The Oakland Raiders are the poster children for the IDP mayhem in 2016 -- mayhem that has me considering taking up needlepoint. I need a more soothing hobby. But there are needles – so I’ll probably just stab myself.
Which would be a lot like the 2016 IDP campaign.
In Week 5, Oakland defensive tackle Stacy McGee tallied four tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles – good for more fantasy points in most scoring systems than superstar end Khalil Mack has racked up in his last three games combined.
The two Oakland linebackers selected first in IDP drafts this summer were weakside man Malcolm Smith and second-year pro Ben Heeney. Heeney’s on injured reserve after being benched. Smith missed Week 5 with a groin injury. Rookie Cory James, an IDP sensation in the distant era of two weeks ago, had all of two tackles against the San Diego Chargers. The top-scoring linebacker for the Raiders in Week 5 (Perry Riley) wasn’t even on the team 10 days ago.
Rookie defensive back Karl Joseph, who was a trendy breakout pick in the preseason, is finally coming around – after giving his IDP owners a case of indigestion by getting benched days before the regular season began.
The Raiders aren’t an anomaly, either. The 2016 season isn’t even halfway over, and it’s already the wackiest year I can remember. Stars are underperforming left and right. IDP squads are being carried by players who weren’t anywhere near the fantasy radar when the season began.
Frankly, I’m getting dizzy.
However, I’ve taken some Dramamine (and maybe a sedative), and so it’s back into the fray for another tour of IDP Nation.
WEEK 5 IDP BEASTS
Calais Campbell – DE, Arizona Cardinals: Heading into Week 5, Campbell was one of those underperforming stars. But Campbell didn’t just bust his slump against the San Francisco 49ers. He beat it senseless with a snow shovel, piling up four tackles, two sacks and an interception. The fourth-quarter safety was just showing off.
Vic Beasley – OLB, Atlanta Falcons: I don’t know what’s more frustrating about Beasley’s seven-tackle, 3.5 sack explosion against the Denver Broncos. The fact that next to no one had Beasley in their starting lineup, or the fact that I’m going to be getting e-mails for the next month wondering why it hasn’t happened again.
D.J. Swearinger – S, Arizona Cardinals: Campbell wasn’t the only Redbird who had a big night against San Fran. Swearinger was a popular name on waiver wires this week. A starter now at safety after Tyvon Branch was placed on injured reserve, Swearinger played every snap against the 49ers and tallied 7 tackles and a sack.
WEEK 5 IDP LEASTS
Mario Williams – DE, Miami Dolphins: Fantasy owners hoping a change of scenery would spur a renaissance season from Williams need to face facts. Williams put up a big fat zero in a plus matchup with the Tennessee Titans – the second time in five games this season that “Super Mario” has failed to record a stat.
Cory James – ILB, Oakland Raiders: I want to say that James’ one solo, one assist dud against the Chargers was a one week anomaly. I really do. However, the fact is that Perry Riley played pretty well in his Raiders debut, and Oakland is desperately searching for answers on defense. James grip on an every-down role at MIKE may have just gotten a lot looser.
Rashad Johnson – S, Tennessee Titans: After an eight-tackle effort against the Houston Texans in Week 4, it appeared that maybe Johnson had turned a corner. He turned one all right – into the path of an oncoming bus. Yes, the Miami offense is a hot mess – but one solo just isn’t going to cut it. Speaking of cutting…bye, Felicia.
WEEK 6 IDP INJURY REPORT
Ezekiel Ansah – DE, Detroit Lions (Ankle): The good news is that an MRI on Ansah’s ankle revealed the star defensive end won’t need surgery. The bad news is there’s still no real timetable for when he’ll return to practice, much less the playing field.
De’Vondre Campbell – OLB, Atlanta Falcons (Ankle): Campbell’s been sidelined since mid-September with a severe ankle injury, but reports indicate the rookie should return to practice Wednesday. Head coach Dan Quinn said a decision on his playing status won’t be made until later in the week.
