This is the final IDP Report for the 2016 season. It will be a little different than what has gone before the prior 16 weeks, as most leagues have already determined their champions. If you are still playing to determine your league’s winner, I will once again urge you to change that setting for next season, as there is too much riding on a week where teams will be resting their starters, on offense and defense. I know we all love to compete in fantasy, but playing in a week where your results may be skewed due to coaching decisions to sit healthy players for some rest is unproductive.
This week, I will provide some little owned options on defense, which I believe have a chance to shine, even in Week 17. I am not going list any IDP that are losing steam, and will suggest you look to the injury report to see who to avoid starting this week.
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
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Shaq Thompson CAR -- Thompson is coming off an 11 total tackle effort against the Falcons, together with a pass deflection (PD). He gets to face the Buccaneers in Week 17, who are ranked right next to Atlanta in points allowed to opposing linebackers, so similar results are not out of the question.
Nick Kwiatkoski CHI -- It would appear I was a bit hasty to dismiss Kwiatkoski as a defensive presence in Chicago, with Jerrell Freeman back in action. He put up a seven total tackle effort (six solo) against Washington in Week 16, and played 67 snaps on defense. Appears his demise as an IDP to roster was a premature and incorrect call by yours truly. Sorry if you dropped him based on my faulty predictive powers.
Edwin Jackson IND -- Jackson put up a solid seven tackle effort last week (five solo) and now gets to face the Jaguars, who have allowed the fifth most points to opposing linebackers this season. He is most likely out there on your league’s waiver wire and the matchup is compelling.
Defensive Linemen
Trey Flowers DE NE -- Flowers was profiled here recently (well, Week 11), but he is the DE on the Patriots I am targeting. Of course, the Patriots never make things easy, rotating their defensive ends including Rob Ninkowski, Jaball Sheard and Chris Long at DE, but Flowers is the guy putting up tackle numbers and has seven sacks so far on the season.
David Irving DT DAL -- Irving had 1.5 sacks and PD against the visiting Lions in Week 16, to go with three total tackles (one solo). The Eagles are not the best option for a DT to face, being ranked 24th overall this season in points allowed, but the Cowboys are on a roll and I do not expect them to sit Irving at this point, even with their playoff picture set.
Defensive Backs
Sean Davis S PIT -- The rookie Davis has been seeing significant snaps on defense since Week 11, and putting up great tackle numbers over that period (34 total, 25 solo). He is also adding big plays to his repertoire with an INT, four PDs and half a sack. He is looking like a fine add in keeper or dynasty leagues.
Tavon Wilson S DET -- Wilson was profiled here recently in Week 13, but he has been playing as the lead strong safety for the Lions. He is useful in tackle-oriented leagues, but do not rely upon him for many big play points on defense. The Lions are in a must win situation this week at home against their division foes, the Packers, so slot him in and hope he racks up some useful tackle numbers.
A.J. Bouye CB HOU -- Bouye wraps up our profiles this week, and he is coming off a nine solo tackle effort, where he also collected three PDs. The Titans are not the greatest matchup, ranking 21st among NFL teams in points allowed to opposing corners. Despite being listed as the second option at right cornerback, he is seeing enough snaps to make him a starting option in IDP leagues where he offers both tackle and big play potential.
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Escalator Going Down
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Linebackers
Except for those on the injury report, none this week.
Defensive Linemen
Same as with the linebackers.
Defensive Backs
Look to the injury report below.
Matchups to Exploit
Remember, the first team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. This is a fine week to play your IDPs against the Cardinals, the Rams, the Buccaneers or the Saints for the most part. Do not go crazy and expect some LB5 to suddenly produce big numbers just because of a good matchup, but your top players are good to employ against the teams listed below based on past production over the season.
