IDP Matchups, Living the Stream: Week 8

Photo: USA Today Sports

Well, at least all 32 NFL teams are playing in Week 8.

One week after half a dozen teams were on siesta, it's all hands on deck across the NFL in Week 8. Now, why the league chooses to have two teams off, then four teams off, then six teams off, then no teams off, then four teams off (in Week 9) as opposed to just eight weeks of four teams off is a question for smarter people than me. But for whatever reason, everyone is playing this week.

Of course, that doesn't mean fantasy managers don't still need matchup or fill-in plays. Fantasy managers with shares of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton were dealt a gut punch when the star linebacker dislocated his wrist—an injury that will reportedly require surgery and sideline him up to two months.

That wasn't the only linebacker injury in Week 7. Cody Barton of the Washington Commanders and Divine Deablo of the Las Vegas Raiders both left early last week with ankle injuries. That's one position. One week. And it doesn't take into account players who are healthy but not producing.

In other words, there could be 52 teams playing this week, and there would still be IDP teams with holes to fill.

So let's get to filling them—or at least trying to.

DE Bud Dupree, Atlanta (at Tennessee)

The Falcons signed Dupree to a one-year, $3 million contract this offseason in the hopes that the 30-year-old could recapture the form that saw him post 11.5 sacks with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. But it was a signing that was met with as much skepticism as celebration, with Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report tabbing Dupree as a bust before the season ever started.

"The fact is that Dupree's best days came with the Steelers in a blitz-heavy scheme that featured T.J. Watt," he said. "That makes production a lot easier to come by. When the Titans scheme asked him to win matchups by himself without the benefit of blitzing, he combined for just seven sacks over the last two seasons. It doesn't help that injuries limited him to 22 games in those seasons as well."

The good news is that Dupree is healthy and ranks second on the Falcons in sacks. The bad news is that he has all of two. However, 1.5 of those came a couple of weeks ago, when he added four total tackles in a plus matchup with the Washington Commanders. No team allows more fantasy points per game to defensive ends than Washington. But the Titans aren't far behind—they lead the AFC in that category.

DE Khalil Mack, LA Chargers (vs. Chicago)

OK, so Khalil Mack has had a bit more success rushing the passer this year than Dupree. In fact, in a Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Mack racked up 10 total tackles, half a dozen sacks, and two forced fumbles. Mack added another sack the following game against the Dallas Cowboys, but when asked about his recent hot streak by reporters, the veteran edge-rusher had very little to say.

"I don't want to say nothing," Mack said. "I don't know what's going on. I'm not saying nothing. Do me a favor and look at the film from the first two games and the last three games and you'll be able to tell the difference. But I'm not saying nothing. I'm not saying nothing. I'm not saying nothing."

Now. The fact that all seven of Mack's sacks have come in two games isn't exactly ideal. It's also the reason why Mack is actually still on the waiver wire in a few leagues. And to be clear, at 32, Mack isn't the game-wrecker he once was. But the Bears are a plus matchup, likely trotting out an undrafted rookie quarterback making his second career start.

LB David Mayo, Washington (vs. Philadelphia)

In the NFL, there are difference-making game-wreckers like Roquan Smith of the Chicago Bears. There are highly capable veterans like Dre Greenlaw of the San Francisco 49ers. There are adequate starters like Anthony Walker of the Cleveland Browns. And then there are the JAGs—linebackers who are, for lack of a better descriptor, just a guy.

David Mayo of the Commanders is a JAG.

To his credit, Mayo has carved out a nine-year career with three different teams. He has started 26 games. But no offensive coordinator goes into the week ahead of playing against him wondering, "What will we do about David Mayo?" When he does make a tackle, it will as likely as not be several yards downfield. He's a poor man's Alex Anzalone.

However, he's also going to be starting for the Commanders so long as Barton's ankle keeps him on the shelf. Washington is about to play host to an Eagles team that has surrendered the second-most fantasy points to linebackers this season. And for what it's worth, a tackle made two yards downfield and one made 10 yards downfield count the same in IDP leagues.