Weekly Rankings: Ranking Each IDP Position For Week 4

Photo by Kyle Emery/Icon Sportswire

Bye weeks are here and it’s always an interesting time setting rosters. Thankfully through three weeks of the season, we have some pretty solid data about snap counts, defensive tendencies, and matchups to exploit. First, we have a list of players to get out of your lineups or replace this week. Then notes on Week 3 performance and Week 4 matchups.

Week 4 Bye Weeks

Carolina

Players to replace:

DL – Mario Addison, Kawann Short, Julius Peppers

LB – Luke Kuechly, Shaq Thompson

DB – Mike Adams, Donte Jackson, James Bradberry

Washington

Players to replace:

DL – Matt Ioannidis, Jonathan Allen

LB – Zach Brown, Mason Foster, Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith

DB – Josh Norman, Montae Nicholson, D.J. Swearinger

Week 4 Notes

• Atlanta S Damontae Kazee had 8 solos and 2 assists Sunday against New Orleans. The Falcons are depleted on defense, suffering injuries throughout the backfield, and the team should struggle all year on defense. This will mean increased snaps and opportunity throughout. Kazee won’t face too much competition for tackles in the backfield and is an excellent play this week against the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Dallas LB Sean Lee was a beast early in Sunday’s game, racking up 5 solos, 6 assists and .5 sacks in just a half. Unfortunately, he left with a hamstring injury, and to compound the setback this one was on the other leg. Rookie LB Leighton Vander Esch. The youngest also balled out, 9 tackles, 2 assists, and a TFL. He seems comfortable calling plays and was on the field for every nickel package. He’s an immediate pickup and should find his way onto the field even when Lee returns.
• In Arizona, the team continues to line up three safeties in the base package and the team is playing more snaps defensibly than any team in the league. Budda Baker and Antoine Bethea continue to have strong value but if you are looking for a bye week sub consider Tre Boston. Boston has been solid every week, making an interception to go along with 5 solos and 2 assists.
• The Los Angeles Rams have been dominant as a defensive squad this season but that doesn’t leave much room for consistent IDP performances. DT Ndamukong Suh had a big game in Week 3 but superstar DT Aaron Donald has started slowly. Donald has a great matchup this week, on national TV against Minnesota, a team who is giving up an average of 19 points to the DT position. Start Donald but there may be some cause for concern if he has another slow game. Also noteworthy, both starting corners, Aquib Talib and Marcus Peters are expected to miss this week’s game.
• Keep an eye on the safety situation in New Orleans, where S Von Bell has increased his snap count each week and might be taking over full time for S Kurt Coleman. Bell has been a part-time player in his first two seasons, the team has never fully trusted him and went out to sign Coleman as a starter. That could be changing.
• No one saw this coming but the Indianapolis Colts have a better than average defense, led by rookie LB  Darius Leonard. In the off chance that Leonard is still available on your wire, run out and grab him. The dynamic young LB finished with 9 solos and 4 assists and if a monster in the middle.
• The Buffalo Bills draw the Green Bay Packers this week but owners should be cautious with LB Matt Milano. Historically the Bills home stat crew hands out tackles and assists like candy but the team are on the road this week. While Milano should still be roster-able, if you have a better option, use him.
• Seattle LB Mychal Kendricks played limited snaps on Sunday but he performed well. As long as starter K.J. Wright is out, Kendricks should see an increased role and can be used in bye weeks.
• Cinncinati Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict will be back Week 5 after serving a 4-game suspension. Pick him up and stash him for the week. Burfict is undoubtedly a knucklehead but he’s also an IDP stud and a top-5 option at the position. He’s the ultimate risk vs reward player and his added value, even for just a few games, is too difficult to pass up.
• Last week we mentioned DE Margus Hunt from Indianapolis. Always an underachiever, Hunt is balling out this season. With three sacks in three weeks and adding ten tackles to boot, Hunt may be a solid performer h rest of the way. The Colts DE position has been productive in the past and Hunt looks to be the next in line. Grab him if he’s available.

Below are the full IDP rankings for Week 4 thanks to this widget from FantasyPros: