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For fantasy writers, sometimes the most obvious matchups are also the most frustrating. When you are writing a fantasy streamers article, our job is to point out strong or weak matchups that could sway a player’s stat line. The idea is that you can help readers find a readily available defender with a great matchup… but what if the best player/matchup combo isn't so available?
For Week 3, there isn’t a better IDP matchup on paper than the Rams’ offensive line versus Nick Bosa. While L.A. will get one starter back from suspension this week, they are still missing two starters and have surrendered 23 pressures in two games. Worse, Matthew Stafford has been sacked seven times and is now missing his top two targets.
With this matchup on tap, it’s hard not to rank Bosa as the top DL for Week 3. It’s such an attractive marriage of superstar pass rusher and struggling pass attack, yet it’s also low-hanging fruit. You can't really list Nick Bosa as a streamer because he’s one of the most rostered players in IDP. All you can do is say, “Hey! Start that guy you were already starting!”
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Casual IDP Streamers and Fades
Stream: Ernest Jones, LB, Tennessee Titans
While us analysts who predicted a slow start for Jones in Tennessee are partially responsible for the former Ram being dropped in 34% of IDP leagues over the past two weeks, the dip has sunk too low. Jones was back playing 100% of the Titans' snaps in Week 2, which answered our biggest concern.
Even better, Jones has a plus matchup against the Packers on tap. With Malik Willis under center, the Packers ran the ball a whopping 53 times last week. That’s fantastic for opposing linebackers. We expect Willis will again start and the Titans will let Green Bay keep this one close, so the rushing volume should again be elite.
While Jones currently sits 46th in fantasy LB scoring, and he’s available in nearly 50% of IDP leagues, his production and roster percentage should both rise now that he is playing every down.
Former #Gamecock Ernest Jones is already making a difference in Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/wpsZES4jOA
— Famously Garnet Sports (@FamouslyGarnet) September 18, 2024
Stream: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
While most people in IDP leagues that require you to play a DT will already be starting Jones, he was just the 25th most started DL in IDP leagues last week. That means plenty of people haven't been starting Jones but should consider doing so this week.
Through two weeks, all three of the Falcons' starting interior blockers have a negative pass-blocking grade on PFF. They have allowed 16 quarterback pressures, 10 QB hits, and three sacks in two games. Worse, this is not an aberration for Matthew Bergeron and Drew Dalman, who graded poorly as pass blockers in 2023.
While Jones frequently moves around the formation, he has spent approximately 49.7% of his time on the interior since the beginning of the 2023 season. He should continue playing half his downs on the inside against Atlanta, giving him a positive pass-rush matchup.
Fade: Nate Hobbs, DB, Las Vegas Raiders
Hobbs is currently the 14th most-started DB in IDP leagues, but he is 144th in Standard IDP Scoring this season. While that output is based upon a very small sample size and is due in part to the low-volume pass attacks he's played against, it is hard to trust him this week.
While Carolina could see more throws and targets to the slot, Hobbs moves all over the field. Worse, Andy Dalton’s interception rate has only spiked over 3% in two of his past ten seasons and he averaged a paltry 27 pass attempts per game in his last stop as a starter.
Although we could see Carolina’s offense pick things up with a veteran quarterback, Dalton has historically been a conservative passer running balanced attacks. With Vegas and Carolina both struggling to score points this season, this game could become a ground war where receivers and corners see limited opportunities.
Fade: Carl Granderson, DL, New Orleans Saints
As we have stated before, the Philadelphia Eagles are an incredibly stingy pass-protecting crew. They were tops in PFF's pass protection grades in 2023 and 2022. Philly is just 0.2 points behind the Colts for the lead in that category this year, too. In other words, the Eagles are an incredible pass-blocking team.
Against the Falcons last week, Philly allowed one total sack. On the season, they have allowed a total of just three pressures off the edge. Considering that Granderson has played every snap but one on the edge this season, his fantasy managers should be very concerned about his matchup this week.
Premium/Deep League Streamers and Fades
Stream: Leonard Floyd, DL, San Francisco 49ers
In Week 1, the Rams surrendered the week’s top-graded pass rush performance to Aidan Hutchinson, who won 47% of his pass rush matchups. In Week 2, you saw Denis Gardeck collect three sacks, and Zaven Collins secured a rare quarterback takedown. While the Rams get Rob Havenstein back this week, he can only do so much.
As we noted in the opening of this article, Nick Bosa is a no-brainer this week. However, Floyd is also worth considering. While the former Ram disappointed in Week 2, like many 49ers did, his playing time and role on San Francisco’s offense is solid. He is the 79th most rostered DL in fantasy and is a viable streamer in deep leagues.
