With the conclusion of this week’s action, we will be half way through the fantasy football season. Just a couple of hiccups so far, knock on wood. Now is the time to pick up your action, replacing those deadwood draft picks that just are panning out for you, and finding replacements that will potentially propel your squad into the playoffs. So, let us take a gander at those up and coming options in the IDP world.

Bye Weeks coming up: Week 7-Baltimore, Indianapolis, Miami, Minnesota; Week 8-Arizona, Houston, Jacksonville, Washington; Week 9-Cincinnati, Cleveland, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Malik Reed DEN

Note that Reed is listed as a DE on ESPN, and getting a LB at DE is a bonus generally. Especially as he is coming off a five total tackle effort (TT) with three solos, and two for a loss of yardage (TFL). He also contributed a pair of sacks against the host Patriots, with a trio of QB hits/hurries (QH). Not bad for a LB but superb for a DL.

Ja’Whaun Bentley NE

On the other side of the field in the game in Foxboro, Bentley also had a fine game, racking up 12 TT (eight solo, two TFL) against the Broncos. He chipped in a half a sack and a pair of QH to fill out his stat line. He has a great matchup this coming week, taking on the 49ers at home.

Alex Singleton PHI

Singleton is beginning to pick up the pace, coming off a nine TT effort at home against the Ravens, with four solo tackles. He is seeing his playing time (PT) increase as the season progresses, so in tackle-heavy leagues, he is gaining value.

Devin White TB

Green Bay’s offense struggled against a tenacious Tampa Bay defense in Week 6, and White rebounded with a double-digit tackle effort (nine solo, three TFL). He also collected a pair of QH and a sack of Aaron Rodgers . The production could level off against this week against the Raiders, but then he has the Giants on tap for another potential big game.

Dre Greenlaw SF

Greenlaw will be a useful LB so long as Kwon Alexander is dealing with his high ankle sprain. He was credited with seven solos in Week 6 against the visiting Rams (one TFL), and the Patriots are a mid-level opponent for LB point production in Week 7.

Robert Spillane PIT

Our final LB this time around, Spillane is taking on an every down LB role for the Steelers, now that Devin Bush is gone for the balance of the season. If he can hold onto that role in the Pittsburgh defense, he should be a good source of tackles going forward.

Defensive Linemen

Melvin Ingram DE LAC

Ingram is expected to be activated for the Week 7 contest against the Jaguars, and even with his snap count being limited, he is a force on defense. He is also owned in just a handful of leagues, and this is the ideal time to snap him up before your fellow owners realize he is back in action.

Jeffrey Simmons DT TEN

If you are in need of a DT in those mandatory leagues, Simmons has a mid-level matchup in Week 7, but then has two great opportunities with the Bengals and Bears on the schedule. He contributed big time against the visiting Texans last week: six TT (four solo, one TFL), a sack and two QH. The big play and tackle production is a huge bonus from a DT.

Defensive Backs

Khari Willis S IND

Willis put up 10 TT, all solos, against the Bengals in Week 6. He also added a pass deflection (PD). He is on bye in Week 7, unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately since any owner that has snapped him up may be forced to let him drop this week.

Terrence Mitchell CB CLE

Week 7 sees the Browns heading to the Queen City, and the Bengals are yielding the most points to opposing CBs of any NFL franchise this season to date. Mitchell is an every down DB, so this is an ideal matchup for him.

Michael Ojemodia CB DEN

The rookie stepped into a starting role due to injury, and is coming off a big week with seven solo tackles and a pair of forced fumbles (FF) as well as PD against the host Patriots. Week 7 has a good home contest against the Chiefs, who rank 8th in terms of points allowed to opposing CBs on the season.

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

None to write about this week, except for those in the Injury Report below.

Defensive Linemen

Carlos Dunlap DE CIN

His role on the defensive line for the Bengals makes him a liability in your IDP lineup. He collected a single solo tackle in Week 6, and there are much better options to feature going forward.

Dante Fowler , Jr. DE ATL

Mimicking the player discussed just above, Fowler managed to post just a single solo in his most recent effort. Recent production has been lacking, with just five TT over is last four games played. 

Ryan Kerrigan DE WAS

He put up what could be considered a decent stat line last week, with a sack and QH, at least in big-play leagues, but a single solo tackle, albeit for a loss of yards, is not going to cut it. Especially with other teammates putting up much better production, such as Chase Young and Montez Sweat .

Defensive Backs

Harrison Smith S MIN

Smith’s star is not shining bright, with Week 6 delivering just two solo tackles for his owners. In fact, he has just four TT (three solo) over his last two games despite playing 133 snaps over that period.

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 Cowboys, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the 49ers, a DT or CB on the Browns or a safety on the Lions that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Linebackers

Washington vs Dallas

San Francisco @ New England

Defensive Ends

Philadelphia vs New York Giants

Seattle @ Arizona

Defensive Tackles 

Cincinnati vs Cleveland

Las Vegas vs Tampa Bay

Safeties

Atlanta vs Detroit

New England vs San Francisco

Buffalo @ New York Jets

Cornerbacks

Cincinnati vs Cleveland

Dallas @ Washington

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

Malik Reed DEN

Ja’Whaun Bentley NE

Alex Singleton PHI

Devin White TB (Owned in 61.9% of ESPN leagues, “just” 48% of Yahoo leagues)

