IDL and Edge Streaming Matchups, Week 9

Week 8 brought some great matchups but poor results. There was one call we had that could have been an absolute Week-winner. That was Jermaine Johnson II. He blew up in Week 8 with six tackles, two for a loss, and two sacks. The other five streaming options were mediocre at best. This week looks like there are some more good matchups to exploit though. Here are the top IDL and edge streaming matchups for Week 9.

IDL and Edge Streaming Options

Edge, Samson Ebukam, Indianapolis Colts

Matchup: Carolina Panthers - Ranked 18th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

Ebukam is the overlooked edge defender on the Colts. All the talk is about rising star Kwity Paye and super sleeper Dayo Odeyingbo. It seems that Ebukam's strong start to the season is lost in the fog of this stout defensive line. Ebukam currently has a career-high pass-rush grade per PFF with 68.6. He has had a strong start to the season with 26 tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles.

The Colts take on the Panthers in Week 9, providing an intriguing matchup for the Colts' edge defenders. In Week 8, the Panthers allowed six sacks to the Texans, and they have allowed 25 sacks on the season, which is fifth-worst. Ebukam is a solid edge 2/3 for Week 9.

Edge, D.J. Wonnum, Minnesota Vikings

Matchup: Atlanta Falcons - Ranked 6th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

Wonnum was one of the league's worst edge rushers during the first five weeks of the season. It took him to Week 6 to produce a pass-rush win. With that said, he has been on a recent tear. His role expanded with Marcus Davenport out with injury. His response has been 11 tackles and three sacks over the past two games and 13 pressures over the past three.

Wonnum and company face the Falcons in Week 9. Though the offensive line is actually quite strong, it has struggled to protect the quarterback. They have allowed 26 sacks, the fourth most in the NFL. The Vikings lost Kirk Cousins to an Achilles tear in Week 8. This leaves rookie Jaren Hall as the team's likely starter. Because of this, the Vikings defense may be on the field more often than they would like to be., providing plenty of pass-rush opportunities.

IDL, Christian Barmore, New England Patriots

Matchup: Washington Commanders - Ranked 28th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

Barmore has been a quiet monster on the interior for the Patriots. He holds a 76.1 pass-rush grade per PFF on the season, and his last three games have been nothing short of impressive. During that span, he has 13 tackles and two sacks, plus five pressures over the last two. His matchup for Week 9 almost makes him not only a streaming option but a must-start.

The Patriots take on the Commanders who have had an absolutely horrific time protecting Sam Howell. They have given up 41 sacks on the season, which is tied for the most in the NFL. Barmore has an opportunity to feast on this porous offensive line. He is questionable, so pay attention to his health designation, but if he plays, he could be huge.

IDL, Justin Jones, Chicago Bears

Matchup: New Orleans Saints - Ranked 5th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

Justin who? I know, Jones's name rarely pops up in IDP circles, but he really should. He has been solid for the Bears for his second consecutive season. Jones has 14 tackles and a sack in his last three games and has shown previous pass-rush upside. During a contest with the Commanders in Week 5, Jones produced seven pressures. He also keeps his lane-clogging body on the field, sporting a 68% snap share on the season.

The Saints offensive line has been good but has had trouble keeping their quarterback upright. They have allowed 21 sacks on the season (11th most). The Bears also finally added some firepower on the edge, trading for Montez Sweat. This should enable the interior to play a bit more freely. Jones should have a high tackle floor with some pass-rush potential for Week 9.

IDL and Edge Sleeper Options

This week, there are some very intriguing edge sleepers. So, for Week 9, I am writing up two edge sleepers and leaving out an IDL sleeper. Here are two edge sleeper options for Week 9.

Edge, Victor Dimukeje, Arizona Cardinals

Matchup: Cleveland Browns - Ranked 10th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

With talks of both Myjai Sanders, Zaven Collins, and Cameron Thomas battling to be the top edge defender for the Cardinals, Dimukeje flew well under the radar. Dimukeje has responded by already setting career-highs in tackles (17), sacks (4), and pressures (18) in just eight games. His volume has also been decent, sporting a 41% snap share on the season.

The Browns tackles have had issues this season, and Week 8 proved they can be attacked. They allowed 11 tackles, two for a loss, and two sacks to the likes of Boye MAfe and Darrell Taylor. Dimukeje could be a sneaky edge3 this week.

Edge, Tyree Wilson, Las Vegas Raiders

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

Wilson has shown obvious rookie struggles to start the 2023 campaign. He finally recorded his first sack and easily his best pro game in Week 7. Wilson plays across from one of the best edge rushers in the NFL, Maxx Crosby. This has allowed Wilson plenty of one-on-one matchups and time to grow without being overwhelmed. His matchup for Week 9 makes him an intriguing sleeper.

The Raiders play the Giants, who have an atrocious pass-blocking group. They have allowed 41 sacks, tied for the league lead. Crosby will require a lot of attention, and Wilson could benefit by picking up his second sack of the season.

Final Thoughts

Week 9 provides some good streaming and sleeper options for the edge position, so we dropped four names to check out. We did provide two solid streaming options for the IDL position, some that could help sneak through a tricky bye week. Hopefully, this article eases the bye-week pain. Good luck in Week 9, and thanks for reading.