The DE Annex
***2023 Week 18 DE Annex***
Welcome to the seventh edition of the DE Annex! As I consider renewing this next year, please let me know what you thought as I will sharpen my model a bit next year if I run it back.
Once again, here are 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, there were two solid starters, two guys who didn't sink you, and only one bust. Since I started in Week 12, only 4 players have put up paltry points, 14 salvaged decent performances, 13 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 18. Good luck!
Baron Browning, DEN
Check the injury report but, as of this writing, Browning is back in practice and looking like he will play Week 18. When he has played, his snaps have been solid (65-91% since Week 10) and his season-long fantasy relevant PFF run and pass grades are now both over 74.
Yetur gross-matos, car
YGM has three straight weeks scoring 10 or more fantasy points and is still widely available. There is no reason to believe that streak will stop this week given his snap counts (83% last week) and solid PFF run and pass grades despite a less than ideal matchup.
anfernee jennings, ne
Shame on me for taking Jennings out of this article last week! He is back with a solid snap share and incredible PFF run defense grade (83.3) with a great matchup against the Jets who have given up the 4th most points to opposing DE over the past 5 weeks.
yaya diaby, tb
Diaby is back after a multi-week vacation from the Annex thanks to good snaps (66% last week), serviceable grades, and a plus matchup against the Panthers.
bj ojulari, ari
Like most rookies, Ojulari has has an up and down campaign but is coming off a good week and is in a situation where the Cardinals will likely want to get another look at young players before the offseason.
Pat Jones II, MIN
Jones is one of (if not the) worst graded DE on PFF. However, if you are not playing in an All-22 league, grades don't matter, fantasy points do and since Wonnum's injury, Jones has been scoring thanks to elite snap counts.