RADIO
To begin our streamers article this week, why don’t we discuss the disappointments and injuries that have forced us to significantly change the top of our LB and DB rankings this year? While injuries play a significant role in that deconstruction, boo-boos and ouchies are only part of the equation. Sadly, several defenders formerly locked into our top-five and considered must-starts regardless of matchup have proven to be matchup dependent and inconsistent this season.
Devin White and Bobby Wagner are chief among the players who have dropped in our rankings due to inconsistency. Although both remain talented players capable of elite fantasy production, each has posted LB2 or worse production in at least half of their contests this year. Wagner has seven or fewer total tackles in half of his games and zero total turnovers. Meanwhile, White has posted elite fantasy production in half his matchups, but he’s been unstartable in the other half.
When you draft an LB like White, Wagner, or Shaquille Leonard, you expect elite usage and production most weeks they play. We have yet to get that this year. Instead, Leonard continues to share time and "ease back in" to a role he should dominate, while White and Wagner disappoint half the time. Add in Kyle Hamilton's weak debut and injuries to some of our top DBs (Jeremy Chinn, Jamal Adams, Jordan Poyer), and it becomes apparent why the top of our rankings have become so matchup dependent.
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Defenders Whose Fantasy Stock is Up Rest of Season
Drue Tranquill, LB, Los Angeles Chargers
To start the year, Tranquill qualified as a sleeper and a streamer option. Since taking on a full-time role for Los Angeles in Week 4, Tranquill is averaging 8.8 tackles per game while securing five TFLs and three sacks. He is now firmly in the LB2 discussion every week, and we have him in our top ten this week with an elite matchup against the 49ers on tap.
Josey Jewell, LB, Denver Broncos
Jewell is a player we've mentioned in this space before, and we've had him firmly in the LB2 range all season. He rises to sixth in our LB rankings this week, thanks to the best LB matchup in the NFL. He has two more fantasy-friendly matchups right after that, with the Raiders and Panthers lined up next. Even better, the depth of the LB corps in Denver is only getting thinner. Jewell's snap security feels pretty safe.
Za’Darius Smith, DL/LB, Minnesota Vikings
A pre-season favorite of ours, Smith currently leads the NFL in quarterback pressures. He also pops on film far more often than his more heralded teammate, Danielle Hunter. For most of the season, we've had Hunter ahead of Smith. It's likely that changes soon… which is an odd thing to say right after Hunter claimed two sacks and Smith had none. Both are elite, but Smith is a viable DL1 who can be had for the cost of a DL2 or lower.
Derrick Brown, DL/DT, Carolina Panthers
This former top-ten pick in the NFL Draft is finally living up to his pedigree. He has five or more tackles in four of nine games, which is good for a defensive tackle. He also has five PDs, and this week he plays a Falcons team against whom he had a 12-tackles just two weeks ago. Overall, Brown has plus matchups in five of his remaining eight games. He's a DT1 option rest of the season.
The 2022 Rookie DB Class
Coming into this season, we had five different rookies ranked in our top 50 DBs. It turns out, we were too low on this class. While our top overall rookie (Kyle Hamilton) has disappointed badly, multiple members of this class have picked up his slack. Expect Jalen Pitre, Jaquan Brisker, and Kerby Joseph to join the DB1 conversation next year. Meanwhile, Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Derek Stingley, and Tariq Woolen are all playing like top ten CBs.
Casual IDP Streamers and Fades for This Week
Stream: Javon Hargrave, DL/DT, Philadelphia Eagles
Hargrave is traditionally a deeper league option, but he's been on a tear recently and has plus matchups in his next three games. Washington, in particular, is a strong matchup for Hargrave, as the Commanders are surrendering 8.2 quarterback pressures per game from the interior. Hargrave plays all over the line, but 72% of his snaps come on the interior. Washington should also be playing from behind, meaning Hargrave makes our top 15 this week.
Stream: Elandon Roberts, LB, Miami Dolphins
Despite seeing inconsistent volume, Roberts has totaled seven or more tackles in four of his last five games. We anticipate Roberts' volume will be higher against a run-heavy Browns unit this week, which is a terrific matchup for a player of his skillset. Roberts is a high-end LB3 in casual leagues.
Worry About: Shaquille Leonard, LB, Indianapolis Colts
It's incredibly tough to bench Leonard, even in shallow or casual formats. The upside is too tantalizing to toss. However, the ideal playing time and usage have yet to be there. Now, that could change with Jeff Saturday at the helm. He could throw Leonard on the field full-time… or he could continue to be cautious with the superstar.
