Hopefully most of you are looking at a post season appearance in your IDP league and if you’re not, we’ll just have to try a little harder for next year then won’t we.

My best advice is to drink it in now because this truly is the nexus of the sporting world. Baseball is finally over, the NHL is underway, the NBA has also started their season, College Basketball is ready to fire up, College football is about to reach its peak, there’s a whole half of the NFL Season left, and fantasy football is now at the highest of the highs. It simply doesn’t get any better than this folks.

I’ve got a lot to get to this week w/ some big changes happening here at headquarters, so I’m making this the quick hitter version of THREE & OUT.

OK, let’s get the IDP News Pick-6 out of the way.

• There’s finally some good news for my fellow frustrated DeAndre Levy owners out there. Not only did Levy rack up 9 solo tackles and an assist, but he also caught WR Santonio Holmes from behind on a 52-yard catch and run. While the Lions did lose the game, Levy owners can rest assured that he’s back to 100% after a terrible start to the season and you can feel good starting him on a regular basis now.
• I warned all of you Daryl Washington owners last week that Gerald Hayes return from the PUP would spell the end of Washington’s days as a regular starter but now it appears that Paris Lenon, who missed time in last week’s game, might have an ankle injury that could put Washington back in the mix at inside linebacker. Lenon will have an MRI today but regardless, the injury looks to put Lenon out of practice and should get Washington back in the rotation at practice and in game preparation.
• I think all of you out there already knew that Channing Crowder was an outspoken idiot but he’s in a whole new category of stupid now. His story of being spat on by Ravens fullback LeRon McClain may or may not be true but his explanation of how the referees missed it was proof positive that the pea inside Crowder’s head must have finally rolled over to the other side. In reference to missing calls in the game, he called the refs “A little Stevie Wonder and Anne Frank”. Crowder FAIL!
• Speaking of the Dolphins, I’ll be shocked if Cameron Wake doesn’t make the Pro Bowl with the way he’s been playing this year. Nobody outside of Packers LB Clay Mathews has more sacks than Wake, who’s now at 8.5 sacks on the year. With seven games left this season, Wake has a chance to end up on top of the sack list before the year is out.
• Speaking of awards at the halfway mark, who’s your defensive rookie of the year? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, Ndamukong Suh has to be at the top of your list after the way he’s started what looks to be a bright career. We all knew he could tackle, cover passes, and even score touchdowns but I don’t think anybody expected him to be kicking extra points or at least, attempting to.
• Tonight on IDP REPORT RADIO we will be discussing a variety of IDP Topics and we are once again joined by Mike Woellert of FantasyFootball.com, who is becoming a regular part of the show. Check us out this week and every week on the Fantasy Sports Channel (www.FSC.fm).

OK, here’s this week’s THREE & OUT… four IDP players to target on your waiver wire.

PAT SIMS – DT – CINCINNATI BENGALS: The biggest knock on this guy has been that the coaching staff just doesn’t play him enough but with the injury to Tank Johnson and the other ends, Sims is finally starting to get onto the field and do some damage. He’s always been effective when given the opportunity but there’s a good chance that the team finally realizes what he can do if given playing time on a more regular basis. He’s especially appealing to managers in big-play scoring leagues that require a starting DT because of how good he is at getting into the backfield.

O’BRIEN SCHOFIELD – DE/LB – ARIZONA CARDINALS: It’s finally time! I was very excited about this kid coming out of the draft and it’s because of the natural pass rushing ability this guy has. He’s got an extremely fast first step and is very good at using his hands to free himself up. The only reason he fell so far in the draft and hasn’t played up until now is that he tore the ACL in his left knee during practice at the Senior Bowl. I had him ranked as a mid round pick over at RookieDraft.com but he’s finally healthy and showing why the Cardinals used a 4th round pick on him in this year’s draft. The Cardinals are in need of a young pass rusher from the OLB position because their current starters, Joey Porter + Clark Haggans, are both a little long in the tooth. I expect Schofield to have a productive finish to the 2010 season and start to come into his own in Arizona.

NIC HARRIS – LB – CAROLINA PANTHERS: I’m sure you’ve all heard the news about Dan Connor and his fractured hip that will put him out for the year. While most early reports have Jordan Senn filling in at the weak side linebacker position, I think Nic Harris might even be a better fit and he showed solid tackling ability last week. This kid is an undersized linebacker in his second year who played safety at Oklahoma and has great speed for his position which should be ideal on the weakside. I might be dead wrong here but Harris was a great college player and he hasn’t really found his fit in the professional ranks just yet but it might just be in Ron Meeks’ cover-2 in Carolina.

ATARI BIGBY – S – GREEN BAY PACKERS: I know I’ve been promoting Charlie Peprah left and right on my show but that’s primarily because Bigby awasn’t healthy just yet and I also assumed that the Packers would bring him along slowly so as to avoid further injury. Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense has been the golden ticket for strong safeties and it’s made a street free agent like Peprah into an every week starter. Bigby only had two tackles against the Cowboys but Peprah didn’t fair much better either. I’m looking for Bigby to take his job back and start to post the same tackle numbers he did last season. Pick him up now before he starts to fire up.

Thanks a ton for reading and please bang out some feedback or comments below. You can also e-mail our staff questions, comments, and even complaints to joe@idpreport.com

Yes, I’m being duped by my cable provider for the package that includes NFL Network + HBO but that’s a whole other story. Martin Scorsese is directing, Steve Buscemi is starring, and I’m frickin hooked like a bum on crack.

It’s the first thing other than football, that has me waiting the whole week for Sunday to come around. If you don’t have HBO, then you’re even better off in my honest opinion. You’ll at least be able to watch this thing in it’s entirety on DVD instead of having to wait 7 days for each new episode because right now that’s my only complaint.

Yes, this is an IDP Blog but I’d feel guilty if I didn’t at least recommend this series to somebody.

OK, now that I’ve got that out of my system, it’s time to get to our IDP News Pick-6.

