There are a true wealth of options to consider adding to your IDP roster(s) this week. There are also a few teams on bye this week, which keeps the number of choices to a more manageable level. That being said, we have plenty of defensive players to profile, so let’s just get to that, shall we?

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

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Jordyn Brooks SEA

Brooks played better than 90% of the snaps on defense, and racked up 11 total tackles (TT) in the contest last Thursday against the Rams, one for a loss of yards (TFL). So long as he continues to see increased playing time (PT) for the Seahawks, he becomes a useful LB candidate to snag off the wire.

Makik Reed DEN (DE only in ESPN leagues)

Reed filled up his stat sheet big time in Week 5, with 6 TT, a sack, a QB hit/hurry (QH) and a forced fumble (FF).He is playing nearly every snap now that he is filling in for the injured Bradley Chubb (out until November after ankle surgery), so more full stat sheets are potentially in his future.

Jaelan Phillips MIA (DE only in ESPN leagues)

Phillips gets a bump in value on the ESPN platform, as it is a bonus to be able to obtain LB production from a DL, in general. Phillips picked up four TT (three solo, one TFL) in Tampa Bay in Week 5, with a sack and QH to pump up the big play value. He now gets to face off against the Jaguars in Week 6.

Denzel Perryman LV

Perryman is owned in 70% of leagues on both ESPN and Yahoo, so it may be difficult to add him to your team. After collecting 12 TT (10 solo) at home against the Bears, together with a QH, his availability may be waning further, so act quickly if he is available to pick up.

Micah Parsons DAL

Also qualifies as DE in ESPN leagues, which improves his value on that platform, as it is always nice to be able to play a linebacker as a DL in IDP fantasy (see the comments about Jaelan Phillips above). His move to LB occurs due to the departure of Jaylon Smith from Cowboys. The three QH in Week 5 added to his team-leading eight TT (six solo) are a great start to his new role on the Dallas defense.

Reggie Ragland NYG

Ragland is benefitting from the loss of the injured Blake Martinez by the Giant defense, and was credited with a pass deflection/defense (PD) against the Cowboys in Week 5, to go along with his seven TT (five solo, one TFL). The fumble recovery (FR) was another nice big play plus.

Kamu Grugier-Hill HOU

The 27-year-old is now looking like a full-time LB for the Texans going forward, which pumps up his value tremendously. Especially playing for a team that will be on defense plenty in the near future. He is coming off a five solo tackle effort in Week 5, and should be a steady source of tackle production going forward.

David Long TEN

Long is another LB that is stepping up to a every down role for his team. He had 12 TT (10 solo) in Week 5’s game at Jacksonville. He has another good matchup in store with the Bills coming to visit Week 6.

Kevin Mintner TB

Mintner gets a chance to start at ILB for the Bucs on Thursday, with Lavonte David on the sidelines in Week 6. The opponent on the slate is not a great matchup, but if you are desperate for LB help, and need some tackle production, Mintner is a short-term option.

Defensive Linemen

Trey Flowers DE DET

The absence from the field in Weeks 3 and 4 has resulted in him being less interesting to IDP owners, but he is back and playing significant snaps for the Detroit defense. Facing off against the Bengals in Week 6 at home is a nice matchup, an offense that allows plenty of sacks on the season.

Everson Griffen DE MIN

Griffen is back with the Vikings and enjoying playing opposite Danielle Hunter. He is coming off a multi-sack game against the Lions (two sacks) that makes him intriguing, as a waiver wire addition. The other stat production from Week 5-four TT (two solo, one TFL), a pair of QH, a FF-makes him well worth a roster add.

Haason Reddick DE CAR

He is coming off another big week, and is a DL that you should snap up off the wire if he is hanging around Eight TT (six solo, two TFL), a pair of QH and sacks each against the visiting Eagles will excite some interest, so move quick to add him now.

Gregory Rousseau DE BUF

A huge week for the Bill defensive end lit up the stat sheet Week 5: five TT (four solo, one TFL), a sack, a QH, a PD and one INT makes for a productive game. He is putting up those numbers in a part-time role, but even at that, he is a fine addition to an IDP roster with the bye-weeks now showing up.

Austin Johnson DT NYG

The sole DT here this week, he is playing slightly better than half the snaps on defense for the Giants, and putting up good production even so. He had a sack to go with his four TT (three solo, two TFL) and a QH to add the extra big-play bonus. In DT-mandatory leagues, his potential for tackle and big-play production makes him of potential value going forward. Perhaps not in Week 6, as the matchup against the Rams is not prime, but Week 7 against the Panthers at home looks more promising.

