The finish line is in sight.
In the overwhelming majority of IDP leagues, four teams remain alive in the hunt for a championship as we enter Week 15. Soon it will be two. Then it will be one – and a champion will be crowned.
As is often the case, the fantasy gods aren’t making it easy. A rash of injuries swept through all three defensive positions in Week 14. And just as on the offensive side of the ball, a number of high-end defensive players fell flat last week, leaving their fantasy owners swinging in the proverbial breeze.
Looking at you, Vontaze Burfict. Looking right…at…you.
Partly for that reason, we’re going to eschew IDP Beasts and Leasts this week. The folks who started Burfict don’t need reminded that he posted just a single solo tackle against the Cleveland Browns last week. It’s probably burned into their memory as the event that sent their entire 2016 season up in smoke. It does no good to keep bringing it up that after peeling off big game after big game Burfict just vanished from the box score. It’s mean to remind them that their LB1 – the guy who had carried them into the playoffs – abandoned them. It’s just cold-blooded to keep reminding them that…
OK, I’ll stop now.
In lieu of salt-rubbing in Week 15 we’ll kick things off with a few players who should be available in many leagues who could make for decent spot-starters if injuries left you in a bind. From there it’s on to the injury report and player recommendations just like always.
So let’s get to it.
THE YOU COULD DO WORSE ALL-STARS
Andre Branch – DE, Miami Dolphins: Branch had another big game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14, piling up six total tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. The fifth-year veteran has already set a career high in tackles, his next sack will set a new high-water mark in that category as well, and over the last three weeks Branch is a top 10 fantasy DL.
Edwin Jackson – ILB, Indianapolis Colts: I beat the drum a bit for Jackson last week, and while his solo-assist ration (3/7) against the Texans wasn’t ideal that had as much to do with Indy’s scorekeepers as the second-year pro’s play. He’s an every-down inside linebacker capable of double-digit tackle production in any given week. Those are pretty rare on the wire at this point in the season.
Sean Davis – S, Pittsburgh Steelers: Davis has taken the starting strong safety job for the Steelers and run with it. Over the past two games the rookie has amassed 14 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception – production that places the former Maryland standout inside the top five fantasy defensive backs over that span.
WEEK 15 IDP INJURY REPORT
Kiko Alonso – ILB, Miami Dolphins (Thumb, Hamstring): Alonso sat out Week 14 with a broken thumb and pulled hammy, but he’s optimistic he’ll be able to make it back onto the field Saturday night against the Jets.
Ezekiel Ansah – DE, Detroit Lions (Shoulder): Ansah’s disastrous 2016 season hit another snag against the Bears last week in the form of a shoulder injury. Ansah downplayed it, but it isn’t going to help his odds of breaking a sackless streak that’s now over two months old.
Jatavis Brown – ILB, San Diego Chargers (Knee): Brown finally returned to action in Week 14, but he was on the field for less than 20 snaps. At this point starting any Chargers ILB is a risk – there’s just no telling what might happen from week to week.
Deone Bucannon – ILB, Arizona Cardinals (Ankle – IR): Bucannon suffered a high-ankle sprain during last week’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, and with the season nearing its end and Arizona looking unlikely to play on after Week 17 the Cardinals shut Bucannon down for the year.
Jurrell Casey – DE, Tennessee Titans (Foot): Casey sat out last week’s big win over the Denver Broncos with a sprained foot. His status for Tennessee’s equally big trip to Kansas City in Week 15 is unknown at present.
Will Compton – ILB, Washington Redskins (Knee): Compton’s been a solid IDP producer most of the season, but he’s looking highly unlikely to be a go in Week 15 after spraining his PCL in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Chris Conte – S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Chest): The release of Major Wright would appear to indicate Conte is ready to return. The question now becomes whether it’s Conte or Keith Tandy who will start in Dallas Sunday night.
