IDP Rookie Review: Week Two

With week two in the books, the injuries are piling up and some of the rookies are getting their time to shine earlier than expected. A few IDPs who I personally thought would take off by now are off to a slow start, but in dynasty, it’s all about patience.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Zach Allen, DE ARI

44 (74%) snaps, 2 tackles 1 QB Pressure 1 TFL

Allen recorded two tackles and one tackle for a loss in week two against the Ravens. He played 74% of the snaps and has a total of five quarterback pressures on the season. It’s a good sign that he gets this much playing time as production should follow with his volume. He once racked up 100 total tackles his junior year in college, as a defensive end. If you’re searching for a little upside at the DE position, give Allen a look and see what he can do for the next few weeks.

Charles Omenihu, DE HOU

28 (45%) snaps, 2 tackles 1 FF 1 sack 3 QB Pressures

Omenihu finally made his season debut in week two against the Jaguars and didn’t disappoint. Although he only managed to see 45% of the snaps, he made good use of it by forcing a fumble, getting a sack and pressuring the QB three times. The Texans traded away Jadeveon Clowney and with JJ Watt having a slow start, the team will need another pass rusher and with his performance, Omenihu might’ve earned some extra playing time. Omenihu’s upside is going to be one you can’t miss.

Chase Winovich, DE NEP

26 (42%) snaps, 2 tackles 2 QB Pressures 1.5 sacks

Through two games, he has 1.5 sacks but he’s gaining confidence from the coaches. The team sat Deatrich Wise in week two and Winovich saw action. I thought Wise was going to have a breakout season and maybe it’ll still happen. We’re here for Winovich though, and he has three QB pressures through two games. It’s nothing new to see the Patriots rotate their DL though, and that’s why rostering Winovich was a risk/reward. Although it’s a good sign to see him get on the field, I would keep him on your taxi squad unless you absolutely need a DE body but I would prefer to play the wire for bye week fill-ins until we see him get going.

Ed Oliver, DT BUF

40 (63%) snaps, 2 assists 2 QB pressures

Oliver is off to a quiet start in his Bills career but we shouldn’t panic. He has seven QB pressures through two games and played 63% of the snaps in week two. When the Bills have solid presence at the edge, it’ll loosen it up for Oliver to disrupt the interior and stop the ball carrier in his tracks, or get after the QB. In DT leagues where some of us may be starting him, I would sit him for the time being. I want to see his tackles increase over the next couple of games to give us a glimpse of the foreseeable future with this stud.

Brian Burns, DE/OLB CAR

43 (66%) snaps, 3 tackles 1 sack 4 QB Pressures

Burns got his first career sack against the Bucs in week two on a dreadful Thursday night affair. He has seven QB pressures so far, and has the skillset and talent to lead rookies in sacks but we’ll get a better idea within the next few weeks. Burns can catch fire at any moment and we are thankful for his DE tag this season as there is a good chance it’ll flip to LB in 2020.

Clelin Ferrell, DE OAK

58 (76%) snaps, 3 tackles 1 TFL 3 QB Pressures

Ferrell is off to a decent start with the Raiders with six QB pressures through two games and that’s probably more than what the Raiders had as a team last year after they traded away Khalil Mack. He has seen 102 snaps through the first two games and that’s solid volume to get some stats up. I would plug Ferrell in as a bye-week filler when the time comes but for now, just let him chill on your bench.

Nick Bosa, DE SF

30 (44%) snaps, 0 tackles 4 QB Pressures

The highly-touted DE who battled an injured off-season has put together ten QB pressures through two games. Bosa saw 44% of the snaps against the Bengals in week two compared to the 55% he saw in week one. He has one sack on the season but that’s nothing to panic about. With his high upside, I would continue to plug him in as my DE2 because his big game is coming and we want to make sure he’s in our starting lineups.

LINEBACKERS

Devin Bush, ILB PIT

62 (80%) snaps, 7 tackles 1 FR

Many of us put high expectations on Bush heading into the season and rightfully so – the Steelers defense needed a guy like him. He has yet to play 100% of the snaps but it’s coming. In week two, he saw 80% of the snaps and that’s still good. He has seven total tackles and a fumble recovery. Vince Williams is slowly getting phased out and once the coaches realize they need to just make it the Bush and Mark Barron show at ILB, we’re going to have to deal with these 80% weeks from Bush. It’s a long season and if by any chance, you come across an owner willingly wanting to move Bush in a deal, I wouldn’t hesitate.

