Eyes of the Guru IDP Info: Preseason Update 1

Photo: USA Today Sports

With the introduction of the three-game format, teams are all over the place with their approach to the preseason. A few teams played their starters for a series or two in the first game, while several teams held them out. There were a fair number of teams that played some starters but not the full unit. This makes it difficult to get a read on their plans, especially when there are situations the teams themselves have not made decisions on. These are my notes from the first round of warmup games and other news since my initial team reports.

Note: Not all teams are mentioned, only teams needing an update since our team-by-team breakdown.

IDP Update: Arizona

Mack Wilson is ahead of Owen Pappoe and Krys Barnes at inside linebacker. The only question is whether he will stay on the field in nickel situations. The Cardinals sat all their starters against New Orleans, so we will have to wait at least one more week for that answer.

BJ Ojulari suffered an ACL injury and is out for the year. That puts Dennis Gardeck in the starting lineup and likely means more snaps for Victor Dimukeje and rookie Xavier Thomas. Arizona signed Marquis Hayes but let him go a few days later. Chances are they will add more depth at some point. They had Carl Lawson in for a visit but have not yet signed him.

Rookie Max Melton has been seeing time with the starters and did not play.    

IDP Update: Atlanta

Troy Andersen and Kaden Elliss are the starting inside linebackers on the team’s initial depth chart. They did not play against Miami but neither did Nate Landman. Andersen has been impressive from the beginning of camp and appears to be in line for a starting job.   

DeMarcco Hellams was carted off with an ankle injury that will cause him to miss extended time. That could open the door for Ritchie Grant to fully claim the strong safety job, but the team had Justin Simmons in for a visit on Monday and Tuesday. We need to see if he leaves without a contract before getting too excited about Grant.  

Hellams was not the only significant injury the Falcons suffered. Rookie edge defender Bralen Trice tore his ACL and is headed for IR. The team was counting on Trice to have a big role at what was already a thin position.  

IDP Update: Baltimore

The only expected starter to get in the game versus Philadelphia was inside linebacker Trenton Simpson. Since he is a second-year player who did not see much action as a rookie, this is likely a case of the coaches wanting to get him some playing time rather than anything that would cause concern for IDP managers.  

IDP Update: Buffalo

The Bills went with most of their starters. Matt Milano was held out as a precaution but has participated fully in training camp. Cole Bishop and Mike Edwards are dealing with a sore shoulder and a hamstring, respectively. Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin got the start against Chicago. Bishop is a projected starter, but he could fall behind Rapp if he is not able to get back on the field soon. The Bills are concerned enough to sign Kareem Jackson and Terrell Burgess, just in case.  

IDP Update: Carolina

All has been quiet on the defensive side in Carolina. They played no starters versus the Patriots, while rookie linebacker Trevin Wallace looked okay but was not a standout.  

IDP Update: Chicago

The Bears rolled out most of their starters. Montez Sweat and Jaquan Brisker were the only healthy scratches on defense, while Kyler Gordon continues to miss time due to what has been described as muscle tightness.

Kevin Byard III made a pair of tackles in his short time on the field. It’s a small sample, but so far, it looks like he will pick up right where he left off in Philadelphia last year.

IDP Update: Cincinnati

The Bengals answered some questions by rolling out the starting defense without all four first-team linemen. Vonn Bell and Geno Stone were the safeties, Cam Taylor-Britt and D.J. Turner were the outside corners, and Mike Hilton was in the slot.

Cincinnati already has injury issues on the defensive line. Sam Hubbard has been nursing a sore knee throughout camp, and Cameron Sample has been lost for the year due to an Achilles injury. There was some good news when Trey Hendrickson returned to practice. Hubbard remains week-to-week.

Against Tampa Bay, Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy were on the edge, along with Zach Carter and rookie Kris Jenkins at tackle. All four of these guys are in line for at least rotational duty, and Jenkins has a shot at a starting job before the season ends.  

