RADIO
It happens every NFL season. It’s something we warned you against early in these columns and it’s something few find attractive on a dating profile. It’s something most children and many adults struggle with until the day they die, and no, we are not talking about IBS. It's called impatience. Others may know it as a “swift demand for excellence” or a “severe disappointment in Santa,” but it all boils down to the same thing. Human beings have an incendiary need to immediately and irrefutably declare unwavering views on anything they remotely care about. It’s a debilitating hubris that can lead to cosmic-sized disasters like New Coke, corduroy underwear, or Limp Bizkit.
Nowhere is our sports community’s impatience more apparent than in the widespread judgment people are already passing on the 2021 rookie quarterback class. We are just ten games into these young passers' careers, and analysts are already proclaiming Mac Jones the best of this group while some are even labeling Trey Lance and Trevor Lawrence as “busts.” While these bold proclamations may prove correct someday, they ignore the NFL's significant history of elite passers who started out slowly. Remember that Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Rich Gannon, Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees started a combined zero games in their first NFL seasons. Meanwhile Joe Montana, Roger Staubach, and Patrick Mahomes each started just one in theirs. Also recall that Steve Young, Gannon, and Brees needed at least five seasons and a change of teams before they became perennial Pro Bowlers. I mean heck, Favre, Young, and John Elway actually threw more interceptions than touchdowns in their first two seasons as starters, while Peyton Manning (28 interceptions) and Troy Aikman (0-11 record) looked abysmal as rookies. So, with that kind of history behind so many Hall of Fame passers, why are so many rushing to judge these rookies after just ten games?
Of course, these sorts of knee-jerk proclamations aren't limited to debates over quarterbacks. This Sunday a notable fantasy analyst (coughCBScough) proclaimed T.J. Hockenson as droppable in 10-team leagues, without offering even seven TEs who were better. Meanwhile, fantasy managers have continued to focus on the early career struggles of players like Leonard Floyd, Leonard Williams, Denzel Perryman, and Cordarrelle Patterson despite each proving to be formidable fantasy assets this year. It is the people who overcome their preconceived notions on these players first who reap the rewards. Perhaps that person can be you…. And with that, let’s get on with our Weekly IDP Waiver Priorities. Remember that defenders only qualify if their roster percentage falls below 20% in IDP leagues.
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Kyle Dugger, DB, New England Patriots
Rostered in 11.8% of IDP leagues
As we predicted, Dugger’s roster percentage dropped this week after a down performance against the Panthers. Also as we predicted, Dugger rebounded to have a DB1 caliber game against the Browns. He will be on this list until you make him ineligible.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 4%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 6%
Jeffery Simmons, DL, Tennessee Titans
Rostered in 12.1% of IDP leagues
Simmons will also remain on this list until he is ineligible. He's a player who qualifies as a DT in many formats, which is invaluable in deeper IDP setups. From that DT spot, he is tied for seventh in the NFL in sacks, tenth in tackles for loss, and he’s averaging an impressive 4.6 pressures per contest.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 7%
Jevon Holland, DB, Miami Dolphins
Rostered in 3.0% of IDP leagues
The Dolphins attacked Lamar Jackson by blitzing their safeties on a majority of their defensive snaps. This strategy worked, confusing Jackson and limiting their offense all game. While that was possibly an opponent-specific script, the strategy was successful enough to hope they will continue giving Holland pass-rush opportunities. Though they may not bring him as a rusher on 22 snaps like they did last week, Miami would be foolish not to utilize him in this manner more than they had before. Look for Holland to continue to grow, providing you big-play upside in both coverage and off the edge as this season winds down.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 3%
Alex Highsmith, DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rostered in 9.8% of IDP leagues
Highsmith stepped up his game against the Lions, finally proving he can be the well-rounded asset we thought he could be this summer. While you'd like to see more consistency and more big plays, Highsmith has shown himself to have a high tackle ceiling, and he's gotten after the quarterback far better his past four games. He's a mid-tier DL3 the rest of the way.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 4%
Kamren Curl, DB, Washington Football Team
Rostered in 2.7% of IDP leagues
The needle continues pointing up on Curl, and he continues to be available in over 97% of IDP leagues. He's a cheap option who plays all over the field and his next two opponents should both provide plenty of big-play opportunities. Curl is an ideal bye week fill-in these next two games.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 3%
Maxx Crosby, DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Rostered in 8.4% of IDP leagues
It may surprise you to learn that Crosby leads the NFL in pressures so far this season, despite his rather pedestrian total of five sacks. At some point those pressures have to start converting into sacks at a higher rate, and he's got a great matchup against the Bengals next week to kick start that trend.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 4%
Marcus Davenport, DL, New Orleans Saints
Rostered in 2.1% of IDP leagues
Davenport isn't on many rosters, in part because he missed four of his team's first nine games due to injury. Davenport has routinely gotten pressure on quarterbacks when he has been on the field, though, and he's registering 2.5 stuffs (tackles for no gain or a loss) per contest. While Davenport’s next three contests are less than ideal, three of his four matchups during your fantasy playoffs come against the Jets, Dolphins, and Panthers' porous offensive lines. He's a worthwhile stash in case you need upside from your DL2 in the fantasy playoffs.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
Alex Anzalone, LB, Detroit Lions
Rostered in 3.3% of IDP leagues
Anzalone has proven he can be a solid LB3 in the right matchups. Over his next three games, all of his matchups are the “right” ones. Cleveland will run a very similar game plan to those run in Anzalone’s two best fantasy performances of the season, while Chicago and Minnesota are both run-heavy units with passing games that trend towards conservative mid-field throws. He should be a steady streamer through Week 13.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
Josh Bynes, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Rostered in 6.9% of IDP leagues
This 32-year-old continues to get into opponents' backfields, and that involvement turned into his first sack of the season this week. Bynes isn't a top-tier asset for fantasy managers, but he's a gamer who regularly shows up on film and has an elite matchup with the Bears next weekend. Chicago has the worst pass-blocking line in the league and the highest rushing rate, adding up to a variety of fantasy opportunities.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 1%
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