The DE Annex
***2023 Week 17 DE Annex***
Welcome to the sixth (and possibly final) edition of the DE Annex! Hopefully you are in the finals with locked in studs as starters but this week features five familiar names, one of which would be a "Tier 1" play for me, there are four "Tier 2" plays, and only one "Tier 3".
In case you are new, 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, it was my first real down week with only 1 player posting 10 or more points. Since I started in Week 12, only 2 players have failed to score, 13 put up measly points, 11 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 17. Good luck!
Baron Browning, DEN
Browning may not have shined from a fantasy perspective last week but his snaps were still good (67%) and his season-long fantasy relevant PFF run and pass grades are now both over 74. Chargers are a middle of the road matchup lately but Browning is a very solid play.
Yetur gross-matos, car
YGM was the only recommended play last week to crack 10 points (thanks to a stat correction). Solid PFF run and pass grades and an elite snap share (83% last week) against a slight plus matchup has me placing him in a lineup of my own this week.
Malcolm koonce, lv
Fantasy's DE2 over the past 3 weeks is looking like a great stash moving forward as well as a great play this week. Koonce boasts a 80.9 PFF pass rush grade and faces the 7th best opponent for DEs over the past 5 weeks.
Jerry hughes, Hou
The only new face in the group is a tentative play given injury status of his more talented running mates. If Anderson and/or Greenard are out, Hughes is in a great spot to score well once again.
mike danna, kc
The Bengals have struggled as of late against DEs allowing the 2nd most points since week 12 and I have Danna as the best positioned KC DE to score this week edging out both Karlaftis and Omenihu.
arden key, ten
Key has a good pass rush grade (74.3), a viable snap share (71% last week), and a slightly advantageous matchup against the Texans this weekend (8th most points allowed to DEs over the past 5 weeks).