IDP Upgrades: Week 3

This article immediately highlights defensive players whose production was significantly better or worse than normally expected for the prior week of games. Note there is sometimes limited information available when this article is written, but I will try to give everyone an early look at players who are moving up or down in value among IDP circles. It isn't easy to give waiver advice for IDPs since there is such a wide variety of lineups and scoring systems, but hopefully, the information provided can help inform your waiver, trade, and upcoming lineup decisions. I'm also going to try and group edge rushers together with the understanding that classification as a defensive end or linebacker will depend on your league setup/host. If you have any questions about specific players or situations, please email me or reach out via Twitter.

Email: rudnicki@footballguys.com
Twitter/X: @a_rudnicki

Upgrades

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS

DE Danielle Hunter, MIN (5 solos, 3 asst, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH on 94% of snaps)
Hunter was one of the elite fantasy options in 2018 and 2019 when he posted 50 solos and 14 sacks in consecutive seasons. After his career was briefly derailed by injuries, he bounced back last year and looks poised to improve even further under new coordinator Brian Flores. Through two games, he's already up to 15 combined tackles and 4 sacks while averaging over 60 snaps/game.

DE Alex Highsmith, PIT (5 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 FF, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 TD)
Highsmith often works in the shadow of T.J. Watt, but both put on a show on Monday night. Highsmith started the game off with a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown and then came up with a strip-sack late in the game that Watt picked up and returned for a touchdown. These two are going to cause a lot of problems for offenses throughout the year.

DE Kwity Paye, IND (3 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FR on 65% of snaps)
The former first-round pick has shown steady improvement over the past two years and could be on his way to a breakout season. With another solid game against the Texans this week, he now has sacks in consecutive games and has been productive against the run as well.

DE Chase Young, WAS (2 solos, 1 asst, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 QH on 71% of snaps)
Young wound up playing a limited number of snaps late in the 2022 season and hadn't registered a sack since week 6 in 2021. He made his debut on Sunday, however, and looked good while playing 71% of the snaps. Montez Sweat (1.5 sacks) and DaRon Payne (1 sack) are heating up as well, which should make next week's game against the Bills more interesting.

DE Byron Young, LAR (3 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 2 QH on 91% of snaps)
It was likely that someone was going to emerge from the Rams group of edge rushers since Aaron Donald tends to make their jobs much easier. Through 2 games, the rookie Young has gotten off to a great start with 9 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks.

DE Bradley Chubb, MIA (5 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 2 QH, 1 FF on 91% of snaps)
Chubb finished with 8 sacks last year but has often struggled to live up to his potential. There is some hope that Vic Fangio will be able to help him do that this year, however, and he provided support for that idea on Sunday. He gave the Patriots trouble and finished with 7 tackles plus a sack and forced fumble, all while playing without the Dolphins' best pass rusher in Jaelan Phillips.

DE Jonathan Cooper, DEN (3 solos, 5 asst, 2 sacks, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF on 71% of snaps)
Most likely this will turn out to be a flash in the pan, but Cooper warrants a mention here, coming off a 2-sack performance with 8 tackles. Zach Allen has seen the heaviest workload on the defensive line so far, but Cooper ranks 2nd and has averaged 45 snaps/game.

DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, TB (4 solos, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 3 QH on 53% on snaps)
Tampa drafted Tryon-Shoyinka in the first round in 2021, and he's mostly been a solid starter who doesn't stand out much from a fantasy perspective due to limited upside. Tampa appears to be using a rotation up front so his workload has remained relatively low, but he took advantage of a favorable matchup this week and added two sacks on just 28 snaps.

DT Chris Jones, KC (1 solo, 1 asst, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 PD on 51% of snaps)
Jones ended his contract holdout after signing a 1-year deal and quickly demonstrated his value with a clutch effort against the Jaguars. Despite missing all of training camp and only going through 3 practice sessions last week, Jones managed to pick up 1.5 sacks and generated plenty of pressure on his 24 snaps. Expect his production and playing time to ramp up in the weeks ahead.

