Tag: IDP waivers

The trade deadline has come and gone, and there was some movement on the defensive side of the ball. We have begun the stretch run in Week 9 as we try to separate with the contenders from the pretenders.

Defensive Linemen

DE Dean Lowry, Green Bay Packers

The 27-year-old Lowry has at least a half-sack in four consecutive games. He also has 13 tackles over the last three games. He’s a big, 296-pound, high-motor player, and even though the sacks may come back to the mean, he is still around the ball.

DE D.J. Wonnum, Minnesota Vikings

Stud DE Danielle Hunter (pectoral) is out for the season, and the former fourth-round pick Wonnum is set to replace him. He’s a deep-league, speculative pickup, but he had three sacks in limited action as a rookie last year. He has eight tackles and a sack over his last three games combined in limited action.

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Linebackers

LB Damien Wilson, Jacksonville Jaguars

The 28-year-old veteran has played opposite of Myles Jack on the interior and posted some solid tackle numbers. He hasn’t contributed anywhere else, though. He had eight tackles last week and has had three games of at least that many stops in a game. His bye week is behind him, and he’ll provide quality depth.

LB Von Miller, Los Angeles Rams

Miller (ankle) is a bigger name than a fantasy asset, but he wreaks havoc in opposing backfields. He’ll line up with Leonard Floyd on the other side tearing it up, Aaron Donald up front, and Jalen Ramsey behind him. That defense is going to be scary, and Miller should have enough opportunities for sacks to be a worthwhile pickup.

Defensive Backs

FS Marcus Epps, Philadelphia Eagles

Epps has broke out the last two weeks with 11 and nine tackles, respectively. In fact, he has at least eight tackles in three of the last four. The Eagles aren’t going anywhere, and teams are dominating time of possession against them, which leads to ample tackle changes for Epps.

CB Josh Norman, San Francisco 49ers

The former All-Pro has put up some absurd numbers the last two weeks. He has 17 tackles, three forced fumbles, an INT and two pass defenses. He’ll take on the Arizona Cardinals with a gimpy Kyler Murray (ankle) who may not even be able to suit up. Ride his hot streak at least another week.

As we enter Week 8, it’s time to start thinking about roster depth and where you can fortify as we enter a pivotal part of the schedule before the fantasy football playoffs. There were a lot of Week 7 byes, and if you see one of the studs dropped as a result, act quickly.

Defensive Linemen

DE Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati Bengals

Hubbard had a couple of clunkers in Weeks 5 and 6 that dropped his ownership in IDP leagues. He cranked it back up last week with five tackles, 2.5 sacks and a pass defense. The better news? He faces the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns the next two weeks, and both have injuries at quarterback.

DT DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts

The run-stuffing veteran has filled the stat sheet the last two weeks with 10 tackles and two sacks. He’ll have plenty of tackle opportunities against the run-heavy Tennessee Titans this week. A three-week string of mediocrity could have sent him to your wire, but he’s likely owned in highly competitive formats. He plays the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars after Week 8, so Buckner has staying power.

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Linebackers

LB Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs

The 21-year-old rookie has really made a name for himself the last couple of weeks with nine and 15 tackles, respectively. He’s for sure going to be one of the most sought-after linebackers on waivers this week, so get your claim in on him.

LB Kyzir White, Los Angeles Chargers

Fresh off a bye week, White hopes to add to the breakout performance he posted in Week 6. He had eight tackles, two interceptions and two pass defenses. He’ll have a decent opponent in the New England Patriots and then a Philadelphia Eagles team that barely shows interest in rushing the ball, so his staying power is limited.

Defensive Backs

SS Lonnie Johnson, Houston Texans

After nine tackles and an interception last week, Johnson should be flying off the waiver wire shelves this week. He has interceptions in three out of the last four games. That’s obviously not likely to continue, but it’s a good sign that he’s always around the ball and making plays. He’ll have to be against the pass-heavy Los Angeles Rams in Week 8.

