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IDP: Strong Plays, Weak Plays - Week 6

October 12, 2006 @ 16:00:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN - STRONG PLAYS

Victor Adeyanju, St. Louis Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks

Adeyanju currently ranks as one of the top three solid Rams defensive lineman (the others being defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy and defensive end Leonard Little) in fantasy value. While he might not get the attention that Little does as the elder statesman of the group, Adeyanju is having a solid season so far. Over the past four weeks, he is averaging 3.5 tackles and 0.3 fumble recoveries per game. In addition to his solid play, he is also up against an offense which is tied for allowing the second most fantasy points to the position per game. The Seahawks have been allowing 24 total tackles, two sacks, and 0.33 interceptions per game to the position over the past four weeks (three games). This makes Adeyanju a strong play as a No. 2 defensive lineman this week.

Kevin Carter, Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

The Dolphins defensive line has been playing solid since the beginning of the season, and if their offense could get it together they might not be sitting at 1-4, with their playoff hopes all but gone. Carter has been a big part of that as he has averaged 3.5 tackles and 0.3 sacks per game over the past four weeks. This week he comes up against the offense which is allowing the most fantasy points (standard scoring) per game to the position. The Jets have allowed 27 total tackles, 2.8 sacks and 0.3 fumble recoveries per game over the past four weeks to the position. Carter should be played as a strong play this week as a weak No. 2 or solid No. 3 defensive lineman.

Jason Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans

Ferguson is on pace to surpass the numbers he put up last season, his first with the Cowboys; however, he has not been as solid as he was with the Jets three years ago (75 tackles, 4.5 sacks in 2003). He has yet to register a sack this season, and over the past four weeks (three games) is averaging four tackles per game. In the Cowboys' 3-4 defense, he is mainly being used to eat up blockers so the linebackers can get out and make plays. His numbers, however, should change this week against a Texans offense which is allowing 21 total tackles, 2.67 sacks and 1.33 fumble recoveries per game to the position in the past four weeks (three games). As such, Ferguson should be viewed as a strong play as a No. 2 or No. 3 defensive lineman.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN - WEAK PLAYS

Trent Cole, Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints

The mammoth defensive tackle has been filling in admirably for defensive end Jevon Kearse (knee) these past four weeks (three games), averaging 7.33 tackles, 0.67 sacks and 0.33 fumble recoveries per game. However, he is going to be in tough to reproduce those numbers this week, as he is up against a Saints offense which is allowing 16 total tackles, 1.3 sacks and 0.5 fumble recoveries to the position over their past four games. Because of this, Cole is a weak play this week, but he still ranks as a No. 1 defensive lineman.

Luis Castillo, San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers

The second-year player out of Northwestern University has really picked up his play this year and has almost surpassed his sack total from last year (3.5) with three already this season. Over the past four weeks (three games), he has been averaging 5.33 total tackles and 0.5 sacks per game. These are great per-game averages; however, he is up against an offense this week that has allowed opposing linemen only 16 tackles, 0.9 sacks and 0.8 fumble recoveries per game over the past four weeks. They have also allowed one defensive touchdown to linemen in that time. This means despite his solid play, Castillo ranks as a weak play as a No. 2 defensive lineman.

Will Smith, New Orleans Saints vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Smith has been a large part of the Saints' surprising 4-1 start this season, as he has averaged three tackles, 0.5 sacks and 0.3 fumble recoveries per game over the past four weeks. This week the Saints will welcome to New Orleans an Eagles team whose offense is allowing just 14 tackles and 1.5 sacks per game to defensive lineman in that same time period. With Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb getting solid protection from his offensive line, and scrambling effectively, it will be hard for the Saints D-line to keep track of him. As such, Smith should be viewed as a weak play this week as a No. 3 defensive lineman.

LINEBACKERS - STRONG PLAYS

Channing Crowder, Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

Crowder has been thrust into a bigger role this season, and the second-year linebacker has responded by averaging 10 tackles per game in the past four games. This week Crowder will be up against a Jets offense which is allowing an astonishing 32 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 0.3 fumble recoveries and 0.3 interceptions to the position per gaem. This makes Crowder a strong play as a weak No. 2 or solid No. 3 linebacker this week.

Landon Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bengals have gotten fairly even production out of their linebacker corps so far this season, as each starting linebacker is averaging within two fantasy points of each other. They might not get to the quarterback much, but they have been tackling machines and have a couple of interceptions to boot. Johnson has been consistent all season, averaging 8.33 tackles and 0.33 interceptions over the past four weeks (three games). This week, he will face a Buccaneers offense which is allowing 28 tackles and 0.33 sacks to the position per game. Johnson should be viewed as a strong play as a No. 2 or No. 3 linebacker.

Warrick Holdman, Washington Redskins vs. Tennessee Titans

Holdman and the Redskins were embarrassed by the New York Giants last week and will be looking to take out their frustrations on the Titans this week. Holdman should benefit greatly from this game, as the Titans are allowing 31 tackles, 0.3 sacks, 0.8 interceptions and 0.3 touchdowns per game to this position over the past four weeks. Holdman has not been a great playmaker for the Redskins but has racked up the tackles (averaging 6.8 tackles per game over the past four weeks), and he should be viewed as a strong play as an injury replacement.

