This report is coming in late, due to the scribe of the article being out in Arizona watching Arizona Fall League baseball games. If you have any questions about IDP this tough second six-bye week, drop me a line as an online presence will be available while sitting in seminars.
Bye Weeks coming up: Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota, New England, Pittsburgh
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Cory James OAK
Matt Milano BUF
Deone Bucannon ARI
K.J. Wright SEA
James is still recovering from his knee injury, but did play a large portion of the snaps on defense against the Bills in Week 8. He had eight solo tackles, with three of those being tackles for a loss of yards (TFL). The problem with owning James has more to do with the addition of Navarro Bowman to the Oakland defense than anything else, but he should still be targeted as an option on the wire.
Milano has proved to be a more than adequate replacement for the injured Ramon Humber, and posted a nice stat line in Week 8 for those that snagged him off the waiver wire: four total tackles (three solo), a fumble recovery (FR) and a TD on that fumble recovery. Humber will likely resume his starting role when he comes back from his injury, but if Milano keeps producing, he will still be a viable LB in IDP leagues.
Bucannon may be available in your league due to his Week 8 bye and he has a nice matchup against the 49ers in Week 9. He is coming off a 12 total tackle week prior to the bye week (11 solo), so if he is available, go ahead and snatch him off the wire.
Wright has collected 25 total tackles over the past two contests (15 solo), which is amazing production for those of you in tackle oriented leagues. He is not much for big plays, though, and the matchup against Washington is just so-so in Week 9. Still, 25 total tackles is nothing to sneeze at whatsoever.
Defensive Linemen
Henry Anderson DE IND
Muhammad Wilkerson DE NYJ
Mario Addison DE CAR
Tyrone Crawford DE DAL
Vinny Curry DE PHI
Frank Clark DE SEA
David Irving DE DAL
Carlos Dunlap DE CIN
Leger Douzable DT SF
Anderson leads off a big slate of DE options this week. He has a good matchup against the Colts in Week 9, and is coming off a great Week 8 performance: seven total tackles (five solo, 
three TFL) with a sack, one quarterback hit/hurry (QH) and a blocked field goal (not exactly the most desirable thing unless you play in a decidedly detailed IDP league, admittedly).
Wilkerson is a grab and hold guy, if you have the bench space, since he is not expected to play on the Thursday night game against the Bills. He did rack up five solo tackles (two TFL), a sack (his first of the season) and a QH in Week 8 against the Falcons. Week 10 he faces the Buccaneers, which is not a great matchup, but then the Jets have a bye before having a couple of good games against the Panthers and Chiefs. So, if you have the bench space, he is a good stash and hold.
Addison had a fine five total tackle effort against the Bucs in Week 8 (three solo, one TFL) with the addition of 1.5 sacks and two QH. His Week 9 opponent is Atlanta, which is a middle of the pack match up, and then the Dolphins in Week 10, which is another so-so matchup before the Week 11 bye. The numbers are nice, but he is more of guy you want to help get you through the bye weeks as opposed to someone to hold onto the rest of the season.
Crawford had a sack against Washington, and also contributed four QH and a forced fumble (FF). He has been coming on with three sacks over his past three games (broken up by a bye week in Week 6). If you need big plays, he is a good option to snatch.
Curry plays for the best team in football, at least according to standings as this is being written. He gets to face the Broncos in Week 9, who have allowed the second most points to DEs through Week 8, but then he goes on bye in Week 10. Still worth grabbing for a heavy bye week coming up. He is coming off a five solo tackle effort with one sack against the 49ers.
Clark has been coming on, with two sacks in Week 8, and now has 4.5 on the season. His Week 9 matchup against Washington is particularly tasty for IDP purposes.
Irving is under owned and that is a crime. He has picked up five sacks over his past three games (there was a bye week in there) and has also has picked up a pass defensed in each of his three games played in 2017. He is past his team's bye week, and thus is a great add for the second half of the season.