• For the first time in his pro career Shawne Merriman will be a free agent and he’ll likely be wearing a jersey without lightning bolts as well. The former #12 over-all draft pick in 2005 has been placed on waivers by San Diego and is free to sign with any team if he clears the 24-hour waiting period. Here’s an interesting list of teams that might have their eye on the former pro-bowler.
• While it’s been easy to complain about my Denver Broncos, there’s no doubting the injury woes that they’ve had to endure already this season. The injuries along the front seven have been so bad that it’s prevented the Broncos from running their desired scheme on the defensive side of the ball, which operates out of a 3-4 formation. Denver has apparently been lining up in a 4-3 alignment more often than not w/ Mario Haggans starting turn things on at weak-side linebacker.
• It looks like the best corner in the league and NO, I’m not talking about Darrelle Revis. Nnamdi Asomugha sustained an ankle injury that could be the dreaded high ankle sprain, which would likely sideline him at least two weeks. Of course it will certainly affect the Raiders defense but there could be a nice opportunity for guys like Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson, if he clears his concussion tests, Johnson would make an ideal IDP start this week even against the Chiefs who don’t usually give up a lot of points to opposing DBs.
• We here at IDP Report have been big fans of Colts rookie linebacker Pat Angerer because he’s such a great dynasty prospect and he’s got a ton of upside as the middle linebacker of the future in Indianapolis. Well don’t look now but it looks like the future is invading the present with Angerer starting at strong-side linebacker on Monday Night instead of Phillip Wheeler, who looks to have lost his job to the rookie for the time being.
• The Lions have long been a team that has had the talent but couldn’t put all the pieces together. Seeing as how Detroit has already matched their 2009 win total in the first half of the season(2) and with their franchise quarterback finally healthy, there’s good reason for optimism with a lot of the players talking about a true culture change in the locker room. The defensive line certainly deserves most of credit for the team’s win last week, Ndamukong Suh in particular has been just as good as advertised if not better.
• Tonight on IDP REPORT RADIO we will be, once again, joined again by Mike Woellert of FantasyFootball.com. The topics will include our take on the Lions Defense, Colts Linebackers, and what Shawn Merriman’s future holds. Check it out this week and every week on the Fantasy Sports Channel (www.FSC.fm).

OK, here’s this week’s THREE & OUT… four IDP players to target on your waiver wire.

TYSON JACKSON – DE – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Jackson has been flying under the radar for the first half of the season as a result of a knee injury, sustained in the season-opener against the Chargers, that caused him to miss four games and took more than five weeks to heal. Jackson has been eased back in the lineup for the Chiefs these last two weeks and has been fairly productive considering. On Sunday he had two solos, a tackle for a loss, and two assists against the Bills who don’t regularly give up a lot of points to opposing defensive linemen. Jackson is a good pick-up in deeper leagues and he’s got a tasty match-up coming against the Raiders who have proven to be a very productive for defensive ends and tackles.

GERALD HAYES – LB – ARIZONA CARDINALS: Much to the chagrin of Daryl Washington fans world-wide, the Cardinals activated Hayes from the PUP list and he got a bulk of the playing time last week. This is so-so news for Paris Lenon, who is still playing well but it’s going to result in Washington’s playing time being cut in half or possibly more. Gerald Hayes had a very respectable line on the stat sheet Sunday with 3 solo tackles, two assists, one tackle for a loss, and a fumble recovery. Hayes’ experience in Bill Davis’ defense makes him a great start in tackle heavy leagues going forward if he can remain healthy and stay away from the back issues that have plagued him as of late, missing all of the off-season w/ a herniated disk.

AMARI SPIEVEY – S – DETROIT LIONS: The Lions current strong safety, CC Brown, sustained a fairly serious knee injury on Sunday and looks to miss multiple games as a result. His replacement is Amari Spievey, who Detroit drafted Spievey in the 3rd round of this year’s draft out of Iowa where he played corner back and he’s still listed as a corner in some league servers like ESPN + Yahoo. Point being, you might be able to get safety production from your starting corner back position in your leagues which is always an excellent option whenever possible. Even if you play on MFL where he’s listed as a safety, Spievey should still post respectable tackle numbers and this injury to Brown is just the excuse the coaching staff needs to get him on the field.

COURTNEY GREENE – S – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: This is more admitting to failure more than anything else but Courtney Greene has been pretty consistent the last two games and appears to have a lock on the starting strong safety job in Jacksonville, which is resulting in a lot of fantasy points for IDP managers. This kid also eligible on ESPN as a corner back and the same rules apply to him as they do to Spievey. This guy shouldn’t be available at this point but if you’re in need of safety help for the second half of the season he should be a decent waiver option.

Thanks a ton for reading and please bang out some feedback or comments below. You can also e-mail our staff questions, comments, and even complaints to joe@idpreport.com

Oh well, it’s a contact sport and that’s what happens when you have bums like H-Back Chris Gronkowski missing blitz pickups that turn out to ruin the football season of millions. Way to go Gronko… why can’t you be more like your brother Rob?!? >:[]

Get to work on that Chris!

Let’s get to some news before I start dogging on the Manning brothers.

• Pittsburgh’s defense is starting to show a little rust on their steel curtain in the form of some recent injuries that might take a little edge off of one of the league’s best groups. The team is now without defensive end Aaron Smith for the rest of the season after suffering a torn left triceps and pass rushing linebacker, LaMarr Woodley, left in the first half of Sunday’s 23-22 win against Miami.
• It looks like I spoke a little too soon on the situation brewing in Houston regarding the loss of DeMeco Ryans, when I opined that Zach Diles would be the player to step into the middle linebacker position in Ryans’ absence. According to the John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, it will be Brian Cushing playing in the middle with Zach Diles at the weak side linebacker position and Kevin Butler manning the strong side. Either way, Diles should be back into your starting lineups as a regular from here on out.
• Tonight on IDP REPORT RADIO we will be joined again by Mike Woellert of FantasyFootball.com for another hour of IDP talk. Tonight we’ll be talking about some IDP Dynasty players to stash in your deeper leagues. Check it out this week and every week on the Fantasy Sports Channel (www.FSC.fm).
• What a huge embarrassment for Denver Broncos fans everywhere. For the slow children that haven’t figured it out yet, this is exactly what happens when you fire a great defensive coordinator like Mike Nolan and replace him with a stooge like Wink Martindale that wears tie-died shirts. Mike Klis of the Denver Post is already of the opinion that if Tebow turns out to be a failure, McDaniels will be done in Denver. It’s to be hoped that Josh McDaniels can find a way to get fired before the off-season process starts because there’s actually a lot of interesting head coach candidates available with guys like Bill Cowher, John Gruden, and possibly Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan heading the list.
• Buffalo Bills 2nd year safety Jairus Byrd suffered an undisclosed injury prompting head coach Chan Gailey to say; “He will be a little slow to get back this week.” Look for an increase in playing time for George Wilson against the Chiefs this week if Byrd is ruled out.
• Look for an increase in production for rookie Chris Cook from here on out. Not only is the rookie past the knee issues that slowed him at the beginning of the year, but he was picked on regularly by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense on Sunday night. Expect the remaining teams on Minnesota’s schedule to follow suit and go after Virginia Cavalier, so he should start paying off big time in your IDP lineups.

OK, It’s time for THREE &OUT… four IDP players to target on your waiver wire.

