IDP Watch: Week 15

Steve Wyremski

IDP leagues can be won with some preemptive in-season pickups or trading for players who are on the rise, but the masses have not picked up on it. Each week, we’ll detail a handful of IDP players or trends that are essential for dynasty players to be aware of.

Often things like quarterback hurries, quarterback knockdowns, or snap counts don’t appear in the box scores. These are huge indicators of potential value changes that may be forthcoming as they show a particular player is getting after the quarterback and a string of sacks may be on the horizon or a linebacker may be coming off of the field more than originally expected.

Things that jump out from week 15 performances….

andrebranch• Andre Branch (JAX DE) continues to play well. This is the third week we’ve called him out as a player to watch given last week’s performance. He now has a sack in four of the last five weeks, which is a heck of a stretch for a guy who only has five sacks on the year. I’ve seen people question whether he’s worth a pick up at this point. It’s clear that he is as he’s also accumulating tackles and getting to the quarterback. The slow starter may be fantasy relevant in 2014.

• London Fletcher (WAS ILB) announced that he’s 99 percent on retiring after this season. That’ll leave a hole in the middle of the Redskins’ defense next to Perry Riley. Riley is clearly the linebacker to own in this group, but Fletcher’s production will need to be replaced. That production is very fantasy relevant, as well. Many pinned Keenan Robinson as the incumbent, but Robinson has struggled with injuries over the last two years and may not be the answer. It’s currently unclear if Robinson will be able slide into the starting spot, but in very deep leagues he’s worth a stash until we get some clarity this offseason. There’s also the possibility of a coaching staff turnover, which would make things less clear and potentially doom Robinson. The bottom line is that there will be opportunity for tackles in Washington next year, so we should be watching as this situation unfolds.

• Brandon Browner (SEA CB) lost his suspension appeal this week, which will leave Byron Maxwell as a championship week option in corner required leagues given that the Cardinals are top 10 in fantasy points allowed to defensive backs. Over the last three weeks, he’s played every down and played quite well, especially if your league rewards passes defended. In fact, in most leagues where passes defensed are scored, he’s been a top 10 to 15 cornerback option. It’s also possible Maxwell ends up the long-term option for the Seahawks given that Browner is unlikely to return to the team.

• Jonathan Joseph (HOU CB) is another dynamite corner option headed into the championship week. He’s currently listed as questionable, but over the last four weeks, Joseph has been stellar. He’s racking up the tackles and faces a Denver offense in week 16 that will yield a tremendous number of tackle opportunities. Given the match-up, Kareem Jackson is also a valid option this week.

• Sylvester Williams (DEN DT) started the last two weeks with Kevin Vickerson on injured reserve. The rookie has taken advantage of the opportunity and has picked up his game. It was crystal clear last week as he played a solid 62 percent of the team’s snaps on his way to three tackles, two assists, and a sack. Things are looking promising for the rookie who started his NFL career slowly. In defensive tackle required leagues, he’s a worthy stash.

• Zaviar Gooden (TEN WLB) played a majority of the team’s snaps at weakside linebacker as Zach Brown was benched in week 15. The Titans’ coaching staff hasn’t been pleased with Brown’s inconsistent play over the last two weeks. Inconsistency was always a question with Brown, so this isn’t good news for dynasty owners. In relief of Brown, Gooden finished with four tackles and three assists. That’s not a big time performance, but the Brown benching is a situation worth monitoring considering he didn’t start the game at weakside linebacker in week 14, either. There may be a long-term opportunity here for Gooden.

Looking towards 2014…

• We’ve mentioned it in prior weeks as well, but Dont’a Hightower (NE SLB) is going to find himself in a nice situation in 2014 with Brandon Spikes expected to move on in free agency. If Hightower’s last three weeks are any indication of future production (20 tackles and three assists), 2014 may be a breakout year for him. In producing these numbers, he hasn’t even been playing 100 percent of the team’s snaps. That’s a great sign. He should be bought in tackle heavy leagues as his tackle opportunities and snaps are expected to increase in 2014.

• We mentioned him last week, as well, but William Gholston (TB DE) maintained his momentum with five tackles, three assists, and two passes defended on 50 percent of the team’s snaps. Both his production and snaps increased since his week 14 sack and a half performance. The coaching staff clearly likes what they’re seeing from the rookie and, in turn, he’s getting more opportunities. He’s worth considering in deep leagues given the recent emergence.

• Audie Cole (MIN MLB) continues to start at middle linebacker for the Vikings. He’s maintained that spot over the last four weeks in place of Erin Henderson who’s moved to the weakside spot due to drunk driving issues and coaching staff driven change from a few weeks back. Cole’s also played in subpackages and relegated Henderson to a two-down role. Henderson appears to be clamoring for the middle spot again publicly, but it looks like Cole is going to maintain the position for now. Cole is rostered in most leagues, but keep an eye on this situation headed into the offseason to see how it shakes out. Cole may be a very sold LB2/LB3 in 2014 depending on the format and if he keeps the job.

• We mentioned him last week and a few weeks prior as a stash candidate and Damontre Moore’s (NYG DE) snaps continue to increase. He played 27 percent of the team’s snaps last week and tallied two tackles. With the Giants out of the playoffs, he’ll continue to see snaps headed into the last two weeks of the season. He’s a favorite long-term stash.

• A lot of people are talking about Jamari Lattimore (GB ILB) as a worthy stash candidate and given his play and production in the three games started earlier this year, it appears warranted. Over that time, he played roughly 70 percent of the team’s snaps and accumulated 14 tackles, six assists, and two sacks. With Brad Jones and AJ Hawk signed through the next few years, Lattimore may struggle for snaps, but it wouldn’t be surprisingly if he beats out either of those guys. He’s worth a stash in deeper leagues and a monitor a moderately deep leagues.

• If you’re league is corner-required and scores return yardage, Micah Hyde (GB CB) is a very undervalued option this year and long-term. Unfortunately, long-term he’ll compete with Casey Hayward for snaps, but with Hayward on the shelf, Hyde is seeing 40 to 60 percent of the team’s snaps, making plays, and accumulating return yardage. He’s a viable stash in deep corner required leagues given the production display.

• Jonathan Massaquoi (ATL DE) is another repeat this week as he started his second game of the season playing 85 percent of the team’s snaps. He didn’t score terribly well in the box score with one tackle and four assists, but he appears to be a potential starter in 2014.

  • Dre Kirkpatrick started his first game last week and looks to be on the path to a 2014 starter as previously speculated. He’ll be a nice 2014 corner option.

Follow Steve on Twitter at @SteveWyremski