We are getting closer and closer to the fantasy playoffs. Time to get your fantasy football rosters in prime condition. Especially with the Week 12 no team on bye gift coming up (no need to fret over the 6-team bye situation in Week 14…yet). Not a ton of options to consider aside from those in the defensive backfield, but such is our game.

Bye Weeks coming up: Week 11-Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 12-NONE

Week 13- Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers

 

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Jayon Brown, Las Vegas Raiders 

There are two IDP that were featured in the Week 3 IDP Report, Brown being the first. He now is an every down LB with Blake Martinez retiring and Denzel Perryman being bothered by a hip issue. He collected eight total tackles (TT) in week 10, four of those of the solo variety, and he also recovered a fumble. The absence of Divine Deablo, who is on the IR with a forearm injury, will cement him in for substantial playing time (PT) for the next three weeks at a minimum.

Kaden Elliss, New Orleans Saints

Another LB benefitting from a teammate being sidelined (Pete Werner with an ankle injury), he played nearly every snap and collected a sack with his seven TT (three solo), one of those tackles being for a loss of yardage (TFL). He was a big play producer in Week 10’s tilt in Pittsburgh, adding in a QB hit/hurry (QH) and forcing a fumble (FF). Keep an eye on Werner’s status, and if he is on the sidelines again, look for Elliss to produce against the Rams in a good matchup.

Sione Takitaki, Cleveland Browns

Injuries to the linebacking corps in Cleveland have provided Takitaki with significant PT when the Brown defense is on the field. He continued to produce like a starting LB for fantasy teams, picking up 10 TT in Week 10 (eight solo, one TFL). In a tackle oriented format, he has LB1 value for the present time.

Defensive Linemen

Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions

The first-round rookie pick was profiled here way back in Week 3, and his continued low ownership belies his production on the field for the lions. Granted, his play has been inconsistent, but he picked up yet another sack in Week 10’s victory at Chicago over the Bears, and he led his team with eight tackles (eight solo(!), one TFL). He also had a QH to his credit.

Malcolm Roach, New Orleans Saints

Roach took advantage of the opponent’s game scheme, and racked up a season high seven TT (five solo, one TFL). He also collected a sack, one of six allowed by the host Steeler offense. He has been limited in practice with an ankle issue, so keep your eye on his status should you be considering to pick him up based on one week’s fine production.

Defensive Backs

Jonathan Owens, Houston Texans

The Texan defense is constantly being tested, and it was pointed out early that would mean some of the IDP in Houston would be valued components to fantasy rosters. Owens is an asset in tackle-oriented leagues, having grabbed 12 TT in Week 10 (10 solo). Other than the tackles, though, he is not a primetime IDP performer.

Nick Scott, Los Angeles Rams

If the Rams continue to struggle when the offense is on the field, then their defense will be tested more often. Scott is coming off a nine TT effort (eight solo) where he also had a FF. If he continues to see significant snap count usage, his production should continue to be starter worthy in fantasy leagues, especially those that emphasize tackle production.

C.J. Moore, Detroit Lions

Another tackle producing safety, Moore saw his snap count increase as a result of the concussion suffered by Deshon Elliot in Week 10’s road victory over the Bears. He could have sneaky value if he continues to play significant snaps for the Lions, especially with a good matchup on tap against the New York Giants in Week 11.

Antonio Hamilton, Arizona Cardinals

Should Byron Murphy earn another DNP status this coming week, and Hamilton starts in his place, look for the visiting 49er offense to target him just as the Rams did in Week 10 when he collected double digit tackles (11 TT, 10 solo). Because of the attention he received from the offense, he also deflected/defended two passes (PD).

Sam Webb, Las Vegas Raiders

He may not have been designated as a starter Week 10 but playing 97% of the snaps on defense is not something to sneeze at, fantasy-wise. He collected eight TT (six solo) and on the big play front, also contributed with a pair of PD and a FF. He has a great matchup in the coming contest against the Denver Broncos, so consider adding him from the waiver wire or free agent market.

Cam Lewis, Buffalo Bills

Lewis is being pressed into big time action for the Bills due to their injury situation in the defensive backfield, and presuming he can take the field this week, he should continue to provide tackle production. Plus, he has CB status while actually playing as a safety on the field, which makes him a sneaky option in CB-mandatory leagues. 

 

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Jonas Griffith, Denver Broncos

Despite being the starter for the Bronco defense, he saw action in just 21% of the defensive snaps against the host Tennessee Titan offense. A goose egg in the tackle count column is a huge red flag against continuing to rely upon him for your IDP needs.

 

Defensive Linemen

Darrell Taylor, Seattle Seahawks

Taylor is on a bye this week, so it is an easy choice to drop him from your roster. His snap count is limited after his return from a hip injury resulted in a reshuffling of the depth chart in front of and around him, and he was credited with just assist in Week 10, which is not worthy of a starting IDP slot.

Dorance Armstrong, Dallas Cowboys

Armstrong also had but a single assist last week to his credit. He is another IDP that is being squeezed out of adequate PT to make him a viable member of your squad. 

 

Defensive Backs

Cornell Armstrong. Atlanta Falcons

With a bench spot now his position on the defense, having been replaced in the defensive scheme by Rashad Fenton, it is clearly time to cut him loose. If he is not on the field at all, he is truly worthless for fantasy purposes.

 

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 DB, with S or CB, in the Indianapolis Colts visit to play the Philadelphia Eagle that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Inside Linebackers

Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs

Indianapolis Colts vs Philadelphia Eagles

New Orleans Saints vs Los Angeles Rams

Washington Commanders @ Houston Texans

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals

Las Vegas Raiders @ Denver Broncos

 

Outside Linebackers

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills

Baltimore Ravens @ Carolina Panthers

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals

Los Angeles Rams @ New Orleans Saints

Carolina Panthers vs Baltimore Ravens

 

Defensive Ends

Philadelphia Eagles @ Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams @ New Orleans Saints

New England Patriots vs New York Jets

Atlanta Falcons vs Chicago Bears

Baltimore Ravens @ Carolina Panthers

Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs

 

Defensive Tackles

Washington Commanders @ Houston Texans

Houston Texans vs Washington Commanders

New York Giants vs Detroit Lions

Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders

Indianapolis Colts vs Philadelphia Eagles

 

Safeties

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings

Indianapolis Colts vs Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles @ Indianapolis Colts

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals

 

Cornerbacks

Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals

Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers

New Orleans Saints vs Los Angeles Rams

Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders

Indianapolis Colts vs Philadelphia Eagles

 

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

Jayon Brown, Las Vegas Raiders 

Kaden Elliss, New Orleans Saints

Sione Takitaki, Cleveland Browns

 

Defensive Linemen

Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions 

Malcolm Roach, New Orleans Saints

 

Defensive Backs

Jonathan Owens, Houston Texans

Nick Scott, Los Angeles Rams

C.J. Moore, Detroit Lions

Antonio Hamilton, Arizona Cardinals

Sam Webb, Las Vegas Raiders

Cam Lewis, Buffalo Bills

 

IDP INJURY NEWS

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

 

DEFENSIVE END

 

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS - SAFETY

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS - CORNERBACK

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.

 

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