This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
With rosters of all shapes and sizes, IDP advice can be a bit tricky, so the purpose of this article is to point out players whose values are elevated for the upcoming week. Some of these players will be superstars, while others will be found on many waiver wires. We'll look at team positional groupings based on the potential for a favorable game script. Whether you're streaming IDPs each week or have a stocked roster, this "one size fits" all approach hopefully will help most everyone find a weekly edge.
Linebackers
Packers (vs. Raiders) – Players with elevated value: Blake Martinez, Preston Smith, Oren Burks and Za'Darius Smith.
Coming off the bye week, the Raiders coaching staff is certainly well aware the Packers are a shutdown unit against the pass and also possess an outstanding pass rush. Look for them to run the ball with Josh Jacobs who could easily surpass 20 rushing attempts, which will help the Packers LBs come up big.
Bengals (vs. Jaguars) – Players with elevated value: Preston Brown, Nick Vigil and Jordan Evans.
The Bengals are easily one of the worst defenses in the league against the run, and this is looking like a perfect setup for Leonard Fournette to have another massive workload. With Jacksonville likely to have success on the ground, don't be surprised to see them piece together multiple long drives, making this one of the busiest days the Cincinnati defense will see this year.
Dolphins (at
With rosters of all shapes and sizes, IDP advice can be a bit tricky, so the purpose of this article is to point out players whose values are elevated for the upcoming week. Some of these players will be superstars, while others will be found on many waiver wires. We'll look at team positional groupings based on the potential for a favorable game script. Whether you're streaming IDPs each week or have a stocked roster, this "one size fits" all approach hopefully will help most everyone find a weekly edge.
Linebackers
Packers (vs. Raiders) – Players with elevated value: Blake Martinez, Preston Smith, Oren Burks and Za'Darius Smith.
Coming off the bye week, the Raiders coaching staff is certainly well aware the Packers are a shutdown unit against the pass and also possess an outstanding pass rush. Look for them to run the ball with Josh Jacobs who could easily surpass 20 rushing attempts, which will help the Packers LBs come up big.
Bengals (vs. Jaguars) – Players with elevated value: Preston Brown, Nick Vigil and Jordan Evans.
The Bengals are easily one of the worst defenses in the league against the run, and this is looking like a perfect setup for Leonard Fournette to have another massive workload. With Jacksonville likely to have success on the ground, don't be surprised to see them piece together multiple long drives, making this one of the busiest days the Cincinnati defense will see this year.
Dolphins (at Bills) – Players with elevated value: Jerome Baker, Raekwon McMillan, Sam Eguavoen and Charles Harris.
Not only are the dolphins a bottom of the barrel run defense, but the Bills prefer to lean upon their rushing attack and defense to grind out victories. With Miami unlikely to have success putting points on the scoreboard, Buffalo should be able to avoid scenarios in which they're forced to pass the football. It's possible they flirt with 40 rushing attempts in this contest.
Pass Rushers
49ers (at Washington) – Players with elevated value: Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner.
The 49ers have completely shut down most of the rushing attacks they've faced this season, and there's no reason to expect anything will change against Washington and its weak offensive line. Look for plenty of obvious passing situations where San Francisco will be able to unleash its lethal pass rush on its way to piling up one of the team's biggest sack totals of the season.
Bears (vs. Saints) – Players with elevated value: Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, Nick Williams and Akiem Hicks (questionable).
While Drew Brees has missed time, the Saints have done well to establish the rushing attack. However, trying to run the ball at Chicago is almost certain to be an exercise in futility, which will likely put Teddy Bridgewater into many negative situations. As a result, the Bears' pass rush could be set up for one of their better performances of the season.
Rams (at Falcons) – Players with elevated value: Dante Fowler Jr., Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and Samson Ebukam.
With the Falcons being terrible on defense, this could be a week the Rams light up the scoreboard. Should that happen, the offensive line woes of the Falcons could make this a very long day for Matt Ryan, and the Los Angeles pass rush has a chance for a huge day.
Defensive Backs
Jets (vs. Patriots) – Players with elevated value: Trumaine Johnson, Darryl Roberts, Nate Hairston and Marcus Maye.
Regardless of how games have played out for the Patriots, they're averaging more than 35 pass attempts per game, and it's clear they're putting their trust in Tom Brady over the rushing attack. There's no reason to expect anything to change in this divisional contest, which will ensure the Jets defensive backs have a busy afternoon.
Cowboys (vs. Eagles) – Players with elevated value: Chidobe Awuzie, Byron Jones (questionable), Anthony Brown (questionable), Jourdan Lewis and Xavier Woods.
Of course, the Cowboys would love to run the ball with Ezekiel Elliott all day, but their biggest obstacle will be the brick wall otherwise known as the Philadelphia run defense. Everyone knows the best way to attack the Eagles is through the air, and this week should be no different, as Dak Prescott could easily throw the ball 35 times in this contest.
Giants (vs. Cardinals) – Players with elevated value: Janoris Jenkins, Deandre Baker, Antonio Hamilton and Antoine Bethea.
Over the first six weeks of the season, it's become clear the Cardinals aren't inclined to run the football very much. And even if they were, a matchup against the Giants is a great one to take advantage of through the air, so look for Kyler Murray to continue filling the air with footballs while the New York defensive backs chase down the receivers all afternoon.
