Reading the Defense: Week 10

Jene Bramel's Reading the Defense: Week 10 Jene Bramel Published 11/11/2015

DB TIERS

I'm going to work through some midseason tiers over the next few weeks. Time limitations will prevent me from providing the same amount of context as I do in the offseason, but this should provide a snapshot of where I feel these players are currently. During the season, I approach my lineups and roster with three categories in mind -- matchup independent every week starter / matchup play / too much upside to cut. Everyone else is on the watch list.

I'm going to roll through these team-by-team.

TEAM EVERY-WEEK STARTER MATCHUP PLAY EVERY-WEEK UPSIDE TO HOLD
ARIZONA Tyrann Mathieu, Deone Bucannon, Rashad Johnson Tony Jefferson  
ATLANTA   Ricardo Allen  William Moore (Deep Redraft Only)
BALTIMORE   Will Hill, Jimmy Smith  
BUFFALO Corey Graham Ronald Darby, Duke Williams, Leodis McKelvin  
CAROLINA   Kurt Coleman, Josh Norman  
CHICAGO   Antrel Rolle  
CINCINNATI   Adam Jones, Reggie Nelson   
CLEVELAND   Donte Whitner, Tashaun Gipson  Ibraheim Campbell (Dyn Only)
DALLAS   Barry Church, Byron Jones  
DENVER T.J. Ward Chris Harris  
DETROIT James Ihedigbo    
GREEN BAY Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Morgan Burnett, Damarious Randall    
HOUSTON     Kevin Johnson (Dyn Only)
INDIANAPOLIS Dwight Lowery, Mike Adams, Greg Toler    
JACKSONVILLE Johnathan Cyprien, Aaron Colvin    
KANSAS CITY Ron Parker Marcus Peters  
MIAMI Reshad Jones    
MINNESOTA Harrison Smith    
NEW ENGLAND Logan Ryan Malcolm Butler, Devin McCourty   
NEW ORLEANS Kenny Vaccaro Jairus Byrd  
NEW YORK GIANTS Landon Collins   Prince Amukamara
NEW YORK JETS     Calvin Pryor
OAKLAND Charles Woodson D.J. Hayden  
PHILADELPHIA Malcolm Jenkins, Nolan Carroll Byron Maxwell Eric Rowe (Deep Dyn Only)
PITTSBURGH Michael Mitchell, Antwan Blake, Will Allen    
ST. LOUIS Mark Barron, Trumaine Johnson, T.J. McDonald    
SAN DIEGO Eric Weddle   Jason Verrett (Dyn Only)
SAN FRANCISCO Jaquiski Tartt  Tramaine Brock   
SEATTLE Kam Chancellor Earl Thomas   
TAMPA BAY Chris Conte Bradley McDougald  
TENNESSEE Michael Griffin    Jason McCourty (Deep Only)
WASHINGTON Dashon Goldson, Trent Robinson, Bashaud Breeland     

EVERY-DOWN LINEBACKER PROJECTION


 

TEAMEVERY-DOWN LB75-100% SNAPSINJ | SUSPNOTES
ARIZONA Kevin Minter : Deone Bucannon Markus Golden Alex Okafor : Daryl Washington  
ATLANTA Paul Worrilow   Justin Durant  
BALTIMORE C.J. Mosley : Daryl Smith Elvis Dumervil : Courtney Upshaw Terrell Suggs (IR)  
BUFFALO Preston Brown : Nigel Bradham      
CAROLINA Luke Kuechly : Thomas Davis      
CHICAGO Jonathan Anderson Christian Jones : Pernell McPhee Shea McClellin  
CINCINNATI Vinny Rey Vontaze Burfict   Burfict nearing every down role
CLEVELAND Karlos Dansby      
DALLAS   Rolando McClain Sean Lee McClain likely every down, Hitchens v Gachkar depends on health 
DENVER Brandon Marshall Von Miller : Danny Trevathan DeMarcus Ware  
DETROIT   Josh Bynes : Stephen Tulloch DeAndre Levy  
GREEN BAY Clay Matthews Julius Peppers Sam Barrington (IR) Jake Ryan getting playing time now
HOUSTON Brian Cushing      
INDIANAPOLIS D'Qwell Jackson : Jerrell Freeman      
JACKSONVILLE Paul Posluszny : Telvin Smith Sr      
KANSAS CITY Derrick Johnson : Justin Houston Tamba Hali    
MIAMI Jelani Jenkins Koa Misi    
MINNESOTA Chad Greenway   ? Anthony Barr : Eric Kendricks Zimmer says Barr okay, watch for mid-week signing
NEW ENGLAND Jamie Collins : Dont'a Hightower     Freeny replaced ill and inactive Collins in W9
NEW ORLEANS Stephone Anthony   Hau'oli Kikaha : Dannell Ellerbe Michael Mauti saw snaps w/ Ellerbe/Kikaha inactive 
NEW YORK GIANTS   Devon Kennard : Jonathan Casillas Jon Beason (IR)  
NEW YORK JETS David Harris : Demario Davis      
OAKLAND Malcolm Smith Aldon Smith : Khalil Mack    
PHILADELPHIA Mychal Kendricks Connor Barwin : Brandon Graham Jordan Hicks (IR) Hicks injury likely to put Alonso into 80%+ snaps
PITTSBURGH Lawrence Timmons : Ryan Shazier      
ST. LOUIS James Laurinaitis : Mark Barron   Alec Ogletree (IR-R)  
SAN DIEGO Melvin Ingram III Donald Butler : Kavell Conner Manti Te'o : Denzel Perryman  
SAN FRANCISCO NaVorro Bowman Aaron Lynch : Ahmad Brooks   Starting to see Hodges play for Wilhoite on more downs
SEATTLE Bobby Wagner : K.J. Wright Bruce Irvin    
TAMPA BAY Lavonte David : Kwon Alexander      
TENNESSEE Avery Williamson Derrick Morgan : Brian Orakpo   Woodyard and Brown continue rotation 
WASHINGTON Keenan Robinson Ryan Kerrigan   Robinson still not healthy, Riley/Compton rotating 

I'll update this table every week between now and Week 17.

quick jpp note

Pierre-Paul proved last week he'll still be successful with a speed rush. I still believe teams will adjust and force Pierre-Paul to show a counter move he can win with and I'm not convinced the tackle counts will be there this year, but big play owners can consider Pierre-Paul a high variance, every-week starter. Pierre-Paul is worth rostering in all leagues where you hold two defensive ends, but isn't yet a starter in balanced or tackle-heavy leagues.

WAIVER WIRE PRIORITIES

I'm checking the waiver wire in a mix of my most and least competitive leagues, including expanded lineups. If there's someone on your list who hasn't made mine, shoot me a note and I'll add them here.

DL: Jason Pierre-Paul > Olivier Vernon >> Malik Jackson > Chris Baker

LB: Kiko Alonso > Jonathan Anderson > Chad Greenway > Danny Trevathan > Jonathan Casillas = Gerald Hodges > Jake Ryan

Subscribe to The Audible on iTunes or download our weekly IDP podcast here every Thursday for injury updates, player analysis and matchup discussion. Follow and ask questions on Twitter @JeneBramel.

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