NFL Stock Exchange: An NFL Draft Podcast - Week 17 IDP Start Sit

Episode Date: December 24, 2025

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ID people. We made it. It is fantasy football championship week. This one is for all the marbles. We have to get it right to bring home that championship ring, trophy, cash, bragging rights, whatever it is you're playing for. This is it. I'm John McRey. And for the season finale of the PFF Fantasy Podcast, IDP edition, I will be going game by game, breaking down all of the IDP relevant information for all the key IDP positions, getting you all. locked in for the biggest week of the year. This is our Super Bowl. So for one last time this season, let's get it. All right, biggest week of the year. So hopefully we have plenty of people tuning in since that means you're all in the fantasy championship game.

I know that it's not possible that everyone who tuned in last week for the semifinals will have moved on. And for that, I am sorry. But for those of you who are here, we're going to look to bring it home this week. And speaking of last week, I want to bring it up again. I cannot thank you guys all enough for everybody who, tuned into the live show, jumped in, asked questions, left supportive comments. That meant literally the world to me. I can't thank you guys enough. It was, I think that made the live stream, honestly, even more of a success than I expected. It was definitely busier than I expected.

So I was probably a little bit overwhelmed to try and keep track of it all. I probably missed some questions, but hopefully it wasn't a complete disaster for all of you watching. And more importantly, hopefully the advice that I offered wasn't a complete disaster either even though you know I recognize it's impossible to get it perfect plus we had some weird outcomes for some of the IDPs that were unexpected last week but um anyways that that was last week and again thank you everyone for tuning into that live show I'm sure we'll get a chance to do another one of those maybe next season if there's still interest maybe look to do it a little bit more frequently since that was I had a great time I think you guys from just the comments alone I think enjoyed

it so we'll see how it goes but it's definitely something we can do again in the future um and then yeah before we get into the games obviously for the last time this year you can check out all of the in-season content over at pff.com that includes my idp rankings idp fantasy report player grades all that kind of stuff that you might need here um to close out the season strong and that and if you do get a pf plus subscription now you use the promo code holiday 30 you'll get 30% off plus that'll carry you all the way through next season so if you want to get in on the idp report for next year all those kinds of things that we will have running again now is the time to get locked in you'll you'll get you'll save and yeah get you across the finish line here this year but also carry you through all the

offseason content a lot of draft stuff coming up as well so definitely uh worth trying to get in here if you don't have a subscription just yet um but yeah this is uh it's christmas week there's there's christmas games it makes for a tight schedule so i'm going to try to rip through these early games, try to get this thing out as soon as possible. I'm recording this on Tuesday night, which is a lot earlier than I usually do. So we'll get through it here. And yeah, all the time stamps will be in the episode description as well. So let's get things started with Dallas and Washington, our first of the Christmas games.

We'll start with the Dallas linebackers because right away, there is something that needs to be sorted here with the Cowboys linebackers again just when we kind of thought we had a handle on the situation and injury doth occur, right? Unfortunately, DeMarvian Overshoun was the victim this past week right after we started feeling good about him as a starting IDP again, very, very annoying stuff, obviously. So what happened once Overshone left the game was that Shamar James, not Kenneth Murray or Logan Wilson, it was Shamar James that's on increased snap share. So Murray and Wilson, they continue to stay in that rotating role as usual.

So it's not a guarantee that that is going to be the case again this week. It's always kind of hard to tell in these situations. But with this being a solid matchup, if overshone is going to be out again, if you're in a desperate spot, in a deep league, I don't hate Shamar James. It is purely a desperation play. Like I don't trust him enough to start him over some of kind of our known assets. but based on what we saw this past week and the matchup, there's a chance that he can provide value if you really need him.

Dallas's defensive line. Now, we'll see if it's Marcus Mariotta or Josh Johnson at quarterback. Good chance you guys will know this, you know, who's starting by the time you're listening to this. And I don't think it matters too much, to be honest. But the only real option here this week is Quinn and Williams for DT required leagues. He has to clear concussion protocol himself still. so he's no guarantee that he's going to be able to go on a short week,

but he'd probably be the only one that I actually feel comfortable with starting this week. And then defensive backs for the Dallas Cowboys, Duran Bland is on IR now. So we're really left with nobody trustworthy. So I'm not going to spend much time here. Nobody played full-time snaps last week. And since it is a below-average matchup for the D-Bs, I think we look elsewhere since there's a very good chance that anyone playing in the finals has better DB options than whatever Dallas is rolling out there these past few weeks.

For Washington, we'll start with their linebackers, Bobby Wagner. He bounced back very nicely last week in a difficult matchup as well. He led the team in tackles picked up a sack. So great to see for nice confidence boost for us and for B-dubs in a good tackle matchup this week against Dallas. He should be in starting lineups for the most part, wherever you have him. Louvoo, you know the situations where you're playing him. if you want sack upside you hope that he'll deliver for you otherwise would prefer almost every other full-time linebacker and then washington's defensive line um yeah and the thing that like

even with louvue right like the sack upside it's low anyways with deck prescott a quarterback he's been very good in that regard all season long despite a very bad pass blocking unit in front of him and we've talked about it in each of the last three weeks now it seems to with this Washington defensive line, championship rosters probably aren't relying on anyone on this Washington D line outside of maybe like 32 team leagues where you're basically starting any player that's getting starting snaps and don't need much analysis there. So Washington's DBs, we saw Will Harris play 100% of snaps last week with decent deployment in the box.

Everybody was actually rotating quite a bit, everybody else other than Will Harris, I should say. So it is a neutral matchup for the commander's safety. as far as tackles go. So Harris is probably the lone full-time option. He'd be the, yeah, preferred option here for IDP. And then Mikey Sanders still as well at cornerback with the Cowboys who are still allowing the most cornerback tackles per game. So Sanders still definitely one of the top cornerback options this week

if you have them and need an option at corner. Okay, the other Christmas game is the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings. So we'll start with the Lions defensive line because Aiden Clutchinson came through for a second straight fantasy playoff week with a two sack performance this time. The hope obviously is that he can keep it going in a good matchup this week, which is going to be Max Brasmer at quarterback. It's not J.J. McCarthy. We saw one game of Brasmer this year and he looked terrible. So love the matchup here for Hutch. And, yeah, now that I've given him that nickname of Clutchinson out into the universe,

we're going to need him to deliver on that. Please, Hutch. All right, Detroit's linebackers, the Vikings, they're a below average tackle matchup. Like we keep saying, Jack Campbell, he's just going to be locked into lineups every week. He's not leaving lineups. We're going to hope for Max Brasbair to throw another one of those atrocious pick-sixes to our linebackers, again, like he did in his first start. But Campbell, just too damn good.