DT Harrison Phillips, MIN (7 solos, 6 asst, .5 sack, 1 QH on 78% of snaps)
Phillips warrants another upgrade this week following his 13-tackle effort against the Eagles on Thursday night. Despite the short week, he still managed to play 60 snaps for the second week in a row and looks like an early breakout candidate in DT-required leagues. Note that his numbers were clearly helped by an Eagles offense that generated 48 rush attempts and 70 tackle opportunities in this game.

LINEBACKERS

LB Frankie Luvu, CAR (4 solos, 5 asst, 2 sacks, 3 TFL, 2 QH on 100% of snaps)
Luvu had a mini-breakout last year and what helped set him apart from most other inside linebackers was his 7 sacks. We weren't sure if that could be replicated this year under a new coaching staff and defensive scheme, but he's already up to 3 sacks in just 2 games this year. He has a chance to finish among the top 12 fantasy linebackers this year if he can stay healthy. Kamu Grugier-Hill will also become a viable fantasy option in the near term while filling in for the injured Shaq Thompson.

LB Kaden Elliss, ATL (6 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 100% of snaps)
The Falcons played without Troy Andersen (concussion) this week, which meant Elliss was paired up with a less experienced player in Nate Landman. That didn't slow him down, however, as Ellis added 6 more solo stops plus his first sack of the year as the Falcons defense shut down the Packers in the fourth quarter to help spark the comeback win.

LB Quay Walker, GB (8 solos, 9 asst, 1 QH, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Walker cleared the concussion protocol in time to play against the Falcons and managed to play all 82 snaps. The Falcons offense generated 45 rush attempts, which helped provide enough opportunities for Walker to pick up 17 tackles in the game. DeVondre Campbell also added 14 tackles in the game, but it's worth mentioning that Walker out-snapped Campbell by 14 snaps.

LB Tremaine Edmunds, CHI (8 solos, 8 asst on 100% of snaps)
While it's only been two games, it is starting to look like the Bears are a team whose defense will see a lot of snaps and rush attempts in most weeks. They had no answers for an offense led by Baker Mayfield and Rachaad White this week, and that helped Edmunds and T.J. Edwards combine for 28 tackles. Both players might wind up as #1 fantasy linebackers if this keeps up.

LB Robert Spillane, LV (9 solos, 5 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 100% of snaps)
Spillane was an under-the-radar signing for the Raiders this offseason. He has now played 100% of the snaps on defense through two games and looks like a breakout candidate. He was often buried on the depth chart in Pittsburgh but is an instinctive player who can pick up tackles in bunches. He was helped by a matchup that saw the Bills offense generate 35 rush attempts and 68 tackle opportunities overall, but he should remain a solid fantasy starter as long as he holds onto a 3-down role.

LB Devin Lloyd, JAX (5 solos, 6 asst, 2 PD on 99% of snaps)
Lloyd bounced back from a quiet showing in week 1 to post 11 tackles this week in a disappointing loss to the Chiefs. While Foyesade Oluokun will remain the focal point, Lloyd has also played every snap but one and will likely be a solid LB3 in most scoring systems.

LB Terrell Bernard, BUF (3 solos, 3 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD on 85% of snaps)
The Bills defense struggled to contain the run against the Jets last week, but they were able to bottle up Josh Jacobs and hold him to negative 2 yards on 9 carries this week. While the defense only faced 15 rush attempts and 39 tackle opportunities overall, Bernard proved up to the task this week with 6 tackles and an interception on a deflected throw. He was pulled early with the rest of the starters this week, but he has played a full-time role so far and looks like he'll get a longer leash as the MLB replacement for Tremaine Edmunds.

LB Kenneth Murray, LAC (5 solos, 5 asst, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QH on 100% of snaps)
Eric Kendricks sat out the game this week with a hamstring injury, and his coach said there was no timeline for a return. That allowed Murray to play a full-time role and also opened up more playing time for Nick Niemann (5 solos, 4 asst). Rookie Daiyan Henley also missed week 2 with a hamstring injury, so he didn't get a chance to play after a strong preseason.

LB Nicholas Morrow, PHI (3 solos, 1 QH on 95% of snaps)
With Nakobe Dean suffering a foot injury in week 1 and landing on IR, the Eagles signed Morrow to their active roster to replace him. He was a surprise cut after the preseason but knows the defense well and was able to play 95% of the snaps despite limited practice time. He posted 83 solo tackles with the Bears last year and is a capable fill-in. The Eagles also released Rashaan Evans a few days after signing him to their practice squad.

LB Krys Barnes, ARI (6 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL, 1 PD on 82% of snaps)
Josh Woods beat out Barnes for a starting linebacker job in the preseason but suffered an ankle injury in week 1 that kept him out this week. That created an opening for Barnes, who put together a solid line with 7 tackles and a pass defensed on 56 snaps.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S Kevin Byard, TEN (7 solos, 5 asst on 100% of snaps)
With Amani Hooker out of the lineup this week and Elijah Molden better suited to play deep safety, Byard was free to play closer to the line of scrimmage. He now has 20 combined tackles through 2 games, which could set him up for a big season, given the unproven linebackers in front of him.

S Jordan Whitehead, NYJ (7 solos, 2 asst, 1 TFL on 99% of snaps)
Whitehead had the game of his career last week with 3 interceptions of Josh Allen on Monday night and followed it up with another strong effort against Dallas on Sunday. The Jets offense is going to struggle to sustain drives in most weeks, which will likely result in heavy snap counts and plentiful opportunities for their IDPs.

S Grant Delpit, CLE (4 solos, 2 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FR on 100% of snaps)
Delpit is off to a great start this year in the back of the Browns defense. He led the team in tackles this week while also adding an interception and a fumble recovery. He is one of the rare safeties in the league who could lead his team in tackles while still offering plenty of big-play upside.

S Camryn Bynum, MIN (6 solos, 9 asst, 1 TFL on 100% of snaps)
Bynum was a full-time player in 2022 but his production was often underwhelming as he was credited with just 49 solos and 80 tackles on 1161 defensive snaps. He's off to a much better start in 2023 in the Vikings' new 3-safety base package and is already up to 25 combined tackles while also playing excellent in coverage.

S Jevon Holland, MIA (6 solos, 5 asst, 1 TFL 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Holland is not a prototypical strong safety that plays up in the box but he does have the size and skill to do so when called upon. Mostly, he's a multi-dimensional safety who can contribute in a wide variety of ways and he's going to be a key chess piece for Vic Fangio to use in Miami. Through two games, he already has 16 solo tackles and 9 assists, which ties him with Camryn Bynum for fourth in the league in combined tackles.

S Julian Love, SEA (10 solos, 3 asst, 1 FR on 100% of snaps)
With Jamal Adams still out of the lineup, Love is getting a chance to shine at strong safety. Through just 2 games, he already has 17 solo tackles with 5 assists as Seattle's defense has struggled against the pass.

S Jason Pinnock, NYG (10 solos, 3 asst, 3 TFL on 98% of snaps)
Pinnock is a very athletic safety who the Giants claimed off waivers when the Jets released him last year. He had some starting experience and quickly emerged as the replacement for Julian Love in the Giants secondary in training camp this year. He didn't get a chance to show much in a lopsided week 1 loss to the Cowboys but clearly stood out this week with 16 combined tackles, including 3 behind the line of scrimmage.

S Geno Stone, BAL (7 solos, 2 asst, 1 Int, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Stone filled in for the injured Marcus Williams and was one of four Ravens defenders to play the entire game. He had perhaps the best game of his career with 9 combined tackles plus an interception near the goal line that helped turn the game around.

S Daxton Hill, CIN (9 solos, 2 asst, 1 PD on 99% of snaps)
Dax Hill was a first-round pick a year ago who saw limited snaps as a rookie. He's moved into a full-time role this year, however, and so far has provided a solid presence in the Bengals secondary. He had his first career interception last week and followed that up with an 11-tackle game against the Ravens this week.

S Josh Metellus, MIN (6 solos, 3 asst on 73% of snaps)
The Vikings appear comfortable using 3 safeties in their base defense this year as Metellus has averaged about 80% of the snaps even after missing some time this week due to a shoulder injury. The team recently rewarded him with a 2-year contract extension, which is another sign of his importance.

