Fantasy Football IDP Report: Week 4 Elevator System
Published: Sep 30, 2021
Teams are beginning to settle in to their rotations on defense, and we are beginning to see the three-down/every down IDPs begin show up on the stat sheet. Of course, there are the defensive players that are beginning to pick up steam as the early season progresses, whether due to ineffectiveness by the former starter or injury opportunity. One constant in the IDP world is that things constantly change, so continue to peruse the wire and free agent market to upgrade your rosters weekly.
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Tae Crowder NYG
Crowder is the first of three LBs that is operating as an every down starter for this team. In that role against the visiting Falcons, he picked up 11 total tackles (TT), with four of those being of the solo variety. He also contributed a pass deflection/defense (PD) while on the field, ticking the big play box, too. So long as he is on the field for all the defensive snaps, he will be a value to your IDP squad.
Jordan Hicks ARI
Despite early concerns that Hicks was destined to for a backup role on the Cardinal defense heading into 2021, he has emerged as the defensive signal caller for the Arizona defense and only missed two snaps on the season. He is coming off a 12 TT (seven solo) effort where he was also able to force a fumble (FF), pick up a PD and be credited with a sack. Tackles and big play production make for a free agent pickup immediately.
Quincy Williams NYJ
Not to be confused with his brother, Quinnen, this Williams has stepped into an every down role (so long as Jarrad Davis is sidelined, at least). He had six TT (five solo) with two of those wrap-ups being for a loss of yards (TFL). He also had a FF in the contest in Denver at Mile High Stadium last Sunday.
Defensive Linemen
Darrell Taylor DE SEA
Taylor sat out all of 2020, and started out in a limited role this season, but has been increasing his PT (playing time) as the season progresses. He picked up five TT in Week 3 (four solo) to go along with a sack and a FF, to bring out the big play value.
Al-Quadin Muhammad DE IND
Muhammad is seeing more time on the field with rookie Kwity Paye sidelined with a hamstring issue, and he collected seven TT against the host Titans (five solo). He gets a nice matchup this coming week with the Dolphins featuring backup QB Jacoby Brisset and a weak pass-protection scheme on the offensive line.
Jeffrey Simmons DT TEN
Simmons has a tremendous matchup in store, with the Titans heading to the Meadowlands to face Zach Wilson and the Jets. He could certainly add to the 1.5 sacks he has on the season against the Jets team that has allowed a NFL-leading 15 sacks to date.
Defensive Backs
Chuck Clark S BAL
Clark feasted on the Lions in Week 3, racking up 12 TT (nine solo, one TFL) with a sack and a QB hit/hurry (QH) to make his big play side of the ledger look attractive, too. He now heads to Denver to face the Broncos who have been the most generous offense to opposing safeties in terms of fantasy point production through three games.
Andrew Wingard S JAX
Wingard has seemed to step past rookie Andre Cisco last week, playing 100% of the snaps on defense for the Jags. He snagged seven TT (four solo) with that increased PT, and it is a near certainty that the struggling Jacksonville team will see plenty of tackle opportunities while the defense occupies the gridiron week in, week out.
Harrison Smith S MIN
Prior to this season, it was the lack of tackle production that kept Smith’s IDP fantasy value depressed. Through three contests this season, he already has collected 23 TT (19 solo). Against the visiting Seahawks, he had eight TT (six solo) and a PD. Cleveland, the next opponent, is in the top half of the teams as far as points allowed to opposing safeties.
Julian Blackmon S IND
The second-year defensive back led his team with 11 TT against the Titans in Week 3. Be advised, however, that he outpaced his production in the first two games by two tackles, so the increased production is not necessarily guaranteed to continue apace.
Tyson Campbell CB JAX
Our lone cornerback this week, Campbell gets the uptick after the Jaguars traded C.J. Henderson to Carolina, opening the door for the rookie to see additional PT. As with any rookie CB, look for him to see plenty of attention from opposing offenses as they test his skillset. He is coming off an eight TT effort (six solo) and should continue to see plenty of tackle potential going forward.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Alec Ogletree CHI
While playing significant snaps, he has been contributing pedestrian stats. Now with Danny Trevathan eligible to be activated in Week 4, his value is almost certain to take a further hit.
Jamie Collins Sr. DET
Collins has worn out his welcome in Detroit, as the Lions seek out a trading partner for the LB. He was DNP in Week 3, and could see more of the same until he finds a new uniform to don.
Defensive Linemen
Yannick Ngakoue DE LV
Despite playing 73% of the defensive snaps this past contest, he only put up an assisted tackle and a QH on the stat sheet. Those sorts of numbers are of no use to fantasy owners and he can be discarded for a more reliable DL.
Defensive Backs
None to speak of, save for those in the injury report below.
