Plenty of goodness in the linebacker position this week, but not a lot else to crow about. Fortunately, not a bunch of underperformers to highlight either, but as always, way too many injuries to keep the IDP league players happy. Let's get on to the profiles, shall we? Oh, and Jadeveon Clowney is a must add if he somehow is still on your waiver wire, as is Ryan Shazier.
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Danny Trevathan CHI
Kyle Van Noy NE
Carl Lawson CIN
Vontaze Burfict CIN
Wesley Woodyard TEN
Jon Bostic IND
Trevathan will benefit with both Jerrell Freeman and Nick Kwiatkoski on the injury list, and should be seeing plenty of snaps on defense. He is coming off a week with 10 total tackles (eight solo), and should see similar production going forward.
Beckwith is another LB that will benefit from an injury to a teammate, in this instance Kwon Alexander. Eight total tackles in Week 3 (six solo) makes for a useful LB2/3 going forward so long as Alexander is on the sidelines.
Never fully understood why Detroit wanted to send Van Noy to the Patriots, but it is working out well for him and New England. Nine solo tackles as part of his 11 combined in Week 3 makes him a must add in tackle-oriented leagues.
Lawson collected 2.5 sacks against the Packers in Week 3, as well as three QB hurries (QH) and among his tackles, he had two for a loss of yards (TFL). If he is getting the snaps on defense, expect the Bengals to rely on him for the pass rush abilities he has been demonstrating.
Burfict is due back after his suspension and it is time to pick him up if he is available. Of course, he does carry a bit of risk as an every week performer, given his past but when on the field, he is an excellent source of tackles and big play opportunities. Go out and grab him now.
Woodyard had a nice week against Seattle, who admittedly has problems on the offensive line. Still, 10 total tackles (eight solo, two TFL) with a couple of QH thrown in for good measure made him a desired LB in Week 3. Expect him to be the recipient of most of the defensive snaps at middle linebacker going forward for the Titans.
There is very little to like about the Colts until Andrew Luck is back under center, but Bostic was effective in Week 3's matchup against the Browns with 10 total tackles (eight solo). If you do not trust this trend to continue, there is no blame to place on you but in the right matchup, he is a useful streaming option, especially with bye weeks coming up.
Defensive Linemen
William Gholston DE TB
DeForest Buckner DT SF
Gholston is the best of the DE options to pick up this week. He accumulated eight total tackles in Week 3 against the Vikings but has never been a great source of IDP stats before. Grab him and use him while he is being productive, but be prepared to cut him loose when the tackle numbers fall off the cliff.
Buckner is a must add in DT-mandatory leagues. He picked up five solo tackles in Week 3 with a forced fumble. He is a good source of tackles and with the way San Francisco's season is looking, will see plenty of time on the field.
Defensive Backs
Kenny Vaccaro S NO
Glover Quin S DET
Josh Jones S GB
Rashaan Melvin CB IND
Tre'Davious White CB BUF
Vaccaro was back as the starter in Week 3. Who knows what will transpire in New Orleans this season, but if he is going to play the bulk of the snaps on defense, plug him in your lineup as the Saints look to be a team on the defense a great deal this season. Just do not forget about Vonn Bell. It is difficult to hold two safeties from the same team on your roster, unless you are in a league with a deep bench or a dynasty league, so deciding on who to keep will cause you nightmares, most likely.
Quin has been an effective player for Detroit and posting eight total tackles (five solo) with an interception (INT), a PD and a TD in Week 3, he is going to be heavily owned by savvy IDP players. He is both a tackle guy as well as a big play performer. Take advantage by snagging him now.
Two sacks and three TFL (11 solo, 1 assist) makes Mr. Jones an IDP to consider adding this week. He also produced to two QH while taking on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. His ownership will grow if he keeps producing like this, so make your claim immediately.
Again, I am not suggesting that you target Indy players. But Melvin is a big guy who can cover most receivers without problem. Two INT and four PDs in Week 3 just demonstrate the value he can provide in big-play leagues, especially those that require you to roster a cornerback or two.
White is a rookie who will be tasked this season based on his status in the league. It is well established that if you have a rookie defensive back, you can expect a whole lotta opportunities to collect tackles and big play opportunities. Grab him now and enjoy his productivity, as he is good player and will adapt the NFL in his first season.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Aside from the injury list players, no one to single out this week.
Defensive Linemen
Kawann Short DT CAR
Short is not playing many snaps on defense, and so far has zero sacks on the season with just seven combined tackles through Week 3. Might be time to cut him from your team if your bench is limited, or send the former sack producer to the sidelines if you have room to stash him away, hoping for an uptick in production.
Defensive Backs
Nothing much to mention this week, apart from those players on the injury list below.
