Only four (!) more weeks of byes to struggle through, fantasy owners, so chins up. The injuries keep on coming, too, and that means it is essential to pore over your waiver wire/free agent markets while attempting to roster a serviceable IDP squad. Let’s get to the potential additions you might want to snap up.

Bye Weeks coming up: Week 11-Denver, Los Angeles Rams; Week 12-Arizona, Kansas City; Week 13-Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, Tennessee

 

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Andrew Van Ginkel MIA (DE only in ESPN leagues)

It has been a frequent occurrence that ESPN classification is different from what Yahoo hands out. In this case, rostering a defensive linesman that can put up linebacker stats is a fine option. Van Ginkle picked up a half sack as an edge rusher for the Dolphins in Week 10 against the visiting Ravens, along with five total tackles (TT), three of those being the solo variety. He also had a pair of QB hits/hurries (QH) and a pass deflection/defense (PD), making him a valued big play and tackle oriented IDP. He also has a couple of good matchups on the schedule, especially Week 12 against the Panthers.

Devon White TB (owned in 60% of Yahoo leagues, 67.8% of ESPN leagues)

White will be difficult to snag, but if he is on the wire, do snap him up. He is coming off a superb 18 TT (13 solo) effort in Washington, with a trio of those grabs generating a loss of yardage (TFL). He also secured a pair of sacks and three QH while playing on defense in the nation’s capital. 

Davion Taylor PHI

Taylor has been seeing an untick in playing time (PT), and it appear the Eagles are grooming the second-year player to become a starting LB for the team. He collected seven TT in Week 10 in Denver (six solo), and also contributed a pair of forced fumbles (FF) to upgrade his value. 

A.J. Klein BUF

Klein will be valued if Tremaine Edmunds and his hamstring issue are sidelined in Week 11. As a short term three-down LB, he can be a great bye week fill in. He collected eight TT (six solo, two TFL) last week in the Meadowlands against the Jets. He also had a PD in that contest. Think immediate value but be ready to cut him loose when he loses his starting gig.

Defensive Linemen

Dorance Armstrong DE DAL 

Dallas turned to Armstrong when Randy Gregory suffered a calf injury that landed him on IR, and he collected a sack, three QH and three solo tackles (one TFL) when the Cowboys hosted the Falcons in Week 10. So long as he is being relied upon to fill in for Gregory, he has significant value as DE.

Cameron Heyward DE PIT

Heyward has been coming on strong after a slow start to the season, picking up 3.5 sacks over the past four contests, snagging two against the Lions, with five TT (three solo, two TFL) and a couple of QH to round out the stat sheet. Over those past four games, he has racked up 20 TT (14 solo), an INT and a PD, making him a valued DL for IDP purposes.

Taylor Stallworth DT IND

In DT mandatory leagues, Stallworth is becoming a consideration for rostering. He picked up four solos and a trio of QH against the visiting Jags in Week 10, with a sack. His PT has been increasing over the past two weeks, which makes it a great time to snatch him for your roster.

Defensive Backs

Camryn Bynum CB MIN

Although he qualifies as a corner, he started in place of Harrison Smith (COVID) in Week 10. He gathered a fine set of stats, too: six TT (five solo, one TFL), a sack, a PD and a QH. His time as a starting safety is not likely long term, but the production he provided the Vikings should result in an increase in time on the field going forward.

Nate Hobbs CB LV

Hobbs Is a rookie corner, which means he will be tested so long as he continues to be playing significant snaps on defense. He has been coming up with some big plays, a sack and FF over the past two games. Six TT (five solo) in Week 10 give him value in CB-mandatory leagues especially.

 

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

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

Defensive Linemen

Jadeveon Clowny DE CLE

For Clowney owners over the years, he has been a frequent source of frustration. He is simply a better real life football player than a fantasy asset. He is coming off a two solo tackle game, and has accumulated a mere five solo tackles over the last three contests the Browns have engaged in with him on the field. That sort of production makes him eminently qualified to hit the waiver wire and depart from your squad.

John Franklin-Myers DE NYJ

His early season success has dried up of late, with just eight TT and a single sack over the past five games. He is still seeing significant PT on defense, just is not providing any numbers worthy of a starting or bench role on your team.

