It’s the fantasy playoffs. In many IDP leagues (most, actually), just four teams remain.
Those teams are either the best of the best, the luckiest of the lucky, or some combination of the two. They have reached this point through a combination of savvy drafting and prescient waiver wire moves.
And the aforementioned luck, of course.
For the most part, teams that have advanced to the postseason aren’t overly interested in making waiver adds this late in the year. You don’t get this far with a lineup full of holes.
However, sometimes Lady Circumstance decides she doesn’t feel like cooperating.
For the second time in just over a month, the linebacker position has been beset by injuries. Vontaze Burfict of the Cincinnati Bengals and Telvin Smith of the Jacksonville Jaguars both missed Week 14 and remain in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Zach Brown of the Washington Redskins had an MRI recently on his injured foot. Both Booby Wagner and K.J. Wright left the Seattle Seahawks loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars with injuries. And Ryan Shazier of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been placed on injured reserve after spinal surgery.
That’s not a complete list.
That rash of injuries has left many IDP owners in a very uncomfortable position – the dreaded playoff scramble. So, in order to help get their blood pressure down, we’re going to start the Week 15 edition of IDP Nation with another all-linebacker version of the IDP Waiver Wire.
WEEK 15 IDP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
Matt Milano – OLB, Buffalo Bills: It was Milano, and not Ramon Humber, who spent most of Sunday’s snowy win over the Colts at weak-side linebacker in Buffalo. The rookie responded in a big way, piling up 11 total tackles and 10 solos.
Vincent Rey – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals were without both Burfict and Nick Vigil in last week’s loss to the Chicago Bears, but Rey returned after missing time with a hamstring injury. He should play a large role against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15.
Zach Vigil – ILB, Washington Redskins: If Brown misses time it will cap a season that has already seen the Redskins lose Mason Foster and Will Compton for the season. That means an every-down role for Vigil out of necessity.
WEEK 15 IDP INJURY REPORT
Adrian Amos – S, Chicago Bears (Questionable – Hamstring): Amos sat out last week’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals after missing practice all week with a hamstring injury. He’ll be hard to trust this week unless he gets some practice time in.
Geno Atkins – DT, Cincinnati Bengals (Questionable – Toe): Atkins tried to play through his toe injury last week but made it just 12 snaps in before exiting. Monitor his practice status as the week progresses, but he’s looking like an iffy IDP play at best.
Zach Brown – ILB, Washington Redskins (Questionable – Foot): The good news is that an MRI on Brown’s foot didn’t reveal a season-ending injury. The bad news is that he’s still expected to miss this week’s game against the Cardinals.
Vontaze Burfict – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals (Questionable – Concussion): Burfict sat out last week’s loss to the Bears complements of the shot he took the game before against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Kam Chancellor – S, Seattle Seahawks (OUT – Neck): Chancellor hasn’t been officially placed on injured reserve, but that’s purely a bookkeeping move. The veteran strong safety isn’t expected to play again this season.
Landon Collins – S, New York Giants (Questionable – Ankle): In what may have been Week 14’s most devastating injury, Collins re-aggravated his injured ankle – there’s been talk from New York that the safety could be shut down for the season.
Carlos Dunlap – DE, Cincinnati Bengals (Questionable – Chest): A chest injury forced Dunlap from the field in the fourth quarter last week, but preliminary reports indicate that he was kept out more as a precaution than due to a serious injury.
Trey Flowers – DE, New England Patriots (Questionable – Ribs): Flowers has now missed each of the last two games with sore ribs. He’s been sorely missed too – so the Pats will no doubt make every effort to get him back ahead of Sunday’s Steel City showdown.
Everson Griffen – DE, Minnesota Vikings (Questionable – Foot): It was revealed this week that Griffen’s been playing through a sore foot for some time, but it isn’t believed that the injury will cost Griffen any games – at least not yet.
David Irving – DT, Dallas Cowboys (Questionable – Concussion): Irving burst onto the IDP scene with six sacks in his first four games this season, but he sat out Dallas’ Week 14 win and remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Cory James – ILB, Oakland Raiders (Questionable – Ankle): At this point, it may not matter so much if James is healthy or not – given the way that Nicolas Morrow has played in relief of James, the latter may not have a job to come back to.
