Eyes of the Guru IDP Info, Week 3

The top storyline from Week 2 is the plague of injuries that washed through the league on both sides of the ball. Attrition is always a big part of the game, but it usually takes a little longer to become such a factor. How we navigate injury losses and the opportunities they often present will go a long way toward the outcome of our seasons. Let's hope that Week 2's casualty list does not signal the start of a trend.

Arizona Cardinals

The injuries in Arizona started before the games kicked off. Budda Baker was an early scratch with a hamstring injury that landed him on IR early this week. To compensate, the Cardinals moved K'Von Wallace into the starting safety slot and promoted corner Andre Chachere to the starting lineup as the fifth defensive back. Wallace played pretty well, recording a respectable eight tackles, including five solo. His upside is lower than that of Baker, but Wallace should give us decent production for the next few weeks.

Chachere was short on stat sheet production, but he looked good in coverage, knocking down a couple of passes. With the Cardinals in nickel over 90% of the time, he is worth keeping an eye on in deeper leagues.

Dennis Gardeck has another good game at 4-0-1, but the fact he hasn't reached 60 snaps in two games combined makes me too nervous to consider him.

With Josh Woods sidelined by an ankle injury, Krys Barnes got the start at inside linebacker. As usual, he made the most of the opportunity, putting up a solid 6-1 with a pass breakup on 82% of the snaps. During his time with the Packers, Barnes displayed a knack for making a bunch of tackles, even without playing full-time. The question now becomes, how long will Woods be out? He did not practice at all last week. Keep an eye on the practice reports later this week. If Woods is out, Barnes could turn a strong matchup with the Cowboys into a great streaming option for us.

Atlanta Falcons

Jessie Bates landed with a big thud when he came down from Week 1's big numbers. While his three-tackle outing was a disappointment for those of us who started him, keep in mind that only Kaden Ellis put up more solos for the Falcons. The bottom line is that Bates will be just fine.

The injury bug hit early for the Falcons as Troy Andersen did not clear concussion protocol in time to play. Nate Landman got the start in his place. Landman was quiet statistically at 3-1 on the day, but he did play 49 of a possible 50 snaps.

Baltimore Ravens

Patrick Queen missed a handful of snaps while having his shoulder looked at but returned to finish with eight tackles (5 solo) against the Bengals. Such injuries are often worse a day or two later, so if Queen is your guy, keep an eye on him.

It was not a shock to see Jadeveon Clowney put up four tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup against the Bengals, there is no doubt he is capable on any given week. What was somewhat of a surprise, however, was his 78% play share. This probably had more to do with Baltimore's lack of depth on the edge than a philosophical change in their approach. Tyus Bowser was already on the shelf, and Odafe Oweh left the game with an ankle injury in the first half. David Ojabo opened the game as the third man in the rotation and ended up seeing 70% of the action.

Kyle Hamilton was supposed to break out in year two. So far, he is a meager 5-2 on 136 snaps over two games. Some, if not most, of the problem is how he is being deployed. With Marcus Williams missing time due to a pectoral injury, Hamilton has seen more time as the deep safety than planned. The good news is that Williams has decided against surgery in the hope of returning in a few weeks. The bad news is that we may not get much from Hamilton over the next several weeks.

Geno Stone was in the strong safety role for most of the game against Cincinnati. He turned that opportunity into a team-high nine total tackles (seven solo) and an interception. Don't expect that kind of production from him often, but Stone could be a decent addition for a while.

Ar'Darius Washington has been working as the third safety in the nickel base defense. That came to an end when he landed on IR Tuesday with a chest injury. It's getting really thin in the Ravens secondary these days.

Ronald Darby and Rock Ya-Sin split time at the corner position opposite Brandon Stephens.

Buffalo Bills

The lopsided win over Las Vegas led to minimal tackle opportunities for Bills defenders. Considering the Raiders had just 30 offensive plays that resulted in a tackle being made, Terrell Bernard's 3-3 and Matt Milano's 3-1 were not all that bad. Fortunately, both players bailed out an otherwise dismal fantasy week with interceptions. The Commanders are not exactly an offensive juggernaut, but they are good enough to help both linebackers rebound.

Micah Hyde left Sunday's game early with a hamstring injury. Taylor Rapp replaced him.

Leonard Floyd is nursing an ankle injury suffered during the game. Shaq Lawson would likely get the start if Floyd is out. Narrowing the playing field to a three-man rotation, including A.J. Epenesa, might be enough to give Greg Rosseau the snaps he needs to be productive. Rosseau played 35 snaps in Week 1 and 24 in Week 2, although he would have played 10-12 more last week had the game been close.

