Written By: Johnny Davis
Hello and welcome everyone to the 4th 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!
Panthers @ Bears
- Chicago
MLB Brian Urlacher (8 solo tackles-0 assists) and WLB Lance Briggs (5-3) keep
chugging along. With SS Chris Harris still out with a hamstring injury,
safeties Brandon Meriweather (6-1, pass defensed) and Major Wright (5-1) held down
the fort. CB Charles Tillman (6-1, 2 PD) had good tackle numbers, while CB D.J.
Moore (2-1, PD, 20-yd int return TD) took a pick to the house. DE Julius
Peppers (2-1, blocked FG) had a decent day.
- With
Carolina SLB James Anderson (3-1) having a down day, MLB Dan Connor (6-2)
picked up the slack. With Chicago’s Swiss cheese O-line, big things were
expected out of the Panthers D-line, but DEs Greg Hardy (3-0) and Charles
Johnson (1-1, 1 sack) didn’t exactly blow up the stat sheet. SS Charles Godfrey
(4-1, int, PD) returned from a concussion. CB Chris Gamble sat out with his own
concussion.
Bills @ Bengals
- Cincinnati
FS Reggie Nelson (5-2, PD) is having a good season. MLB Rey Maualuga (3-8) was
in on a lot of plays but is just not posting the numbers we had hoped for. DE
Carlos Dunlap (0-2, PD) continues to disappoint. DE Michael Johnson (1-2, .5
sack) could have been worse.
- Buffalo SS
George Wilson (8-4, int, PD) had an outstanding day. DB Bryan Scott (2-0, PD,
43-yd int return TD) didn’t get the tackles but a pick-6 makes up for that. DE
Dwan Edwards (5-3) had a big day, while ILB Nick Barnett (5-5), FS Jairus Byrd
(5-2), and rookie DE Marcell Dareus (2-2, 1 sack) held their own. CB Terrence
McGee sat out with a bum hamstring.
Titans @ Browns
- With
Tennessee’s starting SS Chris Hope (2-0) suffering a new injury, Jordan
Babineaux (5-0, PD, 97-yd int return TD) is back in the starting lineup. CB
Jason McCourty (10-0, PD) is having a great year, and fellow CB Cortland
Finnegan (10-1, PD) decided to join in on this day. A couple of LBs racked up
on the tackles too: WLB Will Witherspoon (7-1, 2 PD) and MLB Barrett Ruud
(7-0). Three DLs got to the QB: DE Derrick Morgan (2-0, 1 sack), DT Karl Klug
(2-0, 1 sack), and DE Jason Jones (1-0, 1 sack).
- Cleveland
MLB D’Qwell Jackson (5-5) has cooled off a bit but is still getting in on a lot
of plays. SLB Scott Fujita (6-3) had his best game of the season. Owners are
hitting the panic button on SS T.J. Ward (3-1). DT Ahtyba Rubin (0-2) was
quiet, while rookie DE Jabaal Sheard (2-3) continues to show promise. CB Joe
Haden (1-0, 2 PD) left the game with a knee injury.
Lions @ Cowboys
- With Tony
Romo deciding to morph into a mistake factory, some of Detroit’s IDPs had huge
days. MLB Stephen Tulloch’s (10-2, int, PD) numbers have been rising. With
starting SLB Justin Durant out with a concussion, Bobby Carpenter (4-2, PD,
34-yd int return TD) stepped up. CB Chris Houston (5-1, PD, 56-yd int return
TD) is having a good season. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (2-0) and DT Ndamukong Suh
(2-1) were pretty quiet.
-
Expectations are now sky high for Dallas ILB Sean Lee (3-1, PD) and he fell
short in this game. With FS Gerald Sensabaugh (4-0, int, PD) going out with a
concussion, Barry Church (5-1) stepped in. OLB Demarcus Ware (2-1) had a
pedestrian day.
Saints @ Jaguars
- New
Orleans SS Roman Harper (5-3, 1 sack) is as reliable as they come. DE Will
Smith (2-0, 2 sacks) only had 2 tackles but they were both on the QB behind the
line of scrimmage. MLB Jonathan Vilma (4-1) returned from injury.
- Now this
is more like what I expected out of Jacksonville MLB Paul Posluszny (9-4, 1
sack, 2 PD). Dawan Landry (7-4, int, PD)
is now listed as the Jags’ starting SS, with Dwight Lowery (3-2, PD) at FS.
