Bye week interruptions are winding down finally, with our last four team absence this week, then a tease for Week 12 before we miss out on the chance to employ the Panthers and Buccaneers in what is generally the last week before fantasy playoffs begin. Now is prime time to bolster your rosters, cutting loose those injured or under-performing characters you have not yet booted to the curb. Pruning is essential for any good garden, so let’s “grow” your playoff squads.
NOTE: The injury report grew significantly deeper with the COVID-19 situation affecting the Raider defense. Take a look below before setting your lineups, and keep an eye on future developments prior to the Sunday night game.
Bye Weeks coming up: Week 11-Buffalo, Chicago, New York Giants, San Francisco; Week 12-none; Week 13-Carolina, Tampa Bay
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Germaine Pratt CIN
Cincinnati is essentially a dumpster fire for fantasy purposes overall, but Pratt is a decent option in a league that emphasizes tackle production and has three or four LB starting options. He is coming off an eight total tackle (TT) effort in Week 10 (five solo). The Bengal defense sees a ton of playing time in games, so he gets the snaps.
Leonard Floyd LAR (Note: Qualifies as DE only in ESPN leagues)
Floyd picked up three sacks on Sunday against the visiting Seahawks, which gives him a total of seven on the season, tying his previous career best achievement in that stat category. Six solo tackles, two for a loss of yards (TFL) and five QB hits/hurries filled up a busy stat line. Then add in a fumble recovery (FR) and you really benefitted in you had him in your lineup last week. Playing a linebacker at DL in ESPN leagues is extraordinarily attractive, as well.
Davis had been a so-so option for IDP purposes until he exploded for double digit tackles against the visiting 49ers in Week 10 (eight solo, three TFL). He was a force on defense, racking up a sack, two QH and deflecting a pass, too (PD). The Drew Brees injury will impact the Saint offense, and likely lead to more tackle opportunities going forward, but perhaps not 12 TT as in this past contest, as expecting that sort of production is just greedy.
Defensive Linemen
D.J. Wonnum DE MIN
The fourth-round rookie is seeing significant playing time (PT) albeit not as a starter at this point in his career, despite the reshuffling of the Viking defensive line that trades and injury have initiated. He picked up his third sack of the season against the host Bears in Week 10. He has a good matchup on tap with the Cowboys coming to visit this coming week.
Kahlid Kareem DE CIN
As noted above, the Bengal defense is seeing plenty of time on the field this season, and Kareem has a pair of good matchups in store with a trip to DC and then a home game against the Giants. He has collected three TT in two of his last three games played, so as a bench option, the widely available DE is injury protection for your consideration.
John Simon DE NE
Another depth DE to have on your radar, Simon is putting up decent tackle results overall, although he is occasionally inconsistent in fantasy point production. He has collected five TT in two of his last three contests, and the matchups keep improving over the next three weeks with the Texans, Cardinals and Chargers lined up on the schedule.
DaQuan Jones DT TEN
If your league requires a DT slot, Jones is remarkable productive from the nose tackle position. He had five TT in Week 10 (four solo, one TFL) with a sack and a QH for the big-play value tossed in. He is on the field for significant defensive snaps every week, to boot.
Defensive Backs
Darnell Savage S GB
Savage provides generally solid tackle numbers for his owners, and with top Packer LB Christian Kirk sey back on the field, he should benefit in terms of providing fantasy numbers. He has two superb matchups in the next two weeks with the Colts and the Bears offering him the opportunity to rack up the TTs.
Jayon Kearse S DET
Kearse’s PT may take a hit with Tracy Walker back from injury to serve as starting free safety. He is coming off a nine TT effort (eight solo) against Washington, but is only valued in tackle-oriented leagues, as his big-play production is nearly non-existent.
Sidney Jones CB JAX
Jones forced a pair of turnovers in Week 10 against the host Packers, with a forced fumble (FF) and an INT. He also had a couple of PDs and nearly double digit tackles, with 9 TT in Green Bay (six solo). The upcoming matchups are not great, but on paper, neither was the contest against the Packers.