Clayton Geathers – S, Indianapolis Colts (Neck – IR): Geathers showed flashes during his second NFL season. But flashes were all we got, as the young safety struggled to stay on the field. His season’s over now.
James Ihedigbo – S, Buffalo Bills (Ankle – IR): The Bills have been savaged by injuries at safety this year, with Ihedigbo joining Aaron Williams and Robert Blanton on injured reserve. Jonathan Meeks will presumably take over at strong safety.
Derrick Johnson – ILB, Kansas City Chiefs (Achilles – IR): With Johnson’s season over, the Chiefs will turn to Ramik Wilson as an every-down player at inside linebacker. Look for safety Daniel Sorensen to receive a bump in snaps as well.
Karl Joseph – S, Oakland Raiders (Toe): Joseph missed last week’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and his status for Week 15 is questionable at best. While the rookie sits Nate Allen will start next to Reggie Nelson at the back end of the Oakland defense.
Luke Kuechly – ILB, Carolina Panthers (Concussion): Kuechly missed a third straight game last week after returning to practice in a limited fashion. The Panthers insist, however, that they have no plans to shut their best defensive player down for the season.
Brandon Marshall – ILB, Denver Broncos (Hamstring): With both Marshall and batterymate Todd Davis (hip) looking very iffy to play in Week 15, Corey Nelson is squarely on the matchup play radar in a plus matchup with the New England Patriots.
Tyrann Mathieu – S, Arizona Cardinals (Shoulder): Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians has admitted 2016 is a lost season for Mathieu, who is considering surgery on his bum shoulder. The Cardinals don’t have much to play for besides pride at this point.
Robert Quinn – DE, Los Angeles Rams (Concussion): Despite getting in a full practice last Friday, Quinn sat out Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He’ll have to pass the final concussion protocol exam to play against the Seattle Seahawks Thursday night.
Craig Robertson – ILB, New Orleans Saints (Shoulder): With Robertson out last week, there was an honest-to-goodness Stephone Anthony sighting. Whoever starts at MIKE for the Saints Sunday is going to have some IDP upside.
Harrison Smith – S, Minnesota Vikings (Ankle): The Vikings continue to maintain their hopes to get Smith back on the field soon, but given the severity of his ankle sprain IDP owners shouldn’t hold their breath – you’ll turn blue.
Kenny Vaccaro – S, New Orleans Saints (SUSPENSION): First it was announced that Vaccaro was suspended. Then weeks went by with no news on an appeal date. Then Vaccaro dropped the appeal that never was. Now my head hurts.
Mario Williams – DE, Miami Dolphins (Ankle): At this point, given how Williams has played for the Dolphins this year, Miami is as likely as not to just leave him inactive Saturday and roll with Andre Branch. Mario’s not so Super anymore.
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Kevin Minter – ILB, Arizona Cardinals (vs. NO)
The writing is on the wall for the 2016 Cardinals, but Minter told ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss recently that the Redbirds aren’t ready to give up on their season just yet. “Our back’s to the wall right now,” Minter said. “I know I sound like a broken record, but we better get it done. That’s all it is. Going through all three phases, we better figure something out.”
Make no mistake, the Cardinals are going to be sofa-bound come the first of the year. But for the next three weeks at least Minter will be playing every down thanks to Bucannon’s season-ending injury. This week that means plenty of snaps against a Saints team that’s among the league leaders in tackle opportunities allowed per game.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 15
Marcell Dareus – DT, Buffalo Bills (vs. CLE): Another disappointing season is winding down in Western New York, but this week the Bills get to see that things could actually be worse. Much, much worse. Cleveland worse.
Cameron Jordan – DE, New Orleans Saints (at AZ): Defensive lineman are having big games against the Cardinals’ front with regularity. No team has surrendered more fantasy points per game to the position this season.
Khalil Mack – DE, Oakland Raiders (at SD): It’s easy to like a guy who has at least one sack in eight straight games. When said guy has a top-three IDP matchup to boot, all you can do is pray you don’t have to square off against him. He could be a game-changer in Week 15 – again.
