The bye weeks have arrived; let the scramble begin to adjust to players who are not available for this week’s games in fantasy football. This in addition to all the IDP that are not going to produce any points due to being on the sidelines with injury. Perhaps there are some potential gems to be harvested on the free agent market or the waiver wire? That is what this article attempts to provide on a weekly basis, so strap in and see what help is available.

Bye Weeks coming up: Week 5-Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Week 6-Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers; Week 7-Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans.

 

Fantasy Football IDP Risers - Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Nate Landman, Atlanta Falcons

The 2022 undrafted free agent is benefitting from Troy Andersen landing on the IR, moving him into a potential every-down LB role. He picked up 10 total tackles (TT) in Week 4 against the host Jaguars (admittedly the top team in terms of allowing LB fantasy production), eight of those of the solo variety. In tackle-oriented IDP scoring schemes, that is valued production.

Nicholas Morrow, Philadelphia Eagles

Morrow was valuable in any fantasy format, collecting 11 TT (10 solo), with three of those being for loss of yards (TFL). Toss in three (!) sacks, a trio of QB hits/hurries (QH) and a forced fumble (FF), and there is no reason not to rush out to add the Eagle LB to your fantasy squad, especially with a tasty matchup against the Rams on tap in Week 5.

Ernest Jones, Los Angeles Rams

Speaking of the Rams, Jones has been an every-down LB to the extreme, playing every single down on defense for the team this year thus far. He had double-digit TTs in Week 4 with 10 (four solo, one TFL), and he also added a sack to his stat line. The visiting Eagle offense is also generous so far this year in allowing points to opposing LBs.

Jahlani Tavai, New England Patriots 

Playing only two-thirds of the defensive snaps, Tavai is racking up the defensive stats, matching the production of the top LB in Foxboro, JaWhaun Bentley despite his relatively limited PT. He gathered in six TT against the Cowboys (four solo, two TFL). He also supplied some big play action, with a sack, a QH and pass deflection/defense (PD). Even if his snaps do not increase, he is making the most of his time on the field.

Defensive Linemen

Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos, DE

Even playing on the arguably worst defense in the league (they gave up 70 points in a game), the cream will still rise to the top. Bonitto had 2.5 sacks in Week 4, giving him 3.5 over the past three contests. He also has contributed with six TFLs over that span of games, two in Week 4’s victory over the Bears

Andrew Van Ginkel, Miami Dolphins, DE

Although he is being employed on the defensive side of the line significantly less than Bradley Chubb, it is Van Ginkel who is shining for the Dolphin D (and the reason why Chubb is relegated to the dropping value section of this article). He had 5 TT in Week 4 (four solo, three TFL) and also harassed the passer, with two sacks and two QH. Note: He has less value in systems (Yahoo, ESPN) where he is slotted at LB instead of DL.

Greg Rousseau, Buffalo Bills, DE

The Buffalo defensive end has been coming on, with his two sacks against the Dolphins giving him three in the past two weeks. He also had three solo tackles (two TFLs) and a couple of QH as well as PD in Week 4 action. He did miss Wednesday’s practice with a foot issue, so keep an eye on his status if you are considering adding him to your IDP roster.

Dayo Odeyingbo, Indianapolis Colts, DE

The third-year DE saw his snap count increase last week, and he coincidentally also picked up his first 1.5 sacks of the season. Those went nicely along with his seven TT (five solo, one TFL), and the other big-play contributions: four QH, a FF, and a PD. 

Jonathan Greenard, Houston Texans, DE

The Texans are using the 26-year-old DE in a starter’s role, and he is producing on the field for the team and his fantasy owners. He had five TT in Week 4 (four solos, three TFL) and two sacks while playing just over 50% of the snaps on defense (54% to be precise). He has an excellent matchup on the schedule as the Texans head to Atlanta for this week’s tilt. 

David Onyemata, Atlanta Falcons, DT

The veteran DT is picking up his fantasy efficiency, supplying seven TT in London (two solo, one TFL) along with one and a half sacks and two QH. That is some fine work if you play in a league that mandates starting a DT in your IDP lineup.

Defensive Backs

Dax Hill, Cincinnati Bengals, S 

The second-year player has stepped into the starting role in Cincy and is adding value across the board, with 34 TT on the season, two INTs and three PD. He played 98% of the defensive snaps in Week 4’s loss to the host Titans. Another road game this week, and it is against a team that yields plenty of fantasy points to opposing safeties heading into the Week 5 contest.

Rudy Ford, Green Bay Packers, S

The Packers safeties have been a strong point on their defense this season, and Ford is coming off an eight TT effort (seven solo) where he also demonstrated skill at tracking down the ball, providing an INT and a PD against the visiting Lions. This week has a tougher matchup against the Raiders but he is on the field for every snap and will therefore see plenty of opportunity to be an effective DB.

