Welcome to the ledge.
Oh, you’re on it. Or at least you’re thinking about crawling out there. It’s the easiest trap to fall into in fantasy football. To overreact to the first week’s action. Kareem Hunt is the love child of Jim Brown and Eric Dickerson. Tom Brady is a washed-up old bum. Etc. and so forth.
It’s human nature.
It most assuredly happens in IDP leagues as well. On Monday night, I was asked on Twitter whether it was a good idea to drop Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander (who didn’t play in Week 1 because of Hurricane Irma) for B.J. Goodson of the New York Giants.
Alexander was the No. 1 linebacker in fantasy football in 2016. Goodson made his first career start in Sunday night’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Granted, it was a heck of a start, but Goodson’s not going to post 18 tackles every week. J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans had all of one solo in his first game of 2017 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His little brother T.J. piled up six stops, two sacks and an interception in the first NFL game of his life with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland.
Dropping the elder Watt for the younger would be, um, insane.We’re one week into a 17-week NFL season. And that week was just as weird on the defensive ball as on offense. Making knee-jerk personnel decisions based on that one week of football is asking for trouble.
This isn’t to say there weren’t some concerns unearthed in Week 1, such as Cleveland Browns linebacker Jamie Collins spending much of that game with the Steelers with his hand in the dirt. Nor is it to say that you shouldn’t constantly look to improve your roster.
But more often than not one week isn’t enough time to know whether you’re doing that or freaking out unnecessarily – and by the time you realize it’s the latter it’s usually too late.
So, climb in off that ledge – unless you’re a David Johnson owner.
If that’s the case go ahead and freak out. It’s justified.
Here’s a look around IDP Nation one week into the new campaign.
WEEK 1 BEASTS AND LEASTS
Calais Campbell – DE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Playing in his first game with the Jaguars and his first game as a 4-3 defensive end since college, Campbell did OK. That is, if you consider 3.5 sacks in the first half of a blowout win over the Houston Texans “OK.”
B.J. Goodson – ILB, New York Giants: The Giants didn’t have a ton to cheer about in their Sunday night loss, but Goodson’s play was a bright spot. In his first game as the Giants’ starting MIKE, Goodson had twice as many tackles in Dallas as he had during his entire rookie season.
Devin McCourty – S, New England Patriots: McCourty has always been a much better NFL player than IDP option. But streamers in the secondary were handsomely rewarded in Thursday night’s season opener, with McCourty piling up 10 tackles (including nine solos) and recovering a fumble.
Danielle Hunter – DE, Minnesota Vikings: Big things are expected of Hunter after he piled up 12.5 sacks last year, so his Week 1 doughnut was a letdown. However, it happens to the best of them. The third-year pro is still a top-five defensive lineman.
Mark Barron – ILB, Los Angeles Rams: Barron was the 2017 winner of the contest where I get asked “Is so-and-so even playing?” The problem in Week 1 wasn’t that Barron wasn’t playing. It was that his opponent (the Indianapolis Colts) weren’t.
Landon Collins – S, New York Giants: Collins’ night really wasn’t that bad (6 total tackles), but by his 2016 standards it wasn’t an ideal start to the season. That’s the down side to Goodson cleaning up – fewer tackle opportunities for the players behind him. Collins should be fine.
WEEK 2 IDP INJURY REPORT
Eric Berry – S, Kansas City Chiefs (IR – Achilles): Kansas City’s big win over the Patriots came at a cost – the loss of their Pro Bowl safety to a season-ending Achilles tear. Berry will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by fourth-year pro Daniel Sorensen.
Deone Bucannon – ILB, Arizona Cardinals (OUT – Ankle): News surfaced recently indicating that Bucannon suffered a setback in his rehab just before the season began. There’s been nothing to indicate he’s especially close to being able to practice, let alone play.
