Years ago, when Deone Bucannon introduced himself as a “money linebacker” on Sunday Night Football, the audience had a good laugh. The term was a reference to his defensive responsibilities but conjured images in viewers' minds of the huge game checks that Bucannon was earning at that time. Memes popped up in the following days of Bucannon on top of piles of money and gold coins. Hopefully, following the guidance given in this column will have your rosters overflowing with a wealth of IDP riches. We will primarily focus on edge rushers but will also hit some of the other players and situations that will likely impact teams in big play leagues. We will cover risers and fallers in the format, injury situations about which fantasy general managers need to know, and upcoming matchups to target.
Note: The defensive player injuries covered in this column are not an exhaustive list but an attempt to cover the situations most likely to impact big play IDP squads. For more extensive coverage of injury situations, see Jene Bramel’s latest Injury Rounds column.
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49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair played every snap alongside Fred Warner. As long as Dre Greenlaw remains out, it appears Al-Shaair is a safe play.
Bills defensive end Gregory Rousseau took the lead in snaps, playing 20% more snaps than the next leading edge defender, Jerry Hughes. This may have been a product of the game script, but it will be something to monitor going forward.
Browns linebacker Anthony Walker was placed on injured reserve late last week, meaning he will miss at least the next few contests. It was veteran Malcolm Smith who replaced him in the lineup, playing 95% of the snaps. If you are struggling and need help at the position, it might be worth putting in a bid for Smith, who has been an experienced starter for multiple teams.
The Dallas coaching staff got creative and allowed Micah Parsons to play defensive end against the Chargers. He did not disappoint. It is possible the Cowboys will continue to utilize him in this manner, as he seems to be struggling more when he plays linebacker. The Cowboys corresponded by allowing Keanu Neal to play 72% of their linebacker snaps. It is not ideal usage, but Neal could be someone of interest in deeper IDP formats.
The Eagles maintain a pass rush rotation, but Brandon Graham’s season-ending injury makes Josh Sweat, Derek Barnett, and Ryan Kerrigan slightly more appealing options.
With Jamien Sherwood out, it was Quincy Williams instead of Delshawn Phillips who was the Jets linebacker playing primarily next to C.J. Mosley. Williams is worth a speculative pickup and can be a plug-and-play option until Sherwood returns to the lineup.
Giants safety Jabrill Peppers was back up to playing 80% of the time. It is not great, but it would be serviceable for general managers. Still, continue to bench Peppers until we are sure that his usage is going to remain stable and not change dramatically from week to week.
Panthers linebacker Jermaine Carter went from 95% of the snaps last week to 30% this week. The Panthers played in their dime package for much of the contest against the Saints. While it may have been a one-off game plan, it is hard to trust Carter going forward.
As expected, with Marcus Davenport out Saints edge defender Cameron Jordan dominated snaps with 84% playing time. Peyton Turner did make his debut and made an impact on 41% of the snaps with five tackles (three for loss), a sack, and a quarterback hit. If he continues to play like this and not look like a rookie, expect his time on the field to increase.
Titans Bradley McDougald managed only 74% of the snaps against Seattle, suggesting that even with Amani Hooker out, he will not be trusted to be a full-time player. Since he can be a liability in coverage, that is an understandable choice.
With Josey Jewell out of the game, it was Justin Strnad playing next to A.J. Johnson. Strnad is worth picking up now that we know Josey Jewell is done for the year.
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It was a busy week for injuries on the defensive side of the ball!
- Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence broke his foot in practice last week.
- Eagles defensive end Eagles Brandon Graham tore his Achilles and is out for the year.
- Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds left the game because of cramping and did not return, likely because there was no point in risking a more significant injury in a blowout win.
- Broncos pass rusher Bradley Chubb re-aggravated an ankle injury and is likely to miss some time.
- Broncos linebacker Josey Jewell was also knocked from the game with a significant pectoral injury. It was confirmed on Monday that his season is over.
- Falcons corner A.J. Terrell suffered a concussion against Tampa Bay.
- Jaguars starting corner C.J. Henderson left the game with a hip injury.
- The Packers lost Zadarius Smith to injured reserve for the foreseeable future with a back injury.
- Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt left the game with a groin strain and did not come back. Additionally, nose tackle Tyson Alualu suffered a fractured ankle.
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Note: In this section, matchups are listed in order of what the author is most confident will happen to what the author is least confident will happen. This section will become more extensive as the season progresses and offensive and defensive trends are established. For the first few weeks, it will be limited to pass rush predictions.
Carolina Pass Rushers versus Houston Texans Offensive Line
Both offensive lines have been surprisingly good so far, despite their below-average rankings. The Panthers have allowed only three sacks and Houston has surrendered just two. However, we could see that trend breaking for Houston next week, especially if the Panthers do what they did versus the Saints and play in nontraditional formations all day. It also does not hurt that the Panthers currently lead the NFL in sacks with 10. Brian Burns should be starting for most IDP squads anyway. Edge rusher Haason Reddick and defensive tackle Derrick Brown should also be given starting consideration this week.
Cleveland Browns Pass Rushers versus Chicago Bears Offensive Line
The Bears have allowed six sacks, and even though a more mobile Justin Fields will be under center, we should still get a few sacks in this contest. Myles Garrett is a no-brainer start in this one. Malik Jackson is also a starting DT in most formats. Jadaveon Clowney continues his sackless streak, so it is hard to trust him as more than a flier, despite the favorable matchup.
