As noted immediately below, there are no off-week teams to worry about this week, it being Thanksgiving and all. And the latest bye week in history, Week 13, only has two teams that will not provide fantasy points from any of their players. As has been emphasized over the past couple of IDP Reports, however, the season heads inexorably toward the fantasy playoffs, and it is still essential to populate your roster with useful IDP to propel your squads forward toward championship greatness. So, let’s take a look at those whose stock is rising, and a handful you should consider cutting loose.
Bye Weeks coming up: Week 12- None; Week 13-Carolina, Tampa Bay…and that’s all she wrote as far as byes, thank goodney.
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Will Compton TEN
With the season-ending injury to Jayon Brown , Compton should step into an every-down role on the Titan defense going forward. The veteran collected six total tackles (TT) and tackle production is what should be anticipated from him, not the big-play potential IDP owners expected of the sidelined Brown.
Isaiah Simmons ARI
Simmons racked up 10 TT in the Week 11 road loss to the Seahawks (nine solo). He also added a sack of Russell Wilson in that contest, and has a good, not great matchup on tap in Foxboro against the host Patriots this coming week. Beware, though, with De’Vondre Campbell healthy again, his snap count will be reduced.
Harvey Langi NYJ
Langi is making the transition from special teams member to full-time ILB for the Jets, due primarily to the trade of Avery Williamson and the injury to Blake Cashman. He has collected a whopping 21 TT over the past two games (17 solo, with eight last week against the host Chargers). Because of the propensity of the Jet defense to spend time on the field, this should result in nice tackle production by the third-year IDP.
Defensive Linemen
Olivier Vernon DE CLE
If Myles Garrett misses more time due to COVID-19 protocols, then the Browns are going to rely on the veteran Vernon to shore up their pass rush. He collected three sacks against the visiting Eagle offense in Week 11, along with his five TT (four solo). Three of those tackles were for a loss of yards, too (TFL). Toss in three QB hits/hurries (QH) and a pass deflection (PD) and his owners were served a cornucopia of fantasy stats.
Cameron Jordan DE NO
Another DE that delivered triple the sack goodness in Week 11 was the veteran Saint IDP. He contributed four solo tackles (three TFL) along with a tasty trio of QH to provide both big play and tackle production on the defensive side of fantasy point production. This week’s opponent is just middle of the pack (Denver) but then comes pair of superb matchups against the Falcons and Eagles. If he is languishing on your wire, snatch him up now for your fantasy playoff run.
Grady Jarrett DT ATL
Jarrett plays the bulk of snaps on the Falcon defensive side of the line, and while his sack production was absent for a bit, he snagged half a sack at New Orleans last week, along with a substantial seven TT (four solo), and a QH. He is a steady producer at DL, not to mention a serious value in DT-mandatory leagues.
Defensive Backs
Ashtyn Davis S NYJ
Bradley McDougald is relegated to IR through this week at a minimum, so Davis is stepping up and playing full time at safety for the beleaguered Jet defense. He is the safety that is relied upon to rush the passer in the Jet scheme, which also improves his chances to see tackle opportunities. He collected double digit tackles in LA against the host Chargers (eight solo, four assists) and also recovered a fumble (FR), his first of the season.
Amani Hooker S TEN
The Titan second year defensive back saw a significant uptick in defensive snaps played last week, and it resulted in an INT late in the third quarter to stop a Raven drive. He also had a pair of PDs, and six TT (three solo) in the course of playing his 74 total snaps (10 on special teams). This week’s tilt against the Colts sees him pitted against the offense allowing the 4th most points to opposing safeties. His snap count is dependent on the health of Kenny Vaccaro , however, so take a close look at the injury report for Tennessee before going in full on Hooker.
Justin Reed S HOU
Reed is back on the report this week, after being featured way back in Week 3. He continues to be an excellent source of tackles for those of you in tackle-oriented leagues, with minimal big-play potential. He gets the Lions on Thursday in Week 12, so jump on him for those early game points to make your team look better heading into the weekend, and boost your confidence.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Whitney Mercilus HOU
His big play production in the form mostly of sacks has dried up, with his last sack occurring in Week 5. He is also not providing any real tackle numbers, with just 19 TT over a total 438 snaps on defense in 2020. Those results are worthy of cutting his presence from your roster, not just benching him.