Dre Greenlaw SF

Robert Spillane PIT

Defensive Linemen

Melvin Ingram DE LAC

Jeffrey Simmons DT TEN

Defensive Backs

Khari Willis S IND

Terrence Mitchell CB CLE

Michael Ojemodia CB DEN

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

Kylie Fitts ARI hamstring

Chandler Jones ARI biceps IR

Otaro Alaka BAL knee IR

Tyrel Dodson BUF hamstring

Matt Milano BUF pectoral

Del’Shawn Phillips BUF quadriceps IR

Jacob Phillips CLE knee

Jeremiah Attaochu DEN quadriceps

Mark Barron DEN hamstring IR

Kamal Martin GB knee-meniscus IR

Peter Kalambayi HOU hamstring

Bernardrick McKinney HOU shoulder IR

Darius Leonard IND groin

Matthew Adams IND ankle IR

Myles Jack JAX ankle

Tanner Muse LVR toe IR

Asmar Bilal LAC calf IR

Uchenna Nwosu LAC undisclosed

Obo Okoronkwo LAR elbow IR

Kyle Van Noy MIA groin

Andrew Van Ginkel MIA concussion

Kamu Grugier-Hill MIA hand

Troy Dye MIN foot IR

Chase Hansen NO hip IR

Tae Crowder NYG hamstring IR

Lorenzo Carter NYG Achilles IR

Oshane Ximines NYG shoulder IR

Frankie Luvu NYJ groin IR

Patrick Onwuasor NYJ knee IR

Duke Riley PHI ribs

T.J. Edwards PHI hamstring IR

Devin Bush PIT knee-ACL

Kwon Alexander SF ankle

Jordan Brooks SEA knee-MCL

Jack Cichy TB hamstring IR

Reuben Foster WAS knee IR

Defensive Linemen

DE

Takkarist McKinley ATL groin

John Cominsky ATL illness IR- COVID

Derek Wolfe BAL concussion

Yetur Gross-Matos CAR ankle IR

Sam Hubbard CIN elbow IR

DeMarcus Walker DEN calf IR

Josh Allen JAX knee

Josh Mauro JAX illness IR-COVID

Alex Okafor KC hamstring

Michael Danna Kc hamstring IR

Carl Nassib LVR toe

Melvin Ingram LAC knee IR

Joey Bosa LAC ankle 

Danielle Hunger MIN neck IR

Derek Rivers NE illness IR-COVID

Jabari Zuniga NYJ quadriceps IR

Ezekiel Ansah SF biceps IR

DT

Richard Lawrence ARI calf IR

Marlon Davidson ATL illness IR-COVID

Brandon Williams BAL illness IR-COVID

Kawann Short CAR shoulder IR

D.J. Reader CIN quadriceps IR

Trysten Hill DAL knee-ACL IR

Tyler Lancaster GB shoulder

Abry Jones JAX ankle

Khalen Saunders KC elbow

Michael Danna KC hamstring IR

Maliek Collins LVR shoulder

Justin Jones LAC shoulder IR

Raekwon Davis MIA shoulder

Davon Godchaux MIA biceps IR

Byron Cowart NE illness IR-COVID

Adam Butler NE elbow

Michael Barnett NE undisclosed IR

Beau Allen NE undisclosed IR

Malik Jackson PHI quadriceps

Anthony Bush SEA knee

Khalil Davis TB ankle

Vita Vea TB ankle IR

Defensive Backs

S

Jalen Thompson ARI ankle IR

Jaylinn Hawkins ATL concussion

Damontae Kazee ATL Achilles IR

Anthony Levine BAL abdomen

Juston Burris CAR ribs IR

Deon Bush CHI hamstring

Karl Joseph CLE hamstring

Ronnie Harrison CLE concussion

Parry Nickerson GB hamstring IR

Darnell Savage GB quadriceps

Jarrod Wilson JAX hamstring

Andrew Wingard JAX abdomen IR

Lamarcus Joyner LVR hamstring

Jordan Fuller LAR neck IR

Holton Hill MIN foot

Kris Boyd MIN hamstring

Myles Dorn MIN undisclosed IR

Justin Hardee NO hamstring

Adrian Colbert NYG shoulder

Marcus Epps PHI ribs

K’Von Wallace PHI shoulder

Rudy Ford PHI hamstring IR

Jaquiski Tartt SF groin

Jamal Adams SEA groin

Lano Hill SEA back 

Dane Cruikschank TEN undisclosed 

CB

Anthony Averett BAL upper body

Cam Lewis BUF wrist

Lovi Wallace BUF ankle IR

Eli Apple CAR ankle IR

Eli Apple CAR hamstring IR

Greedy Williams CLE shoulder IR

Chidobe Awuzie DAL hamstring IR

A.J. Bouye DEN shoulder IR

Desmond Trufant DET hamstring

Mike Ford DET leg IR

Justin Coleman DET hamstring IR\

Kevin King GB quadriceps 

Kabion Ento GB undisclosed IR

Gafeon Conley HOU ankle IR

Cornell Armstrong HOU knee

D.J. Hayden JA hamstring

Damon Arnette LVR thumb IR-COVID

Keisen Nixon LVR hip

Casey Hayward LAR undisclosed

Mike Hughes MIN neck

Janoris Jenkins NO shoulder

Darnay Holmes NYG neck

Arthur Maulet NYJ groin IR

Avonte Maddoz PHI ankle

Mike Hilton PIT shoulder

Dontae Johnson SF groin

Richard Sherman SF calf IR

K’Waun Williams SF knee-ACL IR

Neiko Thorpe SEA sports hernia IR

Adoree’ Jackson TEN knee IR

Greg Stroman WAS foot 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. 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.