Trey Flowers DE DET

It is difficult to have any great enthusiasm for any Lion player this season, and Flowers simply fits neatly into that mold. He has collected a mere 10 TT (four solo) over the prior four games Detroit has played, and has been shut out in the sack department, too, making him an IDP to cut loose and replace with any of those discussed above.

Defensive Backs

Andrew Wingard S JAX

Another player falling drastically over the recent slate of games, Wingard has put up just a paltry seven TT (four solo) through his last three outings as part of the Jag defensive secondary. That sort of output from a safety in an IDP lineup is surely not acceptable for those of you competing for a championship.

 

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 Lions, but certainly you will do well if you own a top DB on the Falcons, or an OLB on either the Titans or Texans that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Inside Linebackers

Kansas City Chiefs vs Dallas

San Francisco 49ers @ Jacksonville

Detroit Lions @ Cleveland

Outside Linebackers

Dallas Cowboys @ Kansas City

Detroit Lions @ Cleveland

Tennessee Titans vs Houston

Houston Texans @ Tennessee

Defensive Ends

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Los Angeles Chargers

Philadelphia Eagles vs New Orleans

Defensive Tackles

Tennessee Titans vs Houston

New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia

Carolina Panthers vs Washington

Safeties

Dallas Cowboys @ Kansas City

Kansas City Chiefs vs Dallas

New England Patriots @ Atlanta

Cornerbacks

New England Patriots @ Atlanta

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle

New York Jets vs Miami

Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Francisco

 

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. 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

Andrew Van Ginkel MIA

Davion Taylor PHI

A.J. Klein BUF

Defensive Linemen

Dorance Armstrong DE DAL 

Cameron Heyward DE PIT

Taylor Stallworth DT IND

Defensive Backs

Camryn Bynum CB MIN

Nate Hobbs CB LV

 

