With the conclusion of this week’s action, we will be half way through the fantasy football season. Just a couple of hiccups so far, knock on wood. Now is the time to pick up your action, replacing those deadwood draft picks that just are panning out for you, and finding replacements that will potentially propel your squad into the playoffs. So, let us take a gander at those up and coming options in the IDP world.
Bye Weeks coming up: Week 7-Baltimore, Indianapolis, Miami, Minnesota; Week 8-Arizona, Houston, Jacksonville, Washington; Week 9-Cincinnati, Cleveland, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Malik Reed DEN
Note that Reed is listed as a DE on ESPN, and getting a LB at DE is a bonus generally. Especially as he is coming off a five total tackle effort (TT) with three solos, and two for a loss of yardage (TFL). He also contributed a pair of sacks against the host Patriots, with a trio of QB hits/hurries (QH). Not bad for a LB but superb for a DL.
Ja’Whaun Bentley NE
On the other side of the field in the game in Foxboro, Bentley also had a fine game, racking up 12 TT (eight solo, two TFL) against the Broncos. He chipped in a half a sack and a pair of QH to fill out his stat line. He has a great matchup this coming week, taking on the 49ers at home.
Alex Singleton PHI
Singleton is beginning to pick up the pace, coming off a nine TT effort at home against the Ravens, with four solo tackles. He is seeing his playing time (PT) increase as the season progresses, so in tackle-heavy leagues, he is gaining value.
Devin White TB
Green Bay’s offense struggled against a tenacious Tampa Bay defense in Week 6, and White rebounded with a double-digit tackle effort (nine solo, three TFL). He also collected a pair of QH and a sack of Aaron Rodgers . The production could level off against this week against the Raiders, but then he has the Giants on tap for another potential big game.
Dre Greenlaw SF
Greenlaw will be a useful LB so long as Kwon Alexander is dealing with his high ankle sprain. He was credited with seven solos in Week 6 against the visiting Rams (one TFL), and the Patriots are a mid-level opponent for LB point production in Week 7.
Robert Spillane PIT
Our final LB this time around, Spillane is taking on an every down LB role for the Steelers, now that Devin Bush is gone for the balance of the season. If he can hold onto that role in the Pittsburgh defense, he should be a good source of tackles going forward.
Defensive Linemen
Melvin Ingram DE LAC
Ingram is expected to be activated for the Week 7 contest against the Jaguars, and even with his snap count being limited, he is a force on defense. He is also owned in just a handful of leagues, and this is the ideal time to snap him up before your fellow owners realize he is back in action.
Jeffrey Simmons DT TEN
If you are in need of a DT in those mandatory leagues, Simmons has a mid-level matchup in Week 7, but then has two great opportunities with the Bengals and Bears on the schedule. He contributed big time against the visiting Texans last week: six TT (four solo, one TFL), a sack and two QH. The big play and tackle production is a huge bonus from a DT.
Defensive Backs
Khari Willis S IND
Willis put up 10 TT, all solos, against the Bengals in Week 6. He also added a pass deflection (PD). He is on bye in Week 7, unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately since any owner that has snapped him up may be forced to let him drop this week.
Terrence Mitchell CB CLE
Week 7 sees the Browns heading to the Queen City, and the Bengals are yielding the most points to opposing CBs of any NFL franchise this season to date. Mitchell is an every down DB, so this is an ideal matchup for him.
Michael Ojemodia CB DEN
The rookie stepped into a starting role due to injury, and is coming off a big week with seven solo tackles and a pair of forced fumbles (FF) as well as PD against the host Patriots. Week 7 has a good home contest against the Chiefs, who rank 8th in terms of points allowed to opposing CBs on the season.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
None to write about this week, except for those in the Injury Report below.
Defensive Linemen
Carlos Dunlap DE CIN
His role on the defensive line for the Bengals makes him a liability in your IDP lineup. He collected a single solo tackle in Week 6, and there are much better options to feature going forward.
Dante Fowler , Jr. DE ATL
Mimicking the player discussed just above, Fowler managed to post just a single solo in his most recent effort. Recent production has been lacking, with just five TT over is last four games played.
Ryan Kerrigan DE WAS
He put up what could be considered a decent stat line last week, with a sack and QH, at least in big-play leagues, but a single solo tackle, albeit for a loss of yards, is not going to cut it. Especially with other teammates putting up much better production, such as Chase Young and Montez Sweat .
Defensive Backs
Harrison Smith S MIN
Smith’s star is not shining bright, with Week 6 delivering just two solo tackles for his owners. In fact, he has just four TT (three solo) over his last two games despite playing 133 snaps over that period.