LINEBACKERS - WEAK PLAYS

Peter Sirmon, Tennessee Titans at Washington Redskins

While the Titans are a great match-up for opposing linebackers, the Redskins have been tough on opposing linebackers in the past four weeks (with standard scoring, the second lowest fantasy points per game to the position). The Redskins are allowing only 20 tackles, 0.3 sacks and 0.3 fumble recoveries to the position in that time. Because of this, Sirmon, who is averaging eight tackles per game over the past four weeks, is considered a weak play as a No. 3 linebacker.

Dhani Jones, Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints

Up to this point, Jones has had a decent, but uninspiring, start to the season. Over the past four weeks, he is averaging 5.8 tackles per game, with no turnovers or sacks. In fact, he has yet to sack a quarterback, recover a fumble or pick off a pass all season. Combine that with him facing a Saints defense that in the past four games is allowing 22 tackles per game to the position and Jones comes ranked as a weak play as an injury replacement at the position.

Shawne Merriman, San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers

The reigning Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year is having a tough start to the season as teams are game-planning around him more often. Over the past four weeks (three games), Merriman has averaged only 2.67 tackles, 0.5 sacks and 0.33 interceptions per game, not numbers you would expect from him. Because he is up against an offense that is allowing only 25 tackles and 0.6 sacks per game to the position over the past four weeks, Merriman should be benched this week.

DEFENSIVE BACKS - STRONG PLAYS

Glenn Earl, Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys

Earl this week comes recommended as a strong play largely because of his match-up, as the Cowboys are allowing one of the highest totals of fantasy points per game to this position. Earl enters this week averaging eight total tackles and 0.33 sacks per game over the past four weeks (three games). With the Cowboys offense allowing 35 total tackles, 1.33 interceptions and 0.33 touchdowns per game to this position, Earl comes recommended as a strong play as a No. 1 defensive back.

Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Clark comes into this match-up hoping to improve against a Chiefs offense which has been surprisingly efficient throwing the ball recently. Over the past four weeks (three games), Clark is averaging 10 tackles and 0.33 interceptions per game. With the Chiefs allowing 25 tackles, 0.33 sacks and 0.67 fumble recoveries per game to the position over the past four weeks (three games), you can expect Clark to possibly have a big day against the Chiefs offense. Consider him a strong play as a No. 1 defensive back this week.

Will Demps, New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons

Demps helped the Giants defense shut down the Redskins offense last week, holding them to only three points, and allowing quarterback Mark Brunell only 109 passing yards. Demps may not be thrown at as much as defensive back Gibril Wilson; however, he is still averaging 7.33 tackles and 0.33 fumble recoveries per game over the past four weeks (three games). Due to the fact that quarterback Michael Vick and the Falcons run so much, Demps should never be far from the action. The Falcons are allowing opposing defensive backs 27 tackles, 0.33 sacks, 0.33 fumble recoveries and 0.33 interceptions per game over the past four weeks (three games). They have also allowed one defensive touchdown to the position in that time. Demps comes recommended as a strong play as a weak No. 1 or solid No. 2 defensive back.

DEFENSIVE BACKS - WEAK PLAYS

Richard Marshall, Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens

The rookie got his first National Football League touchdown last week, running back an interception 30 yards for the score. However, this week he will be hard-pressed to continue the success he had last week. Over the past four weeks, he is averaging 3.8 tackles, 0.3 interceptions, 0.3 fumble recoveries and 0.3 defensive scores per game. The Ravens are not a team that has been kind to defensive backs, as they are allowing them to average only 23 tackles and one interception per game over the past four weeks. Marshall should be viewed as a weak play this week, and is ranked as a No. 2 defensive back.

Adam Archuleta, Washington Redskins vs. Tennessee Titans

The former Rams safety played big against the Giants last week, and has so far played well for the Rams this season. Over the past four weeks, he is averaging 6.5 tackles and 0.3 sacks per game. However, this week he is up against a Titans offense that is allowing just 21 tackles, 0.3 fumble recoveries and one interception to the position per game over the past four weeks. Those numbers figure to get even worse as Titans quarterback Vince Young completed only three passes to wide receivers last week, instead going mainly to tight ends and running backs. That means Archuleta will have fewer opportunities to make plays and should be considered a weak play as a No. 2 defensive back this week.

Mike Minter, Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens

Minter is the second Panthers defensive back who comes ranked as a weak play this week. Minter is averaging 5.3 tackles and 0.3 interceptions per game over the past four weeks, but just like Marshall, he is up against a Ravens defense that has been tough on defensive backs. They are allowing the position to average only 23 tackles and one interception per game over the past four weeks. Minter ranks lower than Marshall does and comes recommended as only a No. 3 defensive back this week.

Author Bio

Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.