The DE Annex

***2023 Week 12 DE Annex***

Welcome to the inaugural 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!

Each week, I will be using 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.

Here are the top 6 residents of the DE Annex for Week 12!

Tuli Tuipulotu, LAC

With Tuipulo's solid play and Bosa's injury, I expect his rostership to increase soon. He is great run defender with pass rush upside playing elite snaps and a favorable matchup for DEs. 

Anfernee Jennings, NEP

While Patriots snaps are always hard to predict, Jennings played 70% of snaps last week and faces the Giants this week who allow the most fantasy points to DE this season.

Odafe oweh, BLT

Injuries are presumably the only reason Oweh is not rostered as he is having a breakout season boasting a 80.5 pass rush grade according to PFF (13th best among all DEs).

John Franklin-Myers, NYJ

JFM is questionable this week but has played 60% or more Jets snaps in 4 of his last 5 grades and posts respectable PFF grades both exceeding 60.

Yannick Ngakoue, CHI

To be clear, I have very little faith in this one. The metrics are terrible but the Bears are still playing him 70%+ of snaps. Minnesota also just gave up 20+ FPts to both Denver starting DEs so there is a glimmer of hope!

Dorance Armstrong Jr., DAL

The third man up in the Dallas DE rotation most of the season has impressed with the snaps that he has been given as one of only 22 players to boast run and pass defense grades of >67 according to PFF.