NFC IDP Snap Counts: Week 11

Tom Kislingbury

There are only a few weeks left before the regular season ends in fantasy leagues. You need to be leaving no stone unturned in your quest to maximize your chances from here on in.

READ: AFC IDP Snap Counts: Week 11

Arizona Cardinals – 66 snaps

The big news this week was Isaiah Simmons playing 45 snaps – the most of his young career by far. He had a huge IDP day and his owners have gone wild; but bear in mind he still only played 45 snaps. 37 other LBs played more this week. Even if De’Vondre Campbell (26) does not send Simmons back to the bench, it’s likely to continue to be some sort of jobshare.

Safety is the other question mark. Budda Baker (66) obviously plays every snap. But no one has managed to seize the other spot. Jalen Thompson (37), Chris Banjo (29) and even Deionte Thompson (no snaps this week) have all been in the mix.

Atlanta Falcons –66 snaps

This defense has stabilized under Raheem Morris. But that’s partially down to the lack of talent. They are in dire need of new talent at corner and on the edge.

Right now, we’re seeing AJ Terrell (65) as the only full-time corner with Isaiah Oliver (25), Darqueze Dennard (43), Kendall Sheffield (20) and Blidi Wreh-Wilson (17) all playing most weeks.

On the edge, it’s Steven Means (50), Allen Bailey (36), John Comisky (24) and Charles Harris (20) with Dante Fowler out.

Neither of those groups is good enough.

Carolina Panthers –56 snaps

This column has covered the panther’s ‘Edge By Committee’ approach extensively. This week Brian Burns (45) had a big week and Efe Obada (21) got another sack. But Yetur Gross-Matos (27), Marquis Haynes (28) and Austin Larkin (12) also saw action.

LB Tahir Whitehead missed this game. Jermaine Carter (31) stepped in again.

The Panthers’ favored three safeties all played almost every snap this week: Juston Burris (56), Jeremy Chinn (56) and Tre Boston (54).

Chicago Bears

The Bears enjoyed their bye week.

Dallas Cowboys – 64 snaps

Corner Chidobe Awuzie (64) played for the first time since week two. Rookie Trevon Diggs (53) missed the game. Diggs has played a lot and therefore racked up tackles and stats so many people think he’s played well. He’s had some great moments – but he is still very much a rookie. Don’t mistake his stats for current NFL quality.

Another Cowboy with an inflated reputation in 2020 is DE Aldon Smith (50). He hasn’t managed a sack since week three. Admittedly he’s managed over 20 pressures since then (and five this week) but it’s still frustrating, to say the least.

LB Leighton Vander Esch (45) was again spelled by Sean Lee (14). Vander Esch has not played a full game since week four. Given his injury history, it’s a legitimate worry as to whether the Cowboys think he can handle every snap.

Detroit Lions – 71 snaps

Oof. The Lions got destroyed by the Panthers. This defense is rubbish.

Romeo Okwara (47) remains the top edge defender on this team with Trey Flowers out. Da’Shawn Hand missed this game too.

Jamie Collins (66) remains the only LB who should be on your radar, let alone dynasty roster.

Tracy Walker (37) continues to play behind Jayron Kearse (49) at safety.

Green Bay Packers – 84 snaps

The Packers’ top corners returned after injury with both Jaire Alexander and Kevin King playing all 84 snaps. That was the first time they’ve been healthy together since week three and is a major bonus for this defense.

Christian Kirksey (84) played every snap for the second game in a row. All other Packers LBs are valueless right now.

Safety Raven Greene (42) had a big game stat-wise. He plays in the box a lot so that will happen sometimes – but he does not play enough to be a reliable weekly starter.

Los Angeles Rams – 69 snaps

It was a nicely distributed game from Rams IDPs this week. Several players were good. No one was really amazing (with one exception). In terms of playing time, it remained steady.

All-World DT stud Aaron Donald (62) played almost the whole game after sitting out 20 or so last week. He managed four pressures but no sacks.

Edge Leonard Floyd (63) rushed the passer 37 times and managed zero pressure. That’s much more what we expect from him after he recently flirted with big games.

With Taylor Rapp on IR, Jordan Fuller (69) played every snap at safety alongside John Johnson (69). Fuller was the lone stud as he hauled in two interceptions. Obviously, that was a one-off but he is positioned to be a top 24 safety for the rest of the season.

Minnesota Vikings – 66 snaps

Rookie corner Cameron Dantzler (42) returned to the team after injury. His last full game was back in week five.

The DE situation remained similar. Ifeadi Odenigbo (44) and Jalyn Holmes (50) led the way with DJ Wonnum (28) clearly behind. Wonnum would have disappointed people after his recent big weeks.

New Orleans Saints – 62 snaps

This defense has shifted a little bit with Kwon Alexander (46) on board. He’s clearly an upgrade from Alex Anzalone (15) next to Demario Davis (57). But bear in mind Alexander is barely a low-end LB3 in volume terms.

DT David Onyemata (33) is having a great season. He racked up five pressures including two sacks in this game. He has 16 pressures in the past three games. He’s just about a must-start tackle right now.

On the edge, we also saw big scores. Cameron Jordan (46) and Trey Hendrickson (33) both also managed multiple sacks. Marcus Davenport did not – but even he had three pressures. This front is playing very, very well.

New York Giants

The Giants enjoyed their bye week.

Philadelphia Eagles – 67 snaps

Alex Singleton (67) is clearly the top Eagles LB right now. That might change when Nate Gerry returns from injury, but it seems increasingly less likely. Singleton is more of an IDP star than an NFL star – but Gerry was utterly abysmal.

Rookie Davion Taylor (18) saw the most defensive snaps of his career – but he’s still a long way away from being an every-down LB.

Seattle Seahawks – 67 snaps

DE Carlos Dunlap (51) was the star this week. As a Seahawk, he now has 13 pressures and five sacks in three games. In seven games as a Bengal this season he had 13 pressures and one sack.

All other Seahawks edge players this season have contributed a combined five sacks.

Rasheem Green (40) played the second most edge snaps this week with no-one else hitting 25 snaps. Benson Mayowa (18) wasted his golden opportunity.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers enjoyed their bye week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers –72 snaps

The Bucs defense remains almost immutable. They played a normal level of snaps this week after a weirdly low total last week – but the player snaps remained very similar proportionally.

Ross Cockrell (24) got some time in as the number four corner due to Jamel Dean (38) getting hurt.

Number three safety Mike Edwards (22) played a bit more than he usually does but overall this was exactly what we expect every week from this defense.

Washington Football Team – 68 snaps

Chase Young (53) again failed to record a sack. He has one sack since week one. On the season he has 18 pressures and three sacks. Montez Sweat on the other side has managed 32 pressures with six sacks.

No LB played more than Cole Holcomb’s 43 snaps this week. Jon Bostic (36), Kevin Pierre-Louis (36), Thomas Davis (19) and even Shaun Dion Hamilton (1) all have a role but none of them are reliable IDP starters.

On the back end, however, Kamren Curl (68) is poised to be a real difference-maker as he stands in for Landon Collins at strong safety. This column has been hyping him since early in the season and is enjoying reaping the rewards.

Thanks for reading and good luck with waivers.

tom kislingbury