IDP Notes from Week 16
Adam goes game-by-game to note the most interesting IDP developments.
As we sit here on the threshold of Week 17 — the championship for most leagues — every little bit of information matters. Any edge we can get over our opponent puts us in a better position going into the weekend. With that in mind, we had Adam go through the Week 16 slate of games and pull out the most interesting nuggets. Here’s what he drummed up, along with the implications for Week 17 and beyond.
Saints 22, Rams 30
Quentin Lake had back-to-back double-digit fantasy point games since returning from injury. He has a 70.8 PFF grade on 350 snaps this season and has been playing mainly slot over the last few weeks.
John Johnson III and Jordan Fuller have been playing all the safety snaps. Fuller and Johnson are both UFAs this offseason, so the potential is there for Quintin Lake to have a significant role in 2024.
Kobie Turner had another sack in this one, which gives him 5.5 sacks over his last 7 games and 6.5 on the year. You also love to see the 55 tackles on the year for Kobie. What a rookie class for the Rams.
Ernest (Jones) saves Christmas! LB9 on the season but LB2 over the last 2 weeks.
Jordan Howden isn’t crushing it for us in fantasy but it’s nice to see him get his opportunity and play well. His 67.0 overall PFF grade ranks 40th among all safeties — impressive for a 5th-round rookie. New Orleans is in cap hell and I think there is a good chance they part ways with one or both of Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu this offseason. Howden could easily play a big role in 2024.
Bills 24, Chargers 22
Taylor Rapp has racked up 17 tackles over his last 2 games since taking over for the injured Micah Hyde.
Chargers released Sebastian Joseph-Day.
Bengals 11, Steelers 34
We saw a season-high 54% of snaps for Myles Murphy in Week 16.
Myles Jack was promoted to the active roster on Friday, December 22, and immediately came in and recorded 6 tackles and a sack.
Steelers signed Jaylon Smith. He joins Blake Martinez, Myles Jack, and Mykal Walker. Hilarious mix. You’re not playing any of these guys in Week 17.
Lions 30, Vikings 24
Jordan Hicks was back, which meant Ivan Pace Jr. took a backseat — just 38% of the snaps in Week 16! (GULP)
DJ Wonnum is hurt and done for the year, so Pat Jones got his largest snap share of the season and balled out.
Ifeatu Melifonwu is trending toward MVP of the fantasy playoffs, averaging 39.1 points per game over his last 2.
No Derrick Barnes meant 85% of the snaps for Jack Campbell. It was a stinky game for Jack, unfortunately.
Colts 10, Falcons 29
EJ SPEED LEAGUE WINNER — 31 tackles over his last 3 games. Averaging 19.9 PPG over that stretch. If only someone had warned us about this!
Julian Blackmon got hurt, so Nick Cross was the next man up.
Calais Campbell. What an inspiration. 37 years old and still kicking ass. Added another 1.5 sacks in this contest. Campbell is having his best statistical season since 2019 with 49 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 15 games this year.
Third-round rookie pick Zach Harrison has 3 sacks in his last 2 games.
Richie Grant remains benched. In his place, 7th-round rookie Demarcco Hellams (out of Alabama) has been fine. I’m not trusting him in Week 17 but he may be worth an add in the deepest of leagues.
Bud Dupree gets $1 million in incentives if he hits 7 sacks this season. He’s currently at 5 with Chicago and New Orleans left. He will be inspired these last 2 weeks of the season, mates.
Seahawks 20, Titans 17
Jordyn Brooks exited after 10 snaps with an ankle injury. Devin Bush replaced him and finished with 6 tackles and 10 fantasy points.
Boye Mafe with 2 sacks, very nice of him to join us for the 2nd half of the season.
Harold Landry splits: Weeks 1-5: 4.96 PPG. Weeks 6-16: 16.9 PPG.
With Jack Gibbens on IR, Otis Reese IV played the 2nd most LB snaps (26) for Tennessee.
