The beginning of bye weeks means that certain owners will be scrambling to pick up replacement players to fill out their lineups. It also means that the potential exists to snap up high level IDP if an owner does not have room on their bench to stash away the inactive players, so watch your waiver wire carefully over the next several weeks. The injuries are beginning to mount, as well, so we are fortunate that there are a good number of defensive players with low ownership rates to consider as additions to your rosters.
Bye Weeks coming up: Week 4 New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers; Week 5 Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Sam Equavoen MIA
He is shaping up as a three-down LB for the Dolphins, and he put up an eight total tackle (TT) effort against the Cowboys last week (seven solo). In tackle-oriented leagues, he is worth considering as a roster addition.
While not an every-down LB, Smith is seeing plenty of playing time, and put up an impressive stat line in Week Three: five TT (four solo) with two of those for a loss of yards (TFL), three sacks, three QB hurries/hits (QH), and also forced a fumble (FF).
Anthony Walker IND
Walker played every one of the defensive snaps last Sunday, and collected 14 TT (11 solo, two TFL). So long as Darius Leonard is sidelined (and he is in the concussion protocol as this is being written), he will see significant playing time with projected production.
Eric Wilson MIN
Wilson is getting starts on defense as opposed to being relegated to special teams, and responded with 11 TT in Week Three (seven solo, two TFL). He also added two QH and a pair of sacks against the Raiders.
Shaq Thompson CAR
The 25-year old LB is playing plenty of defensive snaps alongside Luke Kuechly , who obviously draws most of the attention on defense. Last week, he racked up 11 TT (nine solo, one TFL), with a sack and QH tossed in for those of you in big-play leagues.
Chandler Jones ARI
Jones is another LB that is proving his value in big-play fantasy schemes, collecting a pair of sacks and QH both last week, together with a couple of FF and a fumble recovery (FR). Add in five TT (four solo) and he is valuable across all league formats.
Mack Wilson CLE
The rookie will now see more time on the field with Christian Kirk sey heading to the IR with a chest injury. He has significant upside as an every-down linebacker going forward, despite an average five TT effort against the Rams in Week Three (three solo).
Ryan Connelly NYG
Connelly picked up seven TT in Week Three, playing in place of the injured Alec Ogletree , but that was likely a fluke, and will go back to a reserve role unless injury strikes again. He has upside if his PT increases, but only if that situation redevelops.
DefensiveLinemen
Trey Flowers DE DET
Flowers collected his first sack of the season against the Eagles, to go with eight TT (four solo and one TFL) and a QH. He played in just over 70% of the defensive snaps in Week Three, so there is certainly room for his production to improve going forward.
Brian Burns DE CAR
Burns is one of those IDP whose role on the field makes his fantasy designation a great value. He is playing outside LB, but is designated as a DL, so the production could be tasty for savvy fantasy owners. His PT is increasing as the season goes forward, too, although the four solo tackle (one TFL)/one sack/two QH line should recommend him as a waiver wire grab.
Josh Allen DE JAX
The first-round rookie pick is getting plenty of time on the field to show off his potential, and is coming off a two sack effort against the Titans last week. As will all the rising IDP this week, he is likely available in your league(s) to sneak onto your roster before he becomes an household IDP name, should such a thing exist.
Jonathan Hankins DT OAK
Our sole DT this week, Hankins contributed a seven TT effort against the host Vikings, with a QH tossed in for good measure. His playing time is at a high level (80% of snaps on defense in Week Three), so continued production for DT-mandatory leagues seems likely.
Defensive Backs
Minkah Fitzpatrick S PIT
Fitzpatrick showed just why the Steelers added him to their defense, putting up a full stat sheet in his action against the host 49ers: five TT (four solo), and a QH, INT, PD and FF each. His big-play potential makes him well worth an add to your roster.
Kemal Ishmael S ATL
Ishmael will be relied upon now that Keanu Neal is lost for the season. He offers both tackle production and big-play potential. Check out his position designation in your leagues, as he is listed as a LB on certain platforms, where he would have far less value than as a DB.
Roderick Teamer S LAC
Teamer stepped up to fill in for the injure Adrian Phillips , and racked up a respectable seven TT (six solo). If he is to continue as an every-down player on defense, he adds value as a bye-week replacement at a minimum.
Jaire Alexander CB GB
The Packers are pitting Alexander against the opponent’s top receiving option, and his production has demonstrated the value of that decision. He had seven TT in Week Three against the Broncos (five solo), and he also deflected a pair of passes (PD) to go along with a FF and FR.
Marshon Lattimore CB NO
Lattimore is playing well in run support for the Saints, as well as handling his coverage duties with aplomb. He had 12 TT against the Seahawks on the road, together with a PD. A positive force on defense, he is a value especially in CB-mandatory leagues due to his tackle production.
Tre Flowers CB SEA
Flowers has a great matchup, as the Cardinals are the highest ranked team in terms of allowing points to opposing CBs. Facing a pass-happy offense should lead to both tackle and big-play opportunities for the Seahawk defensive back in Week Four.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Von Miller DEN
Miller is not the only disappointment on defense in Denver, as the team does not have a sack yet on the season, but those that drafted the LB recalling his glory years might need to reconsider that decision. Keep an eye on the veteran, but be ready to send him to the free agent pool if his lack of production continues.
Kyzir White LAC
White was highly recommended by this writer in the preseason, so apologies are due to our readers. Take action now and drop him after his goose egg in the defensive stat line last week and his declining snap count on defense.
