In this series, we analyze the IDP strength-of-schedule for the 2020 NFL season. In IDP fantasy football, opportunity correlates to production, so today we’ll focus on pace-of-play / plays-per-game that a few lucky defenses will face (based on 2019 data). Let’s take a look at the defenses and IDP defenders who could benefit from their schedule.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Defenders in DC are expected to see plenty of snaps in 2020. The Washington defense will contend with offenses like Philadelphia (twice), Arizona, Baltimore, and Dallas (twice) throughout the season next year. Each of these offenses were top ten finishers in offensive snaps or pace-of-play last season. The Redskins schedule, along with the expected struggles of their offense, makes for optimal IDP opportunities in 2020. When modeling your 2020 IDP projections, give slight upticks to Da’Ron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Thomas Davis, Landon Collins, Cole Holcomb, et al.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Philadelphia’s 2020 schedule tasks their defense with major challengers, especially in the fantasy playoffs. The Eagles play games against New Orleans at home, then at Arizona and at Dallas in weeks 14, 15, and 16. To me, all three of those games will be shootout opportunities, with plenty of IDP statistical outputs available. Players like Fletcher Cox, Jalen Mills, Darius Slay, etc. could see increases in production down the stretch of the 2020 campaign.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Minnesota’s IDP producers should prepare for large snap counts in 2020. The Vikings will host Atlanta, Carolina, and Dallas in weeks 6 through 12, then travel to Tampa Bay and New Orleans during the fantasy playoffs. All five of the matchups mentioned are likely to generate 70+ defensive plays for the Vikings’ defenders. Therefore, expect Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, Harrison Smith, and Anthony Barr among others to fashion solid production in 2020.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
The Bengals used their first overall selection on Joe Burrow, who will likely deal with some growing pains to start his NFL career. This fact, along with a schedule that includes Philadelphia, Baltimore, Dallas, and the Big Ben led Pittsburgh team (twice), could mean plenty of long days for Bengals defenders. Be ready for Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins, Germaine Pratt, Shawn Williams, and Jessie Bates to be on the field often in 2020.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Tampa Bay twice, Atlanta twice, Philadelphia, Green Bay, San Francisco, and Kansas City all have the makings for high paced action. If you need IDP production, Demario Davis, Marcus Williams, Cameron Jordan, and the rest of the Saints’ starting defenders could be the answer you need.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, the Rams are in a bit of a rebuild mode. When rebuilding happens, in many cases defenses feel the pain, which may be exactly what happens in LA this year. The Rams begin 2020 with Dallas and Philadelphia, both of which could require a lot of snaps from the defense. Later in the year, the Rams get to tango with Tampa Bay in week nine and Arizona twice in the final five weeks of the season. Players like Aaron Donald, Micah Kiser, Taylor Rapp, and John Johnson could see a spike in opportunities in 2020.
That’s it for now… Be on the lookout for my next article, where I analyze the less enticing IDP schedules of 2020.
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