GARY GUYTON – LB – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: This one probably depends more on the size of your league but Guyton is a very underrated linebacker that was over looked in most drafts because of the hype surrounding rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes. Guyton’s numbers have been steadily increasing in the last few weeks and just last Sunday he racked up 8 solo tackles against the Chargers. While I’m not saying that will be the norm, I do think that Guyton’s reliability in coverage and experience in the system might be the deciding factor of why he’s on the field more. Pick him up if you can.

JASON WORILDS – LB – PITTSBURGH STEELERS: I can’t help but think that the LaMarr Woodley injury might open up an avenue for Jason Worilds to show his stuff off the edge. The Va Tech product has a nice first step and low center of gravity, and as an undersized/overachieving defensive end in college he fits the mold of a classic Steelers outside linebacker. I will warn you that the Steelers looked more than comfortable moving Lawrence Timmons to outside linebacker after Woodley was out, so they’re likely to experiment with multiple packages next week to see what’s most effective. This is also IF Woodley is ruled out but I could see Worilds making some noise against a New Orleans offensive line that gave up 3 sacks to the Cleveland Browns just last week.

NATE JONES – CB – DENVER BRONCOS: This guy should be rostered in your deeper IDP Leagues that require a starting corner back, but if he’s not go ahead and give him a chance this week against the 49ers in what looks to be a sticky wicket in jolly old London, England. Jones has been playing in multiple packages of the secondary at both corner and safety so he’s definitely on the field a lot. Even though Brian Dawkins is back at practice it doesn’t guarantee that he’ll play but regardless, Jones will be tested plenty while he’s out there which should translate to a few more weeks of nice production.

JAMES SANDERS – S – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: As a Patrick Chung owner it is extremely upsetting to see the 2nd year pro leave last Sunday’s game early with a knee injury. While Bill Belichick has yet to rule Chung out for this week’s game, the early word is that this injuyr will keep Chung out for at least the next two weeks, possibly more. The strong safety position of this New England defense has notoriously been a gold mine, so go get Sanders on your roster if you’re in need of help at the safety position in the next few weeks. Sanders has produced in the past and he’s going to do it again for what I hope to be a brief interim this season.

Thanks a ton for reading and please bang out some feedback or comments below. You can also e-mail our staff questions, comments, and even complaints to joe@idpreport.com

Linebackers

As far as IDP fantasy football goes, linebackers are the most highly sought after players. They are the straw that stirs the drink of your IDP lineup each and every week. Having a solid set of linebackers on your roster usually gives you a distinct advantage over your fellow league-mates, especially in tackle-heavy scoring systems. As a result, rookie linebackers are carefully analyzed and scouted prior to the NFL Draft. As the news stories of training camp trickle out about how each player has settled in so far, we as owners look for the rare three down rookie linebackers to be a solid contributor to our lineups. Here are the top ten linebackers taken in the 2010 NFL Draft and how they have performed so far.

1. Rolando McClain, 6’4’’, 254 lbs – Oakland Raiders, Pick 1.8

YTD numbers: 21 tackles, 12 assists, 1 PD

It’s fair to say that owners of Rolando McClain are not getting their money’s worth so far with this highly touted prospect. Coming out of Alabama, McClain was considered to be the most polished and intelligent linebacker in the 2010 class, and maybe he still can be. His start to the season has been littered with inconsistency, and he isn’t reading and reacting to plays as quickly as he should be. Instead, McClain is back on his heels on some plays, the cardinal sin for any linebacker. It looks as if he is out there trying not to make a mistake instead of making impact plays. Owners are frustrated right now, but McClain is too good a player to be kept down much longer.

2. Sean Weatherspoon, 6’1’’, 239 lbs – Atlanta Falcons, Pick 1.19

YTD numbers: 25 tackles, 4 assists, 1 sack, 1 PD

Although Sean Weatherspoon’s hot start to his rookie year has been interrupted by injury, it is undeniable that this kid is uber talented, and I don’t throw the “uber” word around often. His sideline to sideline speed and ability to wrap up in the tackle makes him a perfect “Will” LB in the Cover 2 that Atlanta run. Weatherspoon is a very hot prospect to own in dynasty leagues right now, but redraft owners need to be patient with the former Missouri Tiger as he recovers from his injury. He will repay you for your patience.

3. Daryl Washington, LB, 6’2’’, 230 lbs – Arizona Cardinals, Pick 2.15

YTD numbers: 27 tackles, 4 assists

Daryl Washington has made a very solid start to the season as he takes over as the WILB in the Cardinals 3-4 scheme that was occupied by Karlos Dansby so effectively for so many years. Washington has seen his role in the nickel packages reduced in favour of Clark Haggans and Paris Lenon, but he started off the season playing all three downs. Expect him to return to a three down role sooner rather than later. Washington has been putting up very consistent numbers so far, which is very encouraging. I like to think of him as a “seek and destroy” type of player. He is very clever in how he reads blocks and gets through traffic to make tackles, and he did this very well when I watched him at TCU.

4. Sean Lee, LB, 6’2’’, 236 lbs – Dallas Cowboys, Pick 2.23

YTD numbers: 3 tackles (3 games played, 0 games started)

It’s not easy being a Dallas Cowboys fan right now. Fortunately for us in the wonderful world of IDP, we can focus on the bigger picture that is being painted right now. Sean Lee was very high on Dallas’ draft board on draft weekend and the Cowboys were thrilled to secure the services of this quick hitting, instinctive linebacker. Although Lee has only played in three games so far in 2010, he is starting to see more snaps, especially in nickel packages as the Cowboys are subbing Keith Brooking out. Brooking’s shelf life is short, so Lee will see more action in the coming weeks as the Cowboys get younger at the WILB position.

5. Brandon Spikes, LB, 6’3’’, 249 lbs – New England Patriots, Pick 2.30

YTD numbers: 18 tackles, 13 assists, 1 PD

Brandon Spikes has surprised me with his solid performances so far this season, especially last week against Baltimore when he racked up a whopping 16 total tackles. This game is an outlier for the linebacker, who has put up his highest single game tackle numbers against two run-heavy offenses – the Jets and the Ravens. In this respect, Spikes is a matchup play and doesn’t have the skills to play three downs. His upside is limited, but he is a very solid linebacker for depth. He has outperformed expectations of many owners so far, but don’t get too excited about Spikes.

6. Pat Angerer, LB, 6’0’’, 235 lbs – Indianapolis Colts, Pick 2.31

YTD numbers: 8 tackles, 9 assists, 1 sack, 2 PD

First Spikes and now Angerer? Seriously, these names just keep getting cooler. Pat Angerer has been waiting in the wings behind Gary Brackett for the first few weeks of the season, but last week he got his opportunity to play MLB against the Redskins. Angerer impressed me and the Colts coaching staff, registering 11 total tackles, a sack and two passes defensed. He isn’t the most flashy player who will wow you with his hard-hitting knockout tackles, but he is in my opinion the linebacker with the most upside for the long run. Gary Brackett signed a new deal recently, but I question his ability to stay healthy. Angerer’s opportunity will come, and when it does he will seize it.

