We are now into the first of the three 6-team bye weeks for the 2017 season (get ready for Week 9 and 11), so there may be some scrambling for IDP options depending on how you drafted or employed your free agent/waiver wire skills. Plenty of linebacking talent to target as well as defensive linesmen, but unfortunately scarce on the defensive back list this week. If you look at the past couple of IDP Reports, however, you can probably find a useful DB to add to your roster.
Bye Weeks coming up: Arizona, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Tennessee
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
NaVorro Bowman OAK
Anthony Barr MIN
DeVondre Campbell ATL
Antonio Morrison IND
Jarrad Davis DET
Bowman has been jettisoned by the 49ers and has ended up in a great spot, as the Oakland linebacking crew is certainly not stellar this season. He started his Raider career with 11 total tackles with one tackle for a loss of yards (TFL) and six solo tackles against the Chiefs. He also had a quarterback hit/hurry (QH) in the Week 7 contest. Look to grab him if at all possible as he projects to be a LB1/2 going forward.
Kirksey is a guy you want to snag if you need tackle numbers in your league, racking up 17 total tackles against the Titans in Week 7 (eight solo, one TFL) with a forced fumble and a pass defensed (PD) just to pad his production. If you miss out on Bowman, grab Kirksey as a good perhaps great upgrade to your LB crew.
Barr came back to action after a concussion shortened his Week 6 action, and he collected 11 total tackles (six solo, two TFL). He also had a sack, which is always appreciated in the IDP world, as well a one QH and a PD. He is a versatile LB to keep on your watch list if you need a LB to fill in on the upcoming bye week extravaganza.
Campbell is playing as the nickel LB for Atlanta, and is seeing significant playing time. He had eight total tackles against the Patriots (seven solo, one TFL) and picked up a sack of Tom Brady as well as collecting a QH and forcing a fumble.
Morrison is a guy you want to target on the wire if you play in a tackle oriented league. He had 13 total tackles in Week 7 against the Jags (eight solos) and is playing significant snaps, although he is not an every down LB so he should be available to snap up off the wire.
Davis is coming off a bye week, and is probably available in your league. If you have bye week issues, a LB that provides eight tackles per week is not a bad fallback option.
Defensive Linemen
Alex Okafor DE NO
Everson Griffen DE MIN
Chris McCain DE LAC
Vic Beasley DE ATL
Eddie Goldman DT CHI
Jarran Reed DT SEA
Okafor is someone to target as your DE going forward. He now has generated three sacks over the past four games he has played, and had a sack, QH and forced fumble in his last outing against the Packers, with four total tackles (three solo, one TFL).
Griffen is likely owned in your league but if he has slipped through the cracks, grab him now. He had six total tackles in Week 7 against the Ravens (five solo, one TFL) and tossed in a forced fumble, a pair of QH and two sacks. He actually has nine sacks over the first seven games of the season.
McCain picked up a couple of sacks in Week 7, along with two QH and two forced fumbles. The four total tackles (three solo) were just cream for the cup of coffee. If you are looking for an efficient pass rusher, you could not do better as he is available in most leagues.
Beasley has a couple of nice matchups on the horizon, facing off against the Jets and Panthers in Weeks 8 and 9. He accumulated five total tackles and a sack against the Patriots in Week 7, and is widely available.
Goldman is a good option if you play in a league that requires DT players. He had a half a sack and one QH in Week 7, to go with his six total tackles (five solo) and continues to be a steady performer with significant snaps on defense.
Reed has been coming on in his rookie campaign, with seven solo tackles in Week 7 to compliment his sack, two TFL, one QH and a forced fumble. He is widely available in almost every league.
Defensive Backs
Jamal Adams S NYJ
Matthias Farley S IND
Terrance Mitchell CB KC
Adams had seven total tackles in Week 7 against the Dolphins (five solo, two TFL) and also added a PD, a sack and one QH. His Week 8 opponent, the Falcons, are ranked 8th in terms of allowing fantasy points to safeties.
Farley is literally unowned in fantasy leagues, but that needs to change. He has been putting up double digit fantasy points over the past four weeks and has done so since the season began except for an outlier in Week 3. He is coming off a four tackle effort against Jacksonville with a forced fumble and recovery. In this current time of multiple bye weeks, he is a target before his bye week in Week 11.
Mitchell is not a great corner, but that is good for fantasy point production, as teams continue to test his skills. He collected seven total tackles in Week 7 against the Raiders, and also picked up a PD. He has a good matchup in store for Week 8 against the Broncos, who have allowed the most points to opposing CBs through Week 7.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Aside from those on the Injury Report below, no one player stands out to be downgraded this week.