SS Kyle Dugger, New England Patriots 

After three banner weeks in a row, Dugger is owned in less than one-fifth of leagues polled. That’s far too low for someone that has 27 tackles and two picks over the last three weeks. His bye isn’t until Week 14, and there are some soft spots in the schedule upcoming.

The train keeps rolling into Week 7, and bye weeks are frequent roadblocks. You’ll have to keep an eye on waivers each week to see if other owners are dropping key pieces due to the roster crunch. Otherwise, we present you with some other options.

Defensive Linemen

DE Randy Gregory, Dallas Cowboys

It may have taken six years, but are we finally witnessing the breakout season for Gregory? He has recorded two sacks in two of the last three games. The Cowboys are on a bye this week, which means you’ll need to stash him for a week, but if you need the depth, the time appears to be now for the 28-year-old.

DE Jonathan Greenard, Houston Texans

The second-year, third-round pick has played in three games this season and made a statement in all three. He has 13 total tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble. That’s DL1 production. Can it continue? It’s worth the waiver claim to find out.

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Linebackers

LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Detroit Lions 

The team has raved about Reeves-Maybin and his playmaking ability, and he has started to see more playing time as a result. He has 12 total tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the last two games combined. The team has been decimated by injuries, and there’s no reason to believe the impending free-agent won’t receive a long look.

LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, New England Patriots

Thirteen total tackles in a game he left early due to a rib injury … That’s what Bentley broke out with in Week 6. Now the injury will need to be monitored, and there’s the threat that newly reacquired Jamie Collins also takes time away from him, but he’s another back-end stash option who also happens to play the lowly New York Jets this week.

Defensive Backs

SS Kareem Jackson, Denver Broncos

Jackson has been one of the top performers at DB the last three weeks with 24 total tackles and a sack. Injuries have thrust him into a leadership role. He’ll have a banged-up Cleveland Browns team in his sights this week to continue his top-10 play in some scoring systems.

FS Sean Chandler, Carolina Panthers

Chandler took over for starting FS Juston Burris, who has been out for three weeks with a groin injury. In that time, Chandler had two good games: nine total tackles three weeks ago and 10 tackles with a forced fumble last week. Burris is eligible to return in Week 7, but there has been no word on his status yet. Chandler should be a good short-term option in the meantime.

As we enter the one-third mark of the season, four teams are on byes. You might see players hit waivers that normally shouldn’t, and you’ll have to react on those quickly. Otherwise, we have you covered on the hidden gems floating on waivers.

Defensive Linemen

DE Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings

While originally thought to be a situational pass rusher, Griffen played a season-high 49 (of 68) defensive snaps in Week 5. He had four tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. He now has sacks in three consecutive weeks, and he faces the Carolina Panthers this week, who have yielded the second-most points to the position this season. The 33-year-old may have to split time with D.J. Wonnum at some point, but ride his hot wave for now.

DE Yannick Ngakoue, Las Vegas Raiders

Has there been a larger fall from grace at the position in recent memory? Ngakoue was one of the best linemen in football and was primed for a huge payday, but he just hasn’t been the same since leaving Jacksonville. He’s still just 26 and picked up his first two sacks of the year last week. It’s a semi-proactive move as we need to see more, but pick him up if you’re in a deeper league.

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Linebackers

LB Reggie Ragland, New York Giants 

The former second-round pick has bounced around after four ho-hum years with the Kansas City Chiefs. He seems to have found a home with the G-men and stable playing time. He has 15 total tackles the last two weeks combined and looks to be hitting his stride on the inside.

LB Pete Werner, New Orleans Saints

He’s on a bye this week, and this will be a move for deeper leagues. However, the second-round rookie has double-digit tackles in consecutive weeks and 23 over the span. He hasn’t done anything else in the stat sheet yet, but he could wind up being a steal if these tackle tallies are for real.

Defensive Backs

FS Xavier Woods, Minnesota Vikings

The 26-year-old former Dallas Cowboy opened some eyes with an 11-tackle performance two weeks ago. He followed it up with eight more stops last week, and it’s time to act if you waited to see more from him. SS Harrison Smith has long ruled the Vikings secondary, but Woods is on pace for a 75-tackle season with pass-coverage skills to boot.

