2011 IDP Game Notes: Week 3
Hello and welcome everyone to the 3rd weekly installment of “IDP Game Notes” brought to you by IDP Guru staff writer, Johnny Davis. This column is quickly turning into one of the most comprehensive, all-encompassing IDP articles anywhere. And it’s free!
– Maybe New England WLB Jerod Mayo (4-1) is being slowed by the thigh injury he’s listed as having because in two of the first three games he has failed to live up to his billing as a top 3 fantasy LB. With SS Pat Chung out with a thumb injury, the Pats’ safeties failed to step up in his absence: Josh Barrett (3-0), Sergio Brown (2-1), and James Ihedigbo (1-0). A few CBs looked good on the stat sheet: Devin McCourty (8-3, PD), Kyle Arrington (3-3, 2 int, 3 PD), and Leigh Bodden (5-2, 2 PD). DE Andre Carter (3-1) had his best game of the young season.
– With the downpour in Carolina, you would think this game’s box score would be full of fluke numbers, but it appears we can take a little useful info away from it. SLB James Anderson (8-1) continued to make a case as the most valuable Panthers LB. DE Greg Hardy (5-1, 1 sack, safety) continued to make a case for him to be added to fantasy rosters. And there were a few other notables: MLB Dan Connor (4-2), DE Charles Johnson (3-0, 1 sack), and WLB Jason Williams (7-1). SS Charles Godfrey sat out with a concussion.
– Jacksonville MLB Paul Posluszny (3-2) had another disappointing day. It’s probably time to hit the panic button, but I’ll give him the rain as an excuse in this one. DT Terrance Knighton (6-0) had an uncharacteristic high number of tackles. SLB Daryl Smith (5-4, 2 PD) had his best statistical performance of the season. FS Dawan Landry (3-2, 1 PD) didn’t amaze anyone.
– San Francisco ILB Navorro Bowman (8-5) continues to outproduce his counterpart, ILB Patrick Willis (3-5, PD). FS Dashon Goldson (5-3) returned from a knee injury. SS Donte Whitner (1-1, PD) and DE Justin Smith (0-2) had disappointing performances.
– There’s not a whole lot to get excited about when you look at Miami’s box score from this game. SS Yeremiah Bell (3-3, PD) had a decent day, but not much to say beyond that. Noteables: FS Reshad Jones (3-1, PD), ILB Karlos Dansby (2-0), DE Randy Starks (2-0, PD), and OLB Cameron Wake (0-0).
– Minnesota DE Jared Allen (5-1, FF, 3 sacks) showed why he is considered an elite DL. DE Brian Robison (3-0, 2 sacks) had a good showing in his effort to fill the Ray Edwards role. A couple of LBs registered good numbers: MLB E.J. Henderson (7-3) and SLB Chad Greenway (5-3). The Vikings CBs continue to outshine the safeties: CB Cedric Griffin (7-1) and CB Antoine Winfield (5-2).
– Houston ILB DeMeco Ryans (6-0, PD) had his best tackling performance of the 2011 season, but his numbers still aren’t where they were before his 2010 season-ending injury. SS Glover Quin (6-2) also put up his best 2011 tackling performance. Rookie DE J.J. Watt (4-0, 1 sack) continues to impress. ILB Brian Cushing (4-1) was nothing special. OLB Mario Williams (1-0) banged up his knee.
– Philadelphia MLB Jamar Chaney (3-1) didn’t blow anyone away in his debut as the Mike. As usual, the Eagles DLs terrorized the opposing QB: DE Trent Cole (4-1, 1 sack), DE Jason Babin (2-1, 1 sack), and DT Cullen Jenkins (2-1, 1 sack).
– Denver came into this game banged up, with big names DE Elvis Dumervil, WLB D.J. Williams, and CB Champ Bailey inactive. After an eye-popping 10 solo tackles last week, WLB Wesley Woodyard (7-3) continued to shine. MLB Joe Mays (6-2, PD) and SLB Von Miller (3-1, 1 sack, FF) also had good days. It should be interesting to see how the Broncos LB situation shakes out when Williams returns from an elbow injury.
– New York FS Eric Smith (7-1) posted a third-straight good game. After getting me excited with his week 1 performance, it appears ILB Bart Scott (4-2) has slipped back into mediocrity. CB Antonio Cromartie (6-3) posted good tackle numbers but also suffered a bruised lung. I didn’t even know that was possible.
– Kansas City SS Jon McGraw (0-1) had been filling in well for Eric Berry, but he went down to a knee injury, opening the door for someone just as well-known as Vaughn Martin, that is, Donald Washington (7-1, FF). It’s clear whoever plays at SS in KC can put up numbers, so monitor this situation. Not to be outdone, a few Chiefs LBs posted good stats: ILB Jovan Belcher (8-2), ILB Derrick Johnson (6-1), and OLB Tamba Hali (4-2, 1 sack).
– The Quintin Mikell (6-0, fumble recovery) project is working out at FS for St. Louis. MLB James Laurinaitis (4-0) had a down day by his standards. DE Chris Long (1-0, 1 sack) at least got a sack. CB Justin King (6-0, FF, 2 PD) continues to rack up tackles, but it may be because he couldn’t cover a bed if he was armed with a blanket.
– After a horrendous week 1, Chicago WLB Lance Briggs (10-4, FF) had his second-straight 10-solo performance. MLB Brian Urlacher (6-1, int, PD) got back to his studly ways. A couple of DLs got to the QB: DE Julius Peppers (2-0, fumble recovery, 1 sack) and DT Henry Melton (3-0, 1 sack).
– Arizona DE Calais Campbell (5-5, 2.5 sacks) put up decent numbers in the first two games, but he really showed his potential in this game. DE Darnell Dockett (3-2, .5 sacks) played more like what is expected of him. ILB Daryl Washington (3-1) played but didn’t post great numbers. SS Adrian Wilson (4-2, PD) did well. ILB Paris Lenon (0-4) and FS Kerry Rhodes (1-2) had disappointing days. Rookie CB Patrick Peterson (1-0, int, PD) picked off a pass.
– Atlanta WLB Sean Weatherspoon (10-1) and MLB Curtis Lofton (7-4) keep chugging along. It looks like Weatherspoon might be pulling a Navorro Bowman on Lofton. FS Thomas DeCoud (7-2, int, PD) and SS William Moore (3-1, int, PD) had good days. DE Ray Edwards (2-1) continues to disappoint. After flying off the waiver wire after week 1, DE Kroy Biermann (1-1) has settled in with the below-average numbers that were expected of him.
– In case you haven’t noticed, Indianapolis LB Pat Angerer (12-9) is the man. He may be listed as a SLB, but he has been a tackle machine in the middle with Gary Brackett injured. A couple of DEs put up some numbers, as well: Dwight Freeney (3-1, FF, 2 sacks) and Robert Mathis (1-0, fumble recovery, FF, 1 sack). FS Antoine Bethea (2-3) had a down game. SS Melvin Bullitt sat out with a shoulder injury.
– Washington SS LaRon Landry (4-0, FF) looked extremely strong in his first 2011 game. FS O.J. Atogwe (6-0, PD) had his best game of the season. ILB London Fletcher (4-3) played OK. Maybe I was wrong about rookie OLB Ryan Kerrigan (4-0, FF, 1 sack). He has been in on a lot of plays and has put up good numbers.