Week 3 Fantasy Football IDP Sleepers: Please Pick Up Perry Riley Already!
Week Three is a key one – we’ll now be able to look at the stat lines and see a pattern in two games, and the outlier in the third. That’s still not statistically sound, but it’s better than nothing. This week, the Browns at Vikings provide good Individual Defensive Player options on both sides of the ball. I also like the St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys for big-play potential on both sides. The same can be said for the Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, but I don’t like that game – in fact, I pity people who will have to watch it.
As usual, the IDP Sleepers are broken into three groups: the Light Fantasy Sleepers, who should be owned in most leagues, and are good plays this week; the Deep Fantasy Sleepers, who should be owned in deep leagues and on the watch list in shallower ones; and the Almost Comatose IDP Sleepers, who you can roll the dice with in incredibly deep leagues, or if you’re looking for a prop bet. I have provided Yahoo owned percentages to show how far under the radar each guy is.
Defensive Line
Light Sleeper: Derrick Morgan, Tennessee Titans – Morgan has recorded a sack each of the first two weeks, and although he only has three tackles each game, he gets three straight weeks at home versus sack-able quarterbacks – Philip Rivers, Geno Smith, and Alex Smith. There are at least two more sacks in there. Owned in 15% of Yahoo leagues.
Deep Sleeper: Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills – The former # 3 draft pick in 2011 is still developing, but has made progress with 10 tackles over two games, plus a half-sack in each. The Bills head to the Meadowlands to face the New York Jets on Sunday, and after linemate Mario Williams’ 4.5-sack performance, Dareus will see some man blockers and burst through on a few plays. Owned in 3% of Yahoo leagues.
Almost Comatose: Jason Babin, Jacksonville Jaguars – He’s not dead, just in Jacksonville. Although the matchup in Seattle is rough, Russell Wilson has been sacked six times this season. Remember, you don’t get IDP points for team performance, just individual statistics. Owned in 3% of Yahoo leagues.
Linebacker
Light Sleeper: Perry Riley, Washington Redskin Potatoes – I said to pick him up in the pre-season, but not enough of you listened. He had 15 tackles and a sack in Week One, but crashed back to Earth with just four tackles in Green Bay. Since the Detroit Lions shouldn’t be in a position to take the second half off, Riley will get back to the positive side of the stats ledger. Owned in 17% of Yahoo leagues.
Deep Sleeper: Dannell Ellerbe, Miami Dolphins – Ellerbe was the opposite of Riley – a modest opening week gave way to a 14-tackle performance last Sunday in Indianapolis. For all the attention paid to Paul Kruger in the offseason, Ellerbe may actually have been a bigger loss for the Ravens. Owned in 9% of Yahoo leagues.
Almost Comatose: Craig Robertson, Cleveland Browns – D’Qwell Jackson is still D’Man in Cleveland, but Robertson is a sneaky source of tackles (12 in two weeks, plus a forced fumble). If the Vikings give Purple Jesus (Adrian Peterson) the ball all day, Robertson will in position to make some tackles; if they pass the ball, Robertson could step in front of one and pick it off. Owned in 1% of Yahoo leagues.
Defensive Back
Light Sleeper: Mark Barron, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – A first-round pick last season, Barron busted out with 13 tackles, half a sack, and a pass deflection against the New Orleans Saints last week. This week the Bucs travel to New England, where Barron will try to keep the Patriots offense discombobulated. He’ll be strong in run support, and could outmaneuver the Pats’ young/terrible receivers. Owned in 19% of Yahoo leagues.
Deep Sleeper: Glover Quin, Detroit Lions – The Lions have injuries at strong safety, so free safety Quin will have the opportunity to step up. The Lions face the Washington Redskin Potatoes this week, and Quin could wind up in coverage or helping shadow/contain RG3. Figure on another five or six tackles, and a pass or two broken up. Owned in 4% of Yahoo leagues.
Almost Comatose: Rahim Moore, Denver Broncos – The third-year pro has exactly one interception each season, but got his pick in Week Two – so perhaps there are more to come? The Broncos host the Oakland Raiders on Monday night, so if the Raiders actually pass the ball, Moore can pick one off; more likely, Moore chases down Run-DMC and Terrelle Pryor, and if he gets the latter behind the line, it’s a sack! Owned in 1% of Yahoo leagues.
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