As the injuries mount, it becomes increasingly necessary to locate those waiver wire gems that are owned in few leagues that can fill in the open slots in your IDP roster(s). Not a single CB to suggest this week, sad to say, but plenty of LBs and DEs to consider. Plus, be prepared for next week when the bye weeks step up from two teams to four that are idle.
Bye Weeks coming up: Week 5: Detroit, Miami; Week 6: Buffalo, Chicago, Indianapolis, Oakland; Week 7: Carolina, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
De’Vondre Campbell ATL
Campbell did not seem at all hindered by his rib issue that limited his practice prior to the Week Four contest against the visiting Titans, rolling up with 17 total tackles (TT), seven of those of the solo variety and two for a loss of yards (TFL). He also contributed some big plays with two forced fumbles (FF).
Rashaan Evans TEN
On the other side of the field in Week Four, Evans continued to shine, despite seeing a decrease in snaps on defense due to Atlanta’s reliance on their passing attack to get back into the game. He did collect half a sack, and two QB hurries/hits (QH) to go with his 10 TT (five solo), and his efforts helped hold Devonta Freeman to just 28 yards.
Mychal Kendricks SEA
Kendricks picked up a pair of sacks as a blitzing LB against the Cardinals in Week Four, to go along with a pair of QH. He also contributed with six TT (five solo, two TFL) and is seeing plenty of PT with the Seahawks favoring a 4-3 defensive scheme primarily.
Eric Kendricks MIN
The Viking LB is posting numbers we have not seen since his rookie season back in 2015. He has 33 TT on the season after collecting a dozen against the division-rival Bears in Week Four’s contest. In tackle-oriented leagues, he is once again a valued IDP.
Todd Davis DEN
Davis put up double digit tackles against the Jags in Week Four, with 12 TT (seven solo) and also adding in a QH to avoid being a tackle-only IDP option. After missing the season’s first two games, he has become essentially an every-down LB for the Broncos, and as such, should be considered for your roster, especially with the bye weeks ramping up soon.
Nicholas Morrow OAK
Morrow figures to benefit tremendously due to the suspension of linebacker Vontaze Burfict , sliding into an outside LB slot. He is coming off a seven TT effort with a PD tossed in to pump up his value. A three-down LB on a bad team generally puts up better than respectable IDP numbers.
Nick Kwiatkoski CHI
So long as Roquan Smith is absent from the field dealing with personal issues, Kwiatkoski looks to step in as a starting LB for the Bears. In that role against the Vikings in Week Four, he contributed big time with nine TT (eight solo) together with a sack and FF. Be advised that while starting, he is playing just over 50% of the snaps while the Chicago defense is on the field, which makes him more a bye-week fill in than a regular starter.
Defensive Linemen
John Simon DE NE
Simon has seen his playing time on defense increase steadily over the past three games, and he contributed with a sack and six TT (five solo, one TFL), as well as tossing in a pair of QH and a pass deflection (PD).
Taco Charlton DE MIA
Charlton is on bye in Week Five, which means that if you have the room, he is sneaky pickup for your IDP ranks. He is coming off a six TT (four solo, one TFL) effort against the visiting Chargers, a game where he also contributed with a sack and two QH.
Ezekiel Ansah DE SEA
Ansah has always been productive when on the field, and has stayed upright so far this season, making him a valued fantasy DL. He had five solo tackles (one TFL) against the host Cardinals in Week Four, along with a sack and pair of QH to boost his production in big play leagues.
Nick Williams DE CHI
The Bear DE has been increasing his time on the gridiron as the season progresses, and has been improving his fantasy value with that development. He had seven TT (two TFL) against the visiting Vikings last week, netting a pair of sacks and QH both, plus recovering a fumble (FR) to further enhance his desirability for IDP owners.
Bruce Irvin DE CAR
Note that Irvin only has LB eligibility in ESPN leagues, but has dual LB/DL status in Yahoo. If you can grab him on that platform, though, having a LB who you can slot in at DL is huge advantage. In his first action of the season, he was credited with a sack and three TT, plus he has a good matchup against the Jaguars in Week Five on tap.
Derrick Nnadi DT KC
Our sole DT this week, the Chief defensive tackle showed some pass defense skills, with a sack of Matthew Stafford . He also added an FF and eight TT (five solo). He is a fine pickup in leagues that mandate use of a DT IDP
Defensive Backs
Jordan Whitehead S CLE
The Cleveland defensive back got the start due to Morgan Burnett ’s place on the sidelines, and produced with both tackles (eight TT, seven solo) and big plays: one INT, one FF, and a PD. So long as he is seeing significant playing time, he is worth employing on your defensive squad.
Justin Reid S HOU
Reid was a tackle monster against the Panthers, collecting 10 TT, nine of those being solos. His tackle numbers make him a dependable defensive back who provides consistent fantasy production week in, week out, averaging better than eight TT per contest early this season.
Khari Willis S IND
The Colts could be without both Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers , making Willis the next man up to see consistent snaps on defense. He had nine TT in Week Four (eight solo, one TFL) and also put up a PD against the visiting Raiders. His matchup against the Chiefs is not superb, and the week after that is the bye for the Colts, but things do get rosier on the schedule after that if he is still starting.
Eric Weddle S LAR
The veteran free safety continues to provide consistent production from the defensive backfield. In Week Four, he collected 15 TT against the Buccaneers, albeit in an offensive shootout of a game unlikely to be duplicated many times in 2019. He also had a couple of PDs in the loss to Tampa Bay.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Vontaze Burfict OAK
This seemed inevitable, given his past behavior, but the league has suspended Burfict for the balance of the season. The linebacker is extraordinarily productive when on the field, but seems to continually miss time due to his own acts.
