AFC IDP Snap Counts: Week Four
Week four is done and dusted which means we’re a quarter of the way through the regular season. There will be plenty more surprises and injuries and breakouts – but teams mostly know what they want to do by now, and they’ve shown us with how they use their players.
READ: NFC IDP Snap Counts: Week Four
Baltimore Ravens
LB Patrick Queen (57) had another big game – but it’s worth noting he is still only playing around three-quarters of snaps. At the time of writing, Queen is fourth in FF points (using NPLB scoring) but just 37th among LBs in snaps. That is worrying.
Edge rusher Matthew Judon (42) came up with a huge game this week. As a reader of this column, you were already well aware that he was the top edge on this team and a better start than the other options.
Buffalo Bills
Corner Josh Norman (67) made his Bills debut this week as Levi Wallace was restricted to just six snaps.
LB Tremaine Edmunds played all 74 snaps and had a big game. His running mate Matt Milano managed just 55. Milano has been banged up all season.
Rookie DE AJ Epenesa (15) saw his playing time drop back down again after a good week last week. He’s firmly behind Jerry Hughes (45), Mario Addison (42) and Trent Murphy (40).
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are an unpredictable defense. Their snap counts have varied wildly from week to week so far.
LB Logan Wilson did not play this game which opened up space for Jordan Evans to play 12 snaps.
Josh Bynes (47) and Germaine Pratt (43) lead the way but are not playing enough to be good starts. Akeem Davis-Gaither (21) is not close to viable volume yet either.
On the edge, Carl Lawson (44) has done himself a lot of good. the situation seems to be a fairly even three-way rotation between him, Carlos Dunlap (51) and Sam Hubbard (46). At the moment at least.
Corner Mackensie Alexander missed the game which meant LeShaun Sims (59) played most of it.
Cleveland Browns
The LB situation remains a mess for the Browns. BJ Goodson (64) led the team in snaps this week with Malcolm Smith (39), Sione Takitaki (29), Mack Wilson (27) and Jacob Phillips (17) all fighting for scraps. With no LB hitting 80% of snaps these are all players to avoid for now.
DE Olivier Vernon made a welcome return to play 65 snaps. Porter Gustin (41) lost some of his volume but is still a player the Browns appear to like. The reasons for this are unclear. He has not been impressive.
At safety, Andrew Sendejo (82) continues to play every snap with Karl Joseph (73) behind him. Ronnie Harrison (11) is playing a handful of snaps a week. He should not be rostered in most leagues.
Denver Broncos
Shelby Harris (55) is the best interior player on this Broncos team. With Jurrell Casey out, this is only clearer. Mike Purcell (48) is second fiddle but really more of a nose. DeShawn Williams (30) and McTelvin Agim (17) trail way behind.
Josey Jewell (73) had a huge game in IDP terms. He continues to play almost every snap next to Alexander Johnson (77). Jewell was so good last week there is some hope he can actually become a decent player, which will make all those people who have carried him as dead roster weight all this time happy.
Houston Texans
Whitney Mercilus (44) had a great game on the edge for the Texans last week. Given how much opportunity he had in 2019 and so far in 2020 he should have been doing this much more than he has.
The only full-time corner on this team is Bradley Roby (66) none of the others are good enough.
With Bill O’Brien fired this week, we may see some changes in approach so the Texans are a key team to watch.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have played just 230 defensive snaps in four games (57 per game). That is very low, which is a problem and a worry.
Star LB Darius Leonard (28) played just half a game this week. He missed the second half with a groin injury. He’s a reminder that LBs are fragile. Low snap counts and/or injuries can make a stud into a dud very easily. Obviously, you keep starting him, but you should not blindly expect him to automatically go be an elite asset every week.
On the edge, Denico Autry (52) is leading the way alongside Justin Houston (49). Former early picks Ben Banogu (12) and Tyquan Lewis (9) are both a long way down the pecking order.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Resurgent LB Myles Jack (43) was banged up this week and missed a good chunk of the game. Dakota Allen (32) was the next man up to play alongside Joe Schobert (74).
