It is week 9 and with six teams on a bye, your flexibility on which IDP players you are starting just could be severely limited. But we will forge ahead because that’s just what we do.
Linebacker
Jaylon Smith, Dallas Cowboys v Tennessee Titans
Fake Pigskin Exclusive: Join Monkey Knife Fight and Get an Instant 100% Deposit Match PLUS a Free $5 Game!
Stats: 57 total tackles, 3.0 sacks, 1 pass defended
Many have been shying away from Smith because of the injury, and/or the re-emergence of all-everything Sean Lee. It appears that, (1) Smith is fully recovered, and (2) the re-emergence of Lee is having a negative impact on rookie Leighton Vander Esch’s snap counts than Lee.
So saddle up Smith this week against the Tennessee Titans. For the past two games, the Titans have allowed 38 total tackles, eight sacks, a forced fumble and an interception, to the linebacker position.
Defensive End
Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings v Detroit Lions
Stats: 7 total tackles, 1.0 sack, 2.5 quarterback hurries, 1 pass defended
Griffen played his first game back last week against the New Orleans Saints and managed one tackle. Don’t fret.
Fake Pigskin Exclusive: Join Monkey Knife Fight and Get an Instant 100% Deposit Match PLUS a Free $5 Game!
This week the Vikings play Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions. Griffen owns Stafford. He has 11.5 sacks against the Lions in his career. That is more sacks than he has against any other team.
Cornerback
Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears @ Buffalo Bills
Stats: 23 total tackles, 3 interceptions, 6 passes defended
The Bills are forced to start Nathan Peterman at quarterback. Peterman has one touchdown and four interceptions in his 2018 career. This is his fourth start. He is sporting a quarterback rating of 20.8 and a completion percentage of 40.6.
The Bills’ passing game ranks last in yards and touchdown passes. They have the second most interceptions.
So this isn’t about Fuller, as much as it is about Bills’ offense, or more specifically Peterman. Sorry.
My only caveat, the Bears this season have been notorious for playing down to their competition. And while this does not bode well if you are betting on Bears to defeat the Bills, it is looking good for Fuller stats.
Talk at me or to me on Twitter @neverenoughglt
Follow Gladys