Carolina Panthers

Shaq Thompson landed on IR Tuesday with a fractured fibula. He is not expected to return this season, leaving Kamu Grugier-Hill to start next to Frankie Luvu. Grugier-Hill is not a great linebacker in NFL terms, but he is a good NFL backup who should be able to take advantage of his situation and make a lot of tackles. If the limited look we got on Monday Night Football is any example, he will be at least as productive for us as Thompson has been. Grugier-Hill logged 60 snaps against the Saints, going 5-1-1.

Jeremy Chinn put up so-so numbers in Week 1 but played enough for IDP managers to still have some confidence in him. After getting on the field for 27 of 77 snaps against the Saints, that confidence is seriously shaken. At the very least, we need to keep Chinn on the bench until we can figure out what is going on here. If you need a roster spot for someone who is producing, Chinn's might be the one available.

Chicago Bears

The injury bug didn't skip Chicago. The Bears lost Eddie Jackson to a foot injury early in Sunday's game. This one may have a much happier ending than the previous ones mentioned. On Tuesday, Coach Eberflus updated Jasckson's status, saying, "I'm not sure where that's going to trend to for this coming week, but I can say that it's positive." The Bears were also without Jaquan Brisker for much of the game as he battled an illness. It sounds like the Bears will have both safeties back on the field before long, but for Week 3, Elijah Hicks is likely to be the free safety.

T.J. Edwards was on the field for 87% of the snaps but lost a few to Jack Sanborn. Sanborn's playing time was up from 19 plays (32%) in Week 1 to 40 (56%) in Week 2. This is not enough to be relevant, but it is enough to be worth watching.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals avoided any season-ending injuries, but they could be without Nick Scott in Week 3. Scott was shaken up on a hard tackle in the second quarter. He came back a little later, only to leave again in the second half, and is currently in concussion protocol. The Bengals play on Monday, so if Scott is your guy, have a plan B.

The bigger question with the Bengals is what can we expect from them going forward? Right now, we are getting a ton of great production from this group. Both safeties are killing it, as are both linebackers. If they rebound and get back to being the team we've seen for the last two years, the offense will begin to dominate, and a lot of the defensive opportunities will dry up. Against Baltimore, Scott totaled nine tackles despite playing 49 of 74 snaps. Dax Hill was 9-2 with a pass breakup, Germaine Pratt went 7-2, and Logan Wilson 7-3.

Chidobe Awuzie saw his role grow to 74% in his second game back from injury. He should be back to a full workload by the beginning of October.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns took a beating on Monday night. The Nick Chubb injury was devastating, but it was not the only one. Za'Darius Smith had to be helped off the field with an ankle injury. He would later return, but that doesn't necessarily mean he is good to go. Ankle injuries usually become more painful a day or two after the fact. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo could be in line to start versus Tennessee.

Both starting corners, Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome, were out of Monday's game for a while. Both were able to return but are not likely to be 100% for Week 3. Even Myles Garrett was nicked. He limped off the field late in the game, but there is no report of an injury.

The good news for those of us with Anthony Walker is that he played more snaps than any other Cleveland linebacker. The bad news is, it was still just 40 snaps or 74%. I'm going to stick with him (on my bench) for one more game. If he fails to produce quality numbers and/or see over 80% of the snaps in what should be a great matchup with the Titans, I'll find a better use for the roster spot next week.

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas faced a toothless Jets offense in Week 2, so there were not many tackles to go around. It is, however, noteworthy that Leighton Vander Esch stayed on the field for every defensive snap. It is the first time that has happened since Week 4 of 2019. Meanwhile, Damone Clark was the only other off-ball linebacker to see action. He logged 17 snaps. Safety Markquese Bell played less than half of the snaps but saw a good deal of his playing time at linebacker depth.

Osa Odighizuwa went 2-0-1 and has three sacks in two games. That said, no Dallas lineman or edge defender played more than 24 snaps, except Micah Parsons with 41.

Denver Broncos

Denver is thin on the edge, so they rolled with a three-man rotation. Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, and Randy Gregory combined for 9-4-4 against the Commanders. On paper, the chances of these three sustaining a strong pass rush seem minimal, but their Week 2 production warrants a spot on the watchlist.

At 7-2 with a pass breakup, Josey Jewell bounced back nicely from a poor Week 1 boxscore. At 3-1, Alex Singleton's struggles continued. At least in Week 2, it was not hard to figure out why. Jewell was on the field for 89% of the snaps, while Singleton was limited to 64%.

