There were a lot of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, so you might have to go with IDP players who have underperformed so far. It’s only Week Three and some opportunities are looking up.
LINEBACKERS
SHAQUIL BARRETT, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS v DENVER BRONCOS
It isn’t just that Barrett has no sacks so far. It is that in two games, he only has six solo tackles. So, we are to believe the man that ended last season with 19.5 sacks has regressed beyond expectations?
This week, the Buccaneers will meet an injury depleted Broncos. Not only is this a game where Barrett can show the team he used to play for what they are missing, but he can do so against a quarterback who was sacked six times last week.
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De’VONDRE CAMPBELL, ARIZONA CARDINALS v DETROIT LIONS
The Cardinals improved their defense, and this includes the play of Campbell. Campbell is playing on 98 percent of the defensive snaps. He has eight solo tackles, two tackles for loss and two passes defended in Week Two. Now, he will go against an offense that has given up 48 second half points in two games. Plenty of time to increase those numbers.
DEFENSIVE END
BENSON MAYOWA, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS v DALLAS COWBOYS
The Seahawks will be playing without Bruce Irvin this week against the Cowboys. Mayowa will get more chances on the line to pad his stats. In two weeks he has three solo tackles and one sack.
NDAMUKNONG SUH, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS v DENVER BRONCOS
It isn’t like I am picking on the Broncos…sort of. But when you play a team that has given up an average of eight defensive points in two games and now has a roster that is suffering injuries…well.
Suh was great and then he wasn’t. It appears he may be again. Last week, he finished with four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and two quarterback hits. This week, he will tee up against the Broncos’ number two quarterback, Jeff Driskel, who was at a 15 percent sack rate last week.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
KENNY MOORE II, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS v NEW YORK JETS
Both teams enter the game with substantial injury losses. However, this is about Moore excelling against Sam Darnold, and a depleted receiving corps. In two games, Moore has six solo tackles, one interception and three passes defended. Look for those numbers to increase after Sunday’s game.
L’JARIUS SNEED, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS v BALTIMORE RAVENS
Sneed is obscenely missing on rosters. Yahoo has him on only one percent of rosters, which is crazy. In Week Two, he had five solo tackles, one interception and on pass defended. In Week One he also had an interception.
This week he will play the Ravens on MNF. It is crazy to think that he will continue with his interception streak…or is it?
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