IDP Upgrades: Week 14

This article immediately highlights defensive players whose production was significantly better or worse than normally expected for the prior week of games. Note there is sometimes limited information available when this article is written, but I will try to give everyone an early look at players who are moving up or down in value among IDP circles. It isn’t easy to give waiver advice for IDPs since there is such a wide variety of lineups and scoring systems, but hopefully, the information provided can help inform your waiver, trade, and upcoming lineup decisions. I'm also going to try and group edge rushers together with the understanding that classification as a defensive end or linebacker will depend on your league setup/host. If you have any questions about specific players or situations, please email me or reach out via Twitter.

Email: rudnicki@footballguys.com
Twitter: @a_rudnicki

UPGRADES

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS

DT Jonathan Allen, WAS (7 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF on 98% of snaps)
DT DaRon Payne, WAS (3 solos, 1 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH on 89% of snaps)
There’s probably not much room left to upgrade both players, as they are clearly among the elites at the tackle position now. Despite playing all season without Chase Young, Allen and Payne have combined for 16 sacks through 13 games played. They benefited from a game that went 5 full quarters and ended in a tie this week and Allen still set a season-high with 98% of the snaps.

DT Dexter Lawrence, NYG (4 solos, 5 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH on 91% of snaps)
Lawrence was also helped by a game that ended in a tie and played a remarkable 77 snaps. He’s already set a career-high with 6 sacks this year and appears to have some favorable matchups the rest of the way.

DL Christian Wilkins, MIA (8 solos, 4 asst, 1 TFL, 1 FF on 90% of snaps)
DL Zach Sieler, MIA (5 solos, 2 asst, .5 sack, 2 QH on 90% of snaps)
Both Dolphins linemen were helped by the matchup this week as the 49ers dominated time of possession and ran 79 plays compared to 45 for Miami. While neither player has huge upside as a pass rusher, they have been a productive source of tackles over the past month and look like high-floor starters.

DE Michael Hoecht, LAR (3 solos, 2 sacks, 1 TFL, 3 QH, 1 FF on 84% of snaps)
Hoecht may have different positional designations depending on where you look, but the Rams have given him a chance at edge rusher the past two weeks. He has produced. He showed some flashes last week by adding 6 tackles against the Chiefs but blew up this week with the first 2 sacks of his career, including a strip sack.

DE Kwity Paye, IND (6 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 68% of snaps)
Paye returned to the lineup this week for the first time since aggravating an ankle injury in week 10. He had played just one full game since week 4 but looked strong while collecting 9 tackles plus a sack on just 46 snaps. While this has been a frustrating year due to all the missed time, he still has a chance to finish strong and contribute in the fantasy playoffs following a week 14 bye.

DE Josh Sweat, PHI (2 solos, 2 asst, 2 sacks, 1 TFL, 3 QH on 49% of snaps)
Sweat only plays about half of the snaps each week for an Eagles team with excellent depth on the edge, but he’s been their most productive pass rusher of late. With a pair of sacks in an easy win over the Titans this week, he now has four in his last four games and 6.5 on the year, which is one off the career-high he set in 2021.

EDGE Chandler Jones, LV (5 solos, 1 asst, 3 sacks, 2 TFL, 5 QH, 1 PD on 88% of snaps)
It was starting to look like a lost season for Jones, who had recorded just a half-sack through the first 11 games of the season. He woke up in a big win over the Chargers this week and registered three sacks against one of the least-sacked quarterbacks in the league.

EDGE Josh Uche, NE (6 solos, 1 asst, 2 sacks, 3 QH, 1 FF on 43% of snaps)
Uche did not record his first sack of the season until week 8 but he’s quickly been making up for lost time. Despite playing less than 50% of the snaps each week, he has seven sacks over his last five games combined. He was helped by a matchup against an injured left tackle for Buffalo this week but still showed off his excellent speed and athleticism to chase down Josh Allen for two sacks with a forced fumble.

LINEBACKERS

LB Alex Singleton, DEN (9 solos, 8 asst on 88% of snaps)
Josey Jewell is the every-down linebacker in Denver and the more reliable fantasy option as a result, but Singleton has been very productive himself. Despite sometimes playing fewer than 60% of the snaps, Singleton has 26 solo tackles and 19 assists over the past four weeks. Given the Broncos struggles on offense, both linebackers appear to be worthy of starting consideration each week.

LB Jamin Davis, WAS (7 solos, 3 asst, 1 TFL, 1 FR on 100% of snaps)
Cole Holcomb hasn’t played since Week 7 and was inactive for four games before the team placed him on IR, but he underwent foot surgery recently and is now done for the season. Davis has played nearly every snap since week 8 and has started to show signs of improvement. Over the past two weeks, he has 13 solos and 7 assists and the former first-round pick is trying to stake a claim to a full-time role for 2023 since Holcomb is scheduled to become a free agent.

