Playoffs have arrived, and if you have avoided the consolation bracket, it is full time to keep your eyes on the waiver wire and free agent market to provide for injury replacement and/or swapping out underperforming members of your IDP rosters. This is the opportunity to bolster your squad(s) and seek out fantasy football glory in the form of a league championship trophy. Let’s examine the multitude of available defensive players that have popped up on the IDP radar this week. Here is the NFL Week 15 IDP Report for fantasy football lineups. 

 

Fantasy Football IDP Risers – Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lloyd is one of the players being profiled that has some significant ownership, so if you play with other savvy owners in your league, he may be gone. If he is still dangling for you to pick up, however, this LB is a tackle-producing machine, with 11 total tackles (TT) to his credit in five of the 10 games he has taken the field for this season. Do not hesitate to snag him, as he has a lovely matchup in store when the Jags host the Ravens in Week 15.

Jahlani Tavai, New England Patriots

The five-year veteran LB was patrolling all over the field in Week 14, corralling 15 TT (eight solo). He is not much for producing big-plays, although he does chip in a pass deflection/defense (PD) on occasion, but in a tackle-oriented format, he can form a nice LB3 IDP for your team. He has a so-so matchup this week, but things brighten considerably in Week 16 when the Pats head to the Mile High City, home of the Broncos.

Christian Harris, Houston Texans

Another linebacker coming off a week where he collected double-digit tackles (10 TT, seven solo). He also contributed a forced fumble (FF) on the big play front against the host Jets in a loss. His viability as a starting LB on IDP squads is dependent on the status of Blake Cashman and his balky hamstring.

Tyrel Dodson, Buffalo Bills

Dodson has stepped up to serve as a primary force in the Buffalo linebacking corps, playing the majority of snaps last week and grabbing eight TT (six solo). So long as the Bills are relying primarily on Terrel Bernard and Dodson to patrol the defense, he is a viable option to shore up your defense.

K.J. Britt, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

So long as the Bucs are without Devin White due to his foot issue, Britt looks to be the LB they are turning to for a majority of the defensive snaps alongside veteran Lavonte David. Britt snagged eight tackles in Week 14’s contest (four solo). He does have the worst possible matchup with a trip to Green Bay on tap, but Week 16 favors him with an opportunity to face off against the most-generous offense in terms of allowing fantasy IDP points, the Jacksonville Jaguars…presuming White has not supplanted him by then.

Defensive Linemen

Byron Young, DE Los Angeles Rams

Young broke through with a sack this past contest, against the host Ravens. He also had a couple of solo tackles in that game, which is not much to crow about, truth be told, but they do count on the stat sheet. He has a superb matchup in line with the Commanders coming to town in Week 15.

Nick Herbig, DE Pittsburgh Steelers

Herbig could see significant playing time (PT) if either or both Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt occupy the Injury Report in Week 15. Stepping in for Highsmith in last week’s effort, he produced seven TT (five solo, one TFL). His potential is injury opportunity mandated, however, so keep your eye on the injury status of those two starters listed above.

Charles Omenihu, DE Kansas City Chiefs

He has collected 3.5 sacks in the seven games he has played since returning from his six-game suspension to open the 2023 campaign. He has put up a sack in back-to-back games heading into a contest against the host Patriots in Week 15. 

Grover Stewart, DT Indianapolis Colts

The first of three DTs profiled this week, Stewart is back in action following a six-game PED-induced suspension. He came back strong, with a five TT effort (four solo). He has a good matchup this week, too, with the Steelers coming to Indianapolis for a visit.

Justin Madubuike, DT Baltimore Ravens

The Raven DT has put together a streak where he has produced at least a partial sack in 10 games consecutively. He now has 11 sacks on his score sheet for the season. He has two good matchups in store, although both contests are on the road.

Derrick Brown, DT Carolina Panthers

Brown, on the other hand, is not a sack-producer extraordinaire, not having snagged a QB and wrestled him to the ground since Week 1. He is a steady producer of tackles, though, a fine quality in a DT if you must start one in your fantasy league format. He is coming off a 10 TT effort (five solo) with a PD and INT included to pop up the big-play values. This week’s opponent, Atlanta, is a great matchup.

Defensive Backs

Jordan Howden, S New Orleans Saints

Howden played nearly every snap in Week 14, and collected a fine stat line: 10 TT (seven solo), a sack, a PD and a FF. With less favorable matchups in store, do not get overly excited about his prospects but nearly every down safeties can be fantasy gems.

Sydney Brown, S Philadelphia Eagles

Another of our IDP risers that is benefitting from an injury to another teammate, Brown was called upon when Reed Blankenship left the game with a concussion last week. He put up eight TT in a relief role (five solo) and also contributed a PD while patrolling the defensive side of the field. His future value likely depends upon further relief duty.

Ja’Quan McMillian, CB Denver Broncos

Moving into our cadre of corners to profile, McMillian has settled in comfortably as the nickel corner for the Broncos and is seeing significant time in the defensive backfield. He is coming off a game where he had a sack (second in two weeks), five solo tackles and a pair of PDs. He heads to the Motor City, to see what the erratic Detroit passing game throws at him.

