Every NFL season is a war of attrition but this year's injury list is growing at a record pace. League championships in 2014 may well be determined by who makes the best waiver decisions on marginal replacements and/or who does the best job of micromanaging matchups. Stay on top of those replacement level options and keep in mind that opportunity is the biggest factor in box score production.
Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals opened in a nickel package with Kevin Minter and Larry Foote at linebacker but Minter saw action in only a handful of sub packages over the course of the game. At the end of the day he had played 34 of 73 snaps with Deone Bucannon seeing action as the sub package linebacker on 38. Anyone counting on Bucannon earning a bigger role may want to come up with a different plan. Tony Jefferson was on the field for 71 snaps at strong safety and through two games has done nothing to open the door for the rookie. In fact, Jefferson has looked good both on the field and in the box scores.
Tyrann Mathieu made a cameo appearance in week two, getting on the field for a handful of snaps. It is safe to expect that he will see an increased role as we get deeper into the season. That said, Rashad Johnson is playing well so there is no pressure on anyone to rush Mathieu back.
Atlanta Falcons
Joplo Bartu has posted double digit fantasy points in each of the first two games but keep in mind that he is still not playing full time. Against Cincinnati he was on the field for just 42 of 72 snaps. Considering his snap count the 8 solo tackles are rather impressive, but the magic is bound to run out at some point. Bartu continues to share snaps with Prince Shembo who had 3 tackles and 4 assists on his 31 opportunities.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens hope to have Lardarieus Webb back in action for week three. He is practicing in full this week and should be good to go. This could be an opportunity for owners in corner required leagues. Webb has struggled to stay healthy over the past couple of years but has been productive when he plays.
Buffalo Bills
Nigel Bradham returned to action in week two without making much of a splash. It is important however, to know that he was paired with Preston Brown in nickel packages. In all Bradham played 68 of 81 snaps, finishing with a modest box score of 2-5-0 with a pass breakup. After watching Bradham during the preseason, I am fairly confident that his numbers will be much better on most weeks. While Bradham is worthy of serious consideration in most leagues, it is Brown who has become the best IDP option in Buffalo. With everyone available he continued to be the Bills every down linebacker and led the club in tackles for a second time. Brandon Spikes was active in week two but saw limited action as he continues to battle a sore knee.
Carolina Panthers
Mario Addison replaced Greg Hardy in week two and was impressive. Addison posted 2.5 sacks on 30 snaps as he shared time almost equally with rookie Kony Ealy. As of Wednesday Hardy's playing status for week three is unclear. If he is not in the lineup this weekend, Addison is a sleeper option against the Steelers. That said, owners should certainly not expect a repeat of the big numbers from week two.
Roman Harper saw a limited number of snaps in week one as he shared time with Charles Godfrey. Harper's playing time expanded greatly in the second contest when he was on the field for 65 of 73 defensive plays. Harper was all but absent from the box scores but keep in mind that Carolina dominated this game. It would be a little premature to move on him at this point but we definitely need to keep an eye on him this week. The Steelers should provide a lot more opportunity for the Panthers strong safety.
Chicago Bears
Charles Tillman is done for the season with a triceps injury, opening the door for rookie Kyle Fuller to become a starter. With the Bears moving away from a cover-2 scheme, the corner positions do not hold the same natural potential/value that they once did, but with 8 tackles and a pass defended in roughly six quarters of action, Tillman was still posting numbers that were useful to owners in corner required leagues. Fuller wasted no time making an impression as he finished week two with 5 tackles, 2 assists and a pair of picks. Those in corner required leagues should be all over this guy and he could even prove to have good value in leagues that lump the positions together.
Defensive end Willie Young is being used as a nickel package rush specialist but has made an impact in that role. He currently leads the team with three sacks and is a hot waiver wire commodity in many leagues. I am not yet ready to get excited about Young, but am clearly disappointed with the lack of production by Lamar Houston who has all of 1 tackle to show for two games. I had some reservations about Houston in this situation coming into the season and would be quick to move on from him.
