The Guru and the Godfather: Week 10

Photo: Imagn Images

John "The Guru" Norton and Gary "The Godfather of IDP" Davenport are two of the most experienced and knowledgeable IDP analysts in the fantasy football industry. Every week during the 2022 season here at Footballguys, The Guru and the Godfather will come together to answer five of that week's most pressing questions.

As we hit Week 10 and get that much closer to the fantasy playoffs, the Guru and the Godfather have come together again to discuss patching holes in IDP lineups, players it's time to show the door and a look ahead at players to target and fade in the week to come.

1. There were a number of injuries suffered by prominent IDPs in Week 9, and as those mount and bye weeks continue, many managers have holes in the lineup. Are there some widely available IDPs folks can add twho are more than just a one-week fill-in?

Guru: Blake Martinez is the guy I was going to spotlight here, but he shocked us by announcing his retirement on Thursday. That said, I’ll stick with the Raiders and turn to Denzel Perryman. Divine Deablo broke his forearm on the second play in week nine. Martinez took over the lead role to finish the game but with him out of the picture as well, we are going to see Perryman play virtually every snap the rest of the way. All he did as the Raiders' middle linebacker last year is pile up 153 combined tackles and 3 turnovers.

Derrick Barnes took over when Malcolm Rodriguez left last week’s game with an elbow injury. Barnes proceeded to blow up the box score. At this point, we are not sure how long Rodriguez will be out, but if the injury was a dislocation, it could mean several weeks. Barnes is not a sure thing to hold value beyond this week, but there is a good chance he will.

Xavier McKinney landed on the NFI list after a bye-week ATV injury. That puts rookie Dane Belton in the lineup for at least four games. Belton has been productive on a per-snap basis and could be a great addition for the stretch run.

Godfather: Boy, did the answer to this question change on a dime at linebacker. Twenty-four hours ago, Blake Martinez was an easy call—a proven IDP producer who just posted 11 stops slated for an every-down role. But Martinez stunningly retired Thursday, leaving the Raiders scrambling to fill a hole in the defense. I think that veteran Jayon Brown will get the first crack at subbing for Divine Deablo. But rookie Luke Masterson could figure in as well, and it seems that not even the Raiders know what the Raiders are doing. Whoever takes that three-down spot next to Denzel Perryman is a must-add, though. Opportunity will be knocking a LOT.

If Perryman's available in your league, he vaults to the front. But don't sleep on whoever winds up playing next to him.

In the secondary, rookie safety Kerby Joseph of the Detroit Lions isn't going to log two interceptions every week. His big game against the Panthers last week also ended in disappointing fashion, with Joseph landing in the concussion protocol. But that wasn't the youngster's first nice stat line of the year, and his role as the box safety behind a suspect group of linebackers is secure. Being able to land a player like that on the wire 10 weeks in is why I never pay retail for defensive backs.

On the defensive line, this isn't the first time Jerry Hughes has been mentioned here. I said earlier in the year that his hot start was nice and all, but it probably wasn't sustainable. In related news, sometimes I'm wrong. Last week was Hughes' third two-sack game of the season. He has already tied his highest sack total since 2014—with half a season to go. The last time Hughes was this productive, he finished inside the Top 10. Yes, he's 34. But apparently, someone forgot to tell him that.

2. On the flip side of that coin, are there some players you believe managers just have to bite the bullet and give up on who are still widely rostered?

Guru: Anyone that has been at this game for a while knows there is a thin line between patience and stupidity when it comes to clinging to guys we had high expectations for. League format dictates a lot when it comes to these decisions. For those in leagues with more than 12 teams and/or deep rosters, there may not be anyone worth adding. In shallow-drafted leagues, a lot of the guys I am going to throw out there were dumped a long time ago. It is much easier to part with underperforming but highly talented guys in redraft leagues, while dynasty managers will want to sit tight on guys like Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton is locked into a limited role, and there is no reason to think that will change in 2022.

Jordan Poyer was underperforming before the elbow injury became part of the problem. Now it looks like he could miss more time and may not be fully healthy whenever he returns. Myles Hartsfield has been rock solid for us, but Jeremy Chinn’s return is imminent. When Chinn returns, Hartsfield is a backup.

Shaquille Leonard may be tough to part with, but his most recent setback could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. He’s not practicing this week, but that could be a precaution. If he plays this week and has a big role, give Leonard a stay of execution. If he does not… it’s week ten already.

Jerome Baker has been hit or miss all season but mostly miss. Those big games he has once in a while make it tough but look yourself in the mirror and ask, what are the chances he will have one of those games the week I have to start him?

Aiden Hutchinson has given us one great game but has been invisible otherwise. He may have a bright future, but he’s not going to help you win this year.

Jamin Davis has been a major disappointment. When Cole Holcomb is available, Davis is a two-down outside linebacker. When Holcomb is out, Davis plays every snap but still produces like a two-down outside linebacker. He is not giving us enough production, and the needle is not going up regardless of the volume of opportunity.

Godfather: There's a long list of veteran edge-rushers who qualify here (I need my head examined for what I'm going to write about Chandler Jones here in a bit), but Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals is a defensive lineman it just isn't happening for in 2022. It was no secret that Hendrickson's IDP production is tied almost solely to sacks, and since Week 3, he has all of 1.5. I'd swap Hendrickson for the aforementioned Jerry Hughes at this point—and not think twice about it.

Where linebackers are concerned, bench size plays a big part in how patient I'll be. Guys like Alex Singleton of the Broncos and Bobby Okereke of the Colts may not have that much value now, but they are one injury away from being difference-makers. With that said, the Cody Barton breakout is broke. My concern with Barton before the season was that we didn't know if he was good enough to hold down a three-down role. Now we know. He isn't.

In the secondary, IDP managers should always have a short leash. There are too many viable options on most waiver wires to put up with defensive backs who aren't scoring. But I'll confess even I have had difficulty cutting bait on Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell of the Bengals. Bell's numbers for the season have been inflated by four picks—more than he had in his career to date. But that isn't sustainable, and once you strip them away, both he and Bates are waiver wire fodder.