S Kvon Wallace, ARI (5 solos, 3 asst on 100% of snaps)
Wallace filled in for Budda Baker this week and wound up leading his team in tackles. Now that Baker has landed on IR, Wallace will get a few more weeks to show what we can do. Given the way the Cardinals team has been headed, it wouldn't be a surprise if Baker was traded at some point as well.

S M.J. Stewart, HOU (6 solos, 4 asst, 1 FF on 100% of snaps)
Stewart was inserted into the starting lineup to fill in for Jalen Pitre and wound up leading the Texans in tackles with 10 stops plus a forced fumble. The Texans were already without their top-2 safeties in Pitre and Jimmie Ward, and then Eric Murray also left the game with a concussion. So, Stewart may have some short-term value but will likely head back to a reserve role soon.

CB Charvarius Ward, SF (8 solos, 2 asst, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Both of the 49ers cornerbacks are ranked among the top 10 at their position based primarily on their tackle numbers. The Rams completed 34 passes in the game, and 22 of them went to their primary receivers, which helped Deommodore Leonoir and Ward combine for 19 tackles in the game. Don't expect that to continue in the next two weeks against the Giants and Cardinals though.

CB Christian Gonzalez, NE (6 solos, 1 INT, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Gonzalez was often matched up against Tyreek Hill and provided up to the task for the most part as Hill was limited to 5 catches on 9 targets for 40 yards. With a sack last week and an interception this week, as well as 13 combined tackles, Gonzalez looks like an early front-runner for defensive rookie of the year.

CB Jakorian Bennett, LV (5 solos, 4 asst on 91% of snaps)
The Raiders have used 3 cornerbacks on 90+% of the snaps this year. While many expected Nate Hobbs and Marcus Peters to play a big role, Bennett is a rookie 4th round pick who seemed to come out of nowhere. As with most rookies, he's shown some struggles in coverage that will make him an inviting target for opposing quarterbacks, but he also looks like a very sound tackler and is up to 16 stops already.

Downgrades

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS

DE Haason Reddick, PHI (0 tackles on 67% of snaps)
Given his track record, it's safe to assume that Reddick will bounce back soon, but he was held off the stat sheet completely this week on 39 snaps while the Vikings generated 364 yards passing. With just 1 assist through two games, Reddick has been one of the biggest IDP disappointments in the league.

DE Josh Allen, JAX (1 solo, 1 QH on 57% of snaps)
Allen blew up with 3 sacks against the Colts in week 1 but wasn't nearly as effective against Patrick Mahomes II and the Chiefs this week. He was limited to 1 tackle and was forced to leave the game early with a shoulder sprain. Initial reports didn't expect him to miss any time, so he could be ready to face the Texans next week.

DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DAL (2 solos, 1 TFL, 1 PD on 51% of snaps)
Lawrence has not reached 7 sacks in a season since 2018 but still has a reputation as being a high-end pass rusher. Apart from Micah Parsons, however, the Cowboys appear to be going with a committee approach this year as they had 5 defensive ends play at least 30% of the snaps while Parsons played 87%. Lawrence will still have some big games but the lack of playing time and relatively low tackle numbers make him a risky start in most weeks.

DE Marcus Davenport, MIN (0 tackles on 5% of snaps)
Davenport made his Vikings debut on Thursday night and was in the starting lineup, but he only lasted 4 snaps before leaving the game. It appears he tried to play through a foot injury but wasn't able to, and therefore, it's unclear when he'll be ready to make a significant contribution.

LINEBACKERS

LB Shaq Thompson, CAR (2 solos, 1 asst on 22% of snaps)
Thompson left the game early with a significant ankle injury, and initial reports indicated he would miss extended time. Kamu Grugier-Hill replaced him and had a productive game with 6 tackles and a sack on 60 snaps.

