Playoffs in many fantasy football leagues start this week. If you are not lucky enough to have earned a bye, then setting your lineups is extraordinarily important, obviously. The presence of three Saturday games on the schedule means that decisions will need to be made earlier than normal, and thus, offered below are some potential players to pep up your IDP rosters (plus a few to cut loose). Good luck in your playoff efforts; remember to enjoy the process.

 

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Logan Wilson Cincinnati Bengals

Anytime a linebacker puts up a stat line leading off with 17 total tackles (TT), with 14 of those of the solo variety, you should expect to see him atop the rising player profile list on the IDP Report. Picking up a half a sack and a QB hit/hurry (QH) is simply sauce for the goose. He collected all those tackles in a game with limited opportunities to wrap up offensive players with the ball, so Wilson may be poised for a late season/playoff hot streak.

Deion Jones Cleveland Browns 

Jones was previously discussed back in Week 6 here, but an injury to Sione Takitaki has now opened a starting role for him. He picked up seven TT in the Week 14 contest in Cincinnati, and also snagged his first INT of the season and defensed two passes (PD), giving him big play value, too.

Devin Lloyd Jacksonville Jaguars

Lloyd became an every down LB due to the ankle injury that sidelined Chad Muma in Week 14, and if Muma is limited or out, he should be able to post useful tackle results again. He had eight TT (four solo) against the host Tennessee Titans as a starter, and while he has had limited big play production earlier in the season, he is more of a player to utilize in tackle-oriented league formats.

Defensive Linemen

A.J. Epenesa DE Buffalo Bills

When the Bills lost Von Miller due to a knee injury for the season, they turned to Epenesa to help fill in on the edge and he has performed well in limited action, picking up five TT (four solo) last week, one of those for a loss of yards (TFL) and being credited with another sack, his third in his last four games played. He was only on the field for about half the snaps on defense, but was able to also force a fumble (FF), and contribute with a PD and QH.

George Karlaftis DE Kansas City Chiefs

Here is another edge rusher who picked up his third sack in three weeks. He now has a prime matchup against the Houston Texans on tap. Not a ton of tackle production from the rookie so far, but his big play potential makes him worth considering as fantasy playoffs progress.

Azeez Ojulari DE New York Giants

He was credited with two sacks last week and now gets to face the Washington Commanders, a team whose offensive line has allowed 37 sacks to date this season. The matchup and his recent strong play make him an intriguing late season addition to your IDP roster.

Dalvin Tomlinson DT Minnesota Vikings

He is fresh off a double-digit tackle effort (10 TT, eight solo, one TFL) and the uptick in production makes him valuable especially in DT-mandatory formats. Taking on Indianapolis at home should prove to be a favorable matchup this week.

Defensive Backs

Rayshawn Jenkins S Jacksonville Jaguars 

The first of two Jags to be profiled this week, Jenkins is not a newcomer to the IDP Report, having been discussed back in Week 7. Both he and his teammate Wingard discussed below should benefit from the favorable matchup against the Cowboys. He had six TT (four solo) on the stat sheet next to him name in Week 14, and similar numbers are entirely possible.

Andrew Wingard S Jacksonville Jaguars

He was banged up but not knocked out of the action last week, and has been limited at practice so far this week, so keep an eye on the game day injury report. He had an INT to go with his useful seven TT (six solo, one TFL). He also contributed a PD and a QH for his owners.

Juan Thornhill S Kansas City Chiefs

He has put up a couple of good efforts recently, and had seven TT in Week 14 against the host Broncos (five solo, one TFL). The sack was certainly useful for fantasy purposes as well as the PD and QH he tossed in. Playing full time is conducive to his continued value as a DB in your fantasy lineup.

Marcus Willliams S Baltimore Ravens 

Early in the season (Week 3), Williams was discussed as a rising IDP. Unfortunately for him and his fantasy owners, he was injured in Week 5 and just returned to action last week. In that game, he only grabbed three TT (two solo), but he did have an INT and PD while on the field. Due to his injury absence, he should be on the wire in your league to add for the playoff run.

Jaycee Horn CB Carolina Panthers

In his second year, the young DB is providing good tackle numbers (44 TT on the season, six TT in Week 14). Three INT on the season and seven PDs demonstrate his ability to provide big play value on top of the substantial tackle results. Taking on the Steelers at home finds a top five offense in terms of CB point production on the schedule this week.