And the last time, yeah, that he played Minnesota this year, he delivered. nine tackles and a sack. So pretty damn good if he can do that again. Anzolone is more of a deep league option. Also, Derek Barnes, Snapshare has been below 70% in each of the past two games. And it's been going down steadily. So he'll be a very deep league option only. And mostly if you're using him as like a DL3, DL4, like on sleeper, where he has that DL eligibility.

Detroit's defensive backs, unfortunately a shit matchup here for the cornerback. and the safeties of Detroit. Thomas Harper, he had a nice game last week, though Avanti Maddox had the better usage. They're both kind of just very deep league options in a matchup like this. Minnesota, their linebackers. We'll talk about them because as has been the case throughout the fantasy playoffs so far, the Vikings linebackers have a favorable tackle schedule,

which they have delivered on. Cashman has been excellent every week, another big tackle game from him last week. Eric Wilson has been doing as expected with a sack every once in a while. He even had a sack called back last week, so it could have had two. But another week of these two, yeah, in lineups, in a nice matchup. Cashman, of course, the preferred option if you have both of them for whatever reason. But, yeah, just the more likely to get those stronger tackle numbers than Eric Wilson.

Minnesota's defensive line, not the easiest matchup for the Gink and Andrew Van Ginkle, Dallas Turner, that is. Interestingly, the Vikings, they did not play Dallas Turner in his usual like 90% of snaps that they have when Greenard or AVG has been out. Just 66% of snaps for him. So he lost a big chunk of what's his greatest asset, right? Which has been his playing time. So not to say he can't be useful for IDP, but still makes it a little bit tougher to trust him this week. Both of those guys will be low-end starters this week, along with Jalen Redman. for DT required leagues. He's actually pretty good.

He played 98% of snaps last week. So he's in that fringe kind of DT1, DT2 range with that level of playing time. And then Jonathan Allen a little bit lower. And then defensive backs for Minnesota. It's basically Harrison Smith and Byron Murphy had cornerback now. Smith is the only safety playing full time now. The Josh Mattelis is on IR. And Murphy is the only really reliable CB required option.

both get good enough matchups this week that I'd be fine starting them as needed. All right. The third and final Christmas game is the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. So we'll start with Denver, their defensive line, because the Chiefs are down to their third string quarterback, who I'd never even heard of until he entered the game last week, Chris Ola Dukin, who didn't get a ton of work in that game, but he did get sacked on exactly half of his pressure dropback. So small sample, obviously, but this matchup does become a lot juicier for Denver's defensive line

and their IDP managers than if it was Mahomes at quarterback, right? So I know that last week somehow Benito and Zach Allen, they didn't get home while like the bunch of the defensive tackles did, but they will have a shot to redeem themselves if you've survived their low output last week. So I'd feel good about leaving Benito and Zach Allen and even Jonathan Cooper for deeper leagues in lineups this week. Denver's linebackers, pretty simple here. Nothing changes with this group.

Kingleton gets another kind of below average matchup, which he did overcome last week. We should have faith that he'll deliver like LB2 type production again this week at the very least. And then Dre Greenlaw is really just for deeper formats. Denver's defensive back. So last thing or, yeah, last week, one of the things that I felt really good about was the Bronco safety's opportunity

to produce against the Jaguars and they just didn't really which was part of kind of a weird outcome in week 16 it wasn't terrible but they really weren't great so this week Hufanga and PJ Locke they get a fine matchup to remain potential starters where you have them but I understand if they let IDP managers down last week

it becomes a little tougher to plug them in Hufonga definitely still the more trustworthy IDP option of the two, but still don't mind their chance to deliver here if needed. And then Riley Moss also cooked last week. Got her gets a really bad matchup, unfortunately, this week for CB tackles. I think he'll still be a fine option since he'll see the majority of targets opposite Patrick Sartan. I just don't know how confident I am in this Chiefs passing game that I'm going to have him

kind of as like a locked in CB1 again this week. So there is a little bit of concern for Riley Moss after a great week last week. For Kansas City, their defensive line, okay, if you are a George Carloftus and Chris Jones IDP manager, I feel you. It is really hard to not be pissed with the lack of sack production from those two numskulls over the last two games where they face the Titans and the Chargers, two great pass-rush matchups that they did absolutely nothing in. And now this week, they get the league's toughest pass-rush matchup.

against the Broncos. So how the hell do we trust them? I'm sure somehow this is the week that they'll go off, you know, now that they've gotten their IDP managers eliminated. But honestly, the way that they've produced, it's going to be hard putting them in lineups this week.

So hopefully you are all still alive with those two on your roster. And hopefully you have better options as well. Kansas City, their linebackers, Nick Bolton and even Drew Tranquil, remain kind of startable where you have slash need them, neutral matchup here and both have been productive as of late. Like they both hit double digit tackles against the Titans last week,

which had been one of the worst linebacker tackle matchups in the league. So both of them are startable foe show. Kansas City's DBs last week I referenced out Chamari Connor was due for a sack given his usage and like the lack of production in that regard so far. And amazingly, he did deliver that sack against the Titans. So this week still like Connor. as really kind of the lone, sorry, the lone Kansas City defensive back option right now because the rest either aren't playing enough or in the case of like someone like Brian

Cook, they're playing so deep that they're just way too inconsistent to make championship lineups for us. So Connor gets a top 10 tackle matchup this week and he's probably one of the better IDPDB options for me as well. Okay, let's move on to the Saturday games. now. Houston and the Chargers is first up. And we'll start with Houston's linebackers because Aziz Al-Shayir ended up missing last week's game due to injury. We'll see if that happens again this week. If he does, then E.J. Speed is going to get some run as a potential

fill-in option for us if we're desperate, right? Like both E.J. Speed and Hanky two toes, Henry Toe-O, Toe, played 100% of snaps last week. And this matchup against the Chargers this week, it's a good one for linebacker tackles. They are sixth in the league. So if Aziz-Al-Shahir plays, he's startable. If not, then speed can be startable. And then Henkey-two's there basically startable regardless, but they're all more for kind of deep league options because they've been pretty ineffective for IDP.

But again, full-time linebackers are always important to consider. Houston's defensive line, Will Anderson, DeNeil Hunter. They both got sacks last week, which was expected. But honestly, I thought they could have gotten more. But, yeah, we can't complain too much when we get a sack. But they get another great matchup this week against the Chargers. And I know the Chargers didn't give up a sack last week, but that was also against the Cowboys defensive line

where nobody on that line is on par with Will Anderson and Daniel Hunter. So trust that they'll be able to deliver for you once again this week. Houston's DBs, Jalen Petrie, Kaelin Bullock, and Kamari, the Ronso Lasseter, all delivered decent numbers last week. They get a fine matchup this week. to be startable. I probably rank them Petrie, Lassiter Bullock in that order with Petrie being one of the top safety options again this week, really solid usage as usual in the slot and in the box.

