IDP Matchups, Living the Stream: Week 9

Not all bye weeks are created equal.

One would think that the two six-team bye-weeks would be the hardest ones for IDP managers. And to be fair, they can be brutal. But this week’s four-team bye is loaded with fantasy-relevant defensive players.

On the Denver Broncos, there’s edge rusher Jonathon Cooper, linebackers Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton, and safety Justin Simmons. In Detroit, there’s Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, linebacker Alex Anzalone and safeties Brian Branch and Tracy Walker. IDP managers will be without Jacksonville Jaguars edge rusher Josh Allen, linebackers Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd, and safety Rayshawn Jenkins. The San Francisco 49ers leave them without the services of edge rusher Nick Bosa, linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, and safety Talanoa Hufanga.

That’s not an exhaustive list. But it’s one that leaves managers with holes all over the place in their starting lineups in Week 9.

If only there were a way to fill them, like a bag of candy on Halloween stuffed with full-sized bars of IDP goodness.

Without candy corn, of course—that stuff is an abomination.

EDGE Anfernee Jennings, New England (vs. Washington)

This one pains me. In a perfect world, Matthew Judon would be wreaking havoc off the edge in this game. It also pains my colleague John Norton, who was convinced that, once Judon went on injured reserve, Josh Uche would blow up. However, neither happened and now we’re talking about Anfernee Jennings, who has drawn praise from position coach DeMarcus Covington after being thrust into a full-time role.

“Going back to last season, Anfernee Jennings, when he’s in there, he does exactly what he’s supposed to do,” he told reporters. “He’s tough. He’s smart. He’s a guy who plays physical for us. He’s going to do his job on every single play. He’s going to leave it all out there on the field every single play. And for us, we can’t ask for more than that. When you’re looking out there, he’s giving his all and making plays and being physical in the run game, effective in the pass game — whatever we ask him to do, he’s going to do it.”

Jennings hasn’t logged a sack yet this year, but he has logged five solo stops in two of the past three games. This week. Jennings and the Pats face a Commanders team that is tied for the most sacks allowed (41) in the NFL. The stage is set for Jennings to break the seal on the sack column this week—and give IDP managers in need of a spot start a boost in the process.

EDGE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans (vs. Chicago)

Yes, that’s right. Cameron Jordan. The Cameron Jordan.

The problem is that the Cameron Jordan hasn’t been himself in 2023—or at least not the player he once was. Partly, it could be age. Partly it could just be the variance that is part of his position. But whatever the reason, a player who has topped double-digit sacks five different times has one eight games in—and it came half a sack at a time.

That’s not a great return for a player the Saints just gave a two-year, $27.5 million extension earlier this year. But earlier in the season, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told reporters that no matter the candles on his birthday cake, there aren’t many edge rushers he respects more than Jordan.

"Jordan is one of the players I have the most respect for in the league," Belichick said. "He's been a great player for a long time, very durable, whatever it was -- 177 straight games he played. This guy shows up every week and plays well, run, pass, situational football, really smart player. This guy's a great player."

That’s the thing. Maybe I should, but I can’t write Jordan off. Not yet. And with a top-five IDP matchup with a rookie quarterback on tap, this may well be his last best chance to get going.