Only two teams on byes this coming week, but holy moly, get ready to lose a whole boatload of players when Week 9 rolls around with four teams not playing, and then comes the motherload in Week 10 with a full six squads out of action. Prepare to stock up and fill your cupboards before the coming famine.
Bye Weeks coming up: Current Week Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys; Week 9 Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints; Week 10 Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington
Elevator Going Up
Linebackers
Hitchens was spectacular while playing less than half the snaps on defense, racking up a pair of sacks, forcing a fumble (FF), collecting five solo tackles, with two of those resulting in a loss of yards (TFL). He also tacked on a QB hit/hurry (QH) to fill out his stat sheet. Look for similar or better results as he becomes a full-time LB in Week 8, although the opposing offense is stingy regarding allowing points to opposing linebackers, the Packers being ranked 28th overall in the NFL.
Dante Fowler , Jr. LAR
Fowler put up seven total tackles (TT) against the Falcons in Week 7 (six solo, three TFL). He also put up three sacks in the game, deflected a pass (PD), forced a fumble and hurried the QB three times. Note that Fowler qualifies at DE in ESPN, but only at LB in Yahoo, making his value that much greater in ESPN leagues. Having a linebacker to insert at the DE slot is awfully tempting for IDP owners. Taking on the Bengals this coming week prior to the Rams’ bye week vacation is a nice matchup.
Alexander benefitted from the injury suffered by fellow Bill LB Matt Milano , playing nearly every snap on defense. He had ten TT (five solo), and also added a QH and PD to improve his value in big play leagues. Keep an eye on late week announcements about Milano’s status, but note that he is not on the Injury List at publication time.
L.J. Fort BAL
Fort is another IDP that benefitted from a teammate’s injury, this time a player who is listed in the Injury Report below, namely Patrick Onwuasor . He had a sack and six TT (five solos, two TFLs), plus a QH against the host Seahawks in Week 7. Baltimore is on bye this week, making Fort a potential stash for the upcoming heavy bye-week period.
Nathan Gerry PHI
Gerry became an every-down LB with the release of Zach Brown by the Eagles, and he responded with a double-digit tackle effort: 11 TT with seven of those being of the solo variety. The Week 8 opponent for the visiting Philly squad, the Bills, are ranked 4th in terms of allowing fantasy production to opposing LBs, so things are looking up for Gerry in the short term.
Blake Cashman NYJ
The Jets’ rookie LB should continue to see extended playing time (PT) with Neville Hewitt being listed as questionable with a neck issue for Week 8 against the Jaguars. He collected eight TT in the prior week’s game against the Patriots (six solo). He has value in tackle-oriented leagues.
Defensive Linemen
DeMarcus Walker DE DEN
Walker has collected three sacks over the past two games, together with nine TTs (six solo) over the same period. Those are not overwhelming numbers, but certainly steady production for a DE.
Jeffery Simmons DT TEN
His matchup in Week 8 could not be better, as the Bucs are allowing the top production in fantasy to opposing DTs through Week 7. Coming off an ACL injury, he collected four solo tackles (two TFL) and a sack on just 21 snaps on defense in his first NFL game. If you believe in the first-round pick of the Titans, now would be a great time to grab him for your IDP roster.
Defensive Backs
Taylor Rapp S LAR
Rapp will be seeing an uptick in PT with the injury that is sidelining John Johnson III (shoulder), probably taking on an every-down role going forward. He racked up six TT (five solo) in just under half the defensive snaps against the Falcons in Week 7, and it is entirely possible that those numbers will improve with more tackle opportunities on tap against the visiting Bengals this coming contest.
Roderic Teamer S LAC
In Tennessee, the Charger’s starting strong safety put up a six solo tackle effort (one TFL) and also contributed with some big plays, posting an INT and PD against the Titans. Granted, that was his first interception of the season, but the tackle production has been steady since he took on the starting role in Week 3.