7. Donald Butler, LB, 6’1’’, 245 lbs – San Diego Chargers, Pick 3.15

YTD numbers: Placed on IR in pre-season

Donald Butler was a player I was very high on coming out of Washington. Unfortunately, he sustained an Achilles injury in training camp and we haven’t been able to even watch him play in preseason. At this point, we can only project Butler as a role player in 2011 as he adjusts to the pro game, but by the end of 2011 we should see him get more comfortable and play inside in the Chargers’ 3-4 scheme. Butler is a player to stash away on your taxi squad for the long term.

8. Navarro Bowman, LB, 6’0’’, 242 lbs – San Francisco 49ers, Pick 3.27

YTD numbers: 14 tackles, 4 assists

The second Penn State linebacker drafted in the first three rounds of the 2010 Draft hasn’t started any game, but has slowly been rotated in and impressed in limited playing time. Bowman figures to be the long term replacement for Takeo Spikes. Playing alongside Patrick Willis severely limits his upside, but I can see scenarios where Bowman becomes a very solid LB3 for this team. Bowman is another player to hang on to in dynasty leagues.

9. Rennie Curran, LB, 5’11’, 235 lbs – Tennessee Titans, Pick 3.33

YTD numbers: None

Rennie Curran was considered by many to be too small to play LB at the NFL level (where have I heard that a million times before?), but Tennessee took a chance on the speedy, athletic Curran with a compensatory pick. Make no mistake – Tennessee have a very solid crew of linebackers ahead of Curran, but keep a close eye on the news wire over the next few weeks and going into the off-season. Coaches comments tell us owners a lot about the progress of players. Curran will get his chance, but probably not until 2011.

10. Darryl Sharpton, LB, 5’11’’, 236 lbs – Houston Texans, Pick 4.4

YTD numbers: 3 tackles, 3 assists

Darryl Sharpton was viewed by scouts as being too undersized to take on blockers at the NFL level, and that is still to be confirmed as he hasn’t received many opportunities yet. Sharpton could see action should Zac Diles go down with an injury after DeMeco Ryans was placed on IR. The depth of this Texans LB corps is sufficient, but I would expect the team to give Sharpton some playing time as the season progresses.

That will be all for this time, but watch out for the next installments in this series covering the rookies at DB. Please feel free to leave any comments for me on Twitter @davlar87 or e-mail me, larkin.dave@gmail.com

Defensive Linemen

At the very essence of football, the objective is to protect the quarterback or get to the quarterback, depending what side of the ball you play. Hence pass rushers are paid top dollar in the NFL for their services, and seven defensive linemen in the 1st round says it all. In the IDP landscape, it is the linebacker position that is most sought after and studied, but being able to secure the services of a true stud defensive end, especially in a 4-3 scheme, is like gold dust.

1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, 6’4’’, 307 lbs Detroit Lions, Pick 1.2

YTD numbers: 17 tackles, 4 assists, 4.5 sacks, 1 PD, 1 INT

The Lions are getting their money’s worth with the selection of Ndamukong Suh. The do-it-all disruptive nature of Suh’s game is like watching a demolition derby on a football field. Suh’s name is chanted after every tackle or sack by the Lions faithful, who have been embraced him quickly. Critics doubted whether or not Suh could be as dominant as a pro, and they have been quieted by his stellar showing so far. Suh has become an every week starter in DT required leagues and should continue to fit this role for a long time.

2. Gerald McCoy, DT, 6’4’’, 295 lbs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pick 1.3

YTD numbers: 7 tackles, 1 assist, 0 sacks, 1 PD, 1 FF

Gerald McCoy hasn’t exploded on the scene as quickly as Ndamukong Suh, but he has made a solid contribution thus far. McCoy occupies the historically highly productive undertackle (UT) role in the Tampa-2 of the Buccaneers, which last season was reinstated by head coach Raheem Morris. McCoy may not be putting up the numbers we all expect him to just yet, but he has an explosive first step and has ample opportunity to develop in this scheme. Don’t expect Suh-esque end of year totals, but McCoy is too talented to keep down for much longer.

3. Tyson Alualu, DT, 6’3’’, 295 lbs Jacksonville Jaguars, Pick 1.10

YTD numbers: 14 tackles, 3 assists, 1.5 sacks

What many questioned as a reach on draft day looks to have turned into a steal for Jacksonville. The former Cal Bear has slotted right in beside Terrance Knighton at DT and has been highly productive in DT-required leagues. Alualu sustained a minor injury on Monday Night Football against Tennessee, but keep your eye on this kid for the long term. He plays with good leverage and fights off blocks with power and physicality.

4. Brandon Graham, DE, 6’1’’, 268 lbs Philadelphia Eagles, Pick 1.13

YTD numbers: 7 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FF

Brandon Graham has not been a fixture in the box scores by any means, but he plays as a rotational pass rusher for the most part on a defensive line that rotates their players in and out quite frequently. Dynasty owners should keep a close eye on Graham’s progress in games and specifically how many snaps he is getting. The most concerning factor is Graham’s poor tackle numbers. He hasn’t put up more than 2 solo tackles in any game this season. Graham is a very gifted edge rusher, but patience will be key in his development.

5. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, 6’5’’, 270 lbs New York Giants, Pick 1.15

YTD numbers: 8 tackles, 1 assist, 1 PD

Jason Pierre-Paul, or “JPP” as my best friend (a Giants fan) affectionately calls him, was widely considered as the rawest prospect amongst the defensive ends in the 2010 Draft. Pierre-Paul’s role has been capped as a result of the great play from DE Osi Umenyiora and DE Justin Tuck, but I don’t trust Umenyiora to stay healthy. He is playing through an injury right now that he could have easily elected to have surgery on in preseason. Instead, he elected to play through it. Pierre-Paul’s opportunity will come sooner than later, but he will need to add more pass rushing moves to his repertoire and some bulk to his frame before he can be a full time player.

6. Derrick Morgan, DE, 6’3’’, 266 lbs Tennessee Titans, Pick 1.16

YTD numbers: 3 tackles, 2 assists, 1.5 sacks, 1 PD

Derrick Morgan got off to a hot start in 2010 and looked likely to have a solid rookie campaign, but Week 3 saw him land on injured reserve, prematurely ending his season. Morgan fits in well with a Titans defensive line that looks to be a very good pass rushing unit for the foreseeable future. Players like William Hayes and Jacob Ford are by no means household names, but defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil has his players playing so hard right now. Morgan will be a key cog in this defensive front in 2011 onwards.