Matchups to Exploit
Remember, the first team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. Do not go crazy, and play a LB5 against the Raven, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the Bucs or Pats (nice bonus that those two play one another this week), or a DL on Dallas that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Inside Linebackers
Baltimore Ravens @ Denver
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams
Cleveland Browns @ Minnesota
San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle
Indianapolis Colts @ Miami
Outside Linebackers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New England
Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers
Washington Football Team @ Atlanta
New England Patriots vs Tampa Bay
Defensive Ends
Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh
Carolina Panthers @ Dallas
Baltimore Ravens @ Denver
Defensive Tackles
Carolina Panthers @ Dallas
Atlanta Falcons vs Washington
New York Giants @ New Orleans
New Orleans vs New York Giants
Safeties
Denver Broncos vs Baltimore
Baltimore Ravens @ Denver
Atlanta Falcons vs Washington
Cornerbacks
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cincinnati
Buffalo Bills vs Houston
New England Patriots vs Tampa Bay
Waiver Wire Targets
This section is intended to serve as a shortened cheat sheet listing those waiver wire targets you should be considering if you need to plug a hole in your starting lineup. All these players are spotlighted above, and you can read my comments about them in the "Elevator Going Up" section of this article. As with last week, all the players commented on are here; in future installments, however, that will not be the case as there is no need 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
Tae Crowder NYG
Jordan Hicks ARI
Quincy Williams NYJ
Defensive Linemen
Darrell Taylor DE SEA
Al-Quadin Muhammad DE IND
Jeffrey Simmons Dt TEN
Defensive Backs
Chuck Clark S BAL
Andrew Wingard S JAX
Harrison Smith S MIN
Julian Blackmon S IND
Tyson Campbell CB JAX
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
Dennis Gardeck ARI knee IR
Daelin Hayes BAL ankle IR
Jaylon Ferguson BAL illness IR-COVID
L.J. Fort BAL knee-ACL IR
Joel Iyiegbuniwe CHI hamstring
Danny Trevathan knee IR
Sione Takitaki CLE hamstring
Anthony Walker CLE hamstring IR
Jacob Phillips CLE biceps
Montrel Meander CLE Achilles
Keanu Neal DAL illness IR-COVID
Francis Bernard DAL hamstring IR
Jonas Griffith DEN hamstring IR
Bradley Chubb DEN ankle IR
Josey Jewell DEN pectoral IR
Natrez Patrick DEN leg IR
Trey Flowers DET shoulder
Shaun Dion Hamilton DET undisclosed IR
Krys Barner GB concussion
Za’Darious Smith GB back IR
Randy Bamsey GB leg IR
Kamu Grugier-Hill HOU knee
Kevin Pierre-Louis HOU hamstring IR
Jordan Glasgow IND concussion IR
Dylan Moses JAX knee
Willie Gay Jr. KC toe IR
Darron Lee LV undisclosed
Nicholas Morrow LV ankle IR
Javin White LV knee IR
Justin Hollins LAR pectoral IR
Obo Okoronkwo LAR shoulder IR
Anthony Barr MIN knee
Josh Uche NE back
Ja’Whuan Bentley NE undisclosed
Anfernee Jennings NE undisclosed IR
Cameron McGrone NE knee-ACL
Terez Hall NE undisclosed PUP
Raekwon McMillan NE knee =ACL IR
Quentin Poling NO undisclosed
Chase Hansen NO groin IR
Kwon Alexander NO elbow IR
Blake Martinez NYG knee-ACL
Cam Brown NYG hamstring IR
Elerson G. Smith NYG hamstring IR
T.J. Brunson NYG knee-ACL IR
Blake Cashman NYJ hamstring IR
Jarrad Davis NYJ ankle IR
Davion Taylor PHI calf
T.J. Watt PIT groin
Alex Highsmith PIT groin
Dre Greenlaw SF groin IR
Ben Burr-Kirven SEA knee-ACL IR
Jason Pierre-Paul TB shoulder
Cam Gill TB undisclosed IR
Rashad Weaver TEN ankle IR
Derick Roberson TEN knee IR
B.J. Bello TEN ankle IR
Defensive Linemen
DE
Marlon Davidson ATL ankle
Derek Wolfe BAL back
Bryan Cox BUF Achilles IR
Yetur Gross-Matos CAR ankle
Austin Larkin CAR groin
Khalid Kareem CIN undisclosed IR
Joseph Ossai CIN knee-Meniscus IR
Wyatt Hubert CIN pectoral
Carlos Watkins DAL knee
Dorance Armstrong DAL ankle
Bradlee Anae DAL undisclosed IR-COVID
Demarcus Lawrence DAL foot IR
Da’Shawn Hand DET groin IR
Joel Heath DET knee-ACL IR
