Another week with four byes but, fortunately, there are a number of options to consider to fill in for those starters on defense that are absent in Week 7, especially in the defensive backfield. The linebacking corps are well stocked with replacements, as well, although if you are seeking a DT, good luck.
Bye Weeks coming up: Week 7 Carolina, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay; Week 8 Baltimore, Dallas; Week 9 Atlanta, Cincinnati, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Alec Ogletree NYG
Ogletree returned from his hamstring issue, and made a huge splash in the IDP ranks, totaling 12 total tackles (TT), nine solos, with two for loss of yardage (TFL). He also sacked Tom Brady and hit/hurried him twice (QH). He was helped by the fact that the Pats’ offense provided a huge number of tackle opportunities (68 if you are counting) but the Giant defense should continue to provide ample playing time that will result in nice IDP stat lines.
Germaine Pratt CIN
Pratt’s playing time (PT) has been increasing of late, and he has the skill set to become a three-down IDP in the future. In Week 6, he racked up six TT (five solo) while playing in just 38% of the snaps on defense. While you may not want to pick him up immediately, he is someone to keep on your watch list in the event the Bengals decide to significantly increase his role going forward.
Nick Vigil CIN
Vigil has been a consistent tackle producer over the past couple of seasons, and has rolled up 37 TT over the past three games. He had 10 solos last week against the Ravens, and this week’s opponent, the Jaguars, should provide similar tackle opportunities.
Najee Goode JAX
Goode was inserted as the primary weakside LB in Week 6, and while he has limited upside, the floor is certainly there to provide LB3 production. He had six TT last contest (four solo, one TFL). He also added big play stats, too, with a sack, a QH and a pass deflection (PD). Week 7 sees the Bengals on the schedule, the fifth most generous team in terms of points allowed to opposing LBs.
Drue Tranquill LAC
As with the Bengals’ Pratt above, the Charger rookie has been seeing his PT grow over the past several weeks. He is trending toward becoming a three-down LB, and his somewhat pedestrian stat lines will see an uptick as a result.
Nate Gerry PHI
The Eagles released Zach Brown , and Nigel Bradham is listed as questionable for the Week 7 matchup against the Cowboys, making Gerry a potential bye-week fill-in for your IDP squad. His snap count should be significant, and the Week 8 matchup against the Bills looks especially tasty, so perhaps waiting a week to add him would be prudent as Dallas is not a particularly exciting matchup.
Wesley Woodyard TEN
His presence on defense should increase due to the injury sidelining Jayon Brown , and he is slated to be a three-down LB in his replacement role. He is coming off a 6 TT effort (five solo, two TFL) with a sack in last week’s contest against the Broncos. He is a fine fill-in for those dealing with injury or bye week issues in filling out their IDP roster.
Defensive Linemen
Robert Quinn DE DAL
Quinn picked up a pair of sacks in Week 6’s contest at the Meadowlands against the host Jets. He added two solo tackles (two TFL) with a couple of QH added in to provide icing on the cake.
Justin Houston DE IND
Houston may be available after his bye in Week 6, and he does have a couple of sacks on the season. He is a solid tackle producer as well, and facing the Texans this week should provide for good results, as they are the fifth best team for opposing DEs to take on through the first six weeks of the season.
Jerry Hughes DE BUF
Hughes has not registered a sack since Week 1, but he gets to take on the Miami offensive line that has allowed 23 sacks thus far this season (five games) and a whopping 48 QH over that same timeframe. He is coming off a bye, so his ownership percentage should be low.
Defensive Backs
Tashaun Gipson , Sr. S HOU
Gipson has picked off a pass in each of the last two games, and also added a PD in each of those contests, so he offers big play potential for his owners. He also added five TT (three solo) against the Week 6 opponent, the Chiefs.
Rodney McLeod S PHI
An eight-year veteran, McLeod has three great matchups on the slate before the Eagles have a bye in Week 10, taking on the Cowboys and Bills on the road, then hosting the Bears. He is an every down player at the free safety position, and will provide consistent fantasy production as a result of the extensive PT on defense.
Maurice Canady CB BAL
Canady has moved from special teams performer to the defensive backfield in Baltimore due to injuries, and he is looking good. He is coming off a nine solo tackle effort with one PD against the visiting Bengals. Be advised that the Ravens are on bye next week, so if you pick him up be prepared to stash him away in Week 8.
Tre Herndon CB JAX
With the trade of Jalen Ramsey , it seems obvious that Jacksonville likes what it sees with Herndon. Teams will continue to target Herndon and avoid A.J. Bouye on the other side of the field, so efforts like his nine TT (six solo, one TFL) effort in Week 6 against the Saints will be the norm.
Patrick Peterson CB ARI
Now that he has served his six-game suspension for a PED violation, Peterson should step back into his starting role on defense in the desert for the Cardinals. Just remember the old adage that the best CBs in football are better in real life than fantasy, as opposing offenses will target the opposite corner position.
Brian Poole CB NYJ
The Jets employ Poole as a nickel back on defense, and as he patrols the middle of the field, he picks up tackles as though he were another safety rather than a cornerback. He is coming off a nine TT effort in Week 6 (eight solos), and should see significant action facing off against the Patriots in Week 7.
Quinton Dunbar CB WAS
Washington’s’ defense sees significant playing time due to an inefficient offensive effort this season, and Dunbar has been putting up big-play production with three INT and four PD over the past three games he has participated in this season. In CB-mandatory leagues, he is a consistent point producer.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Ryan Kerrigan WAS
Despite extensive defensive snaps played, he is extraordinarily disappointing this season. He has a mere eight TT to his credit (to be fair, he has picked up 1.5 sacks) and thus, should not be on any IDP rosters.