Going to the Chargers, let's start with the linebackers because Diane Henley had another shit game last week in a good matchup. That was the only reason he was even in lineups last week was because of the matchup. And now once again, he actually gets the best. linebacker tackle matchup of the year against the Texan so you know maybe he'll have six tackles instead of four this week but the guy is allergic to tackling right now it's it's incredibly frustrating um i hope you have better options but again like if you're stuck he's at least got a great matchup to potentially deliver i know week 17 starters of henley last year are having probably

PTSD flashbacks right now if you were in you know a dynasty league and you still have him your roster i'm sorry guys it's it's henley's fault not mine um so it's a little bit scary obviously after what happened last year with the uh the goose egg that he put up in week 17 it's a great matchup again so uh yeah well we'll see how it goes it'll be interesting but denzil perimen is also now suspended so troy die becomes a potential deep league option and probably one of the better ones as well since he'll have less snap competition with paramant out and obviously the great matchup, right? So I would, I really wouldn't be surprised if die out tackled Henley this week, even playing fewer snap. So not saying that you should start die over Henley,

that might be a bridge too far, but I'm saying I wouldn't be surprised is all. All right, Chargers DBs, a nice matchup here for King Derwin with the Texans giving up the seventh most tackles per game to the safety position. He'll really be the lone starter for me from this group since the rest are all kind of rotating very heavily, really kind of risky stuff to trust in week 17 and then defensive line for the Chargers Tuli-Tuilotu

has consistently delivered for us another sack last week so still building on his career year he might end up being like a prime regression candidate for next year once I run all the numbers soon

but right now we're riding with him as that edge too that he's been all year long and then Khalil Mack too solid enough as well to make starting lineups okay next Saturday

game is the Baltimore Ravens and the Green Bay Packers. So I'll start with Baltimore's linebackers. It's pretty easy here. Roquant is in for a nice matchup this week. He's in our lineups pretty much no matter what. Trenton Simpson is a perfectly fine deep league option as well. The Simp played 71% of snaps last week. He got a sack, but it wasn't a real sack.

He just kind of one where he chased the quarterback out of bounds at the line of scrimmage, but still counts. But yeah, it's a deep league option only for Trent and Simpson. Baltimore's D.Bs. So Kyle Hamilton has been fine, if not unspectacular, I guess. Like it's a neutral matchup this week. So I'm still okay with him as a starter, but would really like to see him kind of overcome these average to below average matchups, considering his usage around the line of scrimmage. We just haven't gotten that from him much this year, right? So Alohi Gilman, meanwhile, has been pretty solid in producing, but he does still remain a deeper

league option. Also a slightly below average matchup, at least on paper for Marlon Humphrey, who has been an excellent IDPCB required option. The problem here is that we might get Malik Willis or Clayton Tune at quarterback if Jordan Love isn't able to go, which could mess with these production numbers that you see on the screen a fair bit. But I would still start Humphi. Humphrey. Humpty. Yeah, sure, why not? Baltimore's defensive line. line. If Love is back in at quarterback, then I trust this group even less. But I don't think there's anyone really worth starting this week from here. Maybe Travis Jones for deeper DT required leagues and only if it's a non-Jordan Love starter at quarterback and that they can get

after. Otherwise, we're really moving on here. Moving on to Green Bay and their defensive line who, without Micah Parsons, this is probably another defensive line that inspires zero confidence. Roshan Gary is really a desperation play only because of the matchup. And he's honestly probably due for at least falling into a sack, but I'm just not banking on him in most formats. It might be Lamar back at quarterback again. I left his numbers up on the screen because they called him day to day. We'll see how that goes.

But it's not a bad matchup, but it's a bad defensive line without Michael Parsons. Green Bay's linebackers, I don't know why Edron Cooper, had such a down week last week Quaker delivered for us, but unfortunately Cooper did nothing in a nice matchup. It's a neutral matchup this week, and we have preferred Quaker over Cooper recently, and

that's not really going to change here. Though, as always, again, both guys are startable since their full-time snaps and all, but yeah, a little bit disappointing in Edron Cooper this past week. And then Green Bay's defensive back. So last week we talked about Zane

Anderson filling in for Evan Williams in week 15 and not Javon Bullard, which was weird. But sure, you know, we see the data and we trust what we see, but they changed their minds. In week 16, they allowed Javon Bullard to play full-time safety snaps

for basically the first time all season. And probably, if I go back, it's been a long time, even into last season as well. But, yeah, Bullard will only be playable if Evan Williams is out again. That's the only way he should be in our lineups,

because otherwise he's back to that nickel corner role. And as we saw slash expected with like Marcus Jones last week, this matchup is not a good one for whoever is in that role, whether it's Bullard or Nate Hobbs this week, assuming Bullard fills in for safety for Evan Williams. So, yeah, I would be avoiding the cornerbacks for the Ravens this week. All right, quick ad here from Draft King's Pick Six. The holidays are heating up on Pick Six,

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All right. Seattle and Carolina is next. Let's start with Seattle's defensive backs and Nick, him and Wari. He remains a top option. Really nice tackle game from him last week against the Rams, which we expected now. The only concern is that he didn't play an every down role in that game. He was actually rotated off in certain situations because they moved Julian

and Love back into a 100% snap role. Eminwari only played 82%. So I didn't think that Love's role would affect Eminwari since he was playing so much in the slot, but it did this past week. So a little annoying by Seattle, obviously, but the matchup and the usage of Eminwari, it does still remain good enough to overcome. And he's still going to be in any lineup pretty much that I have him. Julian Love as well, though, should be in this week for our lineups.

now that he's backed up to a 100% snap roll as well in a good matchup. Seattle's linebackers, Drake Thomas had a great week last week. Obviously, you know, it helps that the team played over 90 defensive snaps in that game. And since it went to overtime, that helped both Drake Thomas and Ernest Jones overcome a poor matchup. But Thomas, he still is just 84% of snaps around that range. So remains just a deep option.

Ernest is a fine starter even in a below average tackle matchup. Seattle's defensive line yeah Bryce Young he does still remain one of the tougher quarterbacks to take down this season we saw how that affected Byron Murphy

and Leonard Williams and really the whole defensive line last week for Seattle Stafford didn't take a single sack on 51 dropbacks right so they don't necessarily overcome these tough matchups

I have probably lower expectations again this week in a tougher matchup DeMarcus Lawrence is really the only edge that I trust if you have to as well. The rest are kind of stuck in like this Russian roulette rotation that becomes very

risky to trust in a matchup like this in week 17. But yeah, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, fine for DT required, but it is definitely riskier this week. Carolina, so they're linebackers. Trevin Wallace missed last week might have a shot to return this

week, but if not, Christian Roseboom should be the green dot again. He delivered nicely last week. Pretty much always prefer Roseboom over Wallace when he gets that full-time role. He's just been a more effective IDP in that regard. If Wallace is back, then yeah, Roseboom will be more of a non-shallow league option. Wallace would be on the lower end of full-time starting linebacker options

where Rose boom, if he was the full-time guy, I'd probably move him up a little bit more. Carolina's defense back. So Nick Scott has been really productive recently. He's had at least nine tackles in three straight games. he's got double-digit tackles in back-to-back games and he's not getting anywhere near as good of a deployment as Trayvon Merrig. So kind of some bizarre production there recently, that will change at some point most likely.

