Fantasy Football IDP Analysis – Syndication Server

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 18

Check your waiver wire for these IDP one-week plays for the regular-season finale.

We’ve made it to Week 18, and it’s the season finale for most. As we do each season, we’ll forecast the best one-week plays you can take advantage of on waivers.

Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.

Defensive linemen

EDGE Odafe Oweh, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens clinch the AFC North with a win over the Cleveland Browns Saturday. The Browns have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing D-linemen in the last five weeks. Their offense is fronted by the hapless Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has thrown no TDs and six INTs on the season. Oweh, who has a career-high nine sacks, recorded his first sack in a month last week against Houston. He has a great matchup to do it again.

DE Chauncey Golston, Dallas Cowboys

We highlighted him a few weeks ago, and he paid dividends the last three weeks. He tallied four tackles and a sack in Week 15, six tackles plus another sack in Week 16, and four tackles in Week 17. He’s facing the Washington Commanders, who have allowed the third-most PPG to DL over the last five games. He also is playing for a contract, and he has Micah Parsons on the other side drawing double teams. I love this play.

Linebackers

LB Payton Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers need a Ravens loss and a win to take the AFC North. This game will be played immediately after Baltimore’s game, and they could rest some guys if Baltimore wins. Wilson probably wouldn’t be one, and he has a great matchup against the Bengals. Cincinnati allowed the third-most fantasy points to LBs the last five weeks. Wilson takes a backseat to Patrick Queen in Pittsburgh’s 3-4, but the third-rounder could see an increased snap count if this game becomes meaningless.

LB Jerome Baker, Tennessee Titans

The Titans acquired Baker from Seattle before the deadline, and he picked up eight tackles in his first game. He has had three, six, and six tackles over the last three weeks. He included a sack in Week 17. The team put Kenneth Murray Jr. on IR, and they’ll want to get a longer look at Baker against the Houston Texans this week.

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LB Jonathon Cooper, Denver Broncos

Cooper had four tackles and 1.5 sacks against Cincinnati last week. That was his best game in a few weeks. He has 9.5 sacks on the season, but Cooper had just 1.5 since facing the Kansas City Chiefs Nov. 10. He’ll face the Chiefs again this week, against whom he had six tackles and a sack in the prior meeting. And the Chiefs will have no reason to play anyone of value with the top seed locked up.

Defensive backs

SS Calen Bullock, Houston Texans

The third-round rookie has shown signs of life at the right time. He had six tackles and an INT in Week 15, registering five and three tackles the last two weeks, respectively. He’ll face the Titans this week, and they’ve allowed the fourth-most PPG to opposing DBs the last five weeks.

CB Deommodore Lenoir, San Francisco 49ers

Lenoir was worthy of picking up earlier in the year but took a backseat the last few weeks until Week 17. He had nine tackles against the Detroit Lions. He’ll face the Arizona Cardinals this week, and they’ve allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing DBs the last five weeks.

CB Alontae Taylor, New Orleans Saints

The Saints face the Bucs in their season finale, and Tampa has awarded the most PPG to opposing DBs the last five weeks. Tampa has to win to get in, and they will throw a ton to get Mike Evans his 1,000 yards. Taylor had six tackles against Tampa in October, and he should easily match that this week.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 17

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 17 pickups.

We march into Week 17. If you’re in the fantasy football championship round, best of luck, and bring that trophy home. If you’re in a roto or season-long league, we have two weeks left to make our mark.

Defensive linemen

EDGE Nolan Smith Jr., Philadelphia Eagles

The 2023 first-round pick has experienced some growing pains, but he’s in probably his best window of his short career. He has sacks in four of the last six games. Smith managed three tackles and two fumble recoveries in Week 16. He’ll face the hapless Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 in what will be a great matchup.

DT Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans

Defensive tackles are risky in fantasy, but we have seen a modest uprise in interior linemen in fantasy this season. Simmons picked up his fifth sack of the season last week, and he is amassing tackle numbers. He has nine, five, seven, and eight tackles over the last four games.

