Week 3 was a 50-50 hit on my streamers article. George Karlaftis saw an 80% snap-share, though it only amounted to four tackles, only one of which was a solo tackle, along with a single pressure. Dorance Armstrong was a hit, coming up with his third sack in as many weeks, adding four pressures. At the IDL position, DreMont Jones saw a huge snap-share (80%), though it resulted in a measly two assisted tackles and one pressure. Matt Ioannidis also busted, coming up with a single tackle for a loss, and did not record a single pressure.
It was the sleeper positions that really shined from the Week 3 article. The edge call from Week 3 was Rasheem Green. He had a strong Week 2 performance and a great matchup for Week 3 and did not disappoint. Green finished with seven tackles (five solos), a half of a sack, and two pressures while playing on 57% of the team's defensive snaps. On the IDL side, the sleeper was Sheldon Rankins with a cake matchup against the Bengals. He did not disappoint. Rankins piled on sevens tackles (six solos), one tackle for a loss, one sack, and two pressures while playing 56% of the team's snaps. Here are the matchups for Week 4 that are worth streaming if you have current holes in your defensive line positions.
Week 4 IDL and Edge Streaming Options
Edge Melvin Ingram III, Miami Dolphins
Matchup: Cincinnati Bengals - Ranked 24th In Matt Bitonti's Rankings
Melvin Ingram III has been an absolute splendid surprise for the Miami Dolphins this season. Many had Ingram written off as a candidate to fade into the sun. He responded by shining even brighter. Ingram has seen his snap-share increase every week, all the way up to 57 snaps (62%), not trailing Jaelan Phillips (62) or Emmanuel Ogbah (70) by much. The three have formed a powerful pass-rsuh trio. Ingram was a key player in the Week 3 win over the Bills, showing that father time has not caught up with him yet. Watch his explosion to get to Josh Allen for the sack.
melvin ingram is 2 fast 2 furious pic.twitter.com/ZhTuWmtBpE
— josh houtz (@houtz) September 27, 2022
Ingram has produced five tackles, two for a loss, two sacks, and eight pressures over his past two games. Joe Burrow has spent far too much time on his back this season. If you are playing IDP, this is a perfect recipe to take advantage of. The Bengals offensive line has given up 15 sacks in three games, tied for worst in the NFL. Ingram has a strong chance to get to Burrow this week, making him a nice steaming option.
Edge J.J. Watt, Arizona Cardinals
Matchup: Carolina Panthers - Ranked 21st In Matt Bitonti's Rankings
J.J. Watt is listed as an edge in this article as opposed to IDL because of where he has been lining up for the Cardinals. 55 of his 72 snaps have been at either the LEO, REO, or left edge positions, with only 10 total snaps as a true interior lineman. 33 of those 55 have been at the LEO or REO, so enough time as a true edge defender. With that said, Watt has looked very good since his first start in Week 2. He has a sack in each of his first two games, accruing an overall defensive grade of 74.7 and a pass-rush grade of 70.0 per Pro Football Focus. Watt has looked as powerful as ever, overwhelming offensive linemen this season as you can see here.
We like our 99 a little more.@JJWatt x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/trPiChXUa0
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 25, 2022
Watt has a favorable matchup against the leaky Panthers offensive line. The Panthers are tied for the 7th most sacks allowed this season with nine in three games. Watt has six pressures in two games and will look to keep tacking them on during Week 4.
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IDL Dalvin Tomlinson, Minnesota Vikings
Matchup: New Orleans Saints - Ranked 3rd In Matt Bitonti's Rankings
Though Dalvin Tomlinson has not been driving home sacks, that does not mean he has not been applying heat. He has seven pressures on the interior over the first three weeks of the season, converting them into a half of a sack. Sure the conversion rate could be better, but his matchup could aid him in finishing a bit more brutally. Tomlinson is also one of the better run stuffers on the interior. He has 12 tackles over the first three weeks giving him a solid floor. Tomlinson does a great job navigating the line of scrimmage and filling gaps like you see here.
