In a week with just two teams on bye (do not look ahead to Week 14’s six byes if you are squeamish), there are plenty of defensive players to select from on the wire and in the free agent market to bolster your team’s production. Below are options to consider at all defensive positions, so as we move toward the fantasy playoffs, take advantage of every opportunity to pick up some improved production from those players operating on the defensive side of the ball.

 

Bye Weeks Coming Up: 

Week 13 - Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers

Week 14 - Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders

 

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Chad Muma, Jacksonville Jaguars

The rookie replaced fellow first-year player Devin Lloyd, and he played well enough to warrant another start, this time against Detroit on the road. He is coming off a game where he collected nine total tackles (TT) while playing 100% of the snaps on defense. If he has another big effort against the Lions, who have been strong against inside linebackers to date, then he is absolutely worth adding, especially in dynasty leagues.

Alex Anzalone, Detroit Lions

On the other side of the field in Week 13, here is a linebacker that was profiled in these virtual pages back in Week 4. He is a steady performer for fantasy purposes, coming off a game where he contributed big plays with an interception (INT) and a pass deflection/defense (PD) while also contributing nine TT (seven solo). He was on the field for every defensive snap and has stepped forward as the Detroit Lions defense works on improving over the course of the season.

Denzel Perryman, Las Vegas Raiders 

His playing time (PT) saw a significant uptick in Week 12, and he responded with a nine-TT effort (four solo), two of those wrap ups being for a loss of yards (TFL). Add in an INT and a PD and his additional time on the gridiron paid off for those who had him in their lineups. His injuries have limited his value this season, and he was limited this week with a wrist issue, but still managed to practice in some capacity.

Jaylon Smith, New York Giants

Smith has settled in as the every-down linebacker for the Giants and racked up double-digit tackles in Week 13 (seven solo, three assists, one TFL) against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. 

Ernest Jones, Los Angeles Rams

Being overshadowed by teammate Bobby Wagner, he is likely widely available in your leagues. He is probably going to rack up 100 TT on the season, but that prediction relies upon his ability to deal with a back issue that has been holding him out of practice this week. He did collect 11 TT at Kansas City last week (five solo), so keep your peepers on the injury report if you add him to your IDP roster.

Defensive Linemen

Calais Campbell, Baltimore Ravens

I have not mentioned many IDP risers that will provide sacks, but the Ravens defensive lineman was credited with one in Week 12, along with three QB hits/hurries (QH), as he forced a fumble (FF) and also collected three TT (two solo). He has snagged 4.5 sacks over his last five games, so now is the time to add him to your roster while the production is occurring. 

Zach Sieler, Miami Dolphins

In a DT-mandatory format, he is worth pursuing on the wire or free agent market. He is steady at providing fantasy production as a tackler, coming off a five TT effort against the Houston Texans (three solo) and contributing his occasional PD, too. 

Defensive Backs

Julian Love, New York Giants

We have reached the point in the NFL season where players will return to the IDP Report based upon either returns from injury or continued success on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage. Love was discussed here way back in Week 3 as a rising player, and in Week 12 he was on fire: 10 TT (six solo, one TFL), an INT, and a PD. He is also playing all the snaps on defense, behind a porous LB crew that offers him plenty of chances to collect tackles.

Darrick Forrest, Washington Commanders

Another DB that was a Week 3 darling, Forrest also had double-digit tackles in Week 12 (11 TT, eight solo). He was another every-down DB, as are all the safeties featured in this edition of the IDP Report. He has a decent matchup at the Meadowlands against the New York Giants this week prior to the bye in Week 14, and now would be a fine time to add him for a quick streaming lineup insertion.

Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks

Diggs finally picked off a pair of passes last game, something he has been adept at over the past few seasons. He also added a couple of PD, and six TT (two solo) against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders offense.

Rudy Ford, Green Bay Packers

Ford was able to see every down action due to an injury to Darnell Savage in Week 12. In that replacement role, he collected nine TT (six solo) and also forced a fumble. So long as he is in a full-time role on defense, he will be worthy of rostering.

