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Welcome to "The Monster" Week 16, now in audio format!
This will be the final edition of the audio monster for this season.
We don't do Week 18 title games around these parts, too many unknown variables. The vast majority of leagues will be wrapped up after Week 17. The information from this Week 16 edition should have you all prepared for those Week 17 title games.
If you need individual support reach out to me on Twitter or use our site slack chat or forum for help with any week 18 title game needs. Good luck!
The Full Monster
New for Week 16, scroll down the article and get every matchup as an audio clip. Each clip is between 10-15 minutes long. 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 16, Questions and Answers
(The complete audio is above, and is also available on the IDP Guys podcast feed.)
Thursday Night Football
Niners at Titans
The Questions
Heading into the start of week 16 there were several important questions for both of these IDP defenses. For the Niners would we get either Dre Greenlaw (LB) or Azeez Al Shaair (LB) back in the lineup this week and if so what would that look like? Is K'Wuan Williams (CB) still the best cornerback option beyond Josh Norman (CB) for the 49ers streaming corner options?
And for the Titans, last week saw a brand new circus at inside linebacker with the rotting corpse of Zach Cunningham (LB) rising out of the grave to destroy our Jayon Brown (LB) shares, how did that look this week, and are any of them options for fantasy playoffs with the new order of operations?
Also, Jackrabbit Jenkins (CB) returned from injury but hasn't seen full playing time yet, was he able to return to form and his typical playing time this week? Plenty of good stuff to answer in this one.
The Answers
Saturday Games
Browns at Packers
The Questions
For the Covid-ravaged Browns, we'll see how things look this week and who we get back from the Covid IR but the main questions remain the same as they have the majority of this season, how did the Anthony Walker (LB) and Jeremiah Owusu Koramoah (LB) playing time split look and was Myles Garrett (DE) able to play and continue his DPOY campaign?
For the Packers, most things are set in stone but there are rumors of an imminent Jaire Alexander (CB) return and Za'Darius Smith (OLB) even has a projection in the next week or two in some places, are either of those options realistic to get before fantasy playoffs are said and done or just the IDP version of the Cam Akers (RB) pipe dream?
The Answers
Colts at Cardinals
The Questions
What we have here are two extremely stable and set-in-stone IDP defenses with very few moving pieces. Thankfully both have been spared from the cold grasp of the Covid IR demons but we'll make sure everything looks good for both this week as we glove up and inspect the inner workings of both these defenses.
Perhaps this was the perfect matchup for a Budda Baker (S) resurgence as well with a real offense in the building? We shall see.
The Answers
Sunday Afternoon Games
Lions at Falcons
The Questions
We've got many questions for the Lions inside linebacker situation, with Josh Woods (LB) and Alex Anzalone (LB) both injured and unavailable and Jalen Reeves Maybin (LB) banged up all week how did this play out? Was it Derrick Barnes's (LB) time to shine or did we get a repeat of last week with Jalen Reeves Maybin (LB) leading the way and Barnes taking a secondary role?
Beyond that, there isn't a ton going on for the Lions except awaiting the return of Tracy Walker (S) and confirming that we are still getting Dean Marlowe (S) snaps and production. For the Falcons nothing changes most weeks but we did lose Eric Harris (S) and have him replaced by Jaylinn Hawkins (S) in week 15, did that take?
If so, how much did Hawkins play this week, and was the production worth the squeeze? Have a listen and we'll find out together.
The Answers
Ravens at Bengals
The Questions
For the Ravens we've seen a resurgence of sorts for Patrick Queen (LB) recently both in terms of production and playing time, will that trend continue this week? Beyond that, not a ton going on these days for the Ravens, they've lost players and we've found their replacements. Nothing to see here.
As for the Bengals however, we had a pretty big shakeup at cornerback with the return of Trae Waynes (CB) last week and have yet to see the order of operations when he's healthy and playing along with Chidobe Awuzie (LB), Eli Apple (CB) AND Mike Hilton (CB). Someone is going to lose snaps, this could be the week where we find out who that is.
Beyond that will Germaine Pratt (LB) continue to be the Logan Wilson (LB) replacement for another week and was Sam Hubbard (DE) able to produce for us this week after a quiet Week 15?
The Answers
Rams at Vikings
The Questions
With Troy Reeder (LB) being healthy and activated off the Covid list this week will once again give us an opportunity to find out if we can really trust Ernest Jones (LB) or if the shenanigans and fluctuation will continue at inside linebacker for the Rams. Beyond that, this defense is set in stone.
For the Vikings, we haven't seen a ton of movement lately as well but we'll check in on the cornerback corps now that Bashaud Breeland (CB) was airlocked and released for fighting his own teammates at practice and check on the usual suspects as well. Not a ton to see here except the Ernest Jones (LB) information.
The Answers
Bills at Patriots
The Questions
These two defenses could not be any more opposite, the Bills are the model of stability for defense running the same schemes with the same players all season long. There is nothing to see with them at all unless the injury grim reaper strikes or his cousin the Covid IR pirate makes an appearance.
As for the Patriots however beyond the select few everything changes every week, we'll take a look at Kyle Dugger (S), JC Jackson (CB), and Matt Judon (EDGE) but beyond that fluctuation is the name of the game for this defense.
The Answers
Jaguars at Jets
The Questions
With Reshape (Reyshawn) Jenkins (S) going to IR did this open the door for an Andre Cisco (S) appearance in the final few weeks of the season? We shall see. Other than that however there hasn't been much movement here recently but with Josh Allen (DE) out on Covid IR we'll see who got the bump in snaps with his absence.
