At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot to be thankful for in IDP leagues in 2016. The top end of the preseason rankings look worse than a department store after a Black Friday sale.
The latest star player to fall victim to the destruction this year is Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. For most of the season, Kuechly has done exactly what we expected him to – gobble up tackles like we’ll be doing with mashed potatoes later this week.
And gravy, of course.
Must have gravy.
But now, after sustaining a scary-looking concussion in last week’s win over the New Orleans Saints – his second in as many seasons – Kuechly’s status for the fantasy playoffs is very much in doubt.
Get well soon, Luke – the NFL is more fun with you flying around it on Sundays.
Still, scattered among the disappointments have been pleasant surprises. Defensive end Leonard Williams of the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander and New York Giants safety Landon Collins have all exceeded expectations in a big way. Collins is the top IDP overall in many scoring systems.
I’d say these youngsters are the defensive stars of tomorrow, but for IDP owners they’re already stars. They’ve helped position many a fantasy squad for a playoff spot as we head into the last couple weeks of the regular season.
For many fantasy owners the playoffs are essentially already here. One more loss any hopes of a championship will be left in tattered crumbs – just like Grandma’s apple pie.
OK – so maybe that was a reach – as in reaching across the table for that gravy I mentioned.
With that terrible metaphor still ringing in your ears let’s feast all the IDP information you need in Week 12 with a look around IDP Nation.
WEEK 11 IDP BEASTS
Jason Pierre-Paul – DE, New York Giants: It’s been a quiet year from Pierre-Paul sacks-wise, although his tackle production has kept him in the DL2 conversation. Sunday’s win over the Chicago Bears served up a heaping portion of both – five total tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Malcolm Smith – LB, Oakland Raiders: Like Pierre-Paul, Smith hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in his second year with the Silver and Black. Too bad all his games aren’t in Mexico City – his 10 tackle performance capped off with an athletic interception may have been his best outing of the season.
Kurt Coleman – DB, Carolina Panthers: Look Ma – recurring themes! Coleman hasn’t backed up last year’s career numbers in 2016, but his big showing against the New Orleans Saints continued a hot streak that makes the veteran worth an add if he’s on your league’s waiver wire.
WEEK 11 IDP LEASTS
Robert Ayers – DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: In Week 10, Ayers was one of the highest scoring linemen in IDP. Fantasy owners who rolled the dice on two big games in a row came up snake-eyes – Ayers had only a single assist in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Elandon Roberts – ILB, New England Patriots: So much for Roberts being a potential waiver steal as the replacement for Jamie Collins. The rookie played well less than half the snaps against the San Francisco, posting a whopping one assist.
Jason McCourty – CB, Tennessee Titans: McCourty’s Week 11 dud is an object lesson in why cornerbacks can’t be trusted in IDP leagues. Despite the fact he’s been one of fantasy’s highest-scoring corners in 2016 McCourty managed only a single solo in a favorable matchup with the Colts.
WEEK 12 IDP INJURY REPORT
Mario Addison – DE, Carolina Panthers (Foot): Addison had two sacks against the Saints and has emerged as the Panthers’ best pass-rusher in 2016. He also hurt his foot late, is in a protective boot and is expected to be sidelined at least two weeks.
Connor Barwin – DE, Philadelphia Eagles (Leg): Barwin is dealing with a bone bruise suffered last week against the Seattle Seahawks. Head coach Doug Pederson indicated that Barwin should play in Week 12, but his snaps could be scaled back.
http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/5530/Michael-Bennetthttp://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/1157/Michael-Bennetthttp://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/11192/Michael-BennettMichael Bennett – DE, Seattle Seahawks (Knee): There was a lot of buzz that Bennett would play last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he wound up sitting again. Even if he does play Sunday, Bennett will all but surely be on a snap count given how long he’s been out.
Robert Blanton – S, Buffalo Bills (Foot): Blanton’s Week 11 goose-egg can’t be totally blamed on injury, as he didn’t go down until late in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals. However, the Bills were quick to say Blanton will probably sit this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jerrell Freeman – ILB, Chicago Bears (SUSPENSION): As if IDP owners and the Bears didn’t have enough problems this late in the year, Freeman went and got himself a four-week league mandated vacation for violating the PED policy. He’s eligible to return in Week 16.
