The IDP Breakdown - Week 6 Edition

NY Giants @ Chicago

The struggling Giants enter Week 6 looking to stop their five-game skid that is thanks in part to poor play on the defensive side of the ball. They traded for Jon Beason last week, which is an improvement for them at linebacker. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the Beason of today is not the Beason of 2008. I’m not recommending that you run out and pick him up. For now, Spencer Paysinger is the only Giants linebacker worthy of fantasy consideration, and he’s at best an LB3 play due to his low ceiling. Jason Pierre-Paul has steadily improved over the past several weeks, so I’m still buying him while I can. His breakout game is coming, though I doubt it’s this week in this tough matchup.

Lance Briggs has 27 total tackles over the last two weeks. At this point, there should be no question that he’s the Bears’ linebacker to own in IDP leagues. The Giants haven’t been a particularly strong matchup for tackle producing linebackers this season, so Briggs is unlikely to replicate his recent production. Consider him a borderline LB2 play. Julius Peppers has been an all-around disappointment so far this season, and he posted another goose egg in Week 5. While the Giants are a good matchup for Peppers, I wouldn’t want to rely on him and anything more than a DL2. What you really want in this matchup is any piece of the Bears secondary. Start ‘em if you got ‘em.

Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay

It’s a great week to be a Mychal Kendricks owner, as the young Eagles linebacker faces a Tampa Bay team that currently gives up the most tackles to opposing linebackers on a per game basis. Kendricks sneaks into the backend of the LB2s this week. Likewise, Demeco Ryans is a viable flex play. Fletcher Cox hasn’t quite set the world on fire this season, but he does have the potential to record a sack in what has been a very favorable matchup for defensive ends this season. Nate Allen currently grades out as PFF’s No. 61 safety, which is not good. However, Allen has been good for fantasy owners with 34 total tackles on the season. Keep rolling him out as a DB2, especially in this favorable matchup.

Last week, the Giants played the entire game in nickel against the Eagles. The fact that it was nickel and not dime bodes well for Mason Foster’s Week 6 fantasy prospects because Foster comes off the field when the Bucs go to dime. We’re likely to see a lot of Foster in this one, which makes him an LB2 this week against the second-best fantasy matchup for linebackers. That also makes Lavonte David a strong LB1 play. It sounds as though the bye week did Mark Barron’s body good, and he’ll be all systems go here. You’re obviously starting him. However, I’m a lot more reluctant to trust Adrian Clayborn this week. The Eagles give up the second least fantasy points per game to opposing defensive ends, and I don’t think that changes much with Nick Foles at the helm. Give Clayborn a downgrade.

Cincinnati @ Buffalo 

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Jeff Ratcliffe is the Assistant Managing Editor and resident IDP maven of Pro Football Focus Fantasy. Follow him on Twitter – @JeffRatcliffe.

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Jeff Ratcliffe is the Assistant Managing Editor and resident IDP maven of Pro Football Focus Fantasy. Follow him on Twitter – @JeffRatcliffe.

Subscriber Content