IDP Start/Sit: Week 9
Jake Kohlhagen, lead IDP contributor for Reality Sports Online, shares his IDP starts and sits for Week 9.
This article is presented by our friends at Reality Sports Online.
Here we are going into Week 9 after the trade deadline, and with some players on new teams, let’s take a look at some of those streamers or players who could be joining your team this week. Additionally, Week 8 was a doozy for last week’s start/sit with players being too hurt to play, others as a healthy scratch, and even an ejection!
Week 8 Recap
DL:
Start: Kayvon Thibodeaux (1 QB hit, saw lots of snaps, just didn’t produce) 👎
Start: Rasheem Green (1 solo, Titans only had 14 dropbacks all game!) 👎
Sit: Chandler Jones (1 solo) 👍
LB:
Start: Quay Walker (4 solos, 1 assist, 1 FF on 15 snaps, if not for the ejection, this was looking like a top 10 finish, but at least he didn’t kill your week) 👍
Start: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Inactive Monday Night) 👎
Sit: Tae Crowder (2 solos, 34% of snaps, Jaylon Smith looks like the new LB1 for NYG) 👍
DB:
Start: Adrian Amos (4 solos, 1 assist, had 3 more solos negated due to penalties, so a borderline performance) 👍
Start: Eric Rowe (A healthy scratch: he’s a big miss and stay-away for the rest of the season!) 👎
Sit: Kyle Dugger (Ankle injury ended up keeping him out of the game) 👍
Week 9 Starts & Sits
START: Travon Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars, DL28
With an average of 58 snaps per game, Travon Walker has been playing an elite level of snaps for the DL position. He has posted solid tackle numbers this year, as well, with 4+ tackles in 6 of 8 weeks. His pass rush pressure rate has been poor at just above 6%, but this week he has a favorable matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders who have allowed a 26% pass rush pressure rate and a 13% sack conversion rate.
He has also made a couple of plays and not looked lost when in coverage, which does give him some additional big play upside (he already has 1 INT and 2 PDs as well). Walker may not be delivering FULL #1 overall numbers quite yet in the NFL, but he has enough to be a DL2 this week for our IDP lineups.
START: Gregory Rousseau, Buffalo Bills, DL24
Gregory Rousseau has been a standout on the best defense in the league, boasting a PFF defensive grade of 81.9 and a pass rush grade of 83.6. The biggest problem for IDP is that Rousseau does not get ideal snap count numbers to support overall IDP production. He is seeing just under 35 snaps per game, which is good but not where we’d like to see it. However, even with the limited work, we have still seen 5 sacks already, consistent pressures, and the ability to make other plays too (2 PDs this season and an INT on a self-deflected pass last year). Rousseau gets a favorable matchup against the New York Jets this week, who have allowed a 26% pressure rate (high), but a 10% sack conversion rate (low). Thankfully, Rousseau has the ability to take advantage of his pressures and convert them into a sack (or two?) this week.
SIT: Rasheem Green, Houston Texans, DL29
Rasheem Green was a start for us last week and the process still seems sound for him. He is still a viable place in most other weeks; however, his matchup this week against the Philadelphia Eagles is one of the worst matchups for any defensive lineman, as the Eagles have one of the strongest overall offensive lines. They have the lowest pressure rate allowed in the league at 19% and 3rd best sack conversion rate at 8%. Green is someone to keep on your bench but look to another possible start for this week.
START: Nicholas Morrow, Chicago Bears, LB31
Mr. Morrow is in a situation where he was already seeing 100% snaps but was doing that alongside a very talented producer in Roquan Smith. With Smith moving on to the Baltimore Ravens via trade, Morrow is the guy in the middle of a defense that should still be taking plenty of snaps as one of the lower-tier defenses this year. What kind of hole is Smith leaving behind? 82 tackles and 3 sacks. Will any single player absorb this kind of production? No, but Morrow stands to benefit the most, and even soaking up some of Smith’s production will move Morrow up into the consistent LB2 range week-to-week. If Morrow is not available, Jack Sanborn is a deeper look.
START: David Long Jr., Tennessee Titans, LB20
David Long Jr. continues to be the linebacker you want from the Titans as he delivers top-tier numbers week in and week out. Of the 7 games he’s played this year, he’s had at least 8 tackles in 5 of them. He’s also contributed 2 INTs and 4 PDs. He has no serious competition for snaps and with this level of production, he should be a top 15 LB or better moving forward. This level of production combined with his high quality of play (his PFF defensive grade of 74.7 is 13th among LBs) bodes well for his chances of getting a new deal from the Titans, which makes him a more stable asset in dynasty leagues. No matter what format you play, though, he’s a top option.
SIT: Isaiah Simmons, Arizona Cardinals, LB35
Isaiah Simmons went from playing over 90% of the snaps last season to a sub-70% snap count this season. This kind of usage for a player that is designated as an LB but plays a large amount of slot corner (47% of total snaps) is less than ideal. Pair that with limited IDP production of just over 4 tackles per game and Simmons managers are understandably frustrated. He’s been relevant some weeks thanks to some splash plays: 1 INT (returned for a TD), 1 sack, 2 FFs, and 1 FR.
Simmons has shown some capability in pass coverage but has looked suspect in run defense, a combination that does not bode well for his usage as an LB. To capitalize on those boom weeks, you’ll have to play him every week, but given how low the floor is with Simmons, that’s a gamble. It’s sad to think about a top 20 NFL draft pick being so under-utilized, but this is likely the Isaiah Simmons experience going forward.
START: Andre Cisco, Jacksonville Jaguars, DB45
In just his 2nd season, Andre Cisco has delivered some strong performances. He is playing 99% of the snaps so far this season, primarily from a deep safety role, which tends to have less consistency but some playmaking safeties find a way to be IDP-relevant even with that deployment. With 4.75 tackles per game and 2 INTs on the year, Cisco has been a viable starter who doesn’t kill your team. This week he has a matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, who are in the top half of the league in intermediate and deep throws. Derek Carr is top 10 in turnover-worthy plays on those deep throws, so with Cisco playing primarily deep, this is a matchup that should have some big-play upside for Cisco and a nice floor to balance it out.
START: Xavier Woods, Carolina Panthers, DB41
Xavier Woods had the distinction of being one of the very few defenders to play 100% of all their team’s snaps last season (1,208 total), and so far this year, he’s played… 99% of snaps! Of those snaps, 51% have come in the “sweet spot” (box/slot/D-line). With Jeremy Chinn out, Woods’ production hasn’t quite matched what Chinn did with a similar role, but Woods has the markings of future success AND a nice matchup against the Bengals this week. Cincinnati has fed Mixon the ball but has struggled to produce bigger plays with him, so those Carolina defenders in the sweet spot (i.e. Woods) should be able to capitalize by racking up loads of tackles.
SIT: Jessie Bates III, Cincinnati Bengals, DB26
On the flip side of that IDP matchup, we have Jessie Bates III. Bates has been an IDP stalwart since coming into the league in 2018. He’s averaged 6.5 tackles per game over that 4-year span, which is quite impressive for any safety, but paired with the fact that he has consistently played as a deep safety, it’s even more eye-popping. However, this season he is averaging 4.5 tackles per game, 2 off his career total. The Panthers offense has looked revitalized (somehow?) ever since moving on from CMC and Matt Rhule, but the Falcons are not exactly a tough matchup. Halloween might be past us, but I think this Panthers offense will turn back into the pumpkin at some point. With a lower tier of production overall this year and the matchup against Carolina, it’s time to find a different option for that DB2/3 role in your lineup.
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