LB Jerome Baker, MIA (6 solos, 6 asst, .5 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 88% of snaps)
Baker has seen more fluctuation in his workload of late than we are used to seeing but he played 74 snaps in a rough loss this week, which was his second-highest total of the year. With 12 tackles and a half sack, he was very active and should have favorable matchups for the rest of the year.

LB Micah McFadden, NYG (4 solos, 5 asst, 1 FF on 67% of snaps)
This was a potential turning point for McFadden as he was very active and collected 9 tackles on 57 snaps. For comparison, Jaylon Smith played six more snaps and finished with only five tackles in the game.

LB Ernest Jones, LAR (7 solos, 1 asst on 69% of snaps)
This week was a revenge game of sorts for Bobby Wagner against his former team, but Jones also contributed with 8 tackles on 46 snaps. Apart from a disappointing showing against the Saints in week 11, he’s posted consistent tackle numbers for the past two months despite not playing a full 3-down role.

LB Tony Fields, CLE (3 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 TD on 51% of snaps)
The Browns continue to churn through linebackers this year, and Fields looks like the next man up. Sione Takitaki suffered a torn ACL in the game and Fields came up huge with a pick-six in the fourth quarter. Deion Jones also figures to see an increase in playing time, but the Browns may want to give Fields a longer look to see what the young linebacker can do.

LB DeVondre Campbell, GB (7 solos, 4 asst on 100% of snaps)
Campbell returned to the lineup this week for the first time since suffering a knee injury in Week 8. Even though the Packers could have elected to let him rest through next week’s bye, he played all 52 snaps and contributed to a win over the rival Bears with 11 tackles.

LB Joe Schobert, TEN (4 solos, 2 asst on 51% of snaps)
LB Monty Rice, TEN (4 solos, 3 asst, 1 TFL on 36% of snaps)
David Long left the game in the first half with a hamstring injury, which opened up more playing time for Schobert and Rice. Dylan Cole struggled so perhaps the Titans consider giving these players more playing time if Long is forced to miss next week’s game against the Jaguars.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S Jalen Pitre, HOU (9 solos, 7 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Pitre has been one of the most productive rookie IDPs in the league this year. While the team has struggled, he’s continued to post starter numbers nearly every week. He was all over the field in a loss to the Browns on Sunday and involved on 16 tackles on 63 plays while also picking off his third pass of the season.

S Justin Simmons, DEN (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL, 2 INT, 2 PD, 1 FF on 100% of snaps)
Simmons has been an excellent safety for years but he may have been found on waiver wires earlier this year after some injuries and underwhelming production. He picked up 9 tackles a week ago though and then added two interceptions with a forced fumble this week. With the Chiefs and Cardinals coming up on the schedule, he is heating up just in time to make an impact in the fantasy playoffs.

S Donovan Wilson, DAL (9 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 69% of snaps)
After a two-week lull that saw him post just 4 solos in weeks 11 and 12 combined, Wilson led the Cowboys in tackles with nine solos while also adding a sack. It appeared he was rested late as the game turned into a blowout, but he’s currently on pace to approach 90 solo tackles and 6 sacks.

S Jordan Whitehead, NYJ (8 solos, 3 asst, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Whitehead hasn’t fully lived up to some of the potential many saw for him with the Jets this year, but he showed what he’s capable of on Sunday. He finished with eight solo tackles, while the next-highest player for the Jets had four. The Bills should keep him busy again next week as well.

S Jimmie Ward, SF (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD on 70% of snaps)
Ward appears to have lost his job as the starting safety in San Francisco, but he’s found a new role as the team’s nickel back. While his tackle numbers and playing time may not be as high as you’d hope for from a starting safety, he’s shown a knack for making plays on the ball and picked off his second pass in the past three games this week and has a matchup with Tampa and Chris Godwin next week.

S Andrew Wingard, JAX (7 solos, 2 asst on 100% of snaps)
Wingard got the start at safety in place of Andre Cisco, who sat out with a shoulder injury. He’s only keeping the seat warm so watch the injury news before you run out and claim Wingard on waivers.

S Isaiah Pola-Mao, LV (5 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH on 17% of snaps)
Pola-Mao doesn’t see a lot of playing time, but he’s been incredibly productive on his limited snap count. Two weeks ago against the Broncos, he was credited with four tackles on just eight defensive snaps. This week against the Chargers, he was credited with five solos and a sack while playing just 13 snaps. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 211 pounds and looks most comfortable playing up in the box so probably worth monitoring in case his role starts to increase.