Matchups to Exploit
Remember, the first team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. Do not go crazy, and play a LB5 against the Browns, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the Cincinnati or Atlanta that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Cincinnati @ Cleveland
Atlanta vs Buffalo
Los Angeles Chargers vs Philadelphia
Defensive Ends
Tennessee @ Houston
Defensive Tackles
Tennessee @ Houston
Safeties
Cleveland vs Cincinnati
San Francisco @ Arizona
New Orleans @ Miami
Cornerbacks
Tampa Bay vs New York Giants
Chicago vs Green Bay
Waiver Wire Targets
All these players are spotlighted above, and you can read my comments about them in the "Elevator Going Up" section of this article. Not all the players commented on are here, however, as there is no need to waste your time searching for players that are heavily owned. This group consists of those that you may have a chance of locating on your league's waiver wire in that they are owned in significantly less than 50% of leagues. Happy claiming for your weekly matchups.
Linebackers
Danny Trevathan CHI
Kyle Van Noy NE
Carl Lawson CIN
Vontaze Burfict CIN
Wesley Woodyard TEN
Jon Bostic IND
Defensive Linesmen
William Gholston DE TB
DeForest Buckner DT SF
Defensive Backs
Kenny Vaccaro S NO
Glover Quin S DET
Josh Jones S GB
Rashaan Melvin CB IND
Tre'Davious White CB BUF
Ouch (My Aching Roster)
All the injury reports below need evaluation prior to kickoff. Teams are notoriously sketchy about injury reports, and we often do not know a player's status until just before game time. Consider the list below as a "heads up" as to what is going on early in the week, and should not be considered definitive.
Linebackers
Deone Bucannon ARI ankle
Vic Beasley ATL hamstring
Thomas Davis CAR ribs
Jeremy Cash CAR calf
Nick Kwiatkoski CHI chest (possibly gone for the season)
Anthony Hitchens DAL knee
Sean Lee DAL hamstring
Jarrad Davis DET concussion
Dee Ford KC hip
Hayes Pullard LAC knee
Rey Maualuga MIA hamstring
Brandon Watts MIA back
Dont'a Hightower NE knee
Bryan Braman NO undisclosed
J.T. Thomas NYG groin
B.J. Goodson NYG shin
Corey Lemonier NYJ foot
Josh Martin NYJ ankle
Jordan Hicks PHI ankle
T.J. Watt PIT groin
Dewey McDonald SEA knee (ACL)
D.J. Alexander SEA hamstring
Reuben Foster SF ankle
Brock Coyle SF concussion
Lavonte David TB ankle
Kwon Alexander TB hamstring
Mason Foster WAS shoulder
Defensive Linemen
DE
Ed Stinson ARI hamstring
Courtney Upshaw ATL ankle
Brent Urban BAL fool
Brandon Williams BAL foot
Myles Garrett CLE ankle
Mike Daniels GB hip
Lerentee McCray JAX knee
Olivier Vernon NYG ankle
Stephon Tuitt PIT biceps
Jacquies Smith TB illness
Noah Spence TB shoulder
DT
Marcell Dareus BUF ankle
Jerel Worthy BUF concussion
T.Y. McGill CLE back
Jordan Phillips MIA ankle
David Parry NO leg
Fletcher Cox PHI calf
Destiny Vaeao PHI wrist
Chris Baker TB illness
Gerald McCoy TB ankle
Defensive Backs
S
Ricardo Allen ATL concussion
Quintin Demps CHI arm
Chris Prosinski CHI hamstring
George Iloka CIN hamstring
Derron Smith CIN ankle
Ed Reynolds CLE knee
Tavon Wilson DET shoulder
Lamarcus Joyner LAR hamstring
Nate Allen MIA hamstring
Rontez Miles NYJ eye
Corey Graham PHI hamstring
Rodney McLeod PHI hamstring
Jaylen Watkins PHI hamstring
Mike Mitchell PIT hamstring
Sean Davis PIT ankle
Marcus Cromartie SEA undisclosed
Eric Reid SF knee
Jaquiski Tartt SF concussion
T.J. Ward TB hip
Johnathan Cyprien TEN hamstring
Su'a Cravens WAS personal
CB
Jaylen Hill BAL thigh
KeiVarae Russell CIN hamstring
Nolan Carroll DAL concussion
Jourdan Lewis DAL hamstring
Chidobe Awuzie DAL hamstring
Bradley Roby DEN foot
Brendan Langley DEN knee
Davon House GB quadriceps
Kevin Johnson HOU knee
Vontae Davis IND groin
Tevin Mitchel IND abdomen
Quincy Wilson IND knee
Kayvon Webster LAR shoulder
Eric Rowe NE groin
Sterling Moore NO chest
Marshon Lattimore NO concussion
Ronald Darby PHI ankle
Neiko Thorpe SEA ankle
Brent Grimes TB shoulder
As ever, good luck and Godspeed in your fantasy efforts. Make sure to read all of our great articles to help you win your fantasy match ups every week and ultimately bask in championship glory. If you have any fantasy football questions, especially about IDP leagues, I can be reached at ia@fantasyalarm.com.