D.J. Reed CB SEA
He led his team with 10 solo tackles against the Rams last week (one TFL). He also recovered the strip-sack provided by Jamal Adams . He is coming on strong late in the season after missing the first seven weeks/six games with injury.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Bradley Chubb DEN
Despite the Raiders offering plenty of tackle opportunities in Week 10’s contest, Chubb collected a mere single solo (TFL) for his production. He has put up 5.5 sacks on the campaign, but none in the past two weeks and not much else to show in terms of fantasy point production.
Kyzir White LAC
White is a three-down LB that is woefully unproductive despite the significant time on the field. Things could improve against the Chargers run-oriented offense this week, but recent performance argues against employing his services until he offers double-digit tackle numbers again, as the big-plays are practically non-existent for him.
Josh Bynes CIN
The veteran LB continues to see significant PT on defense, but just is not putting up any numbers as a result of that usage. He is coming off a two TT effort against the Steelers (one solo), and that just argues against any place in anyone’s IDP lineup.
Defensive Linemen
Clelin Ferrell DE LVR
Ferrell was a top pick last season but his ability to perform up to expectations has so far not materialized. He has yet to produce even a partial sack this season, and is not expected to play this coming game against the Chiefs with a positive COVID diagnosis taking place.
Yannick Ngakoue DE BAL
It was considered a good move when he was traded to the Ravens, but that has proved to be a false hope. He has three solo tackles and zero sacks in this past three contests, and saw his PT shrink against the Patriots.
Defensive Backs
Jeff Okudah CB DET
The first-round pick cornerback for the Leos has been relegated to a backup/part-time role in the Detroit defensive scheme. Playing less than 50% of the snaps on defense makes him a liability for your IDP lineup until he sees more PT.
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 the Vikings, but certainly you will do well if you own a LB on the Bengals or Steelers, or a top DE or S on the Browns that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Washington vs Cincinnati
Dallas @ Minnesota
Jacksonville vs Pittsburgh
New Orleans vs Atlanta
Defensive Ends
Philadelphia @ Cleveland
Atlanta @ New Orleans
Los Angeles Chargers vs New York Jets
Defensive Tackles
Las Vegas vs Kansas City
Cincinnati @ Washington
Baltimore vs Tennessee
Dallas @ Minnesota
Safeties
Denver vs Miami
Atlanta @ New Orleans
Indianapolis vs Green Bay
Cornerbacks
Cincinnati @ Washington
Dallas @ Minnesota
Philadelphia @ Cleveland
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
Germaine Pratt CIN
Leonard Floyd LAR
Defensive Linemen
D.J. Wonnum DE MIN
Kahlid Kareem DE CIN
John Simon DE NE
DaQuan Jones DT TEN
Defensive Backs
Darnell Savage S GB
Jayon Kearse S DET
Sidney Jones CB JAX
D.J. Reed CB SEA
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
Haason Reddick ARI neck
DeVondre Campbell ARI calf
Otaro Alaka BAL knee IR
Tyrel Dodson BUF hamstring IR
Del’Shawn Phillips BUF quadriceps IR
Tahir Whitehead CAR ribs
Jason Ferris CAR undisclosed
Jacob Phillips CLE knee
Josey Jewell DEN quadriceps
Joseph Jones DEN calf
Mark Barron DEN hamstring IR
Christian Jones DET knee
Jarrad Davis DET knee
Krys Barnes GB illness IR-COVID
Dylan Cole HOU back IR
Dakota Allen JAX ankle
Cory Littleton LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Asmar Bilal LAC calf IR
Kyle Van Noy MIA hip
Jordan Brailford MIN personal
Brandon King NE quadriceps PUP
Terez Hall NE shoulder
Ja’Whaun Bentley NE groin
Brandon King NE quadriceps
Shilique Calhoun NE knee IR
Kiko Alonso NO knee-ACL PUP
Tae Crowder NYG hamstring IR