Playing nearly every snap on defense in Week 7 (91% of defensive snaps), he filled in for P.J. Williams who was out with an injury, and collected seven solo tackles (two TFL). He also had a QH and two PDs, adding to his big-play production.
Devin McCourty S NE
McCourty leads the league with five INTs on the season, collecting the fifth against the host Jets in Week 7. Taking on the Browns and Baker Mayfield , who is the NFL-leading QB in terms of INT allowed, that lead seems likely to remain in place.
Justin Coleman CB DET
Coleman will be seeing increased time on the field with Darius Slay being injured, and that should play into his big-play potential. He forced a fumble against the visiting Vikings, and picked up five TT (four solos).
Logan Ryan CB TEN
Ryan has been extraordinarily productive as both a tackle-maker, averaging slightly better than six tackles per contest. The corner also has 2.5 sacks and nine PD on the season, collecting his second FF in the Week 7 game against the visiting Chargers. He is extremely valuable as a DB generally, but should not be on the wire in any CB-mandatory leagues.
Ken Crawley CB NO
The Saints are hurting at CB, and with the Cardinals and their pass attack coming to the Big Easy in Week 8, expect Crawley to see plenty of opportunity to put up defensive stats. Realize this is a one-week suggestion, with the Saints being on bye in Week 9, but in Week 10 he has another favorable matchup against the Falcons who visit New Orleans then, so keep him on your watch list even if you do not grab him immediately.
Escalator Going Down
Linebackers
Von Miller DEN
Miller is still seeing plenty of snaps on defense, but his production is down significantly this season. He has not had a sack since Week 4, and has contributed just 20 TT through seven contests. There have to be better producers available on the wire until he snaps out of his funk.
Preston Brown CIN
Brown had just two assists in Week 7, and the Bengals are going to continue to decrease his time on the field as the season progresses. If Cincy is moving on from him, you should take the hint and follow suit.
Fred Warner SF
Warner is coming off a two TT effort in Week 7 in the nation’s capital. He does have a great matchup coming up in Week 8 with the Panthers coming to town, so this downturn in production could just be a short-term issue.
Defensive Linemen
None to speak of, except for those listed below in the Injury Report.
Defensive Backs
Save for those set forth below in the Injury Report, not a player to talk about this 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 Colts, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on the Raiders, Giants or Green Bay that you can plug in this week, for the most part.
Linebackers
Carolina Panthers @ San Francisco
New York Giants @ Detroit
Denver Broncos @ Indianapolis
Buffalo Bills vs Philadelphia
Atlanta Falcons vs Seattle
Defensive Ends
Tennessee Titans vs Tampa Bay
New York Jets @ Jacksonville
Defensive Tackles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Tennessee
Tennessee Titans vs Tampa Bay
Safeties
Atlanta Falcons vs Seattle
Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh
Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Cornerbacks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Tennessee
Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh
Cleveland Browns @ New England
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
Dante Fowler , Jr. LAR
He is a DE only in ESPN, please note.