Though, again, there's only one game left in the fantasy season. So, yeah, you know, yeah, great analysis there. But what am I trying to say? What I'm trying to say is I expect Nick Scott to come back down to Earth, Merig, be the better IDP option just because of that more ideal usage. And that could be this week where I'm fine starting Trayvon Merrig and only still really considering Nick Scott as a non-shallow league option. There, I think that makes more sense than my previous ramblings.

It's later, folks. It's definitely later for me. I usually record during the day. It's nighttime. Pass my bedtime. This is what happens. Carolina's defensive line, this is not really a good enough matchup to be going the DJ Wanam or Nick Scorton route.

maybe Derek Brown for D2 required leagues, but he's also been poor this season. So really difficult to trust anyone against Sam Darnold and company. All right, Arizona and Cincinnati is next. Let's start with Arizona's defensive line because unfortunately both of our kind of top IDP options for that defensive line, Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Walter Nolan, they both suffered injuries last week.

Nolan is not going to play Sweat. is a massive question mark. So Sweat, he tried to come back into last week's game. He was unable to stay in, didn't play it all in the second half. So I don't think I'll be trusting the Arizona defensive linemen this week outside of like super deep leagues. If you have any of these guys that you're considering, please feel free to ask in the comments. But I imagine for most leagues, we don't have to spend much time on this group. Arizona's linebackers, still no sign of Mack Wilson doesn't feel like he'll be back.

this week. So probably another week of Cody Simon and Akeem Davis Gather works for me. Akeem Davis Gather was more productive last week, but 88% of snaps, which to be fair, that is better than it's been most weeks this season. But without a great tackle matchup for this group, they'll probably be more for non-challow league options, depending on who else is available for you. And Arizona's defensive back. So unfortunately, we lost Garrett Williams as a streaming option literally right before kind of a perfect IDP matchup against the Bengals here the Cardinals. What they did was they shared that nickel and slot roll once Garrett Williams got injured. So we can't really take advantage of that matchup. You can maybe plug in like a

Will Johnson as a streamer if needed, but that's it at cornerback. At safety, Buda Baker is still an IDP option, even in a poor matchup. Now, we'll see if Jalen Thompson is back because returning to the lineup last week was Daddreon, Taylor Demerson, which is why the Cardinals had to split up the safety two role the week before because they didn't have him and they didn't have Jalen Thompson. But with Daddy TD back in the lineup, they got to utilize at least a full-time safety this past week. And he ended up leading the team in tackles.

So it's not a great matchup here this week. But again, for deeper leagues, Daddy TD can be an option if Jalen Thompson is out again. And yes, I do like the Daddy TD nickname. All right, Cincinnati linebackers. Let's start with Barrett Carter because he's been good for most of this year. He was actually, he's really kind of been one of the more efficient tacklers at the linebacker position. He has a 14.3% tackle rate on the year, which is definitely above average of 13%. However, that number over the past four games has really come back down. It's down at, like 10% since week 13.

And he's been letting down IDP managers, right, as a result. So he at least came up with an interception in week 16, that did help his game, but just hasn't quite been as good as those early season tackle numbers. So tougher start this week in a neutral matchup against the Cardinals. I'm fine with him in kind of non-shallow formats. Demetrius Knight is purely a deep league option as kind of a non-full-time option there. Seattle's defensive backs, or Cincinnati's defensive backs, sorry, Jordan Battle, Gino Stone get a very poor tackle matchup this week.

Gino actually laid a goose egg last week, surprisingly. He's been kind of one of the more effective IDP defensive backs this season and then just completely shit the bed this past week. So him and Jordan Battle will both be kind of lower end starting options this week. Dex Hill, though, is kind of your CB streaming option in a good matchup. Cincinnati's defensive line. So Miles Murphy, and I guess to a lesser extent, Joseph Osai, are purely kind of desperation plays that you hope can rack up tackles just based on the volume of snaps

that they'll play and maybe they fall into a sack if you're lucky. But other than that, we're not really effing with this poor Bengals pass rush. All right. next game is Tampa Bay and Miami. So we'll start with Tampa Bay's linebackers. Levante and Cervasier both had a great game last week. Both of them landed a sack,

decent tackle numbers in what was actually a below average matchup as well. So now it's another below average matchup against Miami. So they'll stay probably closer to that kind of low end full-time starter range since we can't really bank on the big plays to repeat, even if

it's not the worst quarterback matchup for that to happen with Quinn Ewers under center. But just remember that the Bengals linebackers also didn't produce much tackle-wise outside of the pick against Ewers last week. So there's risk here with these two for sure. Tampa Bay's defensive back. So Tyke Smith, he came back in the lineup last week and just coming off another down tackle performance this past week.

So he has gone five consecutive games with six or fewer tackles. No real kind of big plays to speak of either, which has been, you know, a big part of his game um so yeah i i i definitely understand you know idp managers are a little bit concerned a little bit frustrated after a really strong start to the year a really great first half of the year so the usage hasn't really changed for tyke there hasn't been like a major shift there to kind of explain the lower outputs but he has definitely faced more below average tackle matchups um more than more so than not over this kind of recent down stretch so this week's matchup really just kind of a neutral matchup for the safety position and with a backup quarterback under center,

there's probably room for his usage and his production, at least in the big play department to improve. We'll see. But yeah, he'll just kind of be a low-end DB1 this week, fringed, yeah, probably on the fringe that DB1, DB2. Potentially nice bounce back opportunity here in week 17 for Tyke. And then Antoine Winfield is also a fine option as usual. Tampa Bay's defensive line, we have at least some volume-based streaming options from the Bucks this week, Yaya Diabi, Hassan Reddick, Vita Vaya, for DT-required leagues, that is. So great matchup against the Miami offensive line.

Obviously, Quinn Ewers, again, at quarterback should be susceptible to taking sacks. But, yeah, this week, they're all mostly options if you're in a desperate spot, right? all right miami their linebackers jordan brooks continues to be the best idp linebacker pretty much every single week he's been unstoppable this season and even if the matchup is slightly below average he should never be leaving lineups at this point uh tyrol dodson more in that kind of lb2 range as he has slowed down just a tiny bit nothing crazy in terms of like production drop off but with brooks kind of dominating the tackle share dodson is more of an lb2 in a below average matchup Miami's DB's unclear if Minka Fitzpatrick will be back this week.

