Tag: Week 7 IDP waiver wire

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 7

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 7 pickups.

Week 6 was intense. We saw one of the best defensive players in the game go down for the season in Aidan Hutchinson. When disaster strikes, we find the solutions.

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

DE James Houston, Detroit Lions

There is no replacing Hutchinson, but Houston is in line to do it at left end. He actually had 8 sacks for the Lions in 2022. He’s a bit of a lottery ticket, but definitely give him a look in deeper leagues.

DE A.J. Epenesa, Buffalo Bills

The 2020 second-round pick has been quiet for much of the season, but he roared in Week 6 with four tackles, a forced fumble, and two sacks. He’ll have another great matchup against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7, so pick him up at least for a one-week play.

Linebackers

LB Justin Strnad, Denver Broncos

His surname may look like he’s missing a vowel, but he’s certainly not missing tackles. Over the last three weeks since taking over for Alex Singleton, he has four tackles and a sack, nine tackles, and seven tackles with a sack.

LB Krys Barnes, Arizona Cardinals

It’s time for our yearly tease from Barnes. After a couple of injuries at the position, Barnes erupted for nine tackles in Week 6. He’s a talented linebacker who has a propensity for injury, but he brings small pockets of dominance.

[lawrence-related id=494677]

LB Payton Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Wilson is a high-floor, low-ceiling option in fantasy. Over the past three weeks, he has six, nine, and six tackles but nothing further. If you’re in a deep league or need a bye-week filler, his tackle potential does the trick.

Defensive backs

SS Rodney McLeod, Cleveland Browns

The elder statesman of the bunch, the 34-year-old McLeod has had two big weeks in a row. He had eight tackles and a PD in Week 5 and eight tackles plus a Pick-6 in Week 6.

S Tykee Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Smith serves as the nickel back and has covered the safety spot for injuries in recent weeks. It’s not consistent, but he has potential to go off. He had eight tackles in Week 2 and 11 with a fumble recovery in Week 3. Last week, Smith posted five tackles, a forced fumble, INT, and two PDs.

CB Montaric Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars

The former seventh-rounder is making a name for himself on a bad team. His tackle numbers since Week 2: 11, seven, eight, eight, and seven. He doesn’t offer a lot more than that, but that’s enough for a pickup.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 7

Check your waiver wire for these IDP options ahead of Week 7.

Six weeks down, and two-thirds of the season to go. We’re through two weeks of byes, and we’re entering the point where you need to make real decisions on guys you have drafted or have been waiting to awaken. Keep an eye out for owners feeling the roster crunch who may drop a player they normally wouldn’t cut in order to cover an IDP bye.

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

DE Samson Ebukam, Indianapolis Colts

The 28-year-old has sacks in four of the last five games. He has had at least two tackles in all six games thus far, too. Ebukam has been a consistent performer the last four years with 4 1/2, 4 1/2, 4 1/2 and five sacks. He’s at four now and is poised to blow past his career high of five.

DE Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens

The former 2020 third-round pick has emerged the last three weeks with at least a half-sack in each game. Madubuike has totaled 12 total tackles and 3 1/2 sacks during the stretch. He’s a big, 305-pound run-stuffer who has shifted to the end, and he’s making the most of his opportunity.

Linebackers

LB Jahlani Tavai, New England Patriots

The 27-year-old, former second-round pick is having a breakout season. Over the last three weeks, he has 21 tackles, an INT, a sack, and two pass defenses. Tavai is exactly the kind of high-motor guy Bill Belichick loves, and he could be a mainstay in the middle for a while.

[lawrence-related id=483036]

LB Jack Gibbens, Tennessee Titans

The Titans are on a bye this week, so this will be a move if you have the roster space. Gibbens has earned it. He has had eight, 10, 10 and nine tackles over the last four weeks. He has one pass defense on the season and nothing else, so this will be for a league that values tackles.

LB Oren Burks, San Francisco 49ers

Burks is a depth piece to pick up, and he’s coming off his best two games of the season. He had five tackles and an INT in Week 5, and he followed that up with eight tackles in Week 6.

Defensive backs

SS Justin Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

Reid had a strong start to the season and fell off a cliff in Weeks 3 and 4. He has resurfaced the last two weeks with eight tackles, a forced fumble, and pass defense in Week 5, adding five tackles, an INT, and a sack in Week 6. He’ll be busy against the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins the next three weeks.

SS Josh Metellus, Minnesota Vikings

The 2020 sixth-round pick’s numbers the last few weeks will give you some pause. He has at least six tackles in each game, and he stood out in Week 6 with a strip sack and eight tackles. You simply can’t ignore these numbers any longer.

SS Tracy Walker, Detroit Lions

Walker is a target for deeper leagues where you’re looking for some low-hanging fruit. Over the last four weeks, he has six, five, four and six tackles to go with two pass defenses overall. He’s not going to jump off the page, but he adds some baseline numbers.