Week 8 IDP Start Em, Sit Em - Streamers and Fades for Fantasy Football Defensive Players

Despite NFL offenses struggling in 2022 while defenses grow stingier, IDP managers are still struggling to keep their heads above water during another tumultuous season. From the injuries to T.J. Watt, Joey Bosa, and Shaquille Leonard to a crippling bye-nado in Week 7, there’s been no shortage of trials for fantasy managers to overcome on the defensive side of the ball. However, there may finally be a wave of good luck coming.

Our positive vibes began with news that Chase Young could practice as early as this week, though Washington threw a bit of water on that fire when they projected his return in Week 9. Then Tre’Davious White was officially removed from IR, which opened his practice window. Finally, and most importantly, it was announced that T.J. Watt has returned to practice. Each of these elite defenders is trending in the right direction for fantasy purposes, is readily available in most IDP leagues, and can help most squads.

When prioritizing these players, Watt is the top priority. He’s worth at least 15% of your FAAB and a bench spot now that he’s practicing. Young is also worth a speculative add in most formats, but he’s worth significantly less than 15%. Finally, White has the least direct fantasy value as a corner that opponents avoid. Still, his return should increase the volume for Jordan Poyer, Taron Johnson, and Kaiir Elam. Each of them offers value in certain formats … and with that addressed, let's get to some streamers!

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Things to Monitor This Week

The Value of Elite NFL Backups

As we mentioned in our streamer article last week, Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton are almost a one-for-one swap for fantasy purposes. The same goes for Zaire Franklin and Shaquille Leonard. If Jewell plays, then he is an automatic LB2 for us, and Singleton loses most of his value. However, Singleton will slide into Jewell’s spot in our rankings if Jewell is out. The same goes for Leonard and Franklin. If Shaq doesn’t play, Franklin is a top-five LB. If Shaq plays, he takes Franklin’s place.

Given the interchangeability of these players and the clear roles they play in relation to one another, we have decided to only rank the players we project to play (Jewell and Franklin). Leonard and Singleton are currently off our boards because we project Leonard out and Jewell in. However, if Leonard and Jewell play, keep an eye on the practice reports. If either is a partial practice on Friday, that could indicate a timeshare trap is on tap.

Worrying Over the Health of Impact Linebackers

Currently, we have Questionable tags following Logan Wilson, Mykal Walker, and Frankie Luvu. Each of these 'backers qualify as an LB2 when healthy. This week each of them also has a quality matchup on tap, especially now that Carolina has learned to move the ball. There is legitimate concern about how much each tackler will play, if at all, though.

Last week Luvu was questionable, leading to a 30% drop in his typical playing time. Meanwhile, Walker missed last week and remains limited, while Wilson has the "game-time decision" feel. It's worth following the practice reports for all of these players closely, as each could see limitations placed on them if they remain limited. The matchups for Luvu and Wilson are incredibly attractive, however. If any of them are full participants by Friday, consider them an LB2.

Some Elite Matchups for Elite Pass Rushers

I often get questions about whether I would sub out a superstar or a player I have highly ranked in favor of a streamer or a lower-ranked option. Typically, this happens when a fantasy manager needs a major boom from a defender in a particularly tough matchup and is willing to take a risk. I understand this issue, and it's why I sometimes tell people to gamble on a lower-ranked option with more upside…. I won't do that with this week's top DLs, though.

Micah Parsons gets a Bears team allowing the most sacks in the NFL. Nick Bosa gets a Rams squad that ranks bottom-ten in the NFL in both sacks allowed and Adjusted Sack Rate, plus their line is on the decline. Myles Garrett gets a Bengals offense that is sixth in passing volume, Aaron Donald gets a banged-up 49ers interior with a weak center, and Matthew Judon gets a Jets team that should have to throw more now that they lost their top RB.

Every defensive lineman in our top-five this week is a well-established and elite option in fantasy. Each of them has a tremendous matchup in Week 8, too. Start ‘em if you got ‘em.

Casual Scoring Streamers and Fades for This Week

Stream: Dorance Armstrong, Dallas Cowboys

As mentioned above, the Bears have surrendered the most sacks in the NFL this season. Their Adjusted Sack Rate is also the worst, with 28 pressures allowed from the edges and 51 from inside. Justin Fields has also fumbled the ball 11 times in seven games this season.

Armstrong is readily available in 97% of IDP leagues, and he's secured at least one sack in five of seven games this season. He's also deployed in various spots along Dallas' front, including on the interior and as a standup linebacker. That variety of deployments should help Armstrong take advantage of this Bears front, offering him a solid chance at a strip sack. We are elevating all Cowboys pass rushers this week, but Armstrong is the most readily available option.

Stream: Frankie Luvu, LB, Carolina Panthers

If Luvu is healthy, you start him. The Falcons currently average the fourth-most rush attempts in the NFL and the third-most at home. Considering Carolina has struggled to score points for the majority of this season, it’s fair to expect Atlanta will be able to continue their run-heavy ways this weekend. If they do, that spells tremendous volume for a tackler like Luvu.