Mike Brown and Elijah Molden were the 2 starting safeties with Amani Hooker on IR and Kvon Wallace out with injury.
Commanders 28, Jets 30
KHALEKE HUDSON LEAGUE WINNER — 13 tackles, 16.75 points last week. 15 tackles, 24.25 pts this week. LFG!
Kamren Curl's letdown tour continues.
Packers 33, Panthers 30
Seventh-round rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. was the other starting safety opposite Jonathan Owens this week. Rudy Ford was questionable going into this one, so not sure how much of a factor that went into him playing 11% of the snaps. Owens is the only one I’d feel comfortable starting.
De’Vondre Campbell out, Isaiah McDuffie back in. Campbell put out some weird tweets (seems to be a habit for him) about not returning until he is fully healthy. McDuffie remains a fine LB3/4 type if Quay Walker or Campbell is out.
Browns 36, Texans 22
Jalen Pitre BENCHED! What a difference a year makes.
D’Anthony Bell gives Cleveland another solid outing. He’s been filling in nicely for the injured Grant Delpit. He played 20 box snaps, 8 slot snaps, 24 free safety snaps, and 1 snap at cornerback this past week. Bell is worth an add to keep him away from any safety-needy opponents.
Za’Darius Smith had 2 sacks! His pressure rate has been solid all year, so we knew games like this were going to come. He gets the Jets next week.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is LB1 over his last 2 games.
Alex Wright has sacks in back-to-back games. Wright has seen his snaps increase with the Okoronkwo injury and he should be on your dynasty radars.
Jaguars 12, Buccaneers 30
Devin White was back, grading well by PFF, and actually making plays?
YaYa Diaby had 2 sacks and the national media is taking notice. Peter Schrager went so far as to call him the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Little rich, Pete!
Josh Allen has cooled off as of late, averaging just 7.8 PPG over his last 3 games. But he gets Carolina and Bryce Young this week. Bryce Young is the 2nd most sacked QB in the NFL.
Cowboys 20, Dolphins 22
The Entire Miami D-line has been balling out this year. Let’s pour another one out for Jaelan Phillips and what could have been.
Brandon Jones has been playing fantastic with Jevon Holland sidelined. Jones has racked up 26 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR, and 2 INTs in his last 4 games and is averaging 16.8 points per game over that span.
Duke Riley played 100% of snaps but had another boring fantasy outing. David Long saw 92% of the snaps.
Jalen Ramsey’s dynasty value has plummeted in Miami. He’s just not getting the same usage we got in L.A.
Donovan Wilson has been solid over the 2nd half of the season.
Cardinals 16, Bears 27
Owen Pappoe played 50% of defensive snaps this week with Josh Woods sidelined. This was his season high.
Patriots 26, Broncos 23
Christian Barmore, it’s time for your flowers sir: 48 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 15 games this year. He’s also crushing it from a PFF standpoint. His 77.5 overall PFF grade is 16th best among all defensive tackles. He has 41 pressures on 390 pass rush snaps.
Jabrill Peppers OUT, Jalen Mills IN.
Raiders 20, Chiefs 14
Malcolm Koonce SZN! Koonce has 5 sacks over his last 2 games, a 15.7% pressure rate on the season, and an 81.6 overall PFF grade. He’s currently the DL1 over the last two weeks.
That’s 4 straight games with a sack for Charles Omenihu.
Giants 25, Eagles 33
Nicholas Morrow and Zach Cunningham were both sidelined in Week 16. Shaq Leonard and undrafted rookie Ben VanSumeren were the 2 LBs who played the most snaps. Morrow and Cunningham are both back to practice this week. AVOID this situation in your championship lineups.
49ers 19, Ravens 33
He had a quiet game this week, but Javon Kinlaw has been turning it on lately with 3 sacks in his last 4 games.
49ers also added Sebastian Joseph-Day off waivers this week.
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