Zyon McCollum, CB Tampa Bay Buccaneers

So long as Jamel Dean is sitting on the sidelines (as he has for a few weeks), the second-year corner will continue to see significant PT and will be picking up the fantasy stats for his owners. In Week 14, he collected nine TT (six solo) and a pair of PDs with a FF. This week’s matchup is not the best, but look for him to be tested this week again.

Deonte Banks, CB New York Giants

A rookie corner who sees nearly every down will be a source of fantasy goodness, as offenses test him to see what he can deliver in coverage. He had a whopping 12 TT in Week 14 against the visiting Packers (nine solo) and was also able to provide a PD during him time on the gridiron. 

 

Fantasy Football IDP Fallers - Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

C.J. Mosley, New York Jets

The Jet LB has put up one good week out of the past four, making him a dangerous luxury to rely upon as the regular season wound down, and playoffs start. 

Mykel Walker, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers signed Blake Martinez to their defensive squad and it has impacted Walker’s PT. He has only been involved in four games to date, and his production has been inconsistent at best. The stars are not exactly aligned for him to provide great results for his fantasy owners, few though they may be.

Defensive Linemen

Preston Smith, DE Green Bay Packers

Smith has not had a sack over the past four contests, and has collected just nine TT over those games, too (only two solo). He is still playing significant defensive snaps, but without much positive results.

Myles Garrett, DE Cleveland Browns

Just as with Smith above, Garrett has seen his production fall off a cliff lately, with no sacks in three games and just three tackles over that time frame, as well, albeit all solos.

 

Week 15 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 or Jaguars, but certainly you will do well if you own a top DL taking on the Falcons or a Jet defensive back going against the Dolphins in sunny Miami that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Linebackers

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Baltimore

Cleveland Browns vs Chicago

Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville

Indianapolis Colts vs Pittsburgh

Chicago Bears @ Cleveland

Defensive Ends

New York Jets @ Miami

Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina

Washington Commanders @ Los Angeles Rams

Tennessee Titans vs Houston

New York Giants @ New Orleans

Defensive Tackles 

Cleveland Browns vs Chicago

Dallas Cowboys @ Buffalo

Houston Texans @ Tennessee

Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina

Washington Commanders @ Los Angeles Rams

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona

Safeties

Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta

Green Bay Packers vs Tampa Bay

New Orleans Saints vs New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles @ Seattle

Cleveland Browns vs Chicago

Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets

Cornerbacks

Miani Dolphins vs New York Jets

Los Angeles Rams vs Washington

New York Giants @ New Orleans

Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas

Buffalo Bills vs Dallas

 

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

Devin Lloyd Jacksonville Jaguars

Jahlani Tavai New England Patriots

Christian Harris Houston Texans

Tyrel Dodson Buffalo Bills

K.J. Britt Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defensive Linemen

Byron Young DE Los Angeles Rams

Nick Herbig DE Pittsburgh Steelers

Charles Omenihu DE Kansas City Chiefs

Grover Stewart DT Indianapolis Colts

Justin Madubuike DT Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Brown DT Carolina Panthers

Defensive Backs

Jordan Howden S New Orleans Saints

Sydney Brown S Philadelphia Eagles

Ja’Quan McMillian CB Denver Broncos

Zyon McCollum CB Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Deonte Banks CB New York Giants
 

