IDP Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 12 - Streamers, Fades, Matchups for Defensive Players

Week 12 is one of the more significant bye weeks of the season, with Week 14 its primary rival in terms of volume and fantasy playoff impact. What arguably makes Week 14 worse than this week's bye is that some fantasy leagues still start their playoffs in Week 14, rendering key players unavailable when you need them most.

This week is particularly painful from an offensive perspective. The Bengals clearly deploy four fantasy superstars on offense who will be unavailable, while the Falcons and Bills also offer their own significant fantasy losses. The defensive side of the ball is not immune to these problems, though.

IDP managers are losing six top 20 fantasy LBs to the bye this week. In addition, we will see three top 20 fantasy DLs going on vacation. The only “reprieve” we get will be at DB, where we lose just two top 20 fantasy DBs to the bye. This kind of mass hiatus means that even those in casual IDP formats will need to consider defensive streamers with more care and attention.

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Casual IDP Streamers and Fades

Stream: Jonathon Cooper, DL/LB, Denver Broncos

Cooper lines up almost exclusively over the right edge of opposing offensive lines. That should be good news if D.J. Glaze continues to start at right tackle. The expectation is that Glaze will maintain that job for a Raiders team that waffles on its quarterbacks and running backs but has been loyal to its leaky right tackle.

Jonathon Cooper goes all the way for a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/DIVqhpBly5

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 1, 2023

Glaze has been particularly ineffective the past four weeks. While his deficiencies haven't always led to sacks, he's been a liability on film in Weeks 10 and 11. In his past three games, Glaze has allowed 11 quarterback pressures, 10 hurries, and two quarterback hits. Those have largely come against underwhelming pass rushers.

The upside of Cooper is that he’s also a contributor in run support, so even if his pressures do not turn into sacks, he should be able to beat Glaze repeatedly for TFLs. While Nik Bonitto is the better pure pass rusher and has more upside, Cooper is a viable DL1 streamer in shallow leagues this week.

Stream: Daiyan Henley, LB, Los Angeles Chargers

Henley is the 23^rd most rostered LB, and the 18^th most started in fantasy as of this writing. However, he comfortably sits inside of our top ten linebacker rankings for the week.

The Washington State product was always a favorite in my pre-draft rankings and was twice a preseason sleeper, and now he’s finally putting it all together. Henley has registered double-digit tackles in four straight games, has four pass deflections in his past five, and he’s a threat to rush the passer.

Even better for Henley is his matchup with the Ravens this week. Baltimore is fifth in the NFL in rush attempts per game, while Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely combined have more targets than any fantasy tight end not named Travis Kelce or Brock Bowers. In short, their offense runs through players Henley will be responsible for.

Fade: Devon Witherspoon, DB, Seattle Seahawks

Witherspoon is a playmaker whose fantasy production has declined from his rookie year, but he still remains a high-end DB2 or a low-end DB1 most weeks. Unfortunately, he is playing the Cardinals this week, who average the second-fewest pass attempts and the third-fewest offensive plays per game.

While Witherspoon may still see solid volume against Trey McBride, the Cardinals are one of the lowest-volume opponents he could face. Throw in the fact that Kyler Murray has the sixth-lowest turnover-worthy play rate, and the opportunity for big plays should be limited.

Consider Witherspoon a low-end DB2 in this matchup.

Fade: Derick Hall, DL, Seattle Seahawks

We are doubling down on fading Seahawks this week. Regardless of how mediocre the Arizona Cardinals may look on the depth chart, they are proving to be a difficult matchup for opposing defenses this season.

For Hall, we are fading him for many of the same reasons we are Witherspoon. As stated above, Arizona's offense is bottom of the league in pass attempts and offensive plays per game. Worse for Hall, Arizona is allowing just 7.9 quarterback pressures and 1.5 sacks per game, which is fifth-lowest in the NFL.

Premium/Deep League Streamers and Fades

Stream: Chop Robinson, DL, Miami Dolphins

Robinson is a deep league streamer only, considering he still does not have the snap percentage or production that makes him reliable in fantasy. So, even if you are in a deep league, the rookie is a risk.