If not, because it is at least a good matchup. Afatu Mela Fanwu was the loan every down safety last week when Minka Fitzpatrick was out. So he'll be a deep league option only. Even though it's a nice matchup, I just don't want anyone trying to force Mellifonwu into lineups. If you don't have to, this week is just too important for that, right? So he's purely just kind of a highlighted option if you're in a bad spot and only if Minka is unavailable again this week. Otherwise, Minka is a fine to go in this one. Miami's defensive line.

So Zach Seeler kind of heating up here recently. It's not the best matchup, but Seeler has been really productive recently, which is more than we could say for a lot of our defensive tackle options these days. So I'd be fine with him. Otherwise, yeah, it's like chop and chub on the defensive line. they're both just very deep league options only. All right, New Orleans and Tennessee is next. So we'll start with New Orleans defensive line because Chase Young, really in the midst of a resurgent season here,

both in terms of his NFL value, IDP as well. Like he ranks currently tied for 13th at the position in PFF pass rush grade with an 81.0. That would also be the best mark of his career if it holds. young is he's also just one sack away from a new career high in the sack column and he's doing it on the fewest pass rush snaps which is 217 of his career so far outside of that 2022 season when he didn't play until like the final three weeks of the year so this week young gets the Tennessee Titans and the second most sacked quarterback in the league cam ward so should be a solid IDP option this week a good bet I think to set his new career high in sacks in a season so um he's really the only one though like i know cam jordan had two sacks last week he could be fine in like very deep leagues because of the matchup but odds are you made the finals with much better slash safer options right okay new orleans linebackers to mario davis he actually picked up an injury very late in last week's game so that is something to watch and

practice this week because if he can't go, then Pete Werner should move into a full-time role and then somebody like Danny Stutzman would likely get the part-time role. Honestly, I don't think I'd be messing with playing Stutzman either way this week. Like if DeMario is out, like there's just too much of a risk of a potential rotation and it's a bad matchup. Even though the Titans have been slightly better recently for linebacker tackles, I really only want the full-time green dot guy this week, which would be DeMario Davis. if he's healthy.

Pete Warner most likely if Davis is out. But both of those guys lower end options either way because of the matchup. New Orleans defensive backs. Alante Taylor is in despite kind of the below average matchup as far as tackles go. The Titans do, though, run the highest rate of 11 personnel. But, yeah, Taylor has just also just been awesome. So he's locked into lineups for CB required leagues pretty much every week regardless. And then the safeties, Justin Reed, Jonas Sanker, are really for deep.

deeper leagues as well just because again it is a poor matchup here all right tennessee linebackers will go there next uh we should be getting cedric the gray back this week um and as was highlighted in the the chat this past week on the live stream he may return in time for the fantasy championship week as cedric the white i really like that and deliver hopefully a big idp performance for us it's not the best matchup obviously but gray has been so damn good and efficient this year that he should be locked into lineups when he's active. If for some reason, Gray does not clear concussion protocol, then we'll get another week of James Williams, who was indeed awesome last week, thanks to landing a sack, but also nine

tackles. My only concern for Williams last week and why he wasn't kind of a locked-in DB1 option was there was risk of the Titans playing him in a part-time role, but he was, in fact, in every down player. So that was a nice confirmation, you know, if Gray is out again, that we can lock Williams into those DB spots again this week. And then Barton, you already know. What did you have two tackles last week? Like, the guy is so bad.

I can't wait to see his tackles versus expected numbers at the end of the year. He might be dead last. We'll see when I run the numbers. Tennessee's defensive line, Jeffrey Simmons, that is the one as usual. Great matchup in here against. the Saints. Tyler Shuck now owns the second worst pressure to sack conversion rate in the league. So yes, please, with Jeffrey Simmons. Tennessee's defensive backs, neutral matchup here for the safeties. But Amani Hooker and Kendall Brooks were both also really kind of ineffective

last week. I don't think I'd be looking at them in this matchup. Also, that nice slot role that was once held by Kevin Winston Jr. before he was put on IR. It was split up between Keman Hall and Marcus Harris last week. So just can't be trusting any of the. these cornerbacks outside of maybe Daryl Baker in like deeper CB required leagues. All right, New England and the New York Jets next. Let's start with New England's linebackers because it was nice of the Patriots to actually make Robert Spillane inactive last week instead of being garbage people and making him active as that emergency linebacker again.

So we'll keep monitoring the practice reports for the Patriots to see if Spillane looks like he'll be good to go. But if he isn't going to play again, then Jack Gibbons should be an option for us wearing the green dot last week. And having a solid game again, Christian Ellis is the deep league option, like a DL3 type on sleeper where he has that DL eligibility.

And if scoring is tackle heavy. If Spillane is active, then Gibbons and Ellis really are just very deep league options only since they're likely to kind of rotate pretty heavily at that LB2 spot, as we've seen so many times this. season. New England's defensive line. This group has been mostly asked, but again, there's some volume-based value to target here in a great matchup where Brady Cook

is going to be at quarterback and owns now the worst pressure to sack conversion rate in the league among qualifying quarterbacks with a staggering, 53%. So Harold Landry, Caleb on Chase on, maybe Christian Barmore. We'll see if Milton Williams, who just got activated off IR. We'll see if he plays. Maybe those guys can fall into a sack this week. But again, only if you're looking for a potential streamer. This could be the group to target here, depending on who your other options are. And New England's defensive back. So it's a better matchup this week for Marcus Jones. The Jets, basically despite not having any good wide receivers, they do at least play top five rate of 11 personnel. So it's a much better week for Jones. This week,

then was the case last week. It's still not a perfect matchup tackle-wise, but nice opportunity for Jones to maybe add another pick to his totals this year. Never like to try and predict interceptions, but playing time will be there. And Brady Cook is, well, yeah, not great. So there's opportunity there.

All right, the Jets, they're linebackers. Jamie and sure gives me Wood. He had a great game last week with double digits and a sack. Quincy Williams also had. a nice tackle game himself for once. So this week, neutral matchup, obviously I'm fine with Sherwood as a starter again. Williams, Moore for non-shallow leagues, but both of them in a decent enough spot that I wouldn't be concerned having them in lineups.

Jets, defensive backs, Malachi Moore, probably another one who has really, he's been effective lately, and that kind of continued last week, right? So it's a poor tackle matchup for the safety position this week, but Malachi Moore does have at least positive alignment on his side. So he'll be in that kind of safety two range for me this week. Dean Clark slash Tony Adams, whichever is available. I don't think I'd play around with this week in a matchup like this. And really the same thing with like the Jets defensive line.

