Bye Weeks coming up: Week 6-Atlanta, New Orleans, New York Jets, San Francisco; Week 7-Buffalo, Dallas, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota, Pittsburgh; Week 8-Baltimore, Las Vegas

No bye this week, we are going full tilt in Week 5. Of course, there are injuries to be aware of when setting your lineups. The Injury Report below is accurate as of Wednesday, but please make sure to check your resources (Fantasy Alarm is a great one, hint, hint) to make certain your starting lineup is actually STARTING in this week’s contests.

 

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Robert Quinn CHI (DE on ESPN)

The first of three LB-qualified IDP on Yahoo, Quinn had a full day against the Lions last Sunday: five total tackles (TT), all of those being solo efforts and one for a loss of yards (TFL), a sack, a forced fumble (FF) and two QB hits/hurries (QH). He played nearly all defensive snaps for the Bears (80%) the past two games and has picked up 4.5 sacks over the season’s first four contests.

Harold Landry TEN (DE on ESPN)

Landry picked up another sack, this time of rookie QB Zach Wilson, and he has at least a partial sack in three of the four games in 2021. He also had seven TT (five solo, three TFL) to go with a QH. Being able to plug a LB into your DL slot is a certain benefit, as well, depending on your platform of choice. 

Matt Judon NE (DE on ESPN)

Our final dual operative, Judon is providing excellent pass rush production for the Pats, and has at least a sack in the past three games (4.5 on the season). He also provided tackle numbers in Week 4’s matchup against the visiting Bucs in the rain: seven TT, four solo, two TFL. In addition to the sack of Brady, he also had a QH on the evening. The road contest at Houston is not a bad matchup for this week, either.

Drue Tranquill LAC

Tranquill will move into a larger role on defense in LA now that Kenneth Murphy is out with an ankle injury. He collected five TT (two solo) in Week 4’s home contest against the Raiders, and now he gets the top ranked team as far as allowing fantasy points to opposing ILB, the Browns, on tap in Week 5. 

Kyzir White LAC

White should also see an uptick in PT (playing time) now that Murray is on the sidelines. Obviously, he also gets to face off against the fantasy point favoring Brown offense this coming week.

Jamin Davis WFT

It looks as though Jon Bostic’s pectoral injury will keep him out for the balance of the season, opening the door for the rookie LB to step in for the Washington defense. The Saints and Chiefs at home hold promise, with the increase in PT on the horizon.

Defensive Linemen

Mike Danna DE KC

With Frank Clark sitting on the sidelines for much of the season to date, Danna has stepped in and stepped up for the Chiefs at DE. He collected four TT (three solo, two TFL) in Week 4 at Philly, supplemented with a pair of sacks and QH both. Clark is not listed on the injury report as of Wednesday, be advised.

Charles Harris DE DET

The former first round pick of the Dolphins, he is settling in with his third NFL team nicely. Four TT (three solo) in Week 4, with a sack, a pair of QH and a FF makes him useful across the board in IDP formats, tackle oriented and/or big play leagues. Week 5 at Minnesota is a mid-range matchup, but then he gets to face the Bengals in Week 6, which bodes well for continued production

Randy Gregory DE DAL

Picking up two sacks will boost a DL’s profile, and that is what the veteran DE is coming off heading into this week’s game against a less-than-intimidating offensive line for the visiting division-rival Giants. 

Javon Hargrave DT PHI

If you need to start a DT, Hargrave is putting forth great production week in, week out to open the season. He is coming off a six TT effort (three solo, one TFL) and contributed on the big play front with a sack, and a QH against the visiting Chiefs in Week 4. Having the Panthers on the schedule for Week 5 is a potential big week for the DL.

Defensive Backs

Jalen Thompson S ARI

Thompson is the better producer at DB for the Cardinals through four weeks, with a bunch of tackles to his credit: 18 solos out of 27 TT. He also was credited with his first PD against the host Rams last week. The 49ers, this week’s opponent, are a top 10 provider of safety fantasy point production.