Chop Robinson heating up pic.twitter.com/J8JmaauoEO

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) November 18, 2024

That said, Robinson's production is on the upswing, with two sacks in his past three games. Plus, his defensive snap rate seems to have reached a comfortable floor of 50% after he dropped to 34% early in the season. Those are good signs for a raw, undersized, supremely quick young edge.

The Patriots offer Robinson an above-average matchup, as well. Despite being mobile and elusive, Drake Maye still sports the tenth-highest sack rate amongst all NFL quarterbacks this season. Much of that is attributable to poor pass blockers, the second worst in the league. That means Chop’s stock is up this week.

Stream: Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Detroit Lions

Another truly deep league streamer only, Rodriguez should be the primary relief for an injured Alex Anzalone. While Rodriguez has barely played this season, that changed with Anzalone’s injury. With Anzalone out early last week, the Oklahoma State alum saw a season-high 90% of Detroit's defensive snaps. Now he has a solid matchup on tap.

Indianapolis is averaging 29 rush attempts per game with Anthony Richardson under center, the 11^th most in the NFL. Factor out the Green Bay game, where Indy ran just 35 total offensive plays, a true outlier situation, and the Colts average 30.8 rush attempts per game with Richardson. That's fifth-most in the league.

If game script holds and the Colts try to establish the run early, this game favors the skillsets of Rodriguez and Campbell. However, things could get out of hand and force the Colts to throw… though that should still result in a number of designed QB runs and short throws that could become interceptions.

Fade: Josh Jobe, DB, Seattle Seahawks

Jobe was one of the most added defensive backs in fantasy after back-to-back strong fantasy performances against the Falcons and Bills. His roster rate dropped precipitously thanks to his bye week, and it should remain there moving forward.

While some still like Jobe as a streamer and upside option in deeper leagues, he is a low-volume rotational option in a deep Seattle secondary. He also has a low-volume matchup this week with an Arizona offense attempting the second-fewest pass attempts in the NFL. He is yet another Seahawk we are fading this week.

Fade: Joey Bosa, DL, Los Angeles Chargers

It may seem like a reach, telling people to fade a big name like Bosa in deeper IDP leagues. Many of you may not have that kind of luxury, either. There are reasons to get away from him this week, though.

Lamar Jackson has the fifth-lowest sack rate in the NFL this season. His pass blockers are rated the seventh-best in the league, too. While Bosa's snap rate doubled last week, and his pressure rates remain positive, the matchup here is not good. The former superstar still also isn't playing a full sleight of snaps yet, which lowers his floor further.

Defenders Worth Stashing

Calijah Kancey, DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kancey was our DL Riser of the Week, but he is still just the 75^th most rostered DL in fantasy.

As we stated in our IDP rankings this week, the Pitt alum consistently plays over 60% of the snaps and has totaled four sacks in just five games. Plus, he has an elite matchup this week with the Giants and their beleaguered passing game. He’s a strong add in a tough bye week.

Omar Speights, LB, Los Angeles Rams

Speights is just the 84^th most rostered LB in fantasy, but his usage has spiked since the injury to Troy Reeder. The undrafted free agent has started and played over half of Los Angeles' defensive snaps in each of the past two games. In those contests, he's registered six and eight tackles.

Now Speights gets an Eagles offense averaging the most rush attempts per game in the NFL. He is worth streaming in a lot of shallow leagues this week and he’s a deep league factor until Reeder returns.

Mike Sainristil, DB, Washington Commanders

Sainristil has played 70% or more of Washington's defensive snaps in all but one game this season. They haven't shied away from using him on elite receivers like A.J. Brown, either.

Wayyyy too easy for Mike Sainristil.

Textbook from the rookie corner. pic.twitter.com/apFrV1WULU

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) November 15, 2024

The rookie out of Michigan is used both inside and outside, suggesting he could follow CeeDee Lamb this week. Sainristil is also a strong tackler and will be facing a Cowboys team that should be playing from behind. Dallas also averages the most pass attempts per game this season.

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