I think I'm in love with Dalvin Tomlinson and Harrison Phillips
— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) September 27, 2022
Just look at them devour these double teams 🥲 pic.twitter.com/wbECchi4ky
The Saints interior is a porous group. The guards as a collective have an average pass blocking grade of 42.9 on pure pass sets per PFF. They have given up the 5th most sacks in the NFL with 11. The Saints may try to get more committed to the run game, having attempted the 5th fewest rushing attempts this season. That would bode well for Tomlinson's floor, but I love the ceiling of potentially getting to Jameis Winston either way.
IDL Larry Ogunjobi, Pittsburgh Steelers
Matchup: New York Jets - Ranked 25th In Matt Bitotni's RAnkings
Ogunjobi has been a nice addition to the Steelers defensive interior, especially with Stephon Tuitt retiring before the start of the season. He has started off a bit modest pass rushing, though is averaging three tackles per game, providing a solid floor. In addition, he has provided five pressures and half of a sack. What Ogunjobi does provide is ample playing time, providing opportunity. Over the past two weeks, Ogunjobi has played on 65% of the team's defensive snaps, the highest of any interior defensive lineman on the team not named Cameron Heyward. He provides a quickness on the interior, which you see here from Week 2, with a nice swim move.
LARRY OGUNJOBI REVENGE GAME 😤 pic.twitter.com/U9okdFz0hb
— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) September 23, 2022
The Jets are tied for 7th in sacks allowed with nine. They have allowed an interior sack in each game so far this season. The duo of Ogunjobi and Heyward should eat of the Jets offensive interior.
Week 4 IDL and Edge Sleeper Options
Edge Dawuane Smoot - Jacksonville Jaguars
Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles - Ranked 1st In Matt Bitonti's RAnkings
Smoot is coming off his best season as a pro in 2021, where he provided a career-high 36 tackles, six sacks, and 50 pressures. He has settled into a nice pure pass-rusher role for the Jaguars. Of the 73 snaps he has played (38.33% snap-share), 63 have been pass-rushing snaps. He played 48% of the team's snaps during a Week 3 massacre of the Chargers and converted that to five pressures and a sack. When Smoot is on the field, his motor is relentless. Watch his sack from Week 3, he never gives up on the play.
😎 EN GRAAAANDE
— FOX Impacto NFL (@FOXImpactoNFL) September 25, 2022
¡Lo que hizo Dawuane Smoot! #NFLxFOX pic.twitter.com/cx6Qz9VsPt
Needless to say, the Jaguars know exactly how to use Smoot to his strengths. He gets to line up against a strong Eagles offensive line, though they have given up the 12th most sacks (seven) in the NFL so far this season. This is likely due to Jalen Hurts scrambling and holding the ball, but either way, Smoot has the potential to make an impact again in Week 4.
IDL Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
Matchup: Chicago Bears - RAnked 26th In Matt Bitonti's rankings
Dexter Lawrence is a much better real-life football player than he is a fantasy asset, but that does not mean he is worthy of a flyer from week to week. During his first three full seasons, Lawrence has averaged 48 tackles, three sacks, and 34 pressures per season. Though he has not converted a sack this season, he boasts a pass-rush grade of 70.7 per PFF and has applied seven pressures. He has unbelievable speed and athleticism for a big man. Watch him run down Baker Mayfield here during a Week 2 win.
345 pound Dexter Lawrence forced a 4th & 1 by hustling Baker Mayfield out of bounds pic.twitter.com/lAiMU47bJe
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) September 19, 2022
Lawrence also provides a solid floor with under four tackles per game this season. When you are streaming IDL, it is almost best to start with a player with a strong floor, then look at which of those players can provide potential pass-rush upside. Lawrence is one of these players. He has a plus matchup as well. The Bears' offensive guards have been miserable this year in pass protection, averaging a combined pass-block grade of 22.53 per PFF on true pass sets. This could be the week Lawrence converts a sack.
Final Thoughts
I almost added Dorance Armstrong for a second consecutive week to stream, though with his play and usage this season, he has become a weekly starter in some leagues. All of these players are likely on your bench or even on waivers. They all have terrific matchups that could provide a terrific return on investment for Week 4. Thank you again for reading my weekly article. Good luck on all of your Week 4 matchups.