Jerry Jacobs CB Detroit Lions

The Lion defense has improved tremendously over the course of this season, and Jacobs has secured a starting CB role. He had seven TT (five solo, one TFL) in Week 14’s victory over the Vikings, and he also contributed with a sack, a PD and QH. He is flowing to the ball while patrolling the defensive secondary and ii is reflected in his stat line.

Nate Hobbs CB Las Vegas Raiders 

Finally back in uniform and on the field, having recovered from the hand injury that sent him to the sidelines since Week 5, he arrived back on the scene with a fine day by collecting nine TT (eight solo). Prior to the injury, he was profiled here in Weeks 2 and 3, so we are glad to see him taking the field again.

Damarri Mathis CB Denver Broncos

The rookie CB has proven to be a good source of tackles for his fantasy owners. Rookie CBs that start are frequently great sources of fantasy point production as the opposing offenses test them to see what they can do on defense. Playing opposite Patrick Surtain II also leads opposing offenses to challenge his coverage.

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Kyzir White Philadelphia Eagles

White’s drop off in fantasy point creation for his owners has been dramatic over the past few weeks. He did have a five TT game in Week 13, but the week before he was limited to just three stops and then last week, just two TT (one solo). There are certainly other LB options on the wire or available as free agents that you could plug into your lineups for a far better likelihood to deliver potential victory for your team.

Tony Fields II Cleveland Browns

Defensive Linemen

Trey Hendrickson DE Cincinnati Bengals

Hendrickson fractured his wrist in the Week 14 contest against the Browns, but returned to the game and is not being placed on the IR, either. Although there is some talk of him suiting up in Week 15, he is being held out of practice to open the week. It seems prudent to either bench or cut him. Note: Friday’s injury report has him out for Week 15, expected to return in Week 16.

Jeffrey Simmons DT Tennessee Titans

Simmons is continuing to start for the Titans, despite dealing with a balky ankle. He is also failing to produce any significant fantasy points over the past two contests, with just one paltry assisted tackle to his name.

Derrick Brown DT Carolina Panthers

Despite having an occasional productive game, the third-year DT has been an overall dud this season. With just three TT the last three games (all solos, admittedly), you should be ready to cut him loose, having become disenchanted and despondent over his production or lack thereof recently.

Defensive Backs

None to write about, save for those in the Injury Report below.

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 Chargers, but certainly you will do well if you own a top DB on the Vikings dominant DL on the Commanders or  that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Inside Linebackers

Los Angeles Chargers vs Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders vs New York Giants

Las Vegas Raiders vs New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers

Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons

Outside Linebackers

Carolina Panthers vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Cleveland Browns vs Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Carolina Panthers

Defensive Ends

Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers vs Tennessee Titans

New England Patriots @ Las Vegas Raiders

Denver Broncos vs Arizona Cardinals

New York Giants @ Washington Commanders

Tennessee Titans @ Los Angeles Chargers 

Defensive Tackles 

Washington Commanders vs New York Giants

New York Giants @ Washington Commanders

Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams

Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings

Dallas Cowboys @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Safeties

Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys @ Jacksonville Jaguars

New York Jets vs Detroit Lions

Arizona Cardinals @ Denver Broncos

Cornerbacks

Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings

Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Cincinnati Bengals

Minnesota Vikings vs Indianapolis Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Carolina Panthers

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

Logan Wilson Cincinnati Bengals

Deion Jones Cleveland Browns

Devin Lloyd Jacksonville Jaguars

Defensive Linemen

A.J. Epenesa DE Buffalo Bills

George Karlaftis DE Kansas City Chiefs

Azeez Ojulari DE New York Giants

Dalvin Tomlinson DT Minnesota Vikings

Defensive Backs

Rayshawn Jenkins S Jacksonville Jaguars

Andrew Wingard S Jacksonville Jaguars

Juan Thornhill S Kansas City Chiefs

Marcus Willliams S Baltimore Ravens

Jaycee Horn CB Carolina Panthers

Tremon Smith CB Houston Texans

Jerry Jacobs CB Detroit Lions

Nate Hobbs CB Las Vegas Raiders

Damarri Mathis CB Denver Broncos

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 Linemen

DE

DT

Defensive Backs

S

CB

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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