So Will McDonald, I think got a sack last week. That was a much better sack matchup or pass rush matchup. This week it's not bad. But again, these guys are desperation plays. only will McDonald's and germane johnson that is all right jacksonville jaguars indianapolis colts uh let's start with the jaguars linebackers where foyer luicon obviously he's regained that lb1 idp value this season um just playing a normal off ball linebacker role which was not the case last year we talked about that a lot in the off season so obviously that's been huge um coming

off a nice game is foyer another double digit tackle game for him this past week um slightly tougher matchup this week against the Colts. They are 27th in tackles allowed per game to the linebacker position. And the last time that these two teams met, Foyer only had seven tackles in that game. Still a solid IDP option here, but probably comes in just outside the top 12 for me this week, mostly because of the matchup. And then Devin Lloyd, same kind of idea for deeper leagues. He's not a full-time player this season.

So there's a little bit more risk in trusting him this week in a tougher matchup as well. Jags defensive line. Unfortunately, Josh Heinz Allen did not overcome the difficult matchup against the Broncos. He gets another difficult matchup again this week against the Colts. So he'll remain in that kind of edge two range this week. Though expecting a little bit more from him than like one tackle and one QB hit, that is for sure. Trayvone Walker, expectations aren't too dissimilar, honestly. Like he's at least got playing time now as well.

you know the same amount of playing time as Josh Heinz Allen this past week so that at least helps his potential a little bit obviously not the pass rusher that Josh Heinz Allen is but can be a fine volume play it's just not a great matchup jaggers defense backs nice matchup for the jags safeties the only full-time one right now is Andrew Wingard somebody called him in the chat there was the comments or maybe last week or the week before wingardium Leviosa. I like that. That one did make me laugh. But yeah, Wingard is the, he's the lone, like, real kind of week 17 worthy option this week for those guys, for those of you who are in non-shallow formats. But that is really it. We don't want to mess around with these non-full-time guys too

much with the Jaguars have a lot of non-full-time guys at defensive back. All right, Indianapolis. They're linebackers. So Zaire Franklin, this guy, man, had the double-ditch tackles in four of his last five games heading into last week we talked about him we highlighted him we liked the matchup we thought maybe he's turning things around for us just in time for almost i i almost swore four measly tackles um in what was a great matchup in week 16 the guy he's the worst man it was a great matchup last week again we talked him up um i don't know man he just decided to take a nap on monday night football it's another poor tackle matchup this week so outside of deep leagues i think you know zaire franklin

really going to be hard to trust germane pratt kind of in the similar range um to be honest more because of playing time not because he's been inefficient but still decent but 88% of snaps last week for jermaine pratt so you know every snap matters and and will have most 100% guys ahead of pratt this week indies dbs another great tackle matchup for nick cross and cam bine not that Cross went crazy or anything last week, but he's been kind of a locked-in IDP option all year long. And there's really no concerns with him heading into this week. Bynum has also been solid in these type of matchups,

even had a pick last week, so that helps. But yeah, they're both fine options. And then the only Colts cornerback that I probably feel okay about this week is Kenny Moore. And I only say, okay, not great, not good. mediocre basically about Kenny Moore like the Jags at least play the third highest rate of 11 personnel but for whatever reason they're just not giving up much to the cornerback position in terms of tackles this year so don't have a ton of faith in Kenny Moore but it's not as bad of a matchup as you see on the screen there with the red an Indianapolis defensive line so shout out Laiatu Latu for overcoming a really tough matchup last night against the 49ers got himself a strips sack i say last night i'm recording this on on tuesday so it literally did happen last night um had a season high 90.2 pass rush grade in that game as well uh we we referenced last week on the live stream um that he's done well in like tougher matchups like against seattle now against the 49ers

against the chiefs before that but some of the easier matchups like against tennessee for example he didn't do much so um yeah last time he faced the jags uh they shut him down as well so that's a little concerning but there's always the chance you don't have a better edge two option than Latu right now and he is playing really well so I'm fine with him as a starter in those non-shallow leagues and then of course DeForest Buckner is back as well from his IR stint so yeah he played his usual role on Monday night he'll lock back into DT required leagues for sure all right one last ad break here from our friends at Western and Southern, where our game plan of the week is presented by Western Southern Financial Group,

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matters most. Pittsburgh and Cleveland is up next and we'll start with Pittsburgh's defensive line because obviously the big question is whether or not T.J. Watt is going to be back this week. Again, I'm recording this on Tuesday night. So this is past John speaking. I have no idea what the practice. practice reports look like future john definitely has a better or at least a better um idea so you know ask that guy if he's playing but don't look at me uh i do not know if t j watt is going to play i

will say though that if he's active you play him i know the pass rush metrics haven't been amazing this year obviously coming off this botched lung procedure whatever the hell that was like it's not ideal but he's playing the browns and you know he's going to try to steal some of of the spotlight from Miles Garrett, who is, I'd say likely to break T.J. Watt's sack record against the Steelers this week. So I would play him if he's active. If he's not, then we'll keep an eye out for Nick Herbig. If both Watt and Herbig are not active this week, then Jack Sawyer isn't a bad deep league streaming option if you need him because of the matchup. And then, yeah, Alex Highsmith, Cam Hayward, they're definitely good to go as well.

Pittsburgh linebackers Patrick Queen is a linebacker in the NFL in a neutral matchup I mean what could I say about this guy at this point he had seven total tackles in a good matchup last week he is the definition of mid yeah that is Patrick Queen meanwhile Peyton Wilson

at least got slightly better deployment last week since the Steelers didn't play him only on passing downs like they did the week before. So he played kind of a normal-ish 70% snap share. The only problem in trusting Peyton Wilson in a big week like this is that the Steelers have been so inconsistent. And like we talked about last week, we want to avoid the potential landmines, right, that can leave us with a complete dud in our lineups. And Wilson, unfortunately, has the potential because of how the Steelers use him. So inconsistently week to week, right? So there is,

risk in trusting him in lineups. Pittsburgh's defensive backs, it is a nice matchup for Kyle Dugger, potentially Jalen Ramsey this week as well, I say potentially for Ramsey because it's better if he plays safety, which I think he will play more at safety after he had to fill in at slot corner this past week because Brandon Eccles got hurt. Now, the positive here is that the Browns don't really play enough 11 personnel that the nickel would be such a big slash needed role this week. So at least I don't think they'll stick with that shift.

So Dugger and Ramsey, I think should be decent fill-in options this week in a good matchup is what I'm getting at. All right, Cleveland, their defensive line, Miles Garrett is one sack away from 23 and breaking the record. It would be pretty sweet, obviously, if he does it against T.J. Watt and the Steelers, and you know damn well that he's 100% aware of that. If he gets it, I hope they let the team like clear the benches to come selling with him because if he does get it, that would be pretty cool.