Oakland Raiders Pass Rushers versus Miami Dolphins Offensive Line
Tua Tagovailoa got banged up behind this line last week and is questionable to play this week. The Raiders meanwhile have been prolific in the sack department. Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue are the best options here. Though Solomon Thomas had two sacks last week, it is hard to trust that production on 45% of the snap share.
Pittsburgh Steelers Pass Rushers versus Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Line
Another year, another season of Joe Burrow taking massive amounts of abuse. The Bengals have already surrendered nine sacks in two games. For that reason, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith, and Melvin Ingram III are above average plays this week.
Buffalo Bills Pass Rushers versus Washington Football Team Offensive Line
The Bills have the second-most sacks in the NFL with eight. In contrast, Washington has allowed only two sacks on the year, but the writer believes this may be the week the dam breaks and this mid-tier line gives up two or three in a game. Gregory Rousseau and Jerry Hughes are the only two getting enough playing time to garner serious consideration in fantasy lineups.
Minnesota Vikings Pass Rushers versus Seattle Seahawks Offensive Line
Seattle Seahawks Pass Rushers versus Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line
Both teams rank top five in sacks, but also are top five in sacks surrendered. Danielle Hunter is really the only Viking you can trust in your lineup and is a one-man wrecking crew. On the Seattle side, the rotational nature of the pass rushers makes it a more difficult call. Kerry Hyder, Benson Mayowa, Rasheem Green, and Darrell Taylor all have an elevated chance of a sack but should be started only if you need to swing for the fences. Jamal Adams is a must-start, as he usually is.
Tennessee Titans Pass Rushers versus Indianapolis Colts Offensive Line
Indianapolis Colts Pass Rushers versus Tennessee Titans Offensive Line
Both lines are having great difficulty stopping pass rushers right now. The Titans are now missing Taylor Lewan and Roger Saffold and have allowed a second-from-the-bottom-of-the-league nine sacks. The Colts, despite getting back Quinton Nelson and Eric Fisher last contest, gave up three sacks and gave up another three in the previous game. They are potentially without Carson Wentz, which could also contribute to disarray along their front five. Jeffery Simmons at defensive tackle is a wonderful start. Bud Dupree and Harold Landry are less safe, but not bad options for owners needing upside this week. On the other side of the contest, DeForest Buckner is a must-start. Corner Kenny Moore often blitzes and already has a sack on the year. He could easily end up with another one here. Kwity Paye and Al Quadin-Muhammad, like Landry and Dupree, are high-risk, high-reward options for general managers starting 3-4 edge rushers in their leagues.
Denver Broncos Pass Rushers versus New York Jets Offensive Line
Bradley Chubb will be missing for a while, but since he will be facing a line in tatters from injury, there are still probably some sacks to be had. Von Miller is really the only player to trust in lineups.
Arizona Cardinals Pass Rushers versus Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Line
Arizona disappointingly had just one sack against Minnesota after registering six against the Titans. They will look to turn that around against a Jacksonville team that has been surprisingly solid, allowing only two against the Texans and Broncos without Bradley Chubb for most of the contest. The dam should break this week against J.J. Watt and Chandler Jones, making both worth a starting nod.
Atlanta Falcons Pass Rushers versus New York Giants Offensive Line
New York Giants Pass Rushers versus Atlanta Falcons Offensive Line
Neither team has a dynamic pass rush, but the offensive lines and quarterbacks are so bad that it would be un upset if 2-4 sacks are not tallied on either side of the score sheet. On the interior, we will hope Grady Jarrett can get going in this contest after a slow start to the year. Dante Fowler is serviceable in 3-4 starting edge rusher formats and the already startable linebacker Deion Jones will get a bump this week. On the Giants side, Azeez Ojulari and Leonard Williams are the only two options worth considering.
Baltimore Ravens Pass Rushers versus Detroit Lions Offensive Line
The Ravens have a far less effective rush so far this season, even against Vegas and Kansas City, lines that are not top-tier units. The matchup, however, is too good to ignore. Making it additionally difficult for fantasy general managers is the rotational nature of the unit. Pernell McPhee, Justin Houston, and Jaylon Ferguson will benefit from this matchup, but all are only worthy of the third or fourth spot in leagues that start four or more pass rushers. Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe are also in the discussion for deeper leagues, depending on their designation in your league.
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Los Angeles Chargers Pass Rushers versus Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line
Kansas City Chiefs Pass Rushers versus Los Angeles Chargers Offensive Line
This one looks like it could be a stalemate in that Patrick Mahomes II and Justin Herbert remain two of the least sacked quarterbacks in the NFL, despite relatively low offensive line scores. Mahomes has been sacked only twice and Herbert has taken just four sacks. Do not sit Joey Bosa, but lessen your expectations for his output this week. Uchenna Nwosu, Linval Joseph, and Jerry Tillery should be benched. On the other side of the matchup, you also cannot really bench Chris Jones, but you may not get a big play out of him this week. Jarran Reed and Frank Clark can follow Nwosu, Joseph, and Tillery to the bench.
Los Angeles Rams Pass Rushers versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Line
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pass Rushers versus Los Angeles Rams Offensive Line
Both offensive lines have been excellent and even though both teams have pass rushers capable of big days, this matchup is unlikely to be one of the times that they feast. Only Aaron Donald is unbenchable.
Packers Pass Rushers versus San Francisco 49ers Offensive Line
The unit has been excellent and allowed just one sack in two games. Minus their best pass rusher in Zadarius Smith, it is hard to imagine the Packers breaking through much if at all this week. You can safely sit Preston Smith and Rashan Gary