News and injury notes
***D'Qwell Jackson left last week's game with a concussion. He was then hit with a four game suspension for a violation of the PED policy. Edwin Jackson had already ascended through a messy depth chart to earn an every down role prior to D'Qwell Jackson's injury. Edwin Jackson should be at the top of your list this week if still available. You should also strongly consider adding safety Clayton Geathers, who has been productive when healthy.
***There are some conflicting reports on Jason Pierre-Paul early this week. At minimum, he has a groin strain that requires an in-person consult from a leading sports hernia orthopedic surgeon. At worst, he'll need surgery to repair the muscle tear sooner than later. For now, there's seems to be a strong current of optimism that Pierre-Paul won't need surgery this week.
***In addition to Pierre-Paul, there are multiple other key injuries to watch through midweek. Harrison Smith continues to fight through an early-season high ankle sprain. It's now being called a Grade 3 sprain. If true, that's a surgical condition and would likely end his season. More likely, there's an error in terminology -- but Smith may need multiple weeks to rehab in the hopes he'll be nearer full strength should the Vikings make the playoffs. Anthony Harris would likely replace Smith. Kiko Alonso had surgery on a broken thumb this week but early reports have him possibly playing this week. If not, Spencer Paysinger is the most likely every-down linebacker. It also appears Brandon Marshall will miss this week's game with a hamstring injury. Look to Todd Davis here; I don't think Corey Nelson will play in many subpackages with Marshall out.
***I'm anxious to see Wednesday's practice notes on Luke Kuechly and DeAndre Levy. Kuechly is more likely to return than Levy but the Lions continue to seem hopeful they'll have Levy back soon. If there's no Levy and no Tahir Whitehead again, Josh Bynes will play every down. I'm also hopeful to see Jatavis Brown return in San Diego, but should he return in Week 14 he's likely to be limited in his first week back.
***LB WAIVER WIRE FLOW CHART: Nick Kwiatkowski >> Edwin Jackson > Dannell Ellerbe > Spencer Paysinger > Josh Bynes > Todd Davis
***The Raiders could get Mario Edwards back in the next 2-3 weeks. He's been cleared to return to practice and is reportedly giddy at the possibility of joining a line with Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin. A healthy Edwards -- though a rare sight -- was a productive two-way defensive end and will have a DL2+ expectation when he returns to a 40+ snap role.
Playoff Matchups
I won't note elite, matchup-independent players here, just those you might take an upside longshot with if you're an underdog this week. Remember, players with middling upside are not worth lineup spots in the playoffs unless they have a very safe floor and you're a significant favorite and want to maximize points. If you're likely to be chasing your opponent, a lineup bust doesn't hurt you. But a surprise stud performance can close the gap for you. Take chances if you can.
***Week 14 playoffs | Pass-rushing matchups to target: Cleveland (Michael Johnson), Indianapolis (Jadeveon Clowney), Arizona (Cameron Wake), Cincinnati (longshot Emmanuel Ogbah), San Francisco (Muhammad Wilkerson if healthy). Michael Johnson and Cameron Wake are the two high variance sleepers to target. Wake -- at home vs Carson Palmer -- is particularly attractive as a high variance waiver target.
***Week 14 playoffs | Tackle matchups to target: Dallas (Keenan Robinson), New Orleans (Lavonte David), Tampa Bay (Dannell Ellerbe, Vonn Bell), New England (Eric Weddle)
***Week 14 playoffs | Stat crews to target for added assists: New York Giants (upside for Sean Lee and Barry Church), Carolina (upside for Korey Toomer), New England (upside for Eric Weddle, C.J. Mosley), Buffalo (slight upside for PIT secondary).
EVERY-DOWN LINEBACKER PROJECTIONS
Additions to the every-down column in BOLD. Injury situations to monitor this week in italics.
TEAM
|
EVERY-DOWN LB
|
75-100% SNAPS
|
INJ | SUSP
|
NOTES
|
---|---|---|---|---|
ARIZONA
|
Deone Bucannon
|
Chandler Jones : Kevin Minter | ||
ATLANTA
|
DeVondre Campbell |
Deion Jones
|
Sean Weatherspoon (IR) | |
BALTIMORE
|
Zachary Orr : C.J. Mosley
|
|
|
|
BUFFALO
|
Preston Brown : Zach Brown
|
|
||
CAROLINA
|
Thomas Davis
|
A.J. Klein | Luke Kuechly | |
CHICAGO
|
Nick Kwiatkowski
|
Leonard Floyd : John Timu
|
Jerrell Freeman (susp thru W15), Danny Trevathan (IR) | |
CINCINNATI
|
Vontaze Burfict
|
|
||
CLEVELAND
|
Chris Kirksey : Jamie Collins
|
Emmanuel Ogbah
|
||
DALLAS
|
Sean Lee
|
Justin Durant |
Hitchens only 70% with Durant out
|
|
DENVER
|
none
|
Von Miller : Todd Davis
|
Brandon Marshall | |
DETROIT
|
Josh Bynes
|
Tahir Whitehead, DeAndre Levy | ||
GREEN BAY
|
Joe Thomas
|
Julius Peppers
|
Blake Martinez |
|
HOUSTON
|
Benardrick McKinney : Whitney Mercilus
|
Brian Cushing |
John Simon
|
|
INDIANAPOLIS
|
Edwin Jackson |
Erik Walden
|
D'Qwell Jackson (susp thru W17) | |
JACKSONVILLE
|
Paul Posluszny : Telvin Smith
|
|||
KANSAS CITY
|
Derrick Johnson
|
Justin Houston : Ramik Wilson
|
|
|
LOS ANGELES
|
Alec Ogletree : Mark Barron
|
|||
MIAMI
|
Kiko Alonso
|
|
Koa Misi (IR)
|
Look to Spencer Paysinger if Alonso out |
MINNESOTA
|
Eric Kendricks : Anthony Barr
|
|||
NEW ENGLAND
|
none
|
|||
NEW ORLEANS
|
Craig Robertson : Dannell Ellerbe
|
|
|
|
NEW YORK GIANTS
|
none |
Keenan Robinson
|
||
NEW YORK JETS
|
David Harris : Darron Lee
|
Erin Henderson (NFI) |
|
|
OAKLAND
|
Malcolm Smith : Perry Riley
|
Bruce Irvin
|
Ben Heeney (IR) | |
PHILADELPHIA
|
Jordan Hicks : Nigel Bradham
|
|
||
PITTSBURGH
|
Ryan Shazier : Lawrence Timmons
|
|||
SAN DIEGO
|
Korey Toomer : Melvin Ingram
|
Denzel Perryman
|
Jatavis Brown, Manti Te'o (IR), Jeremiah Attaochu (IR) | |
SAN FRANCISCO
|
Nick Bellore
|
Ahmad Brooks : Gerald Hodges | NaVorro Bowman (IR) | |
SEATTLE
|
Bobby Wagner : K.J. Wright
|
|||
TAMPA BAY
|
Lavonte David : Kwon Alexander
|
|||
TENNESSEE
|
none
|
Avery Williamson : Derrick Morgan : Brian Orakpo
|
||
WASHINGTON
|
Will Compton
|
Ryan Kerrigan
|
Subscribe to The Audible on iTunes or download our weekly IDP podcast here every Thursday for injury updates, player analysis, and matchup discussion. Follow and ask questions on Twitter @JeneBramel.