This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
Here's a look at IDPs who have favorable Week 11 matchups. IDP formats can be quite different, so we'll list players of varying levels. Some will be players found on the waiver wire while in other leagues players will be automatic starters.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Akiem Hicks, Bears vs. Lions - Early in the year, Hicks was a boom-or-bust option, rotating multi-sack efforts with invisible performances. Since Week 6, he's been very consistent by getting to the quarterback just about every week, and he's becoming an elite defensive end in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's system. He'll be facing a Lions offense that hasn't been able to run the football with much success this year. As a result, they'll likely be forced to put the ball in Mathew Stafford's hands for most of the afternoon. That should lead to yet another big game from Hicks.
Ndamukong Suh, Dolphins vs. Buccaneers - Since he doesn't get a boatload of tackles due to playing on the interior line, Suh is pretty much reliant upon recording a sack to have a strong fantasy performance. He's really picked up his pace after failing to record a sack through Week 4. Since that time, he's collected at least half a sack in the majority of his games. With no Jameis Winston in the lineup, he'll be able to take aim at Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the gunslinger could easily find himself under siege as he often holds to ball too long waiting for plays to
Here's a look at IDPs who have favorable Week 11 matchups. IDP formats can be quite different, so we'll list players of varying levels. Some will be players found on the waiver wire while in other leagues players will be automatic starters.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Akiem Hicks, Bears vs. Lions - Early in the year, Hicks was a boom-or-bust option, rotating multi-sack efforts with invisible performances. Since Week 6, he's been very consistent by getting to the quarterback just about every week, and he's becoming an elite defensive end in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's system. He'll be facing a Lions offense that hasn't been able to run the football with much success this year. As a result, they'll likely be forced to put the ball in Mathew Stafford's hands for most of the afternoon. That should lead to yet another big game from Hicks.
Ndamukong Suh, Dolphins vs. Buccaneers - Since he doesn't get a boatload of tackles due to playing on the interior line, Suh is pretty much reliant upon recording a sack to have a strong fantasy performance. He's really picked up his pace after failing to record a sack through Week 4. Since that time, he's collected at least half a sack in the majority of his games. With no Jameis Winston in the lineup, he'll be able to take aim at Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the gunslinger could easily find himself under siege as he often holds to ball too long waiting for plays to develop. In what could be a fairly high-scoring game, Suh has a great chance to notch another sack.
D.J. Reader, Texans vs. Cardinals - Reader has come on over the last few weeks, as he's averaged over five tackles along with notching his first sack of the season. Although he's clearly not nearly the level of player the Texans have come to count upon when having J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus terrorizing quarterbacks, Reader's been a strong producer. This week, he'll take aim at an Arizona offense that will try to lean on Adrian Peterson and the rushing attack. That should help Reader establish a strong floor of tackles. If the Cards are forced to pass, he'll have upside against a turnstile of an offensive line and a QB who is prone to making poor decisions, including holding the football too long.
Geno Atkins, Bengals at Broncos - After a hot start to the season, in which he collected three sacks in the first two weeks, Atkins hasn't been a great fantasy option since. He's been held without a sack in more than half of his games since Week 3, but he has great chance to have an explosive performance this week. He should have little trouble overwhelming a Denver line that's allowed over two sacks per game and, since the Broncos have had trouble mounting a consistent rushing attack, there should be plenty of obvious passing situations for Atkins to attack.
LINEBACKER
Denzel Perryman, Chargers vs. Bills - Perryman returned from injured reserve last week and recorded nine tackles against the Jaguars. He looks like he's picking up where he left off at the end of the 2016 season. Down the stretch last year, he posted at least seven tackles four times over his last five games while nabbing a sack as well. He'll be up against the Bills, who have one of the more conservative offensive attacks in the league. That should give Perryman a solid floor with added potential to add a sack against an offensive line that's given up the most sacks to linebackers in the league.
Myles Jack, Jaguars at Browns - With the Jaguars boasting an elite pass rush from their defensive line, not much attention is paid to the fact that given the right situation, Jack can get into the mix as well. Although he's not a regular contributor in that area, he's picked up a pair of sacks this year while also posting at least eight tackles on four different occasions. As usual, the Browns will likely fall behind early, which should allow Jack plenty of chances to make tackles on short pass routes, though he should be able to have multiple pass rush opportunities as well.
Nick Vigil, Bengals at Broncos - Vigil's as consistent as they come at linebacker. He's posted at least eight tackles in four of his last five games while also adding a sack. He's also chipped in with four passes defensed and an interception, so he's capable of helping fantasy teams in a number of ways. Vigil's matchup against the Broncos will be one of his best to date because their offense has had significant struggles against solid defenses, and the Bengals certainly qualify as that. Not only should he get plenty of tackles this week, but Denver is near the top of the league in terms of sacks allowed to opposing LBs, so Vigil could add a sack as well.
Terrell Suggs, Ravens at Packers - Aside from being a pass-rush specialist, Suggs has also shown intermittent ability to contribute as a tackler. On four occasions, he's been able to post at least four tackles. Although he's well past the point of putting up elite numbers, the veteran's notched at least half a sack in five different games while adding a pair of forced fumbles and passes defensed this season. He'll face a Packers defense that's struggled in pass protection all year, and this will be their second game without their best lineman, Bryan Bulaga. This should be a prime spot for Suggs to have success getting pressure on Brett Hundley and, in the process, have a big fantasy day.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Chris Conte (Buccaneers vs Dolphins - Especially with Jay Ajayi no longer part of the Dolphins, the Miami offense will be forced to use their short-passing attack more than ever. That type of attack fits in well with Conte's skill set as a sure tackler, who has piled up at least six tackles in four different games. He also has added four passes defensed and an interception this year, so he also could provide added upside aside from collecting a number of stops this week.
Tyrann Mathieu, Cardinals at Texans - It's been a fairly-disappointing season for Mathieu. He's posted three or fewer tackles in just about half of his games while not adding much in the big-play department. He's intercepted just a single pass to go along with one sack and a forced fumble spread over nine games. This could be the week that he finally gets going. He'll be facing immobile Houston QB Tom Savage and the abysmal line of the Texans. While the QB should be under heavy pressure, Mathieu's aggressive style could lead to a number of big plays. Although he always has downside, this is a great week to gamble on him.
Glover Quin, Lions at Bears - It's no secret that the Bears like to play their offense extremely close to the vest. However, the Lions' ability to move the football should force Chicago to throw the ball a little more than usual. That should lead to a productive game for Quin, who has registered at least five tackles in five different games. He also could have a chance to bait rookie QB Mitchell Trubisky into making a mistake that leads to an INT. With Quin already having intercepted passes in five different games, this is a great spot for him to continue his outstanding season.
Keanu Neal, Falcons at Seahawks - Stubbornly, the Seahawks will continue to try and run the football with little to no success and Russell Wilson will also be forced to run on multiple occasions. Along with a number of short passes that Wilson will have to throw to avoid the pass rush, Neal should be in line to be quite productive. He's averaging over eight tackles over the last five weeks with a pair of passes defensed during that span. Overall he has a solid floor but, with such a favorable matchup, Neal could post an elite stat line.
