Yippee, the bye week horror is past us. And there are plenty of rising IDP to consider adding to your fantasy playoff rosters. So let us just get to the information, so you can prepare for the three Thanksgiving Day contests that are arriving anon.
Bye Weeks coming up: None. Isn’t life grand?
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Zach Cunningham HOU
The Texan linebacker racked up 16 total tackles (TT), with 13 of those tackles being of the solo variety. He is not much for big-play value, however, but in tackle-oriented leagues, he is extraordinarily valuable.
Marcus Golden NYG
Golden collected another sack against the host Bears, giving him 7.5 on the season. He also contributed with a QH and four TT (three solo). Three of the tackles were for a loss of yardage (TFL).
Neville Hewitt NYJ
Hewitt returned from a neck injury a week ago, and since that time has been an every-sown LB for the Jets (well, to be accurate, every down but one last week, but why quibble?). He had seven TT at home against the Raiders (four solo), and tossed in a pass deflection (PD) and a QB hit/hurry (QH), for those looking for big play production.
Jarrad Davis DET
The Lion defense has been disappointing overall this season, but Davis has been productive for his fantasy owners. Last week, he grabbed eight TT (six solo, two TFL) with a sack and a couple of QH as additional benefits. The Lions take on the visiting Bears early Thanksgiving Day, so there could be some gratitude from IDP players by the time the turkey is carved Thursday.
Cole Holcomb WAS
On the other side of the line in Week 12 where Davis was rolling up fantasy points, Holcomb was equally valuable: 13 TT (seven solo, one TFL), a sack and two QH. He has a great matchup against the Panthers on the schedule in Week 13, so now is a fine time to snatch him off the wire. Just be advised that Week 14, Holcomb heads to Green Bay where fantasy production by LBs has been sparse.
Jayon Brown TEN
Brown is another LB that put up double-digit tackle numbers in Week 12 with 15 TT (11 solo). This week’s opponent, the host Colts, are ranked fifth on the season in terms of allowing fantasy points to opposing linebackers.
Fred Warner SF
Much praise has been lauded on the 49er defense so far this season, with good reason, and Warner is a pass-rushing talent that is a part of that production. He is coming off an 11 solo tackle effort (one TFL) where he also forced a fumble (FF), a QH and collected another sack, his third in the past three contests. Be aware that he may not be available for pickup off the wire as he is owned in about 1/3 of leagues.
Defensive Linemen
Shaq Lawson DE BUF
Lawson has been a good edge rusher with three sacks in his past two games. He is playing significant snaps on defense lately, so the sack production could continue.
Cameron Heyward DE PIT
Heyward provides production for both tackle-oriented and big play leagues. In Week 12, he collected six TT (two solo, one TFL) along with a sack and four QH. The next couple of weeks are not great matchups for DE production, but his overall ability makes him a dependable option at DL.
Sam Hubbard DE CIN
Remember when he was profiled way back in Week 2’s IDP Report? Probably not. The Bengals are going through a tough season, to be sure, but Hubbard is seeing the bulk of the snaps on defense and is a consistent source of tackles for his fantasy owners. He had six TT last week (four solo, one TFL) and despite the team playing from behind consistently, also contributes with the occasional PD and/or sack, providing one of each against the Steelers in Week 12.
Roman Okwara DE DET
With the Lion defense banged up, Okwara is seeing extra time on the field. He collected five solo tackles against Washington in our nation’s capital last week, and now takes on the Bears on Thanksgiving who should be running the ball against the host Lions.
Arik Armstead DE SF
The 49er DE was profiled way back in Week 3, but deserves another mention in case you have forgotten about him. He collected a pair of sacks in Week 12 against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and is the top pass rusher for San Fran. Putting up four QH and five TT (two solo, one TFL) is more than just sauce for the goose. If you did not pick him up after his Week 3 profile, do so now.
Everson Griffen DE MIN
Griffen has been a consistent source of sack production this season, with seven to date, and four in his past five games played. He is also contributing steady tackle numbers, averaging 4+ per game over that same five game period.
Sheldon Richardson DT CLE
Richardson had two sacks this past week against Miami, but filled up the stat sheet other than that, too, with a FF, PD, two QH and five TT (four solo, one TFL). He has a pair of good matchups on the schedule coming up, as well, with the Steelers hosting the Browns in what is sure to be a grudge match this week, and then the in-state rivalry with the Bengals coming to Cleveland.
