Another decent week for the Huddle’s IDP sleepers! Some studly IDPers are on bye this week, so this list will hopefully help you plug some holes. Good luck here at the halfway point in the NFL season.
This Week’s Sleepers
Linebackers
Boss Bailey (DET) – Well, he’s available in a couple of IDP leagues I’m in, so maybe he’s on yours. He’s had back-to-back solid outings, and faces a Chicago team that will be running the ball a bit. He’ll be helping out in stopping the run all day.
Dashon Polk (HOU) – With Kailee Wong out for the season, Polk has stepped up and has had back-to-back double-digit fantasy scoring weeks. The hapless Texans, with their comedic offense, host Cleveland on Sunday. The Browns will looks to control the ball against the Texans’ D, so expect Polk to rack up a bunch of tackles.
Shawne Merriman (SD) – The rookie is getting more reps for the Bolts, and is making the most of it. Come Sunday afternoon, there’s gonna be a shootout in Southern California. The Chiefs, with their double-headed RB monster and solid passing attack will give the Chargers all they can handle. Chief QB Trent Green is sackable, and Merriman was drafted to rush the passer.
Others to consider: Keith Newman (MIN), Dexter Coakley (STL), Robert Thomas (GB)
Defensive Line
Jared Devries (DET) – Follow me here. The Lions face the Bears. Most always a defensive battle in the “Black and Blue Division”. The Bears’ offense is not that good. Devries has increased his fantasy output each of the past 3 weeks. Therefore he’s a deep sleeper here in Week 8.
Duane Clemons (CIN) – With all due respect, Brett Favre is one of the game’s greatest, but he’s known to hold onto the ball a little long and usually tries to “do too much”. The solid Cincy D will be pressuring Favre all day. Clemons scored 11 fantasy points in one of my IDP leagues last week; look for him to probably duplicate those numbers again.
Marcus Spears (DAL) – I’ve put this guy on this list a couple times this season, and he’s disappointed each time. I’ll give him one more shot, against a Cardinal team that the Cowboys always seem to give trouble.
Others to consider: Simeon Rice (TB), Reggie Hayward (JAC), Josh Bullocks (NO)
Defensive Backs
Mike Furrey (STL) – With all the injuries to Ram WRs, maybe they’ll convert this once-WR back to his original position. Actually, probably not. After replacing Michael Hawthorne as the starting FS, Furrey has had some very solid outings.
Kevin Kaesviharn (CIN) – This guy may be flying under the radar a bit. Fellow Bengal S Madieu Williams got most of the pub leading into the season, but Kaesviharn has been playing solid ball, and in Williams’ absence to due injury, Kaesviharn has stepped up. Watch him duplicate his past 2 week’s double-digit fantasy scoring output against the Packers, who will throw the ball despite having many injuries to their WR corps.
Mark Roman (GB) – Double-digit fantasy week, bye, double-digit fantasy week. That’s Roman’s past three weeks. Week 8 opponent the Bengals will throw the ball plenty, and Roman will probably be asked to come up in run support against RB Rudi Johnson, too.
Others to consider: Bhawoh Jue (SD), Nnamdi Asomugha (OAK), Nick Ferguson (DEN)
Last Week’s Sleepers – Report Card
Linebackers
Derek Smith (SF)
The Fat: 6 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle
The Skinny: I really expected more. Good numbers, but he should have had at least double-digit tackles.
Adalius Thomas (BAL)
The Fat: 5 solo tackles, 1 sack,
The Skinny: Not bad. Check him out for the next few weeks as stud LB Ray Lewis is probably going to be sitting out.
Kawika Mitchell (MIA)
The Fat: 5 solo tackles, 1 pass defensed
The Skinny: Certainly would have been a nice bye-week or injury filler.
Channing Crowder (MIA)
The Fat: 6 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles
The Skinny: Very nice. Piled up the tackles despite fellow LB Zach Thomas gobbling up 14 combined tackles.
Chaun Thompson (CLE)
The Fat: 3 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles
The Skinny: Not horrible numbers, especially if your LB corps was decimated by injury or bye weeks.
Colby Bockwoldt (NO)
The Fat: 2 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles
The Skinny: Pretty bland numbers. Led the Saint LBs in tackles, though.
Defensive Line
Justin Tuck (NYG)
The Fat: 1 solo tackle, 1 assisted tackle
The Skinny: Quite surprisingly, the Giants didn’t get to Denver QB Jake Plummer. And LB Antonio Pierce did a fourth of the team’s tackling by himself.
Derrick Burgess (OAK)
The Fat: 4 solo tackles, 2 sacks
The Skinny: Saw this guy on another fantasy football website’s “cold” list for Week 7 as Week 6’s outburst was supposedly an abomination. Oops, guess not.
Bryant Young (SF)
The Fat: 1 solo tackle, 1 assisted tackle
The Skinny: News flash: the Niners stink. Now their playmaking DE is stinkin’ it up, too.
Aaron Smith (PIT)
The Fat: 1 INT, 1 pass defensed
The Skinny: So let me get this straight, he has no tackles, but intercepted a ball? This guy has the potential to be a stud, guess there’s just too many other playmakers on the field for him to shine.
Will Smith (NO)
The Fat: 2 solo tackles and a fumble recovery
The Skinny: The Fresh Prince got a little jiggy with it. For those of you in ultra-deep leagues, he could have been a help.
Grant Wistrom (SEA)
The Fat: 7 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles, 1 sack
The Skinny: The DL Yahtzee of the week. About time, Mr. Wistrom, you’ve been on this list enough, and you finally paid off.
Defensive Backs
Kennoy Kennedy (OAK)
The Fat: 3 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle
The Skinny: Actually, Kennedy is probably owned in most leagues, so this is basically a total downer.
Dominique Foxworth (DEN)
The Fat: 4 solo tackles
The Skinny: Wouldn’t ya know it, the guy has back-to-back monster games, and they still relegate him to spot duty. Then again, the guy he had been filling in for (Darrent Williams) had a huge game (6 solos, 1 assist, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery). Keep an eye on the Bronco DB situation. These guys can play. And will get opportunities with that Champ Bailey guy on the other side.
Ike Taylor (PIT)
The Fat: 2 solo tackles, 1 pass defensed
The Skinny: This guy’s slowing down a bit after a hot start. Fellow DBs Polamalu and Hope were all over the field on Sunday.
Keion Carpenter (ATL)
The Fat: 3 solo tackles
The Skinny: As of press time of this article, it’s not known if he defended any passes. Even still, a pretty bland game for the Falcon DB.
Tank Williams (TEN)
The Fat: 4 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle
The Skinny: Not horrible numbers. Keep an eye on him. The Titan offense continues to lose players, so the defense may be on the field even more.
Pacman Jones (TEN)
The Fat: 1 solo tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 3 passes defensed
The Skinny: These are telling numbers. Opposing QBs are testing the young CB, so he’s going to continue to have opportunities at making plays.
Got a comment? Suggestion? Deep sleeper I’m missing or should keep an eye on? Email me at huddledarin@yahoo.com. |
