Jobs Not Finished

If you’re reading this, chances are you made the playoffs. Go ahead and raise that hand up, turn it around, and give yourself a pat on the back.

Alright… celebration’s over. Time to lock in for the road ahead.

Being in an IDP league is tough on its own, and it feels like the weekly decisions just won’t stop. I wish we had that “set it and forget it” lineup right about now, but this season has made it clear that’s not a winning strategy. We’ve seen it with guys like Brian Branch, SirVocea Dennis, Terrel Bernard, Rozeboom, T.J. Edwards, and plenty more missing time or about to. This is the point in the season where depth matters most. In my opinion, you simply cannot win without it, especially in deeper leagues.

No more bye weeks. No more training wheels. It’s time to put your playoff roster on full display. If you’ve built it right, you’ve got decisions to make right about now.

“Job’s not finished. Job finished? I don’t think so.” – Kobe Bryant

*This is in reference to FantasyPros Week to Week Rankings & using a platform that allows dual designation*

⚡ Green Light – DL: Clelin Ferrell vs.
(Season Rank: DL131 through Week 14)

Once upon a time, he was the 4th overall pick in the NFL Draft. His career hasn’t been what anyone hoped, but lately he’s found some relevance again. The 49ers roster is extremely banged up (yet somehow still in the playoff hunt), and a ton of guys have had to step up. Enter Clelin Ferrell. In Weeks 12 & 13, he finished as DL11 and showed he still has some gas in the tank.

The reason this matchup popped for me is everything mentioned above plus the fact that the Titans give up the most tackles to opposing DLs and hand out sacks like they’re on the clearance rack.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 0% → 46% → 62%

Bottom Line: Ferrell isn’t the shiny name you expected to start in Week 15, but the role is growing, the matchup is elite, and the opportunity is there. If you need a DL with real upside this week, the light is green

⚡ Green Light – LB: Devin Bush vs.
(Season Rank: LB13 through Week 14)

Bush already made our IDPendent Matchups earlier this season, but at that time we were pumping the brakes. Since then, he’s put together a stellar bounce-back year and turned himself into a vital piece of that Browns defense. He hasn’t quite cracked the LB1 conversation, but he’s right there. LB13 on the season, and over the last three weeks he’s basically held the line (LB14).

Again, these matchups are speaking to me, and here’s why: the Bears have given up the 2nd-most tackles to opposing LBs, and Bush is coming off a 9-tackle performance. This is exactly the kind of profile you want for Round 1.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 76% → 73% → 88%

Bottom Line: Bush is heating up at the right time, the matchup is everything we want, and the usage spike is the cherry on top. If he’s on your roster, he belongs in your playoff lineup.

⚡ Green Light – DB: Nick Emmanwori vs.
(Season Rank: LB43 through Week 14)

The 35th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It took a minute for the Seahawks to figure out exactly how they wanted to deploy him, but what they’ve done lately is hitting big. This secondary is one of the best in the league, and as a 49ers fan it’s giving me nightmare flashbacks of the legendary Legion of Boom. Emmanwori is a huge part of that and he’s showing why. Over his last three outings, he’s been our DB6 overall.

And if the previous two matchups weren’t juicy enough, the Colts are giving up the most tackles in the league to opposing DBs. The one caveat: with the Colts’ current situation at QB, there’s a chance the game script could cap a bit of the upside, so be mindful.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 97% → 96% → 91%

Bottom Line: Emmanwori is in a groove, the matchup is elite, and the role is everything we want. Even with slight QB-related caution, he’s a strong start in Round 1.

🛑 Pump the Brakes – DL: Will Anderson vs.
(Season Rank: DL4 through Week 14)

Start-your-studs truthers… look away. This is exactly why “Pump the Brakes” gets harder as the season rolls on. Anyone sitting inside the top 12 right now is a certified stud and Anderson might be THE stud. But like I said in the intro, we dive into the matchups no matter what.

Over the last two weeks, our Dynasty DL1 has finished as just DL47. That’s something you can’t ignore. And the matchup doesn’t help: the Cardinals are near the bottom of the league in tackles allowed to opposing DLs. That’s not exactly firing me up heading into Round 1.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 64% → 63% → 72%

Bottom Line: You can absolutely still start him, he’s Will Anderson just temper expectations. The matchup caps the ceiling, and the recent dip in production makes him more “solid start” than “week-winner” this week.

🛑 Pump the Brakes – LB: Cedric Gray vs.
(Season Rank: LB5 through Week 14)

I love a guy like Cedric Gray. If you were like me, you had your eye on him since the draft, and watching him take advantage of his opportunity this season has been fun. I’m not saying he’s going to lay an egg this week, but the 49ers are one of the teams giving up the fewest tackles to opposing LBs.

Take a quick snapshot of the last three weeks and he’s been LB17. Nothing bad, just not elite. You don’t have to bench him, but let’s pump the brakes just a hair based on the matchup.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 98% → 89% → 100%

Bottom Line: Gray is still a rock-solid play, but the matchup lowers the ceiling. Expect more “steady contributor” than “alpha LB1” this week.

🛑 Pump the Brakes – DB: Kam Curl vs.
(Season Rank: DB3 through Week 14)

In a position as volatile as DB, kudos to Curl for putting together a DB3 season. With Lake going on IR, Curl is absolutely needed in this secondary, so I don’t blame you if you fire him up. However, that might actually be part of the reason for his recent dip over the last three weeks he’s been DB33. Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe it’s the role shift, but either way the matchup isn’t doing him any favors.

The Lions are one of the bottom five teams in the league in tackles allowed to opposing DB’s.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 96% → 100% → 100%

Bottom Line: Curl is still playable based on talent and role, but the matchup is rough and the recent production dip is real. Adjust your expectations this may be more of a floor week than a ceiling week.

Connect with Me
Want to talk more IDP, bounce around trade ideas, or just chat fantasy football? You can find me here:

X (Twitter): @IDPelton
Discord: MkPelton52
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Come hang out, share your takes, and let’s keep building those championship rosters together!



References
– Tackles Allowed by Team/Position: PFF – Macri
– Rankings: FantasyPros Week-to-Week Leaders
– Snap %: https://www.footballguys.com/
– QB Sacks: https://www.statmuse.com/