IDP Rookie Review: Week 11

Dwight Peebles

A new name emerged in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race with a huge game. It is likely not sustainable but maybe the young rookie defensive lineman from Oakland can make it a race.

Overall, it has been a quiet year from a defensive class I loved going into the NFL Draft.

Defensive Linemen

Nick Bosa, DE SF

57 (83%) snaps 1 solo tackles, 2 assists

Three weeks without a sack, Bosa is getting more attention from offensive lines and it is showing on the stat sheet. He has been an IDP let-down two of the last three weeks, but as with most pass-rushing defensive linemen, it comes with the territory. The 22-year old superstar will be back to pressuring quarterbacks this week versus Green Bay yet has some tough matchups down the stretch. Five of the next six teams he faces are among the ten least-sacked offensive lines in the NFL.

Maxx Crosby, DE OAK

49 (78%) snaps 4 solo tackle, 1 assist, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble

Crosby may have thrown his name into the Defensive Player of the Year race, especially if he can string together a few more games like the Week 11 matchup with the Bengals. Crosby notched four sacks against Ryan Finley, torching the offensive line of the Bengals repeatedly. He had an impressive combine performance and was kind of a long-shot to be successful, taken in the fourth round by the Raiders. He has already exceeded any expectations anyone had, with 28 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 19 pressures in under 70% of the defensive snaps for the Raiders in 2019. Crosby is a huge bright spot and an intriguing IDP asset.

Christian Wilkins, DT MIA

56 (78%) snaps 3 solo tackles, 1 assist

Quietly, Wilkins has been solid and a startable asset in DT-heavy scoring, raking in 36 total tackles and a sack on the season. His impact is felt more on the NFL field than it likely ever will be in IDP, but if you have to start defensive tackles and scoring favors them, Wilkins is shaping up to be a solid startable tackle.

Clelin Ferrell, DE OAK

41 (65%) snaps 1 assist

Ferrell was quiet in Week 10 versus Cincinnati, drawing the attention of the Bengals and freeing up Crosby to do all the damage. Ferrell has had low-floor games several times this season, a start only if you have to IDP player up until this point. I would like to see more games where his floor is higher before I start him consistently, I do believe it will get there – he is too talented and will put it all together.

Josh Allen, DE JAX

35 (51%) snaps 2 solo tackles, 1 sack, 3 QB hits

Jacksonville is the perfect team to optimize Allen’s talent and he has been a valuable pass-rusher this season – notching eight quarterback takedowns already with a litany of hits and pressures in his role. Allen was one of my favorite prospects entering the NFL draft this past draft. I believe he still isn’t at his ceiling and could contribute far more than sacks in the future. The only downside is his position – a position change designation to linebacker is likely and it curtails his value going forward.

Linebackers

Devin White, LB TB

67 (100%) snaps 10 solo tackles, 3 assists

In Week 11, White showcased the ability and type of game I was waiting to see from him – tallying 13 total tackles and factoring in all over the defense. He is one of the few linebackers in the this class who will be on the field all three downs, and on a defense in need of a leader after the departure of Kwon Alexander. I love White a lot. He should be a top linebacker in the NFL for a very long time.

Devin Bush, LB PIT

54 (77%) snaps 2 solo tackles, 4 assists

The week 11 matchup versus Cleveland had Bush on the field more but he didn’t factor as much in the stat column – rewatching the game, he wasn’t flying all over the field as much as he had in the first seven games of the season. He is a must-start but I wonder if the injury he suffered Week Nine is a factor limiting him. The next few games are critical for Bush to step up – the Steelers’ defense is getting better and the team is fighting for a playoff spot.

Germaine Pratt, LB CIN

48 (69%) snaps 2 solo tackles. 4 assists

Playing time for the rookie increased finally in the Bengals’ Week 11 matchup versus the Raiders with veteran Preston Brown out of the way. Pratt responded with six tackles total, nothing overwhelming but if you need help this late in the season – he could fill in nicely. The numbers will continue to increase, Pratt is a solid three-down linebacker who could anchor a spot for the Bengals for a long time and a spot they really need someone to step into.

Defensive Backs

Taylor Rapp, S LAR

61 (80%) snaps 7 solo tackles, 1 assists

Rapp raked in another eight tackles, bringing his season total to 60, and looked solid again versus the Bears in Week 11. He has filled in for veteran John Johnson III well and is helping the Rams defense overall – the team hasn’t allowed over 20 points since Week Five. Rapp has earned extra playing time and the team will have a good problem when Johnson returns next season. Rapp, Johnson, and Eric Weddle is a versatile and tough safety group, one of the best in the NFL.

Juan Thornhill, S KC

79 (100%) snaps 2 solo tackles, 1 assist

Thornhill has been one of the bigger disappointments as far as IDP rookies in terms of statistical production. He has the playing time and is not producing, he is playing more of a free safety role and is unstartable at this time. I felt he would be better in a strong safety role and as long as he is stuck at free safety, he is unstartable.

Khari Willis, S IND

67 (60%) snaps 3 solo tackles

The Colts’ young safety suffered a concussion in Week 11 versus Jacksonville, still garnering three solos before going out. Malik Hooker is back for the Colts in Week 12 and Willis will likely fade statistically the rest of the season. He’s a long term hold for me and a guy who should produce DB2/DB3 IDP stats for a long time in the NFL.

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