Trumaine Johnson – CB, Los Angeles Rams (Questionable – Neck): Johnson’s been one of the more consistently productive cornerbacks in IDP this year, but a neck injury has placed his status for Sunday’s big NFC West showdown with the Seahawks in doubt.
Christian Jones – ILB, Chicago Bears (Questionable – Unspecified): Jones played just a handful of snaps last week before leaving the game with an unspecified injury. Until more info’s known he’s about as questionable as you can get.
A.J. Klein – OLB, New Orleans Saints (Doubtful – Groin): Klein was forced from last Thursday’s loss to the Falcons with a groin injury that it appears will sideline the Saints leading tackler for a week at least. Bump up Craig Robertson.
Tyler Matakevich – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Questionable – Shoulder): Matakevich wasn’t able to give it a go last week against the Baltimore Ravens, but there’s some hope that he’ll be back for this week’s all-important matchup with the Patriots.
Gerald McCoy – DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Doubtful – Arm): There’s been no official word yet that McCoy’s season is over, but the belief is that the veteran tackle has torn his biceps muscle again. If that’s the case, McCoy’s season is over.
Justin Simmons – S, Denver Broncos (Questionable – Ankle): Simmons has been diagnosed with what’s being called a “mild” high ankle sprain. On a short week it’s unlikely that he’s going to be able to play against the Colts.
Telvin Smith – OLB, Jacksonville Jaguars (Questionable – Concussion): It appeared for a time that Smith was on track to return last week against the Seahawks, but he had a setback late in the week and wound up sitting the game out.
Kenny Vaccaro – S, New Orleans Saints (Questionable – Groin): The Saints were beset by injuries in their Week 14 defeat, including a groin injury suffered by Vaccaro. It isn’t known whether he’ll be able to take the field Sunday against the Jets.
Kyle Van Noy – OLB, Detroit Lions (Questionable – Calf): Van Noy has been quite the find for IDP owners this season, but the 26-year-old was scratched from last week’s loss to the Miami Dolphins with a calf injury. His Week 15 status is unknown.
Nick Vigil – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals (OUT – Ankle): Vigil has already been ruled out of Sunday’s trip to Minnesota, and frankly at this point it would be something of an upset if the second-year pro sees the field again this season.
Bobby Wagner – ILB, Seattle Seahawks (Questionable – Hamstring): After re-aggravating his injured hamstring in Sunday’s loss at Jacksonville Wagner isn’t expected to practice at all this week and is a game-time decision – at best.
K.J. Wright – OLB, Seattle Seahawks (Questionable – Concussion): The Seahawks are expressing optimism that Wright will be able to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol in advance of Sunday’s home tilt with the Rams. We shall see.
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Zach Cunningham – ILB, Houston Texans (at JAX)
After pacing the Texans in tackles with nine and adding half a sack last week against the San Francisco 49ers, Cunningham drew praise from head coach Bill O’ Brien according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “I thought he played well,” O’Brien said. “He was very active. He’s been active all year. Played a physical game and I thought he did some good things. There’s some areas where he can improve, but I definitely think it was one of his better games.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve recommended Cunningham in this space in 2017, and the results have been mixed. But even with Brian Cushing back from suspension last week Cunningham was on the field for 100 percent of the defensive snaps, and Week 15 brings a trip to Jacksonville to play a Jaguars team giving up the third-most fantasy points per game to linebackers this season.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 15
Akiem Hicks – DE, Chicago Bears (at DET): Hicks has slowed way down – the sixth-year veteran hasn’t tallied a sack since Week 8. But a top-10 IDP matchup with the Lions on Sunday offers an excellent opportunity for a bounceback effort.
Cameron Jordan – DE, New Orleans Saints (vs. NYJ): Jordan’s Week 15 matchup with the New York Jets was already a tasty one – especially with Jordan coming off a down week. Now, with Bryce Petty at quarterback for the Jets, it’s a delicious one.