Sam Franklin, Jr. Carolina Panthers, S

Franklin stepped up his game, filling in for Xavier Woods as the starting free safety. He is not going to contribute a 99-yard INT return every game, naturally, but so long as he is filling in for the injured Woods, he has the opportunity to provide fantasy scoring. The matchup against the Lions is a good one, based on how the Detroit offense has benefitted the fantasy point scoring of opposing safeties through the early going.

Julius Brents, Indianapolis Colts, CB

It is a general rule that rookie corners who see significant PT are well worth rostering for fantasy purposes, as the league will test them until they prove their mettle. This week’s opponent has been generous in affording interception opportunities. He is coming off a nine TT effort (eight solos).

DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys, CB

Bland was asked to step in once Trevon Diggs was lost for the season, and he has been ramping up his fantasy value. He picked off two passes in Week 4, and had three PD to go along with the picks. He has already returned two of his INTs for TDs, which is nice if you were using him when that bounty was delivered, but obviously, such serendipity is not something to expect on a weekly basis. 

Isaac Yiadom, New Orleans Saints, CB

Here is another CB who is seeing additional PT due to injury, in this case to Paulson Adebo is anticipated to return to action once his hamstring allows. Playing the slot corner role has allowed him to deliver on both the tackle and PD/INT front.

Emmanuel Forbes, Jr. Washington Commanders, CB

Another rookie CB who will see plenty of action from offenses as he settles into the NFL scheme of things. He is coming off a useful nine TT effort (seven solo) with a pair of PD to boost his fantasy value. Washington drafted him in the first round, and is looking to capitalize on his skillset by escalating his PT if his 100% snap count in Week 4 is any indicator.

Fantasy Football IDP Fallers - Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Ivan Pace, Jr. Minnesota Vikings 

Pace was a desirable LB to snag off the wire as the season opened, but he has come back to earth in a dramatic fashion. He has just nine TT over the past two weeks of game action, and a 51% snap count will not help him return to fantasy relevance should that usage on defense continue.

Kwon Alexander, Pittsburgh Steelers

Alexander saw his time on the field drop dramatically in favor of Elandon Roberts, with his PT falling to just 38% of the plays the defense was involved in against the host Texans. Not that any of the Steelers inside linebackers are great fantasy providers, with the team rotating Roberts and Cole Holcomb along with Alexander, effectively making any of these ILBs a crapshoot for fantasy production.

Defensive Linemen

Harold Landry, Tennessee Titans, DE

Landry has but one sack through the first four contests of the 2023 season, and a limited eight TT over that span of games. Two TT in Week 4 (one solo) while being on the field for 64% of the defensive snaps makes him a liability unless and until he picks things up in the pass rush area of his game.

Bradley Chubb, Miami Dolphins, DE

Chubb has been seeing plenty of time on the defensive side of the ball, playing 83% of the snaps in Week 4, but providing just two TT (one solo) and a QH over that significant PT means you should look elsewhere for your DL players. If he does not produce useful value against the Giants this week, he is not worthy of a roster slot.

Defensive Backs

None of note, save those listed in the Injury Report below

NFL Week 5 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 Jags, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the Steelers or Philly, or a DE in the Chicago/Washington tilt that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Linebackers

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh

Kansas City Chiefs @ Minnesota

Houston Texans @ Atlanta

Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia

Defensive Ends

Washington Commanders vs. Chicago

Detroit Lions vs. Carolina

New York Giants @ Miami

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis

Atlanta Falcons vs. Houston

Chicago Bears @ Washington

Defensive Tackles

Washington Commanders vs. Chicago

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee

Houston Texans @ Atlanta

San Francisco 49ers vs Dallas

New England Patriots vs. New Orleans

Safeties

Minnesota Vikings vs Kansas City

New Orleans Saints @ New England

Carolina Panthers @ Detroit

Philadelphia Eagles @ Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots vs. New Orleans

Cornerbacks

Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia

New England Patriots vs. New Orleans

New York Giants @ Miami

Philadelphia Eagles @ Los Angeles Rams

Fantasy Football 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

Nate Landman Atlanta Falcons

Nicholas Morrow Philadelphia Eagles

Ernest Jones Los Angeles Rams

Jahlani Tavai New England Patriots 

Defensive Linemen

Nik Bonitto Denver Broncos DE

Andrew Van Ginkel Miami Dolphins DE

Greg Rousseau Buffalo Bills DE

Dayo Odeyingbo Indianapolis Colts DE

Jonathan Greenard Houston Texans DE

David Onyemata Atlanta Falcons DT

Defensive Backs

Dax Hill Cincinnati Bengals (Note: 42% ownership in Yahoo; 22.8% ESPN leagues)

