Week 7 brings a virtual cornucopia of IDP options to choose from, a welcome change from what we had been seeing. You have your pick of linebackers to shore up your squad(s), as well as a boat load of DBs and plenty of defensive linesmen. Let us move on to see what is available this coming week, and going forward.

Bye Weeks coming up: Detroit, Houston

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Mychal Kendricks PHI

Nigel Bradham PHI

Deion Jones ATL

Matthew Judon BAL

Lavonte David TB

Thomas Davis CAR

John Simon IND

Hayes Pullard III LAC

Craig Robertson NO

Kendricks stepped up his game in Week 6 when Jordan Hicks left with an injury, posting 17 total tackles (12 solo) with a tackle for a loss of yards (TFL) thrown in for good measure. If Hicks is out for any significant time, Kendricks will be a three-down LB and could resume a primary role in the Philly defense.

Bradham, Hendrick’s fellow LB, also benefitted from the Hicks injury, logging 78 snaps in Week 6 against the Panthers, the most time he has seen on defense all season. He collected 10 total tackles (seven solo) with two passes defended (PD). Week 7 he faces Washington, which is a decent if not great matchup.

Second year player Jones had a nice week against the Dolphins, racking up 11 tackles (six solo) with and interception (INT) and a pair of quarterback hurries/hits (QH). Atlanta faces New England on the road for a good matchup, as the Pats are ranked ninth with regard to points allowed to opposing LBs.

Judon had a defensive explosion in Week 6, collecting two sacks, and two QH, to go with his 14 total tackles (12 solo, four TFL). He is now a starter for the Ravens and gets to face the Patriots in Week 7, ranked 10th with regard to points allowed to opposing LBs.

David finally returned to the field after a quick recovery from his ankle sprain, and spread his fantasy production across the board: three solo tackles, one TFL, two forced fumbles (FF), one fumble recovery (FR) and scored on that recovered fumble. He has been dropped in a ton of leagues with his injury, and you should rush to the free agent/waiver wire list to grab him now.

Davis has a chance to be an every down LB with Luke Kuechly’s status being uncertain for Week 7. Matching u against a Bears team that likes to run the ball, that should result in exceptional opportunity for tackle production in Week 7. He is coming off a six total tackle (four solo) and one sack night against the Eagles in Week 6 after playing 55 snaps.

Simon racked up 11 total tackles against the Titans in Week 6 (six solo) and now gets to face the Jags, who are ranked 6th through Week 6 against opposing LBs. He also had a sack, PD and INT as well as scoring a TD against Tennessee. He is available in most leagues and with the tasty matchup, should become a priority pickup across fantasy leagues.

Pullard may be listed as a depth LB on the Charger depth chart, but he is playing the bulk of the snap at the inside position (93%). He snagged an important INT in Week 6, leading off a San Diego rally against the host Raiders. He also collected 10 total tackles (only two solo, however) with a PD. He is heading to a good matchup against the Broncos in Week 7 at home, too.

Robertson winds up the linebackers to consider in Week 7, and is someone to consider in tackle-heavy leagues. He is going to see an uptick in defensive snaps with the injury to Alex Anzalone, and thus is worth snapping up off the wire. He posted 11 total tackles in Week 6 (four solo) with a sack and PD, to boot. He has a so-so matchup against Green Bay on the road, but the Packers will be a different team without Aaron Rodgers under center.

Defensive Linemen

Myles Garrett DE CLE

Akiem Hicks DE CHI

Brooks Reed DE ATL

Cameron Wake DE MIA

Alex Okafor DE NO

Michael Brockers DT LAR

Solomon Thomas DT SF

Garrett was in the game for about half the snaps on defense during Week 6’s matchup against the Texans, but still managed to amass five total tackles (two solo, two TFL) with a sack and four QH. He is still recovering from an ankle injury, so that is the reason the team is being cautious with his playing time, but look for that to resolve itself in the near future, with his snap count hopefully going up.