If the Colts continue to preserve Leonard by playing him part-time, that should concern IDP managers in shallow formats. He’s simply not produced when playing less than 60% of the snaps. That means he’s a risky option in leagues where guys like Josey Jewell are on waivers with an elite matchup on tap.
Fade: Jevon Holland, DB, Miami Dolphins
My love for Holland will never allow me to drop him from the DB2 tier. He always has the upside of a DB1 in any given game, thanks to his ability to secure double-digit tackles or bring in a turnover. Unfortunately, he carries more risk than usual this week.
The Browns run the ball or throw it short (less than 10 yards) on 78.6% of their plays. Holland plays the deep safety position 72.7% of the time. There's upside here since Holland can play in the box and should play a more intermediate role this week. But there's more risk than usual, given his typical role and the Browns' game plan.
Premium Scoring & Deep League Streamers and Fades for This Week
Stream: Markus Golden, DL/LB, Arizona Cardinals
The Rams have allowed the fifth most sacks in the NFL, averaging a healthy 36 pass attempts per game, and could be without their starting quarterback if Matthew Stafford doesn't clear protocol. The Rams cannot run the ball enough to change their script, even with John Wolford at QB, though. Meanwhile, Golden has played over half of the Cardinals' snaps in every game since Week 1, and he's going after the passer on 64% of his snaps.
Stream: Chase Young, DL, Washington Commanders
There's no telling if Chase Young will play this week or how much he will if he does. He wasn't tearing up the IDP world when he was healthy last season, either. That makes him a very risky play in pretty much all formats.
That said, Young remains one of the most promising young pass rushers in the NFL when healthy. He also lines up almost exclusively on the left side, where Jordan Mailata plays. Mailata was great to start this season, but in his past three games, Mailata’s surrendered ten pressures, four sacks, and he's earned a very poor pass-blocking grade from PFF. Those stats suggest Young could have upside as a cheap flyer in Premium formats this week.
Fade: Derek Stingley, DB, Houston Texans
The Giants average the fourth fewest pass attempts in the NFL. They have no #1 receiver, which we've pointed out before. Daniel Jones has thrown the third-fewest interceptions of qualifying NFL quarterbacks this season. That means New York doesn’t offer much upside to opposing corners, so the floor is low for Stingley in all formats. He's a particularly hard fade in turnover-dependent leagues.
Fade: Zaven Collins, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Collins will be tough to bench in deeper leagues, even those with Premium scoring. However, the Rams don't offer the ideal matchup for him, which is why he totaled just four tackles in their last matchup. Los Angeles averages the second-fewest rush attempts in the NFL, and the best way defenders can collect stats against them is with the pass rush. Collins only rushes the passer on 7% of his snaps, though.
Defensive Tackles to Consider for This Week
Chris Jones & Derrick Nnadi, Kansas City Chiefs
Jones may be an obvious name, considering he's a top-ten DT most weeks. However, Jones and Nnadi should both have better-than-average floors against the Jaguars. Jacksonville averages the eighth most rush attempts per game, but they have the worst stuffed run rate in the NFL. They also allow over ten quarterback pressures per game from inside. Jones is our #2 DT this week, while Nnadi has streamer potential in very deep DT formats.
Shelby Harris, DT, Seattle Seahawks
The Buccaneers have allowed 100 pressures from the interior this year and have the fourth-worst run stuff rate in the NFL. Tom Brady is still hard to bring down, but 67.8% of Tampa's sacks have come from the inside. Shelby Harris is a solid DT play this week, again.
Cornerbacks to Consider for This Week
Stephon Gilmore, CB, Indianapolis Colts
Gilmore has been disappointing for fantasy this year, but he draws Davante Adams this week. While it’s hard to predict what this new coaching staff will do, given Jeff Saturday’s lack of a coaching resume, Gilmore has shadowed this year. Look for the Raiders to give him double-digit fantasy opportunities this week.
Patrick Peterson, CB, Minnesota Vikings
Josh Allen is currently questionable to play, but odds are he will. The odds are also good his play will be similar to what we saw last week, with 34+ pass attempts plus higher-than-usual rates of sacks and interceptions. Peterson should be in a good position to tip several passes against an ailing but still pass-oriented Bills attack.
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