Landry had been listed as the FS with Courtney Greene at SS. SLB Daryl Smith
(6-1, int, PD) and CB Rashean Mathis (6-0) are having good seasons. DE Aaron
Kampman remains out with his lingering knee injury.
Steelers @ Texans
- Houston
OLB Mario Williams (4-1, 2 sacks) performed nicely after a knee scare last
week. Rookie DE J.J. Watt (1-0) filled his diaper. Other notables: ILB DeMeco
Ryans (4-0, PD), ILB Brian Cushing (2-4), OLB Connor Barwin (3-1, 1 sack, PD),
and SS Glover Quin (2-0). CB Kareem Jackson missed the game with a knee injury.
- Pittsburgh
ILB Lawrence Timmons (2-0, PD) had his second-straight extremely quiet game. SS
Troy Polamalu (8-1) had his usual awesome game. OLB James Harrison (3-0)
suffered - of all things - an eye injury on a helmet-to-helmet hit. With DE
Brett Keisel already out with a knee injury and DE Aaron Smith (3-1) going down
with a foot injury, Pittsburgh’s D-line could be in trouble.
Vikings @ Chiefs
- With
starting SS Jon McGraw inactive with a lower leg injury, no safety stood out in
his absence: Kendrick Lewis (5-0), Donald Washington (5-0), and Sab Piscitelli
(1-0). A handful of KC LBs racked up the numbers: OLB Tamba Hali (6-1, 2
sacks), ILB Derrick Johnson (5-2), and ILB Jovan Belcher (6-1).
- The usual
suspects in Minnesota’s defensive backfield ate up plenty of tackles: FS Husain
Abdullah (7-1), CB Antoine Winfield (6-1), and CB Cedric Griffin (5-0, 2 PD).
You can almost set your watch by DE Jared Allen (2-0, 2 sacks) doing something
to help your fantasy team. MLB E.J. Henderson (4-1) and SLB Chad Greenway (3-0)
were nothing remarkable.
49ers @ Eagles
- San Fran
FS Dashon Goldson (10-0, PD, fumble recovery) was considered a bust last
season, but he’s looked good in the two games he’s played this season. Both
ILBs put up good numbers: Navorro Bowman (6-0, PD, fumble recovery) and Patrick
Willis (6-0, PD). DE Justin Smith (3-0, forced fumble) had a decent day, while
rookie OLB Aldon Smith (4-1, 1.5 sack) had a very nice game.
- The big
story here is that Eagles stud DE Trent Cole went down with a calf strain and
is expected to join a long list of DLs on Philly’s injury list. Other notables: DE Jason Babin (3-0, 3
sacks, forced fumble, PD), MLB Jamar Chaney (6-2), WLB Brian Rolle (5-0, PD),
and back-up LB Casey Matthews (0-0).
Redskins @ Rams
- Washington
SS LaRon Landry (2-1) scared owners by heading toward the locker room on
Sunday, but Coach Mike Shanahan said he "went off to the restroom"
because "something happened." Ah, well that clears it up. Rookie OLB
Ryan Kerrigan (5-1, 1 sack, FF) remains on a tear. OLB Brian Orakpo (4-1, 2.5
sacks) had a huge day. ILB London Fletcher (1-0) and FS O.J. Atogwe (2-0) were
quiet.
- St. Louis
MLB James Laurinaitis (5-2, int, PD) got back on track. DE Chris Long (2-0)
finally failed to get to the QB. It looks like Darian Stewart (6-0, 3 PD) may
be winning the SS battle over Craig Dahl (5-0). FS Quintin Mikell (3-1) had a
down game.
Giants @ Cardinals
- With New
York DE Justin Tuck out with neck and groin injuries, DE Osi Umenyiora (2-0, 2
sacks, FF) came back nicely from his own injuries. Other notables: DE Jason
Pierre-Paul (3-2, PD), SS Kenny Phillips (4-0), FS Antrel Rolle (6-0, int, 2
PD), and WLB Michael Boley (7-2).
- Arizona DE
Calais Campbell (6-0, FF) is officially in beast mode. DE Darnell Dockett (3-1,
fumble recovery) had a decent day. It appears ILB Daryl Washington (6-0) is OK
after missing week 2 with a calf injury. CB Patrick Peterson (7-0, 2 PD)
continues to be a rookie sensation.