Davon Godchaux DT MIA
The Dolphins turned to Godchaux, and he saw 79% of the snaps on defense in Week 12 in Cleveland, turning in a seven TT effort (four solo) while also tallying a half a sack and a pair of QH. In a DT-mandatory league, if his snap count stays high, he is worth picking up.
Lawrence Guy DT NE
Another DL to consider in DT-required leagues, Guy is a steady tackle producer, but also provides occasional big-play production.
Defensive Backs
Eric Reid S CAR
Reid put up huge numbers against the Saints, with 15 TT, 11 of those solos and one TFL. He was also able to deflect a pass from Drew Brees . Week 13’s matchup is decent, but in Week 14 he gets to go up against the Falcons, the second most generous offense with regard to safety production.
Kenny Vaccaro S TEN
Vaccaro is an every down DB for the Titans, and putting up excellent, sustained tackle production in nearly every contest, with 60 TT over the season (36 solo). If you need an injury replacement or a DB2 to replace an underperforming IDP, he is well worth consideration.
Derwin James /Adrian Phillips S LAC
James and Phillips are able to return from IR status, but you will need to monitor their status. Phillips is a LB that qualifies as a DB, so the potential value is great. James was a DB1 last season, so picking him up now would be a savvy move.
Julian Love S NYG
Jabrill Peppers , the former starting strong safety for the Giants, is dealing with a fracture in his back. Thus, the door opens for Love to step up. He could split time with Michael Thomas as SS, but it was Love that saw the bulk of the defensive snaps in place of Peppers, and the Giant SS is a productive IDP role traditionally.
Carlton Davis CB TB
Davis had a big week against the Falcons, snagging an INT and five (!) PD in Week 12. With five solo tackles, he was an across the board performer in the defensive backfield. Three of his matchups in the next four weeks project out as favorable, which should be a consideration with the fantasy playoff season upon us.
Adoree’ Jackson CB TEN
Jackson is another DB that will see a bigger role with an injury to a fellow player, in this case Malcolm Butler . He rolled up 12 TT against the Jags in Week 12 (10 solo, one TFL) with a PD. Note, though, that he is dealing with a calf issue although is not on the injury report below as of publication.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
None to speak of this week, save for the IDP on the Injury Report below.
Defensive Linemen
Jabaal Sheard DE IND
While Sheard did put up some big plays in Week 12 with a pair of QH and a PD, his recent run as an IDP has been less than stellar. In his past four games, he has just six TT, a sack and two PD, and single digit fantasy production per contest from an edge-rusher is simply not acceptable.
Takkarist McKinley DE ATL
He is in the injury report below, with a shoulder injury, and since the Falcons play on Thursday, he is a real risky start, even without his lack of production this season.
Sheldon Rankins DT NO
Rankins is not being relegated to the bench, but certainly is not showing up on the stat sheet. He has been shut out with zero TT over the past five games he has played.
Defensive Backs
Josh Norman CB WAS
Norman was benched and relegated to special teams, resulting in a huge goose egg for a stat line in Week 12. It is a revenge game in Week 13 with Carolina hosting Washington in Week 13, but it is difficult to trust him right now.
