- The Detroit Lions IDPs bounced back in Week 2: Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch, and Jack Campbell all showed why they should be locked into weekly IDP lineups.
- Improved usage and key injuries lead to new waiver wire targets: Nick Herbig leads the way this week with Alex Highsmith out several weeks, though several other options emerged for roster considerations coming out of Week 2.
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Estimated Reading Time: 75 minutes
Week 2 takeaways
Waiver wire
- LB Teddye Buchanan, Baltimore Ravens: Buchanan’s workload greatly increased this week, going from just a 31% snap share in Week 1 to the clear LB2 option in Baltimore over Trenton Simpson, who is now droppable. Buchanan will be a deeper league IDP option for now, as it wouldn’t be surprising to see him not play a full-time role this year and hover around a 70-80% snap share on a weekly basis, although he may improve his workload going forward.
- LB Dorian Williams, Buffalo Bills: Williams played 100% of Buffalo's defensive snaps in the second half with Matt Milano out. On a short week, Milano should be considered unlikely to suit up for Week 3, making Williams a potential fill-in option for those in need.
- LB Noah Sewell, Chicago Bears: Sewell played 100% of the team’s defensive snaps once T.J. Edwards left the game, and while he made the waiver wire last week, if any IDP managers dropped him with Edwards’ return, he can likely be re-added now with the assumption that Edwards will miss more time.
- LB Joe Bachie, Indianapolis Colts: After just a 47% snap share in Week 1, Joe Bachie’s usage increased nicely this week, and if he can stay around 75-80% of his team's defensive snaps, he’ll at least be a deep-league option until Jaylon Carlies returns from injured reserve.
- LB Ivan Pace Jr., Minnesota Vikings: While Eric Wilson operated as the green-dot linebacker with Blake Cashman on injured reserve, Ivan Pace’s role increased to 89% of Minnesota's defensive snaps this week. However, Pace’s snap share being this high is also likely due to the team being short-handed on defense with Andrew Van Ginkel, which allowed Pace to play more on third and fourth down this week, and Harrison Smith out, which forced the team to play two linebackers instead of three safeties more often than not. As long as both Van Ginkel and Smith are out, Pace can be a non-shallow league option, but the return of one or both of those two will likely hurt his usage.
- S Malachi Moore, New York Jets: Moore played 100% of New York's defensive snaps once Tony Adams left the game injured. Moore can have value in deeper IDP leagues, where being a full-time safety is beneficial as long as Adams is out.
- ED Joey Bosa, Buffalo Bills: Bosa delivered an excellent performance, looking like his old, healthy self in this one. He came up with a sack and the best single-game PFF grade of his NFL career (95.8) this week. Bosa even led the team’s edges in playing time, making him a trustworthy IDP option, as the defense will also likely play more than just 47 defensive snaps in a week going forward.
- ED Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings: Turner played a career-high 91% of Minnesota's defensive snaps this week due to the team being without starter Andrew Van Ginkel. Turner should continue to be a volume-heavy option as long as Van Ginkel is out.
- ED Abdul Carter, New York Giants: Carter overtook Kayvon Thibodeaux in snap share this week, which is admittedly sooner than expected, but a positive sign nonetheless. Carter already looks like the superior pass-rusher, despite Thibodeaux landing a sack this week. This also presents an opportunity for IDP redraft managers to get in on Carter while there is less attention on him following a quiet IDP performance.
- ED Nick Herbig, Pittsburgh Steelers: Herbig’s value as an Alex Highsmith and/or T.J. Watt replacement continues this year because he stepped into a volume-heavy role and even landed an interception. Herbig should be the top defensive line target off the waiver wire this week with Highsmith out for several weeks.
Be sure to check out last week’s waiver wire targets and team usage here.