Cincinnati Bengals
It may be time for us to become concerned with the health of Vontaze Burfict. He left week one with a concussion and was knocked out of week two with what was initially called a stinger. What the reports are not saying is that Burfict was sent to the bench by an official after getting up woozy from a tackle earlier in the game. He returned after a play or two but did not look right after a couple of other plays before coming out of the game. On Wednesday afternoon it was finally reported that Burfict had indeed suffered another concussion. Hopefully I am just being paranoid here, but I am looking to pick up Vincent Rey as a handcuff in a couple of leagues this week. Having concussions in back to back weeks will likely mean a seat on the bench for Burfict in week three. The Bengals have a bye in week four so hopefully he will be good to go by then.
Cleveland Browns
There were some reports last week suggesting that Browns rookie corner Justin Gilbert would be scaled back a little after he struggled in week one. As many teams do, Cleveland used their nickel package as a base defense against the Saints so Gilbert was in the starting lineup. In the end he was on the field for 49 of 72 total snaps but I am unsure if this was by design or because he was dinged during the second half. I know that Gilbert left the field for a while after taking a hard hit but he was back in action later in the game. It is possible that he has been bumped into the nickel corner role for a while. Against an offense like the Saints the nickel corner will see plenty of action. Against the Steelers he could have much less opportunity. It may be a good idea to sit Gilbert this week until we can get a clear read.
Christian Kirksey got the start against New Orleans but he continues to lose about a third of the defensive snaps to Craig Robertson. Just enough to keep Kirksey from making much of an impact in the box scores.
Dallas Cowboys
Through two games the Dallas defense has looked much better than expected. A big part of the reason is the surprising play of middle linebacker Rolondo McClain. After being a bust early in his career, McClain is starting to show the ability that made him the number eight overall pick in 2010. He has moved into an every down role for the Cowboys and is making his presence felt both on the field and in the box scores. McClain followed a 7 solo tackle performance in week one with a mark of 5-2-1 and an interception in week two. The Rams have not been a great matchup thus far when it comes to providing tackle opportunity but the fact that McClain is being used as a blitzer as well as in coverage, could mean another solid outing in week three. At the least he has earned a roster spot in nearly any twelve team league that starts three linebackers. Keep an eye on the practice reports this week as McClain is nursing a groin injury that has him listed as day to day.
Denver Broncos
It is hard to tell if it was a lack of respect for the Chiefs passing game or the fact that Denver's defensive coaches are gaining confidence in Nate Irving, but he was on the field in many if not most nickel packages in week two. Irving was in the game for 71 of the team's 86 snaps and was in coverage on 38 of those plays. We have always known that he can get the job done versus the run. If Irving can earn a three down role on a consistent basis he will surely have some value for us. At this point he is a matchup based option to cover some bye weeks but if he continues to produce double digit points as he has in each of the first two weeks, he could soon become a viable third starter.
The T.J. Ward rollercoaster continues. Over the summer he was working at free safety where his fantasy value would be minimal. Then Ward was moved to strong safety during preseason action and had a big game in the third week. In week one of the regular season however, he was often lined up so deep that he was out of camera view at the snap, resulting in just 2 solo tackles against the Colts. In week two Ward was a little more visible and worked closer to the line much of the time, but again this may have been a game plan factor as the Denver defense was geared to shut down the run and the Chiefs short passing game. Factor in that the Seahawks have not been the strong matchup we expected over the first two games and you get a situation where Ward's value is tough to pinpoint. If you drafted him as your starter it will be tough to sit Ward but I do not have grand expectations for him this week.
Green Bay Packers
Jamari Lattimore got the call to replace the injured Brad Jones at inside linebacker in week two. Lattimore made a good showing in a two down role but was not particularly impressive either on the field or in the box scores. As of Wednesday there has been no update on the status of Jones for week three. If he does return, there is no guarantee he will continue to work in an every down role. Against the Jets, Green Bay paired A.J. Hawk with a safety in nickel packages. Hawk's value gets a boost from this situation but history tells us that his upside is still limited.
