IDL and Edge Streaming Matchups, Week11

Last week's article was spot on. Five out of the six players listed were hits, including the sleepers. The one that did not hit was not due to matchup though, as the Cowboys still came away with five sacks, just zero from Osa Odighizuwa. It proves that no matter what, it is in best practice to stream IDL and Edge defenders against both the Giants and Commanders. Oddly enough they play each other this week. Here are the top IDL and Edge streaming matchups for Week 11.

IDL and Edge Streaming Options

Edge Azeez Ojulari, New York Giants

Matchup: Washington Commanders - Ranked 27th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

After proving our trend streaming against the Commanders, we will keep that ball rolling with streaming Azeez Ojulari. Unfortunately, he is not the Ojulari brother who has been balling out. That is his brother, B.J. Ojulari. Either way, Azeez Ojulari is worth a strong look this week. His season is not down due to poor play but rather injuries. In the one game he played without getting injured, he racked up a 73% snap share.

Ojualri is by no means an unproductive player. Over his first 24 games, he has 63 tackles and 13.5 sacks. Last week was his first game back from IR, and he obviously was on a snap count and shaking off the rust. The matchup is cake, with the Commanders being one of the worst pass-blocking teams in the NFL, allowing 47 sacks, which is bad enough for second most in the league. This should be a get-right game for Ojulari to get his season firing.

Edge Casey Toohill, Washington Commanders

Matchup: New York Giants - Ranked 21st in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

Toohill is almost here by default after the Commanders shipped out both Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Toohill is now the Commanders' top edge rusher and has been performing well in a small sample size leading up to the big trades. He has four sacks on the season, just seeing a 31% snap share. Toohill has received the start over the past two weeks and has had monster volume, seeing 70.5% of the team's snaps. He did not register a sack in either game, though this week should not be as difficult.

Toohill plays the Giants, who will be starting Tommy Devito once again. Not only has he proved to be a below-average backup, but all season, the Giants have shown an inability to protect the passer. They have allowed 54 sacks, seven more than the second most in the NFL. I expect Toohill to kill it this week...see what I did there.

IDL Jonathan Bullard, Minnesota Vikings

Matchup: Denver Broncos - Ranked 11th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

Bullard is quietly putting together a solid season with 31 tackles on the year and four games with four or more tackles. Though he has been lacking in the pass-rushing department, he did record his first sack of the season in Week 10. His matchup this week fits his game strengths and could add some pass-rushing upside, mainly due to poor pass-blocking rather than his actual pass-rush potential.

The Broncos have allowed 30 sacks on the season, which is a tie for sixth most in the NFL. Add that to the fact that the Broncos seem much more committed to the run this season, with 38 rushing attempts in Week 10, and this game gives Bullard a high tackle floor with sack potential, making him a viable streamer.

IDL Alim McNeill, Detroit Lions

Matchup: Chicago Bears - Ranked 24th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

McNeill is becoming one of the better interior pass rushers in the NFL and is part of a stout offensive line. He has been killing it the past two games with nine tackles, two sacks, and five pressures. McNeill has a respectable four sacks on the season and is already just eight pressures short of his career high (29). He gets to square off with a division rival this week who could potentially have Justin Fields returning.

The Bears give up more sacks with Fields behind the center, mainly because he works too hard to keep plays alive. This, matched with the team's volume rushing attack, means McNeill could have a huge game. Oh yeah, the Bears are a bad pass-blocking team, having allowed 30 sacks on the season, tied for sixth most.

IDL and Edge Sleeper Options

Edge Von Miller, Buffalo Bills

Matchup: New York Jets - Ranked 28th in Matt Bitotni's Offensive Line Rankings

At this stage in his career, Miller is just a pass-rushing specialist, but not a great one this season. He has started seeing ample volume, though, to be worthy of streaming sleeper in good matchups. He has been on the field for 34.3% of the team's defensive snaps over the past three games. Even though he has barely registered anything in the box scores, that does not take away from the fact that Miller is one of the better pass rushers in the NFL over the last decade.

It may be that at his age, coming off an injury takes more time to shake the rust out. Hopefully, that is the case. In Week 11, he faces the New York Jets. The Jets have allowed the third most sacks on the season with 34. Zach Wilson has proven time and time again that his pocket presence is less than stellar. This could be the week that Miller gets a sneaky sack.

IDL Keeanu Benton, Pittsburgh Steelers

Matchup: Cleveland Browns - Ranked 20th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

Benton has seemingly won the starting interior job next to Cameron Heyward. Over the past two games, Benton has a 65.5% snap share and is coming off a six-tackle performance in Week 10. He also has 10 pressures in the last four games. I love Benton this week for his high tackle floor against the Browns, who have rushed the ball the second most in the NFL this season.

The Browns have also been a bit leaky in pass protection as well. They have allowed 29 sacks on the season, which is bad enough for ninth most. Given Benton's recent pass-rushing success, he could be in for a solid week worthy of a streaming option.

Final Thoughts

Last week, we cruised with five great streaming options and one that just couldn't quite get there in a great matchup. I do not like the matchups this week as much as I did in Week 10, though there are still some great options. Remember, all of these players are either on waivers or on your bench but are worthy of filling your byes this week. Hopefully, this helps you solidify your playoff standing as they are approaching. Good luck, and thank you for reading.