IDP Update: Cleveland

The Browns had a sprinkling of starters on the field against Green Bay, but the big news for IDP managers hit on Monday when it was announced that Jordan Hicks is week-to-week with what, so far, is an undisclosed injury. A day-to-day status with three weeks before the opener would not be a big deal. Week-to-week, however, is not a good sign for his week-one availability. Cleveland started Devin Bush and Mohamoud Diabate against the Packers. Their depth chart has Bush as the starting strong side backer, but he would likely slide to the middle if Hicks misses time.

IDP Update: Dallas

Sam Williams was supposed to have a substantially bigger role this year before an ACL injury ended his season before it started. That means a bigger role for rookie Marshawn Kneeland, who has impressed. It could also mean more passing down action for DeMarcus Lawrence, who could become a fantasy factor again. The team added Al-Quadin Muhammad to restock the depth chart.

DeMarvion Overshown has been seeing time with the first team, but the Cowboys depth chart shows him behind rookie Marist Liufau on the weak side, while Damone Clark is listed as the strong side starter. There are two important things to keep in mind here. The depth charts put out by teams are unofficial and usually put together by some front office intern who may or may not have input from the coaching staff. The second thing is that the Cowboys may not yet have decided who will start next to Kendricks in their two LB scheme. Dallas played no veteran starters against the Rams with Clark and Overshown getting the call at linebacker. This one remains unsettled for now.

Eric Kendricks is nursing a sore back but should be fine for week one.

IDP Update: Denver

Denver played most of their starters, and there were no surprises. The team’s depth chart has Cody Barton and Jonas Griffith as co-starters next to Alex Singletary at inside linebacker. It was Barton running with the starters against Indianapolis. The starters were not on the field long enough to confirm if Barton would be involved in sub-packages.

Brandon Jones can be a highly productive safety if he can stay on the field. His career has been marred by nagging injuries and he is already missing time with a sore hamstring. Devon Key made the start against the Colts and should be on your speed dial if you have Jones on your roster.

IDP Update: Detroit

The Lions did not play their defensive starters against the Giants, but their depth chart makes for some interesting conversation. We have heard that Branch is spending more time at safety, so it was not unexpected to see him listed as one of the starters there. What was surprising, after his explosive play last year, was Ifeatu Melifonwu showing up behind Branch, with Amik Robertson penciled in as the nickel corner.

If you are among the many who have already drafted Melifonwu, don’t panic over this news. Detroit sat all of their starters, including Kerby Joseph, Branch, and Melifonwu. It will be shocking if all three are not on the field for at least 75% of the snaps this year.

The fact that Jack Campbell is a starter on the depth chart is a good sign for those of us who have already drafted him, but it remains to be seen if he will continue to share time with Derrick Barnes.

IDP Update: Green Bay

There was supposedly a three-way battle for the Packers' strong safety job. When they had to pick one to run with the starters versus Cleveland, rookie Javon Bullard got the call. We all expected this to be the case, but Green Bay did throw us a curveball at linebacker, where Isaiah McDuffie made the start next to Quay Walker. Meanwhile, Edgerrin Cooper is currently listed as the backup to Eric Wilson at SLB, while fellow rookie Ty’Ron Hopper is behind McDuffie on the weak side.

Both rookies were sidelined against the Browns. Cooper has been battling a sore groin, but there is no word on why Hopper did not play. If you picked up Cooper in a dynasty league, he will be fine in the long run. If you have him in a redraft, this could be a problem.  

IDP Update: Houston

The Texans played a mix of starters and backups with the first unit against Pittsburgh. The starters who played were either young guys or players new to the team. The game did not tell us much but there are some interesting notes from the initial depth chart.

Christian Harris is listed as the starting middle backer, with Azeez Al-Shaair on the weak side and Henry To’oto’o on the strong side. Denico Autry, suspended for the first six games, is the backup to Danielle Hunter on the edge when many expected him to play the three-technique tackle position. Jimmie Ward has moved to free safety with Jalen Pitre going back to strong. Kamari Lassiter is the starter ahead of Jeff Okudah on the corner.

If all of these are correct and the Texans open the season as the depth chart suggests, Autry’s value takes a huge hit even when he comes back, Al-Shaair should be fine but gets a slight downgrade, Pitre gets a big boost and a return to major IDP relevance, and Lassiter falls under the rookie corner rule.