AFC IDP Snap Counts: Week 14
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READ: NFC IDP Snap Counts: Week 14
Baltimore Ravens – 83 snaps
This was the most the Ravens have played in a game all season long. In fact, their two highest volume weeks have been their last two games.
Edge rusher Matt Judon returned this game after two weeks out. He managed 49 snaps. Jaylon Ferguson did not play – but the other main options all lost a few snaps anyway.
Rookie LB Patrick Queen (63) flirted with being an every-down LB in mid-season but it’s clear he’s just not there yet. He missed 20 snaps this game and he sat out 27 last week. He remains the only Ravens LB on the IDP radar – but he’s hard to trust.
Buffalo Bills – 57 snaps
This was an especially low-snap game for the Bills.
Linebacker remains a battle. Last week this column recommended sitting both Matt Milano (27) and AJ Klein (30) which proved to be the correct action. Milano remains the best long-term bet, but this year has been very harsh on him.
Cincinnati Bengals – 51 snaps
Andy Dalton and the Cowboys offense played just 51 snaps in a weird game. The Bengals offense losing three fumbles led to a lopsided snap count.
Aside from the low playing time all around, we did at least to see two LBs dominate playing time for the first time all season. Germaine Pratt (40) and Josh Bynes (35) were way ahead of Logan Wilson (8) and the rest. Note that even so, neither Pratt nor Bynes played more than 80% or so snaps.
Wilson along with lineman Margus Hunt (20) got the sacks this week. Ignore them.
Cleveland Browns – 60 snaps
DE Olivier Vernon (58) continued his good season with another two sacks. He’s a great example of why you always buy pass rushers who are playing and creating pressure – but not getting sacks. It works out.
There were no major changes to personnel use for the Browns this week.
Denver Broncos – 67 snaps
There was plenty of change in the secondary this week. Corners AJ Bouye and Essang Bassey both missed the game and Bryce Callahan missed out again. De’Vante Bausby (67) made his first appearance since week six.
At safety, Will Parks played 54 snaps on his return to the team. He was filling in in the slot.
Houston Texans – 60 snaps
Cornerback is a wasteland on this team. Vernon Hargreaves (60), Keion Crossen (60) and Lonnie Johnson (43) are all replacement-level players.
LB Zach Cunningham (44) continues to produce heavily on limited snaps. That’s been great – but it does foreshadow a worrying future.
Indianapolis Colts – 68 snaps
LB Bobby Okereke was healthy again and played 50 snap. Darius Leonard (53) was the other main starter. Anthony Walker (41) dropped back significantly.
At safety Khari Willis (59) returned after a game out which forced Tavon Wilson (9) back to spot-snap status.
Jacksonville Jaguars – 66 snaps
Corner Sidney Jones (37) was healthy again after a long absence. That meant the Jags did not have to rely on Luq Barcoo (0). Greg Maybin (46) did have to play though so this is still a huge issue.
DT Doug Costin (49) has firmly made that job his own. He’s playing well and recording stats.
On the edge, K’Lavon Chaisson (25) continues to be third choice behind Adam Gotsis (44) and Dawuane Smoot (42). Chaisson actually has eight pressures (but no sacks) in his last two games. However, he’s still incredibly raw.
Safety Josh Jones (16) was again injured and missed most of the game. Jarrod Wilson (55) and Andrew Wingard (50) played most of the snaps.
LB Joe Giles-Harris (44) recorded a nice sack. He’s firmly the third LB on this team behind Joe Schobert and Myles Jack (both 66) who play every snap, which rather kills Giles-Harris’ potential value.
Kansas City Chiefs – 83 snaps
The Chiefs have been extremely hard to predict in volume terms this season. They’ve had six games under 60 snaps and five games of 75 or more. That’s vile for IDP purposes.
LB Damien Wilson did not play this week. Willie Gay (17) still did not get a real chance (2020 defensive rookies are awful) and Ben Niemann (75) received the majority of snaps, not that he took advantage.
The snap volume mostly helped the pass rushers. On the edge, Frank Clark (52) and Michael Danna (32) managed sacks as did Chris Jones (59) and Tershawn Wharton (47) on the interior.
