IDP Upgrades: Week 15

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 Dalvin Tomlinson, MIN (8 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 61% of snaps)
Tomlinson had some quiet showings earlier this year and suffered a calf injury that kept him out for a month. He returned to the lineup last week but had his most productive game as a Viking this week with 10 combined tackles on 43 snaps.

DT Fletcher Cox, PHI (4 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH on 45% of snaps)
Although his tackle numbers have been rather mediocre for most of the season, the 31-year-old has been getting to the quarterback more consistently than we have seen in some time. He currently has a 3-game sack streak going and has recorded at least a partial sack in 6 of 13 games played this year.

DT Quinnen Williams, NYJ (3 solos, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH on 29% of snaps)
Williams was on his way to another dominant performance with two sacks in the first half before he went down with a non-contact injury to his calf. Fortunately, it looks like he avoided a serious injury, as reports on Monday listed him as day-to-day, so he may still be able to play next week.

DL Christian Wilkins, MIA (6 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QH on 82% of snaps)
The Dolphins are currently slumping and struggling on both sides of the ball, but Wilkins is making plays all over the field. He’s been credited with 13 solo stops and 8 assists over the past two games while also adding a sack and forced fumble. Look for him to stay busy next week against the Bills too.

DE A.J. Epenesa, BUF (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 PD, 1 FF on 49% of snaps)
DE Gregory Rousseau, BUF (2 solos, 2 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 PD, 1 FF on 59% of snaps)
The Bills have seen improved performance and production from their young defensive ends following the loss of Von Miller. Epenesa now has 3 sacks over his last 4 games played (including 2 forced fumbles) while Rousseau has looked dominant and is now up to 7 sacks in 10 games played.

DE George Karlaftis, KC (1 solo, 2 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 PD on 61% of snaps)
The rookie had a slow start to his career with just a half sack over his first 10 games. He seems to be heating up at the right time of year, though, and now has a sack in each of his past three games with a favorable matchup looming against the Texans.

DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, HOU (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 2 QH, 1 FF, 1 PD on 51% of snaps)
The Texans have gotten contributions from a variety of pass rushers this year, but Okoronkwo has stood out of late. He has been a quality starter in IDP leagues in 4 of the past 5 weeks and now has sacks in back-to-back games.

EDGE Brandon Graham, PHI (4 solos, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH, 1 FF on 45% of snaps)
Graham has seen a reduction in playing time this year given the Eagles' depth of pass rushers. He’s still proving to be the best option they have, however, and now has 5.5 sacks over his last four games.

LINEBACKERS

LB Logan Wilson, CIN (14 solos, 3 asst, .5 sack, 1 QH on 97% of snaps)
This was an impressive stat line for Wilson as he was credited with 17 tackles (including 14 solo stops) in a game where the Browns offense only generated 25 rush attempts and 53 tackle opportunities overall. Wilson has not produced up to his potential for much of the year but may still have a late-season surge left in him.

LB Josey Jewell, DEN (9 solos, 1 asst, 2 INT, 2 PD on 100% of snaps)
Jewell has clearly emerged as an elite fantasy linebacker this year based on his points/game. He’s missed four games due to injuries but has been very productive whenever he’s been on the field. His per-game averages would put him on pace to finish with 98 solos, 83 assists, 4.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions in a 17-game season.

LB Dre Greenlaw, SF (10 solos, 5 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD on 93% of snaps)
Greenlaw often gets overshadowed by Fred Warner in San Francisco, but he’s been the better fantasy option this year. He had a quiet start to the season but has exploded over the past 5 weeks with 36 solo tackles and a number of big plays (1 FF, 2 FR, 1 INT, 4 PD, and 1 TD).

LB Cody Barton, SEA (7 solos, 8 asst, 1 PD on 96% of snaps)
Jordyn Brooks has staked his claim as the top linebacker in Seattle this year following the loss of Bobby Wagner, but Barton is also proving to be a capable sidekick. With four games left to play, he has already topped 100 combined tackles and is trending up with 26 solos and 17 assists over the past four games.

LB Deion Jones, ATL (4 solos, 3 asst, 1 INT, 2 PD on 88% of snaps)
With the injury to Sione Takitaki, Jones was inserted into the starting lineup. He wound up playing nearly a full-time role and added 7 tackles plus his first interception of the season.

LB Leighton Vander Esch, DAL (9 solos, 5 asst, 1 TFL on 85% of snaps)
Vander Esch was a late addition to the injury report last week due to an illness, but he wound up playing a full workload. He has often underwhelmed this year thanks in part to limited opportunities, but the Texans gave Dallas all they could handle. It contributed to Vander Esch setting a season-high with 14 tackles.

LB Monty Rice, TEN (7 solos, 5 asst, 1 TFL on 71% of snaps)
David Long was added to the injured reserve list on Saturday, which created an opening for Dylan Cole and Monty Rice. While Cole played eight more snaps, Rice was much more active and was credited with 12 tackles compared to just five for Cole.

LB Devin Lloyd, JAX (4 solos, 4 asst on 100% of snaps)
With Chad Muma sitting out this week to rest an ankle injury, Lloyd got another chance to play. He played all 67 snaps and had a solid showing with eight tackles in a big win for the Jaguars over their division rivals.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S Jalen Pitre, HOU (9 solos, 3 asst, 2 PD on 100% of snaps)
Pitre was recently moved from strong safety to free safety and appears to be thriving in his new role. He is a punishing hitter who can also close on the ball quickly and now has 35 combined tackles with an interception and four passes defensed since making the switch three weeks ago.

