Giants Edge Azeez Ojulari (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. He did manage limited practices all week, so we'll see whether Ojulari can make it back for Week 3. Jihad Ward figures to join Kayvon Thibodeaux as the top edge players for the Giants. Ward has just 13 career sacks through seven seasons. There's upside to the Arizona matchup, but he's not worth the risk. Isaiah Simmons interestingly spent a little more than half of his defensive playing time on the edge in Week 1. He could factor more into the scheme against his old team. But he also played just 15 defensive snaps in the opener. He'd need a lot more playing time to be worth considering for your IDP lineup.
The Cardinals are trading Isaiah Simmons to the Giants for a seventh-round pick. That marks a steep fall for the former first-round pick who is in just his fourth season, the final on his rookie contract. Arizona moved Simmons from LB to safety this offseason but clearly wasn't satisfied with him in the new role. We'll see whether Simmons can carve out a meaningful role with his new team, but odds stand against him rebuilding IDP value.
The Cardinals let LB Jordan Hicks walk in free agency this offseason, clearing the way for LB Zaven Collins to enter the starting lineup in Year 2. He has been working there so far in training camp. According to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic, Collins and Nick Vigil have been the starting ILBs in the base defense. Collins has called plays in the huddle at times (green dot) but is also coming off the field in nickel and dime packages. "He's got to be able to diagnose it, see it and go, and not wait on the play to come to him," HC Kliff Kingsbury says. "I think last year he was kind of waiting for everything to unwind. I think he's still learning, but there's no doubt he's reacting faster than last year at this time." There's still time for Collins to earn more of a 3-down role, but we've moved him down our 2022 IDP rankings. The role uncertainty makes him a boom/bust fantasy option. Isaiah Simmons, meanwhile, has shifted to the "star" LB role, which will move him around the formation. Somers writes that he "seems to have a role in every package."
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