Fantasy Football and NFL News, Rumors and Injury Updates

IDP: Strong Plays, Weak Plays - Week 1

September 8, 2006 @ 16:00:00

By Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Ryan Dodson

Defensive Linemen - Strong Plays

Aaron Schobel, Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

Schobel is coming off a banner year in which he averaged 3.4 solo tackles, 1.1 assists and 0.8 sacks per game while playing in all 16 contests. He forced two fumbles, recovered one and even intercepted a pass. Playing against the New England in Week 1 should provide Schobel ample opportunities to stop the run. With a depleted receiving corps in New England, the team is more likely to rely upon their running game. He is best viewed as a No. 1 option with a strong-play matchup.

New England allowed opposing defensive lineman 11 solo tackles, 5.6 assisted stops, 0.4 forced fumbles and 1.2 sacks per game in 2005.

Travis LaBoy, Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets

Moving into the starting right defensive end role, LaBoy should have a chance to capitalize on his solid 2005 showing. Last season, he recorded an average of 2.67 total tackles and 0.4 sacks per game while playing in 15 games. He recovered one fumble as well. The Jets will look to run the ball to establish early control of the game, and this bodes well for LaBoy's fantasy production. LaBoy is best viewed as a No. 1 option with a strong-play matchup.

The Jets allowed opposing defensive linemen to average 11.5 solo stops, 4.1 assisted tackles, 2.1 sacks and 0.3 fumble recoveries per game in 2005.

Defensive Linemen - Weak Plays

James Hall, Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks

Hall is coming off a strong showing in 2005, where he averaged 4.3 total tackles and 0.4 sacks, per game, in 14 contests. He is facing a run-happy Seattle team who dominates the line of scrimmage, and All-Pro running back Shaun Alexander rarely is taken down at the line of scrimmage, so Hall's chances may be limited this week. He is a weak play as a low No. 1 or high No. 2 option.

The Seahawks allowed an average of 11.9 solo tackles, 3.1 assisted stops and an impressively low 0.9 sacks, per game, in 2005 to opposing defensive linemen.

Phillip Daniels, Washington Redskins vs. Minnesota Vikings

In 2005, Daniels recorded 3.0 total tackles and 0.5 sacks per game while forcing two fumbles on the year. He will face a much-improved Vikings' offensive line, who despite having a poor year in 2005, has improved so much that Daniels will likely have a tough go of it. He makes for a weak play as a No. 2 fantasy option for the season opener.

The Vikings allowed opposing defensive lineman to average 15 total tackles and 2.1 sacks per game in 2005. Look for the sacks to come down this year, especially after the addition of left guard Steve Hutchinson and the healthy return of center Matt Birk.

Linebacker - Strong Plays

Bart Scott, Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Playing for one of the best linebacker corps in the league, Scott was thrust into the starting lineup and spotlight last year due to injuries; he shone brightly. Scott averaged 3.4 solo stops, 1.8 assisted tackles and 0.3 sacks per game. He added two fumble recoveries on the year as well. Scott will have a positive matchup against the Buccaneers, as Tampa Bay is expected to run early and often with running back Carnell Williams. View Scott as a must-start No. 1 fantasy linebacker with a strong-play matchup working in his favor.

The Buccaneers allowed opposing linebackers to average 20.8 total tackles and 0.3 sacks per game in 2005.

Demorrio Williams, Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

Williams steps back into the starting lineup after starter Edgerton Hartwell (knee) underwent dual arthroscopic surgery to clean up his knees. Williams was a monster for fantasy owners in 2005, averaging 7.67 total tackles and 0.2 sacks, per game, in 15 contests. He added two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Working in his favor will be the Panthers, who love to run the football, especially if prized wide receiver Steve Smith (hamstring) is indeed inactive or severely limited. Williams is best viewed as a strong play as your No. 2 fantasy linebacker.

The Panthers have yielded an average of 19.3 total stops to the position in 2005. They also permitted 0.4 sacks per contest, as well.