Hicks has a great matchup against the Panthers in Week 7, who as a team allow the fifth most fantasy points to opposing DEs. He also collected a sack in Week 6 against the Colts, his third in the last two weeks. He is not much for tackles with just 9 on the season, but the big play potential makes him a good addition to your fantasy IDP squad.

Reed plays well against his Week 7 opponent, the Patriots, and while his tackle numbers are inconsistent from week to week, he does have three sacks on the season. This is a good week to start him, considering how well he has played against New England in the past.

Wake has had at least a partial sack in each of the past four weeks, and collected another in Week six against the Falcons. He also had two solo tackles, one TFL and two QH in Week 6. He may be 35 years old, but he still has gas in the tank.

Okafor has had two sacks in the past three games, and gets to face the Packers in Week 7 without Aaron Rodgers. He is not a tackle monster with just 19 total tackles this season (but 16 solo), but in big play leagues, he is at least an LB3 this coming week.

Brockers has quietly accumulated 25 total tackles over the course of the first six weeks of the season, as well as two sacks and two PD. He now gets to take on the Cardinals and their very sackable QB Carson Palmer in Week 7. Unfortunately, he is on bye in Week 8, so this is a short-term pickup.

Thomas is coming off a superb performance against a tough opponent in Washington, where he gathered in nine total tackles (seven solo, two TFL) and a sack, as well as one QH. The Cowboys, who he faces in Week 7, are not a great matchup, but his next three opponents (Eagles, Cardinals and Giants) are all good sources for DT fantasy points, so even if you do not grab him now, keep him in mind going forward.

Defensive Backs

Harrison Smith S MIN

Justin Simmons S DEN

Morgan Burnett S GB

Sean Davis S PIT

Justin Evans S TB

Adrian Amos S CHI

Eli Apple CB NYG

TJ Carrie CB OAK

Morris Claiborne CB NYJ

Malcolm Butler CB NE

Trae Waynes CB MIN

Smith may not be posting the tackle numbers you want from your safety with just 32 total on the season (23 solo), but he is certainly a DB you want to consider in big play leagues. He is coming off a week where he had 1.5 sacks, five total tackles (three solo, one TFL), two QH, an INT and two PD against division rival Green Bay. The Ravens are not a great matchup this week, but Cleveland in Week 8 looks more promising.

Simmons is coming off a highly productive week, collecting 11 total tackles (all solo, two TFL) with a pair of PD tossed in to sweeten the pot. He played all 54 defensive snaps, and looks to be a full time player going forward.

Burnett is a steady tackle producer, but not much for big plays. He faces New Orleans at home this week, and while that is not exactly a great matchup, his stead production makes him worth consideration if you are dealing with injury or bye week issues. He does have 29 total tackles in 2017 (19 solo) with two PD.

Davis, as with Burnett above, has little to no value in big play leagues. He does have 30 total tackles this year (24 solo) with two PD, and has a great matchup in Week 17 against the Bengals, ranked second in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing safeties. He is fresh off an eight total tackle effort against the Chiefs, with six of those tackles being of the solo variety. He also collected a PD in that contest.

Evans has stepped in as the starter in place of injured Keith Tandy, and looks to keep that role until Tandy is ready to resume him role as starting free safety. As a short-term DB answer for your team, he is a viable answer, and recently put up a seven total tackle effort (six solo, one TFL) with a PD, albeit against the Cardinals.

Amos has been a producer for the Bears on defense, adding solid tackle numbers due to the depletion of their linebackers. He has eight total tackles in Week 6 against the Ravens (six solo, one TFL), and two PD. He also had an INT that he took to the end zone, the first of his brief career in the NFL.

Apple leads off the list of cornerbacks to consider adding to your roster in Week 7. He had been having a mediocre season, and was in jeopardy of being benched, but a five solo tackle, three PD and one FR night in Denver seems to have saved his spot in the starting defensive backfield for the nonce. If you own him, keep an eye on his status.