Nick McCloud, New York Giants

McCloud is an undrafted rookie, and rookie cornerbacks, especially those lacking substantial pedigrees, will be frequently targeted by offenses. This tends to result in fabulous fantasy production, and in a full-time role due to injuries to Adoree’ Jackson and Fabian Moreau, he put up eight TT effort (seven solo). His value is dependent on his replacement status, so keep an eye on the injury report before relying on him.

Michael Davis, Los Angeles Chargers

Despite being injured during practice, he posted superb fantasy numbers in Week 12, with a sack, a QH and a pair of PD to go with his six TT (five solo, one TFL). His matchup in Las Vegas this week is decent, if not great.

 

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Zaven Collins, Arizona Cardinals

Collins’ team is on a Bye this week, so this makes for an ideal time to cut him loose from your roster and replace him with a value at the position. In two of his last three games, he has collected just three tackles while on the field, and he sees plenty of snaps. Being an every-down linebacker as the defensive play caller, the decrease in production reduces his value drastically.

Defensive Linemen

Darrell Taylor, Seattle Seahawks

A defensive end that plays less than a quarter of the defensive snaps is going to find it difficult to provide any fantasy value to his owner’s roster. Taylor has seen a major decline in PT, and it is affecting his fantasy numbers. One assist over three contests makes him dispensable.

Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers

Brown is on Bye this week, and since he has put up three sub-par efforts among his last four games, you would be well advised to seek other help if you must play a DT in your lineup. Drop him and stream his replacement, if necessary, but he is not a dependable option as we head toward fantasy playoff time.

Defensive Backs

Ahmad Gardner, New York Jets

Rookie cornerbacks see a ton of attention early in their first season, and Sauce Gardner was frequently targeted during the early weeks of the season. Seems as though offensive coordinators are beginning to understand just how effective he can be in coverage, though, and his numbers are down big over the past two weeks. Will the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills continue that trend? He is not exactly a player to drop if you have a bench spot, but if he is treated as a shutdown corner going forward, his fantasy value will be diminished tremendously.

 

Matchups to Exploit

Remember, the first team listed is the one to use your players against. Do not go crazy, and play a LB5 against the Commanders, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on either side of the Chargers/Raiders contest, or a DE to insert in either side of the Tennessee/Philly game, or a Dallas DB that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Inside Linebackers

Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders

Washington Commanders @ New York Giants

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers

Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams

Indianapolis Colts @ Dallas Cowboys

Outside Linebackers

Cincinnati Bengals vs Kansas City Chiefs

Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans

Baltimore Ravens vs Denver Broncos

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers

Defensive Ends

Los Angeles Rams vs Seattle Seahawks

Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens

Philadelphia Eagles vs Tennessee Titans

New York Giants vs Washington Commanders

Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders

Tennessee Titans @ Philadelphia Eagles

Defensive Tackles

Washington Commanders @ New York Giants

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts @ Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans vs Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens

Safeties

Indianapolis Colts @ Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys vs Indianapolis Colts

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

Philadelphia Eagles vs Tennessee Titans

Baltimore Ravens vs Denver Broncos

Miami Dolphins @ San Francisco 49ers

Cornerbacks

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints

Minnesota Vikings vs New York Jets

Indianapolis Colts @ Dallas Cowboys

Cincinnati Bengals vs Kansas City Chiefs

 

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. Only Julian Love has any significant ownership across leagues, so all the players profiled above are here, and thus, this group consists of those 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

Chad Muma, Jacksonville Jaguars

Alex Anzalone, Detroit Lions

Denzel Perryman, Las Vegas Raiders 

Jaylon Smith, New York Giants

Ernest Jones, Los Angeles Rams

Defensive Linemen

Calais Campbell, Baltimore Ravens

Zach Sieler, Miami Dolphins

Defensive Backs

Julian Love, New York Giants

Darrick Forrest, Washington Commanders

Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks

Rudy Ford, Green Bay Packers

Nick McCloud, New York Giants

Michael Davis, Los Angeles Chargers

 

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 Ends

Defensive Tackles

Safeties

Cornerbacks

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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