Clayton Geathers – S, Indianapolis Colts (Concussion): Geathers is in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Given that the Colts play in the Thanksgiving nightcap, odds are very good that it will be T.J. Green making the start at strong safety.
Luke Kuechly – LB, Carolina Panthers (Concussion): The sight of a sobbing Kuechly on the field was sobering, and he’s already seen a concussion specialist. I’d be shocked if he plays in Week 12, and wouldn’t be all that surprised if he’s shut down for the season if the Panthers lose.
Blake Martinez – ILB, Green Bay Packers (Knee): Martinez is expected to be sidelined 2-4 weeks after spraining his MCL in Sunday night’s loss at Washington With Jake Ryan similarly banged up, youngster http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/4152/Joe-ThomasJoe Thomas becomes an interesting plug-and-play waiver add.
Tyrann Mathieu – DB, Arizona Cardinals (Shoulder): After rumbles that Mathieu would return last week against the Minnesota Vikings he wound up sitting out. Given the layoff, he’ll be hard to trust in lineups Sunday even if he does return for the now-desperate Redbirds.
Eric Reid – S, San Francisco 49ers (Arm): Reid suffered a season-ending torn biceps late in last week’s loss to the New England Patriots. With Reid on the shelf, second-year pro Jaquiski Tartt will slot in at safety opposite Antoine Bethea.
Aqib Talib – CB, Denver Broncos (Back): The Bradley Roby IDP gravy train appears to have derailed. Coming off the bye week Talib was a full participant in Broncos practice, signaling that he should return this week against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mario Williams – DE, Miami Dolphins (Ankle): “Super Mario” has been anything but this season, and now he’s banged up to boot. After missing last week’s butt-ugly win over the even uglier Rams, Williams is an iffy bet to return in Week 12.
Shawn Williams – S, Cincinnati Bengals (Hamstring): Williams was forced from last week’s devastating loss to the Bills with a bum hammy, but reports from the Queen City indicate that he should be back on the field for the Bengals in Week 12.
THE TURKEY DAY PLUG-AND-PLAY WAIVER DRUMSTICK OF THE WEEK
Tavon Wilson – S, Detroit Lions (vs. MIN)
Marcas Grant of NFL.com recently touted Wilson’s prospects against the Vikings on Thanksgiving. “Wilson is among the Lions’ tackle leaders this season -- which isn’t the greatest news for Detroit’s defense, but that’s a different conversation. Regardless, look for Wilson to see plenty of action this week against the Vikings,” he wrote. “Minnesota struggles to run the ball with any real success and doesn’t exactly employ a downfield passing game. This should play right into the hands of a playmaking safety who roams all over the field.”
Quite literally everything he said. Wilson’s been hot of late for the Lions, with 13 stops and a pick over his last two games. One of those games was an eight-solo effort against the Vikings a few weeks ago. Plus, Thanksgiving is more fun when relatives look at you funny as you cheer a solo tackle from a player they have never heard of on a team you couldn’t care less about.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 12
Adrian Clayborn – DE, Atlanta Falcons (vs. AZ): Clayborn’s been all over the place of late, with a pair of big games followed by a goose-egg and then the bye week. Sunday’s matchup with the Cardinals is as good as they get for defensive linemen this year.
Timmy Jernigan – DE, Baltimore Ravens (vs. CIN): The Bengals have all sorts of issues right now, among them an offensive line allowing the most fantasy points per game in the AFC to defensive linemen, That’s good news for Jernigan in Week 12.
Cameron Jordan – DE, New Orleans Saints (vs. LA): There isn’t much not to like about this game. A consistent fantasy producer facing a green as green can be rookie quarterback playing behind a sketchy offensive line.
Vontaze Burfict – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals (at BAL): Burfict’s been an absolute monster for the Bengals of late, and that rampage should continue Sunday against a Ravens team allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to linebackers in 2016.
