As we head into Week 15, fantasy leagues across the land are in full playoff swing. Just like in typical offensive point leagues, it is imperative to make the correct decisions as you move through the playoffs in your IDP (Individual Defensive Players) league. We are always looking for that added edge over our competition, and in this article, some IDP players will be highlighted who can give your fantasy team that extra playoff push. You may see some names that you know… you may not. Nevertheless, these are the names you should know for this coming week in IDP.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Vonnie Holiday, DT, MIA
Career Stats vs. BAL: (4 Games) 4 UAT / 3 AT / 7 TT / 1.0 Sacks / 1 PD
Over the past five weeks, the Baltimore offensive line has ranked in the Top 4 on three occasions for allowing the most sacks (14 sacks in that span). For this reason, RB Willis McGahee has been seeing more and more work, as the passing game seems to be getting the Ravens nowhere. However, it is common sense that an offense cannot become totally one-sided, so Baltimore will still need to throw the ball, albeit in situational spots. This bodes well for DE Jason Taylor, yet he is the obvious pick for Week 15 against the struggling Ravens offense. Instead, also keep an eye on defensive tackle Vonnie Holiday. Holiday, who has been battling an ankle injury for a good portion of the season, has put up some solid Sack numbers throughout his career. The veteran defensive lineman started the season off well before being sidelined in Week 4 for the next five games. After the Dolphins bye in Week 9, Holiday has slowly worked himself back into the swing of things, and in the last three games has had two very solid outings. Week 15 might be Miami’s last chance to post a win before finishing the season against two high-octane offenses (New England and Cincinnati). This defense will be firing on all cylinders this Sunday and will put forth tons of pressure upfront in an attempt to capitalize on any Baltimore miscues. Now back to form, Holiday should be a big part of this final surge.
Will Smith, DE, NO
Career Stats vs. ARI: N/A
Arizona QB Kurt Warner has been having a tough time lately. Not only has he thrown 8 interceptions over the course of the last three games, but he has also been sacked 9 times, 5 of which came last weekend at the hands of Seattle. Recently, a lot of Warner’s sack woes can be attributed to his inability to make decisions because of the injuries that the Cardinals receiving corps has suffered. Once again, the Arizona receivers will limp to the field on Sunday, and Warner’s indecisiveness will play a huge role in how well he performs. The longer he holds onto the ball and the more bad decisions he makes, the better things will be for a hot New Orleans team looking to stay in the playoff hunt in Week 15. Applying the pressure upfront for the Saints will be the team’s pair of solid defensive ends. Though DE Will Smith and DE Charles Grant were projected to be two of the elite defensive ends in the league this season, both got off to a slow start in 2007. Nevertheless, Smith has really turned things up a notch over the past five weeks, recording 4.0 Sacks, 24 Total Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble and 2 Pass Deflections. Currently, the fourth-year defensive end leads the team in Sacks, and matched up against an offensive line that is still struggling after making some big-time coaching upgrades, Smith will have the opportunity to make some big plays in Week 15. There is no doubt that New Orleans will be amped up as their playoff hopes lay on the line, and Smith will be one of the players helping to keep those dreams alive.
Other Notables: Marques Douglas, DE, SF (vs. CIN); Paul Spicer, DE, JAX (vs. PIT)
LINEBACKERS
Ernie Sims, OLB, DET
Career Stats vs. SD: N/A
Taking into account the recent struggles of QB Philip Rivers, the Chargers have once again realized that if they want to succeed, then they will have to ride their workhorse – RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson, who had a rough start to the season, has busted loose recently and now sees himself as one of the top rushers in the league in terms of carries per game (ranking 2nd overall in that category at just over 20 carries per game). Over the last three games, Tomlinson is averaging nearly 25 carries per contest, and this means that the Detroit linebackers will need to be very active in Week 15 in an attempt to contain San Diego’s stud. There is no doubt that the player who can be most effective for the Lions is weakside backer Ernie Sims. Following up an outstanding rookie season, Sims picked up right where he left off in 2006. He currently sits only behind San Francisco rookie phenom LB Patrick Willis for the league lead in Total Tackles (119), and is on pace to eclipse all of his impressive totals from last year. Sims is coming off of back-to-back games (and also three of the last four) in which he has posted double-digit tackles, as well as causing a Forced Fumble last weekend against Dallas. In Week 15, against another offense that relies on the run and that will look to control the game clock, Sims should see another stellar performance.
Omar Gaither, MLB, PHI
Career Stats vs. DAL: (3 Games) 7 UAT / 2 AT / 9 TT / 1 PD
It goes without saying that Dallas has some of the best offensive weapons in the league right now. In addition to players like QB Tony Romo, WR Terrell Owens and TE Jason Witten, the Cowboys also have one of the best two-headed monsters in their backfield in the form of running backs Marion Barber III and Julius Jones. Though their running game gets overshadowed at times by their big-time playmakers, Dallas is certainly consistent and methodical with their rushing attack. Between Barber and Jones, the duo has carried the ball on average just around 22 times per game over the last five weeks. So, it is apparent that the Cowboys will not abandon their run game. This week, in a classic NFC East showdown, this bodes well for the Philadelphia linebacker corps (insert IDP motto about “more rushes translates to more tackle opportunities for opposing linebackers” here). Leading the charge for the Eagles in Week 15 will be middle linebacker Omar Gaither, the team leader in Total Tackles (86). Over the past three weeks, Gaither has been playing like a man possessed, tallying 28 Total Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble and 3 Pass Deflections. Twice in that three-game span has the second-year linebacker posted double-digit tackle totals. Playing in Dallas this weekend and seeking homefield advantage in the playoffs, this game has the potential to get out of control early if the Philadelphia defense does not step up right out of the gate. Eventually, the Cowboys will try to wind the clock by running the rock, and as a result, Gaither should have another successful outing in Week 15.
