Tag: idp waiver wire picks

The moving and shaking continues in Week 9 of the fantasy football season.  Some changes to the starting lineup has created chances for some unheralded names and some former high-draft picks. We’re here to break it down for you to make that crucial roster decisions.

Defensive linemen

DE Tyquan Lewis, Indianapolis Colts

Lewis came out of the bye week ready to eat in Week 8. He had three tackles, two sacks and a pass defensed. It was an impressive showing after he was promoted over DE Denico Autry in the starting lineup. He’ll have a good matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Pounce on Lewis if you need a DL2-type of pickup.

DT Danny Shelton, Detroit Lions

Shelton has been versatile in the ways he has contributed the last few weeks. He has been in on a lot of assisted tackles for an interior lineman. He has 27 total tackles on the year and picked up his first sack last week. The Lions’ defensive line has been improving, and they face a good matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. He’s a speculative play if you need to cover a bye.

Linebackers

ILB Robert Spillane, Pittsburgh Steelers

Spillane busted out with a huge line last week thanks to a pick-six, but you can’t deny the 10 solo tackles. He had a forced fumble and two passes defensed as well. So while the touchdown was fluky, the tackle potential is there — especially this week against the Dallas Cowboys.

[lawrence-related id=455397]

OLB Haason Reddick, Arizona Cardinals

The former first-round pick is making up for lost action with increased playing time. A few weeks ago, the Cardinals moved him back to his natural, outside linebacker spot, and he has thrived in his pass-rushing role. He had 16 total tackles and three sacks in two games before the bye. He’s in position to continue the onslaught against the Miami Dolphins this week.

OLB Bud Dupree, Pittsburgh Steelers

The pass-rushing extraordinaire has been wreaking havoc in opposing backfields with a sack in five of seven games this season. The team acquired LB Avery Williamson, which should help Dupree along the way. More importantly, the Steelers have a salivating schedule against the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Washington Football Team coming up. He won’t be in the tackle conversation consistently, but he could have double-digit sacks the rest of the way.

Defensive backs

FS Devin McCourty, New England Patriots

McCourty was pretty meh through the first four weeks, but he has started getting in on the action of late. He has 19 total tackles and an interception the last three games. He has another tantalizing matchup against the New York Jets this week.

SS Adrian Amos, Green Bay Packers

Another player that has emerged the last couple of weeks is Amos. He has 14 total tackles, a fumble recovery and a sack the last two weeks. That could continue against the banged-up San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars the next two weeks.

Week 8 may be the halfway point of the NFL season, but it beckons crunch time in the fantasy season. It’s time to cut bait on early-season stashed pieces and start taking some chances. Fear not, we’re here to aid in those key roster decisions.

Defensive linemen

DE Calais Campbell, Baltimore Ravens

Campbell is owned in about half of leagues polled, but he needs to be owned in every, single, IDP league. Yes, he started slowly. However, he had three sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles before the bye week. The most important factor, though? The team acquired stud DE Yannick Ngakoue to line up on the other side. That will open ample lanes to rush the passer, and Campbell could be an absolute monster the rest of the season. Pick him up, trade for him, whatever you have to do!

DE Romeo Okwara, Detroit Lions

The fifth-year man may have turned a corner in his somewhat quiet career. Two sacks last week gave him at least one QB takedown in three of the last four games. He’s among the top 10 DEs in fantasy (depending on scoring system) over the last five weeks. That includes a bye week. Pick him up to see if this is in fact his coming of age.

Linebackers

OLB A.J. Klein, Buffalo Bills

The 29-year-old veteran was solid to start the season with five tackles in each of the first two games before going into the tank in his next two. He’s playing his best football right now with 13 total tackles, a forced fumble and a half-sack in the last two games combined. He’s a back-end ‘backer to use right now.

[lawrence-related id=455248]

OLB Malik Reed, Denver Broncos

The second-year man has disrupted offenses with two sacks in each of the past two games. He has only 22 total tackles on the year, which we’d like to see more of, but his schedule is pretty favorable. He’ll face the Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins over the next month.

OLB Alex Singleton, Philadelphia Eagles

The Montana State product has been racking up tackles the last two weeks with 15 combined. He has the Dallas Cowboys this week before the bye, and the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns afterwards. So this could be a nice window to eat.

Defensive backs

SS Kamren Curl, Washington Football Team

Washington, and fantasy owners alike, lost star SS Landon Collins (Achilles) for the season in Week 7. Curl, a seventh-round rookie, is expected to inherit Collins’ spot in the lineup. He had 76 tackles as a junior at Arkansas last year and could be a tackle compiler the rest of the way.

SS Rayshawn Jenkins, Los Angeles Chargers

The fourth-year man is emerging as a fierce presence on the field, and it’s starting to show up in fantasy. He has had at least eight tackles in three of the last four games. He has a good matchup against the Denver Broncos as he looks to continue his hot streak.

