It bears repeating: If you are in a position to vie for a fantasy football championship, now is the time to shore up your IDP rosters with rising players that can replace those defensive options that are underperforming or have hit the IR for short or long-term stints. Below are some options in all three of the primary position categories, including one defensive tackle for those who play in mandatory DT leagues.
Bye Weeks coming up: Week 10-Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, New York Jets; Week 11-Buffalo, Chicago; Week 12-None; Week 13- Carolina, Tampa Bay
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Malik Harrison BAL
Even playing just under 50% of the snaps on defense, Harrison collected double digit tackles last week against the host Colts: 11 total tackles (TT), six solo (his numbers were improved by the five tackles he grabbed on special teams, to be fair). Taking on the Patriots in Week 10 is a good matchup for continued tackle production.
Marcus Golden ARI (Note: He only qualifies as a DE in ESPN leagues)
The Cardinals traded for Golden to shore up their defense after losing Chandler Jones for the season, and he responded after clearing the COVID protocols: five TT (two solo) with one of those for a loss of yards (TFL). He added a sack, a pass deflection (PD) and a QB hit/hurry (QH) to make him a big play performer.
A.J. Klein BUF
Klein is another LB who had the opportunity to shine due to a teammate hitting the IR, in this case Matt Milano . He had a pair of sacks against the Seahawks at home, as well as forcing and recovering a fumble (FF & FR), and producing four QHs and a PD. Toss in five solo tackles (one TFL) and he put up a full stat sheet for the owners that stuck with him while he was languishing in terms of value offered the prior few weeks.
Defensive Linemen
Trey Hendrickson DE NO
He collected a pair of sacks and a couple of QH in Tampa Bay against the struggling Tom Brady in Week 9, to go with three TT (two solo, two TFL). He now has accumulated 7.5 sacks on the season, making him a major source of big play potential this year. This week’s matchup against the 49er offense is just so-so, but then in Week 11 the Falcons come calling with their second rated offense in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing DEs.
Derek Barnett DE PHI
Barrett is not a full-time defensive linesman in Philly, but the matchup against the Giants in Week 10 is superb. He has collected 3.5 sacks through seven games played this season, and he snagged one of those against the Giants back in Week 7.
Brandon Graham DE PHI
Another Eagle defensive linesman piques our interest, with his big-time tackle production over the past three games: 14 TT (10 solo). He has wrapped up opposing signal callers for four sacks over that period, as well, and has accumulated seven total sacks in 2020 to date. Again, great matchup in Week 10 against the Giants on tap.
Derrick Brown DT CAR
The lone DT this week, he snagged another four TT in Week 9 (same as Week 8, but this week reversed the solo/assist numbers with three solos) and has been seeing a uptick in playing time (PT). The rookie is beginning to settle in, and is a valuable low-owned option for DT-mandatory schemes.
Defensive Backs
Kamren Curl S WAS
The rookie safety has played in each of the team’s contests but with Landon Collins hitting the IR, he saw a huge increase in PT last week. He responded with a superb stat line: 11 TT (six solo, one TFL), two QH and a sack of Daniel Jones. With an role opening up for him, look for continued improved production, as Washington gets two decent matchups (Detroit and Cincinnati) before a great Week 12 opportunity against the host Cowboys.
Minkah Fitzpatrick S PIT
The Steelers saw somethings they liked that led them to snatch Fitz from the Dolphins, and he was a force on defense against the host Cowboys last week, with six TT (five solo), an INT, a FR and a pair of PDs. The next three weeks have decent if not tremendously highly ranked matchups on the horizon with the Bengals, Jags and Ravens, but his ball-hawking skills make him a low-percentage owned DB to target.
Desmond Trufant CB DET
Trufant is finally able to land on the playing field as he overcomes the early season injuries that limited his PT, and he is showing just why the Lions targeted him this past offseason. He contributed six TT (four solo, one TFL) against the host Vikings in Week 9, adding a sack, QH and PD to make him valuable in both tackle-heavy and big play leagues.
