IDP Defensive Playbook - Week 14

Dec 09, 2015

Welcome to your Week 14 IDP Defensive Playbook. Each week, I'll highlight some of the top defensive waiver wire targets, as well as matchups to exploit and avoid in each game. Week 13 is in the books, and there were both some fine performances and some stinkers thrown about. Week 14 also marks the beginning of your fantasy playoffs, so I hope most of you are playing for the crown.

Defensive Line

Devin Taylor, DE, DET: Taylor has played well over the last few games and has taken advantage of his snaps alongside Ziggy Ansah. He’s produced nine or more fantasy points in consecutive games and has five sacks. He’s worth adding for depth at DL.

Robert Ayers, DE, NYG: Ayers had a multi-sack outing in Week 13 and should be considered in big play scoring formats with his sack potential on Giants line that’s trying to get consistent pressure. Ayers does that, as he’s been getting pressure on 13 percent of his rushes.

Malcolm Brown, DT, NEP: Brown should be added in leagues requiring a defensive tackle. He has sacks in two of his last four games and has five or more fantasy points in four straight games. He makes tackles and doesn’t miss and I consider him a DT2/3.

Linebacker

Denzel Perryman, ILB, SDC: Perryman was in on 78 percent of the snaps in Week 13 and responded with 10 solo tackles. He has three straight games of 13 or more fantasy points, so if he continues to get the snaps, should continue to record a solid points per snap rate.

Bruce Carter, ILB, TBB: If he’s active this week, he should be in line to get the snaps at middle linebacker, now that Kwon Alexander is out for the remainder of the year.

Jordan Tripp, ILB, JAC: If Paul Posluszny is ruled out, it appears that Jordan Tripp will get the nod at middle linebacker. Tripp played a handful of snaps in Week 13 and recorded four tackles. I’d consider him in deeper leagues where you’re starting more than three linebackers.

Defensive Back

Isa Abdul-Quddus, FS, DET: Since the bye week, Quddus has three games of 10 or more fantasy points and is coming off a stat-stuffer game in Week 13, where he racked up 11 tackles and a forced fumble. Since Week 8, he’s appeared in an average of 87 percent of the snaps, so he’s getting those opportunities.

Baccari Rambo, FS, BUF: Rambo is another one that has produced some big plays over the last few weeks. In the last four games, he has three games of 16 or more fantasy points, so he should be in consideration in big play scoring formats.

Kendrick Lewis, FS, BAL: Lewis has three straight games of four or more solo tackles and recorded his first INT in Week 13. He’s appeared in 90 percent of the snaps this season, so he’s not leaving the field, allowing him to get those tackles and big play opportunities.

IDP Match-ups to Exploit