The actual DPOY has entered the building
Welcome to “The Monster” Week 14, now in audio format!
The Full Monster
New for Week 14, scroll down the article and get every matchup as an audio clip. Each clip is between 10-15 minutes long. We understand some miss the old written out Monster, and we hear you… Get just the matchup you want in smaller bites pulled from the podcast.
In The Monster, we 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. We’ll follow up on weird or iffy situations. I’ll get that information from beat writers and whatever else I can find to connect the dots.
We’ll also use sources such as PFF, NFLGSIS, Pro Football Reference, and smart people in the IDP community as well. This is the one place you can come every week to learn everything you need to know in regards to all things FFIDP. By the end of the audio, you’ll know what you need to make the best decisions for upcoming matchups.
IDP Analyst Super Squad
Between The Monster, @Mike_Woellert and his three-down linebacker article, listening to The IDP Show podcast, 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 Monster Week 14, Questions and Answers
(The complete audio is above, and is also available on the IDP Guys podcast feed.)
Thursday Night Football
Steelers at Vikings
The Questions
We entered week 14 with TJ Watt (EDGE) as the overall sack leader and with an inside track to DPOY, we left this game realizing once again that he’s made of glass and not all that reliable, availability is the best ability and Watt has been anything but available this season.
Yet another injury and yet another game of no return on investment, the injury to both Watt and Alex Highsmith (EDGE) are being described as “minor” and their opportunity to play next week looks decent but these two injuries were the main storyline from this one.
Beyond that, we’ll look everything over and confirm once more that when Eric Kendricks (LB) and Anthony Barr (LB) are healthy they are the two best inside linebacker options for the Vikings. Not a ton to see here but we’ll see what there is to see.
The Answers
Sunday Early Lineup
Ravens at Browns
The Questions
Going into this one we got an Anthony Walker (LB) inactive due to landing on the Covid IR, how did that affect the inside linebacker situation, and what role did Jacob Phillips (LB) play in this situation with him being healthy and available for the first time in a long time?
We also had a Ronnie Harrison (S) inactive, so did we get Grant Delpit (S) as the replacement as is tradition and how did Myles Garrett (DE), who is available and consistent, do this week?
As for the Ravens, we’ll check in on the Patrick Queen (LB) situation and see what their cornerback corps looks like now minus Marlon Humphrey (CB) as well as Marcus Peters (CB) from earlier this season. Plenty of good information to be had from this matchup.
The Answers
Jags at Titans
The Questions
Not a great matchup for real football but we’ll have some good information here with this one. With David Long (LB) and newly acquired Zach Cunningham (LB) both inactive this week did we see Rashaan Evans (LB) and Jayon Brown (LB) as is tradition or was it something new in Week 14?
How did the Titans cornerback corps look with the last-minute Jackrabbit Jenkins (CB) inactive? As for the Jags we’ll see what there is to see but this defense has been stable and boring the vast majority of this season and I expect nothing different this week.
The Answers
Raiders at Chiefs
The Questions
Heading into this one we were down Denzel Perryman (LB) and many scrambled to the waiver wire to add Devine Deablo (LB) so we’ll see how that worked out here, beyond that the cornerback corps may have seen a slight shakeup with the return of Trayvon Mullen (CB), so we’ll see what effect that had as well.
For the Chiefs, I fully expect to see a dumpster fire at inside linebacker and everything else to be set in stone but we’ll have a look-see and take advantage of anything new we find here with this one.
The Answers
Saints at Jets
The Questions
In yet another poopy 1 pm kickoff game, we’ll give these two horrendous teams a thorough inspection. For the Saints was it Kwon Alexander (LB) as the best option this week instead of Demario Davis (LB) and was Malcolm Jenkins (S) able to break out of his production slump?
Marcus Davenport (DE) was back and Cameron Jordan (DE) was inactive so we’ll see how that shook out as well.
For the Jets, we’ll see how the two IDP-relevant safeties did this week. Elijah Riley (S) has been heating up and his playing time is starting to match the production while Ashtyn Davis (S) has been playing every snap but not producing nearly as much. How did that shake out this week, and did the Fantasy Gods allow us another week of Quincy Williams (LB)? We shall see.
The Answers
Cowboys at Football Team
The Questions
This divisional matchup featured Jerry Jones (crazy owner) flying in his own benches in a pre-game slight of epic proportions. For the Cowboys we’ll see how that “other” inside linebacker slot panned out with both Randy Gregory (DE) and DeMarcus Lawrence (DE) healthy once more thereby allowing Micah Parsons (LB) to play more inside linebacker and less on the defensive line.
That’s not to say Parsons didn’t still rush the passer, he surely did, but with him more at linebacker, we’ll check and see if Keanu Neal (LB) or Leighton Vander Esch (LB) was able to play enough to be startable any time soon.
