Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 11
Robert Ayers, Defensive End
It’s been tough for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive ends to generate fantasy value this year if they don’t get a sack. Normally we love the defensive ends that are in on passing downs because they get to just pin their ears back and rush the passer.
That’s how they’ve employed Robert Ayers, but only in a part-time role.
He’s been very good relative to the amount of snaps he’s played, though; his sack rate is 25th among 118 defensive linemen playing at least 30 snaps a game, and his quarterback hit rate is 36th among the same. Ayers has been a good pass-rusher -- he just needs to play more often. Over the past three weeks, though, he’s played 76 percent, 77 percent, and 48 percent of the team’s snaps (69.4 percent total).
Ayers and the Bucs face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11. The Chiefs rank 13th in sack rate allowed to opposing defenses heading into this matchup, so while they’re not an incredible matchup for a pass-rushing end, there is still good opportunity for the big-play. In addition, the Chiefs do rank in the top half of the NFL in pass-to-run play calling ratio, which should give enough chances for Ayers to make a play in the backfield.
Ayers is available in 95.4% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 2.33 tackles, 0.59 sacks, and a total score of 4.16 fantasy points in Week 11.