Linebackers
Minnesota vs Chicago
Indianapolis vs Jacksonville
Cincinnati vs Baltimore
Defensive Ends
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh
Buffalo @ New York Jets
Arizona @ Los Angeles
Los Angeles vs Arizona
Defensive Tackles
Arizona vs Los Angeles
Los Angeles vs Arizona
Tampa Bay vs Carolina
Safeties
New Orleans @ Atlanta
Tampa Bay vs Carolina
Tennessee vs Houston
New York Giants @ Washington
Philadelphia vs Dallas
Cornerbacks
Arizona vs Los Angeles
New York Jets vs Buffalo
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
New Orleans @ Atlanta
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Waiver Wire Targets
All these players are spotlighted above, and you can read my comments about them in the "Elevator Going Up" section of this article. Not all the players I comment on are necessarily here, however, as I am not going to waste your time searching for players that are heavily owned. This group consists of those that you may have a chance of locating on your league's waiver wire in that they are owned in significantly less than 50% of leagues. Happy claiming for your weekly matchups.
Linebackers
Shaq Thompson CAR
Nick Kwiatkoski CHI
Edwin Jackson IND
Defensive Linesmen
Trey Flowers DE NE
David Irving DE DAL
Defensive Backs
Sean Davis S PIT
Tavon Wilson S DET
A.J. Bouye CB HOU
Ouch (My Aching Roster)
All the injury reports below need evaluation prior to kickoff. Teams are notoriously sketchy about injury reports, and we often do not know a player's status until just before game time. Consider the list below as a "heads up" as to what is going on early in the week, and should not be considered definitive.
Linebackers
De'Vondre Campbell ATL concussion
Jamari Lattimore BUF nose
Lerentee McCray BUF concussion
Luke Kuechly CAR coach's decision
Leonard Floyd CHI concussion
Vontaze Burfict CIN concussion
Jackson Jeffcoat CLE hamstring
Justin Durant DAL elbow
Ryan Davis DAL knee
Brandon Marshall DEN hamstring
Jay Elliott GB hand
Chris Carter IND shoulder
Justin Houston KC knee
Jelani Jenkins MIA knee
Dont'a Hightower NE knee
Lorenzo Mauldin NYJ ankle
Jordan Hicks PHI ankle
Denzel Perryman SD knee
Su'a Cravens WAS elbow
Defensive Linemen
DE
Jerel Worthy BUF shoulder
Demarcus Lawrence DAL back
Derek Wolfe DEN neck
Jason Pierre-Paul NYG groin
Stacy McGee OAK ankle
Stephon Tuitt PIT knee
Glenn Dorsey SF knee
William Gholston TB elbow
Mehdi Abdesmad TEN ankle
DT
Terrell McClain DAL ankle
Cedric Thornton DAL ankle
Tyrone Crawford DAL shoulder
Jordan Hill JAX calf
Damon Harrison NYG knee
Steve McLendon NYJ hamstring
Ahtyba Rubin SEA wrist
Defensive Backs
S
Deon Bush CHI ankle
T.J. Ward DEN concussion
Miles Killebrew DET eye
Maurice Alexander LA concussion
Isa Abdul-Quddus MIA shoulder
Nat Berhe NYG concussion
Karl Joseph OAK toe
Jaylen Watkins PHI head
Robert Golden PIT ankle
Kam Chancellor SEA ankle
Kyshoen Jarrett WAS shoulder
CB
Marcus Cooper ARI back
Jimmy Smith BAL ankle
Stephon Gilmore BUF concussion
Cre'von LeBlanc CHI knee
Joe Haden CLE neck
Morris Claiborne DAL sports hernia
Anthony Brown DAL concussion
Kayvon Webster DEN concussion
Darius Slay DET hamstring
Ladarius Gunter GB elbow
Darius Butler IND head
Jalil Brown IND ankle
Tevin Mitchel IND hamstring
Phillip Gaines KC knee
Lamarcus Joyner LA ankle
Chimdi Chekwa MIA hamstring
Byron Maxwell MIA ankle
Janoris Jenkins NYG back
Craig Mager SD elbow
Dontae Johnson SF groin
Jason McCourty TEN chest
LeShaun Sims TEN concussion
Bashaud Breeland WAS ankle
Quinton Dunbar WAS concussion
As ever, good luck and Godspeed in your fantasy efforts. Make sure to read all of our great articles to help you win your fantasy match ups every week and ultimately bask in championship glory. If you have any fantasy football questions, especially about IDP leagues, I can be reached at ia@fantasyalarm.com.