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

Zeke Turner ARI shoulder IR

Kylie Fitts ARI concussion IR

Daren Bates ATL groin

Steven Means ATL knee IR

Daelin Hayes BAL ankle IR

Malik Harrison BAL calf

L.J. Fort BAL knee-ACL IR

Matt Milano BUF shoulder

Tremaine Edmunds BUF hamstring

Frankie Luvu CAR shoulder

Danny Trevathan CHI knee

Khalil Mack CHI foot

Alec Ogletree CHI ankle

Jeremiah Attaochu CHI pectoral IR

Akeem Davis-Gaither CIN foot IR

Markus Bailey CIN undisclosed IR-COVID

Jordan Evans CIN knee IR

Jacob Phillips CLE biceps IR

Montrel Meander CLE Achilles IR

Jabril Cox DAL knee-ACL IR

Andre Mintze DEN hamstring IR

Justin Strnad DEN illness IR-COVID

Baron Browning DEN back

Bradley Chubb DEN ankle IR

Micah Kiser DEN groin IR

A.J. Johnson DEN pectoral IR

Josey Jewell DEN pectoral IR

Natrez Patrick DEN leg IR

Austin Bryant DET shoulder

Trey Flowers DET knee

Romeo Okwara DET Achilles IR

Shaun Dion Hamilton DET undisclosed IR

Rashan Gary GB elbow

Chauncey Rivers GB knee-ACL IR

Za’Darius Smith GB back IR

Randy Ramsey GB leg IR

Hardy Nickerson HOU concussion 

Christian Kirksey HOU thumb IR

Darius Leonard IND ankle

Myles Jack JAC knee

Dakota Allen JAX shoulder

Dylan Moses JAX knee

Nick Kwiatkoski LV ankle

Nicholas Morrow LV ankle IR

Darron Lee LV undisclosed

Drue Tranquill LAC illness IR-COVID

Justin Hollins LAR pectoral IR

Travin Howard LAR hamstring IR

Andrew Van Ginkel MIA back

Anthony Barr MIN knee

Ryan Connelly MIN illness IR-COVID

Josh Uche NE ankle IR

Ja’Whaun Bentley NE ribs

Kyle Van Noy NE groin

Dont’a Hightower NE ankle

Terez Hall NE undisclosed PUP

Anfernee Jennings NE undisclosed IR

Jamie Collins NE ankle IR

Harvey Langi NE knee-MCL IR

Cameron McGrone NE knee-ACL

Raekwon McMillan NE knee-ACL IR

Quentin Poling NO undisclosed

Lorenzo Carter NYG ankle

Justin Hilliard NYG ankle IR

Carter Coughlin NYG ankle IR

Blake Martinez NYG knee-ACL IR

T.J. Brunson NYG knee-ACL IR

Blake Cashman NYJ groin IR

Jamien Sherwood NYJ Achilles IR

Shaun Bradley PHI shoulder

Davion Taylor PHI knee

T.J. Watt PIT hip

Dre Greenlaw SF groin IR

Cody Barton SEA quadriceps

Ben Burr-Kirven SEA knee-ACL IR

Harold Landry TEN hamstring

Rashaan Evans TEN ankle

David Long TEN hamstring

Bud Dupree TEN abdomen

Rashad Weaver TEN lower leg IR

B.J. Bello TEN ankle IR

Jared Norris WAS shoulder IR

Jon Bostic WAS pectoral IR

Defensive Linemen

DE

J.J. Watt ARI shoulder IR

Derek Wolfe BAL back IR

Bryan Cox BUF Achilles IR

Marquis Haynes CAR foot

Darryl Johnson CAR hamstring IR

Austin Larkin CAR groin

Akiem Hicks CHI ankle

Joseph Ossai CIN knee-Meniscus IR

Wyatt Hubert CIN pectoral

Jadeveon Clowney CLE wrist

Takkarist McKinley CLE groin

Demarcus Lawrence DAL foot IR

Randy Gregory DAL calf IR

Joel Heath DET knee-ACL IR

Whitney Mercilus GB biceps IR

Kingsley Keke GB concussion 

Jonathan Greenard HOU foot

Dayo Odeyingbo IND ankle

Tyquan Lewis IND knee IR

Jordan Smith JAX illness

Malik Herring KC knee-ACL 

Joshua Kaindoh KC ankle IR

Christian Covington LAC undisclosed IR-COVID

Jerry Tillery LAC undisclosed IR-COVID

Joey Bosa LAC undisclosed IR-COVID

Christian Wilkins MIA quadriceps 

Danielle Hunter MIN pectoral IR

Janarius Robinson MIN lower body IR

Deatrich Wise NE illness

Henry Anderson NE pectoral IR

Tanoh Kpassagnon NO ankle 

Payton Turner NO shoulder IR

Nathan Shepherd NYJ knee

Kyle Phillips NYJ ankle PUP

Bryce Huff NYJ back IR

Vinny Curry NYJ illness

Carl Lawson NYJ Achilles IR

Brandon Graham PHI Achilles IR

Stephon Tuitt PIT undisclosed IR

Calvin Taylor PIT undisclosed

Tyson Alualu PIT ankle IR

Dee Ford SF back IR

Jeffery Simmons TEN ankle

Chase Young WAS knee-ACL IR

Montez Sweat WAS jaw IR

Jalen Jelks WAS undisclosed IR

DT