Linebackers

LB Darius Muasau, New York Giants

The 2024 sixth-round pick started in place of Bobby Okereke in Week 16, and he delivered 11 tackles. He had six tackles and eight tackles over the last two weeks. Muasau’s status may be hinged to Okereke’s availability, but this team is gunning for the top pick and should want to get a look at Muasau.

LB Jacoby Windmon, Carolina Panthers

Windmon played in 76% of the defensive snaps in Week 16 and picked up eight tackles, a sack, and a PD. That’s a good baseline as he enters a solid matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17.

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LB Mohamoud Diabate, Cleveland Browns

The 23-year-old Diabate was worthy of picking up from Week 6-12, and he just kind of fell off. He’s worthy of another look after six tackles in Week 16 because he has a phenomenal matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. They allow a ton of points to LBs because of their dual-headed running back situation.

Defensive backs

SS Isaiah Pola-Mao, Las Vegas Raiders

The 25-year-old USC product had nine tackles in Week 15 and had an even bigger Week 16. He had 11 tackles and forced two fumbles. He’ll have a solid matchup against the New Orleans Saints this week to build on it.

S Jalen Thompson, Arizona Cardinals

Thompson was possibly rostered earlier in the year, but he went into an ice box from Weeks 9-14. He’s started to ramp it back up with six tackles in Week 15 and 10 tackles in Week 16. The Los Angeles Rams aren’t a great matchup, but they still like to throw the ball enough to allow for potential tackles.

S Damontae Kazee, Pittsburgh Steelers

Kazee has been in for SS DeShon Elliott, and he has been good. He had eight tackles two weeks ago and seven last week. If Elliott is out again, Kazee has a strong matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 16

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 16 pickups.

We’re one week into the fantasy playoffs, and you’ve either had your bye or staved off your first opponent. Now what? Let’s divulge…

Defensive linemen

DE Chauncey Golston, Dallas Cowboys

Micah Parsons looks healthy for the first time in a long time with 5 1/2 sacks in the last four games. That has opened up Gholston opposite of him as he had five tackles and a sack in Week 15. He’ll match up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week in a good matchup to continue his audition for next year.

DT Adam Butler, Las Vegas Raiders

They were running without stud DE Maxx Crosby, but the 30-year-old Butler stepped up with six tackles, a sack, and a PD in Week 15. He has at least a half-sack in three straight games and four of five. He’ll be chasing Jacksonville Jaguars QB Mac Jones around this week and is a sneaky play.

Linebackers

LB Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay Packers

After a three-game absence, Cooper returned in a big way Sunday night with seven tackles, an INT, a sack, and two PDs. He has great matchups against the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings upcoming and should be a really good play the rest of the way if he’s out there.

LB Christian Harris, Houston Texans

Also returning from injury in Week 15 was the 2022 third-round pick. Harris, who missed the entire season up to this point, had eight tackles in Week 15. He figures to be a highlighted play as he rounds into form and could face a backup quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16.

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LB James Williams, Tennessee Titans

He’ll play second fiddle to Kenneth Murray Jr., but Williams still delivered eight tackles last week. The 21-year-old former seventh-round pick is auditioning for a spot on next year’s roster and could be a deep-league option.

Defensive backs

SS Dane Belton, New York Giants

The 24-year-old from Iowa opened eyes with 15 tackles, a sack, and a PD in Week 15. He’ll have some run down the stretch in a starting spot, and even if he can’t repeat that monstrosity, Belton worthy of a pickup.

S Geno Stone, Cincinnati Bengals

He had a Pick-6 in Week 15, but he also made five tackles. That made two straight weeks with five tackles, an INT, and a PD. He has fantastic matchups the next two weeks against the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos.

CB Ugo Amadi, New Orleans Saints

The 27-year-old is binging in fantasy right now. He had nine tackles and a PD in Week 13. Amadi went for eight tackles and two PDs in Week 14 before tallying seven tackles, a sack, and a PD last week. He faces the Green Bay Packers and Las Vegas Raiders the next two weeks.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 15

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 15 pickups.

Bye weeks are behind us, and the stretch run is upon us. It might be slim pickens on your waiver wire. As always, keep an eye out for players that were dropped because of roster restraints to cover a bye last week.