Richard Sherman CB TB

He gets to step in for his new team quickly due to the slew of injuries the defending champs have endured early on in 2021. He collected seven solo tackles in the Week 4 road game at Foxboro, and pitched in a fumble recovery (FR) to aid in the Buc victory, too. He played 98% of the defensive snaps while leading the team in tackles.

Desmond King CB HOU

King graduated from nickel back status to starter in place of Vernon Hargreaves III in Week 4’s contest at Buffalo, and he responded with nine TT (eight solo, one TFL) and a FF. If he continues to start, he has value as a swappable player based on matchup, and this Week 5 tilt against the Patriots looks promising indeed.

 

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

K’Lavon Chaisson JAX

A single solo tackle and a QH do not make for useful LB play in IDP leagues, and that was the extent of the Jaguar LB in Week 4. Add to that his sorry nine TT and 45% PT and you have a second year bust on your hands.

Defensive Linemen

DeForest Buckner DT IND

The sacks have dried up for the DT since the first game of 2021, and that damages his value in IDP leagues. No solo tackles last week is also limiting his utility this season. This week’s opponent, the Ravens, is a poor matchup, but perhaps he rebounds in Week 6 against the Texans at home.

Defensive Backs

None to speak of this week, save for those listed below in the Injury Report.

 

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 Lions, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the Chargers, Cardinals or a defensive back on the Jets or Texans that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Inside Linebackers

Cleveland Browns @ Los Angeles Chargers

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota

Outside Linebackers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Miami

Las Vegas Raiders vs Chicago

Washington Football Team vs New Orleans

Defensive Ends

Green Bay Packers @ Cincinnati

Carolina Panthers vs Philadelphia

Chicago Bears @ Las Vegas

Defensive Tackles

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville

Atlanta Falcons vs New York Jets

Cleveland Browns @ Los Angeles Chargers

Safeties

Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis

Atlanta Falcons vs New York Jets

New England Patriots @ Houston

Cornerbacks

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City

New England Patriots @ Houston

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee

 

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

Robert Quinn CHI

Harold Landry TEN

Matt Judon NE

Drue Tranquill LAC

Kyzir White LAC

Jamin Davis WFT

Defensive Linemen

Mike Danna DE KC

Charles Harris DE DET

Randy Gregory DE DAL

Javon Hargrave DT PHI

Defensive Backs

Jalen Thompson S ARI

Richard Sherman S TB

Desmond King CB HOU

 