For Washington, we got Landon Collins (S) back this week so we’ll see how that affected Jamin Davis (LB) and his playing time, he’s been playing more linebacker recently and we saw a bump last week with Collins out for Davis. Beyond that, we’ll check out anything else of interest here and keep it moving.
The Answers
Falcons at Panthers
The Questions
These two defenses are pretty solid and set in stone but we’ll see what there is to see. Was Jeremy Chinn (S) able to continue his hot streak? How about Shaq Thompson (LB)?
For the Falcons, we’ll have a look at Deion Jones (LB), Foyesade Oluokun (LB), and AJ Terrell (CB) and get through the rest as quickly as humanly possible. Not a ton to see here but if it’s there we’ll see it.
The Answers
Seahawks at Texans
The Questions
In what’s becoming a theme for these early afternoon games we got another stinker here. For the Seahawks we’ll see how Ryan Neal (S) did in relief of the injured and done for the season, again, Jamal Adams (S). Beyond that most things are set in stone for Seattle.
As for the Texans, we’ll see how Kamu Grugier Hill (LB) did coming off his career performance last week and see what else there is to see here but there isn’t a ton going on with this matchup.
The Answers
Sunday Afternoon Lineup
Lions at Broncos
The Questions
For the Broncos this is probably Bradley Chubb‘s (OLB) best chance to jump-start his season so we’ll check in on him and see if the return from IR for Micah Kiser (LB) impacted either of the starting inside linebacker options here for the Broncos.
As for the Lions, without Tracy Walker (S), who was a Covid inactive, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin (LB), who is still recovering from the injury he sustained during the Thanksgiving game, we’ll see how those events impacted this defense and who the options are if those injuries and situations last more than just this week.
Beyond that not a ton to see here but we’ll give it a once over.
The Answers
Giants at Chargers
The Questions
Once again we’ve got two defenses that are pretty set in stone but with the last-minute inactive status for Derwin James (S), we’ll see who else got the start at safety for the Chargers and we’ll see how Joey Bosa (DE) did after that concussion scare last week.
For the Giants, we were once again without Adoree Jackson (CB) so we’ll see if it was Aaron Robinson (CB) once more or if we got something else this week. Those are the main storylines for this matchup but if the injury grim reaper strikes we’ll be ready with whatever waiver wire options emerge and will have those available for you for week 15.
The Answers
Niners at Bengals
The Questions
In the first of several excellent afternoon games, we got a pair of solid teams that both need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, for the Niners we’ll see how Fred Warner (LB) looks his first game back from injury and how Azeez Al Shaair (LB) looked beside him. After that, it’s just the usual suspects.
For the Bengals, they’ll be without Logan Wilson (LB) this week so we’ll look at how Germaine Pratt (LB) did in his absence and give everything else a good look-see as well. Not a ton of storylines here but there are many excellent IDP options between these two teams so I’m sure they’ll be good information to be had from this one.
The Answers
Bills at Buccaneers
The Questions
This game and the Monday night game are excellent. For the Bills we’ll see how Dane Jackson (CB) did in his relief of Tre’Davious White (CB) who is done for the year, he played 100% of snaps last week and this is a perfect matchup for him to shine, beyond that we’ll see what there is to see for the Bills.
As for the Bucs, they are without Jordan Whitehead (S) yet again this week so we’ll see who the replacement is and give everything else a thorough inspection as well. Plenty of IDP stars between these two defenses so let’s hope the injury grim reaper steers clear of this one.
The Answers
Sunday Night Football
Bears at Packers
The Questions
In what should be a lopsided affair we’ve got the haves and the have nots. For the Bears, we’ll check in on the usual suspects and zoom in on the second cornerback slot that’s been in flux recently but beyond that it’s pretty stable in Chicago.
For the Packers, we’ve got De’Vondre Campbell (LB) back from Covid IR so we’ll see how he did and report anything else of interest. Probably not a ton to see here in this one but we’ll find whatever is here of interest.
The Answers
Monday Night Football
Rams at Cardinals
The Questions
This game along with the Bills and Bucs are easily the games of the week. For the Rams this will give me a chance to test my theory that this will be a Troy Reeder (LB) week since they seem to favor him in terms of playing time and responsibilities on that defense when they play a “real” team and tend to leave Ernest Jones (LB) in more against cupcake opponents, we shall see.
Beyond that, we’ll check on the IDP relevant corners, Jalen Ramsey (CB) and Darious Williams (CB), in this beautiful matchup for them this week.
As for the Cardinals, we’ll see if Byron Murphy (CB) was able to play after being questionable all week and if Zach Allen (DE) can keep up the recent hot streak. This defense is a model of stability but we’ll pay close attention to this one.
The Answers
Closing thoughts
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