked. I then began commishing my own keeper league 2 years later as a sophomore in high school, which has been running since. I used a computer program that required me to manually input weekly stats and had to print out summary packets each week to deliver to league owners at the bowling alley. I loved it. Stats and numbers and the competitiveness of being "right" about players was just an incredible high that not many other activities or hobbies have ever provided me. Around 2005 we migrated to the CBS sports site. I found a new love then, writing about our league. Each year after the draft I would "grade" each owner's team. It became almost as anticipated as the draft itself. Also, most weeks I'd recap the league's games and criticize start/sits while boasting my own accolades as long as I won that week. Dynasty, IDP & Superflex are the next evolutions in my fantasy football journey. I'm a Philly suburbs guy, GO BIRDS. Follow me on Twitter @dynastysanta
  • Back to top