Defensive Backs

Kevin Byard S TEN

Byard is demonstrating value in all formats, racking up tackles and big plays. In Week 5, he collected 10 TT (eight solo) with a FR, INT and a pair of PDs. The TD he scored is sauce for the goose, but not to be counted on, obviously.

Tracy Walker S DET

With a return to significant PT in the Lion defense, he led the team with nine TT (seven solo, one TFL). He was credited with a PD as well in Minnesota, a pass deflection that led to an INT. 

Derwin James S LAC

It is not likely he will gather 17 TT again in Week 6 (nine solo, one TFL). He added a sack, a QH and a FF to add big-play production to a superb tackle effort. He is poised to be one of the top DBs in IDP leagues this season, should this production consider even at a reduced rate.

 Darius Slay CB PHI

He has been putting up at least three tackles per game while playing man coverage for the Eagles, and with the Bucs on the schedule this week, he should see additional opportunities to collect some tackles and perhaps a few big plays. He is coming off a two INT effort in Week 5 with a pair of PDs as well.

Taron Johnson CB BUF

Johnson is much more of a presence against the run than in coverage, as witnessed recently in a 12 TT effort against the Chiefs (eight solo). He did have one PD in Week 5, so his production is not entirely bereft of big-play production.

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Kenny Young LAR

Young has been extraordinarily productive this season, but saw his PT cut in Week 5. If that continues to be the case, his value as a useful LB will take a severe hit.

Eric Wilson PHI

Wilson had his PT downsized in Week 5, resulting in him collecting just one assist while playing 41% of the defensive plays. 

Chandler Jones ARI

Jones is coming off goose egg in defensive production in Week 5, and did not even have one assisted wrap-up in Weeks 2, 4 and 5. He is best cut loose unless and until his counting stats start picking up.

Defensive Linemen

Emmanuel Ogbah DE MIA

Coming off single assist effort in Tampa Bay, and with just 1.5 sacks on the season, his value is quickly falling off in 2021. He is also seeing a significant drop in the number of defensive snaps he is on the field, playing just 50% of the snaps the past two games.

Jarran Reed DT KC

Reed has no sacks to his credit this season, and just six TT on the year (four solo). The Chief defense is not exactly firing on all cylinders, and Reed is part of that lack of production. Lack of sacks and tackles makes him expendable.

Defensive Backs

Eli Apple CB CIN

Another example of a PT decrease damaging IDP value, Apple has gone from an every-down DB to one taking the field for less than 50% of the defensive plays. He had just a single solo tackle in Week 5, and that is not the stuff starting CBs are made of.

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 Bengals or Lions, but certainly you will do well if you own a top DL on the Vikings or Bills that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Inside Linebackers

Detroit Lions vs Cincinnati

Cleveland Browns vs Arizona

Cincinnati Bengals @ Detroit

Outside Linebackers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadelphia

Las Vegas Raiders @ Denver

Washington Football Team vs Kansas City

Indianapolis Colts vs Houston

New York Giants vs Los Angeles Rams

Defensive Ends

Carolina Panthers vs Minnesota

Chicago Bears vs Green Bay

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago

Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers

Tennessee Titans vs Buffalo

Defensive Tackles

Tennessee Titans vs Buffalo

Cleveland Browns vs Arizona

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis

Carolina Panthers vs Minnesota

Safeties

Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots vs Dallas

Cleveland Browns vs Arizona

Los Angeles Rams @ New York Giants

Cornerbacks

New England Patriots vs Dallas

Buffalo Bills @ Tennessee

Philadelphia Phillies vs Tampa Bay

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Miami

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

Jordyn Brooks SEA

Makik Reed DEN 

Jaelan Phillips MIA 

Micah Parsons DAL (owned in 51% of ESPN leagues, only 25% of Yahoo leagues)

Reggie Ragland NYG

Kamu Grugier-Hill HOU

David Long TEN

Kevin Mintner TB

Defensive Linemen

Trey Flowers DE DET

Everson Griffen DE MIN

Haason Reddick DE CAR

Gregory Rousseau DE BUF

Austin Johnson DT NYG

Defensive Backs

Kevin Byard S TEN

Tracy Walker S DET

Derwin James S LAC (Owned in 52% of Yahoo leagues, 45% on Yahoo)

Darius Slay CB PHI

Taron Johnson CB BUF

 