Rashard Lawrence ARI calf IR

Jack Crawford ARI undisclosed IR

Brandon Williams BAL shoulder

Xavier Kelly BAL Achilles IR

Star Lotulelei BUF undisclosed IR-COVID

Justin Zimmer BUF knee-ACL IR

Daviyon Nixon CAR knee IR

Tyler Shelvin CIN knee

Malik Jackson CLE knee

Neville Gallimore DAL elbow IR

Brent Urban DAL triceps IR

McTelvin Agim DEN knee

Jashon Cornell DET illness

Vincent Taylor HOU ankle IR

DeForest Buckner IND abdomen

Rob Windsor IND hip IR

Jay Tufele JAX hand IR

Darius Philon LV ankle IR

Gerald McCoy LV knee IR

Sebastian Joseph-Day LAR pectoral IR

Michael Pierce MIN elbow IR

Jaylen Twyman MIN pelvis

Byron Cowart NE undisclosed PUP

Malcolm Roach NO knee

Jalen Dalton NO triceps IR

Javon Hargrave PHI shoulder

Carlos Davis PIT knee IR

Maurice Hurst SF calf

Javon Kinlaw SF knee-ACL IR

Marcus Webb SEA undisclosed IR

Sam Renner TB undisclosed

Vita Vea TB knee

Teair Tart TEN groin

Trevon Coley TEN foot IR

Defensive Backs

S

James Wiggins ARI knee

Charles Washington ARI hamstring IR

Kendall Sheffield ATL hamstring

Jaylinn Hawkins ATL ankle

DeShon Elliott BAL pectoral IR

Khalil Dorsey BAL undisclosed IR

Deon Bush CHI quadriceps IR

Eddie Jackson CHI hamstring 

Brandon Wilson CIN knee IR

P.J. Locke DEN leg

Tracy Walker DET concussion

Corey Ballentine DET hamstring IR

Terrence Brooks HOU chest IR

T.J. Carrie IND knee 

Khari Willis IND calf IR

Julian Blackmon IND Achilles IR

Tyree Gillespie LV hamstring IR

Keisean Nixon LV ankle

Roderic Teamer LV shoulder IR

Mark Webb LAC knee

Nasir Adderley LAC ankle

Dayan Ghanwoloku LAR undisclosed

BranDon Jones MIA ankle

Elijah Campbell MIA toe

Jason McCourty MIA foot IR

Josh Metellus MIN undisclosed IR-COVID

Jonathan Jones NE shoulder IR

Kyle Dugger NE ankle 

Joshuah Bledsoe NE wrist

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson NO foot IR

Nate Ebner NYG ankle

Jabrill Peppers NYG knee-ACL IR

Joshua Kalu NYG pectoral IR

Rodney McLeod PHI knee

Minkah Fitzpatrick PIT illness IR-COVID

Jaquiski Tartt SF knee IR

Tavon Wilson SF foot IR

Tarvarius Moore SF Achilles PUP

Kai Nacua SF undisclosed

Jason Verrett SF knee-ACL IR

Ryan Neal SEA concussion

Blessuan Austin SEA personal

Nigel Warrior SEA knee IR

Marquise Blair SEA kneecap IR

Dee Delaney TB concussion

Curtis Riley TB Achilles IR

Chris Jackson TEN foot

Maurice Smith TEN undisclosed

Dane Cruikshank TEN knee IR

CB

Isaiah Oliver ATL knee IR

Jimmy Smith BAL hip

Marcus Peters BAL knee-ACL IR

Tavon Young BAL foot

Iman Marshall BAL knee IR

Jaycee Horn CAR foot IR

Troy Pride CAR knee-ACL IR

Trae Waynes CIN hamstring IR

A.J. Green CLE concussion

Troy Hill CLE neck

Maurice Canady DAL concussion IR

Reggie Robinson II DAL toe IR

Michael Ojemudia DEN hamstring IR-COVID

Bryce Callahan DEN knee IR

Ifeatu Melifonwu DET thigh IR

Jeff Okudah DET Achilles IR

Kevin King GB groin

Jaire Alexander GB shoulder-AC joint IR

Will Redmond GB toe IR

Xavier Rhodes IND calf

L’Jarius Sneed KC knee

Amik Robertson LV hip 

Trayvon Mullen LV toe IR

Damon Arnette LV groin

Michael Davis LAC hamstring

Ryan Smith LAC knee-ACL IR

Donte’ Deayon LAR thigh

Bashaud Breeland MIN groin

Patrick Peterson MIN hamstring IR

Jalen Mills NE forearm

Keith Washington NO wrist

RoDarius Williams NYG knee-ACL IR

Quincy Wilson NYG ankle IR

Brandin Echols NYJ thigh IR

Zane Lewis NYJ knee-MCL IR

Joe Haden PIT foot

DeMarkus Acy PIT knee-ACL IR

Richard Sherman TB calf IR

Sean Murphy-Bunting TB elbow IR

Carlton Davis TB quadriceps IR

Rashard Robinson TB hamstring IR

Greg Mabin TEN ankle

Caleb Farley TEN knee-ACL IR

Kendall Fuller WAS knee

Darryl Roberts WAS quadriceps IR

Benjamin St-Juste WAS concussion

Greg Stroman WAS undisclosed

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.