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 Cowboys, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the 49ers, a DT or CB on the Browns or a safety on the Lions that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Washington vs Dallas
San Francisco @ New England
Defensive Ends
Philadelphia vs New York Giants
Seattle @ Arizona
Defensive Tackles
Cincinnati vs Cleveland
Las Vegas vs Tampa Bay
Safeties
Atlanta vs Detroit
New England vs San Francisco
Buffalo @ New York Jets
Cornerbacks
Cincinnati vs Cleveland
Dallas @ 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
Malik Reed DEN
Ja’Whaun Bentley NE
Alex Singleton PHI
Devin White TB (Owned in 61.9% of ESPN leagues, “just” 48% of Yahoo leagues)
Dre Greenlaw SF
Robert Spillane PIT
Defensive Linemen
Melvin Ingram DE LAC
Jeffrey Simmons DT TEN
Defensive Backs
Khari Willis S IND
Terrence Mitchell CB CLE
Michael Ojemodia CB DEN
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
Kylie Fitts ARI hamstring
Chandler Jones ARI biceps IR
Otaro Alaka BAL knee IR
Tyrel Dodson BUF hamstring
Matt Milano BUF pectoral
Del’Shawn Phillips BUF quadriceps IR
Jacob Phillips CLE knee
Jeremiah Attaochu DEN quadriceps
Mark Barron DEN hamstring IR
Kamal Martin GB knee-meniscus IR
Peter Kalambayi HOU hamstring
Bernardrick McKinney HOU shoulder IR
Darius Leonard IND groin
Matthew Adams IND ankle IR
Myles Jack JAX ankle
Tanner Muse LVR toe IR
Asmar Bilal LAC calf IR
Uchenna Nwosu LAC undisclosed
Obo Okoronkwo LAR elbow IR
Kyle Van Noy MIA groin
Andrew Van Ginkel MIA concussion
Kamu Grugier-Hill MIA hand
Troy Dye MIN foot IR
Chase Hansen NO hip IR
Tae Crowder NYG hamstring IR
Lorenzo Carter NYG Achilles IR
Oshane Ximines NYG shoulder IR
Frankie Luvu NYJ groin IR
Patrick Onwuasor NYJ knee IR
Duke Riley PHI ribs
T.J. Edwards PHI hamstring IR
Devin Bush PIT knee-ACL
Kwon Alexander SF ankle
Jordan Brooks SEA knee-MCL
Jack Cichy TB hamstring IR
Reuben Foster WAS knee IR
Defensive Linemen
DE
Takkarist McKinley ATL groin
John Cominsky ATL illness IR- COVID
Derek Wolfe BAL concussion
Yetur Gross-Matos CAR ankle IR
Sam Hubbard CIN elbow IR
DeMarcus Walker DEN calf IR
Josh Allen JAX knee
Josh Mauro JAX illness IR-COVID
Alex Okafor KC hamstring
Michael Danna Kc hamstring IR
Carl Nassib LVR toe
Melvin Ingram LAC knee IR
Joey Bosa LAC ankle
Danielle Hunger MIN neck IR
Derek Rivers NE illness IR-COVID
Jabari Zuniga NYJ quadriceps IR
Ezekiel Ansah SF biceps IR
DT
Richard Lawrence ARI calf IR
Marlon Davidson ATL illness IR-COVID
Brandon Williams BAL illness IR-COVID
Kawann Short CAR shoulder IR
D.J. Reader CIN quadriceps IR
Trysten Hill DAL knee-ACL IR
Tyler Lancaster GB shoulder
Abry Jones JAX ankle
Khalen Saunders KC elbow
Michael Danna KC hamstring IR
Maliek Collins LVR shoulder
Justin Jones LAC shoulder IR
Raekwon Davis MIA shoulder
Davon Godchaux MIA biceps IR
Byron Cowart NE illness IR-COVID
Adam Butler NE elbow
Michael Barnett NE undisclosed IR
Beau Allen NE undisclosed IR
Malik Jackson PHI quadriceps
Anthony Bush SEA knee
Khalil Davis TB ankle
Vita Vea TB ankle IR
Defensive Backs
S
Jalen Thompson ARI ankle IR
Jaylinn Hawkins ATL concussion
Damontae Kazee ATL Achilles IR
Anthony Levine BAL abdomen
Juston Burris CAR ribs IR
Deon Bush CHI hamstring
Karl Joseph CLE hamstring
Ronnie Harrison CLE concussion
Parry Nickerson GB hamstring IR
Darnell Savage GB quadriceps
Jarrod Wilson JAX hamstring
Andrew Wingard JAX abdomen IR
Lamarcus Joyner LVR hamstring
Jordan Fuller LAR neck IR
Holton Hill MIN foot
Kris Boyd MIN hamstring
Myles Dorn MIN undisclosed IR
Justin Hardee NO hamstring
Adrian Colbert NYG shoulder
Marcus Epps PHI ribs
K’Von Wallace PHI shoulder
Rudy Ford PHI hamstring IR
Jaquiski Tartt SF groin
Jamal Adams SEA groin
Lano Hill SEA back
Dane Cruikschank TEN undisclosed
CB
Anthony Averett BAL upper body
Cam Lewis BUF wrist
Lovi Wallace BUF ankle IR
Eli Apple CAR ankle IR
Eli Apple CAR hamstring IR
Greedy Williams CLE shoulder IR
Chidobe Awuzie DAL hamstring IR
A.J. Bouye DEN shoulder IR
Desmond Trufant DET hamstring
Mike Ford DET leg IR
Justin Coleman DET hamstring IR\
Kevin King GB quadriceps
Kabion Ento GB undisclosed IR
Gafeon Conley HOU ankle IR
Cornell Armstrong HOU knee
D.J. Hayden JA hamstring
Damon Arnette LVR thumb IR-COVID
Keisen Nixon LVR hip
Casey Hayward LAR undisclosed
Mike Hughes MIN neck
Janoris Jenkins NO shoulder
Darnay Holmes NYG neck
Arthur Maulet NYJ groin IR
Avonte Maddoz PHI ankle
Mike Hilton PIT shoulder
Dontae Johnson SF groin
Richard Sherman SF calf IR
K’Waun Williams SF knee-ACL IR
Neiko Thorpe SEA sports hernia IR
Adoree’ Jackson TEN knee 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.