DE Josh Allen (58) is clearly the top edge by some distance. K’Lavon Chaisson (40), Dawuane Smoot (36) Cassius Marsh (24) and Adam Gotsis (17) are all fighting for snaps.
Rookie corner CJ Henderson (12) exited the game early with fellow rookie Chris Claybrooks (54) stepping up to play.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs played 76 snaps this week – up from just 56 a week ago. This was down from 83 the week before. What a rollercoaster.
Rookie LB Willie Gay (25) more than doubled his career snap count which is great. But he’s still firmly behind plodders Anthony Hitchens (57) and Damien Wilson (52). Ben Niemann (20) is fading fast but that’s still four LBs who get on the field every week – with none of them playing more than 75%.
On the edge the opposite is true. Frank Clark (62) and Tanoh Kpassagnon (66) are clearly the top DEs on this team and they’re really starting to dominate playing time. Kpassagnon is yet to record a sack but he does have ten pressures and if he keeps playing this much the stats are coming.
Las Vegas Raiders
LB Nick Kwiatkoski (53) returned from injury to play next to Cory Littleton (60). Nicholas Morrow dropped down to just 11 snaps.
Maxx Crosby (47) managed another sack from DE. Clelin Ferrell played just 35 snaps. He does not appear to have the trust of the coaching staff. Or in fact anyone.
At DT Maliek Collins (25) continues to duel Maurice Hurst (35) for playing time. Collins has played 47 snaps more than Hurst through four games. Johnathan Hankins (41) is the afterthought given his lack of pass rush.
Rookie corner Damon Arnette missed this game with Nevin Lawson (57) stepping in to cover.
Los Angeles Chargers
LB Kyzir White (76) appears to be installed next to Kenneth Murray (74) as an every-down player at this stage. Which is fairly miraculous given the Charger’s usual rotation at the position. Start White as a top 36 option every week until something changes.
DE Uchenna Nwosu (65) is playing a lot in place of Melvin Ingram and is in rare form. He’s a real handful at the moment. It’ll be interesting to see how the split time when Ingram returns. Obviously, Joey Bosa (62) is the top dog.
CB Chris Harris missed this game which left Casey Hayward and Michael Davis (76 each) as the top options supported by Desmond King (50).
Rayshawn Jenkins and Nasir Adderley (76 each) were the safeties.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are at least consistent. They’ve played no more than 66 defensive snaps in a game and no fewer than 60.
They were DB-heavy against the Seahawks this week. Noah Igbinoghene and Xavien Howard (both 63) played every snap at corner with Nik Needham (44) and Jamal Perry (23) also heavily involved.
At safety Bobby McCain (40) missed some time from his free safety spot. Eric Rowe (50) and Brandon Jones (19) helped carry the load.
New England Patriots
The Patriots have played just 240 snaps in four games. Excluding teams with bye weeks, only the Colts have played less defense.
Against the Chiefs, they adopted a ball-control, slow game plan and it just bled the clock.
Ja’Whaun Bentley (46) remains the only LB you should be considering starting.
Adrian Phillips (42) seems tempting as a safety who is basically playing in the box full-time – but he’s just not playing enough to give us confidence. He’s not in the top 60 safeties in playing time. He had a fantastic week one so he’s a top 24 safety in scoring – but he’s just not a good start right now.
Edge Chase Winovich (37) has got to the QB in three straight weeks now. That’s great but he’s just 98th in pass rush snaps among edge players. Be wary.
New York Jets
Cornerback Pierre Desir (70) led the way in IDP terms with his huge evening. Bless Austin (11) barely played with rookie Lamar Jackson (59) picking up the slack. Brian Poole (57) remains the slot DB.
Neville Hewitt (70) seems to be the one LB you can trust at the moment. Avery Williamson (31) and Alec Ogletree (39) both cannot seem to quite hold on to a job.
Quinnen Williams (50) is having a bit of a breakout at DT. He’s still more name value than actual production but he’s playing much, much better than he did as a rookie.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Did not play this week due to the game being postponed.
Tennessee Titans
Did not play this week due to the game being postponed.
Thanks for reading and good luck with waivers.
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