Hope you all survived the six-team byes that Week 10 brought us. Back to a fairly normal situation of four teams not playing this current week, and below there is a fine selection of IDP available on the waiver wire to pick up and replace your injured and/or underperforming players on defense, especially in the DB realm.
Bye Weeks coming up: Current Week Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans; Week 12 Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings; Weeks 13-17 NONE
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Nick Kwiatkoski CHI
With Danny Trevathan on the sidelines, the Bears will turn to four year veteran to fill in. He collected 10 tackles (eight solo) in Week 10 against the visiting Lions, one for a loss of yards (TFL). He also contributed with an INT, a pass deflection (PD) and a QB hit/hurry (QH), as well as a sack. Quite a full stat line for a former special teams player that should be available to pick up off the wire.
Clay Matthews LAR
Matthews finally came back from his jaw injury that kept his out of action since Week 5, and resumed his sack-happy ways, collecting 1.5 against the host Steelers. That gives him 7.5 sacks on the season, even with him missing three games. He is not much for tackle production (three TT, two solo, one TFL) but is extremely valuable in leagues that reward for sacks. He also added a PD and a pair of QH against Pittsburgh.
Mark Barron PIT
Barron, on the other side of the field, put up double-digit tackles in Week 10 (10 TT, all solos). He also tossed in a PD to spice up his stat sheet, and he has a great matchup with the Steelers heading to Cleveland to take on the fifth most generous team in terms of LB fantasy production.
Defensive Linemen
Clelin Farrell DE OAK
Oakland has been a surprise team this season, and production from rookie DLs such as Farrell (and his teammate Maxx Crosby) has been a big reason for their success. Ferrell picked up eight TT in Week 10 (eight solo, two TFL), to go with a trio of QH, a PD and 2.5 sacks. Farrell is an upside DL that should be kept in mind if you need a replacement IDP.
Trey Flowers DE DET
Flowers saw a big uptick in snaps played in Week 10, and responded with a corresponding increase in production: seven TT (six solo, two TFL), two QH and a sack. So long as he is seeing time on the field, he is a steady producer on defense.
Trent Murphy DE BUF
Murphy has a couple of good matchups on tap, with the Bills heading to Miami and then hosting the Broncos. He is coming off a seven TT effort (six solo, one TFL) and similar production can be expected over the near future.
Demarcus Lawrence DE DAL
Be aware that Lawrence has been limited in practice with a neck issue to open the week. He was credited with eight TT last week (five solo, one TFL) despite playing just 2/3 of the snaps on defense, while also picking up a QH against the visiting Vikings.
Chris Jones DT KC
Jones added to his sack total, picking up two more against the host Titans, giving him five on the season. He had seven TT in Week 10 (four solo, one TFL) as well as a pair of QH and forcing a fumble (FF). He is an elite DT option to plug in if you play in a DT-mandatory league.
Defensive Backs
Jessie Bates III S CIN
The situation in Cincy is dire, but Bates has been a shining star. In his second NFL season, he continues to rack up the tackles, collecting eight more against the visiting Ravens (seven solo). He contributed big play fantasy value, too, with and INT and PD.
Damarious Randall S CLE
Randall came off a hamstring injury to play every down on defense, putting up seven TT (five solo) and a PD. He has been a plus DB when healthy, but his absences from the field make him difficult to trust fully.
Jamal Adams S NYJ
Adams was stellar for the Jets in Week 10’s matchup against the Giants: Nine TT (eight solo), two sacks, two QH, two FF, one fumble recovery (FR), one PD. He also contributed a TD, but obviously that is just sauce for the goose, and not something you can expect from any IDP on a weekly basis. Do not operate on recency-bias, as his next two matchups are not as favorable for a safety, with Washington and Oakland on the schedule.
Tavon Wilson S DET
Tracy Walker does not look good to play in Week 11, meaning the Lions will again turn to Wilson to be an every-down DB. He collected six TT (five solo) against the host Bears last week, and also added a PD and a sack to make him a big-play option as well. With Walker looking doubtful for Week 11, expect similar production against the Cowboys at home.
Marcus Peters CB BAL
Peters has three defensive TDs on the season, and in the three games he has been with Baltimore, he has collected two pick-sixes. He has big play potential, obviously, with the INT and a PD against the Bengals, but also added six TT (five solo), making him an all-around valuable DB option in IDP leagues.
TreDavious White CB BUF
White has been assigned the duty of shadowing the opposing top WR, and picked up four PD while covering Odell Beckham Jr. in Week 10. He also collected six solo tackles last week, and is on schedule for more than 60 solos this season if he keeps up his current pace of production.
Jamal Dean CB TB
Rookie CBs that are targeted frequently by opposing offensive coordinators put up excellent fantasy numbers generally, and Dean has been in that class. With Vernon Hargreaves III being waived by the team, Dean will continue to see snaps on defense. He picked up four PD and an INT in Week 10, but only two solo tackles (one TFL), although he did have six TT the previous week.
Mike Hughes CB MIN
As with the prior CB discussed this week, Hughes is an unproven youngster who will be targeted until he proves himself. He had seven solo tackles against the host Cowboys, with a pair of PD, but be advised his team will not be active in Week 12 due to their bye.
Joe Haden CB PIT
If Haden plays in Week 11, which is questionable at this point, he has a great matchup against the Browns. He is coming off a seven TT effort in Week 10 (six solos) with five PD and an INT, as well a FF, so if he goes, he is a tempting option.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Deion Jones ATL
Jones has collected just nine TT over the past two games, while teammate Foyesade Oluokun collected eight tackles in less than half as many defensive snaps in Week 10. Jones is a three-down LB but his production is not reflecting that playing time.
