Week 8 provided some solid streaming options for the IDL and Edge positions. The two options we went with to stream at Edge were Samson Ebukam and Dante Fowler. Ebukam had a basic week providing three total tackles (two solos) and two pressures. He was getting after the quarterback, though did not hit home. Fowler, on the other hand, was the best-looking pass rusher on the Cowboys last Sunday. He finished with five solo tackles, two for a loss, a sack, a pass defended, and four pressures. The sleeper at Edge was Joseph Ossai, but unfortunately, what made him such a great option, Trey Hendrickson's injury, changed late in the week. Hendrickson was believed to be unavailable, only to come off the injury report late in the week. As a result, Ossai only produced three total tackles, with one being solo.
At the IDL position, the streaming options we went with were Shelby Harris and Grover Stewart. Harris had a solid day and continued his strong play with four tackles (two solos) and two pressures. Grover Stewart continues to be one of the top tackle-producing IDL and dropped a seven-tackle (six solos), a tackle for a loss, and a pass defended stat line. Davon Hamilton was the call at IDL for a sleeper. He showed his solid tackle floor, accumulating four tackles (3 solos). Here are the top options for Week 9.
Week 9 IDL and Edge Streaming Options
Edge Carlos Dunlap, Kansas City Chiefs
Matchup: Tennessee Titans - Ranked 31st in Matt Bitonti's RAnkings
Carlos Dunlap finds himself in a very nice position for IDP production for Week 9. Last week he played his highest snap percentage all season (58%), with Frank Clark missing the game due to suspension. Clark’s bonehead demeanor has him out for Week 9 as well. Expect a similar snap share for Dunlap. The old man has still been one of the better pass-rushing options for the Chiefs this season at age 33.
Dunlap has always had a propensity for getting his mitts on the ball as a defensive end, with 71 career passes defended, including one in each of the past two weeks. He has also been an efficient tackler for his career and a solid edge setter. The Chiefs will need this going up against Derek Henry and the Titans. Dunlap has a volume role with a high tackle floor for an edge with potential pass-rush upside in Week 9.
Edge Josh Paschal, Detroit Lions
Matchup: Green Bay Packers - RAnked 24th in Matt Bitonti's RAnkings
Since Paschal has become healthy, he has commanded a Lion's share of snaps - see what I did there? In his first two career games, Paschal has earned an astounding 90% snap share. Veteran Charles Harris has been injured, but the Lions are also pushing their youngsters into action. Paschal has responded with three pressures in his first two games while also earning a 74.5 tackle grade pee PFF. He showed great strength and block-shedding in his run defense, as you can see here.
DET played a lot of 4-3 Nickel Personnel on 1st Down and/or overloaded formations with Jeff Okudah as the SAM LB. He had a hell of a day in run support with 15 Total Tackles (12 Solo). Promising wrinkle from DC Glenn. Rookie Josh Paschal also dismantled the TEs early and often. pic.twitter.com/qbbJn4xW5l
— Al Karsten (@bigalfredosauce) October 24, 2022
Paschal takes on the Packers in Week 9. With the lack of offensive talent at wideout, and the front office's inability to add any skill at the deadline, Rodgers and company sound a bit shaken. Gregory Rousseau just dropped four tackles, two pressures, and a sack on the Packers in Week 8. Paschal is not Rousseau, but Rodgers' trust, or lack thereof, leaves him holding the ball too long. It also has the Packers focus more on the run game. Two factors Paschal can exploit and look to drop the best stat line of his young rookie season.
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IDL Quinton Jefferson, Seattle Seahawks
Matchup: Arizona Cardinals - Ranked 28th in Matt Bitonti's Rankings
Quinton Jefferson has looked very good during his second stint with the Seahawks. He is second on the team overall in pressures (19), trailing only Uchenna Nwosu. His past two games have been incredibly impressive, where he has been able to compile seven pressures and two sacks. Jefferson has commanded a healthy 55.38% snap share. The Seahawks have been desperate to add any semblance of a pass rush, and the old man Jefferson has done just that. He showed unbelievable hustle on this play where he ran down Daniel Jones last week.
