This article is a weekly look at players generally ranked around the edge of those considered "startable". For the purposes of this article, I will define startable as all players on the edge of starting on a team that starts two defensive linemen, two linebackers, and two defensive backs. Therefore, about the middle of the DL2, LB2, and DB2 range are where the choices begin to get tough. Each position is covered in descending order beginning with the players who have the most prime matchups to those with more risk and less upside to those who are complete reaches. Your mileage may vary, but the idea is to discuss these players and provide you with some analysis that might help you make those difficult lineup decisions a bit easier. I hope that your expertise as an owner has filled your team with enough players that you don't need to consider players outside of the prime cuts discussed here. Good luck and always keep in mind that your feedback and comments are welcome. I also want to thank and give credit to Bob Henry for creating the format for this article.
NOTE: This article was written before the official injury reports were released, so please double check that any player listed in this article is playing. Also, you should always check the inactives on Sunday.
Defensive Line
Note: When I mention stats of the defensive linemen, the format will be solos/assists/sacks unless otherwised mentioned.
Prime Cut (Great matchup, strong sleeper)
Osi Umenyiora, Atlanta Falcons (at Buffalo)
Season stats: 20/14/6.5
Last week: 0/1/0
Buffalo sacks allowed per game/ranking: 2.9/Tied for 8th
Buffalo QB pressure allowed ranking: Tied for 3rd
Umenyiora has all 6.5 of his sacks in four games, but in fairness to him, Umenyiora did not had a favorable schedule in the majority of games in which he did not record a sack. This week Umenyiora faces the Bills, who are third in QB pressure allowed and eighth in sacks allowed per game. Based on Umenyiora's performance in great matchups like this, expect another strong statistical game and that makes him a strong prime cut sleeper this week.
Worth a Gamble (Good matchup, solid sleeper)
George Selvie, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Oakland)
Season stats: 20/6/5.5
Last week: 1/0/0
Oakland sacks allowed per game/ranking: 3.5/Tied for 3rd
Oakland QB pressure allowed ranking: 12th
Selvie has been one of the biggest surprises on the IDP side of fantasy football and has helped softened the blow to the pass rush when defensive end Anthony Spencer was lost for the season due to a knee injury. Selvie has a solid matchup this week against the Raiders, who have allowed the third-most sacks per game in the league. The Raiders will focus most of their pass blocking attention on stud pass rusher Demarcus Ware and that should give Selvie plenty of chances to get to the quarterback this week. Consider Selvie a solid upper-level sleeper with upside this week.
Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets (vs. Miami)
Season stats: 32/27/3
Last week: 6/3/0.5
Miami sacks allowed per game/ranking: 4.0/1st
Miami QB pressure allowed ranking: 8th
Richardson is one of the few 3-4 defensive ends that have low sack totals and still get written in this article and that is solely because of the 60 total tackles that Richardson has racked up this year. This week Richardson faces the Dolphins, who are tops in the league in sacks allowed per game and in the top ten in QB pressure allowed. Richardson should have some sack opportunities and combined with his normal number of tackles, it makes Richardson a solid upper-end sleeper this week.
Solid Reach (Backup/situational player with upside)
Jason Babin, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Cleveland)
Season stats: 19/7/3
Last week: 0/1/0
Jacksonville sacks allowed per game/ranking: 3.5/Tied fror 3rd
Jacksonville QB pressure allowed ranking: 7th
Babin has a great matchup against the Browns, who are tied for third in the league in sacks allowed and seventh in QB pressure allowed. Brandon Weeden, who has struggled all season and lost his job to Jason Campbell, will start due to Campbell suffering a concussion last week. With Weeden often hesitating to deliver the ball, Babin should have a handful of sack opportunities and makes for a solid low-grade sleeper this week.
Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Carolina)
Season stats: 32/10/4
Last week: 3/2/1
Carolina sacks allowed per game/ranking: 2.8/10th
QB pressure allowed ranking: Carolina Tied for 23rd
Clayborn has played solid football all season and even had a sack last week against the Lions, a team that has allowed the fewest sacks in the league. The matchup for Clayborn is much better this week as he faces the Panthers, who are tenth in sacks allowed. The Panthers do not allow much in the way of QB pressure and are outside the top 20 in that category, but Clayborn's solid tackle numbers plus a handful of sack opportunities is enough to classify him as a low-end sleeper with upside this week.
