2012 IDP Report Week 2

Posted by Ivar G. Anderson on 09/14/2012 | 0 Comments

Tags: IDP, Fantasy Football, NFL, Linebacker, Defensive Linesman, Defensive Back, Cornerback, Safety, Defensive End, Defensive Tackle, J.J. Watt, Chandler Jones, Paris Lenon, Stephen Nicholas, Tracy Porter, Cortland Finnegan

Unlike week 1, there's a whole lot shaking in the IDP world in week 2.  Some astoundingly horrific performances (anyone spotted Jared Allen or the Buffalo revamped D?) along side some unexpected greatness.  So, let's just jump right in and see who to pick up and who to bench or drop.

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Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Paris Lenon ARI ILB

Stephen Nicholas ATL OLB

Larry Foote PIT ILB

Wesley Woodyard DEN OLB

Jerrell Freeman IND ILB

A. J. Hawk GB ILB

Lenon is an older veteran, but as an every down LB, he can provide good value so long as he is healthy.  Nicholas was a sleeper at drafts, but as a three down IDP as he was against the Chiefs (watch out if the Falcons decide to switch up their nickle coverage for something more conventional), he can put up great numbers week in and week out.  Foote was superb against the Broncos with limited chances to shine, and I expect similar or better results against the Jets this week.  With DJ Williams suspended, Woodyard steps into a starting role for the next few weeks, and he should be on your radar while his opportunity to play exists.  Freeman is another who will take advantage of a teammate's absence, in this case Pat Angerer.  Likewise, Hawk gets a chance to step up with Desmond Bishop out for the season, and his results last week argue for a waiver wire claim, especially if one of your LBs is unavailable (he wasn't all that and a bag of doughnuts against Chicago on Thursday, so maybe we want to temper our enthusiasm a bit).

Defensive Linemen

Chandler Jones NE DE

Henry Melton CHI DT

Cameron Jordan NO DE

Derrick Morgan TEN DE

Dwan Edwards CAR DT

J. J. Watt HOU DE

Jones put forth a good effort opening week, forcing a fumble that led to a TD for the Patriots D.  In a revamped NE defense, he's a young player to keep an eye on.  Melton is a DT that can play like a DE, and in leagues that require both DE and DT roster slots, is a valuable commodity.  Jordan put up 11 total tackles in week 1, and that's a beautiful thing for a DL.  The Titan's Morgan has another good match up this week, going against SD. and despite the cross country trip, I would not let him sit on the wire if I needed help.  Edwards moved to Carolina this season, and with that, he set himself up for more PT, which should translate into nice stat lines.  Watt picked up 1.5 sacks vs Miami, to go with 3 passes defended and 3 tackles.  He just continues to perform at a very high level, and if he's not on any of your competitors' rosters, you should act immediately to make him one of your IDPs.

Defensive Backs

Tracy Porter DEN CB

Cortland Finnegan StL CB

Alterraun Verner TEN CB

Devin McCourty NE CB

Erik Coleman DET S

Rashad Jones MIA S

Harrison Smith MIN S

Shades of the Super Bowl.  Tracy Porter can still pick it and take it home.  I bet Pey-Pey is glad to have him on his team now.  I love Finnegan's name almost as much as I enjoy watching him on the field.  Great off-season pickup by the Rams.  Verner going up against Phil Rivers makes me smile, as I am expecting good things from the Titans' D this week.  McCourty should have been drafted in your league...I know he was in all of mine.  But, if he's still available, grab him now and enjoy a big day vs Arizona.  Coleman while he fills in for Delmas and Spievey is worth a start, as the Lions' secondary is going be busy this season, which should mean plenty of opportunity for Coleman.  Jones had 5 solos and 2 assisted tackles this past week, and with Yeremiah Bell no longer patrolling the backfield in Miami, he has plenty of opportunity to excel.  Smith is another guy with a great match up, facing the Colts, and as a rookie, he may still be available for a waiver claim.  Act fast.

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Akeem Dent ATL ILB

So long as the Falcons go with a nickle defense as their base scheme, and Stephen Nicholas plays every down, Dent has little to no value in your IDP league.

Defensive Linemen

Mark Anderson BUF DE

Mario Williams BUF DE

Marcell Dareus BUF DT

Jared Allen MIN DE

Buffalos' revamped D-line should looked imposing, didn't it?  No, no, it looked pathetic.  I fully expect all three of the Bills' DLs to rebound, especially Williams and Anderson, but the first week stung quite a bit if you drafted based on the hype we "experts" heaped on this D-line in the pre-season. In a similar vein, when have I ever seen Jared Allen put up a goose egg as a stat line?  Expect him to bounce back, possibly this week against the Colts.  In fact, it is a good time to caution my readers to not react negatively to one bad week in the IDP world.  Skills will prevail over the course of a season, even if the occasional clunker hurts your weekly chances of winning.  Patience is a virtue but I don't have the time, is not a great IDP strategy.

Defensive Backs

Eric Berry KC S

Michael Griffin TEN S

Berry is another IDP that I expect to rebound, and in a major fashion.  He owns the skills, so expect him to get back to elite level sooner rather than later (I reserve the right to rtract this sentiment if he continues to only provide a couple tackles a week).  Griffin had his hands full trying to cover the Patriots' TEs, and Brady made him pay.  Things are not getting significantly better this upcoming week, as he now gets Antonio Gates as his assignment.

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Ouch (My Aching Roster)

All the injury reports below need to be evaluated at kickoff.  Teams are notoriously sketchy about injury reports, and we often do not know a player's status until just before game time.  The list below is intended as a "heads up" as to what is going on early in the week, and should not be considered definitive.

Linebackers

Scott Shanle NO (Leg)

Jonathan Vilma NO (Knee, placed on PUP)

Colin McCarthy TEN (ankle-questionable for week 2, but says he is "fine")

Defensive Linemen

Ty Warren DEN DT (Torn right triceps-potentially out for entire rest of season)

Dwight Freeney (sprained ankle)

Defensive Backs

Brett Grimes ATL CB (Achilles-out for the season)

Joe Haden CLE CB (Suspended-PED violation-out 4 games)

Charles Tillman CHI CB(Leg-probable for week 2)

Brandon Flowers KC CB(Heel-day to day.  If he practices, then expect him to play)

Gerald Sensabaugh DALS (Concussion  uh-oh)

Darrelle Revis NYJ CB (Concussion, reported to be "mild," expected to play in week 2)

Bill Bentley DET CB (Concussion, severity unknown)

Ed Reed BAL S  (Hamstring-Reed is calling it a "minor" injury, expected to play week 2)

Jordan Bernstine WAS S (Knee-torn ACL, MCL and RCL.  Out rest of season)

As ever, good luck and godspeed in your fantasy efforts.  If you have a specific IDP question, please do not hesitate to contact me at ia@fantasyalarm.com.

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