Two weeks in the books, and the injuries continue to mount. That means that our rising stars are giving us an option where there
are game time decisions. Don't be afraid to swap out a player that isn't going to put up any points for you, there are generally other IDP that can get you through the week where your drafted starter is questionable, make it past a bye week problem or step up to fill in for an injured teammate. That is why you should come back every week to see who is the next up and coming potential stud at linebacker, on the line or in the backfield.
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Dont’a Hightower NE
Rolando McClain DAL
Jelani Jenkins MIA
Preston Brown BUF
A.J. Hawk GB
Brandon Marshall DEN
Hightower is playing nearly every snap and in last week’s game, he was credited with seven solo tackles (eight total), two sacks and one pass deflection. He can be hit and miss with his production, putting up basically nothing in the stat column in week one where he also was a full-time player, but he is worth stashing for bye week or injury fill-in status. McClain has been a standout in Dallas, putting up a sack and an interception last week, with a pass deflection and seven total tackles (five solo). With the sad state of the Cowboy defense, he is a bright light early on. Jenkins racked up nine solos as part of his 14 tackle afternoon, and he should continue to see the bulk of the snaps on defense with Dannell Ellerbe out for the season. Just don’t expect much besides tackles on the stat sheet. Brown has played every snap on defense in the first two weeks, and he like Jenkins was a tackling machine in week two, with 13 combined tackles, seven of the solo variety. Hawk is still able to produce when he gets the opportunity, such as filling in for the injured Brad Jones. He played in dime coverage in week two, and I like him to provide solid production so long as he is on the field. Marshall was able to provide eight tackles in week two, along with a sack and one pass deflection. He is a beast who roams the field, and would be a sneaky add as he is owned in only 25% of Yahoo leagues and 0% of ESPN leagues. Hawthorne is a solid LB3/4 or Flex defensive player, who has racked up 17 tackles in the first two contests this season. Solid, not flashy, but with injuries hitting teams hard, he is a good source to plug in week to week.
Defensive Linemen
William Gholston DE TB
Chandler Jones DE NE
Mario Addison DE CAR
Willie Young DE CHI
Clinton McDonald DT TB
Jurrell Casey DT TEN
Gholston picked up a sack this past week, to go with six total tackles (4 solo). With injuries hitting the Bucs hard, he should continue to see opportunities to shine, albeit on a bad team. Still, numbers are numbers, right? Jones had a huge week, topped by a special teams TD, and two sacks, together with eight total tackles (six solos). You would be remiss to let him languish on the wire (49% ownership in Yahoo). Addison benefited from the decision by the Panthers to sit Greg Hardy. He has linebacker speed, and should be a pass rush threat, as he showed with his 2.5 sacks in the fourth quarter in week 2 against the Lions. So long as Hardy is kept out of action, he has value in leagues that require DL players. Young has matched his sack total from 2013 (three) in two games this year, and is earning respect from the Chicago coaching staff. He certainly has a role as a pass rush threat. McDonald put up six solo tackles and one sack with both Adrian Clayborne and Gerald McCoy injured. If your league requires a DT slot, this is the player you want to snag right now. Casey was credited with two sacks in week two, and especially so with his ownership at less than 50% in ESPN leagues and a paltry 6% in Yahoo.
Defensive Backs
Dashon Goldson S TB
Tony Jefferson S ARI
Kyle Fuller CB CHI
Corey Graham CB BUF
Prince Amukamara CB NYG
Antoine Cason CB CAR
Goldson is woefully under-owned, for a player with 18 total tackles on the season, including 16 solos. He is the number one DB I
would suggest you add this week. Go on, do it and then come back to finish this article. Arizona is relying on the vet Jefferson to provide tackling in the backfield, and he has responded with back-to-back seven solo tackle weeks. As a starting safety, you should explore adding him, if only for depth. Fuller will be playing now for the Bears with Charles Tillman suffering a probable season ending torn triceps. The first round pick put up seven total tackles (five solo) along with two interceptions and two pass deflections in week two. If you were a Tillman owner, act quickly to grab his replacement. Graham has already collected 13 solo tackles to go with his six pass deflections and single interception. He is playing with a good defense, and if you have to start a CB, he is well worth grabbing now. Yahoo owners have added him in just 9% of leagues and you have unfettered access to him on ESPN. Amukamara collected nine tackles in week two, with 8 being of the solo type, and also added a tasty pass deflection. With the Giants looking woeful, the defense should be on the field a lot, and that will translate into useful stat lines for the youngster. Cason has already gathered 17 solo tackles this season, with eight coming in week two. If that trend continues, and there is no reason to doubt that it will, you should act now to secure his services.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Bruce Carter DAL
While his teammate McClain lights up the stat sheet, Carter put up just one solo tackle last week while playing the entire game. That is frightening for a weak side LB, and you should cut him before he hurts your point total again.
Defensive Linemen
Osi Umenyiora DE ATL
I thought the move to Atlanta, with their obvious need for a pass rusher up front on the line, would benefit him, but he is not getting the playing time. Witness his zero tackle effort last week. There are plenty of better options on the wire, even in what is the least bountiful IDP category of player.
Defensive Backs
Tyrann Mathieu S ARI
Roman Harper S CAR
The “Honey Badger” is at the top of this list because he is still recovering from injury. Even so, unless you have room to stash him and await his return to dominance, you should not have him on your roster at this point. If, however, you have the bench space, he is one player you should be targeting before the stats start to mount. Harper is getting back to full time status, but was limited to one solo and one assist last week in 65 snaps on defense. I think he will start to produce, but most owners cannot wait for that to occur and again, there are better, lesser-owned options on the wire for you to insert right now.
Ouch (My Aching Roster)
All the injury reports below need to be evaluated at kickoff. Teams are notoriously sketchy about injury reports, and we often do not know a player's status until just before game time. The list below is intended as a "heads up" as to what is going on early in the week, and should not be considered definitive.
Linebackers
Jamie Collins NE (thigh)
Brad Jones GB (quad)
Jon Beason NYG (toe)
Vontaze Burfict CIN (stinger, possible concussion)
Mychal Kendricks PHI (hamstring)
Sio Moore OAK (ankle)
Defensive Linemen
Adrian Clayborne DE TB (torn triceps-season ending)
DT TB (broken hand)
Defensive Backs
Eric Berry CB KC (ankle sprain)
Jason McCourty CB JAX (hamstring)
Charles Tillman CB CHI (torn triceps-season ending)
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.