Jon Beason, MLB, CAR
Career Stats vs. SEA: N/A
In only his first year in the league, Beason appears to be another great young linebacker to have success in his rookie campaign. In 2006, Houston LB DeMeco Ryans set the tone along with Detroit LB Ernie Sims… this year’s rookie class has another two greats in San Francisco’s Patrick Willis and Beason. Already compiling 110 Total Tackles on the year, Beason outshines the next closest player on the Panthers by nearly 30 tackles. He may not be the biggest playmaker in the sense of providing sexy stats like Sacks (none) and Interceptions (1), but what Beason does do is rack up the tackle numbers. Not only does he rank atop his team in the category, but Beason also sits among the league’s elite, ranking in the Top 10 for Total Tackles among all defenders. Let’s also not forget to mention that Beason has tallied double-digit tackle numbers in six of twelve games this year… the accolades go on and on for this rookie. Though the Panthers face a team in Week 15 that is on a hot streak in terms of passing the ball, Beason will still see his fair share of opportunities to rack up some solid numbers in the tackle column. Over the past two games, even with QB Matt Hasselbeck playing at the top of his game, Seattle has rushed the ball 20+ times. In turn, Beason will take advantage of this and should see another solid outing this Sunday.
Other Notables: Napoleon Harris, MLB, KC (vs. TEN); E.J. Henderson, MLB, MIN (vs. CHI)
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Johnathan Joseph, CB, CIN
Career Stats vs. SF: N/A
If it were not for some semblance of a running game, San Francisco’s offense would rank as one of the league’s worst. RB Frank Gore is nowhere near the numbers he put up last season, but has turned out some impressive performances over the course of the season. The 49ers passing attack, on the other hand, has not. With the woes at the quarterback position, coupled with a group of underachieving receivers, the San Francisco passing game has been downright atrocious lately. For as bad as the 49ers have been in terms of the pass, the Bengals have been equally as bad in defending it. There are very few bright spots on the defensive side of the ball for Cincinnati, yet one player who has shown some glimpses of greatness is second-year corner Johnathan Joseph. Most recently, Joseph has put together a nice string of three games in which he has truly excelled. Over that span, he has recorded 19 Total Tackles, 2 Interceptions and 5 Pass Deflections, showing that the young corner can step up and play the run or be effective in coverage. This game is all about creating opportunities, and as Joseph has gained more experience, that is exactly what he has done. There was a reason for why he was a 1st Round selection in the 2006 Draft, and even with the struggles of the Bengals defense, as well as his personal battles with injury, Joseph has provided the reason. In Week 15, against a struggling offense that has seen only one win in the last eleven games, Joseph should keep the ball rolling and be effective in all aspects of the game.
Roman Harper, SS, NO
Career Stats vs. ARI: N/A
Blame it on a depleted receiving corps, but Arizona QB Kurt Warner has been giving fantasy owners a lot of grief with his recent stretch of sub-par play. Coming off of a five-interception performance in Week 14, Warner has been picked off 8 times over the last three games and 11 times since the Cardinals bye in Week 8. Just as the veteran quarterback has been cooling off, one of Warner’s opponents has been catching fire – New Orleans safety Roman Harper. Over the last three games, Harper has recorded 2 Interceptions and a Forced Fumble. There is no doubt that the second-year safety has been on his game recently as the Saints make their final push towards the playoffs. Nevertheless, Harper is not only good for making a big play, instead he is also a great source for that crucial IDP category of tackles. Impressively, he currently sits only behind LB Scott Fujita for the team lead in Total Tackles (Harper has 76 to Fujita’s 77), and ranks in the Top 10 for Total Tackles among NFL safeties. So, whether it is due to a miscue from Warner, or because of the many tackle opportunities he will see facing one of the league’s premier rushers, Harper should post an excellent stat line in Week 15.
Corey Ivy, CB, BAL
Career Stats vs. MIA: N/A
In the carousel that is the Dolphins quarterback situation, QB Cleo Lemon will once again be under center on Sunday as Miami plays host to Baltimore. With HC Cam Cameron still seeking his first win in 2007, he has been trying to find the right fit for the position over the course of the season. After veteran QB Trent Green went down in Week 5, Cameron has flip flopped between Lemon and rookie QB John Beck. In turn, neither Lemon nor Beck has gotten into any sort of rhythm, and their stat lines have shown just that. Over the last two games, Miami quarterbacks have thrown a combined 5 interceptions, and prior to stepping in last weekend, Lemon had been picked off at least once in three of his five previous starts. Nothing seems to be working in Miami, and in Week 15, there is no doubt that a Ravens team who has been winless since Week 6 will be looking to capitalize on the Dolphins woes. It looks as though veteran CB Samari Rolle will be sidelined for the second straight week on Sunday due to a shoulder injury, and CB Corey Ivy will start in his place. Ivy is an interesting player, as he has put up some very solid numbers while seeing limited playing time. He has already posted career bests in Pass Deflections (7) and Sacks (3.0), and has tallied 5+ Total Tackles in six of the twelve games in which he has seen action. Though Ivy only has 3 career Interceptions, look for him to see some solid opportunities to make a big play in Week 15. He can provide some tackles, and with the Dolphins lack of a deep passing game, Ivy should be a factor as he plays things short and underneath.
Other Notables: Drayton Florence, CB, SD (vs. DET); Shawn Springs, CB, WAS (vs. NYG) |
