The biggest story of Week 5 in IDP leagues is no doubt the return of a pair of familiar faces to the playing field, for very different reasons.
In Cincinnati, a Bengals LB corps that has struggled as often as not gets its best player back. After serving a four-game suspension to open the season, Vontaze Burfict will be on the field Sunday when the Bengals host the Miami Dolphins. At least we think he will—head coach Marvin Lewis was noncommittal about the 28-year-old’s playing time on Sunday.
“Vontaze is just joining the football team,” Lewis said via the team’s website. “Vontaze is just going to be one player. We have to play better. I don’t even know if he will see a third down.”
In Charlotte, we’ll see the Panthers debut of veteran safety Eric Reid, who signed with Carolina over the team’s bye week. The former Pro Bowler’s playing time over the next few weeks will likely be determined by how well he acclimates to his new home after a long layoff, but the Panthers didn’t sign Reid to be a role player—a Carolina club with playoff aspirations needs full-time help on the back end.
Opinions run the gamut regarding Burfict’s propensity for extracurricular activities on the field and Reid’s activism off of it. Both have quite a few supporters and detractors. But what fantasy owners need to bear in mind is that both players have shown the ability to be difference-makers on the stat sheet. A healthy Burfict has top-10 upside at linebacker. Once Reid’s up to speed he could be a fine DB2.
And both should be rostered in the vast majority of IDP leagues.
For the sake of those who weren’t fortunate enough to land Burfict or Reid, we’ll start the Week 5 edition of IDP Nation the same as every other one—with a look at a few potential waiver wire targets.
WEEK 5 IDP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
Jerry Hughes – DE, Buffalo Bills: After a down 2017, Hughes is off to a much better start in his ninth NFL season. In each of the 30-year-old’s last three games, Hughes has tallied at least five solo stops and/or notched a sack.
Anthony Walker – ILB, Indianapolis Colts: Batterymate Darius Leonard has hogged all the head lines as the highest-scoring IDP of September, but Walker’s quietly been solid in his own right, topping 85 percent of Indy’s defensive snaps each of the last two games.
Tre Boston – S, Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals have been a confusing lot at safety, but after piling up 11 solos last week against the Seahawks, Boston is now a top-three fantasy defensive back. That level of production cannot be ignored.
WEEK 5 IDP INJURY REPORT
Ezekiel Ansah – DE, Detroit Lions (Shoulder): Ansah got off to a great start in the season-opener, injured his shoulder—and hasn’t played since. It’s now been pushing a month, and there’s no clear timetable on when Ansah will be back.
Mark Barron – ILB, Los Angeles Rams (Ankle): It’s becoming a lot harder to keep a roster spot open for Barron, who still hasn’t practiced—much less played—in 2018. No timetable has been given for his potential return.
Ja’Whaun Bentley – OLB, New England Patriots (Arm - IR): Bentley was playing significant snaps for the Patriots earlier in the season, but with his injured arm now in a cast we won’t be seeing the youngster in action again any time soon.
Eric Berry – S, Kansas City Chiefs (Heel): Just like Barron, it may be past time for IDP owners to move on from Berry, who has yet to play this year due to an injury that is totally not related to the Achilles tear that ended his 2017 season.
Joey Bosa – DE, Los Angeles Chargers (Foot): Bosa’s already been ruled out for Week 5 with a foot injury, and the general belief seems to be that the best-case for Bosa’s return to action is after LA’s bye in Week 8.
Morgan Burnett – S, Pittsburgh Steelers (Groin): Burnett was inactive for Sunday night’s loss to Baltimore. Given how badly the pass defense was gashed, the team will likely make every effort to get him back out there against the Atlanta Falcons.
Quandre Diggs – S, Detroit Lions (Hand): Diggs, who had been playing the most snaps of any Lions safety, suffered a fractured hand in last week’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. It’s unclear how much time he will miss.
Clayton Geathers – S, Indianapolis Colts (Knee): Geathers has been on the injury report for most of the season with a knee, but to date the fourth-year pro hasn’t missed time. He’s tentatively expected to be a go Thursday night.
Everson Griffen – DE, Minnesota Vikings (Personal): Griffen is presently seeking treatment for undisclosed emotional issues. There’s been no news as to how long the defensive end might be out of action.
Jeff Heath – S, Dallas Cowboys (Shoulder): Heath has been battling a shoulder injury, but team owner Jerry Jones indicated earlier in the week that it’s likely the veteran safety will bout there Sunday night against Houston. Yep. Jerruh’s a doctor too.
Micah Hyde – S, Buffalo Bills (Groin): Hyde was forced from last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers with a groin injury and will miss this week’s date with the Tennessee Titans. The 27-year-old is considered week-to-week.
Reshad Jones – S, Miami Dolphins (Shoulder): Jones practiced all of last week, but he was on the sidelines again against the New England Patriots. At this point he can’t be counted on until he’s declared active on game day—and even then, there’s risk.
Mychal Kendricks – OLB, Seattle Seahawks (Suspension): The NFL finally got around to Kendricks. He’s been suspended indefinitely after pleading guilty to insider trading. His season (and quite possibly his NFL career) is over.
Sean Lee – OLB, Dallas Cowboys (Hamstring): With Lee battling injuries to both hamstrings (because of course he is—he’s Sean Lee), it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be back in action on Sunday night in Houston against the Texans.
Darius Leonard – OLB, Indianapolis Colts (Ankle): Because it’s been that kind of season, Leonard tweaked his ankle late in Sunday’s loss to the Texans and is iffy to play in Week 5 against the Patriots thanks to the short turnaround.
Rodney McLeod – S, Philadelphia Eagles (Knee – IR): McLeod sat out Sunday’s loss to the Titans and has been placed on injured reserve by the Eagles. Veteran Corey Graham had a big game (nine tackles) in McLeod’s stead in Week 4.
Jaquiski Tartt – S, San Francisco 49ers (Shoulder): Tartt’s been sidelined since Week 2 with a bad shoulder, but he’s tentatively expected to return to practice this week and play in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Earl Thomas – S, Seattle Seahawks (Leg – IR): Thomas’ tenure with the Seahawks likely came to an inglorious end last week compliments of a broken leg—and a one-finger farewell to his soon-to-be former teammates.
Kenny Vaccaro – S, Tennessee Titans (Elbow): The Titans were banged-up defensively in their big win over the Eagles, including a dislocated elbow suffered by Vaccaro. It’s believed he’ll be sidelined from 2 to 4 weeks.
Olivier Vernon – OLB, New York Giants (Ankle): Vernon hasn’t played this season after spraining his ankle in the preseason, but there’s renewed optimism in New York that the team’s best pass-rusher may make his debut in Week 5.
Kyzir White – OLB, Los Angeles Chargers (Knee): White had quietly blossomed into a key part of the Chargers LB corps, but the converted safety will be sidelined a few weeks after a knee injury that required a scope.
Tavon Wilson – S, Detroit Lions (Back): The Lions were hit hard at safety in Week 4, with both Wilson and Quandre Diggs exiting with injuries. If Wilson can’t go Sunday, youngster Kenny Walker could be pressed into a starting role.
Wesley Woodyard – ILB, Tennessee Titans (Shoulder): Woodyard missed nearly all of last week’s big win over the Philadelphia Eagles after injuring his shoulder in the first quarter. The injury isn’t believed to be severe, but the veteran linebacker may miss Sunday’s tilt in Buffalo.
KJ Wright – OLB, Seattle Seahawks (Knee): Wright hasn’t played yet this season after having his knee scoped in August. There’s some optimism that he’ll be able to play this week against the Los Angeles Rams, but it’s far from a sure bet.
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Jayon Brown – ILB, Tennessee Titans (at BUF)
Brown has gone from a lightly-recruited youngster at UCLA to a Day 3 pick by the Titans to a situational player as a rookie and now, in Year 2 of his career, and important piece for the Titans defensively. He told Mike Guardabascio of the 562 that his secret really isn’t a secret—he’s just persistent. “It just seemed like my whole career I was always slept on, always needing to prove myself,” said Brown.
Now, the Titans will need a bigger contribution than ever from Brown if Tennessee’s surprising early success is to continue. For all the struggles the Buffalo Bills have had this season, the team remains third in fantasy points allowed to linebackers, and with Wes Woodyard looking iffy Brown will likely play every down Sunday in Western New York. A week ago against the Eagles, Brown piled up 10 total tackles and a sack.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 5
Jurrell Casey – DE, Tennessee Titans (at BUF): Casey’s off to a solid start to the season, but Buffalo quarterback http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/9995/Josh-AllenJosh Allen is not. The rookie is being sacked on almost 15 percent of his dropbacks this season—tops in the NFL.
