Clay Matthews was a complete monster on Sunday, and was just all over the field. It seemed that every time there was a big play on defense for Green Bay, Matthews was somehow involved. Matthews was last year’s 6th ranked PFF OLB last year, with an outstanding 20.5 PFF rating in his rookie year. There was some worry after he missed 15 practices during training camp and all of the preseason games, but after 7 solo tackles and 2 sacks. If Matthews is on waivers feel free to add him.
Meet LaRon Landry, the leading tackler so far through Week 1. People should have been expecting big things out of the fourth year safety after putting up 77 solo and 89 total tackles last season to go along with a sack, an interception and two forced fumbles. Landry fed on the Cowboys pass-heavy offense, and racked up an outstanding 13 solo and 17 total tackles. Landry finished last year with a negative 13.8 PFF rating, after a 9.3 PFF rating the season before, and I would expect somewhere in the middle to more negative side for Landry this year, making him a great fantasy play this year.
So you have all waited this long and have probably been surprised to not see two of my biggest man-crushes this year mentioned yet. I tried to hold off as best I could, but I just can’t hold back any longer. New England safety Patrick Chung and Carolina MLB Dan Connor were both outstanding for my football squads this weekend. Chung racked up 12 solo and 16 total tackles against the Cincinnati Bengals, while Connor matched the effort with 10 solo tackles, 13 in total, and a sack against the New York Giants. Chung finished last year with an overall PFF rating of 2.2 in 195 snaps, which projects a solid year is in store for Chung given the low rating. Connor, on the other hand, only made it through 78 snaps last year for an over 1.5 PFF rating, a number I’d expect to see a lot higher this season.
Last week’s Pick-Six favorite E.J. Biggers did not disappoint, making 5 solo and 6 total tackles, with an interception and 2 passes defended. Just remember that Aqib Talib comes back next week, and replaces Biggers on the left side. If you can still swap Biggers for Talib on your waivers, I’d recommend it.
DeAngelo Hall and Adrian Wilson were this weeks good-luck players. Hall generated 7 solo tackles, an assisted tackle, 2 passes defended, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and a touchdown. Wilson on the other hand managed to save his owners with 2 interceptions and a sack to go along with 2 solo tackles. Hall won’t be this good on most days, as he’s never been much of a fantasy force over his career. This is rather surprising because Hall had a negative 3.5 PFF rank last season, and an even worse negative 7.1 rating the year before. Nevertheless, don’t count on Hall for any major production this season. Adrian Wilson, on the other hand, is one of my favorite IDP DBs is looking poised for a big year this season after Antrelle Rolle and Karlos Dansby left town. If you can, I’d use this opportunity to buy low on Wilson by pointing to his low tackle numbers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the big play Wilson eclipse 75 solo and 90 total tackles, to go along with a handful of sacks and interceptions. Wilson had a 2.5 PFF rating last year and a negative 6.3 rating the season before, while averaging 1188 snaps over that span: exactly what you want to see in your fantasy DB.
No other DL produced more than Kyle Vanden Bosch this weekend, who put up 10 solo and 11 total tackles. If you can sell high on Vanden Bosch, go ahead. He had a negative 2.6 PFF rating last year, while playing 781 snaps, and a positive 7.3 rating on only 478 snaps in 2008. He should still be a solid DL, but just see if you can get a decent haul for him after this one.
Mathias Kiwanuka saved me from looking bad after saying he was the DE to own out of him and Osi Umenyiora. He put up 3 solo and 4 total tackles to go along with 2 sacks and a forced fumble, while Osi had 4 solo and 5 total tackles with a sack and. Kiwanuka is still the man to own, after seeing 927 snaps in 2008 while filling in for Umenyiora, and following that up with 744 snaps last season to Umenyiora’s 657.
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