IDP Recap: Week 1
IDP Recap: Week 1
With Week 1 in the books, let's get you up to speed with a recap of the biggest IDP headlines from each game.
Week 1 of the NFL season is always a whirlwind. This year, we’re left reeling as presumed full-time LBs were replaced on passing downs and presumed rotational guys saw full-time snaps (hello, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah). Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen were better as a duo than as solo acts. Gregory Rousseau did deserve all those snaps we’ve been begging for since he entered the league. And there’s another Adams for the New York Jets making plays? Sheesh. Let’s recap all the action.
Ravens 20, Chiefs 27
In his first game without Patrick Queen since joining Baltimore, Roquan Smith had his worst PFF-graded game ever in a Ravens uniform, and 3rd worst of his career; (29.4 overall, 37.3 coverage). However, he still gave us 20.25 points (by Big 3 Scoring), so this is just something to watch for in the future.
We highlighted David Ojabo in the preseason, and he flashed in this game. However, his usage is still sporadic, playing only 46% of defensive snaps. So, if you’ve got a spare bench spot, by all means, grab him. Just don’t break the FAAB bank doing it.
New season, same Steve Spagnuolo. Last year, Spagnuolo rotated his linebackers at a frustratingly high rate. This season, the rotation factor is less, but all 3 of Leo Chenal (60% snap share), Drue Tranquill (84%), and Nick Bolton (100%) are still heavily involved, thus limiting the ceiling for each of them, with only Chenal (17.75 points) getting above 12 points in week 1.
Don’t panic about Kyle Hamilton yet. Sure, 2.75 points isn’t what we wanted from the DB02 overall, but it’s just the nature of the position. It happens. Last year Hamilton had 3 games where he failed to record over 4.5 points and still finished at 15.8 PPG. He played 94% of snaps versus the Chiefs, 73% of which were in the sweet spot (box, slot, or DL), though we will want that 50% miss tackle rate on 6 attempts cleaned up.
Trent McDuffie is on my watchlist, not in an FBI-type way, but I am paying close attention to his future alignment. Last season McDuffie played 69% of his snaps in the sweet spot with the outside #1 role occupied by L’Jarius Sneed. Well, Sneed is gone, and McDuffie only played 39% in the sweet spot in Week 1, leading to a paltry 4.5-point performance.
Packers 29, Eagles 34
It felt like a shell game in Philadelphia regarding their linebackers during the offseason. But we got to see that 2024 acquisition Zach Baun is the guy to roster. Playing on 100% of snaps, Baun was a tackle monster, accumulating 34.65 points with 15 tackles, a 22% tackle rate, and only a 7.1% miss rate.
It was a monster game for Keisean Nixon (30.25 points), and he only had 2.4 points from kick returns. Nixon played 68% of defensive snaps Friday night, and 77% of them were in the slot. I expect more massive games from Nixon moving forward, especially when he inevitably houses a kickoff.
Rashan Gary got in the sack column this week, which is great for those like me who are predicting a bounceback season now that he’s fully healthy. I wouldn’t worry too much that the underlying metrics looked poor, Jordan Maialata and Lane Johnson are both top-tier offensive tackles.
Tough outing for all those who are heavily invested in Cooper DeJean. DeJean only saw 6 snaps on defense on Friday and didn’t return any kicks or punts. DeJean is a “bench until further notice” lineup decision.
Friday’s game gave us more questions than answers when looking at the EDGE group for Philadelphia. Josh Sweat played the most, but that was only 61% of snaps. Based on Week 1, we’re in for a long season of heavy rotation from the Eagles’ edge rushers.
Jaguars 17, Dolphins 20
Travon Walker had a great IDP day with 23.9 points and multiple sacks. However, if we peek behind the curtain, one of those sacks was Tua giving up on a 0-yard scramble. Couple that with poor underlying metrics, and this might not be the breakout game it looks like on the surface.
Speaking of metrics, someone who blew me away, both with how he looked and his metrics, was Dolphins EDGE Jaelan Phillips. Phillips was used slightly less than last year (64% snap share versus 71% in 2023) but that’s to be expected less than 12 months removed from an Achilles tear, and he looked phenomenal.
Both David Long and Jordyn Brooks played 100% of snaps in Sunday’s game versus the Jags. Brooks finished with a 20% missed tackle rate of his 5 opportunities, and Long, an 11% rate of his 9. Both should get plenty of opportunities, but Long is who I want moving forward.
For the first time since arriving in Jacksonville, Foyesade Oluokun played less than 99% of snaps, clocking in at just 85% after sitting for 2 drives. It’s not the end of the world. He still had 19.25 points and an 18% tackle rate. Should this continue though, it could severely hamper his chances of finishing as the LB1.