Devin White, ILB TBB

3 snaps before a knee injury

Unfortunately, the injury bug hit White in week two with a knee injury. Play it week by week but he’s definitely not suiting up in week three. White is another rookie LB who looked the part early on and will be a stud in IDP soon enough. As owners, we just have to get by as we should already have a replacement on the roster to take his spot until he comes back.

Jahlani Tavai, MLB DET

45 (70%) snaps, 9 tackles 1 FF

With Jarrad Davis injured, Tavai has a great opportunity in front of him. In week two, he recorded nine tackles and one forced fumble while playing 70% of the snaps. The more he impresses, the harder it’s going to be to keep him off the field whenever Davis comes back. Maybe they move Davis to WLB? Whatever the Lions do, they know they have a solid LB for the future. For as long as Davis is out, I will continue to plug in Tavai as my LB3/LB4 in all my leagues that I have him.

Blake Cashman, ILB NYJ

64 (100%) snaps 5 tackles 2 QB pressures

A handful of us know who Cashman is – he just locates the ball like a laser beam and attacks. He got the first start of his early career against the Browns on Monday Night Football with CJ Mosley nursing an injury. Cashman got six total tackles and half-sack against the Browns and it’s no secret that the defensive coordinator plays his LBs the entire game so the volume of opportunity will always be open and while Mosley is out, we’re going to continue to start Cashman. He will be a tackling machine once he gets going and gets the chance to start every week.

Cole Holcomb, ILB WAS

62 (90%) snaps, 6 tackles 1 TFL

Holcomb is seeing some good work early on. It’s true that he couldn’t cover if his life depended on it but he’s getting his chances and also played 90% of the snaps in week two. Let him build that confidence because he’s looking like the best ILB on the Redskins. However, if he continues to get roasted in coverage, we can’t act surprised if he gets spelled here and there. If he’s sitting on your taxi squad, it might be a good time to activate him if you need a starting LB. He will be serviceable as your LB3 for as long as he continues to get reps. The buying window is still open but the jury is still out.

Sam Eguavoen, LB MIA

63 (89%) snaps, 5 total tackles

Yes, the Dolphins are a mess right now but we haven’t heard Eguavoen asking for a trade yet. His impressive play in the preseason possibly led the Dolphins to move on from Kiko Alonso and both he and Jerome Baker are young rising LBs. Eguavoen played in 89% of the snaps in week two and converted four combined tackles. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues if he’s still sitting on your waivers.

Ryan Connelly, LB NYG

59 (84%) snaps, 6 total tackles

Keep an eye out on Connelly in deep leagues. He started and played in 84% of the snaps in week two and racked up six total tackles. It’s not flashy but it’s something for those in deep leagues. The Giants’ ILB next to Alec Ogletree could be a headache all season long but if this gets the ball rolling for Connelly, then we have to take advantage of it now because he has better upside than counterpart, Tae Davis.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Darnell Savage, S GBP

65 (100%) snaps, 6 tackles 1 FF

With Josh Jones no longer in the picture, Savage has a clearer path to opportunity and production. He’s arguably the top rookie DB people targeted this off-season if they missed out on Johnathan Abrams. In week two, Savage played 100% of the snaps and recorded six tackles and one forced fumble. I would continue to start him as your DB2 going forward and in no time, he’s going to be in the DB1 discussion.

Khari Willis, S IND

29 (50%) snaps, 7 total tackles

When the Colts drafted him, my first thought was that he’s going to be Clayton Geathers‘ replacement sooner or later. Well, fast forward to week three and I expect the switch to come any time now. Willis was solid in week two against the Titans – he showed his explosiveness and sound tackling ability with seven total tackles while playing 50% of the snaps. Willis is sitting on your waiver wire so make sure you go pick him up this week and plug him in as your DB2 starter or you can wait a week and see how much playing time increase he gets in week three.

Juan Thornhill, FS KCC

62 (100%) snaps, 3 tackles

I like Thornhill a lot but he hasn’t had many opportunities yet so in IDP terms, he’s off to a slow start. He’s only been targeted once in coverage too through two games, a figure that should increase soon so he can make a play on the ball. I’m glad that he’s starting but in IDP, he’s going to stay on my taxi squad until further notice.