TJ Watt is Mandatory for New IDP Players
It’s been a hell of a season for the Steelers defense, which (along with the Panthers) leads the NFL in sacks through week 15 with 49 of them. The main cog of that pass rush is TJ Watt, a third-year outside linebacker in the running for Defensive Player of the Year.
Following in his older brother’s legendary footsteps is a Herculean task, but so far Watt has stood his ground and has cemented himself as a household name in Pittsburgh. Through week 15, he’s been nothing short of sensational, with 13 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 31 QB hits, and 6 forced fumbles. His last nine games have been extraordinary (he’s had 9.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 21 QB hits, and 5 forced fumbles in this stretch) as have his last 30 games (26 sacks, 26 TFL, 52 QB hits, 12 forced fumbles).
According to FantasyData, Watt has the most fantasy points among all defenders in 2019 (165.2) and the 44th-most of all players. Needless to say, he’s been a huge asset in IDP leagues, and in the young stage of his career he can only continue to play at an extremely high level.
So for new dynasty players in the upcoming decade, Watt is as much of a “must have” as you can find in IDP leagues. Getting him as early as possible would be a huge value to your dynasty collection, because we’re dealing with an excellent talent who is a consistent pressure-making machine.
Let’s take a look at Watt’s tape to determine what there is to like about him. As it turns out, the list is quite extensive.
Like any elite pass-rusher, Watt has loads of moves in his arsenal. What makes this even more dangerous than it already is is how quickly he’s able to execute said moves. Watt is one of the most violent, aggressive pass rushers in today’s league, and this is in a division that also includes Myles Garrett (you knew what I meant by that)!
The Bengals are an easy target since their offensive line has been lackluster this season, but the above move is still impressive on Watt’s part. He gets the outside leverage needed with a laser-quick chop counter move against the right tackle. The lineman’s quick first step off the line of scrimmage isn’t enough as Watt’s own quickness turns him into a turnstile, and Cam Heyward meets #90 at the quarterback as the two split this sack.
Though this play does not end up being a sack, you can tell how much of a wrecking ball the talent on the Steelers’ defensive front is made of. On Watt’s part this is pure domination against the right tackle Sam Tevi, who doesn’t stand a chance here.
Watt initially goes inside off a swim move, but is contained by Tevi. As he recognizes this, he uses his agility to cut back outside, pressuring Philip Rivers in the process, Of course, two other Steelers pass rushers meet him there, so Rivers is forced to throw the ball away.
Needless to say, Watt is surrounded with great pass rushers much like himself, which takes attention away from him. That doesn’t make his contributions any less impressive, however, as we’ll see below.
Once again, Watt puts the quick swim move on against the right tackle, and this time his efforts are successful. The play is blocked well except for the right edge, and Ryan Fitzpatrick can only watch as Watt’s exceptional athletic ability springs toward him in the blink of the eye, taking him to the ground.
Watt also possesses an outstanding bend, as shown on this sack against Colts’ backup Brian Hoyer. By ducking his head ever so slightly against the right tackle, he’s able to create leverage to make a vicious cut inside, creating the bend. Hoyer doesn’t have any time to react, so down he goes on this play.
But most importantly is the snap timing Watt possesses here. At first you may be inclined to believe he’s offsides, but in actuality he gets off at the line of scrimmage the same time the ball moves from the center’s hands. So in addition to the bend, the timing is special on Watt’s part.
As mentioned above, Watt has had five forced fumbles in his last nine games, which is absurd. So far this has been sustainable, as he’s hit at least six forced fumbles in each of his last two seasons. So in addition to points for sacks and QB hits, you can be guaranteed points for forced fumbles as well.
It all has to do with how aggressive Watt’s tackling ability is. Of course, in today’s NFL, defenders have had to adjust their techniques as to avoid helmet to helmet contact with the quarterback, which is something Watt has done a pretty good job of doing. He aims for the ball on this sack, allowing for it to be stripped away from Ryan Finley’s hands and recovered by Pittsburgh.
So where should you draft TJ Watt if you’re looking to join an IDP league in 2020? Well, his ability to point up fantasy points is a testament to his excellent skill set, and since he’s constantly creating pressure that means he’s constantly scoring. Drafting him before the tenth round would not be a reach in my opinion as a result, so if he’s available then I’d recommend snatching him.
Dynasty owners will obviously be hostile to the idea that they should trade Watt, so the chances of this working out in your favor are slim. Still, it would be worth trying out just to see if owners would listen. After all, Watt is of the quality where he’s mandatory for anyone starting out in an IDP league for the first time, so he’s a virtual must-have.
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