Carrie put up eight total tackles in Week 6 against the visiting Chargers, with a QH and two PD. He plays the slot corner position, and with the other outside corners struggling, has been the most consistent CB for Oakland. He also should see tackle opportunities, as the Oakland linebacking crew is not extremely strong. Be aware that his next two opponents, the Chiefs and then the Bills (on the road) are not great matchups for corners.

Claiborne has the duty to cover the opposing team’s No. 1 WR, and has been rewarded with ample opportunity to not only provide tackle numbers but big plays as well. He had seven solo tackles in Week 6 against New England (27 total tackles in 2017, 20 solo) and also has accumulated five PD and one INT over six games. His next two opponents, the Dolphins on the road and the Falcons at home are mid-tier teams when it comes to allowing points to opposing CBs.

Butler has been producing extremely well as a starting corner for the Patriots, and snagged his second INT of the season against the Jets in Week 6, together with a trio of PD and four solo tackles. He has a tasty matchup in Week 7 against the Packers in Green Bay.

Waynes has a nice couple of games coming up, facing the Ravens at home and then heading to Cleveland. He has been gathering in great tackle numbers with 38 total over his first six games of the season, and also adding big play potential, with four PD and two INT in 2017, one INT coming against the Packers in Week 6, admittedly against new starting Green Bay signal caller Brett Hundley.

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Mason Foster WAS

Foster’s tackle numbers are way down this season, likely due to the addition of Zack Brown to the linebacking crew. He had just three tackles in Week 6, a drastic decline from his early season production.

Defensive Linemen

Muhammad Wilkerson DE NYJ

Yannick Ngakoue DE JAX

Wilkerson has been dealing with shoulder and toe injuries, leading to the drop off in his production this season. He has just 17 total tackles in 2017 (nine solo) and no sacks through the first six games of the season. Until he is healthy, he belongs on the bench or the wire.

Ngakoue has been playing a ton of snaps (309 on defense, 32 on special teams) but the tackle production has not been there, with just 11 total tackles so far through six games (eight solo). He does have four sacks, but those have come in pairs in two games and he is three games removed from recording a sack.

Defensive Backs

Josh Jones S GB

Chris Conte S TB

Jones is hard to trust right now with him being listed as the backup to Morgan Burnett at strong safety on the depth chart. He is not providing consistent tackle production, with most of his tackle numbers coming from a Week 3 game against the Bengals where he had an amazing 12 total tackles (11 solo). It has been less beneficial in terms of IDP stats since that contest, however, although the rookie is worth holding onto in keeper or dynasty leagues.

Conte saw his snap count cut basically in half in Week 6, giving way to T.J. Ward and rookie Justin Evans (see his profile above). If he does not regain a full-time starter’s role, he is not worth rolling out week to week.

Matchups to Exploit

Remember, the second team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. Do not go crazy, and play a LB5 against the Browns, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the Titans, Panthers or Vikings that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Linebackers