Vontaze Burfict – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals (OUT – Suspension): Burfict won’t be eligible to return to the Bengals until after Week 3. While he’s sidelined Nick Vigil and Vincent Rey will both play in three-down roles, and the pair had a good fantasy outing in a Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Brian Cushing – ILB, Houston Texans (Questionable – Concussion): After leaving Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, it isn’t believed that Cushing will be cleared to play Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie Zach Cunningham would draw the start in Cushing’s stead.
Johnathan Cyprien – SS, Tennessee Titans (OUT – Hamstring): Cyprien’s quest for a fifth-straight 100-tackle season has hit a snag, as head coach Mike Mularkey has indicated Cyprien will miss at least “a few weeks” with a strained hamstring.
Ronald Darby – CB, Philadelphia Eagles (OUT – Ankle): Darby’s tenure as the Eagles’ new top cornerback didn’t last long. The 23-year-old will miss at least a month after dislocating his ankle against the Washington Redskins.
Reuben Foster – OLB, San Francisco 49ers (Questionable – Ankle): Foster insisted earlier this week that he intends to try to play through his high ankle sprain Sunday in Seattle, but the odds of that actually happening are slim to none.
Jerrell Freeman – ILB, Chicago Bears (IR – Pectoral): In addition to suffering a concussion in Sunday’s loss to the Falcons, Freeman suffered a pectoral tear that will cost the veteran linebacker at least half the season.
Myles Garrett – DE, Cleveland Browns (OUT – Ankle): Garrett missed his first NFL game with a high ankle sprain, and it’s not known when the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft might make his professional debut.
Dont’a Hightower – ILB, New England Patriots (Questionable – Knee): Hightower left New England’s Week 1 loss with what’s thought to be a sprained MCL. His Week 2 status is uncertain, but I wouldn’t count on him being available.
Darian Stewart – SS, Denver Broncos (Questionable – Groin): Stewart was forced from Monday night’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers by a groin injury. He’s pledged to be ready to face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but monitor his practice participation this week.
Stephon Tuitt – DE, Pittsburgh Steelers (Questionable – Arm): It was originally feared that Tuitt had suffered a season-ending biceps tear, but an MRI was negative and it’s possible Tuitt could play Sunday against Minnesota.
J.J. Watt – DE, Houston Texans (Questionable – Finger): Watt left Sunday’s game temporarily after dislocating a finger that broke the skin. He returned to action, however, and his Week 2 availability isn’t believed to be in doubt.
Shawn Williams – SS, Cincinnati Bengals (OUT – Elbow): Williams was a full participant in Monday’s walkthrough, but he still hasn’t practiced at all since dislocating his elbow in August. Williams is likely still a couple weeks away from returning.
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Joe Schobert – ILB, Cleveland Browns (at BAL)
Schobert told Patrick Maks of the team’s website that he’s growing more and more comfortable as the Browns starting middle linebacker. “I definitely feel more comfortable,” he said. “I mean, I felt comfortable last year, but just the scheme, the attitude that the coaches bring I think has fit in not with just me, but the whole defense and the whole team competing against the offense every day has been getting everybody amped up.”
That confidence apparently goes both ways, as Schobert played every defensive snap in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, pacing the team with nine total stops. This week Schobert faces a Baltimore Ravens team that was very kind to opposing linebackers both last week and last season.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 2
Mario Addison – DE, Carolina Panthers (vs. BUF): Sunday’s home opener for the Panthers sets up well for Addison and the Carolina line. The Buffalo Bills surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defensive linemen in 2016.
Michael Bennett – DE, Seattle Seahawks (vs. SF): Bennett got off to a hot start with 1.5 sacks against the Green Bay Packers, and the Seattle pass rush should be able to ratchet up the pressure at CenturyLink Field on Sunday.
Akiem Hicks – DE, Chicago Bears (at TB): Hicks followed up signing a fat contract extension with a two-sack game against the Atlanta Falcons. He should keep the good times rolling Sunday in a favorable IDP matchup with the Buccaneers.