Eric Kendricks – ILB, Minnesota Vikings (at IND): The Colts don’t really impress as a boffo matchup for linebackers, but that’s what they are – they’ve been the most generous team to the position for much of the season.
Corey Nelson – ILB, Denver Broncos (at NE): The Patriots’ receivers are every bit as banged up as the Broncos linebackers. Expect to see plenty of LeGarrette Blount Sunday in Beantown, which is good news for Nelson’s fantasy prospects.
Lawrence Timmons – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (at CIN): Only the Indianapolis Colts have given up more fantasy points to linebackers than the Bengals, and Timmons posted a relatively solid stat line against Cincinnati back in Week 2.
Vonn Bell – S, New Orleans Saints (at AZ): With Kenny Vaccaro suspended Bell should be on the field for every snap – against a Cardinals team surrendering the second-most fantasy points per game to defensive backs in 2016.
Quintin Demps – S, Houston Texans (at JAX): Demps isn’t a worldbeater by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s an every-down player facing a division rival in a must-win game – in a top-three IDP matchup.
Tony Jefferson – S, Arizona Cardinals (vs. NO): This game is something of a perfect storm for Jefferson – the best fantasy matchup for defensive backs and a Cardinals secondary that has been absolutely shredded by injuries.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 15
Robert Ayers – DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at DAL): The Cowboys have looked mortal up front the last couple of weeks. But after getting embarrassed a bit by the Giants, the Dallas o-line should be fired up at home in primetime.
Devin Taylor – DE, Detroit Lions (at NYG): The Lions pass-rush has struggled with injuries and poor performance this year. That isn’t apt to change against the Giants – Eli Manning isn’t the sort to take a lot of sacks.
Olivier Vernon – DE, New York Giants (vs. DET): Vernon’s sack steak was stopped last week, but he still managed five total stops against the Dallas Cowboys. This week’s matchup isn’t much better – the Lions are 26th in fantasy points allowed to DL.
Stephone Anthony – ILB, New Orleans Saints (at AZ): It was good to see Anthony back on the field and back at middle linebacker last week. But fantasy owners who chase his numbers in that game are asking for trouble in this blah matchup.
Jonathan Casillas, OLB, New York Giants (vs. DET): As if it wasn’t bad enough that Keenan Robinson has supplanted Casillas as the Giants’ LB seeing the most playing time, this week Casillas faces a Lions team that’s 27th in fantasy points allowed to linebackers this year.
Nick Kwiatkoski – ILB, Chicago Bears (vs. GB): The rookie has been a solid fantasy option since being pressed into action for the Bears, but the Packers are a rotten IDP matchup for linebackers. The worst in the NFL, in fact.
Kam Chancellor – S, Seattle Seahawks (at LA): Chancellor has been on something of a roll since Earl Thomas went down (and even before) but the Rams offense is a fantasy value-depleting dumpster fire. Jeff Fisher’s firing ain’t changing that.
Corey Graham – S, Buffalo Bills (vs. CLE): Graham has finally shown some signs of life the past few weeks. But beware – the Browns offense hasn’t shown signs of life since 1964. That’s an exaggeration – but not by a whole lot.
T.J. Ward – S, Denver Broncos (at NE): Ward has been a fantasy DB1 this season, largely due to a nickel linebacker “hybrid” role with the Broncos. He’s hard to sit, but know going in that Eric Weddle’s fat stat line against the Pats in Week 14 was much more exception than rule.
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.
Cre’Von LeBlanc, Chicago Bears (vs. GB): Not much has gone right for the Bears in 2016, but they may have found a keeper in LeBlanc. The undrafted rookie is coming off the best game of his young career (4 TT, 4 PD, INT, TD), and this week LeBlanc and the LeBears face their NFC North nemesis – a team that’s long been kind to the cornerback position.