Taco Charlton – DE, Dallas Cowboys (at HOU): Demarcus Lawrence is a no-brainer in Week 5, but Charlton and Randy Gregory could also be serviceable spot-starters against a Houston team having all kinds of problems in pass protection.
Derek Barnett – DE, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. MIN): Philly’s heavy rotation up front adds risk to trusting the team’s edge-rushers, but a favorable fantasy matchup offers Graham a good shot at reversing a slow start to the season.
http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/9641/Christian-KirkseyChristian Kirksey – OLB, Cleveland Browns (vs. BAL): Kirksey’s 2018 season hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts, but Week 5 could bring a rebound—the Ravens are sixth in fantasy points surrendered to linebackers this season.
Cory Littleton – ILB, Los Angeles Rams (at SEA): Littleton’s in an excellent spot to have a big Week 5—the Seahawks have gone ground-and-pound over the last two weeks and lead the NFL in fantasy points allowed to linebackers.
Benardrick McKinney – ILB, Houston Texans (vs. DAL): The battle for bragging rights in Texas is sure to feature plenty of Ezekiel Elliott, and the stat crew in Houston has been among the more generous in the NFL to this point in the season.
Jamal Adams – S, New York Jets (vs. DEN): When Adams entered the league a year ago I banged the drum for him as a potential elite fantasy option. Like many young safeties, it just took him a little time to get going.
http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/4322/Harrison-SmithHarrison Smith – S, Minnesota Vikings (at PHI): Some IDP owners may be leery of Smith after last week’s turkey against the Rams. Don’t be—no team in the NFL has allowed more fantasy points to defensive backs than the Eagles.
DJ Swearinger – S, Washington Redskins (at NOS): In news that should surprise a grand total of zero people, the Saints high-octane offense allows a lot of fantasy points to defensive backs. The second-most, if you’re keeping track.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 5
Calais Campbell – DE, Jacksonville Jaguars (at KCC): Campbell’s a hard player to sit. Nearly impossible, even. But as the Denver Broncos just discovered the hard way, sacking Patrick Mahomes is a lot easier said than done.
Frank Clark – DE, Seattle Seahawks (vs. LAR): Clark has become one of Seattle’s best defensive players, but fantasy owners are likely chasing their tails with him in Week 5—Jared Goff has been sacked just five times in four games this season.
Leonard Williams – DE, New York Jets (vs. DEN): Williams has 11 tackles over the last two games and notched his first sack last week against Jacksonville. But no team has given up fewer fantasy points to defensive linemen this year than the Broncos.
Denzel Perryman – ILB, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. OAK): It’s getting awfully difficult to have much faith in any of the LA linebackers. None play even 80 percent of the team’s snaps, and the Raiders are at the bottom of the NFL in tackle opportunities allowed.
Duke Riley – ILB, Atlanta Falcons (at PIT): This game between desperate teams just isn’t a good matchup for Riley—the Pittsburgh run game is dead last in the NFL and a surly Steelers stat crew isn’t doing IDPs any favors.
Vince Williams – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. ATL): Of course, the blah in Pittsburgh extends to the home team as well. Last year the Falcons were 32nd in fantasy points allowed to linebackers. This year they’ve climbed all the way to 31st.
Kentrell Brice – S, Green Bay Packers (at DET): Brice’s paltry Week 4 stats say more about the Buffalo Bills than the young safety, but this week’s matchup is no better—Detroit’s 29th in fantasy points surrendered to defensive backs.
Kareem Jackson – S, Houston Texans (vs. DAL): Jackson’s gone from outhouse to penthouse and back to the outhouse. Between the move back to cornerback and a non-existent Dallas passing game, he’s a no-go in Week 5.
Shawn Williams – S, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. MIA): Williams has long been a DB who could make some IDP hay if the matchup was right. It isn’t on Sunday—the Dolphins are 31st in fantasy points given up in the secondary this year.
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.
Trevor Williams, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. OAK): Williams is a player who has shown he can get hot and be IDP-relevant when the matchups are right. The third-year pro is coming off an eight tackle-effort with an interception last week against the 49ers and draws a Raiders team in Week 5 that’s fourth in fantasy points given up to cornerbacks in 2018.