Cardinals 28, Bills 34
For 3 years we’ve been begging for a full snap share for Greg Rousseau, and on Sunday afternoon, it finally happened, with Buffalo keeping him in for 79% of snaps. And look what happened when they did.
He may be 47 years old (not quite) and a shadow of his former self, but a shadow of Von Miller is still an effective pass rusher in this league. He probably won’t be a pickup in any but the deepest of leagues, but it’s great to see him still out there producing for those IDP Madness teams that chucked a last-round pick at him.
Kyzir White got the snap share (100%), but Mack Wilson (17.75 points to 15.75 points) was slightly more impactful on his reduced usage (63% snaps). If you’ve been with us a while you’ll know we’ll chase the more secure snap share every time.
If you spend your time box score watching, it might look like the hope for #ZVNSZN still lives for Zaven Collins. If it does, it’s the smallest embers still burning. Collins had a pretty unsustainable 19% tackle rate on just 69% (nice) of snaps. All that, and he still only netted 12.25 points as there were no splash plays. I’d let someone else fall on the grenade.
Taron Johnson left the game with a forearm injury versus the Cardinals on Sunday. The long-term severity is yet to be reported, but he’s already been ruled out of Thursday’s game versus the Dolphins.
Panthers 10, Saints 47
Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown suffered a potentially season-ending meniscus injury during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. The injury will require surgery to determine the full extent of his recovery timeline, but it’s looking like you won’t get him again until 2025.
After a semi-breakout in 2023, Alontae Taylor was mesmerizing in 2024’s season opener: 43.60 points courtesy of 3 sacks and 6 tackles. Taylor played 80% of his 77% snap share out of the slot and was an absolute menace. The overall usage is a little low, but the location of the alignment is perfect.
I’m still holding a candle for Chase Young, who was fine on Sunday.
I’d consider staying away from a New Orleans linebacker if you can afford to do so. Neither Demario Davis nor Pete Werner played over 70% of snaps.
Titans 17, Bears 24
Darrell Taylor made a hell of an impact posting his first 35-point game since Week 17 of 2022. Montez Sweat was relatively quiet and Demarcus Walker was a menace. Now, it was only Tennessee, but this Chicago D-Line could be frisky.
They may both play 100% of snaps, but only one produces like a madman. After showing it last year, T.J. Edwards is back proving without a shadow of a doubt he’s the alpha LB to roster over running mate Tremaine Edmunds with a 25.25-point performance and a 20.3% tackle rate. Edmunds did beat him in one section though, with a 20% miss tackle rate, to Edwards’ 13.3%.
In DT-required leagues, go have a look for the big boy T'Vondre Sweat. Sweat led all Titans’ pass rushers with an 81.8 pass-rush grade, was on the field for 68% of snaps, and could benefit from playing next to Jeffrey Simmons.
Post Ernest Jones trade, the linebacker you want in Tennessee currently is Kenneth Murray. Murray wore the green dot, played 100% of snaps, and made 5 tackles at an 8.9% clip. Jack Gibbens and Jones rotated with the former notching 30 snaps and the latter 26, while all 3 failed to reach double digits in points.
If you waited on DB and grabbed Tyrique Stevenson at his DB34 price in our best ball drafts this offseason, you were rewarded to the tune of 28 points. Stevenson played 97% of snaps and made the most of his opportunities at the outside corner role with a pick-6. However, he won’t get to play Will Levis every week, so maybe temper expectations a little going forward.
Vikings 28, Giants 6
You can’t spell “consistently performs above expectation” without AVG, and that’s what Andrew Van Ginkel does: he performs. Questions were made about his possible impact this season, with Dallas Turner and Jonathan Greenard coming in, and so far, it doesn’t matter, with AVG making the most of playing Daniel Jones.
We figured it would be Blake Cashman over Ivan Pace, we just didn’t know the difference would be so vast in terms of snap count. Cashman played 92% of the Vikings’ 67 snaps, while Pace made the most of his 58% with a 15.4% tackle rate and half a sack.
They did it last year, and it looks set to repeat this year too. The Minnesota Vikings played with 3 safeties on the field for 63 of 67 snaps, with only Josh Metellus briefly leaving the field. It will, however, make production hard for all three, with Bynum suffering this time putting up 4 points compared to Metellus’ 10.5 and Smith’s 16.75.
The Giants’ edge rushing duo of Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns hogged all the headlines this offseason. But it was Dexter Lawrence who reigned supreme on the field. “Sexy Dexy” was a monster from the inside, wreaking havoc on just 37 snaps.
Steelers 18, Falcons 10
Trent Jordan Watt is really, really good at football. So good, in fact, that when the refs take away two sacks and a forced fumble due to penalties, he still scores 25 points. Alex Highsmith is still firmly entrenched as the other EDGE (88% snaps), leaving Nick Herbig (30% snaps) to try to get action while the other two catch a breather.