It’s onward to Week 7. Hopefully, this is where you’ll start to gain some separation from the pretenders in your league. If lady luck has not been on your side, we have you covered, too, with those key roster decisions.

Defensive linemen

DE Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles

Graham has been spotty this year with a couple of two-sack games, the last of which was in Week 6, and some sparse production otherwise. He faces the injury-depleted New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys the next two weeks. If he’s hovering on waivers, those are salivating matchups.

DE Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Heyward had been pretty quiet this year with just 1.5 sacks and a handful of tackles before his eight total tackles last week. He has the Tennessee Titans this week, which is a midrange matchup. He’ll follow that game with the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. There should be a lot of pressure to be applied in those slates, plus they’re quality tackling matchups.

Linebackers

ILB Krys Barnes, Green Bay Packers

Barnes was all over the field Monday night in Week 6, coming up with a season-high 10 total stops. He has 35 tackles in five games this year, but he has tallied nothing else in the stat sheet. With that said, it’s hard to find a seven-tackle linebacker at this stage.

[lawrence-related id=455028]

ILB Neville Hewitt, New York Jets

Hewitt has been a steady compiler with no fewer than six total tackles in each of his six games. He has two passes defensed, as well, and he has some history of rushing the quarterback. There could be some upside there to grab as depth or stash for later.

OLB Isaiah Simmons, Arizona Cardinals

The first-round rookie had his best game as a pro last week with four total tackles and a pass defense. He figures to see plenty more action with Chandler Jones (biceps) out for the season. He might be one to stash for a week to see how his role blossoms.

Defensive backs

CB Josh Norman, Buffalo Bills

Believe it or not, the former star cornerback has been one of the better DBs in fantasy over the last three weeks. He amassed 18 total tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two passes defensed. He has the New York Jets this week and could make it a fourth banner game.

CB Malcolm Butler, Tennessee Titans

In this weird season, we’re seeing a lot more big games from cornerbacks. Butler had two picks two weeks ago, and he followed it up with eight tackles and a pass defense last week. He has flirted with double-digit fantasy points (depending on scoring system) four games in a row now. It’s time to buy in.

SS Eric Rowe, Miami Dolphins

We don’t normally like to offer up players on a bye week, but Rowe has been too good the last three weeks to not think about stashing. He has had: six tackles; four tackles and two passes defensed; and nine tackles and a pass defense over the last three tilts. If you have the extra space, grab and stash.

We have arrived at Week 6, and Week 5 took a little longer than normal in an abnormal season. Several teams have swapped bye weeks to account for the changes. We’re here to give you that edge over your competition with those key roster decisions.

Defensive linemen

DE Chase Winovich, New England Patriots

Winovich was off to a solid start the first four weeks, and his bye in Week 5 could have caused a lot of his owners to cut him. He has two good matchups against the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers upcoming, and he has at least a half-sack in three of four games.

DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Miami Dolphins

The former second-rounder had a sack in his second straight game in Week 5, and he has at least a half-sack in four of five this year. The Dolphins have a good matchup against the New York Jets this week, and Ogbah is a back-end option to key on.

Linebackers

ILB Troy Reeder, Los Angeles Rams

Reeder was a breakout performer last week with 11 total tackles and three sacks. He’ll be a hot pickup, but his value largely hinges on how long starter Micah Kaiser (groin) is out. Reeder’s value is a lot better in the short term than long term.

ILB Avery Williamson, New York Jets

Finally healthy-looking after last year’s ACL tear, Williamson has impressed the last three weeks with 23 total tackles, three passes defensed and an interception. His tackles have been solid each week, and while the numbers don’t wow you, he has been steady across the board.

[lawrence-related id=454835]

OLB Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers

The former fifth-rounder returned to the lineup after missing a game with a quadriceps injury. He had seven total tackles from the SAM position. He’s a bit riskier using on the outside, because he has just one sack in 19 career games, but his tackle numbers should hold.

Defensive backs

FS Daniel Sorensen, Kansas City Chiefs

Week after week, the 30-year-old veteran is among the top point-scorers at the position because of solid tackle production that has grown each week. He had a season-high eight total tackles last week and should continue to serve as a source for the IDP backbone stat.

CB Pierre Desir, New York Jets

Two weeks ago, Desir rattled off eight tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown. Fluke, right? Well, he countered with 11 total tackles in Week 5. It’s hard to ignore him for much longer. Grab him if you need to cover an injury or bye.

CB Chris Claybrooks, Jacksonville Jaguars

The seventh-round pick was thrust into the starting lineup and has produced 13 total tackles and three passes defensed in the last two games. If you’re in a league with a thin waiver wire, he’s a sneaky option to utilize while the league tries to pick on him as he gets his feet wet.

