NFC IDP Snap Counts: Week 14

The playoffs are upon us and it’s all getting a bit tough. Fortunately, there are some good, impact pickups available this week.

Arizona Cardinals – 58 snaps

There were very few changes this week for a Cards defense that has lost its’ way a little in recent weeks. They started the season on fire, but in the last four games, they’ve shipped 99 points and not impressed.

Rookie LB Zaven Collins is playing special teams but not trusted on defense. Budda Baker is 27th in safety snaps. The pass rush is inconsistent.

Linemen Zach Allen (45) Jordan Phillips (41) and Chandler Jones (50) all had sacks this week, but they also generated just five pressures between them.

Atlanta Falcons – 64 snaps

The Falcons continue to be just about the worst pass-rushing defense in the NFL. On average they’re creating roughly 11 pressures a game – spread out across the 69 average snaps they’ve been playing.

LB Mykal Walker had a big fantasy day with a 66-yard pick-six. But he played just five snaps. So don’t go out and pick him up. Foye Oluokun (64) and Deion Jones (64} continue to play every snap they can.

Safety Erik Harris [played just six snaps before leaving the game with a torn pectoral muscle. He’ll likely miss the rest of the season. Jaylinn Hawkins (64) stepped in to play for him if you’re desperate for a body at safety. Rookie Richie Grant did not play this week, so it’s possible he gets the nod, but the Falcons seem to see him as a slot guy rather than an orthodox safety.

Carolina Panthers – 68 snaps

Edges Haason Reddick (59) and Brian Burns (56) racked up six combined pressures but no sacks. Both have scored well this year as a result of high snaps and high finisher ratios, but this is a reminder that those conversion ratios are not assured. They’re extremely variable.

Corner Donte Jackson missed this game having played about every snap so far this season beforehand. Stephon Gilmore (68) finally played a full game as a Panther, with Rashaan Melvin (34), C.J. Henderson (18), A.J. Bouye (16) and Keith Taylor (14) all seeing the field.

Chicago Bears – 65 snaps

LB Roquan Smith (47) hurt his hamstring and exited the game. Even if it proves a minor injury, hamstrings can linger in their effects so beware. Smith has played just 119 snaps in his past three games combined. Alec Ogletree (57) stepped in for Smith as he has done when needed all season long.

Edge Robert Quinn (53) continues to convert a super high proportion of his pressures into sacks. He’s currently supported by Bruce Irvin and Trevis Gipson – not exactly a murderer’s row of pass rush talent.

Dallas Cowboys – 68 snaps

Rookie sensation Micah Parsons (54) split his time between LB and DE as he normally does. Incredibly, he notched up a sack for the sixth game in a row. He’s undoubtedly an amazing pass-rusher.

It is worth noting that he is an inefficient tackler – as you’d expect from a player who spends a lot of time on the edge. His tackle efficiency is a shade under 9% right now, which is worse than Alex Anzalone. Parsons has clearly made up for it with sacks, but that’s so risky. He will be the most valuable dynasty LB in the sport this off-season, but having that value so reliant on pass-rushing is worrying.

‘Other’ LBs Keanu Neal (46) and Leighton Vander Esch (28) continue to be big-name bit-part players.

DE Randy Gregory (31) returned after four weeks out, had an awesome big play where he leapt up to bat a pass to himself. It’s well worth watching. He, DeMarcus Lawrence (47), Dorance Armstrong (29), Tarell Basham (27) and Chauncey Golston (18) are all getting snaps.

DT Neville Gallimore (30) also made a big play in this game. It was his first appearance of the season. The Cowboys are looking pretty healthy.

Detroit Lions – 68 snaps

The rumor mill told us this week that Alex Anzalone would finally lose his spot and it was right. Anzalone played just 15 snaps this week. Josh Woods (64) took over the top job ahead of Derrick Barnes. Woods sparkled as an IDP with 13 tackles and is a priority add for teams needing LB help in the next few weeks.

On the edge Austin Bryant managed just eight snaps and Julian Okwara did not play. Jessie Lemonier (47), Anthony Pittman (18), Rashod Berry (15) and Brice Hector (10) all saw time. None of them were good. Charles Harris (61) remains (incredibly) the best edge rusher they have.

At cornerback, Jerry Jacobs played just five snaps with Nickell Robey-Coleman (62) making his team debut.

Lastly Tracy Walker missed the game at safety, so Jalen Elliott (51) and C.J. Moore (26) played alongside Will Harris (54).

