The trade deadline is coming up, and there is movement going on the league that makes for some interesting developments, as players head to contending squads and potentially better chances to show off their skills. Plus, it is always a great plan to swap out those IDPs that are underperforming (or on the sidelines with injuries) for your fantasy team(s). To that end, below are a number of options to consider adding while they are still widely available.
Bye Weeks coming up: Week 8-Arizona, Houston, Jacksonville, Washington; Week 9-Cincinnati, Cleveland, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia; Week 10-Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, New York Jets
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Vince Williams PIT
No Devin Bush for the Steelers, and Williams stepped up big time, despite not seeing a huge uptick in playing time (PT). He collected double digit total tackles (10 TT), with nine of the solo variety and two for a loss of yards (TFL). Add in a sack and a QB hit/hurry (QH) and you have a superb stat line for any LB’s weekly output. He did this against a mid-level IDP point allowing team in the form of Tennessee, so no reason to think that he cannot be productive when Pittsburgh heads to Baltimore in Week 8.
Eric Wilson MIN
Wilson is coming off a bye week, so his ownership percentage makes him imminently available to snatch up off the wire. He is not the best in tackle production but is an excellent option in big play leagues. He does put up an average of six TT per week, so do not discount his value in hybrid leagues, though, but it is the INT/Fumble production (FF/FF)/PD/sack production that fuels his worth as an IDP.
Kamal Martin GB
The rookie is ramping up his PT as his health returns, and he had six solo tackles in Week 7 while on the field for just 43% of the defensive snaps. So long as Krys Barnes and Christian Kirk sey are not on the field, he is a great LB2/3 option.
Wilson is a LB whose PT is steady, and allows him to contribute in IDP leagues week in, week out. He has had at least seven TT in each of the last three contests the Chiefs have played, although he is only useful in tackle-heavy scoring systems.
Defensive Linemen
Brandon Graham DE PHI
Graham has been around long enough that he should be winding down his production, but this season has seen him breakout big time in 2020. Against the visiting Giants, he contributed four TT (three solo, one TFL), to go along with a sack, a QH and a FF. he has six sacks on the season, and now gets to face the reeling Cowboys’ offense and their third-string QB at home.
Romeo Okwara DE DET
Okwara picked up a pair of sacks in Week 7, and added some more big-play benefits with a trio of QH, a FF and three solo tackles with one of those a TFL. Note that while his production of late will make him enticing, the next two matchups are poor for DE fantasy production and there is the recent addition of Everson Griffen by the Lions. He is an option in deeper leagues at this point.
Brian Burns DE CAR
The second-year player has turned into an all-around DL to employ in your IDP leagues. He collected seven TT against the host Saints last week, tossing in a strip sack of Drew Brees , a PD and a QH. The Thursday night matchup against the Falcons looks extremely tasty in Week 8.
Marcus Davenport DE NO
Davenport is likely to see his PT increase as the season progresses. He collected a sack in this second game back on the field, and also had a couple of tackles after being shut out in the department in his Week 5 debut. He has three midrange matchups on tap in terms of team offenses allowing defensive point production.
Defensive Backs
Rayshawn Jenkins S LAC
Jenkins provides a steady source of tackles, and led the team with eight TT in Week 7’s game against the visiting Jags. He has a superb matchup in store this week, when the Chargers head to Denver. The Broncos has been the most generous offense in allowing points to opposing safeties.
Daniel Sorensen S KC
Sorensen’s versatility lends itself to his extensive PT. He collected nine TT in Week 7, to go along with an INT that he returned for a TD. Loads of defensive snaps, with good tackle numbers and the occasional big play make him a steady producer on defense.
Ronnie Harrison S CLE
Nine TT (six solo) would be a nice bit of production, but he also had a PD, a FR and a sack against the in-state rival Bengals on the road in Week 7. This kind of defensive work should secure him steady if not increased defensive snaps for the Browns, although be advised he is on bye after this week’s contest at home against the Raiders, a mid-level squad in terms of allowing opposing safety IDP points.
Adrian Phillips S NE
Phillips was on the field a ton with Kyle Dugger’s ankle putting him on the sidelines. He had seven TT (six solos, one TFL) in Week 7. He has a top-five matchup in store with the Bills hosting the Pats in Week 8, so if you need bye-week or injury replacement help at safety, take a chance on him.
Trayvon Mullen CB LVR
Mullen has become the top CB for the Raiders, and is racking up prodigious tackle numbers in that role. He has collected 19 TT over his past three games, including nine in Week 7’s contest against the Buccaneers.
Malcolm Butler CB TEN
Another top tackle producing CB, Butler is averaging just over six solo tackles per contest through the six games he has played in 2020 (41 TT). He is coming up on a fantastic matchup against the Bengals, the most generous to opposing CBs this season to date.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Josey Jewell DEN
Jewell was highlighted in this article after breaking out big time in Week 4. Since then, though, he has been a major disappointment, and has a trio of sub-par matchups in store. Cut your losses and cut him.
Defensive Linemen
Geno Atkins DT CIN
Atkins has been relegated to backup duties in Cincy, and while it is possible he could be shipped out before the trade deadline arrives, he is certainly not useful in his current role.
Defensive Backs
Jaire Alexander CB GB
Alexander is a great real-life player, but awful for fantasy purposes as a shutdown corner. Teams are going to avoid him on the field, and thus, he is not a good source of fantasy point production.
