The good news is that the bye weeks are all over. The bad news is that now, teams that are eliminated will start doing odd things with their lineups. This could create some completely unexpected situations. Hopefully, we can all avoid those landmines. Keep a close eye on late-week news, where we might get some warning.
Guru's IDP Notes: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals gave us the perfect example of those unexpected odd things when they started Owen Pappoe over Akeem Davis-Gaither. Pappoe took advantage of his opportunity, leading the team in tackles at 6-4 despite playing about half of the snaps. Cody Simon remained the ever-down guy, though we would never know it by looking at the stat sheet. It's hard to get excited about a linebacker who plays half the time. That said, the Texans are a strong matchup for the position, so if you are in a tough spot, Pappoe is an option until the adrenaline wears off.
Guru's IDP Notes: Atlanta Falcons
Not only Jessie Bates III, but the entire Falcons defense has turned back into a pumpkin. A unit that was racking up big sack numbers over the first half of the year now looks more like the one we had seen over the previous decade. The cause gets no help from the quad injury suffered by Jalen Walker six plays into last week's game. With Walker out, Leonard Floyd collected a 70% playshare, which was his highest of the season by far. The opportunity should be there for Floyd this week, but even with their recent struggles, the Buccaneers are a tough matchup for pass rushers.
Guru's IDP Notes: Baltimore Ravens
We knew going in that the Steelers were a poor matchup for safeties, so the dismal (1-2) production by Kyle Hamilton was not a big surprise. Pittsburgh is not a great matchup for linebackers either, but Teddye Buchanan's 1-3 was below expectations. Both players put up much better numbers against the Bengals in week 13, so they should fare much better this week in the rematch.
Guru's IDP Notes: Buffalo Bills
Those of us who played the matchup of Christian Benford versus Ja'Marr Chase didn't exactly get the results from that matchup that we had hoped for, but the points came just the same. Sometimes it's better to be lucky.
Jordan Poyer turned in another solid game at 6-2 against Cincinnati. He is not the player he once was, but Poyer has been a steady contributor on the stat sheet. Meanwhile, the Patriots have been a hit-or-miss matchup for the position. A few safeties have excelled against them, while most have been rather average.
Shaq Thompson was the best of the Bills' linebackers at 3-3. Those numbers are not impressive, but he was the team's full-time linebacker, and the Patriots are a good matchup for the position. Since week eight, the linebacker position has averaged 17 tackles, and just shy of one splash play against New England.
Guru's IDP Notes: Chicago Bears
The Bears are far from out of it, but they still threw us a curveball last week. Noah Sewell and T.J. Edwards both returned from injury, yet it was D'Marco Jackson who remained the every-down linebacker. Sewell played one snap while Edwards logged a 62% share. This puts IDP managers in limbo. It's fairly safe to assume that Edwards will see his playing time increase in his second game back, but what is going on with Sewell? Unless we get some clarification from the team later this week, putting him in our lineups would be a huge risk.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson showed up big again, going 6-4 with an interception. So who is the real Gardner-Johnson? Is it the guy who put up big numbers in weeks 9, 10, and 14, or the guy who totaled five tackles and three assists despite playing every down in weeks 11, 12, and 13? We can look at the stats and see that Cleveland has been a pretty good matchup for safeties in general. On the other hand, Gardner-Johnson is not really a true safety, working the slot and moving around. If you find yourself an underdog in need of a big game, he could be worth the gamble. Just know that there is no in between with him. It's either feast or famine.
As a side note to the Gardner-Johnson situation, Kyler Gordon was active for last week's game but did not see the field on defense. Has Gordon lost the job completely, or will he see some snaps this week?
Guru's IDP Notes: Cincinnati Bengals
Joseph Ossai has come on strong of late. He totaled 4-1 with a forced fumble before leaving Sunday's game with a shin injury. The injury was a laceration that required stitches, so it is likely not a pain issue, but he is currently considered questionable. Ossai had his best game of the year versus Baltimore in week 13, going 3-1-2 with a forced fumble. We will have to keep an eye on this one as the week progresses.
Cincinnati's young linebackers are struggling, thus the safeties have been very busy of late. Geno Stone has at least seven combined stops in five of the last six games, with at least four solo in all six. Jordan Battle has put up similar tackle totals over that span, including 10 stops in the first game with Baltimore. Throw in a bit of extra motivation for Stone, who is a former Raven, and both of these guys are worth starting this week.
Guru's IDP Notes: Cleveland Browns
Once again, the Brown's linebacker overcame a poor matchup to put up good numbers for us. This week is a no-brainer for them. The position has averaged 19 tackles per game against the Bears since week eight. There is a bit of concern with Devin Bush, who is a little more dependent on the big play. Chicago has not given up a sack to a linebacker since before week eight.
Denzel Ward left Sunday's game with a calf injury. As of Wednesday afternoon, there has been no update on his status. If Ward sits, Myles Harden would likely move into the full-time role opposite Tyson Campbell.
Guru's IDP Notes: Denver Broncos
Zach Allen has been among the most disappointing defenders this season. This was emphasized by his Goose egg against the Raiders, who have been a great matchup for tackles on the season. Don't count on it getting better this week versus a Green Bay squad that has allowed one sack to interior linemen since week eight.
Alex Singleton was a bit less disappointing last week at 1-7. That is actually not bad considering the Raiders ran the ball 10 times for 30 yards. Unlike Allen, however, Singleton has a good shot at bouncing back against the Packers. The linebacker position has averaged 17 stops, including 10+ solos, against Green Bay over their last seven games.
Guru's IDP Notes: Detroit Lions
As the injuries continue to pile up, the Lions have to feel like they are caught in a time warp. Brian Branch tore his Achilles, and Thomas Harper left with a concussion. Avonte Maddox replaced Harper, who left early, and tallied a strong 6-2 with a forced fumble and a pass defended. Daniel Thomas finished up after Branch left late in the game, going 2-0 with a pass breakup on eight snaps.
The Lions added Damontae Kazee to the practice squad this week. If Harper fails to clear protocol, he will likely be activated. Kazee could end up starting in the next couple of weeks.
Al-Quadin Muhammad turned in a career-best performance at 3-0-3 against Dallas, but don't chase the points. Yes, he now has 9 sacks on the season, but last week was the first time since week three that he exceeded 7 fantasy points, and he has four or fewer in seven of the previous nine games.
Not only do we not chase the points with Muhammad, but we should sit Aidan Hutchinson this week against a Rams offense that is the worst matchup in the game for the edge position. Josh Sweat was completely shut out last week, not to mention that the Rams have allowed about six total stops and less than half a sack per game to the edge position since week seven.
Guru's IDP Notes: Green Bay Packers
Edgerrin Cooper has been playing through nagging injuries for several weeks. If the numbers are any indication, he might finally be getting healthy. The eleven total stops against Chicago were his best production in two months.
Quay Walker was back in action versus Chicago as well, going 3-6. The Packers fielded three linebackers on more than half of the snaps, with Isaiah McDuffie chipping in six combined stops as well. Playing McDuffie would be a stretch, but Cooper and Walker should be safe starts against the Broncos, who have been a solid matchup for the position.
Guru's IDP Notes: Houston Texans
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