Eyes of the Guru IDP Info: Week 9

Guru's IDP Notes: Arizona Cardinals

Andrew Wingard was back in action against the Cowboys, turning in a solid 6-1 while playing every defensive snap. Wingard's return sent Dadrion Taylor-Demerson back to the bench, but the guy he was sharing time with, Kalen King, continued to have a role. The Cardinals fielded at least five defensive backs on virtually every play against Dallas. Wingard and Budda Baker were on the field for all of them. King saw 31 snaps as part of the corner/slot rotation.  

Cody Simon continues to poach a few snaps from Jack Gibbens each week. While Gibbens has reached an 80% share just once in the last four games, he continues to be the most fantasy-friendly of the Cardinals' linebackers. His 3-8 on 77% of the action once again topped Mack Wilson Sr., who was 3-5 on 100% participation. The other important note is that Simon's role is not expanding, so Gibbens remains a safe, high-floor, low-ceiling option.

Josh Sweat went 2-4-1 versus Dallas, creating an interesting pattern. Sweat has a sack in three of his last five games. All of those sacks came with the Cardinals as the visitors. He has none at home this season. If you believe in such trends, Arizona is at Seattle this week. The Seahawks have allowed the sixth most points to the edge position.   

Guru's IDP Notes: Atlanta Falcons

With Divine Deablo sidelined for another game due to a forearm injury, Kendal Daniels (6-7) and Harold Perkins Jr. (5-2-1) continued to excel. Daniels played every snap once again, while Perkins saw his snap count dip from an 85% share in week seven to 70% in week eight.

After opening the season with an average of less than six points per game over the first month, Jessie Bates III has found his groove. He has at least 7 combined stops and 1 turnover in four straight games, averaging 15.5 points over that stretch. Next up, a matchup with his old team. The Bengals are a middle-of-the-pack matchup for safeties in general, but don't discount the extra motivation.

James Pearce Jr. has served his eight-game suspension and should be reinstated this week. It's unclear whether he will jump right into a full role after being out so long, but don't underestimate the value of fresh legs in week nine. With Cincinnati allowing fewer than 2 sacks per game, the matchup isn't particularly good, but now is the time to beat the competition and add Pearce.

Guru's IDP Notes: Baltimore Ravens

When I saw Teddye Buchanan post 2-4 and Trenton Simpson 2-2, my natural reaction was to think Buchanan had an expanded role at Simpson's expense. The truth is even more surprising: Buchanan's 44 snaps came mostly at the expense of Roquan Smith, whose time dropped to 63%. The stat sheet doesn't reflect the situation, as the 6-5 with a forced fumble and two pass breakups was by far Smith's best production of the season. For now, we can only look at it as a one-time outlier, but it is something to keep an eye on in week nine.

After sharing time with Keondre Jackson in the third safety role in week seven, K'Vonn Wallace picked up the vast majority of the snaps in that role against Buffalo, leading to his 5-1 on the stat sheet. Jaylinn Hawkins could be back in action soon.  

Guru's IDP Notes: Buffalo Bills

Ed Oliver continues to see limited action as he manages a lingering injury. That is unfortunate, considering the Vikings are allowing 11 tackles and a sack on average to the interior line positions. The only Buffalo defender in line to potentially take advantage is Deone Walker, who is consistently getting at least 65% of the snaps.   

Guru's IDP Notes: Carolina Panthers

Will Lee III was off to a fast start, recording 4 solo stops before being helped to the cart and hauled off to the locker room early in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. With Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, and Akayleb Evans on IR and Lee likely to miss time, the Panthers are running out of bodies quickly. Chau Smith-Wade took over for Lee, working opposite Marco Wilson, who jumped right into the starting lineup in his first action of the season.

Nickel safety Zakee Wheatley is playing well and producing. He totaled 4-3 with an interception against the Packers on a 68% play share. If either of the starters go down, jump on him.

Guru's IDP Notes: Chicago Bears

Different jersey, same results for Jeffery Simmons, who stood out with 3-3-1 and a batted pass in his Bears debut. The trade might even be a boost for his fantasy value. Don't overlook the ripple effect of this addition. Simmons makes everyone around him better. Montez Sweat was officially 1-1-1 on the stat sheet, but he had 2 sacks called back by holding penalties in the secondary, and the 5-1-1 by Devin Bush was his best production of the season.  

Kyler Gordon continues to see his snap count rise, but now that opponents have seen his corner blitz on film, he no longer has the element of surprise. The result was a one-tackle performance on Monday night. The issue with Gordon has always been inconsistency. Most of the time it's related to injury. Between last week's vanishing act and the matchup with a Buccaneers offense that's completed seven passes in the last two games, Gordon is a risky consideration for us in week nine. Granted, there are extenuating circumstances that led to the lack of pass attempts, but there is no guarantee the Buccaneers will return to the pass-happy offense we saw over the first few weeks 

Guru's IDP Notes: Cincinnati Bengals

The Falcons' dismal offensive performance last week was largely due to the game being played in a monsoon. They have been a strong matchup for edge, linebackers, and safeties on most weeks, so don't hesitate to plug in your Bengals.

There are some injury concerns for Cincinnati's defense. The edge position got very thin with Cashius Howell (wrist) and Cedric Johnson (ankle) injured and not expected to go in week nine. That could make last year's first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, the third man. Stewart has played 23 snaps to date, including the 6 from week eight.

The Bengals will miss the depth on the edge, but the injury to corner DJ Turner could have the biggest impact. Turner is one of the league's outstanding cover men and a key piece of a thin Bengals secondary. If the heel injury costs him time, Josh Newton would be the next man up.

Guru's IDP Notes: Cleveland Browns

Despite their struggles to run the ball, the short passing game makes New Orleans a decent matchup for linebackers. Because of their struggles to run the ball, they are an excellent matchup for corners. The position averages over 15 tackles per game, including 12 solos, 1.2 turnovers, and 1.6 passes defended. The problem is that Tyson Campbell, who would be the guy most likely to take advantage, might be out. Campbell left the week eight game with either a sore neck or a concussion. If he is unable to go, Mekhi Blackmon would get the call.

Guru's IDP Notes: Dallas Cowboys

Is Shemar James the Dallas linebacker to have going forward? After the week eight contest, an argument can be made for it. He set a season-high snap count among the team's linebackers in week seven at 88%, then upped the mark to 96% in week eight. James led the team in tackles against Arizona at 5-4, and added an interception to finish second among the team's defenders in fantasy points behind Quennin Williams.

Could Dallas give us two good linebacker options down the stretch? DeMarvion Overshown turned in a solid outing as well, going 3-5 with a forced fumble on a 73% share. Meanwhile, Jaishawn Barham becomes an afterthought, picking up 16 snaps. We could get good numbers from James and Overshown going forward, but there are other factors to consider before getting too excited. The Cardinals are the best matchup in the game for linebackers at the moment, so last week's numbers might be a tad inflated. Then there is the fact that Dee Winters is expected back soon, which could throw another wrench into the gears. All things considered, I'm taking chances with both James and Overshown. We can deal with Winters when his calf heals. He is not yet practicing.    

Caleb Downs managed 4 stops before exiting Sunday's game with a concussion. His availability for week nine is in question, as is that of Joey Porter Jr., who is nursing an ankle.

Quinnen Williams turned in his best performance of the season, going 4-3-2 against Arizona. Whatever is wrong with the Dallas defense, don't blame it on Williams, who is 12-8-5 over his last five games. 

Guru's IDP Notes: Denver Broncos