Fade: Rashan Gary, DL, Green Bay Packers

Gary is regularly in our top-ten discussion at the DL position, so you cannot drop him too far. That said, in shallow IDP leagues, you have to consider looking elsewhere for your DL1 this week. The Bills have given up the fewest sacks in the NFL, and Gary is currently questionable with a head injury. If the former Wolverine plays, his matchup with Buffalo has us fading him into the DL2 category for healthier options with higher floors.

Drop: Denzel Perryman for Divine Deablo

The odds are good Perryman will eventually return to his full-time workload and steady fantasy production. However, it's hard to trust Perryman when his playing time has declined since his injury return in Week 5. That’s a troubling trend when you consider his teammate (Divine Deablo) is seeing 100% of snaps and producing far more consistent fantasy stats, all while Perryman is rostered in 1/4 more IDP leagues than Deablo.

Premium Scoring & Deep League Streamers and Fades for This Week

Stream: Rasul Douglas, CB, Green Bay Packers

Rasul Douglas was a big playmaker last year when he notched five interceptions and 13 PDs. He's behind that pace this year, but he faces a Buffalo offense averaging 41 pass attempts per game this week. Expect Douglas to see Diggs on approximately half of the Bills' snaps since Diggs splits his time evenly between sidelines while Douglas stays on the right. That should still offer enough volume to make Douglas a streamer in Premium formats.

Stream:  Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Vander Esch is primarily a run-stopper for fantasy purposes. That's why we told you to play him against the Eagles and sit him against the Rams. This week he gets a Bears offense that averages the second-most rushing attempts per game in the NFL. The Boise State alum is also available in 95.3% of IDP leagues, making him a readily available streamer for those in deeper leagues that place a premium on tackle totals.

Fade: Tariq Woolen, CB, Seattle Seahawks

As one of his biggest fans coming out of this year's NFL Draft, it feels dirty fading Woolen. However, considering we were early proponents of the league's leader in interceptions, it says something when we do…which we are…sort of.

Daniel Jones is leading a safe and conservative offense in New York, to everyone's shock and dismay. In seven games, the turnover-prone Blue Devil has thrown just two interceptions and lost two fumbles. He's also averaging the fourth fewest pass attempts in the NFL and sporting the 12^th-best completion percentage. This will be a low-scoring and run-heavy affair if the Giants and Seahawks have their way. That spells trouble for Woolen in Premium scoring.

Fade: Trevon Diggs, CB, Dallas Cowboys

Diggs remains a starter if you must field a CB in your leagues or if you can't afford to stash or drop him this week. Unfortunately, his volume should be severely crippled against a Chicago team attempting the fewest passes in the NFL. The Bears have a season average of just 19.4 attempts per game, despite breaking through against the Patriots with a whopping…21 attempts. Even if Diggs follows Darnell Mooney, he’s capped at six or seven targets.

Defensive Tackles to Consider for This Week

Justin Jones, DT, Chicago Bears

Jones has a steady snap share and three separate fantasy-relevant performances on his resume this year. He could also be in a favorable matchup this week, with the Cowboys and Bears looking to run conservative offenses that focus on the center of the field. Jones is a viable streamer if you need a readily available DT in a league that rewards PDs.

Al Woods, DT, Seattle Seahawks

Last week Al Woods saw just 23% of his team's defensive plays, and the week before he saw 26%. However, against run-heavy attacks, Woods is on the field for more than half of Seattle’s snaps.

The Giants and their 33.6 rush attempts per game should provide the volume Woods needs to be relevant this week. When Big Al gets significant volume against rushing attacks like this, he averages six tackles per game. It helps that the Giants have allowed 46 interior pressures this year on minimal volume. This is a solid DT gamble if you need to make one.

Cornerbacks to Consider for This Week

Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Washington Commanders

St-Juste was already playing a majority of the defensive snaps for Washington, but with William Jackson III in the doghouse, the rookie's snap share has risen to 100%. That kind of participation level will come in handy against a sixth-round quarterback who hasn’t thrown an NFL pass (Sam Ehlinger). While Indy is likely to focus on their run game with Ehlinger under center, they’ll have to throw sometimes. Expect limited but high-value opportunities for St-Juste.

Deommodore Lenoir, CB, San Francisco 49ers

This makes two weeks in a row that we recommend Lenoir, but his playing time and matchup offer attractive fantasy potential for a corner available in 99.9% of IDP leagues. Lenoir has seen over 90% of San Francisco’s snaps in three of their past four games. He also gets Matthew Stafford this week, who has thrown the second-most interceptions in the NFL despite already having his bye.

With the Rams averaging the fifth most pass attempts in the NFL over the past three weeks and Stafford turning the ball over regularly, Lenoir is a cheap and viable CB streamer in deeper formats. It’s also helpful that he’s experienced in the slot, suggesting he could follow Cooper Kupp inside since San Francisco trusts Lenoir so much… for some reason.

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