IDP Defensive Playbook - Week 1

Sep 08, 2015

The IDP playbook will be your weekly guide to your league’s waiver wire and will also identify IDP match-ups to exploit.

Your draft is over, so you might be looking at your team and seeing some red next to your players. Whether they are on IR, doubtful or questionable, you may need to pick-up replacements for Week 1. If you managed to avoid the preseason injury bug, congratulations. However, if you weren't so lucky, I have some replacements to help you get through Week 1.

Defensive Line

Kony Ealy, DE, CAR

Kony Ealy received first crack at starting snaps opposite Charles Johnson after Greg Hardy's departure and had himself a solid preseason. He saw 105 defensive snaps this preseason and 56 of those were blitzes. The second-year player generated pressure 16 percent of the time and translated that into two sacks. The 2014 second-round pick is ready for a full-time role and should be lined up across from Luke Joeckel in Week 1. Ealy hasn't improved much this preseason as he was responsible for just one sack and six total QB pressures, but he'll be worth the pick-up for the remainder of the season.

Chris Smith, DE, JAX

Smith has earned a starting role on the defensive line for the Jaguars and is worth a Week 1 add. In limited snaps last season, Smith notched three sacks while generating pressure on the QB on just over 10 percent of his blitzes. He continued his strong play during the preseason, recording a sack and getting to the quarterback on over 17 percent of his blitzes.

Tyrunn Walker, DT, DET

Walker is the beneficiary of the departures of Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh in Detroit. In 74 snaps this preseason, he recorded a sack and generated pressure on just over 11 percent of his blitzes and will be called on to be a run stuffer to fill the middle. With a full season of snaps, Walker will have a chance to improve his 6-percent tackle rate from 2014. He is definitely someone to target in leagues requiring defensive tackle.