Hard though it may be to believe, the regular season is already over in many IDP leagues.
Even in those leagues where there’s one week left there’s a playoff atmosphere in most cases. If you’re bothering to read this article and aren’t a complete IDP junkie (It’s OK if you are – we have a group that meets every other Thursday. Bring a snack. I like cake.) then you’ve reached the point in the year where your next defeat will be your last of 2017.
Lose another game, and the season is over. It’s time to peel off a winning streak – or else.
Unfortunately, circumstances aren’t making things any easier. There have already been plenty of injuries this season, just as there are in any other year. But in just the past week we saw a handful of prominent fantasy linebackers go down with injuries, whether it was Pittsburgh’s Ryan Shazier, Cincinnati’s Vontaze Burfict or Alec Ogletree of the Los Angeles Rams.
I’ll break down those injuries in a bit more detail in this week’s IDP Injury Report. But first, as a service to all those fantasy owners who suddenly have a hole at IDP’s most important position, we’ll kick off this week’s look around IDP Nation with an all-linebacker version of the IDP Waiver Wire.
WEEK 14 IDP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
Josh Bynes – ILB, Arizona Cardinals: Bynes has been solid in place of the injured Deone Bucannon, picking up 16 solos, a forced fumble and a pass defensed over the past two weeks – numbers that make Bynes a top-15 fantasy linebacker over that span.
Bryce Hager – ILB, Los Angeles Rams: Hager didn’t just take over for Alec Ogletree last week against the Arizona Cardinals. He also assumed defensive play-calling duties, which should portend a three-down role if Ogletree can’t go against the Eagles Sunday.
Antonio Morrison – ILB, Indianapolis Colts: Morrison’s had his ups and downs in his second NFL season, but he’s been on the field for 80+ percent of the snaps in most games and draws a top-five fantasy matchup in Week 14 with the Buffalo Bills.
WEEK 14 IDP INJURY REPORT
Adrian Amos – S, Chicago Bears (Questionable – Hamstring): Amos wasn’t able to go vs. the San Francisco 49ers with a pulled hamstring, so he should be considered a no-go until we see him back on the practice field.
Robert Ayers – DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Questionable – Concussion): Ayers has now missed two straight games since suffering a concussion in Week 11, and he won’t be able to return until he clears the league’s concussion protocol.
Zach Brown – ILB, Washington Redskins (Questionable – Foot): Brown’s been dealing with a number of injuries for several weeks now – injuries that appear to have affected his production. The latest is a foot injury that leaves Brown iffy for Week 14.
Deone Bucannon – S, Arizona Cardinals (Questionable – Ankle): Bucannon missed last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams after re-injuring his surgically-repaired ankle the week before. His status for Week 14 is unknown, but he’s the doubtful side of questionable.
Vontaze Burfict – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals (Questionable – Concussion): The peel-back block that knocked Burfict from Monday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers also landed him in the NFL’s concussion protocol with a short week to get cleared.
Trey Flowers – DE, New England Patriots (Questionable – Ribs): The good news is that Flowers gets an extra day to rest his sore ribs. The bad news is that we might not know about his Week 14 status until Monday afternoon. It’s the Patriots, after all.
Myles Garrett – DE, Cleveland Browns (Questionable – Ankle): Garrett wasn’t 100 percent in last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but he played through the injury, racking up four total tackles for the game.
B.J. Goodson – ILB, New York Giants (Questionable – Ankle): Assuming that Goodson gets some practice time in this week he should be set for a heavier workload Sunday after playing about half the defensive snaps against the Raiders in Week 13.
Cory James – ILB, Oakland Raiders (Questionable – Ankle): Given how Nicolas Morrow looked in place of an injured James last week, it’s entirely possible that James may not have a job to come back to once he’s healthy.
Marshon Lattimore – CB, New Orleans Saints (Questionable – Ankle): The Saints are banged up at cornerback, but Lattimore practiced on Tuesday and looks to be on track to return to action Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons.
Darron Lee – ILB, New York Jets (Coach’s Decision): Lee was a surprise scratch last week against the Chiefs for an unspecified violation of team rules. That adds some uncertainty to his availability for a must-win game for IDP owners in Week 14.
Sean Lee – OLB, Dallas Cowboys (Questionable – Hamstring): In a rare bit of good news among all the injuries at the linebacker position, it appears that Lee will return Sunday against the New York Giants after missing the Cowboys last three games.
Tyler Matakevich – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Questionable – Shoulder): Matakevich quickly racked up a handful of tackles after coming on for Ryan Shazier against the Bengals, but his Week 14 status is iffy after he left not long after with a shoulder injury of his own.
Alec Ogletree – ILB, Los Angeles Rams (Questionable – Elbow): Ogletree insisted after last week’s win that he will play Sunday against the Eagles, but he wouldn’t be the first player to offer an overly optimistic prognosis for his own injury. Monitor practice participation.
Jake Ryan – ILB, Green Bay Packers (Questionable – Neck): Ryan had seen enough of a bump in snaps (and production) to potentially merit some waiver wire consideration – right up until he injured his neck last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Logan Ryan – CB, Tennessee Titans (Questionable – Concussion): Ryan was forced from last week’s win over of the Houston Texans with a concussion and will have to clear protocol if he’s going to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Ryan Shazier – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Doubtful – Back): Shazier spent Monday and Tuesday night in a Cincinnati hospital after suffering what’s being called a spinal cord contusion. He should be OK eventually, but he may be out for a while.
Telvin Smith – OLB, Jacksonville Jaguars (Questionable – Concussion): The Jaguars would no doubt like to have Smith back Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, but as of now the young linebacker remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Shaq Thompson – OLB, Carolina Panthers (Questionable – Ankle): Thompson’s been nursing a sore flipper for at least a couple weeks and was in a walking boot after last week’s loss to the Saints, but the injury didn’t prevent him from finishing the game.