Defensive linemen

DE K’Lavon Chaisson, Las Vegas Raiders

The former first-round pick has been a factor the last two weeks. He had three tackles and 1.5 sacks against KC two weeks ago. Chaisson registered four tackles, a half-sack, and an INT against Tampa Bay last week. With the Raiders out of it, they should keep rolling out the 25-year-old opposite of Maxx Crosby.

DE Joshua Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars

It has been a down year for the former No. 7 overall pick. He started the year rushing on the edge at linebacker and has been moved to a traditional DE spot opposite of former No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker. Hines-Allen is starting to turn his season around. He has sacks in consecutive games and four sacks in the last five games overall.

Linebackers

LB Marist Liufau, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys lost DeMarvion Overshown for the season Monday night, and the third-rounder Liufau is next up. He actually had two tackles and 1.5 sacks in the game. While he’s a bit of an unknown, he should have a big enough role to be a possible flex option.

LB Luke Gifford, Tennessee Titans

Gifford received the start in Week 14 and was a monster with 12 tackles. The problem, though, is he was in the starting lineup because Kenneth Murray Jr., and Jerome Baker were out. Check their status this week, but Gifford would be a great option against the Cincinnati Bengals.

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LB Troy Dye, Los Angeles Chargers

This one will depend on starter Denzel Perryman‘s status. He has been out the last two weeks, and Dye posted 14 tackles in Week 13 and six tackles last week. Perryman is questionable to return in Week 15, but if he’s out another week, Dye is a strong fill-in against Tampa Bay.

Defensive backs

S Jonathan Owens, Chicago Bears

You may know him as Simone Biles’ husband, but he’s starting to get some traction with the Bears for the first time this season. He had eight tackles, a forced fumble, and a recovery in Week 12. Owens followed it up with eight tackles plus a PD in Week 13, and seven tackles, an INT, and a PD last week. He had a good year with Green Bay last year and could continue to be a solid contributor.

S Josh Metellus, Minnesota Vikings

It has been an up-and-down year for Metellus, but he’s on fire right now. He has seven, 10, and seven tackles over the last three weeks, picking off his first pass since Week 2 over the weekend. He’ll be a good addition to play against the Bears.

SS Jordan Poyer, Miami Dolphins

The 33-year-old has been OK this season, but his numbers don’t jump off the page at you like the talent he flashed in the front part of his career. Poyer has been quietly racking up tackles, though, with seven, nine, and seven the last three weeks. He’ll have another opportunity to tally more against Houston this week.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 14

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 14 pickups.

Six teams are off in what is the final week of byes in the NFL, so rosters will start to take shape for the fantasy playoffs or the stretch run. Whether you’re new to the column or a vet, we’ll have something to help you make the competition sweat.

Defensive linemen

DT Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks

The former No. 6 overall pick in 2015 has wreaked havoc the last two weeks. He had six tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a PD in Week 12 before four tackles, a pick-6, two sacks, and a PD last week. He has another good matchup against Arizona this week.

DT Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

The 14-year vet has played really well the last four weeks. In that span, Heyward tallied 17 tackles, three sacks, and six passes defensed, evenly spread out for those who place a premium on consistency. He has a great matchup against Cleveland this week.

Linebackers

LB Devin White, Houston Texans

Starting LB Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended three games for an illegal hit during Week 13, and White appears to have an opening. If his name rings a bell, that’s because he had 100-tackle seasons with Tampa from 2020-22, and he’s still just 26 years old.

LB Mack Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

He had some big-time performances earlier this season and then fell off a cliff. He made his presence known in Week 13 with seven tackles, two sacks and a PD. It’s slim pickens on LBs this late in the year, and he has the upside to be a contributor the rest of the way.

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LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Cincinnati Bengals

Davis-Gaither stepped in for Logan Wilson (knee) and grabbed a team-high 13 tackles last week. His value will hinge largely on Wilson’s status, but he’s a good play against Dallas if he starts.

Defensive backs

FS Geno Stone, Cincinnati Bengals

Stone broke out with nine tackles and a fumble recovery in Week 11 before the bye week. He followed it up with seven tackles last week. He has Dallas and the Tennessee Titans the next two weeks.