Green Bay Packers – 62 snaps

LB De’Vondre Campbell (52) might not be 100% healthy, but he still played most of the game. Krys Barnes (36) was well behind him.

Cambell has been an absolute posterchild this season for why you can still draft LBs going late and pick up bargains.

Los Angeles Rams – 78 snaps

The Rams are a top-ten defense this season, but given how dominant they were in 2020, this seems disappointing.

On the other hand, Aaron Donald (74) is back to his absolute best. He’s been unblockable the last three games. This column recommended sounding the market out for him earlier this season. If you can still get a Godfather offer for him then it’s a good idea to sell, but he’s certainly turned around any sense of decline about his play.

Leonard Floyd (65) and Von Miller (61) continue to play heavy snaps on the edge. They created 17 pressures together this week – with no sacks at all. Miller has amassed 17 on his own in a Rams uniform, but no sacks. It’s only a matter of time.

Jalen Ramsey missed this game, so David Long Jr. (78) and Kareem Orr (40) both saw action at corner.

Minnesota Vikings – 74 snaps

Lineman Sheldon Richardson (56) recorded a sack this week. This column has noted that he’s playing DE by default with very little talent available at the position. He’s attractive in deeper leagues given his DT eligibility. Certainly a lot more than D.J. Wonnum (67) who continues to be the least efficient pass rusher in the NFL.

Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr (both 74) returned after missing last week. Nick Vigil (10) barely played, while Blake Lynch and Troy Dye did not play at all after combining for 102 snaps last week.

New Orleans Saints – 66 snaps

DE Cameron Jordan has got a lot of shade this year after a slow start to the season, but he’s had a good season. He missed this week, and although Marcus Davenport (36) created pressure, the team seemed to miss Jordan. Carl Granderson (36) is just not an adequate replacement.

Slot DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson returned to action after a month out with 36 snaps. Expect him to play more in the coming weeks.

New York Giants – 71 snaps

Lineman Leonard Williams (13) exited the game with a shoulder injury and seems likely to miss games. In his absence, Dexter Lawrence (60) had a brilliant game, but they are very different players.

There were no real changes elsewhere on this defense. The Giants just continue to roll out the same tired, ineffective unit.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles enjoyed their bye week.

Seattle Seahawks – 81 snaps

The Seahawks just play a LOT of snaps.

LB Jordyn Brooks (81) is near the top of the list of LB total snaps for the season even though he’s 160 snaps behind his running mate Bobby Wagner (81).

Pricy safety Jamal Adams is out for the season, and as expected Ryan Neal (81) slotted in for him – just as he did last season. He should be owned in most IDP leagues.

The defensive line continues to be the deepest rotation in the NFL. Good luck picking who gets the sacks on a weekly basis. Darrell Taylor (40) has been the best pass-rusher, but this was the first week he’s even hit 40 snaps so it’s hard to trust him. He’s failed to get to the passer in fully half his games this season, and failed to record a tackle in a third of them.

San Francisco 49ers – 67 snaps

Star LB Fred Warner returned to play 67 snaps this game after being out last week. Azeez Al-Shaair (42) exited the game in the third quarter with Marcell Harris (22) stepping in.

The 49ers remain snakebit at corner this season. This week the starting trio were Josh Norman (67), Ambry Thomas (62) and K’Waun Williams (60).

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 79 snaps

Safeties Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards both remain missing. Whitehead with injury and Edwards with a team discipline issue. In their absence Andrew Adams (61) again played next to Antoine Winfield Jr. (78).

Washington Football Team – 85 snaps

Given the Football Team played 85 snaps, there was a noticeable dearth of big-time fantasy weeks. A lot of that is due to the absolute lack of any edge talent right now.

This week saw Daniel Wise (70), Shaka Toney (52), Olubunmi Rotimi (44) and William Bradley-King (4) man the position. They combined for three pressures and zero sacks, from 96 pass-rush snaps.

The good news was that Landon Collins (71) returned after a week out. Before this game he had not even played 50 snaps in a game since week six. Bobby McCain (82) and Kamren Curl (71) also played most of the game. The popular story around Collins is that he switched positions mid-season and is now an LB. This is just false. He’s still playing 15-20% of his snaps deep. And another 20-30% in the slot. That’s not what orthodox LBs do. In fact, his role is pretty similar to how Jeremy Chinn played in 2020.

Thanks for reading and good luck in the playoffs.

NFC IDP Snap Counts: Week 14