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

Tanner Vallejo ARI hand

Zeke Turner ARI shoulder IR

Jordan Hicks ARI toe

Chandler Jones ARI 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 foot

Christian Jones CHI back

Jeremiah Attaochu CHI pectoral IR

Caleb Johnson CHI knee

Jordan Evans CIN knee IR

Malcolm Smith CLE abdomen

Jacob Phillips CLE biceps IR

Montrel Meander CLE Achilles IR

Francis Bernard DAL hamstring IR

Jonas Griffith DEN hamstring IR

Bradley Chubb DEN ankle IR

Josey Jewell DEN pectoral IR

Natrez Patrick DEN leg IR

Trey Flowers DET knee

Romeo Okwara DET Achilles IR

Shaun Dion Hamilton DET undisclosed IR

Chauncey Rivers GB knee-ACL IR

Za’Darius Smith GB back IR

Randy Ramsey GB leg IR

Kamu Grugier-Hill HOU hip

Kevin Pierre -Louis HOU hamstring IR

Darius Leonard IND ankle

Jordan Glasgow IND concussion IR

Myles Jack JAX oblique

Dylan Moses JAX knee

Anthony Hitchens KC knee 

Cory Littleton LV shoulder

Javin White LV knee IR

Nicholas Morrow LV ankle IR

Darron Lee LV undisclosed 

Drue Tranquill LAC chest 

Kenneth Murray LAC ankle IR

Justin Hollins LAR pectoral IR

Anthony Barr MIN knee

Ja’Whaun Bentley NE shoulder

Kyle Van Noy NE groin

Ronnie Perkins NE ankle 

Anfernee Jennings NE undisclosed IR

Cameron McGrone NE knee-ACL

Terez Hall NE undisclosed PUP

Raekwon McMillan NE knee-ACL

Quentin Poling NO undisclosed

Kwon Alexander NO elbow IR

Chase Hansen NO groin IR

Cam Brown NYG hamstring IR

Elerson G. Smith NYG hamstring IR

Blake Martinez NYG knee-ACL IR

T.J. Brunson NYG knee-ACL IR

Hamsah Nasirildeen NYJ undisclosed IR

Jarrad Davis NYJ ankle IR

Marcell Harris SF thumb

Dre Greenlaw SF groin IR

Bobby Wagner SEA knee 

Ben Burr-Kirven SEA knee-ACL IR

Lavonte David TB ankle

Jason Pierre-Paul TB shoulder

Bud Dupree EN knee

Monty Rice TEN groin

Rashaan Evans TEN quadriceps

Jayon Brown TEN knee IR

Rashad Weaver TEN lower leg IR

Derick Roberson TEN knee IR

B.J. Bello TEN ankle IR

Cole Holcomb WAS shoulder

Jared Norris WAS neck 

Jon Bostic WAS pectoral IR 

Defensive Linemen

DE

Marlon Davidson ATL ankle

Derek Wolfe BAL back IR

Bryan Cox BUF Achilles IR

Austin Larkin CAR groin

Akiem Hicks CHI groin

Khalid Kareem CIN shoulder IR

Joseph Ossai CIN knee-Meniscus IR

Wyatt Hubert CIN pectoral

Myles Garrett CLE knee

Takkarist McKinley CLE ankle

Jadeveon Clowney CLE knee

Randy Gregory DAL knee

Dorance Armstrong DAL ankle

Demarcus Lawrence DAL foot IR

Da’Shawn Hand DET groin IR

Joel Heath DET knee-ACL IR

Kemoko Turay IND groin

Kwity Paye IND hamstring 

Dayo Odeyingbo IND Achilles

Roy Robertson-Harris JAX ankle

Chris Jones KC wrist 

Joshua Kaindoh KC ankle IR

Malik Herring KC knee-ACL 

Aaron Donald LAR knee

Janarius Robinson MIN lower body IR

Henry Anderson NE pectoral IR

Marcus Davenport NO shoulder IR

Kyle Phillips NYJ ankle PUP

Vinny Curry NYJ illness

Carl Lawson NYJ Achilles IR

Brandon Graham PHI Achilles IR

Camerson Heyward PIT neck

Calvin Taylor PIT undisclosed

Stephon Tuitt PIT undisclosed IR

Tyson Alualu pit ankle IR

Jordan Willis SF suspension

Darrell Taylor SEA ankle

Pat O’Connor TB calf

Sam Renner TB undisclosed

James Smith-Williams WAS toe

Jalen Jelks WAS undisclosed IR

DT

Jordan Phillips ARI undisclosed IR

Xavier Williams ARI undisclosed

Jack Crawford ARI undisclosed IR

Deadrin Senat ATL undisclosed IR

Xavier Kelly BAL Achilles IR

Malik McDowell CLE elbow

Malik Jackson CLE knee

Neville Gallimore DAL elbow IR

Trysten Hill DAL knee-ACL IR

Mike Purcell DEN back

Kevin Strong DET concussion IR

Ross Blackock HOU illness IR-COVID

Vincent Taylor HOU ankle IR

Rob Windsor IND hip IR

Johnathan Hankins LV hip

Quinton Jefferson LV back

Gerald McCoy LV knee IR

Justin Jones LAC calf IR

Michael Pierce MIN elbow

Jaylen Twyman MIN pelvis

Byron Cowart NE undisclosed PUP

Jalen Dalton NO triceps IR

David Onyemata NO suspension (out until Week 8)

Carlos Davis PIT 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

Jonathan Allen WAS knee

Defensive Backs

S

Charles Washington ARI hamstring IR

Erik Harris ATL calf

Geno Stone BAL thigh

DeShon Elliott BAL quadriceps

Khalil Dorsey BAL undisclosed IR

Myles Hartsfield CAR wrist IR

Damontae Kazee DAL hip

Donovan Wilson DAL groin

Kareem Jackson DEN back

Mike Ford DEN leg

Essang Bassey DEN knee-ACL PUP

Duke Dawson DEN knee-ACL/MCL PUP

Corey Ballentine DET hamstring 

Vernon Scott GB knee

Andrew Sendejo IND concussion

T.J. Carrie IND undisclosed IR

Brandon Facyson LV hip

Dallin Leavitt LV knee

Roderick Teamer LV ankle

Nasir Adderley LAC hip

Darious Williams LAR ankle IR

Dayan Ohanwoloku LAR undisclosed 

Jonathan Jones NE ankle

Cody Davis NE knee

Kyle Dugger NE hamstring 

Joshuah Bledsoe NE wrist

Logan Ryan NYG hip

Nate Ebner NYG quadriceps

Jabrill Peppers NYG hamstring 

Joshua Kalu NYG pectoral IR

Marcus Maye NYJ ankle

Adrian Colbert NYJ concussion

Lamarcus Joyner triceps IR

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

Amani Hooker TEN foot IR

Brady Breeze TEN ankle IR

Maurice Smith TEN undisclosed

Darrick Forrest WAS hamstring IR

CB

Marco Wilson ARI ribs

Byron Murphy ARI ribs

Avery Williams ATL hamstring

Isaiah Oliver ATL knee

Chris Westry BAL knee-Meniscus IR

Marcus Peters BAL knee-ACL IR

Iman Marshall BAL knee IR

Stephon Gilmore CAR quadriceps PUP

Juston Burris CAR groin IR

Jaycee Horn CAR foot IR

Troy Pride CAR knee-ACL IR

Darius Phillips CIN illness

Trae Waynes CIN hamstring IR

A.J. Green CLE shoulder

M.J. Stewart CLE hamstring IR

Greg Newsome II CLE calf

 Greedy Williams CLE shoulder

Denzel Ward CLE neck

Kelvin Joseph DAL groin IR

Trevon Diggs DAL ankle

Reggie Robinson II DAL toe IR

Michael Ojemudia DEN hamstring IR

Amani Oruwariye DET hip

Ifeatu Melifonwu DET thigh IR

Jeff Okudah DET Achilles IR

Kevin King GB shoulder

Jaire Alexander GB shoulder-AC joint IR

Will Redmond GB toe IR

Rock Ya-Sin IND ankle

Xavier Rhodes IND concussion

Tyson Campbell JAX toe

Charvarius Ward KC quadriceps

Damon Arnette LV groin IR

Trayvon Mullen LV toe IR

Xavier Howard MIA shoulder

Byron Jones MIA Achilles

Harrison Hand MIN undisclosed IR-COVID

Cameron Dantzler MIN illness IR-COVID

Jalen Mills NE hamstring

Shaun Wade NE concussion

Keith Washington NO wrist 

Ken Crawley NO hamstring IR

RoDarius Williams NYG knee-ACL

Aaron Robinson NYG abdomen PUP

Quincy Wilson NYG ankle IR

Zane Lewis NYJ knee-MCL IR

DeMarkus Acy PIT knee-ACL IR

Tre Brown SEA knee IR

Carlton Davis TB quadriceps IR

Sean Murphy-Bunting TB elbow IR

Kristian Fulton TEN hamstring 

Greg Mabin TEN undisclosed

Darryl Roberts WAS quadriceps IR

Greg Stroman WAS undisclosed 

Tony McTyer WAS knee-ACL IR

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.