IDP Matchup Plays: Living the Stream: Week 12

This late in the season, Living the Stream is something IDP managers clinging to postseason aspirations by a thread have no desire to do. Every hole in the lineup is the potential death knell for their season.

Was that overly dramatic?

Unfortunately, many fantasy managers also don't have much choice in Week 12—because in addition to the ever-present injuries and players who haven't lived up to expectations, the first of the Byecapolypses is here. For whatever reason, the NFL decided that six teams aren't playing this week.

The NFL's sack leader in Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals? Not available. Three top-10 linebackers in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring? Out, out and out. Top-10 IDP safety Jessie Bates III of the Atlanta Falcons? Watching games on TV this week just like us.

Weeks like this, having just one hole in the lineup is trouble enough. But quite a few teams have a glove-full of them—and very little margin for error regarding who they fill those holes with. Make the wrong choice with a fill-in, and there are no excuses left not to start putting up Christmas lights.

(Shudder.)

Look at the bright side. At least we get to do this all again in Week 14, because the NFL schedule hates us.

IDP Matchup Play: EDGE Yaya Diaby, Tampa Bay (at NY Giants)

After Diaby logged 7.5 sacks as a rookie, the youngster found himself on some breakout lists in the IDP community entering 2024. With just two sacks so far this season, Diaby hasn't met those expectations, but as the 25-year-old told reporters, it hasn't been for lack of trying—Diaby is drawing a lot more attention from opposing offenses this season.

"Last week, I tried to line up wide and stem down and still attack, but you're still getting chipped," Diaby said. "You try different things to not get chipped, but if you line up too wide it takes too much time to get to the quarterback. You can't pinch inside, because then you give up the edge. It's a challenge, but it's also fun. At the end of the day, you still have to get there. I've just got to get after it. Sometimes it's frustrating, but you've got to control what you can control."

If ever there was a week for Diaby to get going, this is it. After 11 weeks, the Giants lead the league in fantasy points per game surrendered to defensive ends. The 30 sacks the G-Men have allowed is seventh-most in the league. And coming out of the bye, the Giants are starting Tommy "Not the Star of Taxi" Devito at quarterback.

IDP Matchup Play: EDGE Nick Herbig, Pittsburgh (at Cleveland)

There's no question that T.J. Watt is one of the best edge rushers in the league, but the spot opposite him has been in flux much of the year due to injuries—so much so that the Steelers traded for veteran Preston Smith at the deadline. With Alex Highsmith on the shelf again last week, Nick Herbig drew the start against the rival Ravens, and after a Steelers win head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that the second-year pro has consistently impressed this year.

"He's a young guy, but even in a small sample size, I think we all recognize his playmaking capabilities," Tomlin said Monday at his weekly news conference. "Any of us that are around him are not surprised when he makes significant plays, particularly in significant moments. He trains under the lights of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, man. He's got some great role models, and he's got a great work ethic and mindset, to boot, so I'm not surprised by it at all."

Herbig's numbers last week were OK at best—two stops and a forced fumble. His 2.5 sacks on the season aren't blowing anyone away. But Thursday night in Cleveland Herbig faces a Browns team that has led the league in sacks allowed most of the season—and with Watt opposite him, there may be plays where the Clowns triple Watt and just hope an unblocked Herbig whiffs.

IDP Matchup Play: LB Jerome Baker, Tennessee (at Houston)

It has been quite the season for Baker—after joining the Seahawks in free agency, Baker was shipped to the Titans as part of the Ernest Jones IV deal. While talking to reporters, Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald said that the team needed a shakeup inside, so Baker and Tyrel Dodson were both sent packing.

"We weren't getting it done and we put a lot on our linebackers and so I hate that it had to work out just through [Baker and Dodson] because those two guys that we respect a lot and have come in and worked really hard," he said. "But sometimes you have to make these decisions and do what you feel is best for our defense to take the next step. And so that was the decision, but it just happened to be those guys."

After Jack Gibbens broke his ankle last week, Baker was thrust back into the starting lineup, and he acquitted himself relatively well, logging eight total tackles. The Titans have little choice but to play Baker in an every-down role with Kenneth Murray Jr.. now, and the Texans have given up the eight-most fantasy points per game to linebackers this season.

IDP Matchup Play: LB Christian Rozeboom, LA Rams (vs. Philadelphia)

It has been quite a tumultuous year at linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams—a merry-go-round that started when the team traded defensive signal-caller Ernest Jones IV just before the season. Then Troy Reeder got hurt, making Rozeboom the team's de facto No. 1 linebacker. Since then it's been a whirlwind of tackles and blown coverages and reduced snaps, but Rozeboom told reporters he's doing his best to take things one game at a time.

"You just got to learn from the mistakes and then move on real quick," Rozeboom said. "But I think that's the blessing and the curse of NFL football, you have to learn really quick, but at the end of the day, you got to move on and move on to the next team and do what you can do for that team."

Rozeboom has 11 total tackles in two of the last three games, but he has also gone from playing 98 percent of the snaps in Week 9 to less than 65 percent last week against the New England Patriots. That low snap share makes Rozeboom a bit risky. His per-snap production last week and a top-five IDP matchup with the Eagles this week makes that risk worth it.

IDP Matchup Play: S Malik Mustapha, San Francisco (at Green Bay)

The defending NFC champions have been savaged by injuries this year, including at safety—fourth-round rookie Malik Mustapha has played every defensive snap in each of the 49ers last four games. While talking to reporters, San Francisco defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said the staff has been impressed by how Mustapha has acquitted himself after being thrown to the proverbial wolves.

"We're happy with Malik. He gets better every week," Sorensen said. "He gets better every game. He gets more command and comfort back there, communicating with guys, and you just see him continue to cut it loose. But also, he is making plays for us, whether it's in tackling or taking the ball. So, happy with what he's doing."

As one would expect with rookie defensive backs, there have been ups-and-downs with Mustapha. But the former Wake Forest standout has topped 10 total tackles once, hit the six-tackle mark three times in four starts and takes on a Green Bay Packers team in Week 12 that has surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points per game to defensive backs in 2024.

IDP Matchup Play: S Jalen Thompson, Arizona (at Seattle)

Were Thompson playing for just about any other team in the league, he'd have both bigger stats and a higher profile. But in Arizona, Thompson is most assuredly Robin to Budda Baker's Batman. However, Yahoo's Nate Tice wrote earlier this year that opponents underestimate Thompson at their own peril.

"Thompson gets to play in one of the wonkiest schemes in football. The Cardinals' defense was barren of talent in 2023, and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis threw everything at the wall to try and make life somewhat hard on offenses," he said. "Thompson's adaptability is perfect for the type of knuckleball pitches that Rallis likes to throw (or at least had to throw in 2023). With Budda Baker already thriving as a rover in this defense, Thompson's complementary skillset with Baker is perfect."

Arizona's defense is improved in 2024, but Thompson's numbers haven't been great—including a missed Week 10 with an ankle injury. However, coming off the bye week there's optimism that Thompson will be able to return to action in Week 12, and he faces a Seattle Seahawks team allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to safeties.

Gary Davenport ("The Godfather of IDP") is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter (Can't make him call it X) at @IDPSharks.