CB DaRon Bland, DAL (4 solos, 4 asst, 2 INT, 2 PD on 86% of snaps)
The Cowboys appear to have lost one starting corner in Anthony Brown this week, but they got a breakout performance from the rookie fifth-round pick to help offset it. He’s been playing well as the team’s nickel corner since Jourdan Lewis went down with a foot injury.

CB TreDavious White, BUF (3 solos, 1 asst, 1 PD on 61% of snaps)
The Bills have taken a very cautious approach with White this year in his return from a torn ACL last Thanksgiving. He played just 16 snaps against the Lions but was mostly back to a full-time role this week. He sat out one series early in the game after being checked for a stinger and then sat out late after the game was well in hand. The Bills have pass-heavy matchups coming against the Jets, Dolphins, and Bengals in the next four weeks so look for him to be tested.

CB Derion Kendrick, LAR (8 solos, 2 asst on 100% of snaps)
Kendrick was a late-round pick for the Rams this year who has been thrust into a starting role due to injuries. He started in place of Troy Hill this week and was targeted often by the Seahawks as he collected 10 tackles on 67 snaps while playing every snap opposite Jalen Ramsey. Troy Hill could return on Thursday against the Raiders, which would likely bump Kendrick back to the nickel role.

DOWNGRADES

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS

DE Trey Hendrickson, CIN (0 tackles, 3 QH on 71% of snaps)
The Chiefs are always a tough matchup for pass rushers, and Hendrickson was credited with three quarterback hits in the game. Unfortunately, his stat line probably showed up as a zero in most IDP leagues this week. That would also be his third low output in the past four games, making it hard to rely on him with the fantasy playoffs approaching.

DE Montez Sweat, WAS (1 solo, 1 TFL on 47% of snaps)
Despite huge games from the interior of the Washington line, Sweat was a non-factor before he left the game to be checked for a concussion and did not return.

DE Dante Fowler, DAL (0 tackles on 19% of snaps)
Fowler saw a drop in playing time this week and the 14 snaps were the second lowest he’s seen all year. This is a very deep group of pass rushers, and he has just one sack over his last four games.

DL Leonard Williams, NYG (1 solo, 2 asst, 1 QH on 41% of snaps)
Williams had been playing well for the Giants but was forced to leave the game early this week with a neck injury. He’ll likely do all he can to return next week against the Eagles.

EDGE Khalil Mack, LAC (3 asst on 87% of snaps)
Mack has seven sacks on the season. But three of them came in the opener, and he seems to be struggling to make much of an impact most weeks. He has just two solo tackles, four assists, and no sacks over his last three games combined.

LINEBACKERS

LB Leighton Vander Esch, DAL (1 solo on 85% of snaps)
Vander Esch has had some productive games this year, but this had to be a huge disappointment for fantasy managers. In a game where the Colts ran the ball 30 times and was on the field for 61 snaps, he was only credited with a single tackle.

LB David Long, TEN (1 solo 32% of snaps)
Long has been a very consistent fantasy linebacker all year long but he was forced to leave the game early this week with a hamstring injury.

LB Patrick Queen, BAL (7 solos, 2 asst, 1 TFL on 83% of snaps)
Despite playing just 44 snaps this week, Queen still was highly productive and finished with nine combined tackles. He left the game late with a thigh injury, however, and did not return. X-rays were negative, but his status for next week is unclear.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S Marcus Epps, PHI (2 solos on 82% of snaps)
Epps has been a mildly productive starter for most of the year, but his tackle numbers have suffered due in part to how great the Eagles offense has been at keeping him off the field. Given the game scrips he’s faced, it’s concerning that he has yet to record an interception and his overall fantasy value seems to be declining with just 10 combined tackles (and a forced fumble) over the past three games combined.

CB Anthony Brown, DAL (3 solos, 1 PD on 60% of snaps)
Brown has seen his production trail off as the Cowboys defense improved, but things got a whole lot worse for him on Sunday night. He suffered a torn Achilles and will be lost for the rest of the season. Kelvin Joseph is expected to take his place.

CB Kristian Fulton, TEN (1 solo on 26% of snaps)
Fulton hasn’t offered much from a fantasy perspective this year, but he left the game early this week with a groin injury and did not return. Tre Avery replaced him and finished with seven tackles plus two passes defensed after being picked on by the Eagles.

CB Dane Jackson, BUF (1 solo on 52% of snaps)
The Bills made some surprising moves at cornerback this week as they made their rookie first-round pick Kaiir Elam inactive and started Xavier Rhodes over Jackson. Jackson appears to have lost his grasp on a starting spot opposite White and it’s likely we could see some form of rotation until one player emerges to claim the job.