Rudy Ford Green Bay Packers S

Sam Franklin, Jr. Carolina Panthers S

Julius Brents Indianapolis Colts CB

DaRon Bland Dallas Cowboys CB

Isaac Yiadom New Orleans Saints CB

Emmanuel Forbes, Jr. Washington Commanders CB

NFL IDP Injuries - 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

Josh Woods Arizona Cardinals ankle

Odafe Oweh Baltimore Ravens ankle

David Ojabo Baltimore Ravens ankle IR

Akeem Davis-Gaither Cincinnati Bengals knee

Micah Parsons Dallas Cowboys knee

Frank Clark Denver Broncos hip

Josey Jewell Denver Broncos hip

Julian Okwara Detroit Lions knee IR

Derrick Barnes Detroit Lions lower body

De’Vondre Campbell Green Bay Packers ankle

Denzel Perryman Houston Texans hand

Devin Lloyd Jacksonville Jaguars thumb

Nick Bolton Kansas City Chiefs ankle

Curtis Bolton Las Vegas Raiders knee IR

Joey Bosa Los Angeles Chargers hamstring

Jaelan Phillips Miami Dolphins oblique

Matt Judon New England Patriots biceps

SirVocea Dennis Tampa Bay Buccaneers hamstring

Luke Gifford Tennessee Titans hamstring

Defensive Linemen

DE

Jonathan Ledbetter Arizona Cardinals finger

Myles Garrett Cleveland Browns foot

Alex Wright Cleveland Browns chest

Kwity Paye Indianapolis Colts concussion

Demarvin Leal Pittsburgh Steelers concussion

Jarran Reed Seattle Seahawks shin

DT

Mike Purcell Denver Broncos ribs

Calijah Kancey Tampa Bay Buccaneers calf 

Defensive Backs

S

Marcus Williams Baltimore Ravens pectoral

Jordan Poyer Buffalo Bills knee

Xavier Woods Carolina Panthers hamstring

Jaylon Johnson Chicago Bears hamstring

Eddie Jackson Chicago Bears foot

Josh Blackwell Chicago Bears hamstring IR

Justin Simmons Denver Broncos hip

K’Waun Williams Denver Broncos ankle IR

Kerby Joseph Detroit Lions hip

Emmanuel Moseley Detroit Lions knee-ACL

Zayne Anderson Green Bay Packers hamstring

Antonio Johnson Jacksonville Jaguars hamstring

Derwin James Los Angeles Chargers hamstring

Alohi Gilman Los Angeles Chargers heel

JT Woods Los Angeles Chargers illness NFI-R

DeShon Elliott Miami Dolphins ankle

Lewis Cine Minnesota Vikings hamstring

Jonathan Jones New England Patriots ankle

Jordan Howden New Orleans Saints finger

Tony Adams New York Jets hamstring

Justin Evans Philadelphia Eagles neck

Sydney Brown Philadelphia Eagles hamstring

Jamal Adams Seattle Seahawks concussion

Jamel Dean Tampa Bay Buccaneers neck

Ryan Neal Tampa Bay Buccaneers concussion

Mike Brown Tennessee Titans undisclosed IR

CB

Garrett Williams Arizona Cardinals knee-ACL NFI-R

Marlon Humphrey Baltimore Ravens foot

Jalyn Armour-Davis Baltimore Ravens hamstring

Daryl Worley Baltimore Ravens shoulder

Christian Benford Buffalo Bills shoulder

Tre’Davious White Buffalo Bills Achilles

Donte Jackson Carolina Panthers shoulder

Jaycee Horn Carolina Panthers hamstring IR

Cam Taylor-Britt Cincinnati Bengals concussion

Brian Branch Detroit Lions ankle

Chase Lucas Detroit Lions illness

Jaire Alexander Green Bay Packers back

Tavierre Thomas Houston Texans hand

Dallis Flowers Indianapolis Colts Achilles IR

Jaylen Watson Kansas City Chiefs shoulder

Nate Hobbs Las Vegas Raiders ankle

David Long Las Vegas Raiders ankle

Deane Leonard Los Angeles Chargers hamstring

Christian Gonzalez New England Patriots shoulder-labrum

Paulson Adebo New Orleans Saints hamstring

Lonnie Johnson New Orleans Saints hamstring

Brandin Echols New York Jets hamstring

Avonte Maddox Philadelphia Eagles pectoral IR

Cory Trice Pittsburgh Steelers knee-ACL IR

Artie Burns Seattle Seahawks hamstring

Tre Brown Seattle Seahawks concussion

Coby Bryant Seattle Seahawks toe

Derrek Pitts, Jr. Tampa Bay Buccaneers hamstring

Elijah Molden Tennessee Titans hamstring

Christian Holmes Washington Commanders back

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 matchups 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 the number of teams, the platform you play in (Yahoo, ESPN, etc.), scoring and roster system, the better the ability to provide accurate advice.