Detroit Lions

C.J. Gardner-Johnson left the game on the first series with what looked like a shoulder or arm issue. He returned a series or two later and went on to post 7-1. All seemed well until Tuesday, when he was placed on IR with a torn pectoral. This injury puts Tracy Walker back in the lineup. He's not Gardner-Johnson, but Walker is capable of putting up good numbers.

Kerby Joseph missed a series or two with a hip issue but returned to go 6-1 with a pass breakup. He may prove a little inconsistent in the tackle department, but he is a significant big-play threat. Lions' free safeties have traditionally been IDP-friendly.

Jack Campbell managed four tackles and two assists. While that might not seem like much, it is really rather strong, considering he played just 23 snaps.

James Houston IV landed on IR with a broken ankle. That opens the door for Romeo Okwara, who could push for more playing time now that he's healthy.

Green Bay Packers

Back in the day, it was easy to tell the difference between the strong and free safety positions. In today's NFL, players move around so much that the line is blurred. I'm not sure if I should say that Darnell Savage is playing strong safety, but he is lining up closer to the ball than in years past and seems much more involved in run support and underneath coverages. As a result, Savage is off to a strong start with eleven solos and six assists through two games. I'm picking him up in some leagues this week.

We learned during the preseason that Quay Walker was wearing the communications helmet and playing every snap. In Week 1, Green Bay pulled their starters, so we didn't think much of the snap counts. Against the Falcons, however, it was surprising to see DeVondre Campbell with an 83% share of the playing time. Both guys put up a bunch of tackles, so all is well, at least for now.

Preston Smith saw 71% of the action against Atlanta, but no other edge player reached 50%. That should change once Rashan Gary is up to full speed. His playing time almost doubled between Week 1 and Week 2. With rookie Lucas Van Ness leaving Sunday's game due to an elbow injury, Gary's progress could be pushed up.

Houston Texans

There was a changing of the guard at the Texans linebacker position when Denzel Perryman replaced Christian Kirksey. The changes appear to have continued in Week 2 when rookie Henry To'oTo'o logged 81% of the snaps ahead of Christian Harris at the other linebacker spot. To'oto'o put up seven combined tackles on 46 plays. That was not enough to get the attention of most managers. If you need a linebacker, pick him up this week before he has another chance.

With Jimmy Ward and Jalen Pitre sidelined, Eric Murray and M.J. Stewart were the Texans starting safeties in Week 2. Murray suffered a concussion in the first half, so Deandre Houston-Carson finished up. Stewart had a productive day at 6-4 with a forced fumble and stands to continue with solid production until Pitre returns. There has been no update on Pitre's progress as he works back from a bruised lung.

Indianapolis Colts

It is hard to say if the playing time breakdown among Indianapolis linebackers tells us anything. In both games, Shaquille Leonard played exactly 60 snaps. In Week 1, that was 86% of the playing time. In Week 2, it was 71%. Is that a pitch count, or was his role a little reduced in Week 2? Meanwhile, E.J. Speed went from 29 snaps in Week 1 to 45 in Week 2. While it's hard to determine what is going on with the playing time, it's easy to see that Speed is the more productive of the two right now. On 120 plays to date, Leonard has six tackles and five assists. On 74 plays, Speed is 9-2-1 with 3 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. All we can do is continue to monitor the situation, but I am increasingly concerned that the Leonard we saw in his rookie season is not coming back.

Kenny Moore gave us better numbers in Week 2, going 6-0. I have not yet had time to watch more than a series or two of this game, but from what I can tell, he is still working outside much of the time but is seeing some snaps in the slot. Moore's best production comes when he is in the slot more than half of the time. I don't think we are there yet, but there is hope.

I had my doubts when the Colts shifted Julian Blackmon to more of a strong safety role. While I am still not sold, his mark of 7-3 against the Texans is enough to get my attention. Let's see if he can do it again against Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Josh Allen went big in the opener. In Week 2, he laid an egg. Allen came out of Week 2 with one tackle and a shoulder injury that has him day-to-day and in danger of missing Week 3. The Chiefs are always a tough matchup for pass rushers, so even if he were not injured, the numbers were likely to be down. That is not the case this week against a Houston offense that has allowed a league-high eleven sacks already. If he is active, Allens needs to be in our lineups.