L.J. Fort BAL
Nathan Gerry PHI
Blake Cashman NYJ
Defensive Linemen
DeMarcus Walker DE DEN
Jeffery Simmons DT TEN
Defensive Backs
Taylor Rapp S LAR
Roderic Teamer S LAC
Devin McCourty S NE
Justin Coleman CB DET
Logan Ryan CB TEN
Ken Crawley CB NO
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
Dennis Gardeck ARI ankle
Jordan Hicks ARI calf
Haason Reddick ARO knee
Zeke Turner ARI hamstring
Pernell McPhee BAL triceps IR
Patrick Onwuasor BAL ankle
Shaq Green-Thompson CAR ankle
Brian Burns CAR wrist
Christian Miller CAR ankle
Willie Harvey CLE shoulder IR
Leighton Vander Esch DAL neck
Dylan Cole HOU hamstring
Leon Jacobs JAX hamstring
Quincy Williams JAX hamstring
D.J. Alexander JAX foot IR
Najee Goode JAX foot
Darron Lee KC illness
Clay Matthews LAR jaw
Bryce Hager LAR shoulder
C.J. Mosley NYJ groin
Neville Hewitt NYJ neck
Albert McClellan NYJ concussion
Nigel Bradham PHI ankle
Anthony Chickillo PIT personal
T.J. Watt PIT abdomen
Mark Barron PIT hamstring
Jack Cichy TB elbow
Rashaan Evans TEN shoulder
Jayon Brown TEN groin
Sharif Finch TEN shoulder
Josh Harvey-Clemons WAS hamstring
Defensive Linemen
DE
Zach Allen ARI neck
Carlos Dunlap CIN knee
Carl Lawson CIN hamstring
Kerry Wynn CIN concussion IR
Dorance Armstrong DAL neck
Robert Quinn DAL ribs
Mike Daniels DET foot
Tyquan Lewis IND ankle
Kemoko Turay IND ankle IR
Frank Clark KC neck
Tanoh Kpassagnon KC illness
Chris Jones KC groin
Damion Square LAC hamstring
Melvin Ingram LAC hamstring
Avery Moss MIA leg
Henry Anderson NYJ shoulder-AC joint
John Franklin-Myers NYJ undisclosed IR
Arden Key OAK kneecap
Stephon Tuitt PIT pectoral IR
Ezekiel Ansah SEA ankle
Jurrell Casey TEN shoulder
DT
Grady Jarrett ATL abdomen
Gerald McCoy CAR knee
Akiem Hicks CHI elbow IR
Tyrone Crawford DAL hip IR
Grover Stewart IND elbow
Carl Davis IND hamstring
Marcell Dareus JAX abdomen
Cortez Broughton LAC illness
Justin Jones LAC shoulder
Brandon Mebane LAC knee
Jalyn Holmes MIN illness
Hassan Ridgeway PHI ankle IR
Timmy Jernigan PHI foot
D.J. Jones SF hamstring
Defensive Backs
S
DeShon Elliott BAL knee
Kurt Coleman BUF hamstring
Natrell Jamerson CAR foot IR
Sherrick McManis CHI concussion
Darqueze Dennard CIN hamstring
Damarious Randall CLE leg
Will Parks DEN thumb
Darnell Savage GB ankle
Tashaun Gipson HOU back
Nasir Adderley LAC hamstring
John Johnson LAR shoulder IR
Reshad Jones MIA chest
Patrick Chung NE chest
J.T. Guy NO ankle
Patrick Robinson NO hamstring
Corey Ballentine NYG concussion
Sam Beal NYG hamstring IR
Lano Hill SEA elbow
Bradley McDougald SEA back
Jordan Whitehead TB arm
Deshazor Everett WAS ankle
Montae Nicholson WAS ankle
CB
Desmond Trufant ATL toe
Maurice Canady BAL hamstring
Jimmy Smith BAL knee-MCL
Kevin Johnson BUF undisclosed
Dre Kirkpatrick CIN knee
Anthony Brown DAL hamstring
Bryce Callahan DEN foot
Amani Oruwariye DET knee
Darius Slay DET hamstring
Johnathan Joseph HOU hamstring
Phillip Gaines HOU ankle IR
Bradley Robey HOU hamstring
Pierre Desir IND hamstring
Kenny Moore IND knee
Kendall Fuller KC thumb
Troy Hill LAR hamstring
Aqib Talib LAR ribs IR
Xavien Howard MIA knee
Eli Apple NO knee
Avonte Maddox PHI concussion
Mike Hilton PIT calf
Steven Nelson PIT groin
Joe Haden PIT groin
Ahkello Witherspoon SF foot
Chris Milton TEN calf
Adoree’ Jackson TEN foot
Josh Norman WAS thigh
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.