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 Giants or Falcons, but certainly you will do well if you own a top DL on the Colts that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
New York Giants vs Green Bay
Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans
Carolina Panthers vs Washington
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Jacksonville
Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee
Defensive Ends
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis
New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Houston Texans vs New England
Carolina Panthers vs Washington
Defensive Tackles
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis
Miami Dolphins vs Philadelphia
Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle
Safeties
Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans
Baltimore Ravens vs San Francisco
Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver
New York Giants vs Green Bay
Chicago Bears @ Detroit
San Francisco 49ers @ Baltimore
Cornerbacks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Jacksonville
Seattle Seahawks vs Minnesota
Cincinnati Bengals vs New York Jets
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
Zach Cunningham HOU
Marcus Golden NYG
Neville Hewitt NYJ
Jarrad Davis DET
Cole Holcomb WAS
Jayon Brown TEN
Fred Warner SF
Defensive Linemen
Shaq Lawson DE BUF
Cameron Heyward DE PIT
Sam Hubbard DE CIN
Roman Okwara DE DET
Arik Armstead DE SF
Everson Griffen DE MIN
Sheldon Richardson DT CLE
Davon Godchaux DT MIA
Lawrence Guy DT NE
Defensive Backs
Eric Reid S CAR
Kenny Vaccaro S TEN
Derwin James S LAC
Adrian Phillips S LAC
Julian Love S NYG
Carlton Davis CB TB
Adoree’ Jackson CB TEN
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
Brooks Reed ARI hamstring IR
Danny Trevathan CHI elbow
Leighton Vander Esch DAL neck
Justin Hollins DEN hamstring
Von Miller DEN knee
Josey Jewell DEN ankle
Dylan Cole HOU knee-ACL IR
Myles Jack JAX knee
Najee Goode JAX knee IR
Drue Tranquill LAC calf
Natrez Patrick LAR illness
Ben Gedeon MIN concussion
C.J. Mosley NYJ groin
Paul Worrilow NYJ quadriceps
Anthony Nelson TB hamstring
Cameron Wake TEN undisclosed IR
Ryan Kerrigan WAS concussion
Defensive Linemen
DE
Jonathan Bullard ARI foot
Takkarist McKinley ATL shoulder
Olivier Vernon CLE knee
Trey Flowers DET concussion
Da’Shawn Hand DET ankle
Carlos Watkins HOU hamstring
Josh Allen JAX knee
Calais Campbell JAX back
Lerentee McCray JAX hamstring IR
Alex Okafor KC ankle
Emmanuel Ogbah KC pectoral IR
L.T. Walton PIT knee-meniscus IR
Damontre Moore SF forearm IR
Dee Ford SF hamstring
Jadeveon Clowney SEA hip
DT
Michael Pierce BAL ankle
Dontari Poe CAR quadriceps IR
Antwaun Woods DAL knee-MCL
Shelby Harris DEN ankle
Damon Harrison DET knee
Linval Joseph MIN knee-meniscus
Jullian Taylor SF jaw
Jarran Reed SEA ankle
Beau Allen TB neck
Daron Payne WAS ankle
Defensive Backs
S
Tramaine Brock ARI hamstring
Sharrod Neasman ATL shoulder
Brynden Trawick BAL elbow IR
Ross Cockrell CAR quadriceps
Sherrick McManis CHI groin
Eric Murray CLE knee
Morgan Burnett CLE Achilles IR
Jeff Heath DAL shoulder
Duke Dawson DEN concussion
Tracy Walker DET knee
Mike Adams HOU concussion
Khari Willis IND concussion
Ronnie Harrison JAX concussion
Jordan Lucas KC shoulder
Derwin James LAC foot IR
Adrian Phillips LAC forearm IR
Darious Williams LAR ankle
Ken Webster MIA ankle
Reshad Jones MIA undisclosed IR
Bobby McCain MIA shoulder IR
Anthony Harris MIN groin
Harrison Smith MIN hamstring
Patrick Chung NE heel
Jabrill Peppers NYG hip
Matthias Farley MYJ quadriceps
Lamarcus Joyner OAK hamstring
Rudy Ford PHI Achilles IR
Neiko Thorpe SEA groin
Sean Murphy-Bunting TB knee
Justin Evans TB foot IR
Deshazor Everett WAS head
CB
Dre Kirkpatrick CIN knee IR
Anthony Brown DAL triceps IR
Shakial Taylor DEN ankle
Bryce Callahan DEN foot IR
Rashaan Melvin DET ribs
Jamal Agnew DET ankle
Bradley Roby HOU hamstring
Lonnie Johnson HOU ankle
Rock Ya-Sin IND ankle
Kendall Fuller KC thumb
Ken Crawley MIA shoulder
Jason McCourty NE groin
Marshon Lattimore NO hamstring
Darryl Roberts NYJ calf
Cre’von LeBlanc PHI foot-IR
Artie Burns PIT knee
Ahkello Witherspoon SF calf
M.J. Stewart TB knee
Chris Milton TEN undisclosed IR
LeShaun Sims TEN ankle
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. FANation Chat is now live on the site, to help you work through your fantasy football dilemmas. Or 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.