Devin Lloyd's Week 1 numbers left us wondering if we would get a repeat of last year's collapse. After going 5-6 with a pair of pass breakups in Week 2, hope is restored. Now we need him to put a couple of games together in consecutive weeks so we can start to believe again. The Texans are not a great matchup, though.

Kansas City Chiefs

One of the keys to fantasy football success is to recognize trends before they become obvious. It may be nothing but a strange situation, but the Chiefs had no linebacker reach 80% of the snaps in Week 2. Nick Bolton led the way at 79% or 53 of a possible 67 plays. Willie Gay Jr played 39, Leo Chenal 25, and Drue Tranquill 28. Two things make me nervous here. In 2021, the Chiefs rotated four linebackers regularly, limiting the value of Bolton in his rookie season. The other concern is that they currently have four starter quality linebackers on the roster. Hopefully, this is just a fluke, but it is something to watch.

Michael Danna had a good Week 1. He didn't do much in Week 2, going 0-2-0.5, but it has nothing to do with his role. Danna logged eight fewer snaps but still had a solid 78% play share. I like his chances of getting back on track this week against a Chicago offense that is allowing five sacks per game on average.

Going way back to the first time I wrote about the Chiefs in July, I talked about the potential for L'Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie to alternate roles, with both guys seeing time as the move defender. Here we are, two games into the season, and that is exactly what we are seeing. In Week 1, it was McDuffie at 6-2 with a forced fumble. In Week 2, it was Sneed at 6-1 with a fumble recovery and two passes defended. If you must start corners and have either of these guys, they almost have to be in your lineup, no matter whose turn it is.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders have fielded five defensive backs on over 90% of their defensive plays in both games. Rookie Jakorian Bennett has been one of those five defensive backs in both of them. He followed a seven-solo performance in Week 1 by going 5-4 against the Bills. With the Steelers, Chargers, and Packers on the schedule over the next three weeks, he should continue to be highly productive, at least in the tackle columns.

The bad news is that it's going to be another long season for Raiders fans. The good news is that we are going to get a ton of fantasy production from Robert Spillane, who is 13-9-1 so far, and Devine Deablo, who is 11-8-1 with a pass breakup.

Los Angeles Chargers

So, what we learned in Week 2 is that if the Chargers have no other linebackers, Kenneth Murray can be productive. You have to go back to his rookie season in 2020 to find another game where Murray had ten or more total stops. Unfortunately for Murray, Eric Kendricks will be back from his hamstring injury before long.

While the Chargers have depth issues at linebacker, they may have found a third starter on the edge. Joey Bosa was limited last week with a sore hamstring. He played against the Titans but was well short of his normal workload, seeing just 19 snaps. Bosa parlayed the opportunity he had into an impressive 3-1-2. Meanwhile, rookie Tuli Tuipulotu played well, going 3-3-1 on 77% of the action. That should be enough to earn him a bigger piece of the pie as the third man once Bosa is fully healthy.

Miami Dolphins

What a difference a week makes. David Long played 17 snaps in Week 1. Against the Patriots, that number jumped to 62 snaps or 84%, and he put 5-3-1 on the stat sheet. The concern here is whether he will consistently be on the field for 80% plus, or is this a matchup-based situation where, on any given week, Long will vanish? It's not yet safe to plug him into our lineups, but slipping him onto our rosters might be a good idea.

DeShon Elliott crashed back to earth after his big Week 1. A fumble recovery and a pass defended salvaged his 3-1 in the tackle columns. The important point here is that Elliott never came off the field, while Brandon Jones never got on it.

While scanning the waiver wire in a couple of leagues in search of a replacement corner, I noticed something interesting. Xavien Howard has not put up more than 42 solo tackles in any of his seven seasons as a pro and has five solo stops in a game twice in the last two years, yet he was 5-1 with a pass breakup in Week 1 and 6-0 with a pick in Week 2. With Jalen Ramsey on the shelf until December, is Howard seeing some time in the slot corner role? I'll be taking a closer look at this later in the week and during this weekend's games. Meanwhile, I'll slip him onto my roster for safekeeping, just in case I'm right.

Minnesota Vikings

Jordan Hicks got the playing time in Week 1, but the production eluded him. He found it against the Eagles on Thursday night, totaling eleven stops. Hicks gave the Vikings a scare when he left with what looked like a leg injury, but he was able to return. So far, there has been no word out of Minnesota to suggest there is an issue with his health heading to Week 3.

Ivan Pace Jr Jr. not only continues to impress, but his role continues to grow. After totaling eight combined tackles on 46 plays (68%) in Week 1, he tallied 5-3 with a half sack on 61 plays (79%) in Week 2.