Breon Borders CB TEN
Our final entry in the rising player group this article is one that has jumped into consideration due to lack of depth at the corner position in Tennessee. He played every snap in Week 9’s contest against the visiting Bears, collecting nine TT (seven solo) with a PD added for the cherry on top of the dessert. Despite lackluster matchups on the schedule, every down DBs have value, especially those who are going to be tested due to inexperience at the NFL level.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Robert Quinn CHI
Quinn was brought in to be a dominant sack and tackle provider by Chicago, but he has been anything but, with just nine TT on the season (six solo) and a single sack. It is unlikely he is still clogging up an IDP roster at this point, but he should be dropped for a more productive option ASAP.
Defensive Linemen
Arik Armstead DE SF
A huge goose egg in the tackle column after Week 9 is a sign of what he has been providing his owners this season, albeit one that is worse than prior weeks. He has not contributed a sack since tallying a half sack in Week 4, and while he has had the occasional multi-tackle week this season, the production is far too erratic to trust at this important juncture of the fantasy season.
Cameron Jordan DE NO
Jordan is no longer the sack-master he has been over the past three seasons, with just 2.5 on the 2020 campaign. He put up a zero tackle effort this past week against the Buccaneers who provided plenty of opportunities to hit and harass Tom Brady . He was likely drafted with the expectation that the sack numbers would continue to be high-level, and without that aspect to his game in evidence, he can be cut loose.
Defensive Backs
Ryan Neal S SEA
Neal becomes expendable with the return of Jamal Adams to the Seahawk defense. He had a mere three snaps on defense this past game, and thus ended up with no tackles to his credit. It was fun for him while it lasted, but that has dried up now.
James Bradberry CB NYG
Shutdown corners are fine options for their football teams, but for fantasy purposes, they have little to no value. Teams are making a point of avoiding the Giant cornerback, as evidenced by the single target he saw in Week 9 in our nation’s capital. If the action is directed elsewhere, he will continue to be a fantasy liability.
Casey Hayward CB LAC
As with the player profiled above, Hayward is a shutdown-type corner and has collected just 15 TT after exploding for 12 solos in the opening game this season, over the next seven tilts. That should continue to be his modus operandi as the season progresses, making him next to useless for IDP purposes.
Matchups to Exploit
Remember, the first team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. Do not go crazy, and play a LB5 against Washington, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on either the Saints or 49ers, or a top DE in the Philly/Giant game that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Washington @ Detroit
New Orleans vs San Francisco
San Francisco @ New Orleans
Defensive Ends
Philadelphia @ New York Giants
New York Giants vs Philadelphia
Seattle @ Los Angeles Raiders
Defensive Tackles
Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh
Las Vegas vs Denver
Chicago vs Minnesota
Safeties
Denver @ Las Vegas
Indianapolis @ Tennessee
Chicago vs Minnesota
Cornerbacks
Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh
Chicago vs Minnesota
Philadelphia @ New York Giants
Waiver Wire Targets
This section is intended to serve as a shortened cheat sheet listing those waiver wire targets you should be considering if you need to plug a hole in your starting lineup. All these players are spotlighted above, and you can read my comments about them in the "Elevator Going Up" section of this article. 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
Malik Harrison BAL
Marcus Golden ARI
A.J. Klein BUF
Defensive Linemen
Trey Hendrickson DE NO
Derek Barnett DE PHI
Brandon Graham DE PHI
Defensive Backs
Kamren Curl S WAS
Minkah Fitzpatrick S PIT