Las Vegas Raiders – 61 snaps
The Raiders are a horrible defense. They created one solitary pressure this week which was an Arden Key QB hit. That was it. You can’t win in the NFL if you cannot even get in the vicinity of the QB.
DE Clelin Ferrell played just seven snaps before being forced out of the game a week after his best game of the season. It’s frustrating for him – but he might be a viable off-season target.
LB Cory Littleton (33) continues to be the number three LB behind Nicholas Morrow (54) and Nick Kwiatkoski (47). That’s a bad look but new defensive signings have struggled this season for the same reason rookies have, so don’t lose all hope.
Johnathan Abram (58) returned at safety after a week out so Jeff Heath sat the game out. Honestly, Abram isn’t much of an upgrade. He doesn’t fit the scheme well and he’s so desperate to try and establish himself as an enforcer he commits silly errors.
Los Angeles Chargers – 57 snaps
LB Kyzir White played for the first time since week ten. He managed 43 snaps. Kenneth Murray (56) was ahead of him. Nick Vigil (21) played third wheel.
Safety was odd this week. Nasir Adderley (31) had a huge kick return but was forced from the game with an injury. Jahleel Addae (35) came in for him and padded his stats with a pick. Rayshawn Jenkins (57) remains the man to own in the strong safety role.
Miami Dolphins – 62 snaps
Xavien Howard now has nine interceptions this season. Nine! Including one on each of the past five games. Absolutely incredible.
Hybrid edge/LB Kyle Van Noy missed this game. This is not a huge issue for a defense like the Dolphins who just shift schematically. Shaq Lawson (58) played his highest snap count since week one.
LB Jerome Baker (61) managed three sacks and was rewarded by playing nearly every snap. He remains one of the most high-variance LBs in the game.
Deep safety Bobby McCain was injured in this game and played just 32 snaps. He’d missed just 43 snaps all season before this game. Eric Rowe (62) and Kavon Frazier (24) seemed to pick up McCain’s playing time.
New England Patriots – 63 snaps
This has been a lost season for the Patriots.
Edge Chase Winovich (24) gets IDP players excited, but his 24 snaps today didn’t do much for anyone. It seemed to be schematic as Deatrich Wise (41) played more this week alongside John Simon (47).
Ja’Whaun Bentley (51) played twice as much as he did a week ago. Anfernee Jennings (22) played half as much.
Safety/LB Adrian Phillips (57) continues to be a fantastic IDP.
New York Jets – 73 snaps
Corner Bless Austin (68) played for the first time since week nine. Lamar Jackson (5) lost out as a result. Javelin Guidry (63) also received a volume boost in the post-Gregg Williams era.
At edge, Tarrell Basham (62) remains the best of a bad bunch.
Neville Hewitt and Harvey Langi (both 73) remain good starters but both are also good sell options. Their value was at least partially derived from Gregg Williams who is great news for LBs. With him went it’s a good bet that this is their peak in IDP value.
Safety Ashtyn Davis missed the game, Mattias Farley (51) stepped in for him but played only two-thirds of snaps.
Pittsburgh Steelers – 75 snaps
LB Avery Williamson had the big game we’ve been waiting for, mainly because he played 67 snaps (he’d managed 81 in his previous four games as a Steeler). Ulysees Gilbert (19) was the second (official) LB with Vince Williams and Robert Spillane both out but really Marcus Allen (56) was the beneficiary. He played 42 snaps in the box and was productive.
Edge Bud Dupree missed another game, so Alex Highsmith (68) filled in again. He’s a weak spot right now. The Steelers are smart enough not to drop him into coverage at all though.
Tennessee Titans – 71 snaps
The team continues to sorely miss LB Jayon Brown. David Long (71) is just not a direct replacement at all. Long is a liability in the coverage game.
Veteran safety Kenny Vaccaro missed his second game of the season. Amani Hooker (71) somewhat fluffed his chance. He was a good IDP – but a real-life target magnet. Joshua Kalu (31) was the third safety again.
At corner, Breon Borders was placed on IR. He’d been a full-time starter for the past five games. Journeyman Tye Smith (60) was his replacement. That’s worrying for the Titans.
Good luck in the playoffs and thanks for reading.
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