Defensive Linemen
Michael Bennett DE NE
Bennett is suspended this week, but even if he were taking the field, he is not worthy of a spot in your IDP lineup. His snap count has been trending south, and he is simply not providing much in the way of tackles or other fantasy production.
Defensive Backs
Eli Apple CB NO
Apple has had just one week where he provided more than three TT over the course of his time on the field, and that occurred way back in Week 2. He faces a tough matchup this week in the Bears, then the Saints are on bye, so cut him loose now.
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 Colts, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the Raiders, Giants or Green Bay that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Buffalo Bills
New England Patriots
Denver Broncos
Defensive Ends
New York Jets
Tennessee Titans
Seattle Seahawks
Defensive Tackles
Tennessee Titans
Miami Dolphins
Safeties
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
San Francisco 49ers
Cornerbacks
Miami Dolphins
Cincinnati Bengals
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
Alec Ogletree NYG
Germaine Pratt CIN
Nick Vigil CIN
Najee Goode JAX
Drue Tranquill LAC
Nate Gerry PHI
Wesley Woodyard TEN
Defensive Linemen
Robert Quinn DE DAL
Justin Houston DE IND
Jerry Hughes DE BUF
Defensive Backs
Tashaun Gipson , Sr. S HOU
Rodney McLeod S PHI
Maurice Canady CB BAL
Tre Herndon CB JAX
Patrick Peterson CB ARI
Brian Poole CB NYJ
Quinton Dunbar CB WAS
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
Zeke Turner ARI hamstring
Patrick Onwuasor BAL ankle
Otaro Alka BAL Hamstring IR
Corey Thompson BUF ankle
Matt Milano BUF hamstring
Christian Miller CAR ankle
Joel Iyiegbuniwe CHI hamstring
Willie Harvey CLE shoulder IR
Zaire Franklin IND hamstring
Clay Matthews LAR jaw
Ben Gedeon MIN concussion
Kentrell Brothers MIN hamstring
Dont’a Hightower NE shoulder
C.J. Mosley NYJ groin
Albert McClellan NYJ concussion
Nigel Bradham PHI ankle
T.J. Watt PIT undisclosed
Mark Barron PIT hamstring
Jack Cichy TB elbow
Sharif Finch TEN shoulder
Cameron Wake TEN hamstring
Jayon Brown TEN groin
Josh Harvey-Clemons WAS hamstring
Defensive Linemen
DE
Zach Allen ARI neck
Takkarist McKinley ATL groin
Trent Murphy BUF concussion
Kerry Wynn CIN concussion IR
Carlos Dunlap CIN knee
Dorance Armstrong DAL neck
Derek Wolfe DEN hip
Da’Shawn Hand DET elbow
Mike Daniels DET foot
Kemoko Turay IND ankle IR
Tyquan Lewis IND ankle
Chris Jones KC groin
Melvin Ingram LAC hamstring
Avery Moss MIA leg
Michael Bennett NE suspension
Trey Hendrickson NO neck
Henry Anderson NYJ shoulder-AC joint
John Franklin-Myers NYJ undisclosed
Clelin Ferrell OAK concussion
Stephon Tuitt PIT pectoral IR
DT
Akiem Hicks CHI elbow IR
Bilal Nichols CHI hand
Ryan Glasgow CIN thigh
Daniel Ekuale CLE concussion
Tyrone Crawford DAL hip IR
Olsen Pierre NYG concussion
Quinnen Williams NYJ hamstring
Timothy Jernigan PHI foot
D.J. Jones SF hamstring
Defensive Backs
S
Charles Washington ARI shoulder
Blidi Wren-Wilson ATL groin
Johnathan Cyprien ATL foot IR
DeShon Elliott BAL knee
Tony Jefferson BAL knee-ACL IR
Brynden Trawick BAL elbow IR
Natrell Jamerson CAR foot
Damarious Randall CLE leg
Duke Dawson DEN foot
Quandre Diggs DET hamstring
Darnell Savage GB ankle
Tony Brown GB hamstring
Malik Hooker IND knee-meniscus
Rolan Milligan IND knee
Cody Davis JAX hamstring
Nasir Adderley LAC hamstring
John Johnson LAR shoulder
Ken Webster MIA leg
Patrick Chung S chest
Sam Beal NYG hamstring IR
Corey Ballentine NYG concussion
K’Waun Williams SF hand
Jason Verette SF knee
Jordan Whitehead TB arm
Deshazor Everett WAS ankle
CB
Desmond Trufant ATL toe
Maurice Canady BAL hamstring
Jimmy Smith BAL knee-MCL
Taron Johnson BUF hamstring
Donte Jackson CAR groin
William Jackson CIN shoulder
Dre Kirkpatrick CIN knee
Greedy Williams CLE hamstring
Denzel Ward CLE hamstring
Anthony Brown DAL hamstring
Bryce Callahan DEN foot
DeVante Bausby DEN neck IR
Amani Oruwariye DET knee
Johnathan Joseph HOU wrist
Bradley Roby HOU hamstring
Shakial Taylor IND chest
Jalen Ramsey JAX back
Kendall Fuller KC thumb
Aqib Talib LAR ribs
Xavien Howard MIA knee
Nate Hairston NYJ knee
Isaiah Johnson OAK concussion IR
Ronald Darby PHI hamstring
Avonte Maddox PHI concussion
Steven Nelson PIT groin
Joe Haden PIT groin
Ahkello Witherspoon SF foot
Richard Sherman SF shoulder
Chris Milton TEN calf
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.