Defensive Linemen
Same as with the linebackers, look to the injury report for those who are losing valule heading into Week 8.
Defensive Backs
None of note this week except those listed on the Injury Report below.
Matchups to Exploit
Remember, the second 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 Vikings, Raiders, Dolphins or 49ers that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Minnesota @ Cleveland
Oakland @ Buffalo
Miami @ Baltimore
San Francisco @ Philadelphia
Defensive Ends
Seattle vs Houston
Kansas City vs Denver
Pittsburgh @ Detroit
Cincinnati vs Indianapolis
Defensive Tackles
Dallas @ Washington
Seattle vs Houston
Cincinnati v Indianapolis
Safeties
Baltimore vs Miami
Tampa Bay vs Carolina
Indianapolis @ Cincinnati
New Orleans vs Chicago
Cornerbacks
Kansas City vs Denver
Minnesota @ Cleveland
Chicago @ New Orleans
Houston @ Seattle
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
Anthony Barr MIN
DeVondre Campbell ATL
Antonio Morrison IND
Jarrad Davis DET
Defensive Linesmen
Alex Okafor DE NO
Chris McCain DE LAC
Vic Beasley DE ATL
Eddie Goldman DT CHI
Jarran Reed DT SEA
Defensive Backs
Jamal Adams S NYJ
Matthias Farley S IND
Terrance Mitchell CB KC
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
Karlos Dansby ARI hand
Duke Riley ATL knee (meniscus)
Jordan Tripp ATL concussion
Terrell Suggs BAL knee
Patrick Onwuasor BAL knee
Tim Williams BAL thigh
Ramon Humber BUF thumb
John Timu CHI knee
Kevin Minter CIN elbow
James Burgess CLE knee
Justin Durant DAL groin
Sean Lee DAL quadriceps
Todd Davis DEN ankle
Paul Worrilow DET knee (MCL)
Joe Thomas GB ankle
Ahmad Brooks GB back
Jake Ryan GB migraine
Dylan Cole HOU hamstring
Ben Heeney HOU knee
John Simon IND neck
Anthony Walker IND hamstring
Brandon Watts MIA back
Dont'a Hightower NE shoulder
Harvey Langi NE back
Elandon Roberts NE ankle
B.J. Goodson NYG ankle
Calvin Munson NYG quadriceps
Corey Lemonier NYJ foot
Cory James OAK knee
Marquel Lee OAK ankle
Jordan Hicks PHI Achilles
Mychal Kendricks PHI hamstring
Reuben Foster SF ribs
Preston Smith WAS groin
Defensive Linemen
DE
Roy Robertson CHI hamstring
Andre Branch MIA groin
Olivier Vernon NYG ankle
Anthony Johnson NYJ undisclosed
Stephon Tuitt PIT back
Aaron Lynch SF calf
Ryan Russell TB shoulder
DT
Olsen Pierre ARI ankle
Corey Liuget LAC back
Jordan Phillips MIA ankle
Malcom Brown NE ankle
Timmy Jernigan PHI ankle
Defensive Backs
S
Eric Weddle BAL ankle
Anthony Levine BAL back
Tony Jefferson BAL ankle
Jordan Poyer BUF knee (MCL)
Kurt Coleman CAR knee (MCL)
Chris Prosinski CHI hamstring
Derron Smith CIN ankle
Ed Reynols CLE knee
Jabrill Peppers CLE toe
Glover Quin DET concussion
Morgan Burnett GB hamstring
Kentrell Brice GB leg
Corey Moore HOU concussion
Cody Davis LAR thigh
Josh Robinson TB concussin
Johnathan Cyprien TEN hamstring
Su'a Cravens WAS personal
Deshazor Everett WAS hamstring
Stefan McClure WAS hamstring
CB
Jimmy Smith BAL Achilles
E.J. Gaines BUF hamstring
Kyle Fuller CHI hamstring
Sherrick McManis CHI hamstring
Adam Jones CIN back
Jason McCourty CLE ankle
Chidobe Awuzie DAL hamstring
Kevin Johnson HOU knee
Chris Culliver IND undisclosed
Rashaan Melvin IND concussion
Darryl Morris IND undisclosed
McKensie Alexander MIN hip
Stephon Gilmore NE concussion
Eric Rowe NE groin
Michael Hunter NYG hamstring
Gareon Cocnley OAK shin
David Amerson OAK foot
Ronald Darby PHI ankle
Jeremy Lane SEA groin
K'Waun Williams SF quadriceps
Robert McClain TB concussion
Josh Norman WAS ribs
Fabian Moreau WAS hamstring
Joshua Holsey WAS chest
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.