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

Jaylon Ferguson BAL illness IR-COVID

Daelin Hayes BAL ankle IR

L.J. Fort BAL knee-ACL IR

Matt Milano BUF hamstring

Shaq Green-Thompson CAR foot

Khalil Mack CHI ribs

Joel Iyiegbuniwe CHI hamstring

Danny Trevathan CHI knee IR

Anthony Walker CLE hamstring IR

Tony Fields II CLE shoulder

Malcolm Smith CLE abdomen

Jacob Phillips CLE biceps IR

Montrel Meander CLE Achilles IR

Francis Bernard DAL hamstring IR

Andre Mintze DEN hamstring

Baron Browning DEN back

Jonas Griffith DEN hamstring IR

Bradley Chubb DEN ankle IR

Josey Jewell DEN pectoral IR

Natrez Patrick DEN leg IR

Romeo Okwara DET Achilles IR

Trey Flowers DET shoulder

Shaun Dion Hamilton DET undisclosed IR

Chauncey Rivers GB knee

Krys Barner GB concussion

Za’Darius Smith back IR

Randy Ramsey GB leg IR

Kevin Pierre-Louis HOU hamstring IR

Jordan Glasgow IND concussion IR

Dylan Moses JAX knee

Willie Gay Jr. KC toe IR

Javin White LV knee IR

Nicholas Morrow LV ankle IR

Darron Lee LV undisclosed 

Kenneth Murray LAC ankle IR

Justin Hollins LAR pectoral IR

Nick Vigil MIN ankle

Ronnie Perkins NE ankle

Kyle Van Noy NE groin

Ja’Whaun Bentley NE shoulder

Anfernee Jennings NE undisclosed IR

Cameron  McGrone NE knee-ACL

Terez Hall NE undisclosed PUP

Raekwon McMillan NE knee-ACL IR

Quentin Poling NO undisclosed

Chase Hansen NO groin IR

Kwon Alexander NO elbow IR

Elerson G. Smith NYG hamstring IR

Blake Martinez NYG knee-ACL

Cam Brown NYG hamstring IR

T.J. Brunson NYG knee-ACL IR

Blake Cashman NYJ hamstring IR

Hamsah Nasirildeen NYJ undisclosed IR

Jarrad Davis NYJ ankle IR

Dre Greenlaw SF groin IR

Ben Burr-Kirven SEA knee-ACL IR

Jason Pierre-Paul TB shoulder

Cam Gill TB undisclosed IR

Sharil Finch TEN concussion

Jayon Brown TEN knee

Bud Dupree TEN knee

Rashad Weaver TEN lower leg IR

Derick Roberson TEN knee IR

B.J. Bello TEN ankle IR

Cole Holcomb WAS shoulder

Jon Bostic WAS pectoral IR

 

Defensive Linemen

Defensive End

Marlon Davidson ATL ankle

Derek Wolfe BAL back IR

Gregory Rousseau BUF toe

Bryan Cox BUF Achilles IR

Austin Larkin CAR groin

Akiem Hicks CHI groin

Khalid Kareem CIN undisclosed IR

Joseph Ossai CIN knee-Meniscus IR

Wyatt Hubert CIN pectoral

Takkarist McKinley CLE ankle

Jadeveon Clowney CLE elbow

Randy Gregory DAL knee

Dorance Armstrong DAL ankle

Demarcus Lawrence DAL foot IR

Michael Brockers DET shoulder

Da’Shawn Hand DET groin IR

Joel Heath DET knee-ACL IR

Kwity Paye IND hamstring

Dayo Odeyingbo IND Achilles

Roy Robertson-Harris JAX ankle

Lerentee McCray JAX hamstring 

Chris Jones KC wrist 

Joshua Kaindoh KC ankle IR

Malik Herring KC knee-ACL 

Janarius Robinson MIN lower body IR

Henry Anderson NE pectoral IR

Marcus Davenport NO shoulder IR

Leonard Williams NYG knee

Nathan Shepherd NYJ knee

Kyle Phillips NYJ ankle PUP

Vinny Curry NYJ illness 

Carl Lawson NYJ Achilles IR

Brandon Graham PHI Achilles IR

Cameron Heyward PIT neck

Calvin Taylor PIT undisclosed

Stephon Tuitt PIT undisclosed IR

Tyson Alualu PIT ankle IR

Samson Ebukam SF hamstring 

Jordan Willis SF suspension (out until Week 8)

Benson Mayowa SEA neck

Pat O’Connor TB calf

Denico Autry TEN hip

Jeffery Simmons TEN back

James Smith-Williams WAS toe

Jalen Jenks WA undisclosed IR 

 

Defensive Tackle

Xavier Williams ARI undisclosed

Jordan Phillips ARI undisclosed IR

Jack Crawford ARI undisclosed IR

Deadrin Senat ATL undisclosed IR

Xavier Kelly BAL Achilles IR

Larry Ogunyobi CIN knee

Carlos Watkins DAL knee

Neville Gallimore DAL elbow

Trysten Hill DAL knee-ACL PUP

Kevin Strong DET concussion IR

Jack Heflin GB ankle

Tyler Lancaster GB illness IR-COVID

Ross Blacklock HOU illness IR-COVID

Vincent Taylor HOU ankle IR

Rob Windsor IND hip IR

Gerald McCoy LV knee IR

Justin Jones LAC calf IR

Raekwon Davis MIA knee IR

Michael Pierce MIN elbow 

Jaylen Twyman MIN pelvis

Byron Cowart NE undisclosed PUP

Jalen Calton NO triceps

David Onyemata NO suspension (out until Week 8)

Carlos Davis PIT knee

Javon Kinlaw SF knee

Kevin Givens SF ankle IR

Marcus Webb SEA undisclosed IR

Sam Renner TB undisclosed

Larrell Murchison TEN elbow IR

Trevon Coley TEN foot IR

Matthew Ioannidis WAS knee

Jonathan Allen WAS knee 

 