Mason Foster – ILB, Washington Redskins (at LAR): Fantasy owners in shallower IDP Leagues in a pinch at linebacker might want to target Foster, who faces a Rams team that surrendered the third-most fantasy points to linebackers last year.
Christian Kirksey – OLB, Cleveland Browns (at BAL): The Ravens allowed solid stat lines to Nick Vigil and Vincent Rey of the Bengals last week and ranked second in fantasy points to linebackers in 2016. Schobert, Kirksey and maybe even Jamie Collins all have solid shots at good stat lines.
Benardrick McKinney – ILB, Houston Texans (at CIN): With Brian Cushing likely to miss Thursday’s tilt with the Cincinnati Bengals there will be that many more tackle opportunities to be had for McKinney in a top-five IDP matchup.
Quintin Demps – SS, Chicago Bears (at TB): Not only were the Buccaneers third in fantasy points given up in the secondary last year, but with Jerrell Freeman out the linebacker play in front of Demps is now a question mark.
Matthias Farley – S, Indianapolis Colts (vs. AZ): The Arizona Cardinals allowed the second-most fantasy points in the NFL to defensive backs in 2016. If Week 1 was any indication, that isn’t going to change even a little bit this year.
Devin McCourty – S, New England Patriots (at NO): Normally McCourty isn’t an especially strong fantasy start. But he’s coming off a big game and headed into a great matchup playing behind a banged-up front seven.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 2
Jurrell Casey – DE, Tennessee Titans (at JAX): Casey owners hoping for a rebound after last week’s goose-egg are apt to be disappointed. The Jaguars were a bad fantasy matchup up front a year ago and handled J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans in Week 1.
Cameron Jordan – DE, New Orleans Saints (vs. NE): Jordan’s IDP owners need to exercise some patience with the DL1. He opened the season with matchups against the No. 29 and now No. 31 teams in terms of fantasy points allowed to defensive linemen.
Leonard Williams – DE, New York Jets (at OAK): This is no knock on Williams, who had four tackles in Week 1. But the third-year pro isn’t likely to notch his first sack of 2017 in a rotten pass-rush matchup with the Raiders.
Jon Bostic – ILB, Indianapolis Colts (vs. AZ): Bostic appears to have earned a potentially productive role in the middle of a Colts defense that stands to be on the field a lot this year. But this week’s matchup with the reeling Arizona Cardinals isn’t a good one.
Lavonte David – OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CHI): After last week’s surprise bye, David’s IDP owners are likely eager to get him into starting lineups. But the Bears gave up the third-fewest fantasy points to linebackers last season.
Deion Jones – ILB, Atlanta Falcons (vs. GB): Jones has already become a top-10 fantasy option in just his second NFL season, but know going in that the Green Bay Packers have long been a fantasy matchup where linebackers can be hit or miss – at best.
Rodney McLeod – S, Philadelphia Eagles (at KC): If the Chiefs keep challenging defenses vertically then defensive backs could be fine IDP plays against them. But if they revert to being the Chiefs – the team allowed the second-fewest fantasy points on the back end in 2016.
Kenny Vaccaro – S, New Orleans Saints (vs. NE): This game has the makings of a shootout, but trusting the Saints’ secondary could be tricky. Tom Brady doesn’t throw picks, and the Pats were 30th in fantasy points allowed to defensive backs a year ago.
Eric Weddle – S, Baltimore Ravens (vs. CLE): The Browns were the absolute worst fantasy matchup for defensive backs last year, and Steelers safety Sean Davis’ stat line would appear to indicate that hasn’t changed.
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.
Marcus Cooper, Chicago Bears (at TB): Over the 2016 season, a nice rule of thumb developed for CB streamers in IDP leagues. Just find out who was covering Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (the league’s most targeted pass-catcher last year) and bask in the tasty fantasy points. This week that job will probably fall to Cooper, who joined the Bears in free agency and had four solos and a pass defensed against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.
