Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 15
Tyson Alualu, Defensive Lineman
It’s still not exactly clear to me what the Jacksonville Jaguars are doing with their defensive line designations this year. They signed defensive tackle Jared Odrick and made him a defensive end, signed defensive end Malik Jackson and made him a defensive tackle, and for some unknown reason are using the 6’3”, 304-pound defensive tackle Tyson Alualu as -- wait for it -- a defensive end. Maybe that’s why they’re not doing well.
Still, Alualu has been an impactful player despite his odd usage. Over the last three weeks, Alualu has played over 70 percent of the Jags’ defensive snaps, and has collected a solid 10 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stuffs, 0.5 sacks, and a quarterback hit to boot. This year, Alualu’s 8 percent tackle rate ranks third among 65 defensive ends playing at least 30 snaps per game and has a decent 1.57 percent stuff rate, as he has been a strong edge-setter in the run game. His pass-rushing rates are well below-average, however.
Against the Houston Texans in Week 15, Alualu should have quite a few chances to pad his tackle numbers; the Texans have the fifth-most run-heavy play calling by pass-to-run ratio and have attempted the fourth-most raw rushing plays in the league. The big-play numbers likely won’t be there for Jacksonville’s big man, though: Houston also ranks fourth-lowest in stuff rate allowed.
Alualu is available in 99.0% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 2.53 tackles, 0.34 sacks, and a total score of 3.83 fantasy points in Week 15.
