IDP Matchups & Sleepers: Week 15

Dec 11, 2019

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Each week, I'm going to go through our IDP rankings and look at some of the top matchups and sleeper picks for the week at each position. My IDP brother-in-arms, Ross Miles, will have your IDP waiver wire covered . If you have specific questions pertaining to your lineup, you can always refer to the ranks or hit me up on Twitter @Mike_Woellert.

I'm hoping you're advancing in the playoffs!! Now, let's see what Week 15 has in store for us.

Linebacker

Tahir Whitehead, ILB, Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

I'm going to continue targeting the Jaguars and if you're a Whitehead owner, you have to like the matchup this week. Nicholas Morrow has lost his starting job to Marquel Lee, and he isn't even playing 80% of the snaps, so Whitehead should have the tackle opportunities to himself this week. Whitehead is recording an 11.2% tackle rate and faces a Jaguar offense allowing 14 tackles per game to opposing ILBs and the fourth-most points to the LB position.

Drue Tranquill, ILB, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Minnesota Vikings

This is either going to boom or completely blow up. Over the last three weeks, he's appeared in 86% of the snaps and has recorded 29 tackles over the last three games. He's calling the plays, so he has the trust of the coaching staff, which is a good thing for his usage. The Vikings are running the ball consistently with Dalvin Cook, so Tranquill should see his share of tackle opportunities. The Vikings offense is allowing 13 tackles per game to opposing ILBs.

Demario Davis, ILB, New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

Davis draws a favorable matchup opposite the Colts this week. Davis is five tackles away from the 100-mark and is recording an 11.3% tackle rate this season. He should be busy with Marlon Mack and potentially covering Jack Doyle. The Colts' offense is allowing 14 tackles per game to the ILB position, while allowing the 2nd-most points. Davis is a strong LB2 this week.

James Burgess, ILB, New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens

Burgess has been the more productive ILB since the cavalcade of injuries took all of them out. Over the last four weeks, he's recorded at least eight tackles and is producing a 15% tackle rate. He draws a favorable matchup with Baltimore, where he'll have the unenviable task of trying to corral Lamar Jackson. The Ravens offense is yielding 15 tackles per game to opposing ILBs and giving up the third-most points to the position.

Sleeper

Jahlani Tavai, ILB, Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers

If Jarrad Davis misses this week, Tavai should be on your radar against the Panthers. Tavai came in for Davis and recorded a 22.4% tackle rate - resulting in 11 tackles over his 49 defensive snaps. He'll have a plethora of tackle opportunities on Christian McCaffery this week. The Panthers offense is allowing the most points to the LB position and 15 tackles per game to opposing ILBs.