S Jimmie Ward, SF (6 solos, 2 asst, 1 QH, 1 FF, 1 PD on 92% of snaps)
The 49ers nickel back continues to come on strong late in the year. He had his most productive game this year with eight tackles plus a forced fumble and has some favorable matchups coming up.

S Juan Thornhill, KC (5 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Thornhill has mostly been a non-factor for most of the season, but he’s now strung together two productive outings in a row. He collected 10 tackles last week in a loss to the Bengals and followed that up with 7 tackles plus a sack this week.

S Andrew Wingard, JAX (6 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 INT, 1 PD on 88% of snaps)
Wingard received another productive start with seven tackles plus an interception. Andre Cisco is considered day-to-day, however, and could be close to returning to the lineup.

S Andrew Adams, TEN (8 solos, 2 asst, 1 PD on 78% of snaps)
Adams was credited with 10 tackles and a pass defensed in this game but really struggled in coverage and could see a reduction in his role going forward. Evan Engram and Zay Jones both combined for 19 catches in the game and the Titans secondary seemed to have no answers for them.

CB Jaycee Horn, CAR (5 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 2 PD on 94% of snaps)
The former top-10 draft pick has started to look like a reliable fantasy option of late. Over his last five games, he has 19 solo tackles, 6 assists, and a pair of interceptions.

CB Tremon Smith, HOU (3 solos, 2 INT, 2 PD on 73% of snaps)
Smith filled in for an injured Steven Nelson and picked off two passes in his first extensive action of the season.

CB Jerry Jacobs, DET (5 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 PD on 97% of snaps)
Jacobs has taken over the starting cornerback spot opposite Jeff Okudah for Detroit and has played quite well as the Lions continue to make an impressive turnaround. He’s averaging five solo tackles with a pass defensed over the last four games and also added a sack this week.

CB Nate Hobbs, LV (8 solos, 1 asst on 100% of snaps)
Hobbs had a great start to the season before suffering a hand injury in Week 5 that landed him on the injured reserve list. He was activated last week and has been even more productive with eight solo stops in back-to-back games while also adding a fumble recovery last week.

CB Damarri Mathis, DEN (5 solos, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
The rookie fourth-round pick has started opposite Patrick Surtain since Ronald Darby went down with an injury in Week 5. While he’s yet to record any big plays, he’s been a steady source of tackles and a solid streaming option with 23 solo tackles over the past four games.

DOWNGRADES

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS

DT Vita Vea, TB (0 tackles on 6% of snaps)
Vea had cooled off in recent weeks but left the game very early this week with a calf strain. He’s been playing injured of late, so it’s probably a good idea to look elsewhere for a starting defensive tackle this week.

DE Trey Hendrickson, CIN (1 solo on 76% of snaps)
Hendrickson suffered a broken wrist in the game but played through it anyway. It sounds like he will avoid going on IR and may even have a chance to play on Sunday against Tampa Bay. With two solos and no sacks over his last three games, however, the matchup with Tom Brady might be a good one to avoid.

EDGE Travon Walker, JAX (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 QH, 1 FF on 51% of snaps)
Walker picked up a full sack this week for the first time since Week 7, but he also left the game early with an ankle injury. He was expected to undergo an MRI, so his status for next week against the Cowboys remains uncertain.

EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, TB (1 asst on 43% of snaps)
The former first-round pick had seen a recent drop in playing time and hasn’t been very effective of late with no sacks and just three tackles over the past three games. He left the game early with a hip injury this week, which could leave Tampa without their top two edge rushers.

EDGE ZaDarius Smith, MIN (1 asst, 1 QH on 64% of snaps)
Smith has had a great season for the Vikings, but he’s hitting a prolonged slump just as the fantasy playoffs start to ramp up. He has 9.5 sacks on the year but none over the last four games.

LINEBACKERS

LB Micah McFadden, NYG (5 solos, 1 TFL on 43% of snaps)
One week after collecting nine tackles, McFadden was knocked out of the game early with a neck injury in a tough loss to the Eagles. Tae Crowder took his place but was not credited with any tackles on his 17 snaps.

LB Kyzir White, PHI (1 solo, 1 asst, 1 QH on 56% of snaps)
White is clearly the #2 linebacker in Philadelphia, but he’s struggled to fill up the box scores of late due to how much the Eagles offense tends to control games. Over the past 3 games, White has just 6 solo tackles and 4 assists compared to 9 solos and 10 assists for Edwards.

LB Tony Fields, CLE (0 tackles on 16% of snaps)
One week after Fields filled up the box score against the Texans, he barely left the bench in a loss to the Bengals.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S Camryn Bynum, MIN (1 asst on 100% of snaps)
Bynum was one of just four Vikings defenders to play all 70 defensive snaps this week, but he was surprisingly quiet on the stat sheet as he was credited with just a single assisted tackle despite 57 tackle opportunities generated by the Lions offense. Harrison Smith sat out this week, so he likely had more deep cover responsibilities than he might have in a different week.

S Talanoa Hufanga, SF (3 solos, 1 asst on 100% of snaps)
Hufanga has been a big part of the 49ers defense all season long, but he's now been quiet for two weeks in a row. He had just one solo tackle last week and had another limited output this week in an easy win over Tampa. Teams that got to the playoffs based on his strong start may need to look elsewhere next week.

CB Steven Nelson, HOU (0 tackles on 27% of snaps)
Nelson has been a productive starter at times for Houston this year, but the team has not faced many pass attempts in most weeks. He left the game early this week with an ankle injury, however, so his status for next week is in doubt.

CB Jamel Dean, TB (1 solo, 1 asst on 65% of snaps)
Dean has played almost every snap for Tampa this year as a starting cornerback, but he left the game early with a toe injury and is considered week-to-week. That could leave Tampa short-handed for their upcoming matchup with the Bengals.