SS Justin Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

The 27-year-old won’t jump off the page at you with fantasy numbers, but he provides a solid baseline. He has seven, six, six, and six tackles the last four weeks. He doesn’t add a lot else, but his high floor, low ceiling could be of use this late in the year.

CB Byron Murphy, Minnesota Vikings

Murphy is a corner with some upside. He has five-plus tackles in three straight weeks. He picked off passes in four of six games and recorded three PDs last week. He’ll face the generous Atlanta Falcons this week.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 13

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 13 pickups.

We have all 32 teams in action for Week 13 with three games on Thursday and one on Friday this holiday week. So, Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate, and let’s feast on some IDP goodies.

Defensive linemen

EDGE Nolan Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles lost Brandon Graham for the season with a torn triceps, and Smith will step up into that EDGE rusher role. The 30th overall pick in last year’s draft had a hot stretch in October where he recorded 2 1/2 sacks in three games. He’ll be ready to cut it loose the rest of the way, and if he has DE eligibility, he’s a must-have.

EDGE D.J. Wonnum, Carolina Panthers

The former Minnesota Vikings EDGE missed most of the season with a quadriceps injury, but he has made his presence felt. He had six tackles, a forced fumble, and a sack in Week 10, and he notched five tackles and a sack in Week 12 with a bye in between.

Linebackers

LB Malcolm Rodriguez, Detroit Lions

The 25-year-old has had spurts of success, such as five tackles and a sack in Week 4, and seven tackles plus a sack in Week 7. He fell back into obscurity for a few weeks, but Rodriguez woke up with eight tackles in Week 12. He has a run-heavy matchup against the Chicago Bears this week and should be a flex candidate with Alex Anzalone (arm) lost to injury.

LB Tyrice Knight, Seattle Seahawks

The fourth-round pick from this past draft has taken off the last two weeks. He had 10 tackles in Week 11 and nine tackles with a sack in Week 12. Knight should be picked up if he’s still out there.

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LB Mohamoud Diabate, Cleveland Browns

The 23-year-old UDFA has been spotty the last few weeks with seven- and nine-tackle games and some underwhelming stat lines. He strongly came out of the Week 10 bye, though with seven and six tackles the last two weeks, respectively, and worth a pickup as a depth option.

Defensive backs

FS Jimmie Ward, Houston Texans

The 33-year-old veteran returned from a groin injury three weeks ago, and in two of the three he showed out. Ward tallied five tackles, an INT, and a PD in Week 10 with a quiet outing in Week 11 against Dallas. He came back Week 12 with six tackles, a PD, and a pick-six. He’ll have a good matchup against the Jags before his bye week.

CB Marcus Jones, New England Patriots

The former third-round pick has been a tackle machine the last two weeks. Jones had nine tackles in Week 11 and eight tackles with three PDs in Week 12. He’ll have a great matchup against the Indianapolis Colts before his bye week.

CB Josh Butler, Dallas Cowboys

This will depend on the status of CB Trevon Diggs, but Butler has been great the last two weeks in his place. He had five tackles and a PD in Week 11 to go along with 12 tackles, a sack, and three PDs in Week 12. He’ll face the lowly New York Giants in Week 13.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 12

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 12 pickups.

We move along to Week 12, and six teams are on a bye this week. This is one of the final weeks to take advantage of roster crunches as we make our way toward the fantasy playoffs.

Defensive linemen

EDGE Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos

This dude has wreaked havoc on opposing backfields for weeks. Regardless of whether he has DE or LB eligibility, he needs to be picked up. He has sacks in eight of nine games. Last week, he had seven tackles and two sacks, and he’ll be getting after the Las Vegas Raiders this week.

DE Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts

I swear, every year, we have a sighting of this 26-year-old defensive end. But it’s warranted. He has sacks in three straight games. He logged seven tackles, a forced fumble, and two sacks last week. Paye will have a meeting with the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots before his Week 14 bye, so this may be an abbreviated stay on your roster.

Linebackers

LB Devin Bush, Cleveland Browns

The 2019 first-round pick has been pretty invisible much of the season. However, he had eight tackles and a sack in Week 9 before his bye week. He came out of that bye week with eight more tackles. Scoop him up.