Jerome Baker MIA
Baker’s snap count has been steadily and decidedly declining as the season progresses, and he contributed just two TT last week against the Broncos (one solo). If you are still rostering him, time to look at the wire or free agent market for a replacement that is better than just a place-filler.
Defensive Linemen
Everson Griffen DE DET
The Lions are a mystery. You would expect that the team traded to bring in Griffen to give him playing time, but the situation in Detroit is unnervingly obtuse. He managed to contribute just a single PD in Week 11 at Carolina, where admittedly the entire team struggled. A unpredictable presence on your IDP roster is not of value as we approach playoff time.
Defensive Backs
None to speak of, save for those listed below in the Injury Report.
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 Rams or Browns, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the Washington or Dallas squads, or a Seahawk defensive end, or a Giant cornerback that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Washington @ Dallas
San Francisco @ Los Angeles Rams
Jacksonville vs Cleveland
Dallas vs Washington
New Orleans @ Denver
Defensive Ends
Philadelphia vs Seattle
Atlanta vs Las Vegas Raiders
New York Giants @ Cincinnati
Los Angeles Chargers @ Buffalo
Defensive Tackles
Chicago @ Green Bay
Dallas vs Washington
Cincinnati vs New York Giants
Las Vegas Raiders @ Atlanta
Safeties
Denver vs New Orleans
Atlanta vs Las Vegas Raiders
San Francisco @ Los Angeles Rams
Indianapolis vs Tennessee
Cornerbacks
Cincinnati vs New York Giants
Philadelphia vs Seattle
Chicago @ Green Bay
Dallas vs Washington
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
Will Compton TEN
Isaiah Simmons ARI
Harvey Langi NYJ
Defensive Linemen
Olivier Vernon DE CLE
Cameron Jordan DE NO
Grady Jarrett DT ATL
Defensive Backs
Ashtyn Davis S NYJ
Amani Hooker S TEN
Justin Reed S HOU
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
Foye Oluokun ATL knee
Edmond Robinson ATL hamstring
Mykal Walker ATL hamstring
Matt Judon BAL ankle
Pernell McPhee BAL undisclosed IR-COVID
Otaro Alaka BAL IR
Jason Ferris CAR undisclosed
Danny Trevathan CHI personal
Markus Bailey CIN hamstring
Luke Gifford DAL suspension
Joseph Jones DEN calf
Derrek Tuszka DEN hamstring IR
Mark Barron DEN hamstring IR
Reggie Ragland DET ankle
Krys Barnes GB illness IR-COVID
Bobby Okereke IND ankle
Cory Littleton LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Uchenna Nwosu LAC shoulder-AC joint
Drue Tranquill LAC ankle IR
Kyzir White LAC undisclosed IR-COVID
Asmar Bilal LAC calf IR
Micah Kiser LAR leg
Obo Okoronkwo LAR elbow IR
Ja’Whaun Bentley NE groin
Brandon King NE quadriceps
Blake Cashman NYJ hamstring
Joe Walker SF undisclosed IR-COVID
Mark Nzeocha SF quadriceps IR
Bruce Irvin SEA knee-ACL IR
Jack Cichy TB hamstring IR
Jayon Brown TEN elbow IR
David Long TEN undisclosed IR-COVID
Jadeveon Clowney TEN knee IR
Jared Norris WAS hamstring
Reuben Foster WAS knee IR
Defensive Linemen
DE
Josh Mauro ARI hamstring
Zach Allen ARI ankle IR
Jordan Phillips ARI hamstring IR
Dante Fowler ATL hamstring
Calais Campbell BAL undisclosed IR-COVID
Derek Wolfe BAL illness
Jerry Hughes BUF back
Joe Jackson CLE undisclosed IR-COVID
Derek Wolfe CLE illness
Jerry Hughes BUF back
Joe Jackson CLE undisclosed IR-COVID
