Week 6:
DEN/SD:
You either own Jatavius Brown, or you don't. Man. Meantime,
Korey Toomer played 44% to Perryman's 32%. Just so we are clear, Toomer didn't make final roster or OAK, a team without much LB depth, and would have had to mke it on ST. He gets signed off their PS by the Chargers, and proceeds to outsnap Perryman, and gets 4 tackles last week. If he gets about 60%, he might be worth a roster spot, right now he's on the watch list.
Perryman is a mystery to me, and I wonder if he isn't droppable, even in dynasty.
Both SD corners,
Mager and
Hayward, are in play in CB-required leagues, IMO. Both will get targeted, and there is only Jatavius in from of them that is a tackle monster. The ATL game this week might be a
great week to stream one or the other.
So here's a fun nugget of info that might be useful for IDP owners. ATL and SD both beat DEN using the same philosophy on offense: Playing in base or two TE sets, keeping DEN's nickel subpackage off the field, and attacking the middle. Bradley Roby has played 19 and 22 snaps the last two weeks. Who's numbers have gone up?
TJ Ward and
Todd Davis, the two weak links in coverage on the base defense. If the DEN opponent has two TEs they like, and backs they throw to, both guys seem like good starts, at last until DEN comes up with a way to counter this new offensive trend. If Davis is onthe wire, grab him.
SF/BUF:
7 of the top 8 tacklers in this game were 49ers, that's amazing.
A dream matchup for SF defenders. BUF ran the ball all over them, and had the ball all day long. Remember that when they play TB next week, especially if Martin isn't playing. I read elsewhere that people are wondering about Hodges taking over, as Bellore and Wilhoite have not been playing great. Well, Hodges played 4 plays this week, and Shayne Skov 0, so I'm not going to worry until I read something. in the meantime, both LBs are in play for the forseeable future. But keep an eye on SF media for changes.
Buckner and Armstead are playing a ton as well, not bad starters at DE.
Quiet game for Zach Brown, but there simply weren't a lot of chances. Preston Brown and Corey Graham led team in tackles.
Jaquiski Tartt was inactive after being limited all week.
CHI/JAX:
Chicago had the ball more than BUF did vs. SF, believe it or not.
Bortles isn't playing well, JAX cannot move the ball, so it's a good time to be a Posluzny/Telvin owner. But they seem like they are taking ALL the tackles.
A cornerback led CHI in tackles.
Miles Jack and Dan Skuta both messing around at about 15% of snaps. Need some insight as to what's happening with Jack.
Jones-Quartey looks to be out of the doghouse, and he and Amos both played 95%+.
However, as I said last week, with the play of Hoyer and Jordan, I am less thrilled with CHI defenders as a whole than I was before. Freeman is a great play, and Trevathan should be, but beyond that.....
LA/DET:
Hey, LA's defense--not good. Lot of nice names, and it's not happening. Trumaine Johonson was out, but still.
In CB-required leagues,
LaMarcus Joyner. More tackles this year, and he's playing slot corner. Amazing. Check his numbers.
TJ McDonald has had a not great year, and one tackle in this game. Buh bye.
Here's a weird thing I noticed: DET scorers gave the Rams 15 assists, and 7 to the Lions. Whitehead led Lions with two assists, and 4 different Rams had at least that many.
Ziggy Ansah returned, played 55%. I'm in no rush to start him until he's at 70%+.
DAL/GB:
So, when you look at snap counts after a while, you are used to seeing certain things. For example, when snap counts are close to 50, you know the D wasn't on the field a lot. Closer to 70, and they were on the field a ton. Another is that when you click the % tab on the PFR snap counts, you see the same positions at the top. The top LB or two, and the 4 defensive backfield starters are normally at the top. Two safeties, two corners, and the top LB. Then you expect to see the #2 LB, and the nickel corner. And so on.
So when you see a DT with higher snap counts than any of the ILB or the Packers, you notice. Packers are using LB by committee, and until this week, the results vs. the run were fine. #1 rushing D and all that. They also faced no rushing attacks worth mentioning, and Zeke Elliott had no problems on Sunday.
Nick Perry led the LBs in snaps with 75%.
Blake Martinez is a dynasty hold, but you can't start him this year. Burnett and Clinton-Dix are both putting up numbers for the Pack.
By the same token, 3 safeties and two defensive tackles played more snaps than any LB not named Sean Lee. Durant was next after Lee's 100% with 43%.
Anthony Brown at CB getting a lot of work for DAL in this game, 9 tackles and 3 assists.
Tyrone Crawford is a disappointment to me, playing a ton, and getting less stats than other DTs that are playing less.
HOU/IND:
Lot of plays in this game (OT) over 70 plays for each defense.
HOU started
Corey Moore and
Andre Hal at S this week, both played 100% of snaps, and some ST, and both managed 2 tackles. Going to stay away for now.
Josh McNary started next to D'Qwell, played 49%, and
Antonio Morrison was demoted, played only ST, and had 1 defensive snap. McNary still isn't playing enough to start, but if his percentage goes up, even more, he might be a good desperation play down the road.
Colts played 3 safeties over 50% of the time, with
TJ Green healthy, and
Mike Adams and
Clayton Geathers are both steady starters at S.
McKinney is a 3 down MLB, who also gets sacks. Love him.
Brian Cushing, up to 76%, and had 4 tackles, and 4 assists. We might have two solid LB startes here. He's not available in my leagues, but could be in others.
Texans were also in base a lot, as the Colts used two TEs a good amount. Might not be the case all the time.
MIA/PIT:
That's why they play the games, you never know. Sure seemed like a juicy matchup for Kiko Alonso and company. Instead, Big Ben gets hurt, PIT's defense is on the field the whole time, and MIA only plays 53 defensive snaps.