LB Omar Speights, Los Angeles Rams

The 23-year-old undrafted rookie busted out with eight tackles in Week 10. He followed it up with six in Week 11. It’s time to start taking him seriously as he’s firmly entrenched at RILB.

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LB Jerome Baker, Tennessee Titans

Baker stepped in for the injured Jack Gibbens and delivered eight tackles in Week 11. He was in and out of the lineup with Seattle earlier this season, but he posted a couple of seven-tackle games. Gibbens is out for the year, so give Baker a spin.

Defensive backs

CB Nazeeh Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs

The former seventh-round pick made his presence known in Week 10 with 10 tackles and a sack. He came back in Week 11 with eight tackles. He’ll face two dumpster fire teams in the next two weeks in Carolina and Las Vegas to potentially pick one off.

FS Ar’Darius Washington, Baltimore Ravens

What did you do in Week 11, Ar’Darius? Oh, you know, just racked up 11 tackles! He’s running as the starting free safety now and played every defensive snap last week.

S Kamren Kinchens, Los Angeles Rams

The third-round pick is more of a boom-or-bust type, because he’s playing nickel back behind starters Kamren Curl and Quentin Lake. He has two big games in the last three weeks. He had three tackles and two INTs in Week 9, including one he took to the house. He didn’t do much in Week 10 and managed eight tackles, a forced fumble, and another INT last week.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 11

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 11 pickups.

We’re inching closer to the fantasy playoffs, and four more teams are on a bye this week. That could make another team’s roster crunch become a dire situation. So keep your eyes open for players that shouldn’t be let go.

Defensive linemen

DE Charles Omenihu, Kansas City Chiefs

He’s opening his 21-day practice window this week after missing the entire season due to a torn ACL thus far. You’ll want to stash Omenihu if you have the space, because he made an immense impact in his first season with KC last year. He had seven sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 games. The Chiefs are in the bottom half of the league with 19 sacks, and his return will be a welcomed one.

DE Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams

The 25-year-old was all over the field on Monday Night Football. He had six tackles, a sack, and a pass defense. He logged a sack last week as well and has had six tackles in three straight years.

Linebackers

LB Anthony Walker, Miami Dolphins

Walker was another player who stood out Monday night, grabbing his first INT of the season. He also had nine tackles after a 10-tackle performance in Week 9. His window of production is clearly open right now. Take advantage.

LB De’Vondre Campbell, San Francisco 49ers

Campbell was second on the team with seven tackles in Week 10. It was the second straight week he had seven stops. His numbers have been spotty this season, but the 31-year-old is worth a look as a flex or depth candidate.

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LB Christian Rozeboom, Los Angeles Rams

Alongside having one of the most football-playeresque last names, Rozeboom has been great the last two weeks. He had three tackles, an INT, and three pass defenses Monday night and 11 tackles last week. A hit-or-miss option, but he’s hitting right now.

Defensive backs

DB Ugo Amadi, New Orleans Saints

After the team traded CB Marshon Lattimore, Amadi played in every defensive snap for the first time all season in Week 10. He answered the bell with nine tackles and a clutch pass defense near the end of the game. Amadi will continue to see more run.

S Taylor Rapp, Buffalo Bills

After a “meh” start to the season, Rapp started to pick it up around Week 6. He has had seven-plus tackles in four of the last five games, and he had 10 in Week 9. He picked off a pass in Week 10 to go with seven stops. He’ll present a low ceiling and a high floor with tackles in fantasy.

CB Carlton Davis, Detroit Lions

The 27-year-old has been busy the last two weeks. He had seven tackles and two PDs in Week 9. Davis managed four tackles, two INTs, and two PDs in Week 10. He has a couple of good matchups against Jacksonville and Indianapolis upcoming.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 9

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 9 pickups.

After a full slate in Week 8, bye weeks are back in action in Week 9 with Pittsburgh and San Francisco taking a seat. So bait your hook, and let’s get ready to reel in some IDPs.