Thomas Davis – OLB, Carolina Panthers (Hamstring): Davis did make it onto the field for Carolina’s loss to Tampa, but he clearly wasn’t himself. Davis played only 36 of 76 snaps, and finished the game with only one solo and three assists. Now he has a short week to recover to boot.
David Harris – ILB, New York Jets (Hamstring): Harris had an MRI after leaving last week’s loss to Pittsburgh with a hammy pull. The MRI didn’t reveal any structural damage, but with the Jets playing on Monday night in Week 6 waiting on the veteran could be a dicey bet.
William Hayes – DE, Los Angeles Rams (Ankle): Hayes injured his ankle in Week 3, and gutted out Week 4 before getting scratched last week. Given how long it’s been since he practiced, the veteran lineman is an iffy bet at best in Week 6.
Cameron Heyward – DE, Pittsburgh Steelers (Hamstring): Per Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com, Heyward is expected to miss at least 2-3 weeks after injuring his hamstring in Pittsburgh’s Week 5 victory over the Dolphins.
Deion Jones – ILB, Atlanta Falcons (Calf): Jones missed last week’s big win over the Denver Broncos, but per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the rookie is expected to return to practice on Wednesday. Provided he does, Jones should be good to go in Week 6.
James Laurinaitis – ILB, New Orleans Saints (Quad): Laurinaitis missed the first game of his NFL career two weeks ago. He’s had the bye week to get right, but until we see practice reports for the Saints his Week 6 status is uncertain.
DeAndre Levy – OLB, Detroit Lions (Who Knows): The Levy situation has devolved into a litany of conflicting reports about what’s wrong with Levy, whether he’s been cleared or if he even wants to play. Don’t hold your breath waiting for his return.
Josh McNary – ILB, Indianapolis Colts (Neck): In and of itself McNary’s injury isn’t especially relevant to IDP owners. But were he to be sidelined in Week 6 against the Houston Texans it would mean added snaps in a plus matchup for rookie Antonio Morrison.
C.J. Mosley – ILB, Baltimore Ravens (Hamstring): It’s not bad enough that Mosley pulled his hamstring against the Washington Redskins. He did it reaching for the end zone after making an interception – and fumbling the ball out of bounds for a Washington touchback.
Denzel Perryman – ILB, San Diego Chargers (Shoulder): Perryman was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday, but trusting a disappointing linebacker with a bum shoulder on a short week strikes me as unwise for some reason.
Robert Quinn – DE, Los Angeles Rams (Shoulder): Quinn was one of a trio of Rams’ linemen who sat out last week’s loss to Buffalo. Monitor his practice participation, as the DL1 has a reputation for having a hard time shaking nagging injuries.
Ryan Shazier – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Knee): Shazier’s saying all the right things about his MCL strain, but given the injury, his history and Vince Williams’ play in his stead the smart money says we don’t see Shazier again until after Pittsburgh’s bye week.
Malcolm Smith – OLB, Oakland Raiders (Groin): Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio offered vague platitudes to Jimmy Durkin of the Bay Area News Group when asked about Smith’s Week 6 status. “The guys that were injured, we’ll get them back as quick as we can,” Del Rio said. Well OK then. Thanks for clearing that up.
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Brian Cushing – ILB, Houston Texans (vs. IND)
Cushing, who has a long history of knee problems, told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle it was important to him to beat the timetable on his latest malady. “I kind of didn’t want to believe the initial diagnosis, didn’t want to be out that long and really cut the time down big-time,” Cushing said. “I was just really excited to be back out there playing football again. I feel good.”
Cushing hasn’t lit the stat sheet on fire (four tackles in each of his last two starts), but Sunday night’s matchup with the Colts is a favorable one for linebackers. Plus, it’s always fun to have someone to root for in primetime.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 6
Jurrell Casey – DE, Tennessee Titans (at CLE): Casey broke out in Week 5, posting his first two sacks of 2016. He’ll get another one Sunday against, um, against…who the hell is playing quarterback for the Browns this week, anyway?
DeMarcus Lawrence – DE, Dallas Cowboys (at GB): Lawrence played limited snaps last week in his return from a four-game suspension, but you can bet the rent that snap count will spike Sunday in a favorable IDP matchup.
