2011 IDP Game Notes: Week 16
Written By: Johnny Davis
Hello and welcome everyone to this week’s 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!
Texans @ Colts
– Indy MLB Pat Angerer (5 solo tackles-0 assists) had a quiet day by his standards. FS Antoine Bethea (8-1, forced fumble) had one of his better tackling days. DE Robert Mathis (3-0, fumble recovery, FF, 2 sacks) has recovered after a mid-season disappearing act. DE Dwight Freeney (1-0) made the Pro Bowl, which is one example why Pro Bowl status does not always equal fantasy stud status.
– Houston ILB Brian Cushing (7-5, 2 FF, 1 sack) has had two straight monster games. OLB Connor Barwin (2-1, 1 sack) keeps racking up sacks, while rookie OLB Brooks Reed (3-0, fumble recovery, pass defensed) hasn’t downed a QB since week 12. Rookie DE J.J. Watt (5-0, 1 sack, 3 PD) had another big game.
Broncos @ Bills
– Buffalo FS Jairus Byrd (5-2, PD, 37-yd int return TD) took one to the house. ILB Nick Barnett (3-3) wasn’t spectacular. OLB Chris Kelsay (6-3, 2 sacks, PD) has come alive. SS George Wilson (3-1) has not been the same since missing time to a neck injury.
– Denver WLB D.J. Williams (4-1) has cooled a bit after a tackling hot streak. Rookie SLB Von Miller (0-1) has been fantasy’s invisible man the last two weeks. DE Elvis Dumervil (3-0, 1 sack) has 9.5 sacks in the last eight games.
Dolphins @ Patriots
– New England WLB Jerod Mayo (4-9, 2 sacks) has been tackling well the last few games. SLB Rob Ninkovich (3-3, FF, 1 sack) has been racking up sacks.
– Miami ILB Karlos Dansby (9-4) resurrected his season after a slow start. Just when I was ready to brand SS Yeremiah Bell (8-4, 1 sack) a disappointment, he reminds us why he was a preseason top-tier safety.
Giants @ Jets
– NYG DE Justin Tuck (4-0, 1 sack, 2 PD) has actually been putting up Justin Tuck numbers recently. The fans who left DE Jason Pierre-Paul (4-1, 2 sacks) off their Pro Bowl ballot apparently don’t play IDP fantasy football.
– NYJ ILB David Harris (2-2, int, 1 sack, PD) deserves a nod. Rookie DE Muhammad Wilkerson (3-2, 1 sack) has made some noise the last couple of games.
Cardinals @ Bengals
– Cincy FS Reggie Nelson (5-2, int, 1 sack, PD) is capable of a big game. WLB Thomas Howard (3-3, PD) cooled off after a hot streak. DT Jonathan Fanene (2-0, 2 sacks) got to the QB.
– Arizona ILB Daryl Washington (9-2) got a bunch of tackles. DE Calais Campbell (4-3, FF, 1 sack, 2 PD) has had a great season.
Jaguars @ Titans
– Tennessee rookie MLB Colin McCarthy (5-1) hasn’t been quite as awesome the last few games as he was when he first took over the starting gig. Where’s this been from DE Derrick Morgan (7-0, PD)?
– Jacksonville MLB Paul Posluszny (4-1, PD) had another mediocre fantasy day. SS Dawan Landry (5-2, fumble recovery) appears to be back on track.
Rams @ Steelers
– Pittsburgh ILB Lawrence Timmons (8-3, 1 sack) had his best game since his week 1 whopper. OLB Jason Worilds (0-3) disappointed anyone who had jumped on his bandwagon.
– St. Louis MLB James Laurinaitis (7-6) got his usual bunch of tackles. DE Chris Long (1-1) failed to get to the QB.
Raiders @ Chiefs
– Oakland MLB Rolando McClain (7-1, PD) continued his hot streak. FS Matt Giordano (9-1, int, PD) has been a capable fill-in for the injured Michael Huff.
– Once Kansas City came out of its week 6 bye, ILB Derrick Johnson (6-1, int, 2 PD) put the fantasy pedal to the floor and has not let up. OLB Tamba Hali (6-0) has played pretty darn well, too.
Vikings @ Redskins
– Minnesota SLB Chad Greenway (4-12, PD) deserves a spot in this column if for nothing else other than to marvel at the number of assists he amassed. DE Jared Allen (1-3, 1 sack) got another sack. MLB E.J. Henderson (11-4) has shown flashes of brilliance lately.
– ILB London Fletcher (7-10, .5 sack) has been off the charts since Washington’s week 5 bye. ILB Perry Riley (3-2, 1 sack, PD) continues to pick up Fletcher’s scraps.
Bucs @ Panthers
– Carolina WLB Jordan Senn (8-2) has made his presence known. SLB James Anderson (7-0, fumble recovery, PD) has had a good season.
– Tampa Bay DE Michael Bennett (1-0, 1 sack) has played well since returning from injury.
Browns @ Ravens
– Baltimore ILB Ray Lewis (9-1) has been outstanding since returning from injury. DE/OLB Terrell Suggs (3-1) wasn’t anything to get too excited about.
– Cleveland MLB D’Qwell Jackson (4-3) had one of his worst games of the season. DT Ahtyba Rubin (5-2, 1 sack) is capable of a big fantasy day.
Chargers @ Lions
– Detroit SLB Justin Durant (8-3, 1 sack) had a big day. MLB Stephen Tulloch (6-1) has been up and down.
– San Diego SS Steve Gregory (7-1) has scored well lately. ILB Donald Butler (2-1, 1 sack) has seen his tackle numbers tail off.
49ers @ Seahawks
– Who needs Patrick Willis when you have San Fran ILBs like Navorro Bowman (7-5, 1 sack) and Larry Grant (6-6, FF)? Rookie OLB Aldon Smith (3-1, 1 sack) continues his outstanding season.
– That’s more like it for Seattle SS Kam Chancellor (10-0). DE Chris Clemons (4-2, PD) has scored well lately.
Eagles @ Cowboys
– Philly DE Trent Cole (6-0, 1 sack) has been putting up nice tackle numbers lately. DE Jason Babin (0-0) was surprisingly quiet. SS Kurt Coleman (1-0) suffered a season-ending bicep injury.
– Dallas ILB Sean Lee (4-1) hurt his hamstring. OLB Demarcus Ware (4-0, 2 sacks) added more to his sack total.
Bears @ Packers
– Green Bay ILB Desmond Bishop (9-3) made a triumphant return from injury. OLB Clay Matthews (5-1, FF, int, PD) filled up the box score.
– Chicago MLB Brian Urlacher (3-0) and WLB Lance Briggs (3-0) were quiet. CB Charles Tillman (4-1, 1 sack) got back on track.
Falcons @ Saints
– Not much to get excited about for New Orleans’ IDPs: SS Roman Harper (3-2), DE Will Smith (1-2), and MLB Jonathan Vilma (4-3).
– Atlanta MLB Curtis Lofton (3-6) has had a good season, but his solo tackles weren’t high enough for me in a lot of games. WLB Sean Weatherspoon (1-1) has the potential to disappear in games. DE John Abraham (0-1) came back down to Earth after 3.5 sacks in week 15.
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Last Updated: December 28, 2011