Leonard Floyd (yellow) & Malik Mustapha (red) creating block destruction clinic tape.@Leonard90Flo strikes with violent hat/hands, extends & drives back the TE/cancelling gaps. Safety @_malikmustapha gets downhill & launches into his blocker. Beauty in the chaos! #49ers #FTTB pic.twitter.com/rHj6Sc2EbF
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) August 25, 2024
Stream: Jared Verse, DL, Los Angeles Rams
My favorite defender in this year’s NFL Draft, Verse has been dominant in his first two games as a pro. His ability to blow up the Lions' sturdy left side in Week 1 was particularly impressive, though his follow-up against Arizona was equally rewarding.
While Verse has a tough matchup with Trent Williams on paper, the All-Pro left tackle has shown signs of rust after a long holdout. Against the Jets, Williams needed an I.V. during the game due to exhaustion. Versus the Vikings, the former Sooner allowed an uncharacteristic four quarterback pressures and a sack.
Although the expectation should be that Williams will give Verse his worst showing as a pro, since Williams is still elite on his off days, there is room for the rookie pass rusher to take advantage of a 49ers offense that isn't quite in sync. Verse ranks eighth amongst all edge rushers in Pass Rush Win Rate and is a viable DL2 despite an iffy matchup.
Some may think Verse does not qualify as a "deep streamer" because of his recent production and draft profile. However, as of this writing, he is just the 50th most rostered DL in fantasy, and he is going up against the best left tackle in the NFL. So, streaming him against Trent Williams is a risky but worthwhile gamble.
Fade: Charvarius Ward, DB, San Francisco 49ers
Ward has averaged a solid 6.6 fantasy points per game in his past four contests against the Rams. That's very good production for a fantasy DB in any fantasy format. Even better, the former Chief led the NFL in pass deflections last year and finished fourth in INTs.
Unfortunately, his matchup with the Rams is less than ideal. With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out of Los Angeles' lineup, Ward has no clear wide receiver to shadow and Stafford has no receiver to lean on. Opportunities for a miscommunication turnover keep Ward in consideration in deeper leagues, but volume should be low this week.
Fade: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Miami Dolphins
Brooks has been a regular LB1 in my rankings for years. He also earned high run defense marks coming out of Texas Tech, so it was no surprise when he led the NFL in tackles. However, his metrics have not been strong as a pro, and his role in Miami seems to have watered down what magic he had in Seattle.
Brooks is still someone worth watching and stashing in deeper leagues, as he has the talent to lead the Dolphins in tackles by a wide margin. With that said, his usage has been underwhelming so far. He is also rostered in more leagues than many better options, such as Tyrel Dodson, Dorian Williams, David Long Jr., and Ivan Pace Jr.
Defenders Worth Stashing
Yaya Diaby, DL/LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There are 95 fantasy defensive linemen and edge rushers rostered in more IDP leagues than Diaby. This is understandable, considering he’s produced just 1.5 fantasy points in two games.
However, Diaby sees regular snaps and is a designated starter for the Buccaneers. His advanced metrics are also incredibly promising. The Louisville product sits 14th amongst all edge rushers in PFF’s pass rush grades. Diaby is also fourth in Pass Rush Win Rate through two games. His production should pick up if those trends continue.
Talanoa Hufanga, DB, San Francisco 49ers
Hufanga finished as a top-five fantasy DB in Standard IDP Scoring two years ago, and he was on his way to another top-15 finish before a knee injury last season.
Reports are that Hufanga is expected to play in Week 3. If that’s true, it could be a matter of weeks, if not days, before he returns to a full-time role. His replacement (George Odum) has been underwhelming in Hufanga's absence, so San Francisco should be eager to get him back if the Troy Polamalu protégé is truly healthy.
The former All-Pro is available in 97% of IDP leagues and is just the 75th most rostered DB in fantasy.
The return of Talanoa Hufanga is upon us 😈#49ers || #FTTB pic.twitter.com/4e1rF1bouN
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) September 18, 2024
SirVocea Dennis, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite not being a designated starter and never playing more than 52% of the snaps in each of the Buccaneers’ first two games, Dennis still has 18 total tackles and a sack to his name.
An intelligent and underrated prospect coming out of Pitt, Dennis is quickly earning more snaps on a quality Buccaneers defense. He is worth stashing in deeper and dynasty IDP leagues, as he could eventually replace Lavonte David.
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