NFC IDP Snap Counts: Week 12
Next week is week 13 – the final week in the regular season for standard leagues. So, this week is your last chance to obtain some impact IDPs to make sure you win a playoff spot and maximize your chances.
No slacking now – this is our third down.
READ: AFC IDP Snap Counts: Week 12
Arizona Cardinals – 53 snaps
The Cards had averaged 71 snaps per game before this – but the Patriots’ run-heavy offense really slows games down.
The big focus was on rookie LB Isaiah Campbell after he played 45 snaps last week. With De’Vondre Campbell (51) back, the rookie played just 16 snaps and was firmly back in role-player mode. He did manage a sack (from one pressure) which made his day look ok – but he should not be started yet.
Atlanta Falcons – 63 snaps
The Falcons unexpectedly trounced the Raiders, in part by producing an excellent defensive game, which was surprising.
LB Deion Jones (47) was at the heart of it with his big interception. Foye Oluokun (53) managed a sack but he’s not the player Jones is.
The D-line actually played well too for once. Marlon Davidson (25) and John Cominsky (18) both had sacks and are showing signs of life.
This defense still needs a major overhaul – but there are some green shoots from players who might have done enough to earn the chance to stick around for the rebuild.
Carolina Panthers – 73 snaps
Jeremy Chinn. There seems little doubt that he is going to win the defensive rookie of the year award at this stage after scoring touchdowns on consecutive plays – on top of everything else he’s done. He played all 73 snaps here and had a great performance.
LB Tahir Whitehead returned after missing last week – but he played just one snap, with Jermaine Carter (47) continuing to play the (unusable in IDP) second linebacker role behind Shaq Thompson (73).
The pass rush remains as unpredictable as ever. None of the edge players got home but notably, Yetur Gross-Matos played 41 snaps. That’s over 40 snaps for the second time in three games. He played just 67 snaps in his first five games as a pro, 114 in his last three. He’s trending upwards.
Chicago Bears – 71 snaps
The Bears remain one of the most predictable defenses in the NFL with no major personnel changes this week.
The closest to it was DT John Jenkins playing 35 snaps to cover Akiem Hicks missing the game.
Dallas Cowboys – 69 snaps
Rookie corner Trevon Diggs missed his second game in a row. And Anthony Brown was also absent. So the corners this week were Jourdan Lewis (62), Chidobe Awuzie (68) and Rashard Robinson (57). None were good. Awuzie in particular seems to be a bit of a tackle magnet.
It’s hard to say any Cowboys defenders have been good this season. Many will claim the big names have played OK, but they really haven’t. Jaylon Smith (56), Leighton Vander Esch (60) and the rest have been part of the problem.
Detroit Lions – 56 snaps
What was obvious has become fact. The Lions relieved HC Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn of their duties.
What’s interesting to us is what happens next. In the short term, we’re unlikely to see major changes but the offseason will likely be seismic. This defense is so unique and specific. Whoever takes over is unlikely to want to keep much of the architecture in place.
For example, the LBs are likely to see wholesale change. The current system of Jamie Collins (45) playing most snaps, with a combination of Jahlani Tavai (37), Jarrad Davis (18) and Reggie Ragland (32) also getting time is going to disappear. And frankly at least three of those players will likely be gone too.
Safety Jayron Kearse (48) is unlikely to be seen as a starter. And Duron Harmon (56) may be seen as scheme-specific too.
You can probably ignore just about everything you see in the rest of this season – 2021 is going to be a vastly different defense.
Green Bay Packers – 68 snaps
The big change personnel-wise was safety Darnell Savage (39) seeming to pick up a knock. Will Redmond (20) covered for him.
Box safety (and ersatz LB) Raven Greene played 51 snaps. His highest total of the season. His last four games have seen him play 27, 39, 42 and now 51 snaps.
Christian Kirksey (68) continues to be the only viable LB. Kamal Martin fans will be happy he recorded a sack – but his nine snaps are not nearly enough.