Tennessee @ Cleveland

Carolina @ Chicago

Tampa Bay @ Buffalo

Minnesota v Baltimore

Indianapolis v Jacksonville

Defensive Ends

Los Angeles Chargers v Denver

Tampa Bay @ Buffalo

Chicago v Carolina

Seattle @ New York Giants

Oakland v Kansas City

Los Angeles Rams v Arizona

Defensive Tackles

Los Angeles Rams v Arizona

Philadelphia v Washington

Pittsburgh v Cincinnati

Safeties

Carolina @ Chicago

Pittsburgh v Cincinnati

Buffalo v Tampa Bay

New York Jets @ Miami

New England v Atlanta

Cornerbacks

Tennessee @ Cleveland

Los Angeles Chargers v Denver

New Orleans @ Green Bay

Los Angeles Rams v Arizona

Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh

Waiver Wire Targets

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

Mychal Kendricks PHI

Nigel Bradham PHI

Deion Jones ATL

Matthew Judon BAL

Lavonte David TB

Thomas Davis CAR

John Simon IND

Hayes Pullard III LAC

Craig Robertson NO

Defensive Linesmen

Myles Garrett DE CLE

Akiem Hicks DE CHI

Brooks Reed DE ATL

Cameron Wake DE MIA

Alex Okafor DE NO

Michael Brockers DT LAR

Solomon Thomas DT SF

Defensive Backs

Justin Simmons S DEN

Morgan Burnett S GB

Sean Davis S PIT

Justin Evans S TB

Adrian Amos S CHI

Eli Apple CB NYG

TJ Carrie CB OAK

Morris Claiborne CB NYJ

Malcolm Butler CB NE

Trae Waynes CB MIN

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

Jermaine Grace ATL hamstring

Tim Williams BAL thigh

Ramon Humber BUF thumb

Luke Kuechly CAR concussion

John Timu CHI knee

Nick Kwiatkoski CHI pectoral

James Burgess CLE knee

Sean Lee DAL hamstring

Paul Worrilow DET knee (MCL)

Ahmad Brooks GB back

Joe Thomas GB ankle

Ben Heeney HOU knee

Dylan Cole HOU hamstring

Anthony Walker IND hamstring

Brandon Watts MIA back

Anthony Barr MIN concussion

Harvey Langi NE back

Bryan Braman NO undisclosed

Jonathan Casillas NYG neck

Corey Lemonier NYJ foot

Cory James OAK knee

Marquel Lee OAK ankle

Nicholas Morrow OAK ankle

Jordan Hicks PHI ankle

Vince Williams PIT hip

Dekoda Watson SF groin

Reuben Foster SF ankle

Kwon Alexander TB hamstring

Derrick Morgan TEN abdomen

Kevin Dodd TEN undisclosed

Defensive Linemen

DE

Xavier Williams ARI knee

Robert Nkemdiche ARI calf

Courtney Upshaw ATL ankle

Brandon Williams BAL foot

Carl Davis ATL hamstring

Olivier Vernon NYG ankle

Anthony Johnson NYJ undisclosed

Cliff Avril SEA neck

Michael Bennett SEA foot

Aaron Lynch SF calf

Ryan Russell TB shoulder

Jonathan Allen WAS foot

DT

Olsen Pierre ARI ankle

Marcell Dareus BUF personal

Corey Liuget LAC back

Destiny Vaeao PHI wrist

Defensive Backs

S

Kurt Coleman CAR knee (MCL)

Demetrious Cox CAR ankle

Chris Prosinski CHI hamstring

Shawn Williams CIN elbow

Derron Smith CIN ankle

Ed Reynolds CLE knee

Glover Quin DET concussion

Morgan Burnett GB hamstring

Corey Moore HOU concussion

Adrian Phillips LAC neck

Lamarcus Joyner LAR hamstring

Andrew Sendejo MIN groin

Chris Maragos PHI knee

Jaylen Watkins PHI hamstring

Josh Robinson TB concussion

Keith Tandy TB hip

Johnathan Cyprien TEN hamstring

Su'a Cravens WAS personal

Deshazor Everett WAS hamstring

Stefan McClure WAS knee

CB

Patrick Peterson ARI quadriceps

Jaylen Hill BAL thigh

E.J. Gaines BUF groin

Leonard Johnson BUF hamstring

Sherrick McManis CHI leg

Adam Jones CIN back

Dre Kirkpatrick CIN shoulder

Chidobe Awuzie DAL hamstring

Davon House GB quadriceps

Kevin King GB concussion

Kevin Johnson HOU knee

Chris Culliver IND undisclosed

Rashaan Melvin IND calf

Darryl Morris IND undisclosed

Tevin Mitchel IND abdomen

Troy Hill LAR shoulder

Byron Maxwell MIA foot

Stephon Gilmore NE concussion

Eric Rowe NE groin

Michael Hunter NYG hamstring

Gareon Conley OAK shin

Ronald Darby PHI ankle

Jeremy Lane SEA groin

Josh Norman WAS ribs

Bashaud Breeland WAS knee (MCL)

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, I can be reached at ia@fantasyalarm.com.