We’re nearing the halfway point of the NFL season, and we hope you’re looking back at the competition in the rearview. It’ll be a high-octane week because no teams are on a bye in Week 8.
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 Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles
He’s a bit feast-or-famine, because if Sweat is not reaching the quarterback, he won’t add a lot. He’s reaching the quarterback often right now. He had two sacks in Week 7 and has at least a half-sack in five of seven games this season. He has only 19 tackles in seven games but has seven forced fumbles and an INT. He could have a field day against Washington this week.
DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He was the last pick in the first round of the 2021 draft, and if he qualifies at DL in your league, he’s on a tear the last two weeks. JTS had four tackles and a sack two weeks ago and six tackles last week. The 24-year-old EDGE recorded four sacks in each of his first two seasons, and he has three thus far in 2023.
Linebackers
LB Blake Cashman, Houston Texans
He’s coming off a bye week, which could have kept him floating on waivers after a monstrous game in Week 6. Cashman had 15 tackles and two pass defenses. He had nine tackles in Week 5 as well. If available, he has the most upside of our linebacker pecking order this week.
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LB Kyle Van Noy, Baltimore Ravens
The 32-year-old veteran wreaked havoc in Week 7 with five tackles and two sacks. Van Noy has three sacks over the last two weeks and is forcing the team’s hand into giving him a bigger role. In deeper leagues, or leagues that rely heavier on sacks, he’s a sneaky option.
LB Anfernee Jennings, New England Patriots
The 2020 third-round pick has played in four games and has at least five tackles in each of them. He had six tackles in each of the last two games and could provide a low-ceiling, reasonable-floor option if you’re dealing with injuries at the position.
Defensive backs
CB Darious Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars
Five, seven, three, five – those are the tackle numbers the 30-year-old has produced the last four games. He also has a forced fumble, an INT and eight pass defenses in that stretch. Corners are combustible, but Williams has been great for the last month.
S Dean Marlowe, Los Angeles Chargers
Marlowe had 11 tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs last week and had six in the game before that. The 31-year-old journeyman will need S Alohi Gilman (heel) to remain sidelined to remain a factor, but you can’t ignore the output the last two weeks.
SS Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills
It has been a quiet season for 32-year-old vet, but he busted out in Week 7 with 10 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. Before that game, he had a ho-hum 24 tackles on the year and nothing else. So you run the risk of that game being an aberration, but he has had at least five tackles in three straight games.