7. Jerry Hughes, DE, 6’2’’, 255 lbs Indianapolis Colts, Pick 1.31

YTD numbers: Nothing to report

The seventh defensive lineman off the board in the NFL Draft has failed to register even a tackle so far in 2010. Hughes’ opportunities are limited by Freeney and Mathis and the Colts drafted him with an eye on the future. His size and speed fit in perfectly with their system and his role will become clearer as the season goes on. His long term prospects look good and owners need to remain patient with him.

8. Koa Misi, DE/OLB, 6’3’’, 251 lbs Miami Dolphins, Pick 2.8

YTD numbers: 8 tackles, 4 assists, 3 sacks, 1 FR, 1 TD

Fans will remember Koa Misi’s highlight play of the season so far when he recovered a Brett Favre fumble in the end zone for a Miami touchdown. Misi has contributed a lot as a rookie to this Dolphins defense and playing opposite the in-form Cameron Wake has helped tremendously. Misi is a great play in big play IDP leagues where sacks and forced fumbles are highly valued. He has bedded in nicely so far with the Dolphins and should continue his strong play.

9. Lamarr Houston, DE/DT, 6’3’’, 305 lbs Oakland Raiders, Pick 2.12

YTD numbers: 7 tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack, 1 FR

Lamarr Houston has impressed the Raiders coaching staff early in his career and he is being rewarded with the amount of playing time he has been getting. Houston is rotated in at DT at times, but he can also play DE if required. Houston has ample tackle opportunity in the Raiders defense which has been only mediocre against the run. The Raiders could have one of the steals of the draft here. IDP world, take note – Houston is one to watch closely.

10. Jermaine Cunningham, DE/OLB, 6’3’’, 266 lbs New England Patriots, Pick 2.21

YTD Numbers: 8 tackles, 3 assists, 1 sack, 1 PD, 1 FF

Okay, okay. Technically Cunningham isn’t a defensive end, but he deserves recognition after his strong showing the last few games of the season, especially last week against Baltimore. Cunningham won’t see that many tackle opportunities every week, but the increase in his snaps has been encouraging. Belichick knows how to get the best out of his outside linebackers (see Ninkovich, Rob on Monday Night Football against Miami), so expect Cunningham to be a trendy sleeper in the IDP world for the rest of this season and going into 2011.

That will be all for this time, but watch out for the next instalments in this series covering the rookies at LB and DB. Please feel free to leave any comments for me on Twitter @davlar87 or e-mail me, larkin.dave@gmail.com

I deserve that. Not only should a blog be useful but it should be timely and that’s fine if you want to criticize me if you’ve been waiting a whole day.

I’m just glad to have week 6 out of the way. I mean what a kick in the ass. With all of my awesomeness last week, I think karma just decided to give me a nice smack on the face to make things balance out.

Either way, it’s about time to get to what went on this week before we get to the waiver picks.

• Terrible news for Houston Texans all-pro LB DeMeco Ryans this week, as he’s been placed on injured reserve for the year with a torn Achilles tendon. While DeMeco Ryans owners might be hurt by this news, it is a huge opportunity for Zach Diles who will replace Ryans as the team’s starting middle linebacker.
• Sorry Sean Weatherspoon owners but it looks like the outstanding rookie from Missouri will be shelved once again with an ongoing knee issue. Stephen Nicholas should enjoy yet another fine week in tackle heavy IDP leagues, especially since he’ll likely be rookie Jermaine Gresham’s shadow this week. He’s a great short term starter as long as Weatherspoon remains injured.
• While it’s all well and good that Charlie Peprah blew up last week, starting at strong safety for the Packers, but I’m here to say it just can’t last. Not only did the Packers recently trade for veteran safety Anthony Smith, but they also get Atari Bigby back from the PUP list w/ cornerback Al Harris. This should be a big step up for Green Bay’s secondary but expect Bigby to start putting up points on a regular basis as soon as he’s full strength.
• Props to Colts rookie linebacker Pat Angerer who not only has one of the coolest names in the league but also made plays all over the field against the Redskins, as he filled in for an injured Gary Brackett(groin). What’s most impressive about Angerer’s first start was that he not only racked up 11 tackles in the game, he also called all the plays in the huddle and garnered respect from his teammates in the process. This guy may not be a regular scorer this year but he certainly has a bright future in IDP dynasty leagues.
• With all of the concussions running rampant these days and the helmet-to-helmet illegal hits now drawing suspensions on top of fines, I can’t help but defend James Harrison here. The guy knocked out two Cleveland Browns in the game and made the comment on the difference between being hurt and being injured. He then tried to explain that he’s trying to hurt people and not injure them but more than a few headlines have popped up that; “Harrison Wants to Hurt Players” as the blanket statement with no reference. The fine amounts are a little ridiculous and if he’s on my defense, I’m glad he’s on my team. Finally, I really would like to share another take that I enjoyed by the one and only Mark Schlereth who really does a great job giving you his perspective on these issues.
• How could I forget my weekly plug for IDP REPORT RADIO. This week the boys and I were joined by Mike Woellert of FantasyFootball.com for an hour of great IDP talk. Check it out this week and every week on the Fantasy Sports Channel (www.FSC.fm).

OK, It’s time for THREE &OUT… four IDP players to target on your waiver wire.

TOMMY KELLY – DE – OAKLAND RAIDERS: Don’t look now but the Raiders are starting to show their true colors yet again and that’s the loss column piling up like it usually does, so don’t be alarmed. With the added time on the field and a clean bill of health, Tommy Kelly has been a regular in the tackle department. The Raiders utilize Kelly in a variety of ways and he’s had a sack in each of his last two games to go along with some respectable tackle numbers from the position. He’s likely designated as an end but if injuries have piled up and you need help this week, Kelly will go up against an a Denver Broncos O-Line in transition that has given up 13 sacks in their first six games.

JONATHAN FANENE – DE – CINCINNATI BENGALS: Yes, I am infatuated with cool names but Fanane isn’t just your regular cat w/ a rockin’ football name, he’s the real deal on the field and he’s about to get a very significant bump in playing time with Antwan Odom now suspended for four games as a result of testing positive for banned substances. Fanene is a skilled pass rusher that wins on his extra effort, active hand usage, and brute strength. He should make an impact, as he’s finally healthy coming off the bye week after nursing a injury for the first five games. Definitely a quality pickup if you’ve got the roster spot.

JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM – LB – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: The Patriots defense is starting to develop some semblance of a pass rush as of late with 5 of their 10 sacks on the year coming in the last two games. Cunningham is only a rookie but has really developed quickly and has the ability to crush the pocket with a very quick first step. Coming off the bye, he looks to be a much larger part of the rotation at OLB in the Pats scheme and his two tackles for a loss with 6 total tackles on the day were evidence that he might become more of a regular as the year goes on. Jump on him now in big play leagues.

SEAN CONSIDINE – S – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: I know I know I know, back to the Jacksonville well again? The tea leaves are telling me something here and it’s that Mr Considine, who has been extremely effective when active, is finally healthy once again. The Jags recently sent Anthony Smith packing to Green Bay via trade and they released veteran Gerald Alexander, meaning Sean Considine should be back in your tackle heavy IDP lineups. The guy is a key member of one of the worst secondaries in the league and he’ll be racking up tackles regularly now that he’s back to 100%. Once again, the Jags wouldn’t have made these moves if this wasn’t the case so you should make the move now on your fantasy team.

Thanks a ton for reading and please bang out some feedback or comments below. You can also e-mail our staff questions, comments, and even complaints to joe@idpreport.com

You guys know exactly what I’m talking about so I’m not even going to get into it with exception of mentioning that in my three ALL-IDP leagues, I WAS the top scorer in all of them this week so at least I can say I know a thing or two or three.

There’s more than a few teams on the bye this week and not a lot of help off the wire but there’s a few gems to scoop up if the fit is right for your roster.

First we’re going to get to the finer points of week 5 and how this news impacts your fantasy team w/ our “Pick-6″.

• Well we fared pretty well in last week’s THREE & OUT with recommendations for Gerald McRath, Stephen Nicholas, Taylor Mays, and William Moore but the last two safeties didn’t play up to what I expected. Still, 3 of the 4 should be great IDP plays from here on out if you grabbed them.
• It looks like Jack Del Rio is waffling more on his corner backs than Andy Reid is with his quarterbacks, as 2nd year pro Derek Cox apparently won his job back from David Jones for a day. Wether Cinderella’s glass slipper stays on or not, remains to be seen but I’ve still got my money on Derek Cox getting his job back.
• After missing two of the first four regular-season games with a hamstring injury, Clint Session is back to full strength and back with a vengeance. Session racked up 10 tackles in the game and a number of big hits that helped set the tone on defense. You can keep him firmly entrenched in your lineups in tackle heavy leagues once again.
• Strange things are afoot in Orchard Park, as the Bills started Sunday’s game in a four-man front with Marcus Stroud & Dwan Edwards on the ends and Torrell Troup & Kyle Williams at tackle. Their base is a 3-4 but it’s interesting to note that George Eddwards, who’s worked under Marvin Lewis and Dave Campo (both 4-3 guys) is ready to mix things up with multiple alignments. Paul Posluszny lined up as the weak-side linebacker w/ Andra Davis in the middle for what it’s worth.
• I’ll tell you what worth noting and that’s IDP REPORT RADIO Tonight (and every Tuesday Night 11:30pm EST). We’re covering a lot of these topics, game recaps, over-unders, and a brand new segment >>> Take a Chance on Me. It’s LIVE talk ALL-IDP on the Fantasy Sports Channel (www.FSC.fm).
• DeAndre Levy is really letting down his dynasty owners this season, as he’s nursing an injured groin that has put him out of four games and limited him in one other. It’s very likely that we won’t see him in until after the team’s week 7 bye but even then, his upside is very limited with groing injuries having a tendency to linger.

OK, It’s time for THREE & OUT… four IDP players to target on your waiver wire.

DESMOND BISHOP – LB – GREEN BAY PACKERS Sorry for being a little tardy to the party here but with the news that Nick Barnett’s wrist injury will sideline him for the next 6-8 weeks, Bishop gains significant playing time. It also doesn’t hurt that the other middle linebacker, Brandon Chillar, is having his own injury issues with a nagging shoulder that looks to be a serious problem. Bishop made an appearance in this column last year because he hits like a ton of bricks and is now in the proverbial role of the last man standing. Here’s hoping he can take this opportunity and run away with it this time.

JASON HUNTER – LB – DENVER BRONCOS The Broncos continue to be snake-bitten by the injury bug on the defensive side of the ball. As if losing last year’s leading pass rusher, Elvis Dumervil, wasn’t bad enough, now the Broncos have recently reported that 2nd-year pro Robert Ayers will have surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot that should cost him 6+ weeks to recover from. The team will look to former first rounder Jarvis Moss and Jason Hunter to help produce pressure on the quarterback and present some semblance of a pass rush. Hunter was actually a difference maker in the Broncos’ last game beating the Ravens’ O-Line for a sack, racking up 6 solos, and 3 assists so look for Hunter to continue this progress going forward.

ASHER ALLEN – CB – MINNESOTA VIKINGS Yes, this is the clean up after injuries decimate a productive players situation day and it certainly won’t stop here. The Vikings defense suffered a big loss with Cedric Griffin tearing his ACL in the Monday Night game against the Jets. Minnesota was already without 2nd round pick Chris Cook, who’s out two more weeks with a meniscus issue, so the starting corner job opposite Antoine Wingfield looks to be all Asher Allen’s. The Vikes next three games are against pass-heavy teams with Dallas, Green Bay, and New England, so be ready for some big points from the 2nd year pro out of Georgia.

PAUL OLIVER – S – SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Speaking of defensive backs from Georgia, it looks like Paul Oliver has fallen into the fabled catbird seat following Steve Gregory’s suspension for testing positive for substances. Oliver racked up 6 solo tackles and two assists against the Raiders Sunday but should be in store for an even more productive next three games with Gregory serving out the rest of his 4 game suspension. He should remain very productive with San Diego’s defense allowing a lot of plays to reach the second level of the defense so if you need a three week fix, this is your guy.

Thanks a ton for reading and please bang out some feedback or comments below. You can also e-mail our staff questions, comments, and even complaints to joe@idpreport.com

The week was highlighted by two huge reasons why we play IDP Fantasy Football and that’s both Charles Woodson & Shaun Phillips.  If you had either of those two guys on your roster, you more than likely won your week and all I can say to you is cheers!

The only downside of the week is that injuries are piling up and the bye weeks have already started, so it’s time to break down four of the guys I’m looking at for help this week and beyond.

First we’re going to get to the finer points of what went down in week 4 and how it impacts your fantasy team w/ our “Pick-6″.