Lawrence Timmons – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (at IND): Thursday’s nightcap should be a fantasy feast for both Timmons and Ryan Shazier – no team in the NFL has been kinder to linebackers this season than the Colts. Anyone want dessert?
Tahir Whitehead – ILB, Detroit Lions (vs. MIN): Whitehead faceplanted in a good matchup last week, but a second straight dud is unlikely. In their Week 9 meeting with the Vikings, Whitehead led the Lions in both solos and total tackles.
T.J. McDonald – S, Los Angeles Rams (at NO): There are some constants this time of year. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Cranberry sauce. And the Saints giving up fantasy points by the bucketful in the secondary.
Keanu Neal – S, Atlanta Falcons (vs. AZ): Outside of the fantasy points juggernaut that is Landon Collins there isn’t a DB I like more this week than Neal going up against an Arizona squad allowing the most fantasy points per game to defensive backs.
Deshawn Shead – CB, Seattle Seahawks (at TB): There hasn’t been a more consistent fantasy defensive back in Seattle this year than Shead. This week he gets the goldmine that has been covering the NFL’s most targeted receiver (Mike Evans) in 2016.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 12
Marcell Dareus – DT, Buffalo Bills (vs. JAX): Dareus appears healthy, and it appears counter-intuitive that the Jaguars and their shaky o-line would be a bad matchup up front. And yet they are, and have been all season – 31st in fantasy points allowed.
Kony Ealy – DE, Carolina Panthers (at OAK): With Mario Addison on the shelf, both Ealy and http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/8615/Charles-JohnsonCharles Johnson will see a bump in workload Sunday – but that bump comes against a Raiders team that’s a fantasy wasteland for opposing defensive linemen.
Leonard Williams – DE, New York Jets (vs. NE): Williams is a hard guy to sit in 2016, but I don’t know that he filed the required paperwork with the NFL 10 business days in advance so that he can verbally request permission to sack Tom Brady Sunday. Rules are rules.
De’Vondre Campbell – OLB, Atlanta Falcons (vs. AZ): In their last game, both Campbell and Deion Jones saw their workloads decrease. Add a rotten fantasy matchup for linebackers with the Cardinals, and there’s ample reason to leave Campbell on the bench this week.
Jordan Hicks – ILB, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. GB): After an awful start to the season Hicks has redeemed himself a bit of late, but it’s been nigh impossible for linebackers to generate big tackle numbers this year against a non-existent Packers ground game.
Avery Williamson – ILB, Tennessee Titans (at CHI): Williamson has been a solid and consistent fantasy producer this year, but Week 12 sets up to be a stinker. The Bears rank dead last in fantasy points per game surrendered to linebackers this season.
Chris Conte – S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. SEA): Conte’s coming off a huge game against the Kansas City Chiefs that included a pick-six. Don’t expect the veteran to buck a bad matchup two weeks in a row – and the Seahawks are a bad matchup.
http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/4322/Harrison-SmithHarrison Smith – S, Minnesota Vikings (at DET): There isn’t a team in the NFL allowing fewer fantasy points per game to defensive backs this season than the Lions. Smith’s five solos against them in Week 9 weren’t awful – but they weren’t great either.
Kenny Vaccaro – S, New Orleans Saints (vs. LA): It’s entirely possible that by the time Sunday rolls around the appeal of Vaccaro’s four-game suspension will have been heard. Even if Vaccaro wins, he’s apt to have a down Week 12 against the putrid Rams offense.
THE SCRAP-HEAP STREAMING CORNERBACK PLAY OF THE WEEK
In recent years the number of dependable weekly fantasy starters at the cornerback position has dwindled to just about zero. So as a service to those hearty souls who play in IDP leagues that require them, each week I’ll point out a player at that position available in many leagues who should serve as a fine streaming option.
Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo Bills (vs. JAX): Gilmore is coming off easily his best game of the season, a six-tackle, two-pick explosion against the Cincinnati Bengals. Those numbers are going to be awfully hard to repeat, but the table’s set for another good game. Among AFC teams, Blake and Bortle-ettes have served up the most fantasy points to cornerbacks this season.