SS Dane Cruikshank, Tennessee Titans

Armed with one of the toughest names in all of football, it’s starting to translate onto the field. Over the last three weeks, Cruikshank is averaging six tackles per game. FS Kevin Byard is in the running for Defensive Player of the Year thus far opposite of him, and they’re going to start avoiding him. Cruikshank should only see more opportunities for stops.

CB Desmond King, Houston Texans

King has 19 tackles in the last two games combined. In fact, he has recorded at least eight tackles in three of five games this season. He has two pass-happy teams coming up in the next three weeks. The window of opportunity is there to keep rolling.

This week, we see some fresh faces and some familiar ones looking to revitalize their career in different colors. The injuries have been rampant on the defensive side of the ball, and depth is where you’re going to need to cash in.

Defensive Linemen

DE/LB Charles Harris, Detroit Lions

While Harris is technically a linebacker, he has DE eligibility on many league platforms, which is where gamers will be able to find optimal value. It’s easy to forget, but Harris was a first-round pick in 2017, and he had just 79 tackles and 6.5 sacks in four years combined entering the season. He has sacks in three games in a row, and he’ll be asked to come of age for this defense that just lost edge rusher Romeo Okwara for the season and has been without Trey Flowers (shoulder, knee) for consecutive games.

DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Miami Dolphins

Ogbah was a bright spot last season nine sacks, three forced fumbles and five pass defenses. It has been a slow start with 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks, but the schedule is going to be favorable after Tampa Bay this week. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons could give him some opportunities to eat.

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Linebackers

LB Alec Ogletree, Chicago Bears

A few seasons ago, Ogletree was one of the best, most versatile linebackers in fantasy. Injuries and spotty play took some of the shine off his star in recent years, though. But when you see him rack up 12 tackles and a pass defense, like he did in Week 4, you run to scoop him off the wire.

LB Leonard Floyd, Los Angeles Rams

The former first-round bust has seemed to find a home with the Rams. He set a career high with 10.5 sacks last year and now has reached the quarterback three weeks in a row. He’ll be an up-and-down player, because he relies on sacks as a linebacker, but he has 15 tackles in the last three games.

Defensive Backs

SS Jalen Thompson, Arizona Cardinals

He had a quiet Week 1, but Thompson has been all over the field since. Stud FS Budda Baker will get the attention, and Thompson has been taking advantage to a tune of 10 total tackles and a pass defense in Week 4. Depending on the scoring system, he has approached double digits three weeks in a row, and the time is now to bite.

SS Lonnie Johnson, Houston Texans

The 2019 second-rounder picked off his first pass of the season last week and has reeled off two promising games in a row. Two weeks ago, he snatched up seven tackles and a pass defense. He followed it up with eight tackles, the INT and a pass defense for his highest point output of the year. Is this a breakout we’re watching? Place your claim, and let’s find out.

CB Richard Sherman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

He was once the best corner in football and is now just trying to rediscover himself after age and attrition set in. Sherman showed up earlier in the week, and with little practice time he had seven tackles and forced a fumble in Week 4. He’s more of a deep-league option, because he has never been a tackle guy. However, what he did with little preparation was impressive.

It’s at this point of the season where you hit the first crossroad. Are you a contender or a pretender? If your answer is the latter, it’s time to shake things up. We’re here to give you that extra edge over your competition with key roster decisions.

Defensive Linemen

DE Darrell Taylor, Seattle Seahawks

Taylor, who has slid down to the SAM in Seattle, still qualifies at defensive end in a lot of leagues. The second-round pick from last year had six total tackles and a sack in Week 3. If he’s a defensive lineman in your league, he needs to be owned for his tackle potential at linebacker.

DE Dante Fowler, Atlanta Falcons

Fowler falls into the same boat as Taylor with DL eligibility at linebacker. The 27-year-old has sacks and forced fumbles in consecutive games for the 1-2 Falcons. He’s a low-end DL1 right now and may become a trade chip at the deadline, which could enhance his value even more on a better team.

