IDP Matchups, Living the Stream: Week 5

With each passing week, the importance of being able to live the stream continues to grow in IDP leagues.

Injuries to prominent players continue to mount. The No. 1 linebacker on some draft boards (Nick Bolton of the Kansas City Chiefs) has already missed multiple games. The No. 1 defensive back on just about every draft board (Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James) missed Week 4 with a hamstring injury. A top-10 edge-rusher (Matthew Judon of the Patriots) tore a tendon in his arm last week and will likely miss the rest of the season.

Then there are the IDP disappointments—and they are legion. Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen barely ranks inside the top 60 defensive linemen in fantasy points. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard has gone from a potential IDP stud to a snap count south of 50 percent. Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins has gone from DB1 in 2022 to afterthought in 2023.

But wait! There's more!

Four teams are on a bye in Week 5—the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That means no Myles Garrett on the defensive line. No Bobby Wagner at linebacker. No Antoine Winfield Jr on the back end.

Teams need a fill-in—especially teams that have started the season slow. They need a Week 5 option who can help keep the season from coming off the rails. An under-the-radar play with the potential to be what so many players haven't been in 2023—relevant.

Reckon I should start rattling off names now, huh?

DE Jonathon Cooper, Denver (vs. NY Jets)

The days of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb manning the edge are gone in Denver—Miller was sent packing long ago, Chubb was traded last year, and big-money free-agent signing Randy Gregory has turned out to be a bust so far. However, third-year pro Jonathon Cooper has emerged as a solid starter in his third season—something he told Andrew Mason of Denver Sports was most assuredly on his "to-do" list for 2023.

"I know for me, personally, I just really wanted to improve from Year Two to Year Three," he said, "and I took every single day very seriously, just figuring out the little things that I could work on to get better and be a better player. Just better at cleaning up my pass rushing, cleaning up, setting the edge, being stronger, feeling more comfortable in my weight and with this defense and scheme. I feel faster."

That speed has shown in recent weeks. Against the Commanders in Week 2, Cooper registered eight total tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Last Sunday against the Chicago Bears, he posted five tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. The New York Jets aren't quite as favorable a fantasy matchup as those teams, but they do rank 10th in fantasy points allowed to defensive ends.

DE Andrew Van Ginkel, Miami (vs. NY Giants)

Van Ginkel has done a little of everything for the Dolphins this season. In the opener against the Chargers, the 28-year-old played mostly inside linebacker. But after edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips got hurt, Van Ginkel kicked outside. That's where he played last week against the Buffalo Bills, piling up two sacks. His performance over the past few weeks has drawn the praise of the teammate he replaced in the lineup.

"That boy snapped," Philips told reporters. "He's one of the sneakiest, most sneaky athletic people I've ever met. He's very unassuming, but he's really a playmaker all around the ball, flying around, making plays, rushing his (expletive) off."

There's optimism that Phillips could return in Week 5, which clouds Van Ginkel's role against the New York Giants a bit. But if he kicks back inside, he's likely at least good for a handful of tackles, giving him the sort of IDP floor that can be very nice with a "lineman." It's also worth pointing out that Seahawks linebackers Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks combined for four sacks of Daniel Jones from inside last week. If he remains outside, Van Ginkel will get one of the best pass-rush matchups in the league. Either way, he has played too well to not be out there—for the Dolphins and IDP managers.

LB Nate Landman, Atlanta (vs. Houston)

A second-year undrafted free agent out of Colorado, Landman had already made one start for an injured Troy Andersen this year before the latter suffered a season-ending pectoral tear. Now Landman will be a three-down starter for the Falcons for the foreseeable future, and while speaking to reporters, he credited veteran linebacker Kaden Elliss for helping him prepare for the increased role.

"Football is such a crazy sport and, especially in the NFL, there are so many ups and downs. You never know what's going on," Landman said. "(Kaden) has helped me stay level. Not get too high, too low. He even was talking to me about this being a great opportunity (for me) when Troy went out the second week. It's him just reassuring me there."

The moment certainly didn't appear too big for Landman Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London—Landman's 10 total tackles and eight solos trailed only safety Richie Grant. In Week 5, Landman and the Falcons host a Houston team surrendering the second-most fantasy points to linebackers four games into the season, so another double-digit outing is a genuine possibility.

LB Nicholas Morrow, Philadelphia (at LA Rams)

Let's get one thing clear off the jump. Morrow isn't going to repeat the three sacks he piled up last week—he had four over the first 81 games of his career. However, for at least one more week, Morrow will be an every-down player and Philadelphia ‘s defensive play-caller—a role that Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai told reporters the sixth-year veteran has taken well to.

"I think he's communicated really well on the field, and that's a big job for the green dot guy, to make sure the calls get out," he said. "He's doing a good job of that, he's taken ownership of it. He's being loud and then he's reacting well. He's trusting his instincts and trusting the game plan, and trusting the coaching that Coach Eliot and Coach Carter have given him, to go ahead and make plays, and take his shots when he can."

It's quite the turnaround for a player the Eagles actually cut just before the season. In addition to those three sacks against the Commanders, Morrow amassed a season-high 11 total tackles and 10 solos, and with a Week 5 matchup looming with a Rams team allowing the third-most fantasy points to linebackers, IDP managers might as well enjoy the last week before Nakobe Dean is eligible to return from injured reserve.

S Jordan Fuller, LA Rams (vs. Philadelphia)

Fuller has had an up-and-down four seasons in Los Angeles—after recording 113 total tackles in 2021, the former Ohio State standout missed most of the 2022 campaign. However, heading into 2023, Fuller was voted a captain and has become a leader of a young Rams defense. Head coach Sean McVay praised Fuller's growth and maturity while speaking to reporters.

"He's so steady, so consistent, he's refreshingly secure in who he is and what his natural personality is, but he connects with guys," McVay said. "He's one of those guys, in a lot of instances, this can be sometimes transactional and he's a transformational type of person where he wants to get to know guys. He's invested in them, but then he's also totally invested in football and his communication, especially playing the safety position in our defense, is immensely important to us."

So far this season, Fuller's statistical production hasn't been especially impressive—in fact, his tackle numbers have actually dropped in each game this season. But Fuller is on the field for every snap and faces a potent Philadelphia Eagles secondary Sunday that has permitted the third-most fantasy points to safeties in 2023. Fuller's best game of the year is coming in Week 5.

S Justin Reid, Kansas City (at Minnesota)

Reid has seen both ends of the NFL spectrum—after beginning his career in Houston, Reid joined the Chiefs in free agency and won a Super Bowl in his second season with the team. The hard-hitting safety plays a number of roles for the team (including kicker in a game last year), and he told Aaron Wilson of KPRC that he's proud of the versatility he brings to the table.

"I see myself as a play-caller on defense," Reid said. "I enjoy the Xs and Os, the checks, really getting everybody situated and put in the best position. Playing different roles, from strong safety to free safety to dime linebacker to sometimes kicker, having confidence in those roles and not having to be out there and think, just being able to play as offenses make shifts and make adjustments rapidly, to play fast at that point, you really start to take the game to a new level."

Those varying roles have a downside—they tend to make Reid a high-variance IDP who can blow up one week and vanish the next. This week sets up well to be the former—through four weeks this season, only the Carolina Panthers have given up more fantasy points to the safety position than the Vikings.