IDP Rookie Review: Week Six

Week six was a quiet one for the IDP rookies unless your name is Devin Bush, although some key injuries could mean playing time and more opportunity to step up. The defensive linemen have been largely underwhelming, particularly Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver, but the immensely talented group will step up this season.

Defensive Lineman

Josh Allen, DE JAX

38 (88%) snaps 1 solo tackle, 1 assist, 1 sack

Allen continues to see playing time. He now has four sacks on the season and should finish close to double-digit numbers in the category. Expect little else statistically. He has hit opposing quarterbacks eight times total and has 31 combined tackles, but his value lies in big-play scoring leagues which reward sacks highly. There is always the danger of his designation being switched to linebacker which in turn would hamper his value. He is a sell candidate for me. If you can get good value after a big week, cash in.

Nick Bosa, DE SF

44 (83%) snaps 1 assist

Week six was quiet for the younger Bosa. The 49er defense harassed the Rams all day and Bosa got extra attention from the Los Angeles offensive line. He is still one of the front-runners for Defensive Rookie of the Year with three sacks and nine quarterback hits in only four games played.

Brian Burns, DE/LB CAR

33 (41%) snaps 1 solo tackle, 1 sack

Burns continues his surprising showing this season, leading rookies with 4.5 sacks through week six. The Panthers are highlighting his strengths perfectly. He has played situationally and is making the best of it. He will have more value in big-play scoring like Allen and could also fall to the dreaded linebacker designation, but for now enjoy the productive rookie season if you own him.

Quinnen Williams, DT NYJ

51 (62%) snaps 1 solo tackle, 5 assists

The baby-faced giant in the middle of the Jets’ defensive line has played a bunch the past two weeks after returning from injury and is establishing himself. He has not hit the quarterback yet but has 11 combined tackles the past two games, showing the safe floor he can give you at the defensive tackle position.

Ed Oliver, DT BUF

38 (67%) snaps 3 solo tackles, 3 assists

A sack has not come yet, and Oliver has only hit opposing quarterbacks twice over five games. This week showed the floor he could provide. He is a solid run-stopper and the sacks will come. Oliver was going to need a little time and has a few matchups against weaker offensive lines starting with the hapless Dolphins next.

Chase Winovich, DE NE

14 (28%) snaps 1 assist, ½ sack

The Michigan product has four sacks on the season in limited duty, yet it’s still hard to trust him with so few snaps. He is a desperation start in big-play scoring or as a bye week fill-in. Winovich is a buy-low target as well, the playing time will come.

Linebackers

Devin White, LB TBB

65 (98%) snaps, 8 solo tackles, 1 assist

My top linebacker in the class returned in week six and quickly raked in nine total tackles. White will always be around the ten tackle mark every week and provide a solid safe floor. He will also contribute in the passing defensive stat area with time, but now he is mostly the tackle-producing linebacker who won’t hurt you.

Devin Bush, LB PIT

55 (89%) snaps 4 solo tackles, 3 assists, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 1 TD

Bush is the leading candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year, he is leading the Pittsburgh defense and looks to be the do-it-all wrecking ball they have been looking for since the Ryan Shazier injury. He leads the NFL with four fumble recoveries and his 52 tackles lead all rookies. He is causing turnovers and scored a touchdown in week six as well. Bush is the real deal and will be an LB1 for many years.

Mack Wilson, LB CLE

83 (100%) snaps 3 solo tackles, 1 assist

Wilson continues to get snaps with Chris Kirksey out, but has been largely unspectacular. He has chipped in tackles, averaging over five per game and would be a decent fill-in LB3/LB4 if you need help. He had a great preseason and was a good linebacker at Alabama, but I don’t see him being a long-term answer for the Dawg Pound.

Blake Cashman, LB NYJ

75 (91%) snaps 4 solo tackles, 1 assist

Cashman is going to continue to see the field as long as C.J. Mosley is sidelined. I was high on him coming out of college as a tackle-producing two-down linebacker. Mosley is set to miss another week and Cashman will get another shot to produce LB3/LB4 numbers if you need a spot start. I like him long term as well. He’s one I am targeting for future production.

Cole Holcomb, LB WAS

45 (59%) snaps 4 solo tackles, 2 assists

Six more tackles for Holcomb — it has been a surprising season for the North Carolina product. He keeps raking in tackles in his two-down limited role, with 43 on the season so far. He has been a great pickup to bolster your IDP roster, providing low LB2 numbers, and he looks to have a secure role in Washington. Long-term, I am not super high on Holcomb, but enjoy the production while he has the playing time.

Defensive Backs

Juan Thornhill, S KC

80 (87%) snaps 4 solo tackles, 1 INT

Thornhill hasn’t done much statistically up until this point, the interception was nice, but he was probably not a starter unless you were desperate. His long-term prospects are good in my opinion. He will be a stalwart in the Kansas City secondary for a long time, but they seem to be content with him filling more of the free safety role at this point.

Taylor Rapp, S LAR

34 (44%) snaps 4 solo tackles, 2 assists

In the right place at the right time due to an untimely injury to John Johnson III, Rapp should get a majority of the snaps on defense going forward this season. He will play alongside Eric Weddle and should get opportunities to contribute in the stat column. He is a fierce tackler and will provide good DB3 numbers the rest of the season. I expect an uptick with Weddle, but Rapp will play a lot of snaps the rest of 2019.