Nick Vigil – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals (Questionable – Ankle): Vigil hasn’t played since hurting his ankle early in Week 12, but with Vontaze Burfict likely to miss Week 14 there could be added pressure to get Vigil back on the field.
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Jerry Hughes – DE, Buffalo Bills (vs. IND)
Hughes admitted to Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle that the Bills have missed far too many tackles in 2017. “I don’t know if tackling a dummy can help tackling someone in the open field who’s making up his mind where he wants to go,” said Hughes. “For us, the missed tackles are hurting, but to practice it, I don’t think that would make much of a difference. I’ve been tackling all my life. I think for us, it’s getting back to playing fast and physical, getting off blocks, and just being physical.”
It’s been a disappointing season for Hughes. So much so, in fact, that his 32 total tackles and three sacks have landed him on the waiver wire in many IDP leagues. However, this week sets up very well for Hughes to add to that number – the Colts have surrendered a staggering 51 sacks in 12 games, easily the most in the NFL.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 14
Melvin Ingram – DE, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. WAS): It rather goes without saying, but both Ingram and Joey Bosa are great IDP plays this week against a Washington team allowing the second-most fantasy points to defensive linemen in 2017.
Solomon Thomas – DE, San Francisco 49ers (at HOU): Thomas has been quiet since his return from injury, but the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft draws a fantastic IDP matchup on Sunday with Tom Savage and the Houston Texans.
Muhammad Wilkerson – DE, New York Jets (at DEN): Like Darron Lee, Wilkerson found himself in Todd Bowles’ doghouse last week. He has a good chance at getting back in Bowles’ good graces in a favorable fantasy matchup Sunday in Denver.
Preston Brown – ILB, Buffalo Bills (vs. IND): Over his last three games, Brown ranks just outside the top-10 fantasy linebackers in scoring. He may well crack it after facing the Colts, who are giving up the most fantasy points to linebackers in 2017.
Blake Martinez – ILB, Green Bay Packers (at CLE): Yes, the Cleveland Browns are a dumpster fire. But believe it or not, they have been favorable to linebackers in IDP leagues all season long. There’s no reason to think that won’t continue in Week 14.
K.J. Wright – OLB, Seattle Seahawks (at JAX): Both Wright and Bobby Wagner have been piling up stops of late, and the good times should keep rolling in Week 14 against the Jaguars, who are second in fantasy points allowed to the position.
Jamal Adams – S, New York Jets (at DEN): Adams managed just a single tackle in last week’s wild win over the Kansas City Chiefs, but Sunday’s highly favorable fantasy matchup with the Broncos paves the way for a beefier stat line.
T.J. McDonald – S, Miami Dolphins (vs. NEP): McDonald’s been an up-and-down IDP option since making his Miami debut a week ago, but this feels like an “up” week – the Patriots lead the NFL in fantasy points surrendered to safeties this season.
Rodney McLeod – S, Philadelphia Eagles (at LAR): McLeod’s had a quiet 2017 season, but the sixth-year veteran did rack up five solos last week and gets a Rams team that’s second in fantasy points allowed to safeties this year in Week 14.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 14
Mario Addison – DE, Carolina Panthers (vs. MIN): Addison has been both productive and consistent in 2017, but this week the veteran defensive end draws a Vikings team that has given up just 14 sacks in 12 games this season.
Derek Barnett – DE, Philadelphia Eagles (at LAR): Barnett’s been on something of a roll, with 2.5 sacks over his last three games. But the rookie draws a tough assignment this week when he faces veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth and the Rams.
Cameron Heyward – DE, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. BAL): Heyward’s in the midst of a career season, but Sunday night’s big AFC North matchup with the hated Ravens is Heyward’s second poor divisional matchup in a row. Last week he managed just one tackle and a batted pass.
NaVorro Bowman – ILB, Oakland Raiders (at KCC): Bowman’s coming off an eight-solo effort against the New York Giants, but that’s going to be hard to duplicate against the Chiefs. No team in the AFC has given up fewer fantasy points to linebackers in 2017.
Denzel Perryman – ILB, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. WAS): If the Chargers’ wonky and inconsistent usage of their LB corps isn’t enough to scare you off Perryman in Week 14, a bad matchup with Washington (30th in FPPG allowed to LB) should.
Craig Robertson – OLB, New Orleans Saints (at ATL): Fantasy owners of both Robertson and A.J. Klein may want to go another direction in Week 14 – the Falcons have been mired at the bottom of the NFL in fantasy points allowed to linebackers most of the year.
Budda Baker – S, Arizona Cardinals (vs. TEN): Baker’s been a nice find for fantasy owners late in the season, but the rookie has also been a bit matchup-dependent. That’s not a good thing against the Titans who haven’t been kind to Baker’s position in 2017.
Sean Davis – S, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. BAL): Sunday night’s AFC North showdown should be a hard-hitting affair, but don’t expect a big game from Davis against a Ravens team that ranks dead last in fantasy points given up to safeties.
Bradley McDougald – S, Seattle Seahawks (at JAX): McDougald has done a good job filling in for Kam Chancellor, but not many safeties have had big stat lines against the Jaguars – only the Bengals allow fewer fantasy points to defensive backs.
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.
Buster Skrine, New York Jets (at DEN): With just 10 tackles over his last three games, Skrine hasn’t exactly been tearing it up of late. That should change on Sunday in Colorado – the error-prone Broncos and quarterback Trevor “I Really Stink” Siemian have been an absolute gold mine for cornerbacks in recent weeks.