Is Harrison Phillips for real? He followed a 5-3 and a batted pass in Week 1, with 13 tackles (7 solo) and half a sack in Week 2. Phillips had some good games while with Buffalo early in his career and posted seven or more stops twice with the Vikings last year, but recorded two or fewer solo stops in 14 games with Minnesota in 2022. So I'm inclined to say he is not for real and will turn back into a pumpkin any time now.

Harrison Smith is 34 years old and in the fourth quarter of a great career, but his marginal stats over the first two games have more to do with his role than his age. Smith is working in the deep safety role more often than in the last couple of years, while Camryn Bynum is seeing more of the action close to the line. Thus, it is Bynum with 25 combined stops in the first two games. If you can still get him, move on Bynum. If you have Smith, I'm afraid the numbers are not coming back, at least not with any consistency.

New England Patriots

Josh Uche was shut out against the Dolphins. This guy was one of my favorite sleepers heading into the season, but his role is not what it was when he put up eleven sacks down the stretch last year. He will still have some games, but unless his playing time picks up, Uche will be hit or miss.

Ja'Whaun Bentley was just 3-3 against Miami, but don't be discouraged if he is on your roster. He has played every snap in a game five times since 2020. Two of those five games were in December of last year, and two more were the first two games of this season. The production will come.

New York Giants

Jason Pinnock got off to a slow start in Week 1, but he was everywhere in Week 2. We are not going to see ten solo stops from him very often, but the Giants safeties are going to be busy. Pinnock is in the same position that made Julian Love a top-ten defensive back in 2022. If he is still available, grab him.

For anyone thinking or hoping that Isaiah Simmons' role might increase as the season goes on, he played even less in Week 2. Likewise, Carlos Basham is showing no signs of a significant role after being traded to the Giants. If you still have either of these guys, cut your losses and move on.

After a productive opener, Micah McFadden gave us a Week 2 that was more fitting for a two-down linebacker, going 4-1 on 49 of a possible 65 snaps. That is about what we should expect from him on most weeks.

Rookie sixth-round pick Tre Hawkins got the start at corner in Week 1, but it did not last long. He slipped into the nickel role on his 41 plays in Week 2, while first-round pick Deonte Banks took his expected place as the starter opposite Adoree Jackson. The Cardinals don't have much of a passing attack with Kyler Murray out, so Banks did next to nothing on the stat sheet, but that could change over the next month with the 49ers, Seahawks, Dolphins, and Bills on the schedule.

New York Jets

Carl Lawson returned to action in Week 2, but he worked as a backup to Jermaine Johnson. Maybe Lawson will have a bigger role or even get his starting job back once he knocks the rust off, but don't hold your breath. Grab Johnson if you can. Lawson's return made Will McDonald a healthy scratch.

With five solo stops on 32 plays, Tony Adams had a good game going against Dallas. Unfortunately, his day ended with a hamstring injury. As of late Tuesday, there has been no update from the team on his status for Week 3. Adrian Amos is the next man up and should put up good numbers against the Patriots if Adams is out.

The bigger injury news concerns Quincy Williams, who is dealing with a sore knee. He only missed three plays in Week 2, so the injury may not be serious, but keep an eye on his status leading up to this week's game. It is unclear who would get the call if Williams sits. Chazz Surratt is listed as the backup, but Jamien Sherwood is seeing action when the team fields three linebackers, so he would be a strong candidate to take on the bigger role.

Philadelphia Eagles

It was Nick Morrow replacing Nakobe Dean, not Christian Ellis. It didn't matter, though, because neither did squat. Morrow saw a couple more snaps, but it was Zach Cunningham who led the team in tackles at 5-3 on a 91% play share.

After a pair of dismal outings, managers are starting to drop Haason Reddick. Don't be one of the managers to make that mistake. It is hard to be patient when we get nothing from a player who is supposed to be a stud, but he piled up double-digit sacks in three straight seasons, including a career-best of 16 last year. Not to mention the solid tackle totals and all the turnovers. He didn't wake up one morning without the ability that led to all those statistics. Bench him until he gets out of neutral because if you cut him, it will bite you down the road.

Avonte Maddox will miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral. Mario Goodrich got the call to replace him in Week 2, but the team hopes to have James Bradberry back soon. Bradberry is recovering from a week-one concussion.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers bested the Browns on Monday night, but mounting injuries could be a factor for the defense over the next few games. Cameron Heyward landed on IR after groin surgery last week, leaving the interior line crippled. Larry Ogunjobi is capable of taking up some of the slack, but he has struggled to stay healthy as well. We are going to see somewhat of a youth movement here, with Keeanu Benton and DeMarvin Leal getting a ton of work.