Tyler Matakevich had 6 tackles to lead the game, but played 18 snaps. Don't get caught swinging at this pitch in the dirt.
Jelani Jenkins 67%.
Mario Williams was benched for
Andre Branch, and only played 24 snaps. Mario admitted to not giving enough effort, everyone in Buffalo laughs and nods.
The big story is
Reshad Jones. Probably done for the year with a shoulder injury, and was the best IDP player on MIA. So, who sucks up all his tackles?
Michael Thomas seems to be the logical favorite. Seems worth a waiver add. Seems more likely that the rest of the team will absorb the rest of the tackles, and might see some better numbers from Isa Abdul-Quddus. Thomas is a ST demon, and also played well as a starting S last year before a season ending pec injury. There's a lot to like here. I do NOT expect the Dolphins to play this well again, maybe for the rest of the year, so there will be some opportunity here for him.
Javon Hargrave getting 69% at DT.
Everyone's man-crush
Vince Williams was down to 70%, was there an injury, anyone?
Cam Wake up to 75%, might be startable at DE.
CAR/NO:
Von Bell at 95% at S.
Saints stat crew handed out 4 tackles and 8 assists to
Craig Robertson and 2 tackles and 6 assists to
Kenny Vaccaro. Weird/annoying.
All three Panthers LB played all game, and
Shaq Thompson had 6 solos. This might be a case of CAR putting their best players out there, no matter what position, because the top CAR CBs only played 70/70/56%.
Nathan Stupar at 82%. He had 3 tackles, 3 assists, and a FF. Any LB getting 80% for the Saints needs to at least be looked at.
Stephone Anthony. 4 snaps. Bustarooney.
CIN/NE:
Dont'a Hightower got the big statistical jump with Collins out, and young LB
Elandon Roberts played 74%. Patriot scorers doing some magic here, check this out: Hoightower--3 solos, 10 assists. Roberts--1 solo, 7 assists. This is good to track, if you are expecting 8 tackles from Roberts every week, better make sure the scorer is a Pats homer, because I don't think they getting those type of assist numbers on the road. Like I need another reason to hate my hometown team. Freaking MassWholes padding the stats of these LBs.
Josh Shaw led the game in tackles, slot corners a good start vs. Pats? You wouldn't think so, with Pats two TE set, but he played 85%.
Cincy LBs are Burfict and everyone else. Rey and Rey are forgotten men, next best LB was Dansby (59%).
Nick Vigil played a few snaps, it is easy to imagine Dansby and Maualuga gone next year, so stash him where you can in dynasty.
Duron Harmon played 72% as 3rd safety, that's a big jump in snaps. Keep an eye on him.
BAL/NYG
So Casillas had the tackles but was outsnapped by
Keenan Robinson (73% to 67%) and in looking for a Casillas injury, it seems like it was actually Robinson who was banged up, so he might have gotten even more snaps. This is worth watching.
Devon Kennard had 5 tackles, but on only 39%. Don't get excited.
Baltimore continures to be the Zach Orr show.
Albert McClellan filled in admirably for Mosely (74% and 7 tackles). If Mosely is out a while, not a bad pickup.
Tim Jernigan outsnapps Brandon Williams at DT, but Williams outplayed him in the box score.
CLE/TEN:
Wesley Woodyard still started, but was outsnapped by
Sean Spence (61% to 39%) and Spence had 4 tackles and a sack. Spence should be on everyone's watch list.
Weird stuff happening with TItans S rotation: Byard 64%, Stafford 58%, Johnson 51%, Searcy 45%. Mess to be avoided util it sorts itself.
Kirksey only had 2-3 tackle line, but still playing 100% of snaps. No reason for panic. Demario had 5-2 line (94%).
Cleveland safeties are useless, the CBs are getting more tackles.
OAK/KC:
Raiders have a LB rotation of James/Smith/Riley this game, but
Cory James led with 83% and had 6 solos 1 assist, so last week's panic should be in the mirror. Smith coming back from injury, I expect his snaps to go up, and Riley's to go down even further from his 48%.
KC linebacker next to Derrick Johnson is a mess to be avoided. Zombo/March combo not helping anyone.
Karl Joseph is an every week starter Good tackle fllor, and big play potential. He's clearly a fine player.
SEA/ATL:
Seattle had some injuries, Chancellor out, and Bennett got hurt, and Frank Clark inactive.
Kelcie McCray started at SS for Chancellor (100%).
DeShawn Shead is a tackle vacuum, I love him, it's like having a S play CB.
ATL safeties Ishmael and Neal are scoring a lot of tackles, but
Deion Jones and
De'Vondre Campbell both returned in this game, and got their feet wet (39% and 32%). Their ull time return in imminent.
No ATL D-lineman is playing more than 58%, they are rotating several guys, and you cannot argue with the results.
PHI/WAS:
Donte Whitner is your WAS SS (77%), hope you didn't spend a lot on Duke Iheanacho.
Compton 92% and Foster 87%, but quiet box score for most WAS players, spread around this week.
Bradham and Hicks both at 100% this week for PHI, they should see some good tackle chances the rest of the season.
AZ/NYJ:
Calvin Pryor at 84%, and had 5 tackles, responing well, it seems, to his demotion last week. I might be hopping back on this train.
Darron Lee only 52%. Was he banged up?
Erin Henderson played 69%, had a nice stat line.
But missing David Harris was apparent on the two goalline TDs by D. Jonhson, when he was untouched going up the gut.
Regarding the
Tony Jefferson and
DJ Swearinger question: If Honey Badger is the slot corner, and he is, then who is playing deep safety? I assume Jefferson, which is good for Swearinger, and bad for Jefferson. Or is this only a one week anomaly?
That's it for now, fellas.