Defensive Backs

Charles Washington ARI hamstring IR

Kendall Sheffield ATL undisclosed IR

Erik Harris ATL calf

DeShon Elliott BAL quadriceps

Khalil Dorsey BAL undisclosed IR

Jordan Poyer BUF ankle

Myles Hartsfield CAR wrist IR

Ricardo Allen CIN hand IR

Donovan Wilson DAL groin

Essang Bassey DEN knee-ACL PUP

Duke Dawson DEN knee-ACL/MCL PUP

Khari Willis IND groin

T.J. Carrie IND undisclosed IR

Armani Watts illness

Keisean Nixon leg IR

Derwin James LAC shoulder

Dayan Ghanwoloku LAR undisclosed

Kyle Dugger NE hamstring

Cody Davis NE knee

Joshuah Bledsoe NE wrist

Nate Ebner NYG quadriceps

Jabrill Peppers NYG hamstring

Joshua Kalu NYG pectoral IR

Adrian Colbert NYJ concussion

Marcus Maye NYJ ankle

Lamarcus Joyner NYJ triceps IR

Avonte Maddox PHI neck

Nathan Meadors PHI hamstring 

K’Von Wallace PHI shoulder-AC joint IR

K’Waun Williams SF calf

Jason Verrett SF knee-ACL IR

Tarvarius Moore SF Achilles PUP

Nigel Warrior SEA knee IR

Antoine Winfield Jr. TB concussion 

Curtis Riley TB Achilles IR

Chris Jackson TEN shoulder

Brady Breeze TEN ankle IR

Maurice Smith TEN undisclosed

Amani Hooker TEN foot IR

Deshazor Everett WAS knee

Darrick Forrest WAS hamstring IR

 

CB

Antonio Hamilton ARI ankle

Byron Murphy ARI ribs

Isaiah Oliver ATL knee IR

Chris Westry BAL knee-Meniscus IR

Marcus Peters BAL knee-ACL IR

Iman Marshall BAL knee IR

Tre’Davious White BUF shoulder

Dane Jackson BUF knee

Juston Burris CAR groin IR

Jaycee Horn CAR foot IR

Troy Pride CAR knee-ACL IR

Chidobe Awuzie CIN groin

Denzel Ward CLE neck

Greg Newsome II CLE calf

Troy Hill CLE toe

Tim Harris CLE undisclosed

Kelvin Joseph DAL groin IR

Reggie Robinson II DAL toe

Ronald Darby DEN hamstring IR

Patrick Surtain II DEN chest

Michael Ojemudia DEN hamstring IR

Ifeatu Malifonwu DET thigh IR

Jeff Okudah DET Achilles IR

Kevin King GB concussion 

Jaire Alexander GB shoulder-AC joint

Will Redmond GB toe IR

Rock Ya-Sin IND ankle

Tyson Campbell JAX toe 

Trayvon Mullen LV foot

Damon Arnette LV groin

Chris Harris LAC shoulder

Ryan Smith LAC undisclosed IR

Byron Jones MIA quadriceps

Harrison Hand MIN undisclosed IR-COVID

Cameron Dantzler MIN illness IR-COVID

Jalen Mills NE hamstring

Stephon Gilmore NE quadriceps PUP

Keith Washington NO wrist

Ken Crawley NO hamstring IR

Brian Poole NO undisclosed IR

Aaron Robinson NYG abdomen PUP

Quincy Wilson NYG ankle IR

Brandin Echols NYJ concussion

Zane Lewis NYJ knee-MCL IR

Cameron Sutton PIT groin

DeMarkus Acy PIT knee-ACL IR

Josh Norman SF chest 

Davontae Harris SF hamstring IR

Tre Brown SEA knee IR

Sean Murphy-Bunting TB elbow IR

Jamel Dean TB knee

Carlton Davis TB quadriceps

Greg Mabin TEN undisclosed

Kevin Peterson TEN undisclosed

Torry McTyer WAS knee-ACL IR

Benjamin St-Juste WAS concussion

Greg Stroman WAS undisclosed 

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.