Falcons @ Seahawks
- Atlanta
MLB Curtis Lofton (4-4, int, PD) and WLB Sean Weatherspoon (4-3) didn’t have
gigantic tackle numbers in this game, but they are still two valuable IDPs. SS
William Moore (8-0) had by far his best game of the season. DEs John Abraham
(1-0) and Ray Edwards (3-0) continue to disappoint.
- With SS
Kam Chancellor out with a quad injury, Seattle’s DBs racked up on the tackles:
FS Earl Thomas (5-4), CB Marcus Trufant (7-2), and CB Brandon Browner (8-0).
MLB David Hawthorne (3-7) had disappointing solo numbers, while WLB Leroy Hill
(5-4) had another good game.
Broncos @ Packers
- Green Bay
ILB Desmond Bishop (9-1, FF, 1 sack) is easily one of the top IDP options in
the game. FS Morgan Burnett (5-1, fumble recovery, PD) had another great game,
and it looks like owners can stop worrying about his position change hurting
his value. OLB Clay Matthews has been unstartable even in big-play leagues. CB
Charles Woodson (2-2, PD, 30-yd int return TD) will never stop coming up with
big plays.
- Denver WLB
D.J. Williams (7-1) announced his return from injury. Williams’ return didn’t
render Wesley Woodyard (4-3) completely useless. Rookie SLB Von Miller (4-0, 2
sacks) had a nice QB-terrorizing day. Rookie FS Rahim Moore (4-0, int, PD) had
his best game of the season. SS Brian Dawkins (3-3) ain’t what he used to be.
DE Elvis Dumervil (1-0) returned from injury, while CB Champ Bailey sat out.
Patriots @ Raiders
- With New
England’s stud WLB Jerod Mayo (2-1) going down with a knee injury, no LBs
really stepped up in his absence. CB Devin McCourty (7-1) had another good
tackle game, while SS Pat Chung (2-2, int, PD) returned from injury. DT Albert
Haynesworth continues to sit out with a back injury.
- Oakland
MLB Rolando McClain (5-2, PD) and SS Tyvon Branch (4-4, PD) continue to play
well. DE Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder) and FS Michael Huff (concussion) missed
the game due to injury.
Dolphins @ Chargers
- San Diego
FS Eric Weddle (6-2, int, PD) had another great game, while a couple of ILBs
held their own: Takeo Spikes (5-3, 1 sack, PD) and Donald Butler (4-1). With CB
Quentin Jammer out with a hamstring injury, rookie CB Marcus Gilchrist (6-0,
int, 2 PD) saw plenty of passes come his way.
- Holy high
tackle number! Miami SS Yeremiah Bell (14-0) had a ridiculous day. ILB Karlos
Dansby (4-1, FF) is still not blowing anyone away, while OLB Cameron Wake (3-0,
1 sack) continues to find the QB.
Jets @ Ravens
-
Baltimore’s usual suspects were mostly underwhelming in the tackle column: ILB
Ray Lewis (4-1, PD), FS Ed Reed (1-0, FF, 1 sack), DE/OLB Terrell Suggs (2-1),
DT Haloti Ngata (2-0, FF, 1 sack), and CB Lardarius Webb (1-1, 3 PD, 73-yd int
return TD). SS Tom Zbikowski (1-0) left with a concussion. Is this Bernard
Pollard’s opportunity? CBs Chris Carr and Jimmy Smith were inactive.
- A couple
of New York ILBs had good days: David Harris (4-3, PD, 35-yd int return TD) and
Bart Scott (6-2). They lost OLB Bryan Thomas for the season. Other notables:
FS Eric Smith (2-2, .5 sack, PD) and DT Sione Pouha (7-1, fumble recovery).
Colts @ Bucs
- Tampa
Bay’s D-line had poor little Curtis Painter running for his life: DE Michael
Bennett (4-1, 2 sacks, FF, fumble recovery), DT Gerald McCoy (5-1, 1 sack), and
rookie DE Adrian Clayborn (2-0, 1 sack). SS Sean Jones (1-1) and rookie MLB
Mason Foster (3-1) were quiet.
If you have any questions for Johnny, feel free to email him at johnnydavis@idpguru.com or follow him on Twitter. Also, feel free to post any questions or comments for David in the comments section of this post.
Last Updated: October 4, 2011