Rob Ninkovich – DE, New England Patriots (vs. CIN): Like Lawrence, Ninkovich saw limited snaps in his return from suspension last week. And like Lawrence, a juicy Week 6 matchup sets up well as a coming-out party for him.
Deone Bucannon – ILB, Arizona Cardinals (vs. NYJ): Bucannon had easily his best game of the season last week against the Niners. This week’s top two fantasy matchup with Gang Green bodes well for two big outings in a row.
Vontaze Burfict – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals (at NE): Burfict showed the sort of fantasy production he’s capable of last week with a nine-solo effort against the Cowboys. He should shine again in a top-five matchup with the Patriots.
Danny Trevathan – ILB, Chicago Bears (vs. JAX): Trevathan returned to action last week, albeit with a cast on his injured thumb. No team in the NFL has allowed more fantasy points to linebackers this year than the Jaguars.
D.J. Swearinger – S, Arizona Cardinals (vs. NYJ): The Jets haven’t just been kind to linebackers – defensive backs have shared in the fun as well, which should mean a second straight strong outing from the Cardinals’ newest defensive starter.
Kenny Vaccaro – S, New Orleans Saints (vs. CAR): Sunday’s battle for the NFC South cellar is start ‘em if you’ve got ‘em where DB are concerned, as both the Saints and Panthers rank in the top six in fantasy points allowed to the position.
Eric Weddle – S, Baltimore Ravens (at NYG): Weddle’s been up-and-down in 2016, but the smart money’s on “up” in Week 6 – the Giants are fifth in fantasy points per game surrendered to defensive backs this season.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 6
Carlos Dunlap – DE, Cincinnati Bengals (at NE): You aren’t going to sit Dunlap, but the Patriots rank 31st in fantasy points allowed to defensive linemen. And that was before Tom Brady (who doesn’t get sacked much) came back.
Yannick Ngakoue – DE, Jacksonville Jaguars (at CHI): Ngakoue had sacks in three straight games heading into the bye. The odds of the rookie continuing that improbable streak coming out of it in a bad matchup just aren’t good.
Kawann Short – DT, Carolina Panthers (at NO): The 2016 season is rapidly turning into a disaster for the Panthers as a team and Short as an individual. After 11 sacks in 2015, he has all of one this year. Oh, and the Saints are 27th in fantasy points allowed to defensive linemen.
Nick Bellore – ILB, San Francisco 49ers (at BUF): Bellore was a very popular man on waiver wires this week after stepping into Navorro Bowman’s every-down role for the 49ers. However, this week’s east coast trip is a rotten fantasy matchup.
David Harris – ILB, New York Jets (at AZ): As I mentioned earlier, Harris is nicked up, but the veteran has a long history of playing through minor injuries. However, his hammy pull is a great excuse to leave Harris on the bench in a bad matchup.
Sean Lee – OLB, Dallas Cowboys (at GB): Lee’s posted 10 total tackles in each of the last two games, but a three-peat is unlikely – no team in the league has allowed fewer fantasy points per game to linebackers than the Packers.
Eric Berry – S, Kansas City Chiefs (at OAK): Berry’s fantasy owners may want to give the veteran safety an extra week off coming off his bye, as the Raiders are dead last in the AFC in fantasy points allowed to defensive backs.
Corey Graham – S, Buffalo Bills (vs. SF): Graham’s a perfect example of why investing heavily in defensive backs in IDP leagues is a fool’s errand. Last year he was a top five fantasy option. This year he’s WW fodder – partly because it’s been one awful matchup after another.
Jason McCourty - CB, Tennessee Titans (at CLE): It doesn’t exactly take a rocket surgeon to figure out why a Browns team who may be starting Kevin Hogan at quarterback might not light it up in the passing game. By Week 9 they’ll be starting Vinnie the Nacho Guy.
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.
Robert McClain, Carolina Panthers (at NO): The Panthers shake-up at the cornerback position didn’t get them a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but McClain had a good game, posting seven stops and pitching in half a sack. This week the Panthers draw another juicy matchup against a Saints team that’s second in fantasy points allowed to cornerbacks in 2016.