Deep Sleepers (For desperate owners only)
Randy Starks, Miami Dolphins (at New York Jets)
Season stats: 22/8/2.5
Last week: 1/0/0
New York Jets sacks allowed per game/ranking: 3.5/Tied for 3rd
New York Jets QB pressure allowed ranking: 2nd
Starks has a great matchup against the Jets, who are second in QB pressure allowed and tied for third in sacks allowed per game. Although Starks only has 2.5 sacks, he is capable of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and as much as rookie quarterback Geno Smith has struggled, Starks should have a handful of sack opportunities and is a deep sleeper worth considering if you are badly in need of a starting defensive lineman this week.
Linebackers
Note: When I mention stats of linebackers, the format will be solos/assists/sacks unless otherwise mentioned.
Prime Cut (Great matchup, strong sleeper)
Stephen Tulloch, Detroit Lions (vs. Green Bay)
Season stats: 65/27/2
Last week: 6/5/0
Green Bay rushing attempts per game/ranking: 29.1/10th
Green Bay tackle opportunities allowed ranking: 5th
Tulloch is currently ranked just outside the top 20 in linebacker scoring and is averaging almost six solos per game. He has a great matchup against the Packers, who are fifth in tackle opportunities allowed and tenth in rushing attempts per game. The Packers have used a pass-heavy offense for years but the injury to Aaron Rodgers combined with the emergence of rookie running back Eddie Lacy has totally changed the dynamics of their offense. That has resulted in a huge increase in scoring for inside linebackers in the last three weeks. Tulloch has a great chance to continue the trend and is a must start prime cut sleeper this week.
Worth a Gamble (Good matchup, solid sleeper)
Darryl Sharpton, Houston Texans (vs. New England)
Season stats: 38/13/0
Last week: 5/2/0
New England rushing attempts per game/ranking: 29.4/9th
New England tackle opportunities allowed ranking: Tied for 2nd
Sharpton has racked up 26 solos and 9 assists in his last 5 games and has helped to pick up the slack after the season-ending injury to linebacker Brian Cushing. This week Sharpton has a great matchup against the Patriots, who are second in the league in tackle opportunities allowed and just inside the top ten in rushing attempts per game. Sharpton should see a high number of tackle opportunities and rates as a strong upper-end sleeper with upside this week.
Donald Butler, San Diego Chargers (vs. Cincinnati)
Season stats: 42/7/0.5
Last week: 7/0/0
Cincinnati rushing attempts per game/ranking: 29.0/11th
Cincinnati tackle opportunities allowed: 8th
Butler has racked up seven solos in two of the three games he has played in since returning from an injury suffered earlier in the season. This week Butler faces the Bengals, who are eighth in tackle opportunities allowed and just outside the top ten in rushing attempts per game. Butler should have plenty of tackle opportunities this week and makes for a solid upper-level sleeper this week.
Solid Reach (Backup, situational player with upside)
Jon Beason, New York Giants (at Washington)
Season stats: 35/16/0
Last week: 3/1/0
Washington rushing attempts per game/ranking: 30.4/7th
Washington tackle opportunities allowed ranking: 6th
Beason struggled mightily with the Panthers earlier this season, but since being traded to the Giants, Beason has racked up 28 solos and 12 assists in 7 games. Beason has a great matchup against Washington, a team that is just outside the top five in both tackle opportunities allowed and rushing attempts per game. Beason has been a bit inconsistent but a great matchup against a run-heavy team is enough to classify Beason as a low-end sleeper this week. Just know that his inconsistency leads to a bit more risk, but there is also the potential for reward here.
Brandon Spikes, New England Patriots (at Houston)
Season stats: 40/29/0
Last week: 3/6/0
Houston rushing attempts per game/ranking: 26.7/18th
Houston tackle opportunities allowed ranking: 9th
Spikes has a solid matchup against the Texans, who are ninth in the league in tackle opportunities allowed. Without Arian Foster, they are not as feared in the running game and in fact are barely inside the top 20 in rushing attempts per game. Spikes should have a respectable number of tackle opportunities and that qualifies him as a low-end sleeper this week. There is very little upside here because Spikes does not offer much in the big play categories.