The Browns as like a franchise have literally nothing else to celebrate at this point. So why not give them that, right? Like give them a little on-field celebration if he does break the record. I mean, Leon Drysidal just got 900 points in the NHL and they cleared the bench and benches they had a big celebration on the ice and that's not even like a league record or anything and same thing with ovi right he broke the goal record which you know that one makes more sense right like obviously you're going to clear the the benches and celebrate for that one why not NFL let them celebrate if miles Garrett breaks the record but yeah anyways if you couldn't tell i'm rooting for

miles Garrett to break the record uh Cleveland's linebackers Carson schwessinger delivered again last week 12 tackles and a sack the guy is an absolute baller we know we're starting him in a good matchup. Devin Bush for non-shallow leagues as well, rock solid. Cleveland's defensive backs below average matchup for safety tackle potential. Brown safeties are due to water anyways. It's

Hickman if you have to, but I really hope you don't have to. Below average matchup for cornerback tackles as well, so not ideal for Tyson Campbell. All right, Giants and Raiders. So we'll start with the Giants defensive line because

Brian Burns did get off the Schneider. last week as we figured he would with a nice two game or two sack game from him against Minnesota. And then even Abdul Carter is now on a three game sack streak. It has been really bawling the F out lately, seemingly hitting another gear here in the latter stretch of the season. So I don't know how we can not love this matchup against Gino, Bonnie Blue Smith, who now officially leads the league in sacks against. I'd absolutely be looking at these guys to deliver this week if you have them. Maybe even Dexter Lawrence can finally do something, but we'll see.

Giants defensive backs, Javon Holland and the Giant Safety's unfortunately get a poor matchup this week. We're mostly still avoiding Tyler Nubin and Dane Belton anyway, since they're basically sharing that safety two role. Don't get caught up in if they, you know, get a big play and the game log looks cool from the past week. Like that doesn't matter heading into this week and knowing that these guys are at a risk of significantly lower, a significantly lower floor because they're not playing those

full-time snaps, right? So the poor matchup really just only makes things worse. Pulse and Adibo is probably the lone option for me this week from, I'd say, this entire defensive backcourt this week. Um, Giants linebackers. So, yeah, it's not a great matchup. Um, O'Carike can definitely be in lineups, but there's, there's probably a decent, uh, amount of linebackers that I like a little bit more. Darius Mawasow played just 57% of snap last week. So he is very, very deep leagues only and really should be just avoided in a bad matchup. Okay, Las Vegas defensive line Max Crosby is in.

Nice bounce back opportunity this week for him. Let's assume that Jackson Dart drops back a little bit more than 13 times and has more than 33 passing yards. show so there should be more opportunities for max crosbie but even if not um because jackson dart was still sacked five times last week on 13 dropbacks which is insane uh should definitely have maximum crosbie licking his chops this week so i would love him to be in lineups um las vegas raters linebackers so devon white obviously very much locked into lineups top three tackle matchup here and White has been one of the best tacklers in the league right now behind only Jordan Brooks in total tackles.

And Aligned in Roberts and the rest of the Las Vegas linebackers, they rotated a ton last week. So they're probably way too risky for me this week. I don't know that I'd be messing with that one too much. Raiders, D.Bs, we did not get like a great Jeremy Chin bounceback game last week, which I was kind of hoping for. It was a fine game, seven tackles. That's mostly good for DBs.

but wanted more, obviously, after highlighting him in a great matchup last week. So not a great matchup this week. So he'll kind of be that fringe safety one, safety two this week. All right. Philadelphia and Buffalo is next. So we'll start with Philadelphia and their linebackers because Nukobi Dean is now injured and likely to miss this week. So Jihad Campbell, once again, basically becomes a potential starting option for us in a good matchup. here. So Campbell actually played 100% of the snaps. Once Nicobi Dean left the game last week,

he was averaging like 95% of the snaps in the six weeks prior to Nukobi team. Nekobi Dean coming back into the lineup this year. So he's been a solid fill-in option and could be that again this week against the Buffalo Bills who are yielding the sixth most, six most tackles per game to the linebacker position. Both Sack-Bahn and Jihad Campbell should definitely be considered valuable starting options this week in a good matchup. Philly's defensive line, Jalen Carter should be back this week. So gives us at least, you know, another startable DT required option, even if not in an amazing matchup.

Same thing with the rest of the Eagles defensive line, to be honest, like they're not locked in starters. They're mostly kind of inconsistent and difficult to trust. But like guys like Jalen Phillips, they're playing quite a bit, just not producing. Then you got Jalick's Hunt, Nolan Smith, who occasionally are productive, but also will rotate quite a bit from time to time. So when you get these tougher matchups, it's just hard to feel comfortable putting them in. So they'll come in as kind of non-shallel league fringe starters for me this week.

Philly's defensive backs, Cooper DeGine, always and absolutely locked in with a great matchup this week. He's in lineups. The rest, though, Reed Blankenship and Company can go kick rocks. All right, Buffalo and their linebackers. Terrell Bernard returned to the lineup last week, played his usual every down rule. But unfortunately, so too did his inefficiency return.

Just one solo tackle, seven total tackles in what was a decent matchup. The Italian stallion out tackled him. Matt Milano, he might be the better play than Bernard at this point, but also kind of a terrible matchup here against the Eagles who are giving us very little for IDP. They will be on the, I would say, lower end of full-time linebacker. is this week. Baltimore's defensive or Buffalo's defensive line,

Greg Rousseau coming off his best game of the season. So 10 pressures and two and a half sacks against the Cleveland Browns. So obviously this matchup against the Eagles is not as good as what it was against the Browns. But like the playing time for Rousseau, the pass rush metrics, they at least keep him as a strong enough starting option this week, especially if right tackle Lane Johnson is out again, because Rousseau will typically play both sides of the defensive line.

So he could get an opportunity there with a better matchup at right tackle if Lane Johnson is out. And the Eagles, they're at the very least yielding top 10 rate of tackles per game to opposing defensive linemen. So could be a little bit of a better floor for Greg Rousseau as well. Buffalo's defensive back, so neutral matchup for Cole Bishop. So he remains kind of a fine starting option. week.

Jordan Poyer is, he's okay for deeper leagues, but definitely not someone who I would say is as good of a play as his production last week would tell you. He had like a half sack and an interception last week. We're not expecting him to repeat that production. So just a deep league option only is Jordan Poyer. All right. Sunday night football with the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers. So let's start with Chicago's linebackers, because that's.

That was one of the biggest questions last week was what the Bears linebacker core would look like. More specifically, how Tremaine Edmonds, Snapshare would shake out because we did feel good about T.J.E.'s snaps since he got 100% of snaps the week before. We talked about him as a strong play. He did deliver last week. So Edmonds, he played 93% of the snaps last week. That's perfect.