I talked about Roquan Smith’s first game without Patrick Queen being a struggle. Well, Queen’s first game without Roquan was even worse. Queen looked like he regressed to rookie season form, with a 28.8 overall PFF grade, a 26.1 tackle grade, a whopping 57.1 missed tackle rate, and just 2.5 points scored on 100% of snaps.
If you need the answer to Nate Landman versus Troy Andersen for the LB2 role in Atlanta, you’re down bad worse than me. But, never fear, our own Mike Woellert has you covered. Get everything you need to know about Atlanta’s and every other LB situation around the league right here.
Matt Judon may be new in town, but he’s already established himself in the EDGE room of the Falcons. Judon played the most snaps of any Falcons’ edge rusher and rewarded IDP managers with half a sack on his 68% of snaps.
It wasn’t the EDGE room doing damage though, it was the Falcons’ longest-tenured defensive player Grady Jarrett. Garrett was a disruptive force from the inside, check your waiver wires.
Texans 19, Colts 27
Nick Cross and Julian Blackmon had great games this weekend with over 10 tackles each. However, here are a few things to consider. The Texans ran 79 plays in a game that didn’t go to overtime. Most other NFL teams were under 62. Cross played 79% of his snaps from deep, while Blackmon was only deep on 49% of his snaps. Finally, Blackmon (13.9%) and Cross (16.5%) had higher tackle rates than Zaire Franklin (10.1%) and E.J. Speed (13%). That won’t be the norm moving forward.
DeForest Buckner was his usual disruptive self, accumulating 3 pressures and 1.5 sacks against Houston. However, keep an eye on his practice activity in Week 2, as he left late on Sunday with a back issue, though head coach Shane Steichen is hopeful he’ll be able to play this Sunday against the Packers.
The Indianapolis Colts’ EDGE rotation is exactly that: a full-blown rotation, with only Kwity Paye and Tyquan Lewis playing at most 65% of snaps.
Both Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson played 80% of snaps this weekend, though neither managed to get on the sack leaderboard yet. Don’t worry, though. It’ll come.
With Christian Harris out for the first 4 weeks at least on IR, Henry To’oTo’o got the start beside Azeez Al-Shaair and played 89% of snaps. To’oTo’o was the more impactful with a 17.5% tackle rate and a 13.75-point game. Don’t panic, though. An Al-Shaair bounceback is right around the corner.
Patriots 16, Bengals 10
Dax Hill is indeed a fully-fledged outside corner completing his transition from safety this offseason. It just didn’t seem to matter to his production, as he coupled 8 tackles on a 12.5% rate with a sack and a PD to give you 23.6 points.
Logan Wilson was back at it again, playing 100% of snaps, putting up 13 total tackles on a 20.3% rate, no missed tackles, 3 QB hits, and a forced fumble. He was everywhere.
We asked the question “Who would replace Matt Judon?” Keion White well and truly arrived on Sunday night. With 2.5 sacks and 33.75 points, he’s given you a gem of a performance for someone you got late in best balls and rookie drafts (or maybe even off of waivers).
Both Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard played at least 75% of snaps against the Patriots, and while neither recorded a sack, it’ll be sooner rather than later. I’d even go so far to put money on another 10+ sack season for Hendrickson.
Broncos 20, Seahawks 26
Every now and then, players come along at the safety position where we can ignore the fact they play 90% of their snaps from deep because they still find ways to make plays. Antoine Winfield, Minkah Fitpatrick, etc. Julian Love is absolutely one of those guys: 17.4% tackle rate, a forced fumble, and a pick. We could be seeing a #1 overall DB season in the making.
The Jonathon Cooper breakout season is happening. You can watch it go past you, or get on board. Either way, it’s happening.
Both Jerome Baker and Tyrell Dodson played at least 97% of the snaps against the Broncos, Dodson was twice as effective though with a 14.5% tackle rate and 10% miss rate, to Baker’s 7.4% tackle rate and 28.6% miss rate. Not to mention the swag factor of Dodson wearing #0 versus Baker in #17. In fact, that #17 jersey is so heinous on the defensive side of the ball that I’m considering cutting Baker based on vibes alone.
Mafe has one of the EDGE positions locked up, while the other is currently being rotated between Derick Hall and Dre’Mont Jones. Finally, 9 pressures is insane, I can’t wait to see one of the elite EDGE guys go up against Denver.
Raiders 10, Chargers 22
Enjoy it while it’s happening: Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are both healthy and wreaking havoc. It won’t last, and one will more than likely break (Bosa), but while it’s there, it’s glorious to witness. Unless your team is playing the Chargers, or you’re playing against one of them in fantasy football.
The Chargers’ rotation at linebacker is gross at this moment in time. None of Daiyan Henley, Junior Colson, or Denzel Perryman played more than 67% of snaps. All three had a missed tackle rate of 14.5% or higher (33.3% in Colson’s case). I’m leaving this alone until one of them becomes obsolete.