LB Shaquille Leonard, IND (3 solos on 71% of snaps)
I could not find any explanation for it online, but Leonard saw his workload drop from 86% of the snaps in week 1 to just 71% this week. Meanwhile, E.J. Speed saw an increase from 41% to 54%. With his underwhelming production of 3 tackles on 60 snaps and given his prior injury history, this seems concerning. Just based on a small sample of two games this year, he may not be the same player we saw earlier in his career.

LB Christian Harris, HOU (1 asst on 39% of snap)
Harris saw his playing time drop from 72% last week to just 39% this week as the rookie Henry To'oTo'o saw his workload increase from 34% to 81%. The update from Demeco Ryans after the game seemed to indicate these two players would continue to rotate, which would make it difficult for fantasy teams to rely on either of them in the near term.

LB Devin White, TB (2 asst, 1 QH, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
The low output for White here was mostly driven by the matchup and game script, but it's worth mentioning for anyone wondering why he only had 2 tackles. The Bears offense generated just 16 rush attempts and 38 tackle opportunities overall, which led to low output for both White and Lavonte David.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, DET (7 solos, 1 asst on 97% of snaps)
Johnson has been a solid signing for the Lions and has been productive with 12 solo tackles in his first two games. Unfortunately, he suffered a chest injury during the game that was feared to be a torn pec. If confirmed, that would likely put an end to his season and likely create more playing time for Tracy Walker and Brian Branch.

S Budda Baker, ARI (DNP)
Baker sat out the game this week after suffering a hamstring injury in practice on Friday. It was bad enough to land him on I.R. on Monday, which will keep him out for some time and allow Kvon Wallace to show what he can do.

S Minkah Fitzpatrick, PIT (5 solos, 1 asst, 2 PD on 53% of snaps)
Fitzpatrick was on his way to a big game this week but was forced to leave the game early with a chest injury. He went to a local hospital after the game for evaluation but was released on Monday. Monitor this situation to see whether he's expected to miss any time. Keanu Neal filled in for him and would see a boost in his value if he starts next week.

S Jeremy Chinn, CAR (2 solos, 1 TFL, 1 PD on 35% of snaps)
The addition of Vonn Bell pushed Chinn out of a starting safety job and left him with a role in sub-packages only. Although he played 73% of the snaps in week 1, we should expect more variability from week to week, as we saw this week when he only played 35% of the snaps. He'll still have some big weeks but could be much more matchup-dependent than originally expected. It's possible the injury to Shaq Thompson could get him more snaps as a linebacker, but the coaches didn't use him in that role on Monday night.

S Nick Scott, CIN (4 solos, 5 asst on 65% of snaps)
Scott has been very productive while on the field and was credited with 9 tackles on 49 snaps this week. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave the game with a concussion after a hit on Mark Andrews so his status for next week is likely in doubt. Rooke Jordan Battle filled in for him and added a single assisted tackle on his 25 snaps.

S Eddie Jackson, CHI (0 tackles on 24% of snaps)
Jackson had a rough showing in week 1 and then left the game early this week with a foot injury. He suffered the injury in the first quarter, and it was to the same foot he had a season-ending Lisfranc injury on last year. Jaquan Brisker also left the game early, but the reason there was illness so he will likely return to action sooner. Elijah Hicks replaced Jackson and added 5 tackles on 56 snaps.

S Tony Adams, NYJ (5 solos on 37% of snaps)
Tony Adams beat out Adrian Amos for the starting safety job and has been playing well, but he was forced to leave the game early with a hamstring injury. Amos replaced him and picked up 4 tackles on 53 snaps (61%).

CB Riq Woolen, SEA (2 solos on 17% of snaps)
Woolen had a breakout rookie season last year with 6 interceptions, but he's off to a slow start this year. He was credited with just 2 tackles on 81 snaps last week and then was forced to leave the game early this week with a chest injury. Fortunately for Seattle, Tre Brown came in to replace him and took full advantage of the opportunity by adding a sack and pick-6 on back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter.

CB Kair Elam, BUF (DNP)
This is the second week in a row that last year's first-round pick was a healthy scratch. He lost the competition for the starting corner job to Christian Benford, and a lack of contributions on special teams is rendering him a game-day inactive. Looks like he will need an injury or possible change of scenery to get his career back on track.