Going into the halfway point of the NFL season, and working to get into the fantasy playoffs in Week 8. Still looking for
injury replacements and bye week fill-ins? Then take a look at the options presented below. Time to work the waiver wire and snag those players that are on the upswing and drop those guys that are just strangling your team's chances to succeed.
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Telvin Smith JAX
Chad Greenway MIN
Vincent Rey CIN
Malcolm Smith SEA
Dont’a Hightower NE
Brandon Marshall DEN
Smith will see a serious uptick in playing time with Posluszny out for the season (see the injury report below). He had a sack, an INT, two pass deflections and a forced fumble last week. His tackle numbers should rise as he takes over as the middle linebacker for the Jags. Greenway needs to be owned in all leagues that feature IDP, but only when healthy. He is now healthy. Go grab him. Rey will be productive so long as he is on the field, and the Bengals are banged up at linebacker right now. He had 16 combined tackles in Week 7, with nine of those being solos. So long as Vontaze Burfict continues to lead into his tackles with his head, Rey is going to provide value. Smith and to a slightly lesser extent KJ Wright, will see their production increase with Bobby Wagner out. Smith posted 10 solo tackles last week with a forced fumble, so jump aboard the bandwagon while there is still room. Hightower is going to be a value so long as Jerod Mayo is out, and since he (Mayo) is on the IR, that will be the rest of the season. Jamie Collins is also going to join Hightower as an every down LB, so take your pick. Marshall is yet another LB who is getting a boost based on another player’s injury, with that Bronco being Danny Trevathan in this case. Eight solo tackles and a pass deflection in Week 7 is going to make him a waiver wire darling.
Defensive Linemen
Michael Johnson DE TB
Everson Griffen DE MIN
Jerry Hughes DE BUF
Aaron Donald DT StL
Not so much to talk about regarding defensive linesmen this week. Johnson is prolly on your wire, as he has been disappointing this season. He gets to face the Vikings this week, who are 31st in the league against opposing defenses, so I like his chances to shine. Griffen, on the other side of the field this week, has busted loose, racking up three sacks last week, with a forced fumble and eight total tackles/seven solo. Tampa Bay does yield sacks, so this week and next are good for Griffen. Hughes has compiled 4.5 sacks over the last three weeks, and is coming on finally for the Bills. He is playing in a contract year, and will be looking to rack up the stats to achieve a big payday, but the Bills are playing good defensive football, too, and Hughes has been a big part of that surge lately. Donald is starting to see more time on the field, and his stat lines reflect that. In a league that requires a DT starter, you need to make a claim for Donald.
Defensive Backs
Robert Blanton S MIN
Calvin Pryor S NYJ
Bashaud Breeland CB WAS
Buster Skrine CB CLE
Leodis McKelvin CB BUF
Blanton had an INT and a PD last week to go with his six tackles (four solo). I like his chances to pick up decent tackle numbers and maybe a big play or two against the Buccaneers this week. Pryor gets to face Buffalo this week, a team that favors the pass, especially with the recent injuries to Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. He should be a good source of tackles and perhaps big plays in Week 8. Breeland has had six solo tackles two weeks in a row, and also added an INT and PD in Week 7. In a division matchup against Dallas, look for him to be busy in coverage, and thus receiving tackle opportunities again. Skrine has been putting up big plays over the past couple of weeks, with two INT and three PDs spanning Weeks 6 and 7. This week he faces the Raiders, so I like his chances to put up more big plays in Week 8. McKelvin always seems to be allowing the receivers he covers to make the catch, which helps his tackle numbers. He also had two interceptions and two pass deflections last week. He is prolly available on the wire, so make the move.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Nothing to see here, move along, please.
Defensive Linemen
Cameron Jordan DE NO
I would suggest that you drop Jordan at this point. He is not putting up the sack numbers we expected after his 12.5 sack production in 2013, with only one on the season to date, and his tackle numbers are mediocre at best (10 solos, 4 assists). There are more productive defensive ends out there, just grab one of the guys profiled above.
Defensive Backs
Eric Reid S SF
Aaron Williams S BUF
Reid put up a big zero on the stat sheet, despite facing the pass-happy Denver Broncos in Week 7. And playing 90% of the snaps, too. He is playing deep coverage in the San Francisco scheme, and thus his tackle opportunities are limited. Williams is one of the Buffalo I am not looking at weekly as bye weeks continue to deplete my depth at IDP. I suspect he is trying to play through injuries to his wrist and neck. Let’s revisit this situation after he gets to face the Geno Smith led Jets in Week 8.
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
Paul Posluszny JAX (torn pectoral muscle-out for the season)
Brian Orakpo WAS (torn pectoral muscle-out for the season)
Gerald Hodges MIN (hamstring)
Jon Beason NYG (toe)
Bruce Carter DAL (quad)
Bobby Wagner SEA (toe)
Defensive Linemen
Justin Tuck DE OAK (knee)
Andre Branch DE JAX (torn groin muscle)
Chandler Jones DE NE (hip)
Defensive Backs
Usama Young S OAK (torn ACL/MCL)
Brandon Flowers CB SD (concussion)
Kyle Fuller CB CHI (hand, hip)
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.