Dunlap seems to like playing during the second half the season and is coming off a game where he snagged an INT that he returned for a TD in Week 8. His matchups are not great with the exception of Week 11 against the Broncos, but given his track record, now is the time to add him to your roster.
Douzable has been a great free agent pickup by the 49ers, and had a two sack effort in Week 8 against the Eagles with a nice five solo tackles. He has great matchups in store against the Cardinals and Giants in store, so take a look on your wire for his presence.
Defensive Backs
Jaquiski Tartt S SF
Kurt Coleman S CAR
Trae Elston S BUF
Tavon Wilson S DET
Barry Church S JAX
Tartt is still starting at strong safety for the 49ers, even with Eric Reed returning to action. He had a seven total tackle effort against the Eagles (five solo) with a QH tossed in for those who rely on big play IDP. His Week 9 matchup against the Cardinals looks good, although his Week 10 matchup against the Giants is just so-so, and then he has a bye, so he is pretty much a one week add.
Coleman was a full time defensive player in Week 8, racking up nine total tackles (seven solo) and a fumble recovery. He also has a couple of good matchups before his team goes on bye in Week 11, so use him now.
Elston had a great game in Week 8, filling in for the injured Jordan Poyer, getting involved in 11 total tackles (eight solo) and also adding a PD and INT. He could end up back on special teams with Poyer due to return to action on Thursday in Week 9, so be cautious with your enthusiasm.
Wilson is up and down with his tackle numbers, but he does get to show off on Monday night in Week 9 (admittedly a bad matchup for safeties as the Lions face off against the Packers). He had 11 total tackles in Week 8 (six solo). Consider him a good add in Week 11 when the Lions host the Bears.
Church has decent if not great matchups in store when the Jags face the Bengals, the Chargers and the Browns over the next three weeks. He has been racking up the tackles lately with 21 total over the past four games he has played (Jacksonville had its bye in Week 8). If you need tackles over the balance of the season, he is someone to consider picking up.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
None of note, except those listed below on the injury report.
Defensive Linemen
Brooks Reed DE ATL
Reed gets to face the Panthers in Week 9, which as noted above is a good matchup. But then again, he is coming off a zero tackle effort against the Jets in Week 8. His playing time is being reduced in favor of Vic Beasley, Adrian Claiborne and rookie Takkarist McKinley, but keep an eye on the injury reports as he may see additional time on the field in Week 9.
Defensive Backs
Matthias Farley S IND
Despite playing all the snaps on defense in Week 8, he ended up with zero tackles against the Bengals. He did pick up one QH, but that was little compensation for his owners. Some of the Colt defensive backs are coming back from injury, finally, so if this kind of production continues, expect to see a reduction in playing time going forward.
Matchups to Exploit
Remember, the second team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. There are less options that look tasty this week, due to the six byes. Do not go crazy, but if you were to target linebackers playing against the Browns or Bills this week, it would not be a bad move for the most part.
