IDP Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 13

Occasionally, there are injuries to the offensive side of the ball that are of particular note for IDP managers. For example, earlier this season, we gave a detailed account of Taylor Lewan's injury and the impact it would have on an already struggling Titans offensive line. As we predicted, since that time, Tennessee's pass blocking has been amongst the worst in the NFL. That has consequently offered a fantasy boon to edge rushers when the game script allows. Now, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could join the Titans on that list.

After multiple preseason injuries ravaged their interior, Tampa’s offensive line has struggled all year. Inside is where 65% of their pressure comes from, and it's where the issues in the run game begin, but the problems don’t end there. While Donovan Smith has been solid, elite edge rushers with speed regularly give him issues. That leaves Tristan Wirfs as Tampa’s only elite blocker, with a pressure rate of just 0.7%, and PFF’s second-best pass-blocking grade amongst tackles with 200+ passing downs.

We mention this because Wirfs suffered an injury on Sunday that will reportedly sideline him for three to four weeks (per Ian Rapoport). Without Wirfs, the Buccaneers will be without their best pass blocker, and Tampa is no longer a worrisome matchup for your top-tier edges. Because Tampa is the most pass-heavy offense in the NFL and is now missing its best blocker, even Tom Brady's elite release and awareness shouldn’t pose a significant obstacle for your DL1 options.

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Top Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Gamble(s) of the Week: Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles

This former Seminole has been deceptively efficient this season, sporting an 11.5% pressure rate across 11 games. That rate is better than Josh Allen (Jaguars), Maxx Crosby, Danielle Hunter, and Aaron Donald. The downside of Sweat is he sees about half the snaps of those players, meaning he's still not nearly as valuable in fantasy due to a lack of volume.

Luckily for Sweat managers, he faces the Titans this week. Tennessee's offensive line has earned PFF’s worst pass-blocking grade amongst whole units this year, and they allow 10.6 quarterback pressures per game. That is a high rate, especially when you consider the team threw just 26 total passes in the two games Malik Willis started. Given their poor blocking and the likelihood the Eagles get out to an early lead, we are upgrading Sweat and co.

DL Fold(s) of the Week: Trey Hendrickson & Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati Bengals

We may live to regret this one, especially considering our fondness for Hendrickson, but the Chiefs remain a poor matchup for opposing pass rushers. We even faded Aaron Donald against this offense last week, and it proved to be the right call. So, we are managing expectations for this duo. Their floor and ceiling are lower than many options this week.

While the Chiefs remain more vulnerable on the edges than they are up the middle, their entire offensive line has been credited with just one sack per contest this season. Their Adjusted Sack Rate also rates amongst the league's best. What's worse, Patrick Mahomes makes things hard on pass rushers who do eventually get pressure on him. That's why we are fading these Bengals pass rushers, though we don’t want to.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Gamble(s) of the Week: Jack Sanborn, Chicago Bears

Rostered in just 7.6% of IDP leagues and started in just 6.1% this past week, Sanborn is a bargain readily available in all leagues. He's on an absolute tear since Roquan Smith left town, nearly matching his predecessor in the tackle department. Now the Wisconsin grad gets a Packers team that could become more run-heavy if Aaron Rodgers is out or limited by injury, which helps us feel safer about him despite his extremely limited track record (four starts).

LB Fold(s) of the Week: Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars

I cannot recall a rookie linebacker taken in the first round of the NFL Draft who started as hot as Devin Lloyd did… only to fall off a cliff. Unfortunately, that's what has happened over the past two weeks. Lloyd started the year averaging 9.8 tackles per game while totaling six PDs and two INTs. However, the Utah product has averaged a measly 2.5 tackles in his past four games with no sacks or forced turnovers.

In recognition of his decline in play, the Jaguars have cut Lloyd's playing time in each of his past two games. It’s now Chad Muma starting and seeing the lion's share of the snaps while Lloyd plays sparingly. Reports from Jacksonville suggest the team sees a decline in Lloyd's play, and it could take some time to right this ship. The threat of that being true and Lloyd continuing to see so few snaps drops him from a weekly top-10 option to a bench stash for now.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Gamble(s) of the Week: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, New York Jets

Sauce leads the NFL in PDs. Justin Jefferson is third in the NFL in targets. Need we say more?

DB Fold(s) of the Week: Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos

Yet again, we are folding on Surtain II. While the Alabama product has shown cracks in his armor of late, he remains one of the most avoided corners in the entire league. In fact, he’s received the fifth-fewest targets amongst all corners who have played at least 80% of their team snaps. He also has a less-than-ideal matchup against a Ravens team that sends just 11.4 targets per game to its wide receivers and averages the seventh-fewest pass attempts in the NFL.

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