I won’t be the guy to say it’s over for Derwin James, especially not after just one week, especially when he didn’t have that bad of a game (8.75 points, 66.5 PFF overall grade). But I just get the feeling that this year is the beginning of the end of Derwin. It’s hard to stay at the top of the mountain for even two seasons, and Derwin when healthy has been there since he was drafted in 2018. It’s just a feeling, nothing more.
Malcolm Koonce hit IR the day before the game with a knee injury sustained in practice. Because of this, there’s not a dude on this roster I’m interested in currently from an EDGE perspective on the Raiders outside of Maxx Crosby.
Commanders 20, Buccaneers 37
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka may have got the sack, but Yaya Diaby is still the guy I want out of the two of them. Trust the process over short-term results.
Tampa’s LB2 role did not go the way we thought or hoped, with SirVocea Dennis coming in for K.J. Britt on clear passing downs. This resulted in a 66% snap share for Britt and 36% share for Dennis. Even with Dennis putting up just shy of 20 points this week, it’s still Lavonte David and his 98% snap share or nobody at the moment for me.
Antoine Winfield is likely to miss 3-to-4 weeks after he suffered a foot/ankle injury during the Buccaneers' final defensive drive of the game, and was seen in a walking boot Monday.
Jeremy Chinn played on 79% of snaps against the Buccaneers and had 66% sweet spot usage on those snaps. His miss rate (20%) was more impactful than his tackle rate (6%) so I’m probably waiting one more week before I go back to ignoring Chinn.
Cowboys 33, Browns 17
Cleveland played without their starting tackles, Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin. After seeing that the Browns gave up 40 total pressures, I’m not sure they put anyone out there as a replacement…
Mike Zimmer and Eric Kendricks is a partnership that worked amazingly in Minnesota for years. Now, they bring it here to Dallas and it’s like nothing changed at all. With a 17.7% tackle rate, 2 sacks, and an interception, Kendricks was everywhere on just 67% of snaps. The reduced snap share was due to Kendricks leaving the game with dehydration, and at this moment, he’s not in danger of missing Week 2.
Cleveland deployed just one 100% snap-share linebacker: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Jordan Hicks got the start beside JOK but only played 71% of snaps. Hicks did have a solid 15.5% tackle rate, but that significantly reduced workload is enough to leave me gunshy for the moment.
Myles Garrett is elite. We already knew that. He just hasn’t had a proper running mate on the other edge for as long as I can remember. Is this the season? The jury is still out on 2024’s Za’Darius Smith
Rams 20, Lions 26
It’s always been Alex Anzalone, and it always will be. Sorry, Jack Campbell truthers.
He knocked on the door last season, this year he’s going to kick it in. Aidan Hutchinson will finish this season as a top 3 EDGE overall — book it. It’s time for the breakout.
In the offseason, I made a Moneyball joke about the Rams making up for Aaron Donald in the aggregate of Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, and Braden Fiske. And you know what? They might just do it.
I spoke about Mike Woellert’s green dot article earlier on and now is a good time to remind you of it again if you’re deciding between Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder. My thoughts: follow the snaps and “getcha Reeder.”
The good: Kamren Curl played all 61 of the Rams’ defensive snaps. He also played 45% of those snaps in the sweet spot. The bad: Quentin Lake spent 78% of his 100% snap share in the sweet spot, made 10 total tackles, and only had a 16.7% miss rate. The ugly: Curl missed 28.6% of his tackle attempts. It might be time to move on.
Jets 19, 49ers 32
Did anyone else get PTSD watching a human missile with “Adams” on their back fly around the field? Just me? Cool. Tony Adams was vintage Jamal Adams-level of impactful in his first outing of 2023, with a 16.7% tackle rate on 100% of snaps and making his presence felt in the backfield with a sack to top it off.
PFF hadn’t yet put out their pass rush data at the time of publishing, so I can’t break down how it looked from a Jermaine Johnson/Will McDonald split. However, Johnson played 69% of snaps to McDonald’s 49%, with Michael Clemons and Takk McKinley rotating in with 43% and 32% snap shares. Clemons was the only one of the four to record a sack in Monday’s game.
Fred Warner started with a bang, racking up 5 total tackles and a forced fumble in the first 3 drives. However, as the pace of the game changed and the 49ers took control, Warner found himself on the field less, and as such only ended with 7 total tackles and a forced fumble on a 13.7% tackle rate.
Like we’re used to seeing, Quincy Williams played 100% of snaps, and C.J. Mosley looked set to do so, too. However, Mosley did leave briefly in the 2nd quarter for a quick trip to the blue injury tent but was cleared to return on the very next drive. New York will continue to roll out 2 full-time linebackers each week without fail and the score performances (11 for Williams, 10.75 for Mosley) should be the floor moving forward.
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