One-quarter of the season down, and Week 5 will introduce official bye weeks. Skill-position players will have to be subbed in and out, and the roster crunch makes nailing your IDPs super important. We’re here to give you that edge over your competition with those key roster decisions.

Defensive linemen

DE Arik Armstead, San Francisco 49ers

While the Niners are dropping like flies, Armstead has been the driving force of the first wave of the defense. He had five total tackles and a half-sack last week to give him 1.5 sacks on the season. If you’re in a pinch with a bye, he has a good matchup against the Miami Dolphins this week.

DE Morgan Fox, Los Angeles Rams

Awakening from fantasy obscurity, Fox recorded four solo tackles, a sack and forced a fumble last week. He had a sack the previous week, as well. The problem, though, is that Fox only played in about 39 percent of the snaps last week. Until that changes, he can’t be trusted in starting lineups. Keep him on your watch list.

Linebackers

ILB Elandon Roberts, Miami Dolphins

Roberts led the team with nine tackles (six solo) in Week 4, and he forced a fumble. He had seven total stops in the previous game, which makes now the perfect time to pounce on the emerging linebacker. He’s a good back-end piece for depth.

ILB L.J. Fort, Baltimore Ravens

Fort has been inconsistent to start the year, but he has had at least five total tackles in three of four games and has two fumble recoveries. He’s not someone to count on for a long stretch, but the Ravens play the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles the next two games. Those two teams hand out points to defenders like candy.

[lawrence-related id=454610]

OLB Shaq Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The seven-year veteran has feasted the last two weeks with 13 total tackles and three sacks. It’s hard to trust him on the tackles, but he has at least five in three straight weeks. And with him bringing that kind of heat to the quarterback, he’s worth the speculative grab.

Defensive backs

FS Tashaun Gipson, Chicago Bears

Gipson has bounced around the last few years after being a solid IDPer with the Cleveland Browns earlier in his career. He has found new fantasy life and has at least six total tackles in three of four games and has a pick and two passes defensed. He’s worth the pickup and bye-week fill-in, if needed.

FS Ryan Neal, Seattle Seahawks

The journeyman Neal really made a name for himself in star S Jamal Adams’ (groin) absence last week with six total tackles, his second interception of the season and two passes defensed. Early word is that Adams still can’t run, and Neal’s rise could allow them to rest Adams another week. Even if it’s just a one-week plug-in, Neal should be owned.

CB Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys

The second-round rookie has been extremely busy with 23 total tackles in the last three weeks. He pitched in a sack in the last game and looks to be a player on the rise. Corners aren’t the most trustworthy in fantasy, but he’s making too much noise to ignore.

Welcome to Week 4. Now is the time where you start to get an idea of whether your team is a pretender or a contender. Bye weeks are about to be introduced, and the roster decisions become even more important in deeper IDP formats. We’re here to give you that edge over your competition with those key roster decisions.

Defensive linemen

DE Carl Lawson, Cincinnati Bengals

Lawson almost made our list after a solid Week 1 performance. He busted out with eight tackles (four solo) and two sacks in Week 3. The Bengals have decent matchups with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens the next two weeks. They have combined for 12 sacks allowed in the first three games. Lawson is a good injury replacement or a future bye-week sub.

DT Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team

It’s fairly rare for an interior lineman to make a splash in fantasy, but Allen has done just that. He filled the stat sheet last week with nine tackles (seven solo) and a sack. He’s a top-10 defensive lineman in most leagues, and he should be picked up for depth at the very least.

Linebackers

OLB Kyzir White, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are one of the teams that have been hit hardest by injuries, but White has been a bright spot. He tallied 18 tackles (13 solo) the last two weeks to put himself in prime position for the waiver-wire plucking.

ILB Ty Summers, Green Bay Packers

The Pack lost starter Christian Kirksey (shoulder) for at least one game, and possibly more, last week. Summers stepped up in relief with nine tackles (six solo) in Week 3. He figures to be busy against the Atlanta Falcons Monday night.

[lawrence-related id=454425]

OLB Damien Wilson, Kansas City Chiefs

Another week, another standout Kansas City defensive player to consider. Wilson has made some noise the last two weeks with 15 tackles (10 solo), and he’s one of the top point scorers at the position during the period. The upside isn’t there every week, but he’ll be an option to mix and match moving forward.

Defensive backs

FS Julian Love, New York Giants

SS Jabrill Peppers (ankle) went down with an ankle sprain last week, and Love stepped in with 11 tackles (10 solo) in a breakout game. While Peppers may not miss a lot of time, Love has been making plays all season with eight tackles and an interception in the other two games combined. It’s hard to find the quality safety help he’ll provide.

CB Levi Wallace, Buffalo Bills

The third-year man has been busy in the first three games with 21 tackles (15 solo) and an interception. He’s clearly benefiting from one of the best corners in the game opposite him in Tre’Davious White as offenses are avoiding him. Wallace could continue to eat a few more weeks before teams adjust.