• In last week’s THREE & OUT, I recommended Chris Clemons, Alterraun Verner, and Gerald Alexander to start making a big IDP impact so I hope you’ve been paying attention. Sorry for the blatantly shameless plug there but I’ve got post some reason for reading and it’s always nice to have a little bit of validation here and there.
• After watching the Giants abuse the Bears offensive line for an NFL Record 9 first half sacks, I’m starting anybody I can from the Carolina defensive line against them next week. While Everette Brown and Charles Johnson have been streaky, I would start them with confidence this week against the Bears who are very likely to have Caleb Haine in under center.
• Unfortunately one of my favorite rookie safeties, Morgan Burnett, is out for the year with a torn ACL and the Packers have a ton of injuries at the position. While Burnett’s backup, Charlie Peprah, looks to get the first crack at replacing him in the base defense, Dom Capers has more than a few creative formations to make up the difference.
• The Titans first round draft pick, Derrick Morgan, will miss the remainder of his rookie season after tearing his left ACL during last Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the Broncos. It’s very unfortunate because Morgan was coming along nicely and notched 1.5 sacks in his first two games this year. This will result in more playing time in the rotation for Dave Ball and Jason Babin.
• We here at the website are definitely big fans of TJ Ward but I’m not particularly fond of the hit he doled out to Bengals WR Jordan Shipley. Did you think it was cheap shot or part of the game? Tune in to see what the guys on IDP REPORT RADIO (Tuesday Night 11:30pm EST) think about the hit.
• Finally Colts safety Melvin Bullitt will miss the rest of the season after having shoulder surgery to repair a broken bone. The Colts recently signed veteran Aaron Francisco to their practice squad but look for former Chief DaJuan Morgan to get the start for Indianapolis against Kansas City this Sunday.

OK, It’s time for THREE & OUT… four IDP players to target on your waiver wire.

GERALD MCRATH – LB – TENNESSEE TITANS Just like the Cush, he’s back from suspension but this guy is actually available on waivers. I know that might sound funny to some of you but Gerald McRath could be out there in some of your leagues and if that’s the case, I would go pick him up right now before you even read the rest of this synopsis. I’ll wait. I’m glad you’re back! McRath fits perfectly on the outside because the Titans like his speed and athleticism covering tight ends and short area zones. He’s capable of racking up tackle numbers in the Titans scheme and while he may not start out fast, he should become the more consistent option in Tennessee outside of Stephen Tulloch. Great grab if he’s still available.

STEPHEN NICHOLAS – LB – ATLANTA FALCONS This is more of a fill-in for the next week or two while rookie Sean Weatherspoon rehabs an injured ankle that the Falcons originally reported to be severe cramps. Weatherspoon was seen on the sidelines last Sunday with a brace on his ankle, so expect Stephen Nicholas to be playing his position for the foreseeable future. The logical thinking would be for the Falcons to rest the rookie against the Browns with the hope that he can suit up against the Eagles. Either way, look for Nicholas to have another big game this week against Cleveland. Maybe not 12 solo tackles but certainly enough to produce for your fantasy team.

TAYLOR MAYS – S – SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Well fine Michael Lewis, go ahead and leave! Taylor Mays was certainly the future of the strong safety position in San Francisco but it appears that the future has already arrived. Ways racked up 11 total tackles against the Falcons on Sunday and he also made a key special teams play, saving a blocked punt from going out of bounds in the end zone for a touchdown. While you can’t count on touchdowns or blocked kicks, what you can count on are those tackle numbers from the strong safety position. Mays is not very strong in coverage but he’s a tremendous hitter that loves to mix it up in the running game, so he won’t be shying away from contact and should be a consistent producer going forward.

WILLIAM MOORE – S – ATLANTA FALCONS I’ll admit that I’m a big fan of this kid first off but the bottom line is that Eric Coleman is not getting his job back for two reasons. One is the undeniable fact that Moore is playing great but the main reason is that the Falcons spent a 2nd rounder on this kid in last year’s draft with the intention of him starting this season. The coaching staff is no doubt very pleased to see the Missouri product run away with the starting spot but even if he does struggle a few games, the team will more than likely ride out the struggles as long as they possibly can. He’s definitely a great add for any roster, especially in dynasty leagues.

Thanks a ton for reading and please bang out some feedback or comments below. You can also e-mail our staff questions, comments, and even complaints to joe@idpreport.com

We usually choose from three linemen, three linebackers, and three defensive backs.

You can listen in anytime to our Over/Unders on IDP Report Radio every single Tuesday Night at 11:30pm EST by the way!

The results are accumulated throughout the season and this is the quarterly update for those of you interested.

Here’s the leaderboad…

Kirk Johnson: 22 Correct
Bruce Kimbrough: 19 Correct
Joe Everett: 18 Correct

These are the matchups we had to choose from for the first 4 weeks…

Week 1

• 1.5 sacks for Julius Peppers vs Detroit UNDER
• 0.5 sacks for Ndamukong Suh @ Chicago OVER Bruce, Joe
• 0.5 sack for Brandon Graham vs Green Bay UNDER Joe, Bruce, Kirk
• 6.5 total tackles for EJ Henderson @ New Orleans OVER Joe, Bruce
• 6.5 total tackles for Paul Posluszny vs Miami OVER Joe, Bruce, Kirk
• 6.5 total tackles for Lofa Tatupu vs San Francisco OVER Joe, Bruce, Kirk
• 6.5 total tackles for Sean Jones vs Cleveland UNDER Joe, Bruce, Kirk
• 6.5 total tackles for Bob Sanders @ Houston UNDER Kirk
• 6.5 total tackles for TJ Ward @ Tampa Bay OVER Joe, Bruce, Kirk

Week 2

• 0.5 sack for Jared Allen vs Miami OVER Kirk, Bruce
• 0.5 sack for Mario Williams @ Washington OVER Joe, Kirk
• 6.5 total tackles for Kyle Vanden Bosch vs Pittsburgh UNDER
• 0.5 sack for Clay Matthews vs Buffalo OVER Bruce, Joe, Kirk
• 6.5 total tackles for Ernie Sims @ Detroit UNDER Bruce, Kirk
• 6.5 total tackles for Robert Ayers vs Seattle UNDER Joe, Kirk, Bruce
• 6.5 total tackles for Charles Godfrey vs Tampa Bay UNDER Bruce
• 6.5 total tackles for Sean Considine @ San Diego OVER Joe, Bruce
• 6.5 total tackles for Jim Leonhard vs New England UNDER Kirk

Week 3

• 1.0 sack for Will Smith vs Atlanta PUSH
• 0.5 sack for Stylez G White vs Pittsburgh UNDER
• 1.0 sack for Robert Mathis @ Denver PUSH
• 1.5 sacks for Clay Matthews @ Chicago UNDER Kirk
• 6.5 tackles for Jonathan Goff vs Tennessee UNDER Joe, Kirk, Bruce
• 6.5 tackles for Lawrence Timmons @ Tampa Bay OVER Joe, Kirk Bruce
• 6.5 tackles for Laron Landry @ St. Louis UNDER
• 6.5 tackles for Adrian Wilson vs Oakland UNDER
• 6.5 tackles for Denielle Manning vs Green Bay UNDER Joe, Kirk