Oshane Ximines NYG shoulder IR
Frankie Luvu NYJ groin IR
Jay Elliott PIT illness
Mark Nzeocha SF quadriceps IR
Jack Cichy TB hamstring IR
Jadeveon Clowney TEN knee
David Long TEN undisclosed IR-COVID
Jared Norris WAS hamstring
Reuben Foster WAS knee
Defensive Linemen
DE
Jordan Phillips ARI hamstring
Dante Fowler ATL hamstring IR-COVID
Calais Campbell BAL calf
A.J. Epenesa BUF head
Yetur Gross-Matos CAR shoulder
Marquis Haynes CAR shoulder
Stephen Weatherly CAR finger IR
Akiem Hicks CHI hamstring
Roy Robertson-Harris CHI shoulder IR
Margus Hunt CIN undisclosed IR-COVID
Shelby Harris DEN illness IR-COVID
Austin Bryant DET thigh
Nick Williams DET shoulder
Julian Okwara DET undisclosed IR
Charles Omenihu HOU leg
Josh Allen JAX hip
Arden Key LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Clelin Ferrell LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Kendall Vickers LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Joey Bosa LAC concussion
Deatrich Wise NE knee
John Simon NE elbow
Cameron Jordan NO back
Anthony Lanier NO undisclosed
Arik Armstead SF undisclosed IR-COVID
Ronald Blair SF knee-ACL PUP
Ryan Anderson WAS knee
DT
Corey Peters ARI kneecap
Rashard Lawrence ARI calf IR
Leki Fotu ARI ankle IR
Brandon Williams BAL ankle
John Jenkins CHI ankle
Xavier Williams CIN back
Geno Atkins CIN personal
D.J. Reader CIN quadriceps IR
Johnathan Hankins LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Makiek Collins LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Maurice Hurst LVR ankle
Christian Wilkins MIA undisclosed IR-COVID
Adam Butler NE shoulder
Lawrence Guy NE shoulder
Michael Barnett NE undisclosed
Malcom Brown NO calf
Bryan Mone SEA ankle IR
Larrell Murchison TEN back
Matthew Ioannidis WAS illness IR-COVID
Defensive Backs
S
Jalen Thompson ARI shoulder
Charles Washington ARI groin
Budda Baker ARI groin
Terrell Bonds BAL knee IR
Dean Marlowe BUF undisclosed IR-COVID
Sam Franklin CAR ankle
Sherrick McManis CHI hand
Trey Marshall DEN elbow
Will Redmond GB shoulder
Parry Nickerson GB IR
Michael Thomas HOU shoulder
Julian Blackmon IND pelvis
Khari Willis IND ribs
Josh Jones JAX chest IR
Johnathan Abram LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Eric Harris LVR ribs
Lamarcus Joyner LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Taylor Rapp LAR knee IR
Myles Dorn MIN undisclosed IR
Jaquarius Landrews NYG undisclosed IR
Rudy Ford PHI hamstring
Marcus Epps PHI illness IR-COVID
Johnathan Cyprien SF hamstring IR
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles SF hamstring
Jaquiski Tartt SF toe IR
Lano Hill SEA back IR
Marquise Blair SEA knee-ACL IR
Justin Evans TB foot PUP
Chris Jackson TEN illness IR
Deshazor Everett WAS ankle
CB
Dre Kirkpatrick ARI hamstring
Jimmy Smith BAL ankle
Iman Marshall BAL knee IR-COVID
Dane Jackson BUF knee
Levi Wallace BUF undisclosed IR-COVID
Josh Norman BUF illness IR-COVID
Donte Jackson CAR toe
LeShaun Sims CIN concussion
Mackensie Alexander CIN concussion
Trae Waynes CIN pectoral V
Darius Phillips CIN groin IR
Greedy Williams CLE shoulder IR
Tony McRae DET knee IR
Trevon Diggs DAL foot IR
A.J. Bouye DEN hip
Kevin King GB quadriceps
Jaire Alexander GB concussion
Kabion Ento GB undisclosed IR
Gareon Conley HOU ankle IR
Kenny Moore IND ribs
C.J. Henderson JAX groin
Sidney Jones JAX Achilles
D.J. Hayden JAX hamstring IR
Isaiah Johnson LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Kelsean Nixon LVR groin
Chris Harris LAC foot IR
Brandon Facyson LAC illness IR-COVID
Cameron Dantzler MIN concussion
Stephon Gilmore NE knee
Marshon Lattimore NO oblique
Brian Poole NYJ knee IR
Craig James PHI shoulder IR
K’Waun Williams SF ankle
Richard Sherman SF calf IR
Neiko Thorpe SEA abdomen
Quinton Dunbar SEA knee
Shaquill Griffin SEA hamstring
Adoree’ Jackson TEN knee
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.