Defensive Linemen
None to write about this week, except for those populating the Injury Report below.
Defensive Backs
Vernon Hargreaves III CB TB
The veteran defensive back has accrued just three solo tackles in his last two contests. That sort of production makes him worthy of being subtracted from any roster where he is taking up space. Racking up just two solo tackles in a wide-open game where the opposing offense threw 68 passes is unacceptable.
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 Panthers or Browns, but certainly you will do well if you own a top DL on the Buffalo that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Carolina Panthers vs Jacksonville
Cleveland Browns @ San Francisco
Arizona Cardinals @ Cincinnati
Defensive Ends
Tennessee Titans vs Buffalo
Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams
New York Jets @ Philadelphia
Defensive Tackles
Cincinnati Bengals vs Arizona
Tennessee Titans vs Buffalo
Safeties
Atlanta Falcons @ Houston
Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay
Washington vs New England
Cornerbacks
Arizona Cardinals @ Cincinnati
Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Jets
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. Not all the players commented on are here, however, as there is no need to waste your time searching for players that are heavily owned. 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
De’Vondre Campbell ATL
Rashaan Evans TEN
Mychal Kendricks SEA
Eric Kendricks MIN
Todd Davis DEN
Nicholas Morrow OAK
Nick Kwiatkoski CHI
Defensive Linemen
John Simon DE NE
Taco Charlton DE MIA
Ezekiel Ansah DE SEA
Nick Williams DE CHI
Bruce Irvin DE CAR (Yahoo only, he is a LB in ESPN leagues)
Derrick Nnadi DT KC
Defensive Backs
Jordan Whitehead S CLE
Justin Reid S HOU
Khari Willis S IND
Eric Weddle S LAR
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
Dennis Gardeck ARI ankle
Otaro Alaka BAL hamstring IR
Corey Thompson BUF ankle
Roquan Smith CHI personal
Willie Harvey CLE shoulder
Christian Kirk sey CLE chest IR
Luke Gifford DAL ankle
Bradley Chubb DEN knee-ACL IR
Joe Jones DEN triceps
Josey Jewell DEN hamstring
Oren Burks GB chest
Darius Leonard IND concussion
D.J. Alexander JAX hamstring
Damien Wilson KC concussion
Bryce Hager LAR shoulder
James Crawford MIA knee IR
Kentrell Brothers MIN wrist
Dont’a Hightower NE shoulder
Kaden Elliss NO knee IR
Tae Davis NYG concussion
Ryan Connelly NYG knee-ACL IR
Alec Ogletree NYG hamstring
Lorenzo Carter NYG neck
C.J. Mosley NYJ groin
Jordan Jenkins NYJ calf
Vontaze Burfict OAK suspension-out for the season
Marquel Lee OAK ankle IR
Anthony Chickillo PIT foot
Vince Williams PIT hamstring
Jack Cichy TB elbow
Devin White TB knee-MCL
Cameron Wake TEN hamstring
Ryan Anderson WAS elbow
Defensive Linemen
DE
Zach Allen ARI shoulder
Brandon Williams AL knee
Kerry Wynn CIN concussion
Carl Lawson CIN hamstring
Da’Shawn Hand DET elbow
Mike Daniels DET foot
Charles Onemihu HOU knee
Tyquan Lewis IND ankle
Alex Okafor KC hip
Melvin Ingram LAC hamstring
Trey Hendrickson NO neck
Clelin Ferrell OAK concussion
Cameron Heyward PIT quadriceps
DT
Harrison Phillips BUF knee-ACL IR
Kawann Short CAR shoulder IR
Bilal Nichols CHI hand
Akiem Hicks CHI knee
Ryan Glasgow CIN thigh
Antwaun Woods DAL knee
Tyrone Crawford DAL hip
Montravius Adams GB shoulder
Quinnen Williams NYJ ankle
Timmy Jernigan PHI foot
Defensive Backs
S
Charles Washington ARI shoulder
Blidi Wreh-Wilson ATL groin
Keanu Neal ATL Achilles IR
Brynden Trawick BAL elbow
Dean Marlowe BUF concussion
Eric Reid CAR ankle
Sheldrick Redwine CLE hamstring
Morgan Burnett CLE quadriceps
Kavon Frazier DAL pectoral IR
Kareem Jackson DEN hamstring
Quandre Diggs DET hamstring
Tony Brown GB hamstring
Malik Hooker IND knee-meniscus
Clayton Geathers IND concussion
Ronnie Harrison JAX knee
Taylor Rapp LAR ankle
Bobby McCain MIA hamstring
Jamel Dean TB ankle
CB
Jimmy Smith BAL knee
Taron Johnson BUF hamstring
Donte Jackson CAR groin
Darius Phillips CIN knee IR
Denzel Ward CLE hamstring
Greedy Williams CLE hamstring
Bryce Callahan DEN foot
Darius Slay DET hamstring
Will Redmond GB undisclosed
Kevin King GB groin
Jalen Ramsey JAX back
Jomal Wiltz MIA groin
Ronald Darby PHI hamstring
Avonte Maddox PHI neck
Sidney Jones PHI hamstring
Ahkello Witherspoon SF foot
Jimmie Ward SF hand
Fabian Moreau 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 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.