Desmond Trufant CB DET
Breon Borders CB TEN
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
L.J. Fort BAL finger
Otaro Alaka BAL knee IR
Matt Milano BAL pectoral IR
Adarius Taylor CAR undisclosed IR
Jeremy Chinn CAR knee
Jason Ferris CAR undisclosed
Jordan Evans CIN undisclosed IR-COVID
Joe Thomas DAL wrist
Mark Barron DEN hamstring IR
Krys Barnes GB illness IR-COVID
Christian Kirk sey GB pectoral IR
Jake Martin HOU illness IR-COVID
Brennan Scarlett HOU forearm IR
Kyle Emanuel HOU concussion IR
Dakota Allen JAX ankle
Shaquille Quarterman JAX knee IR
Asmar Bilal LAC calf IR
Obo Okoronkwo LAR elbow IR
Ja’Whaun Bentley NE groin
Chase Hansen NO hip IR
Tae Crowder NYG hamstring IR
Oshane Ximines NYG shoulder IR
Blake Cashman NYJ hamstring
Nate Gerry PHI ankle IR
Vince Williams PIT undisclosed IR-COVID
Devin Bush PIT knee-ACL IR
Kiko Alonso SF knee-ACL PUP
Mark Nzeocha SF quadriceps IR
K.J. Wright SEA ankle
Lavonte David TB knee
Jack Cichy TB hamstring IR
Reuben Foster WAS knee IR
Defensive Linemen
DE
Dante Fowler ATL hamstring
Calais Campbell BAL calf
Roy Robertson-Harris CHI shoulder
Sam Hubbard CIN elbow
Margus Hunt CIN undisclosed IR-COVID
Shelby Harris DEN illness IR-COVID
Jurrell Casey DEN illness IR-COVID
Charles Omenihu HOU leg
Kemoko Turay IND ankle
Taco Charlton KC lower leg
Arden Key LVR foot
Joey Bosa LAC concussion
Anthony Lanier NO undisclosed
Genard Avery PHI elbow IR
Tyson Ahualu PIT knee-MCL
Ronald Blair SF knee-ACL
Benson Mayowa SEA ankle
DT
Rashard Lawrence ARI calf IR
John Jenkins CHI ankle
Eli Ankou DAL coach’s decision
Doug Costin JAX concussion
Maurice Hurst LVR ankle
Lawrence Guy NE shoulder
Sheldon Rankins NO knee-MCL IR
Quinnen Williams NYJ hamstring
Bryan Mone SEA ankle
Defensive Backs
S
Jordan Miller ATL oblique IR
Juston Burris CAR ribs IR
Sherrick McManis CHI finger
Deon Bush CHI undisclosed IR-COVID
Tracy Walker DET foot
Will Redmond GB shoulder
Vernon Scott GB shoulder
A.J. Moore HOU hamstring IR
Andrew Wingard JAX abdomen IR
Jordan Fuller LAR neck IR
Holton Hill MIN foot IR
Myles Dorn MIN undisclosed IR
Justin Hardee NO groin IR
Joquarius Landrews NYG undisclosed IR
Adrian Colbert NYG shoulder
Marcus Epps PHI illness IR-COVID
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles SF hamstring
Jaquiski Tartt SF toe
Ugochukwu Amadi SEA hamstring
D.J. Reed SEA ankle
Justin Evans TB foot
Dane Cruikshank TEN groin
CB
Kevin Peterson ARI concussion IR
Dre Kirkpatrick ARI thigh
Khalil Dorsey BAL shoulder IR
Josh Norman BUF hamstring
Tre’Davious White BUF ankle
Michael Joseph CHI undisclosed IR
Trae Waynes CIN pectoral IR-COVID
Mackensie Alexander CIN undisclosed IR-COVID
Trevon Diggs DAL foot
A.J. Bouye DEN concussion
Bryce Callahan DEN ankle
Tony McRae DET knee IR
Jeff Okudah DET ankle
Darryl Roberts DET hip IR
Kevin King GB quadriceps
Kabion Ento GB undisclosed IR
Jaire Alexander GB concussion
Gareon Conley HOU ankle IR
D.J. Hayden JAX hamstring IR
L’Jarius Sneed KC collarbone IR
Antonio Hamilton KC hamstring
Rashad Fenton KC ankle
Trayvon Mullen LVR hamstring
Damon Arnette LVR thumb IR
Brandon Facyson LAC illness IR-COVID
Chris Harris LAC foot IR
Jamal Perry MIA foot
Cameron Dantzler MIN concussion
Mark Fields MIN chest IR
Stephon Gilmore NE knee
Ryan Lewis NYG hamstring IR
Brian Poole NYJ knee
Mike Hilton PIT shoulder
Richard Sherman SF calf IR
K’Waun Williams SF ankle
Shaquill Griffin SEA hamstring
Quinton Dunbar SEA knee
Meiko Thorpe SEA sports hernia IR
Adoree Jackson TEN knee IR
Tye Smith TEN shoulder IR
Greg Stroman WAS foot IR
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. FANation Chat is now live on the site, to help you work through your fantasy football dilemmas. Or if you have any fantasy football questions, especially about IDP leagues, you can also send a message to ia@fantasyalarm.com for a personal response from the writer of this article. Naturally, the more detail you can send about your league, such as number of teams, platform you play in (Yahoo, ESPN, etc.), scoring and roster system, the better the ability to provide accurate advice.