By Alison Derick-Northcutt, Fantasy Football Cafe Regular
I picked an awful week to not listen to my own advice. My league has 3 IDP spots, and they can be any combination of linebacker (LB), lineman (DL), and defensive back (DB). The smart thing to do in a league that awards a point for every tackle is to start three LBs. I usually do this, but I was tempted by the match up of Nate Clements on Chad Johnson…
This should have been a fun match up to watch and it should have awarded me with plenty of fantasy points, as Clements had been a steady IDP contributer this season. So, I picked him up and plugged him in for MLB David Harris (he was facing air-it-out New England so I didn’t expect the usual 8+ tackles). The outcome of my planned strategy? Clements covered Johnson well and Palmer couldn’t get on the same page. Three total points from Clements was the result… Harris would have given me eight (and I lost my match up by one point). Thankfully, I’m in a league where we don’t have playoffs - we just play out the year and the winners have the best overall records. Point is, don’t get cute. Play who got you this far. IDP strategy is the same as your offensive strategy. Sure you consider matchups, but you always play your regulars. Simple advice, though it is not always so easy to follow. Just ask me!
In the interest of time, here are some quick notes and then on to the rankings!
LB notes: DeMeco Ryans and Antonio Pierce have been slowed by lingering injuries, but they should both play this week. I’m not high on Pierce, but you don’t sit Ryans.
DL notes: In my last column, I mentioned Mario Williams playing up to expectations, and he had a great week 15. Play him this week as well.
DB notes: Roy Williams is sitting out this week for his not-so-subtle horse-collar tackle on Donovan McNabb. Antoine Winfield is injured again and I don’t expect him to play.
Rank
LB
DL
DB
1
Patrick Willis
Patrick Kerney
Sean Jones
2
London Fletcher
Mario Williams
Sammy Knight
3
Nck Barnett
Aaron Kampman
Jermaine Phillips
4
Karlos Dansby
Trent Cole
Antonio Cromartie
5
Jon Beason
Jared Allen
Atari Bigby
6
David Harris
Osi Umenyiora
Marcus Trufant
7
Ernie Sims
Jason Taylor
Bob Sanders
8
DJ Williams
Justin Tuck
Chris Harris
9
DeMeco Ryans
Terrell Suggs
Kerry Rhodes
10
Kirk Morrison
Michael Strahan
Nate Clements
11
Brian Urlacher
Andre Carter
Darrelle Revis
12
Ray Lewis
Kyle Vanden Bosch
Donte Whitner
13
EJ Henderson
Adewale Ogunleye
Oshiomogho Atogwe
14
Lofa Tatupu
Marques Douglas
LaRon Landry
15
Gary Brackett
Justin Smith
Madieu Williams
16
Morlon Greenwood
Gaines Adams
Marlin Jackson
17
Demarcus Ware
Aaron Schobel
Rodney Harrison
18
Angelo Crowell
Greg Ellis
Lawyer Milloy
19
AJ Hawk
Bryant Young
Brandon McGowan
20
Paris Lenon
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Von Hutchins
21
Barrett Ruud
Pat Williams
Leigh Bodden
22
Derrick Brooks
Kenechi Udeze
Kenoy Kennedy
23
Matt Wilhelm
Jovan Haye
Michael Huff
24
Lance Briggs
Kenyon Coleman
Champ Bailey
25
Michael Boley
Julius Peppers
Terrence McGee
Alison, a cafe regular and writer, was raised in the Northeast and now resides in the Southwest. While playing fantasy football and baseball over the past 5 years, she found herself hooked. In her spare time, she especially loves plucking from the waiver wire and finding IDP steals.
(8 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
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