We have reached the NFL regular-season finale. If you’re going of all the marbles this week, let’s help put them in the right places.
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 Travon Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars
The 2022 No. 1 overall pick was considered a bit of a project when he was drafted, but he has taken a significant step forward in Year 2 going from 3.5 sacks to nine. He also is on fire with four sacks in the last three games. The cherry on top? He faces the Tennessee Titans in Week 18, who have allowed the most fantasy points to D-linemen over the last five weeks. Whether he serves as a DL/EDGE/LB, he’s a strong play in Week 18.
DT Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams
We have another nose tackle this week, and for good reason, the third-round rookie has 3.5 sacks the last two weeks. He’ll face the San Francisco 49ers this week. The Niners aren’t a good matchup at face value, but they’re expected to rest some starters. Only four defensive tackles have more than his nine sacks on the season.
Linebackers
LB Sione Takitaki, Cleveland Browns
The BYU product typically hovers on the fringe of a pickup. He’ll deliver some weeks and disappear the next. What he did in Week 17 was deliver in a big way with 17 tackles. He’ll have a midrange matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals to pile on.
LB Devin Bush, Seattle Seahawks
Another outstanding stat line in Week 17 came from Bush, who had 17 total tackles. Albeit, 12 of them were assisted tackles, so his point total may not have been as high in some leagues. He had six tackles in Week 16 as well, so he’s on a hot streak. He’ll have a midrange matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18.
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LB Deion Jones, Carolina Panthers
A former fantasy stud with the Atlanta Falcons, Jones had his best performance of the season with seven tackles and a sack in Week 17. He has a tough matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he’s playing for a contract for next season and looks to be motivated.
Defensive backs
FS Donovan Wilson, Dallas Cowboys
It’s not a great matchup against the Washington Commanders in Week 18 as they’ve allowed the fewest points to the position the last five weeks. However, Wilson has been on fire, totaling 11-plus tackles in the last two weeks and five-plus in six straight games.
SS Jordan Battle, Cincinnati Bengals
Battle has lived up to his name with at least seven tackles over the last three games. He has seven stops in six of the last seven games as well. He just doesn’t add much outside of that category. He has a chance to finish strong against a top-five matchup the last five weeks in the Cleveland Browns.
SS Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts
Freshly thrust into the starting lineup, Cross finished Week 17 with nine tackles. He added six in the previous week as well. He has a chance to go for the trifecta against the Houston Texans in the season finale. The Texans are a solid matchup for opposing DBs the last five weeks.
