Welcome to the IDP Guys’ weekly IDP game reviews and IDP waiver wire! Our team has broken down each game and the IDP takeaways for the most relevant IDP players and gives you IDP waiver wire pickup suggestions. May the fantasy gods be forever in your favor!
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Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
by Bryan Hess (@BryanRHess)
Minnesota Vikings IDP Stats, Snap Counts, and Scores
*All scoring from the IDP Invitational Charity League
IDP Takeaways Minnesota Vikings
Danielle Hunter has solidified himself as a must-start player every week. Over the first two weeks, he has been on the field for an impressive 89% of snaps and serves as the backbone of the Minnesota Vikings' defense, amassing a total of 15 combined tackles along with 4 sacks.
After a disappointing Week 1, Jordan Hicks made a strong comeback in Week 2. He participated in 94% of snaps and recorded 9 combined tackles, including 1 for a loss. Stick with him as a fringe LB1/solid LB2 option.
Camryn Bynum showcased his prowess in the secondary, acting as a one-man wrecking crew. During this week, he notched an impressive 15 combined tackles with 1 tackle for loss. Notably, he played in 100% of snaps and has arguably eclipsed Harrison Smith as the go-to defensive back on the Minnesota team.
IDP Waiver Wire Minnesota Vikings
For those in shallower leagues, keep an eye out for Camryn Bynum. If he's still available after Week 1, he's definitely worth adding to your roster, given his impressive 25 tackles over the first two weeks.
In deeper leagues, consider giving Ivan Pace a look. He was on the field for 79% of snaps in Week 2 (up from 68% last week) and has accumulated 16 tackles along with half a sack over two weeks.
Harrison Phillips is another player to watch in deeper leagues. Through two weeks, he has posted 21 tackles, half a sack, and defended one pass. If he continues to put up these numbers, he might even warrant consideration in shallower leagues
Josh Metellus remains a solid DB3/strong DB4 option and is challenging Harrison Smith as the #2 fantasy DB to own on the Vikings.
Philadephia Eagles IDP Stats, Snap Counts, and Scores
*All scoring from the IDP Invitational Charity League
IDP Takeaways Philadelphia Eagles
The burning question on everyone's mind is: Where is the Haason Reddick from 2022? Last year's sack leader for the Eagles has only contributed one assisted tackle in the stat column over the past two weeks. Could this decline be attributed to the thumb surgery he underwent during the offseason, or are we witnessing a genuine regression in his performance? At present, I'm opting to hold onto Reddick but keeping a close eye on him as a potential candidate for removal from my roster.
One of the brightest spots for the Eagles has undeniably been the performance of their secondary, led by Darius Slay. In Week 1, Slay accumulated 3 total tackles, snagged 1 interception that he returned for a touchdown, and defended 3 passes – a stellar display. He continued to impress in Week 2, recording 6 tackles and defending 1 pass. Additionally, in the secondary, Justin Evans has showcased his skills. Over the course of two weeks, he has amassed 10 total tackles, forced 1 fumble, recovered 1 fumble, and defended 1 pass.
On the defensive line for the Eagles, Josh Sweat and Jordan Davis have been standout performers. Sweat has notched 3 total tackles, forced 1 fumble, registered 1.5 sacks, and defended 1 pass across the first two weeks. Davis, on the other hand, has contributed 8 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, forced 1 fumble, and secured 1.5 sacks. Quarterbacks lining up against these two DL players have likely been plagued by nightmares!
Zach Cunningham has emerged as a dominant force at linebacker (LB) this season. Over two weeks, he has amassed an impressive 12 total tackles, including 1 tackle for loss, and recovered 1 fumble, consistently delivering double-digit fantasy points each week.
IDP Waiver Wire Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have been grappling with their fair share of injuries on the defensive front. One significant setback was the injury sustained by Nakobe Dean in Week 1, which led to his placement on injured reserve. In response, the Eagles reacquired Nicholas Morrow, who could be a valuable addition. Morrow saw action in 95% of the snaps in Week 2 and contributed 3 tackles along with a crucial fumble recovery. While these numbers may not be outstanding, his statistics could improve as he continues to see significant playing time.
James Bradberry was notably absent in Week 2, paving the way for Josh Jobe to step in and deliver a commendable performance with 6 total tackles. Now, with Avonte Maddox potentially out for the season due to injury, Jobe might find himself in a more prominent role in the secondary. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold, but Jobe could be a player worth monitoring closely.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths) & Brittney Foxworth (@bfoxworth07)
Baltimore Ravens IDP Stats, Snap Counts, and Scores
*All scoring from the IDP Invitational Charity League
IDP Takeaways Baltimore Ravens
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths)
The Ravens' Defense is for real. It’s like night and day from last year. This pass rush did not generate any sacks but its presence was there and took the Bengals passing game off rhythm. That is because a new and improved defensive line was able to penetrate and get to Joe Burrow.
