Estimated Reading Time: 75 minutes
Week 16 takeaways
Waiver wire
- LB Shemar James, Dallas Cowboys: With DeMarvion Overshown likely out in Week 17 due to a concussion, Shemar James became an option after he ended up playing an increased role while Kenneth Murray and Logan Wilson continued to share snaps throughout the game. The Cowboys’ linebackers draw a decent tackle matchup against Washington, so James could deliver for deep rosters in need.
- LB E.J. Speed, Houston Texans: With Azeez Al-Shaair out this week, E.J. Speed moved into an every-down role alongside Henry To’oTo’o. Both players were underwhelming in terms of production, though they can be fine fill-in options next week in a positive matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
- LB Jack Gibbens, New England Patriots: With Robert Spillane actually inactive this week, Gibbens manned the green dot as the team’s lone every-down linebacker. Gibbens led the team in tackles once again and has been an efficient player in that regard this season. Gibbens will remain in this role if Spillane misses another game, putting him in play for Week 17 IDP managers.
- LB Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles: Campbell should be considered as a potential fill-in option for IDP managers in need, as Nakobe Dean is likely to miss next week. Campbell should play close to an every-down role and draw a positive matchup against the Buffalo Bills to potentially deliver.
- S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Arizona Cardinals: With Jalen Thompson out again, Taylor-Demerson moved into a full-time role and led the team in tackles (11) this week. The Cardinals have missed Taylor-Demerson since Week 10 and had to replace Thompson by committee last week, though if Thompson misses one more game, Taylor-Demerson can be viewed as a possible fill-in option next week.
- S Javon Bullard, Green Bay Packers: Bullard moved back to a full-time safety role for the first time this season after spending the majority of his time recently in the slot. With Evan Williams injured and potentially at risk of missing next week as well, Bullard could be a viable streaming option for those in need.
Be sure to check out last week’s waiver wire targets and team usage here.
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Arizona Cardinals
Team Ranks
Defensive snaps (Weekly rank)Zone coverage rate(NFL rank)Man coverage rate(NFL rank)7773.6%16.9%Edge
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeZaven Collins54.5%53.8%34.2%7.7%7.7%56.8Jordan Burch50.6%51.3%50.0%5.6%0.0%54.0Baron Browning46.8%43.6%34.2%9.1%9.1%56.2BJ Ojulari41.6%41.0%36.8%23.1%15.4%66.1Josh Sweat9.1%10.3%7.9%0.0%0.0%54.5- Injury: Josh Sweat suffered an injury on the second snap of the game. He came back in for a handful of snaps in the second quarter but was unable to finish the game after that.
Defensive interior
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeDarius Robinson55.8%71.8%39.5%7.1%0.0%57.6Dalvin Tomlinson49.4%51.3%47.4%16.7%11.1%80.6Calais Campbell46.8%38.5%55.3%5.3%10.5%60.7Dante Stills45.5%59.0%31.6%0.0%0.0%52.5PJ Mustipher36.4%46.2%26.3%0.0%0.0%55.8Walter Nolen35.1%20.5%50.0%11.1%27.8%66.7- Injury: Walter Nolen suffered a knee injury early in the third quarter of this game and did not return. Nolen has had a productive rookie year when he’s on the field; however, he hasn’t been on the field very much as he’s dealt with a string of injuries.
Linebacker
PlayerTotal defensive snap share1st/2nd down snap share3rd/4th down snap shareTackle efficiencyTotal Tackles (PFF)Cody Simon100.0%100.0%100.0%7.8%6Akeem Davis-Gaither88.3%89.5%85.0%14.7%10Safety
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateDefensive line %Box %Deep safety %Slot %Dadrion Taylor-Demerson97.4%0.0%0.0%40.0%54.7%5.3%Budda Baker88.3%4.4%7.4%69.1%13.2%10.3%Kitan Crawford14.3%0.0%0.0%18.2%81.8%0.0%- Waiver wire: With Jalen Thompson out again, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson moved into a full-time role and led the team in tackles (11) this week. The Cardinals have missed Taylor-Demerson since Week 10 and had to replace Thompson by committee last week, though if Thompson misses one more game, Taylor-Demerson can be viewed as a possible fill-in option next week.
Cornerback
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateBox snap %Slot snap%Wide Corner %Targets facedWill Johnson100.0%0.0%22.1%0.0%77.9%3Denzel Burke90.9%0.0%11.4%0.0%88.6%4Jaden Davis33.8%3.8%11.5%84.6%0.0%3Garrett Williams15.6%0.0%8.3%50.0%41.7%1- Injury: Garrett Williams suffered an Achilles injury early in this game and did not return.