Mark Barron PIT
Barron had just a single tackle in Week Three, despite playing all the snaps on defense. He was not a bright, shining star last season, either, at times, so just stop the frustration and cut him.
Defensive Linemen
Michael Bennett DE NE
Bennett’s drop in value has to do with his declining snap count, which is due to the rotation on defense that is being employed by the Patriots. He is still putting up numbers despite limited action, but that could change to a negative regression at some point. Just be aware of the potential for declining worth.
Gerald McCoy DE CAR
McCoy has yet to accrue a sack in 2019, which given his minimal tackle numbers (seven on the season), makes his worthy of cutting for the present.
Defensive Backs
None to speak of, save for those listed in the injury report below.
Matchups to Exploit
Remember, the SECOND team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. Do not go crazy, and play a LB5 against the Panthers, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the Texans, Ravens or Seahawks that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Houston Texans vs Carolina
Baltimore Ravens vs Cleveland
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver
Defensive Ends
Atlanta Falcons vs Tennessee
Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle
Defensive Tackles
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati
Atlanta Falcons vs Tennessee
Safeties
Tennessee Titans @ Atlanta
New Orleans vs Dallas
Washington @ New York Giants
New York Giants vs Washington
Cornerbacks
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona
Green Bay Packers vs 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
Sam Equavoen MIA
Anthony Walker IND
Eric Wilson MIN
Shaq Thompson CAR
Chandler Jones ARI
Mack Wilson CLE
Ryan Connelly NYG
DefensiveLinemen
Trey Flowers DE DET
Brian Burns DE CAR
Josh Allen DE JAX
Jonathan Hankins DT OAK
Defensive Backs
Minkah Fitzpatrick S PIT
Kemal Ishmael S ATL
Roderick Teamer S LAC
Jaire Alexander CB GB
Marshon Lattimore CB NO
Tre Flowers 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
Zeke Turner ARI hand
De’Vondre Campbell ATL ribs
Otaro Alaka BAL hamstring
Corey Thompson BUF ankle
Shaq Green-Thompson CAR knee
Adarius Tayloy CLE ankle
Christian Kirk sey CLE chest IR
Luke Gifford DAL ankle
Joe Jones DEN triceps
Josey Jewell DEN leg
Oren Burks GB chest
Za’Darius Smith GB knee
Kyler Fackrell GB shoulder
Darius Leonard IND concussion
D.J. Alexander JAX hamstring
James Crawford MIA knee
Anthony Barr MIN groin
Dont’a Hightower NE shoulder
Kaden Elliss NO knee IR
Alex Anzalone NO shoulder IR
Lorenzo Carter NYG elbow
Tae Davis NYG concussion
Alec Ogletree NYG hamstring
Jordan Jenkins NYJ calf
C.J. Mosley NYJ groin
Vontaze Burfict OAK elbow
Kyle Wilber OAK quadriceps
Nicholas Morrow OAK ankle
Marquel Lee OAK ankle IR
Vince Williams PIT hamstring
Anthony Chickillo PIT foot
Devante Bond TB hamstring
Devin White TB knee-MCL
Cassanova McKinzy WAS hip
Defensive Linemen
DE
Jonathan Bullard ARI hamstring
Takkarist McKinley ATL knee
Marquis Haynes CAR elbow
Bruce Irvin CAR hamstring
Roy Robertson-Harris CHI lower body
Sam Hubbard CIN foot
Kerry Wynn CIN concussion
Christian Covington DAL calf
Derek Wolfe DEN ankle
De’Shawn Hand DET elbow
Mike Daniels DET foot
Charles Omenihu HOU knee
Jabaal Sheard IND knee
Tyquan Lewis IND ankle
Lerentee McCray JAX hamstring
Trent Harris MIA foot
Michael Bennett NE shoulder
DT
Grady Jarrett ATL toe
Harrison Phillips BUF knee-ACL IR
Kawann Short CAR shoulder
Bilal Nichols CHI hand
Akiem Hicks CHI knee
Ryan Glasgow CIN thigh
Antwaun Woods DAL knee
Tyrone Crawford DAL hip
Montavius Adams GB shoulder
Al-Quadin Muhammmad IND neck
Sheldon Rankins NO Achilles
Olsen Pierre NYG knee
Quinnen Williams NYJ ankle
Timmy Jernigan PHI foot
Defensive Backs
S
Keanu Neal ATL Achilles IR
Brynden Trawick BAL elbow
Eddie Jackson CHI shoulder
Sheldrick Redwine CLE hamstring
Morgan Burnett CLE quadriceps
Xavier Woods DAL ankle
Rolan Milligan IND knee
Malik Hooker IND knee-meniscus
Bobby McCain MIA hamstring
Reshad Jones MIA ankle
Nate Ebner NE groin
Neiko Thorpe SEA hamstring
Tedric Thompson SEA hamstring
Bradley McDougald SEA ankle
Jamel Dean TB ankle
CB
Marlon Humphrey BAL hip
Jimmy Smith BAL knee
Tre’Davious White BUF neck
Taron Johnson BUF hamstring
Donte Jackson CAR groin
B.W. Webb CIN forearm
Denzel Ward CLE hamstring
Greedy Williams CLE hamstring
Bryce Callahan DEN foot
Darius Slay DET hamstring
Pierre Desir IND hamstring
Jalen Ramsey JAX back
Michael Davis LAC hamstring
Jomal Wiltz MIA groin
Mackensie Alexander MIN elbow
Ronald Darby PHI hamstring
Ahkello Witherspoon SF foot
Jimmie Ward SF hand
Quinton Dunbar WAS knee
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 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.