Myles Garrett CLE illness IR-COVID
Shelby Harris DEN illness IR-COVID
Jurrell Casey DEN illness IR
Da’Shawn Hand DET groin
Austin Bryant DET thigh
Julian Okwara DET undisclosed IR
P.J. Hall HOU chest
Josh Allen JAX knee IR
Taco Charlton KC lower leg IR
Ifeadi Odenigbo MIN concussion
Tashawn Bower NE illness
Derek Rivers NE undisclosed
Anthony Lanier NO undisclosed
Denard Avery PHI elbow IR
Vinny Curry PHI undisclosed IR-COVID
Jordan Willis SF undisclosed IR-COVID
Ronald Blair SF knee-ACL
Dee Ford SF neck IR
Ezekiel Ansah SF biceps IR
Nick Bosa DE knee-ACL IR
Branden Jackson SEA spine IR
Ryan Anderson WAS knee
DT
Rashard Lawrence ARI calf IR
Corey Peters ARI kneecap IR
Grady Jarrett ATL knee
Brandon Williams BAL ankle IR-COVID
D.J. Reader CIN quadriceps IR
Larry Ogunjobi CLE ankle
Eli Ankou DAL coach’s decision
Montravius Adams GB toe
DeForest Buckner IND undisclosed IR-COVID
Denico Autry IND illness IR-COVID
Abry Jones JAX ankle IR
Maurice Hurst LVR ankle
David Irving LVR knee
Byron Cowart NE back
Carl Davis NE back
Carl Davis NE concussion
Lawrence Guy NE shoulder
Adam Butler NE shoulder
Derek Rivers NE undisclosed
Michael Barnett NE undisclosed IR
Sheldon Rankings NO knee-MCL IR
D.J. Jones SF undisclosed IR-COVID
Javon Kinlaw SF undisclosed IR-COVID
Solomon Thomas SF ankle IR
Bryan Mone SEA ankle IR
Vita Vea TB ankle IR
Matthew Ioannidis WAS illness IR-COVID
Defensive Backs
S
Deionte Thompson ARI undisclosed IR-COVID
Jalen Thompson ARI ankle
Charles Washington ARI groin
Sam Franklin CAR ankle
Eddie Jackson CHI undisclosed IR-COVID
Sheldrick Redwine CLE knee
Ronnie Harrison CLE knee
Trey Marshall DEN lower leg
Perry Nickerson GB hamstring IR
Michael Thomas HOU pectoral IR
Khari Willis IND ribs
Julian Blackmon IND illness
Daniel Thomas JAX arm IR
Lamarcus Joyner LVR undisclosed IR-COVID
Harrison Smith MIN neck
Myles Dorn MIN undisclosed IR
Xavier McKinney NYG foot IR
Bradley McDougald NYJ shoulder IR
Rudy Ford PHI hamstring
Johnathan Cyprien SF hamstring IR
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles SF hamstring
Jaquiski Tartt SF toe IR
Lane Hill SEA back IR
Marquise Blair SEA knee-ACL IR
Justin Evans TB foot PUP
Dane Cruikshank TEN groin IR
Deshazor Everett WAS ankle
Landon Collins WAS Achilles IR
CB
Jimmy Smith BAL ankle
Anthony Averett BAL shoulder IR
Donte Jackson CAR toe
Mackensie Alexander CIN hamstring
Trae Waynes CIN pectoral IR
Greedy Williams CLE shoulder IR
Denzel Ward CLE calf
Anthony Brown DAL ribs
Amani Oruwariye DET back
Mike Ford DET concussion
Jeff Okudah DET shoulder
Ka’dar Hollman GB quadriceps
Kabion Ento GB undisclosed IR
Gareon Conley HOU ankle IR
Rock Ya-Sin IND illness
Sidney Jones JAX Achilles
D.J. Hayden JAX knee IR
Chris Claybrooks JAX groin
C.J. Henderson JAX groin IR
Casey Hayward LAC groin
Brandon Facyson LAC illness IR-COVID
Mike Hughes MIN neck IR
Stephon Gilmore NE hand
Marshon Lattimore NO abdomen
Blessuan Austin NYJ neck IR
Brian Poole NYJ shoulder IR
Cre’von LeBlanc PHI ankle IR
Joe Haden PIT knee
K’Waun Williams SF ankle
Richard Sherman SF calf IR
Shaquill Griffin SEA hamstring
Quinton Dunbar SEA knee IR
Neiko Thorpe SEA abdomen IR
Jamel Dean TB concussion
Malcolm Butler TEN ribs
Adoree’ Jackson TEN knee
Kareem Orr TEN groin IR
Kristian Fulton 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.