Atlanta Falcons
Team Ranks
Defensive snaps (Weekly rank)Zone coverage rate(NFL rank)Man coverage rate(NFL rank)5776.1%19.5%Edge
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeJames Pearce Jr.59.6%56.5%61.8%5.0%0.0%56.8Jalon Walker54.4%43.5%55.9%5.6%0.0%51.1Leonard Floyd40.4%30.4%44.1%21.4%7.1%63.0Khalid Kareem19.3%21.7%14.7%60.0%40.0%67.6Arnold Ebiketie7.0%8.7%5.9%50.0%50.0%90.4- Rookie watch: James Pearce Jr. just barely kept his sack streak alive, landing a half-sack Sunday, extending to seven consecutive games where he’s taken down the quarterback. Pearce has earned his way into ED2 range for IDP purposes and will draw one more tough matchup against the Los Angeles Rams next week.
Defensive interior
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeKentavius Street57.9%69.6%50.0%5.9%5.9%55.6David Onyemata56.1%69.6%47.1%12.5%6.3%55.4Brandon Dorlus45.6%34.8%52.9%5.6%5.6%58.7LaCale London40.4%47.8%35.3%16.7%8.3%66.1Ruke Orhorhoro35.1%34.8%35.3%9.1%27.3%62.7Linebacker
PlayerTotal defensive snap share1st/2nd down snap share3rd/4th down snap shareTackle efficiencyTotal Tackles (PFF)Divine Deablo100.0%100.0%100.0%12.3%7Kaden Elliss100.0%100.0%100.0%8.8%5Ronnie Harrison40.4%46.5%21.4%8.7%2Safety
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateDefensive line %Box %Deep safety %Slot %Jessie Bates III100.0%0.0%0.0%43.9%26.3%29.8%Xavier Watts96.5%0.0%0.0%61.8%20.0%18.2%Cornerback
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateBox snap %Slot snap%Wide Corner %Targets facedA.J. Terrell93.0%0.0%17.0%0.0%83.0%3CJ Henderson64.9%0.0%5.4%0.0%94.6%2Dee Alford43.9%8.0%4.0%92.0%0.0%4Cobee Bryant42.1%0.0%8.3%0.0%91.7%2Natrone Brooks3.5%0.0%0.0%50.0%0.0%0Baltimore Ravens
Team Ranks
Defensive snaps (Weekly rank)Zone coverage rate(NFL rank)Man coverage rate(NFL rank)7561.4%32.3%Edge
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeTavius Robinson70.7%85.7%55.6%0.0%7.4%46.4Dre'Mont Jones60.0%23.8%70.4%8.1%8.1%58.9Kyle Van Noy48.0%19.0%51.9%11.5%11.5%52.9Mike Green45.3%71.4%31.5%17.6%23.5%70.7David Ojabo1.3%0.0%1.9%0.0%0.0%60.0Defensive interior
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeTravis Jones76.0%71.4%74.1%13.5%18.9%58.5John Jenkins49.3%90.5%33.3%0.0%5.9%52.0Josh Tupou40.0%61.9%31.5%11.8%5.9%63.1Brent Urban34.7%61.9%24.1%7.7%15.4%64.4Linebacker
PlayerTotal defensive snap share1st/2nd down snap share3rd/4th down snap shareTackle efficiencyTotal Tackles (PFF)Roquan Smith98.7%100.0%94.1%14.9%11Trenton Simpson70.7%78.9%41.2%11.3%6William Kwenkeu2.7%1.8%5.9%0.0%0Jake Hummel2.7%1.8%5.9%0.0%0Carl Jones Jr.1.3%5.9%0.0%0- Point of interest: With Teddye Buchanan sidelined for the rest of this season, Trenton Simpson stepped into the team’s part-time LB2 role and had a solid IDP performance, which included a sack. Simpson will remain just a deep-league IDP option for those in need next week.
Safety
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateDefensive line %Box %Deep safety %Slot %Kyle Hamilton98.7%6.8%18.9%43.2%0.0%35.1%Alohi Gilman97.3%1.4%9.6%28.8%52.1%9.6%Malaki Starks76.0%0.0%0.0%21.1%59.6%19.3%Ar'Darius Washington29.3%22.7%4.5%4.5%4.5%86.4%Keondre Jackson1.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%Cornerback
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateBox snap %Slot snap%Wide Corner %Targets facedNate Wiggins94.7%0.0%7.0%0.0%91.5%6Marlon Humphrey89.3%1.5%3.0%3.0%94.0%13T.J. Tampa5.3%0.0%50.0%25.0%0.0%0Keyon Martin1.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0- Point of interest: Marlon Humphrey has been an excellent IDP cornerback this year, coming through with another good game this week thanks to six solo tackles and an interception. Humphrey gets a poor tackle matchup next week to potentially overcome.