Houston Texans
Both Brian Cushing and D.J. Swearinger Sr were limited to fewer than 40 total snaps against the Raiders in week two. Swearinger shows up as a limited participant on Wednesday due to an elbow injury, but I have to believe the low snap counts had more to do with the blowout score than any injury issues. With the Giants next on the schedule another blowout is possible albeit unlikely. Despite their well documented offensive struggles, the Giants have been a pretty solid matchup thus far.
Indianapolis Colts
With 6 solo tackles and 13.5 fantasy points in two games, D'Qwell Jackson has been a major disappointment thus far. Even with Jerrell Freeman out of action in week two and an outstanding matchup versus the Eagles, Jackson made little box score impact. The league wide rash of injuries already has the linebacker position stretched thin, but it would be a good idea to start looking for replacement options. Keep in mind that Jackson was marginally productive last year in Cleveland as well.
Safeties Mike Adams and LaRon Landry are currently tied for the team lead with 12 solo tackles. Adams is coming off an 8 tackle performance that will have him on a lot of waiver lists. He has been in the league for eleven years and has never sustained any useful production so I would not get too excited about him. The other factor that comes into play this week a matchup with the offensively challenged Jaguars.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Backup safety Josh Evan posted double digit tackles in week two while starter Jonathan Cyprien was sidelined with a concussion. Cyprien has been cleared this week and will be back in action against the Colts who have been a solid matchup. Outside of Cyprien and Paul Posluszny, there is not a lot of competition for tackles among Jaguars defenders. Both of these guys are in line for huge numbers this week.
Kansas City Chiefs
Eric Berry exited the week two game with an ankle injury that seems likely to keep him out of action in week three. The Chiefs were already thin at safety and recently added Kurt Coleman to provide depth, but it was corner Ron Parker that got the call to replace Berry. Parker recorded 6 solo stops as the starting left corner in week one when he replaced the injured Marcus Cooper. Parker added 7 more solo stops on just 36 snaps in week two. He may not be a long term option for us but could be a strong sleeper play over the next week or two.
As expected it was Josh Mauga who held the every down role at inside linebacker in week two with James-Michael Johnson working in a two down role beside him. Neither player was particularly impressive either on the field or in the box scores but it is noteworthy that both Jerod Mayo and Preston Brown posted excellent numbers against the Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins
Being short on linebackers may have contributed to the Dolphins strange game plan in week two. They lined up in a 5-2 front for much of the game with three defensive tackles on the inside backed up by Jason Trusnik and Jelani Jenkins at linebacker. Phillip Wheeler played only 23 snaps presumably due to his thumb injury that was heavily wrapped. The plan did not work particularly well and middle backer Koa Misi could be back in action this week, so chances are we will not see that approach against Kansas City this week. About the only thing we can count on here is that Jenkins will be a three down backers and is likely to lead the team in tackles for a second straight week.
A few days ago the Dolphins thought they would have safety Reshad Jones back on the field this week. As it turns out his suspension is not one that will be reduced by the new drug policy agreement. That said, he will be back in a couple of weeks so it is time to start thinking about picking him up to beat the competition.
Minnesota Vikings
Chad Greenway owners have to be a little concerned at this point. The good news is that he did bounce back a little in week two and is still playing on every down. His week two numbers were decent but still far short of the standards we have come to expect. Greenway is also banged up a little. He is sitting out practice so far this week with sore ribs and a hand injury. Providing that he is good to go this weekend, this could be a tell tale week for Greenway. The Saints have been a strong matchup with both Paul Worrilow and Karlos Dansby posting big numbers against them.
Robert Blanton was officially credited with a mark of 2-4 against the Patriots. I am not sure who was scoring this game but whoever it was needs to have their eyes checked. Pro Football Focus has Blanton credited with a mark of 6-2. I did not take the time to watch the entire game but did watch a little more than a half. Blanton had at least 4 solo stops that I saw. The moral here is that if you picked him up last week, do not be too quick to throw him back.