DT Zach Sieler, Miami Dolphins

The former seventh-round pick has been all over the field through three weeks. He had nine total tackles and a pass defense in Week 3 alone. Once a rotational player, he has to see more time with this eruption. If you have room, stash Sieler as depth for bye weeks or start him straight away in a pinch.

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Linebackers

LB Tae Crowder, New York Giants

The Giants lost LB Blake Martinez (knee) to a torn anterior cruciate ligament last week, and Crowder, a second-round pick in ’20, will be the first one up to replace him. He led the team with 11 total tackles last week and chipped in a pass defense as well. He shouldn’t last long on waivers, so pick him up for a potential flex play.

LB Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Miller is always a risky proposition in fantasy because he doesn’t tally enough stats besides sacks to put up points. However, with sacks in all three games, and four total on the season, we can’t ignore him any longer. He’ll chase around Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson next week, who has been caught eight times.

LB Terrell Lewis, Los Angeles Rams

Lewis will take over for Justin Hollins (pectoral), who landed on IR in Week 3. This will be a purely speculative pickup – or a watch-list type of player. He was a third-round pick out of Alabama last year and didn’t see much action. He had five total tackles in three games, but the opportunity has arisen for him to emerge. If you’re in a deep league and you’re looking for a diamond in the rough, he fits the bill.

Defensive Backs

SS Brandon Jones, Miami Dolphins

Continuing the theme with third-round picks in 2020, Jones had a monster game in Week 3 with six total tackles and two sacks. Now you can’t count on that every week, but he also had six tackles in Week 2. The Dolphins could be in a youth movement before too long, and Jones has staying power in the lineup.

FS Nasir Adderley, Los Angeles Chargers

The third-year product out of Delaware has been blessed with one major thing – the health of SS Derwin James opposite of him. Everything is coming to his side, and he has 18 tackles in the last two weeks. It’s just a matter of time before the PDs and INTs come along with it.

Two games down, and 15 to go in the new 17-game season. That makes each week’s waivers a little more important early in the season to bank on those gems hiding in the rough. We’re here to give you that extra edge over your competition with key roster decisions.

Defensive Linemen

DT Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team

Allen has performed like an edge rusher through the first two weeks, so he might not be available in deeper formats. His nine tackles and three sacks peg him among the top 10 of linemen in a lot of leagues. He had 61 tackles and eight sacks in 2018, and he’s rounding back into that form with the weapons around him. He’s a flex option in most leagues right now.

DT Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles

The 28-year-old is off to a fast start in what could be a post-hype breakout on the interior. He had seven tackles in Week 1 and six tackles and two sacks in Week 2. That doesn’t look too fluky. DT Fletcher Cox is commanding a lot of the attention beside him, and he has been kept at bay. Ride Hargrave’s wave while you can.

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Linebackers

LB Jordyn Brooks, Seattle Seahawks

Edge rushers and sack totals are the new craze, but consistent stoppers are the staple of IDP leagues. Brooks has 20 total tackles in two games, but he hasn’t reached the quarterback yet. Last year’s first-round pick is available in far too many leagues for the early returns.

LB Robert Spillane, Pittsburgh Steelers

Spillane had a couple of standout games last season and has re-emerged due to injuries to the Steelers once again. He had 12 total tackles in his first sniff of action in Week 2. He can pile up the tackles given the opportunity. He looks like he has that now and will be a flex option in the interim.

LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, Houston Texans

Use a little bit of caution here because Grugier-Hill (knee) was limited in Monday’s practice estimation, and they play Thursday night. He broke out in  a big way in Week 2 with nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. He may be more of a watch list option, but keep him in mind.

Defensive Backs

SS Andrew Wingard, Jacksonville Jaguars

Wingard entered the season in a rotation at safety, but he appears to have separated himself with 14 tackles and a sack in the first two weeks. He had 49 tackles and five pass defenses in limited action last year and looks like he could be a compiler.

FS Micah Hyde, Buffalo Bills

Blessed with immense talent around him, Hyde has been busy with 13 tackles and a sack in two games to start the season. He will have peaks and valleys, but he averaged 71 tackles each of the last two years. There should be ample opportunities for Hyde to make plays.