Linebackers
New York Jets vs Buffalo
Tennessee vs Baltimore
Defensive Ends
Indianapolis @ Houston
Philadelphia vs Denver
Houston vs Indianapolis
Defensive Tackles
Seattle vs Washington
San Francisco vs Arizona
Indianapolis @ Houston
Houston vs Indianapolis
Safeties
Oakland @ Miami
Atlanta @ Carolina
Cornerbacks
Philadelphia vs Denver
Washington @ 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
Cory James OAK
Matt Milano BUF
Deone Bucannon ARI
K.J. Wright SEA
Defensive Linesmen
Henry Anderson DE IND
Muhammad Wilkerson DE NYJ
Mario Addison DE CAR
Tyrone Crawford DE DAL
Vinny Curry DE PHI
Frank Clark DE SEA
David Irving DE DAL
Carlos Dunlap DE CIN
Leger Douzable DT SF
Defensive Backs
Jaquiski Tartt S SF
Kurt Coleman S CAR
Trae Elston S BUF
Tavon Wilson S DET
Barry Church S JAX
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 finger
Duke Riley ATL knee (meniscus)
Deion Jones ATL ankle
Ramon Humber BUF thumb
Thomas Davis CAR knee
John Timu CHI knee
Kevin Minter CIN elbow
Todd Davis DEN ankle
Paul Worrilow DET knee
Joe Thomas GB ankle
Ahmad Brooks GB back
Jake Ryan GB migraine
Dylan Cole HOU hamstring
Jadeveon Clowney HOU knee
Ben Heeney HOU elbow
Brian Peters HOU hamstring
Jabaal Sheard IND quadriceps
John Simon IND neck
Justin Houston KC knee
Dee Ford KC back
Brandon Watts MIA back
Dont'a Hightower NE pectoral
Bryan Braman NO undisclosed
Jonathan Casillas NYG neck
B.J. Goodson NYG ankle
Calvin Munson NYG quadriceps
Corey Lemonier NYJ foot
Cory James OAK knee
Marquel Lee OAK ankle
Nicholas Morrow OAK ankle
Bobby Wagner SEA hamstring
Reuben Foster SF ribs
Kendell Beckwith SEA knee
Zach Brown WAS back
Martrell Spaight WAS shoulder
Defensive Linemen
DE
Frostee Rucker ARI knee
Courtney Upshaw ATL ankle
Takkarist McKinley ATL shoulder
Roy Robertson-Harris CHI hamstring
Michael Johnson CIN back
Myles Garrett CLE concussion
Demarcus Lawrence DAL calf
Joel Heath HOU knee
William Heath MIA hamstring
Andre Branch MIA groin
Stephen Weatherly MIN knee
Olivier Vernon NYG ankle
Kerry Wynn NYG knee
Lawrence Thomas NYJ concussion
Muhammad Wilkerson NYJ shoulder
Ed Stinson NYJ shoulder
Anthony Johnson NYJ undisclosed
Stephon Tuitt PIT back
Michael Bennett SEA heel
Solomon Thomas SF knee (MCL)
Aaron Lynch SF calf
Matt Ioannidis WAS hand
DT
Grady Jarrett ATL ankle
Michael Pierce BAL illness
Kyle Love CAR ankle
Larry Ogunjobi CLE groin
Trevon Coley CLE neck
Maliek Collins DAL foot
D.J. Reader HOU shoulder
Malcolm Brown NE ankle
Robert Thomas NYG calf
Jarran Reed SEA concussion
Chris Baker TB ankle
Defensive Backs
S
Lardarius Webb BAL concussion
Jordan Poyer BUF knee (MCL)
Chris Prosinski CHI hamstring
Ed Reynolds CLE knee
Jabrill Peppers CLE toe
Morgan Burnett GB hamstring
Kentrell Brice GB leg
Cody Davis LAR thigh
Nat Berhe NYG calf
Terrence Brooks NYJ hamstring
Karl Joseph OAK groin
Mike Mitchell PIT calf
Earl Thomas SEA hamstring
Kam Chancellor SEA ankle
Su'a Cravens WAS personal
Montae Nicholson WAS shoulder
CB
Brian Poole ATL neck
Jimmy Smith BAL Achilles
Sherrick McManis CHI hamstring
Bryce Callahan CHI knee
Dre Kirkpatrick CIN shoulder
Briean Boddy-Calhoun CLE hamstring
Chidobe Awuzie DAL hamstring
Johnathan Joseph HOU shin
Chris Culliver IND undisclosed
Rashaan Melvin IND concussion
Darryl Morris IND undisclosed
Quincy Wilson IND knee
Stephon Gilmore NE concussion
Eric Rowe NE groin
Michael Hunter NYG hamstring
Morris Claiborne NYJ foot
Gareon Conley OAK shin
David Amerson OAK foot
Ronald Darby PHI ankle
K'Waun Williams SF quadriceps
Brent Grimes TB shoulder
Bashaud Breeland WAS knee (MCL)
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.