Linebackers - Weak Plays

Nick Barnett, Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

After another stellar season in 2005, Barnett opens the 2006 season as a weak play against the Bears at Lambeau Field. In 2005, the former Oregon State standout registered 5.8 solo tackles, 2.9 assisted stops and 0.2 fumble recoveries per game. He chipped in two sacks on the season. The Bears love to run the football and will do a healthy amount of it this weekend, but their offensive line is great at limiting opposing linebackers' production. View Barnett as a weak play as a No. 3 fantasy linebacker this week.

The Bears surrendered an average of 18 total tackles per game to opposing linebackers in 2005. The also allowed just seven total sacks all year from the position.

Pisa Tinoisamoa, St. Louis Rams vs. Denver Broncos

In 2005, Tinoisamoa tallied 4.3 solo stops, 1.4 assisted tackles and 0.1 sacks, per game, playing in all 16 outings. He faces the Broncos in St. Louis this weekend and has a tough row to hoe. Denver limits linebacker production with the best of them, largely due to their one-cut, zone-blocking scheme that allows pulling linemen to isolate the converging linebacker. View Tinoisamoa as a No. 3 or injury replacement option this week, and he is a weak play to boot.

The Broncos gave up an average of 19.4 total stops and just six sacks on the entire year to enemy linebackers in 2005.

Defensive Backs - Strong Plays

Nate Clements, Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

A cornerback, Clements tackles with the best of them at any position, as illustrated by his outstanding 2005 season averages of 5.1 solo tackles and 1.3 assisted stops. He intercepted two passes and recovered one fumble on the year, as well. Clements makes for a strong play as your No. 1 option at the position this week for fantasy leaguers.

The Patriots, who are likely to run more than pass this week after a decimated receiver corps as sent them reeling, allowed an average of 26.3 total tackles and 0.7 interceptions per game to opposing defensive backfields last year.

Stuart Schweigert, Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers

Starting to make a name for himself around the league, Schweigert is entering his third pro season and has shown he can hit with the big boys of the league. In 2005, he recorded 3.8 solo tackles, 0.9 assisted stops and 0.2 fumble recoveries per game. He added two interceptions on the year. The Chargers will look to tight end Antonio Gates often, and Schweigert will be asked to assist in stopping the most prolific tight end in the league, over the past two years. It doesn't hurt that quarterback Philip Rivers will get his first NFL start this week. Schweigert should be viewed as a strong play to be your No. 1 fantasy defensive back.

The Chargers allowed opposing defensive backs to average 25.6 total tackles and 0.8 interceptions, per game, in 2005.

Defensive Backs - Weak Plays

Adrian Wilson, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers

The top-rated defensive back in most fantasy circles has a rough matchup ahead of him this week, and it is a largely due to how poorly the 49ers are rather than how adept the team is at limiting defensive back production. Wilson averaged 6.8 total tackles and an insane 0.5 sacks per game in 2005. He should be viewed as a weak play as your No. 3 fantasy option this week at the position.

The 49ers simply do not get the ball downfield enough to allow defensive backs to make plays, although more of an emphasis on rushing the ball this year may lead to more plays from linebackers. San Francisco allowed an average of 16.8 total tackles and 0.8 interceptions, per game, to the opposing defensive backfield in '05.

Dunta Robinson, Houston Texans vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Robinson was a standout two seasons ago for fantasy owners before regressing in 2005. He doesn't have a positive matchup this week, as he will line up opposite Eagles wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, who isn't likely to provide a lot of tackles due to his inexperience in the Philadelphia system. Furthermore, the Eagles throw a lot of underneath routes, which is a killer for limiting cornerback production. Robinson averaged 5.4 total tackles, per game, in 2005. He added one sack and one interception on the year, as well.

Philadelphia surrendered 19.6 total tackles and 0.8 interceptions, on a per-game basis, to enemy defensive backs in 2005.

Author Bio

Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL