Huge week to pursue some defensive help off the waiver wire, what with six teams (!)
on bye. So happy replacement player hunting as we head into Week 7’s contests.
Bye Weeks coming up: Week 7-Buffalo, Dallas, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Chargers,
Minnesota, Pittsburgh; Week 8- Baltimore, Las Vegas; Week 9- Detroit, Seattle,
Tampa Bay, Washington
 

Elevator Going Up
 

Linebackers
Micah Kiser DEN
Kiser steps into a starting role on Thursday’s game against the Browns, now that
Alexander Johnson is out for the balance of the season. He was a force for the Rams
last season, and will look to pick things up for the Broncos going forward.
Josh Bynes BAL
Bynes has picked up the slack from downward trending Patrick Queen in Baltimore
(see the discussion regarding the second year player below). He is now an every-down
LB for the Ravens, and is coming off a decent six total tackle (TT) effort against the
Chargers, four of those being the solo variety and one being for a loss of yards (TFL).
He has a great matchup in store with the Bengals coming to visit in Week 7.
Jermaine Carter CAR
Carter is seeing significant snaps on defense, almost adding up to an every down role,
and wrapped up 10 TT in Week 6 against the Vikings (seven solo). With that type of
playing time lined up for him, he is a fine fill-in during the Week 7 bye week
situation.
Bobby Okereke IND
This week sees the inside LB Okereke facing off against the 49ers, who are the top
point producing offense through the season’s first six weeks. He is coming off a 14 TT
effort (nine solo). Darius Leonard draws the draft day interest, but Okereke has been
the better IDP to date between the two LBs.
Derrick Barnes DET
Despite playing a part-time role in the Lion defense, he still snagged nine TT in Week
6 (six solo) as well as pass deflection/defense (PD). Continued big tackle production
will inevitably lead to a bigger role in the Detroit defense, and now is the time to
stash him prior to his Week 9 bye.

Terrell Lewis LAR (DE only in ESPN leagues)
Lewis is another LB (in Yahoo leagues, at least) who is seeing his PT increase as the
season progresses. He now has been credited with sack in three consecutive games
and has two nice matchups on the horizon with the Lions and Texans on the schedule
the next two weeks.
J’Whaun Bentley NE
He did leave the last contest with a rib issue, so his status must be monitored if you
want to use him. He is coming off a 13 TT effort (12 solo, one TFL) and he also
contributed with a forced fumble (FF) against the Cowboys in Week 6. In tackle
oriented leagues, he has superb value.
 

Defensive Linemen
Jonathan Greenard DE HOU
Just a pair of DLs to profile this week, and the Texan end is the sole DE on the
upswing. He missed the first two games of this season, and as a result, is not owned in
a ton of leagues. A two sack effort against the Colts in Week 6 may wake up the other
owners in your league, and now would be a great time to swoop in and snap him up
for your roster. He also contributed six TT (five solo, two TFL) last week, and a trio of
QB hits/hurries (QH), so he gives you value in both tackle-oriented and big play
leagues.
Kenny Clark DT GB
Our sole DT profiled this week, Clark also provided big play production with tackle
value in Week 6, picking up a pair of sacks and QH each, while also collecting three
solo tackles, two of which were TFLs. His next two contests are good matchups with
Washington coming to Green Bay, and then the Cardinals hosting the Pack in Week 8.
 

Defensive Backs
Amani Hooker S TEN
Hooker missed four games due to a foot injury, but has returned to action with a
bang. He collected nine TT (six solo) against the Bills in Week 6, and is likely available
in your leagues due to the injury lay-off. Two of his next three contests are excellent
matchups, so now is a fine opportunity to add a useful DB to your lineup.
Jevon Holland S MIA
The Dolphins exercised a second-round pick on the DB, and brought him along slowly
and gently through the early weeks of the 2021 season. He is now seeing more action
on defense, and is coming off a six TT effort in Week 6 (four solo) with a PD also tacked on. Facing the Falcons in Week 7 should provide ample opportunity to continue
his development as a DB seeing plenty of defensive PT.
DeShon Elliott S BAL
Elliott had a fine Week 6 stat line for his IDP owners: three solo tackles (one TFL) a
sack, an INT, a pair of PD and QH each. He missed the previous two weeks with a
quad injury, but is back to full action after playing 98% of the defensive snaps last
week.
Keith Taylor CB CAR
As a rookie corner, he will be targeted often by opposing offenses, with the result
that he picks up IDP numbers worth rostering. He grabbed 10 solo tackles against the
Vikings, along with three PD and a FF. Those sorts of numbers make him valuable
across the board in all IDP formats.
D.J. Reed CB SEA
Reed is a physical corner who racks up tackles and should find opposing offenses
targeting him and the rest of the Seattle defensive secondary. He had nine TT in
Week 6 in Pittsburgh (seven solo) with a couple of PD tossed in for good measure.
Escalator Going Down
 

Linebackers
Patrick Queen BAL
The bloom is definitely off the rose for the second year LB in Charm City. 12 TT and
no big play production over the past three games is not a starting LBer’s value or the
type of fantasy point accumulation an owner seeks.
Nick Vigil MIN
Coming off a zero tackle effort on limited PT due to the return of Anthony Barr to his
starting role on the Viking defense. Nine snaps on defense is not what a starting IDP
needs to maintain a role in a viable fantasy lineup.
Zach Cunningham HOU
The Texan has been experiencing a slow but steady decline in his time on the defense
in Houston. It is looking as though the team is tired of using him full time, but will
have a hard time shipping him out due to his long-term contract. It is not as though
the Texan front office is full of great player decision making skills these days, though.
Joe Schobert PIT

Schobert was a one time a top LB, but that seems to have hit a snag since he hit the
Steel City this season. He had just a pair of tackles (one solo) last week and his
overall tackle production has been pedestrian at best.
Defensive Linemen
None to speak of, save for those on the Injury Report below.
Defensive Backs
Eric Rowe S MIA
A safety watching his time on the field diminish is a sad thing, especially if he was on
your IDP roster. Two TT (one solo) and a PD is not going to cut it for your roster, so
let Rowe drift back to the free agent market now.
Daniel Sorensen S KC
The defense in KC has not exactly been lighting the football world on fire, and
Sorensen is playing a part in that decline in production. He has been effectively
benched, picking up just a single tackle last week.
 

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 49ers or Giants, but certainly you will do well if you own a
top DB on the Browns or a DL on the Chiefs that you can plug in this week, for the
most part.
 

Inside Linebackers
Cleveland Browns vs Denver
San Francisco 49ers vs Indianapolis
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore
Outside Linebackers
New York Giants vs Carolina
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Chicago
Las Vegas Raiders vs Philadelphia
Defensive Ends
Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants

Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay
Tennessee Titans vs Kansas City
Green Bay Packers vs Washington
Defensive Tackles
Tennessee Titans vs Kansas City
Atlanta Falcons @ Miami
New Orleans Saints @ Seattle
 

Safeties
Atlanta Falcons @ Miami
Denver Broncos @ Cleveland
Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati
Los Angeles Rams vs Detroit
Cornerbacks
New England Patriots vs New York Jets
Denver Broncos @ Cleveland
Philadelphia Eagles @ Las Vegas
Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
 

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
Micah Kiser DEN
Josh Bynes BAL
Jermaine Carter CAR
Bobby Okereke IND

Derrick Barnes DET
Terrell Lewis LAR
J’Whaun Bentley NE
Defensive Linemen
Jonathan Greenard DE HOU
Kenny Clark DT GB
Defensive Backs
Amani Hooker S TEN
Jevon Holland S MIA
DeShon Elliott S BAL
Keith Taylor CB CAR
D.J. Reed CB SEA

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
Devon Kinard ARI shoulder
Kylie Fitts ARI concussion
Zaven Collins ARI shoulder
Jordan Hicks ARI toe
Tanner Vallejo ARI hand
Chandler Jones ARI illness IR-COVID
Zeke Turner ARI shoulder IR
Patrick Queen BAL thigh
Daelin Hayes BAL ankle IR
L.J. Fort BAL knee-ACL IR
Frankie Luvu CAR biceps
Shaq Green-Thompson CAR foot
Khalil Mack CHI foot

Robert Quinn CHI illness IR-COVID
Caleb Johnson CHI knee
Jeremiah Attaochu CHI pectoral IR
Jordan Evans CIN knee IR
Baron Browning DEN concussion
Jonas Griffith DEN hamstring IR
Bradley Chubb DEN ankle IR
Josey Jewell DEN pectoral IR
Natrez Patrick DEN leg IR
Charles Harris DET hip
Trey Flowers DET knee
Romeo Okwara DET Achilles IR
Shaun Dion Hamilton DET undisclosed IR
Preston Smith GB oblique
Chauncey Rivers GB knee-ACL IR
Za’Darius Smith GB back IR
Randy Ramsey GB leg IR
Kevin Pierre-Louis HOU hamstring IR
Darius Leonard IND ankle
Jordan Glasgow IND concussion IR
Myles Jack JAX back
Dylan Moses JAX knee
Anthony Hitchens KC elbow
Nicholas Morrow LV ankle IR
Javin White LV knee IR

Nick Kwiatkoski LV foot
Darron Lee LV undisclosed
Drue Tranquill LAC chest
Kenneth Murray LAC ankle IR
Justin Hollins LAR pectoral IR
Jaelan Phillips MAI ankle
Josh Uche NE shoulder
Kyle Van Noy NE thigh
Brandon King NE thigh
Dont’a Hightower NE elbow
Anfernee Jennings NE undisclosed IR
Ja’Whaun Bentley NE ribs
Cameron McGrone NE knee-ACL
Terez Hall NE undisclosed PUP
Raekwon McMillan NE knee-ACL IR
Kwon Alexander NO elbow IR
Quentin Poling NO undisclosed
Chase Hansen NO groin IR
Elerson G. Smith NYG hamstring IR
Justin Hillard NYG ankle IR
Blake Martinez NYG knee-ACL IR
T.J. Brunson NYG knee-ACL IR
C.J. Mosley NYJ hamstring
Hamsah Nasirildeen NYJ undisclosed IR
Jarrad Davis NYJ ankle IR

Marcell Harris SF thumb
Dre Greenlaw SF groin IR
Ben Burr-Kirven SEA knee-ACL IR
Jason Pierre-Paul TB shoulder
Lavonte David TB ankle
Monty Rice TEN groin
Jayon Brown TEN knee IR
Rashad Weaver TEN lower leg IR
Derick Roberson TEN knee IR
B.J. Bello TEN ankle IR
Jared Norris WA shoulder IR
Jon Bostic WAS pectoral IR
 

Defensive Linemen
DE
Zach Allen ARI illness IR-COVID
Dante Fowler ATL knee
Derek Wolfe BAL back IR
Bryan Cox BUF Achilles IR
Austin Larkin CAR groin
Akiem Hicks CHI groin
Trey Hendrickson CIN shoulder
Josh Tupou CIN knee
Khalid Kareem CIN shoulder IR
Joseph Ossai CIN knee=Meniscus IR
Wyatt Hubert CIN pectoral

Jadeveon Clowney CLE ankle
Dorance Armstrong DAL ankle
Demarcus Lawrence foot IR
Aaron Patrick DEN ankle
Nick Williams DET knee
Da’Shawn Hand DET groin IR
Michael Brockers DET shoulder
Joel Heath DET knee-ACL IR
Tyquan Lewis IND elbow
Dayo Odeyingbo IND Achilles
Kwity Paye IND hamstring
Kemoko Turay IND groin
Chris Jones KC Wrist
Joshua Kaindoh KC ankle IR
Malik Herring KC knee-ACL
Janarius Robinson lower body IR
Deatrich Wise NE knee
Chase Winovich NE hamstring
Henry Anderson NE pectoral IR
Marcus Davenport NO shoulder IR
Kyle Phillips NYJ ankle PUP
Vinny Curry NYJ illness
Carl Lawson NYJ Achilles IR
Derek Barnett PHI foot
Brandon Graham PHI Achilles IR

Calvin Taylor PIT undisclosed
Stephon Tuitt PIT undisclosed IR
Tyson Alualu PIT ankle IR
Jordan Willis SF suspension
Darrell Taylor SEA shoulder
Jalen Jelks WAS undisclosed IR
 

DT
Rashard Lawrence ARI calf
Corey Peters ARI IR-COVID
Xavier Williams ARI undisclosed
Jack Crawford ARI undisclosed IR
Deadrin Senat ATL undisclosed IR
Xavier Kelly BAL Achilles IR
Malik Jackson CLE knee
Neville Gallimore DAL elbow IR
Trysten Hill DAL knee-ACL PUP
Kevin Strong DET concussion IR
Jaleel Johnson HOU back
Vincent Taylor HOU ankle IR
Rob Windsor IND hip IR
Jay Tufele JA hand
Jarran Reed KC back
Johnathan Hankins LV hip
Gerald McCoy LV knee IR
Justin Jones LAC calf IR

John Jenkins MIA knee
Michael Pierce MIN elbow
Jaylen Twyman MIN pelvis
Davon Godchaux NE finger
Christian Barmore NE shoulder
Byron Cowart NE undisclosed PUP
Jalen Dalton NO triceps IR
David Onyemata NO suspension (out until Week 8)
Danny Shelton NYG pectoral
Carlos Davis PIT knee
Javon Kinlaw SF knee
Kevin Givens 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
Jaylinn Hawkins ATL illness
Khalil Dorsey BAL undisclosed IR
Myles Hartsfield CAR wrist IR
Tashaun Gipson CHI hip
Ricardo Allen CIN ankle

Caden Sterns DEN illness
Mike Ford DEN knee IR
Essang Bassey DEN knee-ACL PUP
Duke Dawson DEN knee-MCL, ACL PUP
Will Harris DET ribs
Corey Ballentine DET hamstring IR
Darnell Savage GB concussion
Terrance Brooks HOU chest
Julian Blackmon IND Achilles
Andrew Sendejo IND concussion
T.J. Carrie IND undisclosed IR
Tyrann Mathieu KC thumb
Dallin Leavitt LV quadriceps
Roderic Teamer LV shoulder IR
Nasir Adderley LAC hip
Dayan Ghanwoloku LAR undisclosed
Darious Williams LAR ankle IR
BranDon Jones MIA ankle
Jonathan Jones NE ankle
Adrian Phillips NE back
Kyle Dugger NE knee
Josuah Bledsoe NE wrist
Joshua Kalu NYG pectoral IR
Marcus Maye NYJ ankle
Lamarcus Joyner NYJ triceps IR

Anthony Harris PHI hand
K’Von Wallace PHI shoulder-AC joint IR
Nathan Meadows PHI hamstring
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 foot
Maurice Smith Ten undisclosed
Darrick Forrest WAS hamstring IR
 

CB
Avery Williams ATL hamstring
Isaiah Oliver ATL knee IR
Tavon Young BAL knee
Chris Westry BAL knee-Meniscus IR
Marcus Peters BAL knee-ACL IR
Iman Marshall BAL knee IR
Jaycee Horn CAR foot IR
Stephon Gilmore CAR quadriceps PUP
Juston Burris CAR groin IR
Troy Pride CAR knee-ACL IR
Jalen Davis CIN ankle
Trae Waynes CIN hamstring IR
A.J. Green CLE shoulder

M.J. Stewart CLE hamstring IR
Kelvin Joseph DAL groin IR
Maurice Canady DAL concussion
Reggie Robinson II DAL toe IR
Michael Ojemudia DEN hamstring IR
Ifeatu Melifonwu DET thigh IR
Jeff Okudah DET Achilles
Kevin King GB shoulder
Jaire Alexander GB shoulder-AC joint IR
Will Redmond GB toe IR
Rock Ya-Sin IND ankle
Tyson Campbell JAX toe
Charvarius Ward KC quadriceps
Damon Arnette LV groin IR
Trayvon Mullen LV toe IR
Xavien Howard MIA shoulder
Byron Jones MIA Achilles
Patrick Peterson MIN hamstring IR
Harrison Hand MIN undisclosed IR-COVID
Jalen Mills NE hamstring
Shaun Wade NE concussion
Keith Washington NO wrist
Ken Crawley NO hamstring IR
RoDarius Williams NYG knee-ACL IR
Aaron Robinson NYG abdomen PUP

Quincy Wilson NYG ankle IR
Zane Lewis NYJ knee-MCL IR
DeMarkus Acy PIT knee-ACL IR
Sidney Jones SEA chest
Richard Sherman TB hamstring
Carlton Davis TB quadriceps
Sean Murphy-Bunting TB elbow IR
Caleb Farley TEN knee-ACL IR
Kristian Fulton TEN hamstring IR
William Jackson WAS knee
Greg Stroman WAS undisclosed
Darryl Roberts WAS quadriceps IR
Torry 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.