Defensive linemen

DE Arden Key, Tennessee Titans

The 28-year-old Key is annually a fringe IDP option with spurts of brilliance and disappearance. He’s on the former right now with three sacks in the last two games. He had six tackles and a forced fumble to boot last week. He’ll be chasing around New England Patriots this week.

EDGE Azeez Ojulari, New York Giants

If he has DL eligibility, that’s a major plus. The 2021 second-rounder has sacks in three straight games and has combined for five sacks during the stretch. He also contributed four, three, and seven tackles in each game. Ojulari has two good matchups against Washington and Carolina before his Week 11 bye.

Linebackers

LB Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints

The elder statesman of the bunch, the 35-year-old vet had a season-high nine tackles against the Los Angeles Chargers last week. He has been pretty hit-or-miss and could have been drafted and dumped. He has two great matchups in the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons upcoming.

LB Eric Wilson, Green Bay Packers

This one is contingent on Quay Walker‘s (concussion) status, but Wilson came in last week and recorded nine tackles in his stead. In Week 7, he had six tackles, two sacks, and a pass defense. The Packers face the Detroit Lions before a bye in Week 10.

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LB Christian Elliss, New England Patriots

The Pats have been playing musical linebackers, and Elliss is at the head of the table right now. He has nine tackles in each of the last two games, and he included a sack and a pass defense last week.

Defensive backs

S Eddie Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Jackson was a rotational player until he played every snap against the Cleveland Browns. He had 10 tackles and a pass defense. He had eight tackles the week before. If he continues to have this kind of runway, he’s a great pickup this late in the year.

S Eric Murray, Houston Texans

Murray’s role has increased significantly. He played at least 80% of the team’s snaps over the last five weeks. He started last week and picked up seven tackles and three pass defenses. Murray has the New York Jets on tap this week.

S Quan Martin, Washington Commanders

Martin has been hit or miss as the Commanders have been using three safeties. He hit the nail on the head with 11 tackles in Week 8. He has three good matchups against the Giants, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia upcoming to see if he can build on it.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 8

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 8 pickups.

We’re just about to the halfway point of the season, and all teams are in action this week. That means the waiver wire will should have fruitful candidates to pluck.

Defensive linemen

DT Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

The 2019 first-round pick has been living in other teams’ backfield. Over the last three weeks, he has 6 sacks. Lawrence did have five tackles last week, but that was his high mark on the year. He’ll need to keep reaching the quarterback to have value, but he’s doing exactly that.

EDGE Dante Fowler, Washington Commanders

The 30-year-old was all over the field in Week 7, and he has been great for two straight weeks now. He had a sack and a pick-six last week and had two sacks in Week 6. He’s worth riding the wave with.

Linebackers

LB Baylon Spector, Buffalo Bills

The Bills lost MLB Terrel Bernard last week with an ankle injury that was serious enough to rule him out for the game. Spector stepped in and made six tackles. Bank on Bernard missing more time in what has been an injury-riddled year. Spector is the play.

LB Neville Hewitt, Houston Texans

The Texans have a couple of nicked-up linebackers, and the 31-year-old has balled out the last two weeks. He had eight tackles in Week 6 and nine tackles, an INT, and two PDs in Week 7.

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LB Grant Stuard, Indianapolis Colts

He stepped in for E.J. Speed last week on the edge, and, um … he corralled the opposition for 19 tackles! Speed’s status will obviously dictate his staying power, but you can’t overlook that performance.

Defensive backs

S Evan Williams, Green Bay Packers

The rookie already receives bonus points for sporting the name of a solid glass of bourbon on a campfire-like fall evening. He had 10 tackles in Week 5, four tackles, and a forced fumble in Week 6 with nine tackles in Week 7. He’ll have a runway to continue padding stats.

S Isaiah Pola-Mao, Las Vegas Raiders

The third-year, undrafted man led the team with seven tackles in Week 7. He had eight tackles the week before. In Week 4, IPM made six tackles and a sack. He provides a solid option with a low ceiling and high floor.

CB Deommodore Lenoir, San Francisco 49ers

The former Oregon product has tallied eight tackles for three consecutive weeks. Lenoir has a pass defense in four straight games and picked off his first pass last week. He’s worthy of a pickup.