Kwity Paye IND hamstring
Dayo Odeyingbo IND Achilles
Roy Robertson-Harris JAX ankle
Frank Clark KC hamstring
Malik Herring KC knee=ACL
Janarius Robinson MIN lower body IR
Marcus Davenport NO shoulder IR
Kyle Phillips NJY ankle PUP
Vinny Curry NYJ illness
Carl Lawson NYJ Achilles IR
Brandon Graham PHI Achilles IR
Calvin Taylor PIT undisclosed
Tyson Alualu PIT ankle IR
Stephon Tuitt PIT undisclosed IR
Jordan Willis SF suspension (out until Week 8)
Benson Mayowa SEA neck
Kerry Hyder SEA concussion
Matthew Ioannidis WAS knee
Jalen Jelks WAS undisclosed IR
DT
Xavier Williams Ari undisclosed
Jordan Phillips ARI undisclosed IR
Jack Crawford ARI undisclosed IR
Deadrin Senat ATL undisclosed IR
Xavier Kelly BAL Achilles IR
Eddie Goldman CHI knee
Neville Gallimore DAL elbow IR
Trysten Hill DAL knee-ACL PUP
Kevin Strong DET concussion IR
Tyler Lancaster GB illness IR-COVID
Vincent Taylor HOU ankle IR
Rob Windsor IND hip IR
Gerald McCoy LV knee IR
Justin Jones LAC calf
Raekwon Davis MIA knee IR
Jaylen Twyman MIN pelvis
Byron Cowart NE undisclosed PUP
Jalen Dalton NO triceps IR
David Onyemata NO suspension (out until Week 8)
Fletcher Cox PHI lower body
Carlos Davis PIT knee
Kevin Givens SF ankle IR
Maurice Hurst SF ankle IR
Marcus Webb SEA undisclosed IR
Sam Renner TB undisclosed
Trevon Coley TEN foot IR
Defensive Backs
S
Charles Washington ARI hamstring IR
Kendall Sheffield ATL undisclosed IR
DeShon Elliott BAL quadriceps
Khalil Dorsey BAL undisclosed IR
Jordan Poyer BIF ankle
Myles Hartsfield CAR wrist IR
Tashaun Gipson CHI hamstring
Jessie Bates CIN neck
Ricardo Allen CIN hand IR
Donovan Wilson DAL groin
Essang Bassey DEN knee-ACL PUP
Duke Dawson DEN knee-ACL/MCL PUP
Justin Reid HOU knee
A.J. Moore HOU undisclosed IR
T.J. Carrie IND undisclosed IR
Khari Willis IND groin
Rashad Fenton KC concussion
Dallin Leavitt LV concussion
Roderic Teamer LV shoulder
Trevon Moehrig LV ankle
Keisean Nixon LV leg IR
Dayan Ghanwoloku LAR undisclosed
Joshuah Bledsoe NE wrist
Keion Crossen NYG elbow
Nate Ebner NYG quadriceps
Joshua Kalu NYG pectoral IR
Sharrod Neasman NYJ hamstring IR
Ashtyn Davis NYJ undisclosed IR
Lamarcus Joyner NYJ triceps IR
Rodney McLeod PHI knee
K’Von Wallace PHI shoulder-AC joint IR
Nathan Meadors PHI hamstring
K’Waun Williams SF calf
Jason Verrett SF knee-ACL IR
Tarvarius Moore SF Achilles PUP
Marquise Blair SEA knee
Nigel Warrior SEA knee IR
Jamel Dean TB knee
Curtis Riley TB Achilles IR
Maurice Smith TEN undisclosed
Brady Breeze TEN ankle IR
Amani Hooker TEN foot IR
Darrick Forrest WAS hamstring IR
CB
A.J. Terrell ATL concussion
Chris Westry BAL knee-Meniscus IR
Marcus Peters BAL knee-ACL IR
Iman Marshall BAL knee IR
Juston Burris CAR groin IR
Jaycee Horn CAR foot IR
C.J. Henderson CAR groin
Troy Pride CAR knee-ACL IR
Chidobe Awuzie CIN Groin
Greg Newsome II CLE calf
Kelvin Joseph DAL groin IR
Reggie Robinson II DAL toe IR
Rondald Darby DEN hamstring IR
Michael Ojemudia DEN hamstring IR
Ifeatu Melifonwu DET thigh IR
Jeff Okudah DET Achilles IR
Kevin King GB illness
Will Redmond GB toe IR
Terrance Mitchell HOU concussion
Rock Ya-Sin IND ankle
Chavarius Ward KC quadriceps
Chris Harris LAC shoulder
Ryan Smith LAC undisclosed IR
Harrison Hand MIN hamstring
Stephon Gilmore NE quadriceps PUP
Keith Washington NO wrist
Ken Crawley NO hamstring IR
Brian Poole NO undisclosed IR
Logan Ryan hamstring NYG
Aaron Robinson NYG abdomen PUP
Quincy Wilson NYG ankle IR
Zane Lewis NYJ knee-MCL IR
Josiah Scott PHI hamstring IR
DeMarkus Acy PIT knee-ACL
Josh Norman SF chest
Davontae Harris SF hamstring IR
Tre Brown SEA knee IR
Sean Murphy-Bunting TB elbow IR
Caleb Farley TEN shoulder
Kevin Peterson TEN undisclosed
Greg Mabin TEN undisclosed
Benjamin St-Juste WAS concussion
Greg Stroman WAS undisclosed
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, you can also send a message to ia@fantasyalarm.com for a personal response from the writer of this article. Naturally, the more detail you can send about your league, such as number of teams, platform you play in (Yahoo, ESPN, etc.), scoring and roster system, the better the ability to provide accurate advice.