New England Patriots
New England has thrown us a big curve over the first two weeks by going with a 3-4 base defense. In week one they wasted Chandler Jones at defensive end and had Rob Ninkovich play only 34 snaps. In week two they stayed with the 3-4 but had both Jones and Ninkovich on the field as outside linebackers for all 69 snaps. The result was big production from both of them. So long as we can still play them as linemen, this is a great situation for fantasy owners. The only question is can we trust the Patriots not to change things up from week to week? There is clearly some risk but the upside here is huge. Keep plugging them into you lineup.
Dont'a Hightower was also an every down participant. He started alongside Jerod Mayo at inside linebacker finishing with a mark of 7-1-2 and a pass defended for nearly 20 fantasy points. This is one situation that I do not trust the Patriots with. Too many times we have seen Hightower with a significant role one week only to spend most of the next four games on the sideline. Let us see what happens this week before we get sucked in this time.
New Orleans Saints
The Sainted opened in a 4-3 against Cleveland with Curtis Lofton at middle linebacker and David Hawthorne on the weak side. Junior Galette and Cameron Jordan were the defensive ends. New Orleans used the four man front on a significant number of plays in the game but there is no reason to believe they will be changing schemes. Hawthorne saw his playing time reduced in week two when he was on the field for 54 of the team's 74 snaps. I have not yet had a chance to watch this entire game to see what was going on but it might be a good idea to go with another option if Hawthorne was a consideration.
For the second straight game Jordan was less than stellar in the box scores but he was a bigger factor on the field. He is on the bubble for me this week but I am going to give him one more week before moving on.
New York Giants
Jon Beason has not yet been officially ruled out for week three but he is battling the same injury that kept him out all summer and throughout the preseason. He seems unlikely to go this week meaning that Jameel McClain will likely get the call in the middle. He could be a decent sleeper against the strong running game of the Texans, but it is far from a sure thing that McClain will hold a three down role.
Oakland Raiders
Sio Moore was one of my top projected linebackers last week. He was off to a good start in the game before leaving early with an ankle injury. Moore has not yet practiced this week and is questionable at best for week three. Nick Roach is still working his way back from a concussion and has been limited. He too is unsure to go. It is a safe bet that Miles Burris will once again have a significant role.
Philadelphia Eagles
Keep an eye on the late week practice reports for news on Mychal Kendricks this week. He left the week two game with a calf injury that is thought to be minor. With Kendricks out during the later stages of the game on Monday, DeMeco Ryans was able to make hay. He finished as the team's leading tackler at 7-3-0 with a forced fumble. Despite Alfred Morris and the expectation of a strong Washington running game, they have not proven to be much of a matchup for linebackers. Over the first two weeks Brian Cushing and Paul Posluszny combined for only 6 solo tackles with this matchup.
San Diego Chargers
Donald Butler is another player that has fantasy owners wondering after two games. His low week one numbers were a mystery but consider that the Chargers defense was on the field for only 42 snaps in week two. I too am still concerned about Butler but am still not ready to give up on him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mason Foster was knocked out of Sunday's game with a dislocated shoulder that is likely to keep him on the sideline for a while. Dane Fletcher filled in for the rest of the game and is expected to start week three. What we do not know is if he will be a three down player. Fletcher is a quality veteran backup in a fairly good situation but I am not too excited about his prospect either long or short term. The Foster injury could however, mean even more opportunity for Dashon Goldson who currently leads the club in tackles, and/or Mark Barron who has already been more productive than anticipated due to the cover-2 scheme. The Buccaneers are struggling greatly on both sides of the ball so the safeties may well remain highly productive.
Gerald McCoy may try to play with his hand injury but is far from a lock to go this week. In his absence Akeem Spence would step into the lineup but it is Clint McDonald that stands to gain the most in the box scores. McDonald will shift into the 3 technique role as he did after McCoy's injury last week. McDonald was 6-0-1 in week two and could continue to be productive until McCoy is healthy.
Out of time again. Be sure to check out the Audible IDP podcast this week for injury news from Jene Bramel, matchups to plunder or avoid and much more. Best of luck in week three.