Buffalo Bills
Team Ranks
Defensive snaps (Weekly rank)Zone coverage rate(NFL rank)Man coverage rate(NFL rank)6769.2%23.9%Edge
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeGreg Rousseau67.2%46.4%76.9%23.3%33.3%79.7Joey Bosa59.7%46.4%64.1%16.0%8.0%65.5A.J. Epenesa38.8%60.7%20.5%16.7%33.3%67.1Andre Jones Jr.34.3%46.4%25.6%12.5%12.5%64.2- Point of interest: Greg Rousseau made the most of this great matchup against the Cleveland Browns, landing 2.5 sacks this week. Rousseau has been playing well recently, though he hasn’t gotten great sack luck, as he had just four sacks coming into this game. He’ll draw a more difficult matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles next week.
Defensive interior
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeDaQuan Jones61.2%42.9%74.4%10.3%10.3%68.7Deone Walker53.7%46.4%59.0%8.7%8.7%74.1T.J. Sanders50.7%60.7%43.6%6.7%0.0%55.2Phidarian Mathis37.3%57.1%23.1%0.0%0.0%53.5Linebacker
PlayerTotal defensive snap share1st/2nd down snap share3rd/4th down snap shareTackle efficiencyTotal Tackles (PFF)Matt Milano91.0%90.4%93.3%13.1%8Terrel Bernard91.0%88.5%100.0%9.8%6Dorian Williams32.8%34.6%26.7%22.7%5Shaq Thompson16.4%19.2%6.7%9.1%1Joe Andreessen1.5%1.9%0.0%0- Trending up: Matt Milano played a season-high 92% of the defensive snaps this week, coming through with another solid IDP performance after his massive two-sack game last week. Milano is still more of an option for non-shallow formats, but it was a positive to see him more involved after a strong showing last week. Terrel Bernard was back from injury as well.
Safety
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateDefensive line %Box %Deep safety %Slot %Cole Bishop98.5%1.5%10.6%36.4%40.9%10.6%Jordan Poyer86.6%3.4%10.3%63.8%22.4%3.4%Cam Lewis13.4%0.0%0.0%22.2%66.7%11.1%Sam Franklin Jr.1.5%100.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%Jordan Hancock1.5%100.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%Cornerback
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateBox snap %Slot snap%Wide Corner %Targets facedChristian Benford98.5%1.5%21.2%0.0%71.2%1Tre'Davious White70.1%0.0%10.6%2.1%80.9%2Taron Johnson65.7%2.3%13.6%77.3%0.0%3Maxwell Hairston26.9%0.0%11.1%0.0%83.3%0Carolina Panthers
Team Ranks
Defensive snaps (Weekly rank)Zone coverage rate(NFL rank)Man coverage rate(NFL rank)6481.8%12.4%Edge
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeNic Scourton84.4%83.9%66.7%9.5%9.5%59.9D.J. Wonnum67.2%64.5%63.6%0.0%0.0%47.4Trevis Gipson21.9%29.0%15.2%0.0%0.0%63.7Princely Umanmielen10.9%6.5%15.2%25.0%0.0%65.6Thomas Incoom3.1%3.2%3.0%100.0%100.0%67.3Defensive interior
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareRun down snap sharePass down snap shareWin ratePressure ratePass-rush gradeDerrick Brown84.4%80.6%87.9%7.4%7.4%57.9A'Shawn Robinson67.2%54.8%78.8%13.0%13.0%64.4Bobby Brown III48.4%61.3%36.4%0.0%0.0%52.5LaBryan Ray20.3%29.0%12.1%0.0%0.0%58.5Cam'Ron Jackson20.3%25.8%15.2%25.0%25.0%69.8Linebacker
PlayerTotal defensive snap share1st/2nd down snap share3rd/4th down snap shareTackle efficiencyTotal Tackles (PFF)Christian Rozeboom100.0%100.0%100.0%12.5%8Claudin Cherelus71.9%76.0%57.1%15.2%7- Point of interest: Christian Rozeboom has been much more effective when given a full-time role compared to Trevin Wallace this season, and with Wallace out, Rozeboom came through with a great game, which included a sack. If Wallace misses another game, Rozeboom should be considered an improvement in terms of IDP value for next week’s game against Seattle.
Safety
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateDefensive line %Box %Deep safety %Slot %Tre'von Moehrig100.0%3.1%14.1%48.4%6.3%31.3%Nick Scott93.8%0.0%0.0%21.7%71.7%6.7%Lathan Ransom28.1%0.0%0.0%0.0%94.4%5.6%- Point of interest: Nick Scott has been on a hot streak recently, as he’s delivered at least nine total tackles in three consecutive games and has hit double-digit tackles, leading the team in tackles in each of the last two games since its bye week. Nothing has changed usage-wise with Scott, as Tre'von Moehrig remains in the box-heavy role, but Scott is getting plenty of action to be an IDP option for us.
Cornerback
PlayerTotal defensive snap shareBlitz rateBox snap %Slot snap%Wide Corner %Targets facedMike Jackson100.0%0.0%7.8%1.6%90.6%8Jaycee Horn100.0%1.6%4.7%0.0%93.8%0Chau Smith-Wade78.1%0.0%20.0%64.0%2.0%3