The same hit that ended Nick Chubb's season sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to the hospital with a chest contusion. Assuming this is a bruised sternum, which is usually the case when we get similar descriptions, Fitzpatrick will be back, but it might be a bit. Bone bruises are extremely painful and tend to heal slowly. If Fitzpatrick misses time, Deontae Kazee will shift to free safety, with Keanu Neal playing strong. Both are likely to be full-time guys as opposed to the timeshare they have been in so far.

Elandon Roberts left the Browns game with a neck injury. He tried to go back in but came out after a play or two. The fact he was allowed back into the game is a good indication it is not a serious/structural injury. The fact he was unable to continue likely means it will be sore for a while. At least for the short term, this situation might resolve the IDP dilemma of a three-man rotation at inside linebacker. Until/unless Roberts returns, Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander will see a big jump in playing time. Holcomb played 90% versus Cleveland, with Alexander getting 60%, and that is with Roberts getting 31% before he left.

Seattle Seahawks

Tre Brown had a solid Week 1 with five solo stops and an assist. In Week 2, he exploded with a career day of 4 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception, 2 passes defended, and a score. Those numbers have a lot of managers looking to pick him up for Week 3. I'll not say that is a bad idea, but make sure you are aware of the situation before plugging him into your lineup.

In the opener, Brown started because rookie, fifth-overall pick Devon Witherspoon was banged up. Brown was not in the starting lineup for Week 2 but got on the field early when starter Tariq Woolen left with a chest injury. Seattle updated Woolen's status on Wednesday, confirming the injury is not a serious one. He might be sidelined for a game or two but is not expected to miss significant time. With Coby Bryant seemingly locked in as the nickel DB, Brown is likely to be the number four corner within a couple of weeks, if not in Week 3.

San Francisco 49ers

If Demmodore Lenoir has slipped through the cracks and is still available, get him on your roster, even in leagues that lump all defensive backs together. Yes, the Rams threw 55 passes in Week 2, which meant a ton of opportunities and led to a nine-tackle day (8 solo) and an interception, but this was not a fluke. Dating back to the end of last year, Lenoir has six consecutive games with at least seven combined stops. In five of those games, he had at least six solos.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lavonte David and Devin White combined to go 1-3 versus the Bears. That is an ugly day for IDP managers, but do not overreact. The Bears are horrible yet again. Chicago ran only 30 plays that ended in a tackle being awarded. There was simply no opportunity for the linebackers. That is not going to be the case this week against the Eagles.

Tennessee Titans

Every year, at the beginning of the season, I preach about not making roster moves based solely on the production from one or two games. You might say that "know why before you buy" is a slogan for success. I've had some people ask me about Titan's second-year corner, Tre Avery, this week. He went 7-1 with a pass breakup against the Chargers, so here is the why. Amani Hooker was out for this game, so Elijah Molden shifted from the slot to safety. Avery stepped into the nickel role against a passing team that likes to throw to their backs and tight ends. He could continue to be fairly productive until Hooker comes back but is probably not someone to target at this point unless you are just looking for a short-term stream in a deep league.

Washington Commanders

Chase Young made his debut in Week 2 and wasted no time making an impact at 2-1-1.5. He was not eased back into action, seeing 71% of the snaps right out of the gate. The sledding will be tougher over the next couple of games against the Bills and Eagles, then comes a juicy matchup with Chicago.

At least the Commanders are consistent with their linebackers. Jamin Davis turned in another stinker in terms of tackle production at 2-1, but he salvaged the day for IDP managers with a sack and forced fumble. The consistent part for Davis is low tackle numbers and a snap count between 60 and 65% in both games.

Cody Barton has been on the field for every snap in each of the first two games. He was quiet in Week 1 and didn't do much in the first half against Denver. He came alive after halftime in Week 2, finishing 4-6 with a fumble recovery. My concern with Barton entering the season was coverage and his ability to play on all three downs. The Washington coaching staff has done a great job of protecting him via scheme on passing downs. That said, the Commanders have not yet faced a high-powered passing game like the Bills. We'll have to see how Barton fares in this one, but he should continue to put up good numbers for now.

DaRon Payne banged up late in Sunday's game. He was absent from practice on Wednesday with a sore ankle, so monitor his status later in the week.

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