Yannick Ngakoue – DE, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. HOU): Ngakoue hasn’t been much in the tackle department this season, but he’s quietly piled up 11 sacks this season – and sacks are something the Texans have given up plenty of in 2017.
Kiko Alonso – OLB, Miami Dolphins (at BUF): Both Alonso and Lawrence Timmons have been good (but not great) IDP options for most of the 2017 season. The pair gets a solid matchup with the run-heavy Bills in Week 15.
Christian Kirksey – OLB, Cleveland Browns (vs. BAL): If you’re an IDP owner of Kirksey or Joe Schobert, rejoice. The pair have been wildly productive this season and will continue to be so in a highly favorable IDP matchup with the Ravens.
Brandon Marshall – ILB, Denver Broncos (at IND): Marshall hasn’t posted the sort of production we expected in 2017, but this week’s matchup is a silver plate special – the Colts have been a fantasy goldmine for linebackers this season.
Devin McCourty – S, New England Patriots (at PIT): McCourty broke out of his slump last week against the Dolphins, and given all the injuries on defense in New England his late surge should continue Sunday against the Steelers.
Jordan Poyer – S, Buffalo Bills (vs. MIA): There hasn’t been a more pleasant surprise this season in the secondary than Poyer, and the good times should continue Sunday against a Dolphins team that’s giving up the second-most fantasy points to defensive backs in 2017.
Eric Weddle – S, Baltimore Ravens (at CLE): Tony Jefferson‘s been on a nice little rip of late, but it’s Weddle I trust more to catch the obligatory pass thrown by DeShone Kizer that’s so ill-advised it makes my soul weep.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 15
DeForest Buckner – DT, San Francisco 49ers (vs. TEN): Buckner’s been a batter player than his 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks this year indicates. But this isn’t a matchup that will help Buckner pile up stats – Tennessee ranks 31st in fantasy points allowed to defensive linemen this season.
DeMarcus Lawrence – DE, Dallas Cowboys (at OAK): Unless you’re stacked up front, odds are you can’t sit Lawrence (who leads all DL In sacks) in Week 15. But be aware going in that the Raiders are last in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to defensive linemen.
Muhammad Wilkerson – DE, New York Jets (at NOS): After a miserable start to the season Wilkerson has finally picked up some steam of late. But this week that steam may well fizzle out – Drew Brees has been sacked just 17 times in 13 games.
Kwon Alexander – ILB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. ATL): Alexander’s numbers are way down relative to last season, and while his fantasy owners don’t want to hear this that isn’t likely to change Monday night against the Falcons.
Deone Bucannon – ILB, Arizona Cardinals (at WAS): Despite playing every snap last week in a favorable matchup, Bucannon managed just one solo and two total tackles. This week’s tilt with the Washington Redskins is not a favorable matchup.
Deion Jones – ILB, Atlanta Falcons (at TBB): Given all the injuries at linebacker Jones would be an awfully hard player to sit this week. But that doesn’t change the fact that the Buccaneers have ranked toward the bottom of the NFL in FPPG allowed to linebackers for most of the season.
Jahleel Addae – S, Los Angeles Chargers (at KCC): Saturday night’s tilt in Kansas City has huge playoff implications, but Addae will be hard-pressed to post a big stat line against a Chiefs team that’s dead last in fantasy points given up to defensive backs.
Vonn Bell – S, New Orleans Saints (vs. NYJ): With Josh McCown under center the Jets were 29th in fantasy points allowed to defensive backs this season. With Bryce Petty at quarterback they’ll probably be lucky to even hit that.
Harrison Smith – S, Minnesota Vikings (vs. CIN): IDP owners burned by Smith last week against the Panthers may want to grab some potholders. The Bengals are hot garbage offensively and are 31st in fantasy points surrendered 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.
Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens (at CLE): Humphrey’s been fairly productive as a starter the last couple of weeks, piling up 12 total tackles (including 10 solos) and adding an interception. The rookie should be plenty busy on Sunday covering Josh Gordon, and there’s always the chance for another pick – because DeShone Kizer.