Deep Sleepers (For desperate owners only)
John Abraham, Arizona Cardinals (at Philadelphia)
Season stats: 18/2/6
Last week: 0/0/0
Philadelphia rushing attempts per game/ranking: 30.6/6th
Philadelphia tackle opportunities allowed ranking: 12th
Abraham has racked up six sacks on the season and given the Cardinals a much-needed pass rushing presence on the outside that they have lacked in recent years. This week, Abraham faces the Eagles, who are in the top ten in rushing attempts per game and just outside the top ten in tackle opportunities allowed and QB pressure allowed. I am listing Abraham as a deep sleeper because his tackle numbers are low, but if you are in a situation and want to take a gamble on a deep sleeper that could post big numbers, you might want to take a look at Abraham. There is definitely a lot of risk that Abraham could post a very low score, but they don't call it risk/reward for nothing. This is meant for teams that do not want to be conservative and are willing to take the risk and there is plenty of risk here.
Defensive Backs
Note: When I mention stats of defensive backs, the format will be solos/assists/interceptions/passes defended unless otherwise mentioned.
Prime Cut (Great matchup, strong sleeper)
Tramon Williams, Green Bay Packers (at Detroit)
Season stats: 39/16/1/7
Last week: 4/1/0/0
Detroit passing attempts per game/ranking: 42.3/2nd
Detroit passes defended allowed ranking: 3rd
Detroit tackle opportunities allowed ranking: 14th
Williams has a great matchup against the pass-happy Lions, who are second in attempted passes per game and third in passes defended allowed. The Lions are likely to throw early and often and opposing cornerbacks have posted solid numbers against the Lions for most of the season. With the Lions likely to continue throwing the ball all over the field, expect a big game from Williams and that makes him a solid prime cut sleeper this week.
Worth a Gamble (Good matchup, solid sleeper)
Josh Wilson, Washington (vs. New York Giants)
Season stats: 46/16/0/5
Last week: 8/3/0/1
New York Giants passing attempts per game/ranking: 36.2/Tied for 17th
New York Giants passes defended allowed ranking: 6th
New York Giants tackle opportunities allowed ranking: 31st
Wilson has struggled in coverage and has been attacked much more in recent weeks, but as has been said in this article, that is a good thing for those of us looking for statistics rather than performance. Wilson has a great matchup against the Giants, who are just outside the top five in passes defended allowed and who are tied for the league in interceptions thrown with 18. Wilson should see plenty of action in his direction and that makes him a strong upper-level sleeper this week.
Solid Reach (Backup/situational player with upside)
Shiloh Keo, Houston Texans (vs. New England)
Season stats: 32/7/1/2
Last week: 4/2/0/0
New England passing attempts per game/ranking: 39.1/7th
New England passes defended allowed ranking: 32nd
New England tackle opportunities allowed ranking: Tied for 2nd
Keo has posted respectable tackle numbers for the Texans but has done little in the big play categories. Keo faces the Patriots this week, a team that is second in tackle opportunities allowed and in the top ten in both rushing attempts per game and attempted passes per game. The Patriots like to throw to their slot receivers and that combined with the high number of plays they run makes Keo a solid low-end sleeper this week. Only his lack of big plays keeps Keo from having a higher designation.
Brandon Flowers, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Denver)
Season stats: 46/3/1/6
Last week: 3/1/0/1
Denver passing attempts per game/ranking: 40.7/4th
Denver passes defended allowed ranking: 28th
Denver tackle opportunities allowed ranking: 1st
Flowers has a great matchup against the Broncos, who lead the league by a wide margin in tackle opportunities allowed and are in the top five in attempted passes per game. Although the Broncos rank low in passes defended allowed, the sheer volume of plays that they generally run combined with the high tackle opportunities they allow makes Flowers a strong low-end sleeper with upside this week.
Deep Sleepers (For desperate owners only)
Cary Williams, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Arizona)
Season stats: 42/9/2/7
Last week: 3/2/0/1
Arizona passing attempts per game/ranking: 36.1/Tied for 19th
Arizona passes defended allowed ranking: 7th
Arizona tackle opportunities allowed ranking: 22nd
Williams has posted solid numbers for the Eagles but his performance in terms of football has not been as good as his stats. This week, Williams faces the Cardinals, who are just outside the top ten in passes defended allowed and that is despite being just inside the top 20 in attempted passes per game. That suggest some inaccuracy by quarterback Carson Palmer and that bodes well for Williams this week. If you are in desperate need for a defensive back this week, you could do a lot worse than a cornerback like Williams who has posted solid tackle numbers and made a handful of plays this year.
