IDP Dynasty Stock Market Week 14

Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn, USA Today Sports

This is normally the week that the most “Must-win” games are played. The week before your dramatic playoff run. Will you be on the outside looking in? Or will your team be the front-runner in a race to the finish? One thing is for sure here. The lineup decisions you make are as crucial as they have ever been. Who are you on the fringe with? Is there a guy on your watchlist that you’re just dying to get an opinion on? Well, have no fear; we have 20 more players divided up for you with the information you need to win your league! Here we go, folks; ring the bell!

High Dollar Stocks Trending Up

LB Dre Greenlaw: It doesn’t matter who he plays alongside or who deserves more notoriety. Greenlaw is an IDP stud and proved it again this past week. He posted eight tackles, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown. Since his bye week, he has had double digits in three of the four games played. He’s been a bright spot for all managers on their playoff push, and that should continue into the money weeks. Warner is producing alongside him, so we have another example of an NFL team that is producing two quality fantasy linebackers. Greenlaw is the preference of this market.

DE Nick Bosa: The 49ers are loaded with quality IDP talent and at the top of that list is defensive end Bosa. Bosa has had a monster year so far and is well on his way to career highs in sacks and tackles. He currently has 14.5 sacks with five games left to play, with us on record watch. It isn’t inconceivable for him to post 22-24 sacks by the time this is over with a few big games, and with the recent injury to Jimmy Garoppollo, this team needs all the excitement it can get from the defensive unit.

DT Jonathan Allen: Allen is having arguably his best season, and last week was another sign of this. If you have him, you start him, there is no other option, and he is living up to the draft spot for his position. He has 53 total tackles and 7.5 sacks as an interior defensive lineman and currently sits at DT1. He is proving to be a league winner in formats that require a defensive tackle to start and is pacing for career highs in tackles and sacks. Don’t overthink the position; if you have Allen, you play him and likely win the matchup.

S Harrison Smith: This market has been admittedly a bit harsh on the Smith criticism, so it is only fair we praise the greatness when we see it. Well, we definitely have seen it here lately. Smith had back-to-back double-digit games for the first time since Weeks 8 and 9. This past week was a huge performance where he compiled eight tackles, three defended passes, and an interception. He’s 33 years old and is likely in the twilight of his fantasy productive career, but he is absolutely a must-start when he is on, and lately, he has been! If this is the Smith we get to finish the year, he could win manager’s multiple playoff games, but that’s a big if.

LB Alex Singleton: At this point in the season, if you have a Broncos linebacker, they need to be a starter for your team. Singleton was the latest to put up a massive week. 17 tackles this week. If you didn’t catch that let me reiterate. SEVENTEEN. TOTAL. TACKLES. That almost adds to the production of a whole other player on your team. The crazy part? He has had 12 or more tackles in three out of 12 games played. This wasn’t even his season high; he had 21 total in Week 6 against the Chargers. He’s a must-play with that potential and is the true epitome of a league winner with that in the chamber.

High Dollar Stocks Trending Down

LB Devin Bush: When the Steelers added Myles Jack, we all knew that Bush would take a hit. Many teams can carry two linebackers that are productive, but it appears the Steelers aren’t that way. Since his rookie year, Bush hasn’t had a 100+ tackle season and this year will be no exception. He has 65 with five games to go, so while it isn’t inconceivable for him to reach this mark, it is still a fall from grace for a former dynasty darling. He’s worth a roster spot, but not even close to a starting role, barring lineup desperation.

LB T.J. Watt: Another disappointing season for a Steelers linebacker. Watt’s was due mostly in part to a bad injury early on in the season. It was exciting when the news broke of a return, but in the four games he has been playing, he just isn’t producing like managers are accustomed to. He’s averaging less than five tackles per game, and he just isn’t getting sacks like we are used to. It’s not easy to say this, but we can no longer confidently start Watt in these high-pressure games. He’s still a dynasty manager’s dream, but he isn’t this season’s star anymore.

DE Demarcus Lawrence: Okay, so if you’re a regular reader, you know that we have had quite the rollercoaster in breaking down Lawrence’s play this season. Well, the consistent analysis was to get rid of him before you feel stuck. Well, here we are, the high-dollar and high-pressure weeks, but he’s producing like someone you can get off waivers. In standard-scoring leagues has only contributed 16 points in his last three weeks on six tackles and a sack. If you’re a buyer of this position, then these stats have to be one-week stats, not three weeks. Hopefully, this is a bad stretch and doesn’t cost managers any championship performances.

DE Jadeveon Clowney: Sometimes in fantasy football, the name of the player is bigger than the point production. A great example of this is Clowney. Clowney has been boom or bust in fantasy as well as the NFL but has had some seasons where he was a worthy starter. This year, he has been anything but that. He has 20 total tackles and two sacks. If you’re looking for a gambling style of pass-rushing specialist as opposed to your traditional three-down guys, there are much better options than the big name in Cleveland currently.

DT Jeffery Simmons: Simmons was no doubt one of the first players off the board at his position but has not lived up to the name this year. He was poised for a blowup year but has only contributed to four games of double-digits. This is a position that doesn’t move the needle much in terms of points, but if you were drafting one or acquiring one at the beginning of the year, Simmons was likely a target, and unfortunately, it just hasn’t been one that has changed your team. He’s currently DT12 but was preseason top 3 at his position.