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 Vikings, but certainly you will do well if you own a top DB on the Chargers that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Minnesota @ Green Bay
New Orleans @ Chicago
San Francisco @ Seattle
Defensive Ends
Philadelphia vs Dallas
New York Giants vs Tampa Bay
Atlanta @ Carolina
Seattle vs San Francisco
Defensive Tackles
Cincinnati vs Tennessee
Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver
Las Vegas @ Cleveland
Safeties
Denver vs Los Angeles Chargers
Atlanta @ Carolina
Indianapolis @ Detroit
Cornerbacks
Cincinnati vs Tennessee
Dallas @ Philadelphia
Denver vs Los Angeles Chargers
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
Vince Williams PIT
Eric Wilson MIN
Kamal Martin GB
Defensive Linemen
Brandon Graham DE PHI
Romeo Okwara DE DET
Brian Burns DE CAR
Marcus Davenport DE NO
Defensive Backs
Rayshawn Jenkins S LAC
Daniel Sorensen S KC
Ronnie Harrison S CLE
Adrian Phillips S NE
Trayvon Mullen CB LVR
Malcolm Butler CB TEN
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
Jordan Hicks ARI ankle
Isaiah Irving ARI back IR
Matt Milano BUF pectoral
Tyrel Dodson hamstring IR
Jacob Phillips CLE knee
Sean Lee DAL sports hernia IR
Derrek Tuszka DEN hamstring IR
Jeremiah Attaochu DEN quadriceps
Austin Calitro DEN hamstring IR
Mark Barron DEN hamstring IR
Krys Barnes GB shoulder
Christian Kirk sey GB pectoral IR
Peter Kalambayl HOU hamstring
Kyle Emanuel HOU concussion
Dakota Allen JAX ankle
Myles Jack JAX ankle
Tanner Muse LVR toe IR
Asmar Bilal LAC calf IR
Drue Tranquill LAC ankle IR
Brandon Copeland NE pectoral
Josh Uche NE foot IR
Chase Hansen NO hip IR
Oshane Ximines NYG shoulder IR
Jordan Jenkins NYJ ribs
Patrick Onwuasor NYJ knee IR
Devin Bush PIT knee-ACL
Kwon Alexander SF ankle
Mark Nzeocha SF quadriceps IR
Jadeveon Clowney TEN knee
Reuben Foster WAS knee IR
Montez Sweat WAS concussion
Defensive Linemen
DE
Zach Allen ARI ankle IR
Jordan Phillips ARI hamstring
Takkarist McKinley ATL groin
John Cominsky ATL illness IR-COVID
Jerry Hughes BUF foot
Myles Garrett CLE ankle
Everson Griffen DET undisclosed
Taco Charleton KC knee
Alex Okafor KC hamstring IR
Danielle Hunter MIN neck IR
John Simon NE shoulder
Jabari Zuniga NYJ quadriceps IR
Kyle Phillips NYJ ankle
Dee Ford SF neck IR
Carlos Dunlap SEA undisclosed
James Smith-Williams WAS concussion
DT
Quinton Jefferson BUF knee
Vernon Butler BUF groin
Zach Kerr CAR toe
Mike Purcell DEN foot IR
Tyler Lancaster GB shoulder
Abry Jones JAX ankle IR
Lawrence Guy NE ankle
Carl Davis NE concussion
Beau Allen NE undisclosed IR
Michael Barnett NE undisclosed IR
Hassan Ridgeway PHI biceps IR
Makik Jackson PHI quadriceps
Chris Wormley PIT knee
Defensive Backs
S
Jalen Thompson ARI ankle IR
Darqueze Dennard ATL hamstring IR
Micah Hyde BUF concussion
Darnell Strange GB quadriceps
Raven Greene GB oblique
A.J. Moore HOU hamstring IR
Jarrod Wilson JAX hamstring
Terrell Burgess LAR ankle
Bobby McCain MIA ankle
George Iloka MIN knee-ACL IR
Kyle Dugger NE ankle
Cody Davis NE ribs IR
Adrian Colbert NYG shoulder
K’Von Wallace PHI shoulder
Jordan Dangerfield PIT quadriceps
Jaquiski Tartt SF groin
Jimmie Ward SF quadriceps
Jamal Adams SEA groin
Dane Cruikshank TEN groin
Landon Collins WAS Achilles IR
CB
Anthony Averett BAL shoulder IR
Josh Norman BUF hamstring
Cam Lewis BUF wrist
Rasul Douglas CAR illness IR-COVID
Michael Joseph CHI undisclosed IR-COVID
William Jackson CIN concussion
Chidobe Awuzie DAL hamstring IR
Rashard Robinson DAL undisclosed
Desmond Trufant DET hamstring
Justin Coleman DET hamstring IR
Kevin King GB quadriceps
Kabion Ento GB undisclosed IR
Bradley Roby HOU knee
Sidney Jones JAX back
D.J. Hayden JAX hamstring IR
L’Jarius Sneed KC collarbone IR
Keisean Nixon LVR hip
Chris Harris LAC foot IR
Jamal Perry MIA foot
Ken Crawley NO illness IR-COVID
Darnay Holmes NYG neck
Arthur Maulet NYJ groin IR
Craig James PHI hamstring
Mike Hilton PIT shoulder
Shaquill Griffin SEA concussion
Johnathan Joseph TEN illness
Tye Smith TEN shoulder
Kristian Fulton TEN knee
Adoree’ Jackson TEN knee 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.