NFL IDP Injury Report - 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

Nate Landman Atlanta Falcons knee

Roquan Smith Baltimore Ravens back

Malik Hamm Baltimore Ravens ankle IR

Tyus Bowser Baltimore Ravens knee NRI-R

Marquis Haynes Carolina Panthers back

Brian Burns Carolina Panthers ankle

DJ Johnson Carolina Panthers illness

Luiji Vilain Carolina Panthers knee IR

Chandler Wooten Carolina Panthers ankle IR

Claudin Cherelus Carolina Panthers knee IR

Justin Houston Carolina Panthers hamstring IR

Dylan Cole Chicago Bears personal

Joe Bachie Cincinnati Bengals oblique

Jonathan Cooper Denver Broncos ankle

Nik Bonnito Denver Broncos knee

James Houston Detroit Lions ankle IR

Quay Walker Green Bay Packers shoulder

Blake Cashman Houston Texans hamstring

Segun Olubi Indianapolis Colts hip

Lou Chenal Kansas City Chiefs illness

Kana’i Mauga Las Vegas Raiders knee IR

Curtis Bolton Las Vegas Raiders groin

Amen Ogvongvemiga Los Angeles Chargers hamstring

Andrew Van Ginkel Miami Dolphins oblique

Jerome Baker Miami Dolphins knee IR

Marcus Davenport Minnesota Vikings ankle IR

Matt Judon New England Patriots biceps IR

Nakobe Dean Philadelphia Eagles foot IR

Elandon Roberts Pittsburgh Steelers groin

T.J. Watt Pittsburgh Steelers concussion

Alex Highsmith Pittsburgh Steelers concussion

Dre Greenlaw San Francisco 49ers ankle

Oren Burks San Francisco 49ers knee

Frank Clark Seattle Seahawks personal

Drake Thomas Seattle Seahawks knee IR

Devin White Tampa Bay Buccaneers foot

Joe Jones Tennessee Titans finger IR

Jamin Davis Washington Commanders shoulder IR

Defensive Linemen

DE

Kentavius Street Atlanta Falcons pectoral

LaCale London Atlanta Falcons knee IR

A.J. Epenesa Buffalo Bills ribs

DaQuan Jones Buffalo Bills pectoral IR

Yannick Ngakoue Chicago Bears ankle

Obo Okoronkwo Cleveland Browns pectoral

Benito Jones Detroit Lions neck

Will Anderson, Jr. Houston Texans ankle

Mass Crosby Las Vegas Raiders knee

Cameron Jordan New Orleans Saints ankle

Isaiah Foskey New Orleans Saints quadriceps

Payton Turner New Orleans Saints toe

Azeez Ojulari New York Giants shoulder

Solomon Thomas New York Jets knee

John Franklin-Myers New York Jets ankle

Arik Armstead San Francisco 49ers foot

Drake Jackson San Francisco 49ers knee IR

DT

David Onyemata Atlanta Falcons ankle

DeShawn Williams Carolina Panthers knee

Maurice Hurst Cleveland Browns pectoral IR

Jordan Elliott Cleveland Browns concussion

Johnathan Hankins Dallas Cowboys ankle

DeForest Buckner Indianapolis Colts back

Folorunso Fatukasi Jacksonville Jaguars heel

Adam Butler Las Vegas Raiders ankle

Otito Ogbonnia Los Angeles Chargers knee

Sebastian Joseph-Day Los Angeles Chargers ankle

Nick Williams Los Angeles Chargers shoulder

Christian Barmore New England Patriots shoulder

Daniel Ekuale New England Patriots biceps IR

A’Shawn Robinson New York Giants hamstring

Dexter Lawrence New York Giants hamstring

Keeanu Benton Pittsburgh Steelers oblique

Javon Hargrave San Francisco 49ers hamstring

Bryan Mone Seattle Seahawks knee-ACL PUP

Vita Vea Tampa Bay Buccaneers toe

William Gholston Tampa Bay Buccaneers knee

Kyle Peko Tennessee Titans calf IR

Jeffery Simmons Tennessee Titans knee

Defensive Backs

S

Bobby Price Arizona Cardinals undisclosed IR

Kyle Hamilton Baltimore Ravens knee-MCL

Ar’Darius Washington Baltimore Ravens chest IR

Micah Hyde Buffalo Bills undisclosed

Jammie Robinson Carolina Panthers illness

D’Shawn Jamison Carolina Panthers illness

Jaquan Brisker Chicago Bears groin

Tycen Anderson Cincinnati Bengals knee IR

Grant Delpit Cleveland Browns groin IR

Juan Thornhill Cleveland Browns calf

P.J. Locke Denver Broncos neck

Chauncey Garnder-Johnson Detroit Lions pectoral IR

DeAndre Houston-Carson Houston Texans illness

Eric Murray Houston Texans knee IR

M.J. Stewart Houston Texans shoulder IR

Andre Cisco Jacksonville Jaguars groin

Mike Edwards Kansas City Chiefs illness

Bryan Cook Kansas City Chiefs ankle IR

Brandon Facyson Las Vegas Raiders shin IR

Quentin Lake Los Angeles Rams hamstring

DeShon Elliott Miami Dolphins concussion

Jevon Holland Miami Dolphins knee-MCL

Reed Blankenship Philadelphia Eagles concussion

Keanu Neal Pittsburgh Steelers ribs IR

Jamel Dean Tampa Bay Buccaneers ankle

Ryan Neal Tampa Bay Buccaneers hip

CB

Taron Johnson Buffalo Bills ankle

Kaiir Elam Buffalo Bills ankle IR

DJ Turner Cincinnati Bengals ankle

Denzel Ward Cleveland Browns shoulder

Jaire Alexander Green Bay Packers shoulder

Eric Stokes Green Bay Packers hamstring IR

Tavierre Thomas Houston Texans hamstring

Tre Herndon Jacksonville Jaguars concussion

Tyson Campbell Jacksonville Jaguars quadriceps 

Christian Braswell Jacksonville Jaguars hamstring IR

Amik Robertson Las Vegas Raiders wrist

Deane Leonard Los Angeles Chargers ankle

Xavien Howard Miami Dolphins hip

Shaun Wade New England Patriots illness

Christian Gonzalez New England Patriots shoulder-labrum IR

Marcus Jones New England Patriots shoulder IR

Cordale Flott New York Giants shoulder 

Aaron Robinson New York Giants knee-ACL/MCL PUP

Charvarius Ward San Francisco 49ers groin

Darrell Luter, Jr. San Francisco 49ers hamstring 

Devon Witherspoon Seattle Seahawks hip

Tre Brown Seattle Seahawks heel

Artie Burns Seattle Seahawks knee

Carlton Davis Tampa Bay Buccaneers groin

Kristian Fulton Tennessee Titans hamstring IR

Caleb Farley Tennessee Titans back PUP

Sean Murphy-Bunting Tennessee Titans 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. 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.