Chris

Hope

Jordan Babineaux will start in place of Hope, who sounds close to a return. Otherwise, the Titans are very healthy. Kenny Britt (hamstring) is ready to go and will be facing a Champ Bailey-less secondary.

HC Mike Munchak said Hope would “probably be available if we needed him,” but that the Titans are planning to err on the side of caution. Jordan Babineaux will again start in his place. If Hope has been dropped in your IDP league, he’ll certainly be worth adding once he gets back to 100 percent health.

The Titans didn’t exactly miss Hope the past two weeks. Jordan Babineaux was a plus in run defense while holding up fine in coverage. Under new coordinator Jerry Gray, the Titans are first in the NFL with 261.0 yards per game allowed through three weeks.

Jordan “Big Play Babs” Babineaux will continue to fill in for Hope at strong safety. The Titans are relatively healthy otherwise coming out of the bye week.

“We made more of an effort to get Chris in there,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said of Hope’s increased role against Buffalo in Week 13. Hope was credited with four tackles (all solo), while the starter Babineaux managed just two (one solo). This has become a situation to avoid in IDP leagues.

Hope returned last Sunday, but was limited to roughly 30 snaps. Coach Mike Munchak plans to go with a similar rotation in Week 11. Babineaux’s 61 tackles are second on the Titans.

“He is at a position where he could be worked in some plays,” said coach Mike Munchak. It sounds like Hope won’t necessarily get his starting job back from Jordan Babineaux, who’s racked up at least seven tackles in four straight games.

Jordan Babineaux will continue to fill in for Hope at strong safety. QB Rusty Smith, LB Colin McCarthy, C Kevin Matthews, T Byron Stingily, DT Zach Clayton, and DE William Hayes round out the list.

Hope, who turns 32 in September, recorded 25 tackles and one interception in 10 appearances with Tennessee last year, making two starts and losing his job to Jordan Babineaux. Though he’s clearly on the decline, Hope gives Atlanta experience at safety behind starters Thomas DeCoud and William Moore. He’ll likely compete with Shann Schillinger and rookie Charles Mitchell for two spots.

Jordan Babineaux will start in place of Hope while Dave Ball fills in for Hayes at defensive end. It will be interesting to see if Babineaux can keep the job with a strong performance. Lavelle Hawkins will take Williams’ spot as the third receiver, but he’s not a fantasy option.