The DE Annex
***2023 Week 16 DE Annex***
Welcome to the fifth edition of the DE Annex! There are plenty of great resources out there for the top DE plays but where is the love for guys that are barely rostered and could be very useful if you are in a deep league or dealing with injuries or byes? Well, you can find them here in the Annex which should be especially useful this week given some big names that are out!
Each week, I use my DT formula to evaluate the full DE pool as well (full details on that methodology is available here). Overall, I've had some good success in predicting DE performance but while I get that model ready for prime time (and combination with DT for DL rankings) I thought I would share some lower stakes suggestions with all of you in the form of players rostered in less than 5% of leagues in MyFantasyLeague. Given about 17% of MFL leagues use IDP, these players should be available in roughly 70% of leagues.
Season-long metrics are available here but to summarize last week, I am pleased with the results of a 13.2 pt average including last week's overall DE5. Since I started in Week 12, only 2 players have failed to score, 9 put up measly points, and 10 were viable starters, and 3 had great performances. Given this exercise is for very deep plays, time will tell if those numbers are good or bad!
Here are the 6 members of the DE Annex for Week 16 with some familiar faces and a few new entrants!
Baron Browning, DEN
Browning is likely to be here the rest of the season thanks to PFF grades above 71 in both run and pass defense and ideal snap counts (91% last week). Pair with a slightly favorable matchup this week against the Patriots and you could do much worse.
Yetur gross-matos, car
YGM has missed some time this season but has established himself as the clear DE2 in Carolina playing 79% of snaps last week. He has a serviceable 68.7 PFF Pass Rush grade and an a slight plus opponent this week.
Anfernee Jennings, NEP
Jennings has had only 1 'bad' fantasy performance over the past 10 weeks but is still rostered in only 2% of leagues on MFL. Jennings is one of the best DEs in the league against the run so if you are looking for a high floor streamer, he is a great option.
josh paschal, det
Paschal is still being outsnapped by John Cominsky but he significantly closed the gap last week during his best performance of the year. I'm riding the hot hand here against the second best DE matchup in the league since week 11.
mike danna, kc
I like Danna and teammate Charles Omenihu but given similar performance metrics, and the fact that Danna has outsnapped his teammate in 7 of the past 8 weeks has me with a slight lean his direction.
casey toohill, was
Toohill has yet to pop since the mass exodus of edge rushers from Washington at the trade deadline but he is now up to playing 80% of snaps and is facing a Jets team that has given up the most points to edge rushers in the NFL over the past 5 weeks. Check his positional designation though and avoid if he is a LB.