Over in New York, we've got a banged-up CJ Mosley (LB) and we saw Elijah Riley (S) exit the game with a severe concussion last week so we'll check on those two and confirm that Quincy Williams (LB) hasn't gotten the rug pulled out from under him and beyond that we should be looking good for our Jets options besides the usual Covid IR shenanigans.
The Answers
Giants at Eagles
The Questions
The Giants secondary as of late has been shredded and battered much like my toosh after eating Chipotle for dinner two nights in a row, were they able to get key members of our streaming corner corps back like Adoree Jackson (CB) or Aaron Robinson (CB)?
For the Eagles, I saw that Davion Taylor (LB) could be returning from the short-term IR as soon as week 17, does that mean our time with Alex Singleton (LB) is once again at an end? We'll follow up on that thread and see if there's a chance we get the rug pulled out from under us championship week in regards to our Singleton shares. That's about it for these two squads currently.
The Answers
Bucs at Panthers
The Questions
With late news that Antoine Winfield Jr (S) was inactive this week we'll dive into the safety situation here in Tampa Bay and see who the backup is and also confirm that Kevin Minter (LB) did in fact replace Lavonte David (LB) this week but other than that we are looking good for our Bucs options.
Over on the Panthers, we're running out of time to find another corner option beyond a very bland Stephon Gilmore (CB). And was Shaq Thompson (LB) able to rebound from his dreadful week 15 production? We shall see on all accounts when we go over this one with a fine-tooth comb.
The Answers
Chargers at Texans
The Questions
For the Chargers the only big news this week was missing Joey Bosa (DE) so we'll determine who saw the bump or was the replacement for him this week just in case we need that information for the title game. Other than that we'll check on Derwin James (S) and see how the hamstring is doing and if he was able to go this week after ten days of rest.
For the Texans this team was down over twenty players to Covid going into this one if I recall correctly, there will be strange names everywhere but we'll concentrate on the inside linebackers since that's where the value is and see if my prediction of Desmond King (CB) and Tavierre Thomas (CB) being two of the more solid corner streaming options this week.
The Answers
Bears at Seahawks
The Questions
With the return of a healthy and always productive Roqan Smith (LB) we've avoided the biggest issue for the Bears IDP production this week. Then, we'll check in on old man Robert Quinn (OLB) and his quest to upset TJ Watt (OLB) as the sacks leader this season and give the corners a once over as well with the recent uncertainty there.
For the Seahawks, everything is pretty stable but we'll see how the usual suspects did and see if Carlos Dunlap's (DE) three-sack performance in week 15 was enough to move him out of the rotation and into a safer role in terms of weekly playing time. Other than that, not a ton to see here for the Seahawks.
The Answers
Steelers at Chiefs
The Questions
For the Steelers we'll check in on Joe Schobert (LB) after the strangeness that was the initial series last week where he was displaced by Robert Spillane (LB) for some unknown reason and confirm he's still alive, kicking and playing around 80% of snaps per game.
Beyond that we'll give both of these defenses a good once over but not a ton has changed for either team in regards to their known and relied upon IDP options in many weeks now, corners not included but most of you don't come here for that anyway. We'll see whatever there is to see.
The Answers
Broncos at Raiders
The Questions
The Broncos IDP options are pretty stable currently but with a late-week illness (supposedly non-Covid) for Baron Browning (LB) we've got some uncertainty in that department, we'll see how that shook out and if Bradley Chubb (OLB) was able to finally get his season started for Denver this week.
As for the Raiders, we've got massive movement for the inside linebackers with Cory Littleton (LB) being displaced (according to beat writers) by Devine Deablo (LB/S) who himself suffered a shoulder injury last week, speaking of shoulder injuries we also just lost Jonathan Abram (S) for the season so we'll see who replaced him and if Denzel Perryman (LB) was able to play as well.
Tons of shenanigans for the Raiders options this week we'll try and make some sense of it all.
The Answers
Sunday Night Football
Football Team at Cowboys
The Questions
Washington came into this one down Cole Holcomb (LB) due to Covid so we should have, in theory, gotten a large dose of Jamin Davis (LB) in a prime matchup against the Cowboys offense in their own building (where it's a much different beast), we'll see if that was the case indeed and check how Kamren Curl (S) did in his return this week also.
For the Cowboys, things are pretty settled but we'll see if Micah Parsons (LB) bounced back from his slow production week against the Giants and who the Jourdan Lewis (CB) replacement was at corner and unless the injury grim reaper strikes that should be plenty for this week.
The Answers
Monday Night Football
Dolphins at Saints
The Questions
For Miami we got the return of Branden Jones (S) last week sending Eric Rowe (S) back to the bench or far less than ideal playing time, we'll confirm that held firm against the Saints and check in on Jevon Holland (S) who came off the Covid IR list in time to bail many of us out after a week of many IDP relevant safeties getting axed by the 'Rona.
For the Saints, we lost DeMario Davis (LB) also to Covid IR so did that mean we got Pete Werner (LB) again or someone else this time around? And who was the Malcolm Jenkins (S) replacement with him suffering the same fate as Davis as well this week?
Some decent questions to answer here that could line us up for some options if we need them in our title games assuming we don't get some of these guys back in time.
The Answers
Closing thoughts
Thank you again for reading and listening all season. We got through another wild one and hopefully, you got a title or two in the end. We'll be back next season in some form or another that's for sure. Have a great offseason and may the fantasy gods be merciful to us all this week.
Follow me on Twitter @Orangeman3142 and all our writers on our entire team as well. @JoeyTheToothIDP, @seahawksdan8, @HollywoodTitan, @ZMagsIDP, @Lanny1925, @IDP_Dude, @KBellf54, @ONUtyjo, @ejh1528IDP, @FF_Banterman, @BiddycentFF, @FFIDP_Jase, and many many newer writers for all your FF needs.
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Other IDP Guys Resources
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