Anthony Walker IND
Walker is seeing plenty of time on the field in the Colt defense, but his fantasy production has been inconsistent at best. He has big games, then lays an egg, and that is not what you want at this stage of the season.
Defensive Linemen
Myles Garrett DE CLE
Garrett has been held off the stat sheet in terms of sacks the past two games, although he does have 10 sacks on the season. His major failing is the limited tackle production he provides as a DL with just 28 through nine contests. His Week 11 opponent, the Steelers, is also not a great matchup.
Taco Charlton DE MIA
The Dolphin DE was an IDP darling earlier this season, but has gone ice cold of late, with just two solo tackles over the past three contests. It is time to cut him with that type of limited production.
Defensive Backs
None to write about, save for those listed in the Injury Report below
Matchups to Exploit
Remember, the first team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. Do not go crazy, and play a LB5 in the Falcon-Panther game, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB or DL on the Saints that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans
Cleveland Browns @ Oakland
Indianapolis Colts vs Jacksonville
Defensive Ends
New York Jets @ Washington
Houston Texans @ Baltimore
Denver Broncos @ Minnesota
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans
Defensive Tackles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans
San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona
Miami Dolphins @ Indianapolis
Safeties
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina
San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona
Baltimore Ravens vs Houston
Cornerbacks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans
Cincinnati Bengals @ Oakland
New England Patriots @ Philadelphia
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
Nick Kwiatkoski CHI
Clay Matthews LAR
Mark Barron PIT
Defensive Linesmen
Clelin Farrell DE OAK
Trey Flowers DE DET
Trent Murphy DE BUF
Demarcus Lawrence DE DAL (Owned in 35% of ESPN leagues, 22% of Yahoo leagues)
Chris Jones DT KC
Defensive Backs
Jessie Bates III S CIN (Owned in 22% of Yahoo leagues, 30% ESPN leagues)
Damarious Randall S CLE
Jamal Adams S NYJ (48% owned in ESPN, 45% in Yahoo)
Tavon Wilson S DET
Marcus Peters CB BAL
TreDavious White CB BUF
Jamal Dean CB TB
Mike Hughes CB MIN
Joe Haden CB PIT
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
Brooks Reed ARI hamstring IR
Maurice Alexander BUF knee IR
Danny Trevathan CHI elbow
Isaiah Irving CHI quadriceps
Corey Nelson DEN biceps IR
Ty Summers GB concussion
Quincy Williams JAX hamstring
Leon Jacobs JAX hamstring
Bryce Hager LAR shoulder IR
Neville Hewitt NYJ neck
C.J. Mosley NYJ groin
Brandon Copeland NYJ hip
Blake Cashman NYJ shoulder-labrum IR
Marquel Lee OAK ankle IR
Nigel Bradham PHI ankle
Anthony Chickillo PIT ribs
Ola Adeniyi PIT hip
Ulysees Gilbert PIT back IR
Azeez Al-Shaair SF concussion
Kwon Alexander SF pectoral IR
Carl Nassib TB groin
Anthony Nelson TB hamstring
Jayon Brown TEN groin
Defensive Linemen
DE
Zach Allen ARI neck
John Cominsky ATL ankle
Olivier Vernon CLE knee
DeMarcus Walker DEN shoulder
Da’Shawn Hand DET ankle
Romeo Okwara DET groin
Emmanuel Ogbah KC pectoral
Alex Okafor KC ankle
Avery Moss MIA ankle
Josh Mauro OAK groin
Arden Key OAK foot IR
Ronald Blair SF knee-ACL
Jurrell Casey TEN shoulder
DT
Clinton McDonald ARI neck IR
Daylon Mack BAL knee IR
Michael Pierce BAL ankle
Damiel Ekuale CLE calf IR
Kevin Strong DET ribs IR
A’Shawn Robinson DET thumb
Justin Jones LAC shoulder
Cortez Broughton LAC illness
Linval Joseph MIN knee-meniscus
D.J. Jones SF groin
Tim Settle WAS hamstring
Defensive Backs
S
Tramaine Brock ARI hamstring
Deionte Thompson ARI knee
Eric Murray CLE knee
Jeff Heath DAL shoulder
Will Parks DEN thumb
Tracy Walker DET knee
Miles Killebrew DET concussion
Tashaun Gipson HOU back
D.J. Hayden JAX shoulder
Roderic Teamer LAC groin
Darious Williams LAR ankle
Ken Webster MIA ankle
Reshad Jones MIA chest
Andrew Sendejo MIN groin
Patrick Robinson MO hamstring
Kenny Ladler NYG undisclosed
Rontez Miles NYJ neck IR
Lamarcus Joyner OAK hamstring
Karl Joseph OAK foot IR
Lano Hill SEA elbow
Deshazor Everett WAS ankle
Montae Nicholson WAS ankle
CB
Patrick Peterson ARI calf
Desmond Trufant ATL toe
James Bradberry CAR groin
Dre Kirkpatrick CIN knee
Bryce Callahan DEN foot
Tremon Smith GB concussion
Lonnie Johnson HOU concussion
Bradley Roby HOU hamstring
Pierre Desir IND hamstring
Quincy Wilson IND shoulder
Kendall Fuller KC thumb
Cordrea Tankersley MIA knee-ACL
Trae Waynes MIN ankle
Marshon Lattiomre NO hamstring
Janoris Jenkins NYG concussion
Darryl Roberts NYJ calf
Trumaine Johnson NYJ ankle IR
Ahkello Witherspoon SF foot
M.J. Stewart TB knee
Carlton Davis TB hip
Malcolm Butler TEN wrist 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.