Los Angeles Rams – 72 snaps
Troy Reeder was the headliner from this game. He played 69 snaps at LB with Micah Kiser out injured and recorded 12 solos and three assists.
Aaron Donald (61) was his normal incredible self too. He put up six pressures and turned one into a sack. While recording five solos as well. He is the best defender in the NFL.
Safety Jordan Fuller (72) managed another interception. That’s three in two games. Wow. He’ll be playing every snap for the rest of the season and (as much as Taylor Rapp fans love him) may well be the 2021 starter too.
Minnesota Vikings – 65 snaps
Just like entropy, Mike Zimmer’s defense remains unchanging and beyond the ken of small, human minds.
There were no major changes this week and given the team played just one fewer defensive snaps most players played almost exactly the same amount as they did a week ago.
New Orleans Saints – 43 snaps
The tiny defensive volume was a result of the QB-less Broncos slowing down the game.
As a result, very few Saints defenders managed to have impressive games. In fact – only five Saints played 30 or more snaps.
The only major change was corner Marshon Lattimore (36) returning from injury. He’s having a poor season in NFL as well as IDP terms. So no one cares anyway.
New York Giants – 49 snaps
The Giants also played a very low snap count. The Brandon Allen-led Bengals did not exactly control the clock.
No Giant defender managed five solo tackles – but Leonard Williams is still a good, cheap buy option. He had a sack here – his fifth in six games with him playing more on the edge after the mid-season schematic shift.
Philadelphia Eagles – 67 snaps
Alex Singleton (67) has really settled into his job as the lead LB on this defense. There’s only one full-time job so it’s a valuable one. In the past three weeks, he’s played 205 snaps. TJ Edwards (49) has played 149 and Duke Riley (31) 128. So, Singleton is head and shoulders the guy to own.
Rookies K’Von Wallace and Davion Taylor failed to play a single defensive snap between them this week. Their opportunities have proved elusive.
Seattle Seahawks – 71 snaps
LBs Bobby Wagner (71) and KJ Wright (67) are still playing almost every snap as first-round pick Jordyn Brooks (21) is clearly not ready to take over from Wright yet.
DE Benson Mayowa (40) was back to full strength this week and Carlos Dunlap (38) played a little less than he has been. He’d averaged 49 snaps in his first three games as a Seahawk.
San Francisco 49ers – 62 snaps
The 49ers remain an enormously dangerous team.
DE Kerry Hyder (41) has been a revelation since he was forced to step up when Nick Bosa got hurt in week two. He’s recorded a sack in seven of his eleven games this season with two in this game.
Rookie DT Javon Kinlaw (21) managed a pick-six. It’s always great when a big guy does that.
Corner Richard Sherman played 62 snaps in this game. He had been out since week one, so it was cool to see him back. He recorded an interception naturally.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 79 snaps
It looked bad early on for the once-great Bucs defense, but they rallied late. They no longer look in the elite tier of defenses but they’re still handily top ten.
There was only one major personnel change. CB Jamel Dean missed the game after being hurt a week ago. And Ross Cockrell (63) played most of the game. Carlton Davis (79) and Sean Murphy-Bunting (77) were the top options.
Carlton Davis was absolutely burnt by Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill – but it should be noted Davis still managed two PDs. He’s among the best in the league at getting his hands on the ball.
Washington Football Team – 60 snaps
A fine performance for the Football Team against the Cowboys.
The defensive line remains extremely impressive. Montez Sweat (33) is a better player than Chase Young (51) is so far. Even though Young got his sack this week. Buy Sweat if you can.
Cole Holcomb (49) again led the team in LB snaps. But he hasn’t played close to every snap for the last two games straight and he’s hard to trust.
Kamren Curl remains an IDP stud at safety. He played 59 snaps and is almost a must-start for the rest of 2020.
Thanks for reading and good luck with waivers.
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