This chase-down tackle from Shelby Harris on 3rd-and-9 had Seattle's sideline fired up. Big-time hustle from the veteran DT to get his team off the field
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) October 31, 2022
Said Quinton Jefferson: "That play alone just shows you our season: boys selling out for each other." https://t.co/qu8H8hJ4AR pic.twitter.com/3hRivhv2bB
Jefferson and company take on the Cardinals during Week 9. They just allowed seven tackles, one for a loss, a sack, and four pressures combined from Harrison Phillips and Dalvin Tomlinson. Jefferson has been far better rushing the passer than either of the Vikings' interior options. They have also allowed the 10th most sacks in the NFL with 20. Jefferson could be in line for a nice day.
IDL Austin Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers
Matchup: Atlanta Falcons - Ranked 13th in Matt Bitonti's Rankings
Austin Johnson was a nice addition to the interior for the Chargers. He provides a strong tackle floor having three or more tackles in each of his past five games. He is also coming off of his best game as a Charger, where he racked up five tackles, three pressures, and a sack. He has seen consistent time on the field with a 57% snap share. Johnson has been able to make the most of his time on the field with his violent approach to his opponents. As you can see, Johnson has a quick punch and sheds blocks almost angrily.
The Chargers added Austin Johnson to boost the run defense; you can see why here.
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) September 13, 2022
Violent strike, inside hand placement, extension, leverage, eye control & shed.
Khalil Mack also does a great job setting the edge and getting in on the tackle. pic.twitter.com/blQpsKIBU2
He has a nice matchup against the Falcons in Week 9. The Falcons have run the second-most rushing plays in the league so far, which bodes well for Johnson's tackle floor. They also have been a mediocre pass-blocking team. They have allowed 19 sacks so far this season, bad enough for the 12th-most allowed. Johnson has a high upside in Week 9.
Week 9 IDL and Edge Sleeper Options
Edge Marquis Haynes, Carolina Panthers
Matchup: Cincinnati Bengals - Ranked 5th in Matt Bitonti's Rankings
After Brian Burns, it is hard to pin down the team's next-best edge rusher. You want to say Yetur Gross-Matos, but he has, in fact, Bern gross and is disappointing once again. Even though Haynes has seen 168 fewer snaps than Gross-Matos, he has two more pressures than him. Haynes is having his best season to date volume-wise, playing a career-high 44.57% of the team's snaps. He is already just two pressures short of his career high and just seven tackles short of his career high. He has been very explosive, which you can see during this stunt move.
Marquis Haynes forces an incomplete pass! #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/EnkmS4CMQp
— Pro Football Culture (@proftblculture) October 23, 2022
The Panthers take on the Bengals in Week 9, who have allowed the second-most sacks in the NFL with 30. Burrow was dropped five times in Week 8 by the Browns. Haynes could be a sneaky play for Week 9.
IDL Roy Lopez, Houston Texans
Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles - Ranked 1st in Matt Bitonti's Rankings
Roy Lopez has had himself a solid season so far coming for the Texans. He started 15 of 16 games played as a rookie in 2021 and has commanded a 51.57% snap share so far in 2022. Though his tackle numbers are a bit low, he has shown improved interior pass-rushing, already accruing four more pressures than his rookie season in just seven games. His last three games have been very impressive, piling up seven pressures while earning a 67.4 pass-rush grade during Week 8, his best on the season. Lopez is an incredibly hard worker and never gives up on a play which you see here with his sack on Ryan Tannehill.
Nowhere to run 😤 @RoyLopez__
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 30, 2022
📺 » @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/pNZdDF1x9i
Lopez is tasked with containing the Eagles' offense in Week 9. The opportunity will be there to make plays. Averaging 70.6 offensive plays per game, tops in the NFL, the Eagles are a great matchup to stream against based on volume alone. They have also run the most rushing plays in the league, which sets up Lopez for a potentially strong tackle floor.
Final Thoughts
Originally, Emmanuel Ogbah was going to be a streaming option for Week 9. He plays the Bears, who have one of the league's worst offensive lines. Unfortunately for Ogbah, the Dolphins just made a huge trade for Bradley Chubb, which likely relegates Ogbah to a part-time role. With the playing for the Dolphins Edge defenders up in the air, it is best to hold a week. The others in this article have tremendous matchups and have been more than solid so far for the 2022 season. Thanks again for reading my IDL and Edge streaming article. Good luck in all of your Week 9 matchups!