JUMP TO A TEAM:
ARZ | ATL | BLT | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LVR | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Arizona Cardinals
Team ranks
| Defensive snaps (Weekly rank) | Zone coverage rate(NFL rank) | Man coverage rate(NFL rank) |
| 85 (2nd) | 75.0% (14th) | 15.0% (25th) |
EDGE
| Player | Total defensive snap share | Run down snap share | Pass down snap share | Win rate | Pressure rate | Pass-rush grade |
| Jordan Burch | 50.6% | 55.0% | 41.5% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 58.5 |
| Josh Sweat | 49.4% | 45.0% | 50.8% | 12.9% | 16.1% | 68.9 |
| Baron Browning | 48.2% | 50.0% | 41.5% | 20.8% | 29.2% | 80.5 |
| Zaven Collins | 48.2% | 40.0% | 43.1% | 16.0% | 28.0% | 72.0 |
- Point of interest: There was an even distribution of snaps among the Cardinals' edge rushers in this game, and while Sweat came away with a sack, the rotation will make him a less-than-ideal start on a weekly basis if he doesn’t get a consistent snap share above 65% going forward.
Defensive interior
| Player | Total defensive snap share | Run down snap share | Pass down snap share | Win rate | Pressure rate | Pass-rush grade |
| Dante Stills | 54.1% | 55.0% | 53.8% | 6.1% | 0.0% | 57.2 |
| Darius Robinson | 51.8% | 55.0% | 50.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 46.7 |
| Dalvin Tomlinson | 45.9% | 55.0% | 43.1% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 60.8 |
| Calais Campbell | 43.5% | 35.0% | 46.2% | 18.5% | 14.8% | 73.9 |
| PJ Mustipher | 18.8% | 35.0% | 13.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 64.4 |
| L.J. Collier | 5.9% | 15.0% | 3.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 58.3 |
- Point of interest: Calais Campbell had a two-sack game this week, although also on a less-than-ideal snap share. The long-time veteran dispelled any age concerns in his first game of the year and could be a deeper DT-required option if he maintains his level of strong play.
Linebacker
| Player | Total defensive snap share | 1st/2nd down snap share | 3rd/4th down snap share | Tackle efficiency | Total Tackles (PFF) |
| Mack Wilson Sr. | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10.6% | 9 |
| Akeem Davis-Gaither | 62.4% | 60.0% | 63.6% | 9.4% | 5 |
- Point of interest: Mack Wilson remains the lone linebacker worth trusting for IDP in Arizona, as Akeem Davis-Gaither’s workload is going to keep him as a very deep league option only for now. It’s possible that snap share increases as the year goes on, but this one-linebacker approach was a common tendency from this defense last year, so barring a Wilson injury, Davis-Gaither is only worth a roster spot in deep leagues.
Safety
| Player | Total defensive snap share | Blitz rate | Defensive line % | Box % | Deep safety % | Slot % |
| Budda Baker | 100.0% | 4.7% | 1.2% | 29.4% | 41.2% | 28.2% |
| Jalen Thompson | 100.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 38.8% | 29.4% | 28.2% |
| Dadrion Taylor-Demerson | 51.8% | 0.0% | 2.3% | 4.5% | 86.4% | 6.8% |
Cornerback
| Player | Total defensive snap share | Blitz rate | Box snap % | Slot snap% | Wide Corner % | Targets faced |
| Garrett Williams | 84.7% | 2.8% | 8.3% | 77.8% | 13.9% | 8 |
| Denzel Burke | 78.8% | 0.0% | 1.5% | 0.0% | 98.5% | 8 |
| Will Johnson | 72.9% | 0.0% | 6.5% | 0.0% | 93.5% | 8 |
| Kei'Trel Clark | 17.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% | 1 |
| Max Melton | 15.3% | 0.0% | 23.1% | 0.0% | 76.9% | 1 |
- Injury: Garrett Williams suffered a knee injury late in the game and did not return. Williams had been operating as the team’s primary slot defender in a full-time role, as he would play outside as well. Williams is the team’s top IDP cornerback option for CB-required leagues, so his status is worth monitoring going forward.
Atlanta Falcons
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