Yet another bye week where we lose players from six teams. A couple of important injuries, and others that do not really
concern me, and of course, players to keep your eye on when the inactives are released this weekend. As always, you have come to the correct place to find those players that can get you through injuries and bye week blues, so let us get to it then, shall we?
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Mychal Kendricks PHI
James Harrison PIT
Sio Moore OAK
18 total tackles (15 solos) will get you noticed in IDP circles, and that was just what Borland did in Week 8. His starting role will likely end when either Patrick Willis or NaVorro Bowman return to the field, so grab him now. In a dynasty or keeper league, he is worth stashing even if he is not starting. Kendricks is beginning to look more comfortable on the field, as evidenced by his 12 total tackles, one sack and a forced fumble. If you held onto him while he was dealing with his calf injury, now is the time to get him back into your starting lineup. Williams burst out on last Monday's game, racking up 14 solo tackles as part of his 18 total tackles. This week when the Giants play in Seattle may lead to a drop off in production, but then again, the New York defense could spend a lot of time on the field, so he has value as a LB3 in Week 10. Harrison has been a great story, coming back after retiring at age 36, and is now leading the Steelers in sacks, having put up multiple sacks in the past two weeks. Moore has been highlighted here in prior weeks, but he is just too good fly under the radar. He sat out with injuries earlier this season, but his Week 9 production of 11 total tackles, eight of which were solos and a sack is just about typical of what he produces when on the field, although do not expect a sack every game.
Defensive Linemen
Robert Ayers DE NYG
Eugene Sims DE StL
Everson Griffen DE MIN
Cameron Jordan DE NO
Cliff Avril DE SEA
Henry Melton DT DAL
Dontari Poe DT KC
Gerald McCoy DT TB
Dan Williams DT ARI
Dwan Edwards DT CAR
Ayers collected a sack in last Monday's game, but he was constantly pressuring Andrew Luck all game. The Seahawks protect Russell Wilson pretty well, but for a bye week fill-in at DL, Ayers is good option. Sims gets to face the Cardinals in Week 10, and Carson Palmer is not known for his mobility, so he could continue to pad his sack totals this week. He has had a sack in two of the past three contests. Griffen may get released this week with the Vikings on a bye, and if that happens, I would suggest you swoop in and snag him. He plays nearly every down on defense, and has eight sacks and 32 total tackles (28 solo) on the season, which translates into mighty fine numbers for a DL. Jordan had a slow start to the current season, but has collected three sacks and seven total tackles over the past two games. He could still be available on your league's waiver wire based on his under whelming performance in his first six games, so go take a look. Avril is another DE that has been coming on of late. He had a sack, forced fumble and three solo tackles in Week 9, and is playing at home this week, always a good thing for a Seahawk defensive player. Melton is facing the Jags porous O-line this week, and will be looking to add to his 3.5 sacks accumulated over the past two contests. Poe is coming off a four solo tackle/one sack performance against the Jets, and now gets Buffalo, and Kyle Orton, who has been sacked 17 times in just four games. Sounds tempting to me. McCoy has netted 2.5 sacks over the past couple of games, and appears to be over his early season injury problems. Even as a DT, he has tremendous value in leagues that require a DL or two. Williams has a very nice match up against the Rams this week, and will look to build on his seven tackle/one sack effort in Week 9. If you need to start a DT, look no further. Edwards managed a rare feat in Week 9, snagging an INT. He also gives his owners solo tackles and has four sacks on the season over nine games.
Defensive Backs
Donte Whitner S CLE
Patrick Chung S NE
Reshad Jones S MIA
Major Wright S TB
Eric Berry S KC
Glover Quin S DET
George Iloka S CIN
Brent Grimes CB MIA
Buster Skrine CB CLE
Whitner had a fantastic Week 9, with eight total tackles (five solos), an INT and one pass deflection. Whitner is a great
source of tackles at the safety position, with 54 total tackles on the season. Chung is now playing significant minutes in the New England defense, and if he is dropped this week, he would be a sneak add for the rest of the season. Jones just keeps piling on since his return from a four game PED suspension. He is averaging better than seven solos a game, and also has a sack, two interceptions and three pass deflections in limited action this year. Wright is now starting in Tampa Bay with the trade of Mark Barron to St. Louis. That gives him value, especially in a heavy bye week like Week 10. Berry has missed most of the season, having only participated in two games, thus he may be flying under the radar in your league. Expect a great second half to the season, and act quickly before he gets snatched from the wire. Quin is coming off a bye week, and may be available. He is averaging five tackles per week, and has three interceptions on the season, as well. Playing at home against Miami should help him pad his stats. Iloka gets to take on division rival Cleveland Thursday night, and he is coming off a five solo/seven total tackle game with an INT and a PD. Grimes is coming off three interceptions the past two weeks, and faces the Lions, who like to pass. Skrine is going to face off against one of the top two wideouts this week, so he should see some action. He has 36 solo tackles on the year, and two interceptions and three pass deflections on the season.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Kevin Minter ARI
Ahmad Brooks SF
Minter is not seeing much time on the field, losing time to veteran Larry Foote. Do not waste your time on him. Brooks has 14 total tackles on the season over eight games, and that just is not going to cut it with your linebackers. Do not let the three sacks fool you.
Defensive Linemen
Michael Johnson DE TB
Justin Smith DE SF
Johnson is playing the bulk of the snaps, but is not rolling up the tackles. He has only four solos over the past four games. Smith looks to be on the downside of a productive career, as he is not getting the sacks we saw early this season, nor is he providing much in the way of tackles.
Defensive Backs
Dawan Landry S NYJ
Cortez Allen CB PIT
Landry is decent option at home, where his statisticians are friendly, but this week in Seattle is not a good bet for him to produce. Allen was benched by the Steelers this past week, so get him out of your lineup ASAP.
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
Ryan Shazier PIT (ankle)
DeMeco Ryans PHI (torn Achilles tendon-out for the season)
Nate Irving DEN (sprained MCL)
Defensive Linemen
Nothing of note this week, move along, please.
Defensive Backs
Troy Polamalu S PIT (knee)
Leon Hall CB CIN (concussion)
Johnathan Joseph CB HOU (concussion)
Prince Amukamara CB NYG (torn bicep-likely out for remainder of season)
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.