Week 4

• 0.5 sacks for Chris Clemons @ St Louis OVER Joe, Bruce
• 0.5 sacks for James Hall vs Seattle OVER Kirk, Bruce
• 0.5 sacks for Julius Peppers @ New York (G) OVER Kirk
• 6.5 tackles for Rolando McClain vs Houston UNDER
• 6.5 tackles for Michael Boley vs Chicago UNDER Kirk
• 6.5 tackles for Sean Weatherspoon vs San Francisco UNDER Joe
• 6.5 tackles for CC Brown @ Green Bay UNDER Kirk
• 6.5 tackles for Dawan Landry @ Pittsburgh OVER Joe, Kirk, Bruce
• 6.5 tackles for TJ Ward vs Cincinnati OVER Joe, Kirk, Bruce

It really does teach a fantasy owner to fight the urge to be fickle and exercise patience with players. Examine the whys, the situation, and retrace what happened in a particular week. Case in point, Charles Godfrey of the Carolina Panthers. I was all about picking the kid up after a nice tackle total in week 1, only to be upset for starting him in week 2.(1 solo tackle)

I didn’t drop him and waited to see what week 3 would bring and of course, 9 solos, 2 assists, and an INT later, it was a good thing I’ve still got this guy stashed for depth and bye weeks. If he’s still out there, I’d recommend snagging him before it’s too late.

Alright, I’ve got some waiver pickups for you but first we’re going to get to what went down in week 3 and how it impacts your fantasy team w/ our “Pick-Six”.

• DeAndre Levy owners finally got to see their LB 1/2 back in the lineup for the first time this season after missing the first two games nursing a groin injury but too bad it was short lived, as Levy exited the game late in the 4th quarter with an ankle injury. It looks like the ankle isn’t as serious but the groin is still an issue for Levy. Proceed with caution.
• This is a P.S.A. for the fellas out there in the Kansas City area. Stay away from Shaun Smith if you’re around Chiefs headquarters or at any Chiefs event. The guy is not to be trusted around you, your family, or your junk. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
• While Julius Peppers’ fantasy owners would like to see more sacks on the stat sheet, the Chicago Bears are really looking smart after acquiring the prized free agent this off-season. Peppers blocked a 37-yard field goal that helped clinch Monday night’s victory over rival Green Bay and he also drew a number of holding penalties in the game. I know it’s difficult to look at 3 tackles and one sack from your DE #1 but Peppers is getting a lot of attention from offensive coordinators and he’s a big reason the Bears are sitting atop the NFC North at 3-0.
• One of the more consistent linebackers these first three games of the season has been Houston Texans’ Zach Diles but what happens to him when Brian Cushing returns from his 4-week suspension? Please check out this week’s edition of IDP REPORT RADIO (Tuesday Night 11:30pm EST) on the Fantasy Sports Channel(www.FSC.fm) to find out what we think.
• It looks like the Seattle Seahawks could be without the services of Marcus Trufant this week depending on how his MRI turns out. The veteran left in the 3rd quarter of the team’s game against the Chargers with an ankle injury and was replaced by fourth round draft pick Walter Thurmond from Oregon. Thurmond could be worthy of a one-week pickup, as Seattle will likely rest Trufant against the Rams with their week 5 bye coming soon.
• Props to Cody Grimm, son of Hall of Fame center Russ Grimm, seeing his first extensive game action against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, Charlie Batch went right for him and the former collegiate linebacker proved to be a liability in coverage but that doesn’t mean he won’t still be in the lineup. It does however mean that one of our favorite IDP names from last year, Sabby Piscatelli, is still firmly entrenched in Raheem Morris’ doghouse.

OK, It’s time for THREE & OUT… four IDP players to target on your waiver wire.

CHRIS CLEMONS – DE – SEATTLE SEAHAWKS This guy is really coming into his own in Seattle with a team that’s buying into exactly what Tweet Carrol is preaching. The 6 year veteran has skipped around the league after his first three seasons with Washington and appeared to be nothing more than roster fodder but he appears to have a chance at the most extensive playing time of his career in Seattle. He’s started the first three games for the Seahawks and he notched two sacks against the Chargers last week. He’s basically the best pass rusher on the team, which isn’t saying a lot, but he’s heavily involved in the defensive line rotation and has been active in the running game as well. Definitely a great get if he’s still available in your leagues.

ERIC BARTON – LB – CLEVELAND BROWNS The old man still hasn’t left town and the bottom line remains, this coaching staff loves him which should come as no surprise. Barton finished 2009 with 93 total tackles and looks to be in the exact same position this season. His physical play, understanding of coverage, and reliability will keep him on the field in most downs which should give him a lot of value in deeper leagues that require 3 starting LBs or more. Oh the many layers of the Browns injury problems… It looks like somebody hit the rewind button on everybody’s favorite IDP Scenario from last year with D’Qwell Jackson tearing his pectoral muscle and Eric Barton coming in to clean up the trash, except this year w/ side-kick Chris Gocong & all his crazy anecdotes. I know this one just screams “sit-com”.

ALTERRAUN VERNER – CB – TENNESSEE TITANS I know, what a name on that guy, but we have to realize that he’s in a great scenario right now and you IDP fantasy football managers out there need to take advantage now. The Titans recently announced that starting corner, Jason McCourty, will miss the next 3-4 games after fracturing his forearm in last weeks game. Verner is expected to draw a lot of attention from the pass-heavy teams that he’s about to face with games against Denver, Dallas, Jacksonville, and Philadelphia coming up. Mr Alterran Verner is going to be one of the busiest corners in the month of October and Kyle Orton, Tony Romo, & Michael Vick are probably already licking their chops. Great pickup for leagues that require starting two or more corner backs.

GERALD ALEXANDER – S – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS I’m sorry about the Anthony Smith advice but I really thought he’d be able to make it back from his injury. Unfortunately, the recent resigning of last year’s starter at strong safety, Gerald Alexander, might reveal that the Jaguars are concerned that Smith might be out a little longer than originally anticipated. The bottom line here is that Alexander was very productive last year for the Jags in the 10 games that he started and right now they’re having a lot of problems in the secondary. I’m honestly still pretty clueless as to why he was released right before the season but those crazy Jags are sometimes known for moves that don’t adhere to rational logic. Look for Alexander to eventually get the strong safety job back, possibly sooner than later.

Thanks a ton for reading and please bang out some feedback or comments below. You can also e-mail our staff questions, comments, and even complaints to joe@idpreport.com