That's what we want to see. It's as good as full time. I'm sure it'll be up to 100% this week. they both get another great matchup this weekend and should be high-end IDP options in a great matchup here. Chicago's defensive back. So Chauncey Gardner Johnson is another one of those players that we liked. We've liked him since he's joined the Bears, but we liked him last week as well.

Unfortunately, he got injured and ruined everything. So not sure if he'll be good to go this week, but it is another good matchup. So if he is good to go, I'd be fine with him in lineups. Kevin Byer, Jaquan Brisker, solid options. 49ers given up the second most tackles per game to the safety position. So fine with them. And Chicago's defensive line. So Montes, Sweat, and Company will basically be tasked with trying to sack Brock Purdy,

who has been the most difficult quarterback in the league to bring down this season. So Sweat has been good. So he's kind of overcome these types of matchups on the year before, but not a lock to do so this week. And then Austin Booker, even less so. for san francisco uh defensive line we're not starting anyone here uh ignore uh san francisco's linebackers tatham bethune his starting role it does appear to be safe i i say that hopefully cautiously i hope everything's going to be fine and they don't pull the rug out from under us this week but

he was back in the lineup on monday night played his usual full-time role right up until he had to leave the game briefly to be checked for injury but but he was able to return and went right back to that full-time role. So Eric Kendricks was active last week as well, but he only played when Tatum Bethune was out of the game. So hopefully that should ease the concerns about Tatum Bethune's IDP potential for those of us who have him and are looking to start him. And it's a great matchup this week as well.

So expecting him to deliver, D. Winters, yeah, he got the pick six last week, but just three tackles in an every down role. like the guy is so inefficient he'll be a deeper league option only but soon is the preferred play this week and a good one as well in a great matchup uh san francisco's defensive backs link mustoffer jair brown they remain fine starting options kind of as needed here it's a neutral matchup for the safety tackle potential but they both get decent enough deployment that i'd be fine with them if they're your starters and don't have you know like other true locked in options that that's kind of what

these guys are. And a nice matchup for the cornerbacks as well. Diomador Lenore is probably the preferred option of the bunch if you're looking to stream here. All right. Last game of the week, Monday night football, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons. So let's start with the Rams defensive line because Kobe Turner is another one of those defensive tackles that's kind of been heating up lately. Currently on a three-game sack streak, five and a half sacks over his last five games even came up with an interception last week to help his IDP manager so really nice to see from him he cracked the top 10 defensive tackles last week he's going to be in there again this week even in a tougher matchup against the Atlanta Falcons so the interior of Atlanta's

offensive line is probably the weaker point compared to the outside so there's a little bit maybe more opportunity there for Kobe Turner to extend that sack straight but the problem is with Kirk Cousins, he has an excellent 11.8% pressure to sack conversion rate this year. So that's going to be the biggest challenge for Kobe Turner, for Jared Verst, for Brian Young, Byron Young, like, they still have to deal with that. So it's not ideal, obviously. The Versen Young will remain in that kind of DL2 range. And then Kobe Turner more kind of in that top 10 defensive tackle range. Rams linebackers, Nate Landman, he was helped by a sack last week, but surprisingly just the five tackles in that game.

He's obviously been much better than that all season. So I would expect him to still be a solid IDP option for us in week 17. And then Omar Spates, he's been producing fine numbers lately, but not a full-time player. So he's just for deeper leagues. And then Rams defensive back. So Cam Curl has been kind of quiet over the last month or so. He had the one game two weeks ago where he got a sack, but the tackles have kind of cooled down, a fair bit. So that's a little bit concerning.

The nice thing here is that the Falcons are giving up the third most tackles per game to the safety position. So he has a shot to bounce back this weekend and hopefully finish the IDP season strong for us. And then Kobe Durant is the preferred CB streaming option this week.

All right, Atlanta, their linebackers, Divine Diablo and Caden Ellis didn't quite deliver in a great matchup last week. This week they get a poor matchup. They'll remember Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas that both had solid production. So the Rams are capable of giving us something for our IDP linebackers,

but looking at these guys more as kind of lower end starters this week. Atlanta's defensive backs, Xavier Watts, Jesse Bakes, Bates, they get a great safety tackle matchup. I'd like them in most lineups this week. They've typically been able to deliver in these sorts of matchups. At least one of them has, right, depending on the week. So which one do you have? what are your other options and then do you trust bait slash watts i'd be fine with it to be honest um as for the atlanta cornerbacks i know i mean i don't even know really if i trust

sweet de alford this week because they ended up rotating their corners like crazy last week and it is a good cornerback tackle matchup but it's not perfect in terms of like nickel corner potential so i might not be rolling with any falcons cornerback this week it's not the worst case scenario if you have de alfred and you don't have anybody else i'm just a little concerned at how much they rotated last week um all right let's wrap up with the uh the glow up of the falcons defensive line previously made up of a bunch of um npc's that nobody wanted to f with and now led by a playable side character in james pierce junior looking to eventually become the main character potentially you know in a sequel or slash future season because he's not

quite there just yet. That being said, he's had at least a half sack in seven straight games now, even without like the amazing pass rush metrics. So yeah, we'll see if he can keep it going. This week, obviously the problem in keeping it going mostly stems from MVP candidate Matthew Stafford, who owns one of the best pressure to sack conversion rates in the league. So sadly, I have a bad feeling that the sack streak will come to an end this week, but I'm not so confident in that that I'm completely out on Pierce, if that makes sense. He's just more of kind of a deeper option this week because of the matchup. And honestly, yeah, he is a little bit due to have that sack streak come to an end as well,

sadly. So, yeah, there we go. I guess closing out the show and the season on a bit of a downer notes, but we don't want to do that. Look, yeah, let's hope James Pierce, Jr. gets a sack. Okay. let's hope we could get it going i i don't want to be you know negative nancy or anything that that that's just kind of the way that i'm looking at it here but um we should be more positive than that to end the season right um hopefully but yeah i don't know just ask me in the comments if you have

james pierce junior who your other options are i'll try to help you uh that way instead of being a downer but that is a wrap everybody uh and anybody who has been uh tuned in this season has been supportive of the show. I cannot thank you guys all enough for the support all season long, really. You've shown up, you've liked the show, you've left supportive comments, you've asked questions, you've engaged every single week. And for me personally, it's been an absolute pleasure doing this show with you guys and getting to interact with all of you, really.

This has been my favorite season so far. And I'm just really looking forward to doing it all again next year with you all. all. So again, thank you all so much. I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and holiday season. And maybe even more importantly, I hope you all bring home a fantasy championship. So good luck. This is the last IDP episode of the year until after the Super Bowl when all the dynasty and the offseason content starts up again, which I'm looking forward to as well. But for now, all the best to every single one of you. Good luck. week again. And until next year, peace out.