The linebacker combo of Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen remains solid as ever, both had 99% of the snap share or greater. Meanwhile, the secondary stepped up in this game, with safety Geno Stone, who filled in for the injured Marcus Williams, making an interception and providing 8 tackles. The resurgence on defense and the brilliant playcalling were more than enough to take down the Bengals.
by Brittney Foxworth (@bfoxworth07)
The Raven's defense, although not an inspiring performance for fantasy, got the win this week against the Bengals in Week 2. They forced the game's only turnover, a third-quarter end zone interception by safety Geno Stone, and were able to limit Ja'Marr Chase's production; however, Tee Higgins didn't get the memo. The Ravens still got that win and now move to 2-0 as they take on the 1-1 Indianapolis Colts in Week 3. Pay attention to injury alerts for Colt's QB Anthony Richardson as he exited the game with a concussion, as this could have major implications in your waiver wire and start/sit decisions this week.
Geno Stone stepping in and stepping up.
Let's start with that interception. Down by a field goal, with the only points coming from a special teams kickoff return, Joe Burrow finally got the momentum going as he marched his offense down to the red zone. Raven's safety Geno Stone, who stepped in for injured Marcus Williams, had other plans. Knowing the Ravens needed a big play, Stone delivered and intercepted a pass intended for Tee Higgins in the end-zone. He also registered a team-high of 9 tackles on the night, thus further solidifying his spot on this roster and in your lineups.
Safety Marcus Williams is not going to IR for his pectoral injury, so expect him back in the next couple of weeks. Williams is someone to keep an eye on. However, I don't expect the Ravens to rush him back too soon with how well the defense runs without him and the performance of his stand-in Geno Stone.
Even though Roquan Smith didn't have nearly the week he did Week 1, he's still a stud, and there's really nothing else to say but to buckle up; elite production will return—no need to panic. His fantasy production this week isn't showcasing his contribution in holding off the Bengals or what he is about to do in these coming weeks.
Patrick Queen looked like a rocket as he tripped up Trayveon Williams from behind on a 3rd down and laid a hit on Lamar Jackson as well. With 8 tackles this week, Queen is a solid option weekly.
Kyle Hamilton had another uneventful day after seeing fewer snaps this week than last and only racking up 4 tackles.
Brandon Stephens snaps back to reality.
Only 4 tackles this week for Brandon Stephens, even with Marlon Humphrey out; if you picked him up last week, he's droppable this week as Humphrey will be back sooner than later. His Week 1 performance looks more like a fluke than an actual thing.
IDP Waiver Wire Baltimore Ravens
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths)
Geno Stone has had two strong games now, playing for an injured Marcus Williams, who has no timetable to come back yet. Definitely worth the look if you are someone looking to punt DB.
Newcomer Jadeveon Clowney could be played in deeper leagues as he 78% of the snaps and generated 3 solos and 1 asst.
Another deep waiver claim could be Ar'Darius Washington, as he looks to be the starting slot corner now.
by Brittney Foxworth (@bfoxworth07)
Last week, Ar'Darius Washington had 6 tackles and 1 sack. This week, he broke up a pass and had five tackles. He also saw an increase in snaps from 73% to 95%.
Jadeveon Clowney clowned us all. After an unimpressive Week 1, Clowney looked much more lively, recording 4 tackles this week and 1 sack. Keep an eye on Clowney if you don't want the joke to be on you.
Odafe Oweh suffered a sprained ankle, which took him off the field. Although the Ravens have deemed it not too serious, it is something to monitor. With Oweh hurt, David Ojabo saw a snap increase of 48% to 70%. Monitor this in deeper leagues, especially if any news on Oweh's trends negatively.
Cincinnati Bengals IDP Stats, Snap Counts, and Scores
*All scoring from the IDP Invitational Charity League
IDP Takeaways Cincinnati Bengals
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths)
It's hard to take positives out of two huge losses now. In this one, the Ravens never trailed or were behind, this was because of how well the Ravens dominated on defense. On the Bengals' positive side, we could say the offensive line did a good job of making sure no one got to Joe Burrow but still a lot can be done here. D.J. Reader posed a significant challenge for the Ravens' offensive line, creating disruptions most of the game. This one was lost mostly on the Bengals' offensive woes.
by Brittney Foxworth (@bfoxworth07)
The curse of the Cincinnati Bengal's slow start to the season strikes again as they fall 0-2 for another year in a row, but this time, both losses occurred to divisional rivals. We saw a less-than-stellar fantasy performance by Sam Hubbard (4 tackles), but others on the defense stepped up in a big way, even in this loss.
Daxton Hill continues to shine in sophomore performance.
Leading the team with 11 tackles, Daxton Hill should be rostered everywhere and showing the league why he was a first-round pick in 2022. He had a big knockaway against Mark Andrews, where he looked really good on the coverage and also could be seen putting pressuring and getting in the face of Lamar. Hill is a strong option in IDP. If he was overlooked last week, you can capitalize now.
Germaine Pratt's usage increases.
If you watched our start/sit show Sunday morning, you saw how many Germaine Pratt questions we answered on air. Guess what? He was our pick nearly every time. Nine tackles this week, and seeing his usage increase even more from an 89% to 95% snap count in Week 2, Pratt is a locked-in start who we hope you grabbed off the waivers when he was available last week. Hopefully, he can nab a turnover like in Week 1 and bolster an even better performance. Expect Germaine Pratt on the attack against the Colts in Week 3.
Logan Wilson is nasty.
Ten tackles this week for LB Logan Wilson, with 7 being solo. Wilson was out there for 99% of the defensive snaps. He isn't coming off the field. I don't know if you saw the choke slam he laid on Odell Beckham Jr., but your boy is NASTY. Even on the next play, you could hear the hit to Justice Hill on the goal line. He makes his presence felt, but his biggest issue is that he needs to be faster in covering mobile QBs like Lamar. Although Lamar didn't see many designed runs, Wilson seemed slow trying to get to him when he did scramble. Wilson is still a solid start every week.
Trey Hendrickson did barely anything with the Bengals struggling defensively. He did see an increase in snaps from 59 to 71 %.
IDP Waiver Wire Cincinnati Bengals
by Steve Hungarter (@TheBroNamaths)
Germaine Pratt is a huge waiver wire pickup of the week. He is usually regarded as an LB2 who will have big LB1 weeks for you. Rosters in 24% of leagues, scoop him up wherever he is available.
Daxton Hill has been as dominant as any DB this season so far. Producing 17 tackles, and 1 INT, he is worth a pickup in all leagues.
by Brittney Foxworth (@bfoxworth07)
Nick Scott dealing with a concussion. Scott had 9 tackles before suffering a concussion; Jordan Battle replaces him while he's out but should be left on waivers.
CB Cam Taylor-Britt saw 99% saw of the snaps again. Taylor-Britt had a few nice plays on Lamar and 5 tackles this week. He is worth an add in deeper CB-required leagues starting two or more CBs.
Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by Matt Record (@MRecord21)
Chicago Bears IDP Stats, Snap Counts, and Scores
*All scoring from the IDP Invitational Charity League
IDP Takeaways Chicago Bears
We said it last week, and we’ll say it again: Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards need to be in your starting lineups wherever you have them! Nabbing 16 and 12 combined tackles respectfully, each of these players offers both the floor and ceilings you want in your starting lineup. Play them everywhere!
Jack Sanborn checked in with 56% of defensive snaps, which was nice to see! It’s not enough to warrant going out and playing him in your lineup, but it does prove to us that the Bears do value the young linebacker. He is but an injury away from being extremely fantasy-relevant again.
Yannick Ngakoue played a healthy 73% of defensive snaps but barely showed up on the stat sheet. This is common for edge rushers, so don’t be too alarmed by this outing. You shouldn’t be trusting Ngakoue to be anything more than your DL3, and you might consider someone else against the slippery Patrick Mahomes next week.
IDP Waiver Wire Chicago Bears
Greg Stroman had a big day, racking up 7 combined tackles. The defensive back did this on only 46% of defensive snaps played, so he shouldn’t be relied on in any format. Leave him on the waiver wire!
Tyrique Stevenson had a really nice day, racking up 7 combined tackles on 100% of defensive snaps played. This is a defensive back that should be on your radar, especially with a tasty matchup against the Chiefs on the docket next week and plenty of injuries to this CB (and S) room. Stream away!
Both Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker left this game early due to injuries, which can explain their disappointing IDP performances. Monitor their health in the coming week, as they are both must-starts when they are in the lineup. In line for increased snaps would presumably be Quindell Johnson and Elijah Hicks. I like Hicks a little more, but it’ll be hard to trust anyone until we see how the playtime shakes out.
