Here’s hoping that all y’all made it safely through the week of six byes. Whew! Glad that is over and done with. Not that we are not going to deal with bye week issues for the next seven weeks, and even into the beginning of many leagues’ start of playoffs in Week 14. It is important to keep your rosters updated, and thus, this week’s slate of IDP to target on the wire or in the free agent market.

Bye Weeks coming up: Week 8-Baltimore, Las Vegas; Week 9-Detroit, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Washington; Week 10-Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, New York Giants

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

De’Vondre Campbell GB

Campbell will be difficult to find in most leagues, being rostered in approximately 2/3 of both Yahoo and ESPN leagues. If he is available, though, act promptly to add him to your active linebacking crew. He is on a 100+ total tackle (TT) pace, after racking up another 13 against the visitors from DC in Week 7 (10 solo). He also contributed two forced fumbles (FF) in that effort, adding to his big play value.

Rashan Gary GB (DE only in ESPN leagues)

He has more value in ESPN leagues, offering a linebackers production at a DL slot. He collected two sacks last week, to go with a FF and four QB hits/hurries (QH) making him a big play asset. The seven TT (three solo) were simply sauce for the goose.

Deion Jones ATL

He filled up the stat sheet in Week 7, collecting 15 TT (11 solo) and three of those going for a loss of yards (TFL). He also contributed with a sack and a QH, making him valuable in both tackle-oriented and big play formats.

Kenny Young DEN

Young’s trade this week from the Rams to the Broncos should only operate to increase his value going forward, as he is likely to step into a full-time position in the Denver defense. He is coming off a seven TT effort (three solo, one TFL) with a sack and QH sprinkled in the struggling Lions.

Markus Golden ARI (DE only on ESPN)

The Cardinal defender had another big week, with two sacks, giving him six on the season. He also contributed with a FF, fumble recovery (FR), a trio of QH and three TT (two solo, one TFL). That is superb production at LB, and even better at DL in the ESPN system. 

Sam Eguavoen MIA

This upgrade is dependent on Jerome Baker being sidelined, as Equavoen will resume his reserve/special teams role. If he starts again, the matchup against the Bills holds promise.

Defensive Linemen

Sam Hubbard DE CIN

Hubbard had a huge two and a half sack game against the host Ravens, where he also collected five TT (three solo, two TFL). His stat line is amplified with a PD and three QH as well. He is facing a couple of offenses who are not so generous with DE fantasy point production in the Jets and Browns, but the Bengal defense is picking up some steam as the season progresses.

Dexter Lawrence DT NYG

In leagues that require a defensive tackle be started, Lawrence has become a source to consider for both sacks and tackles. He now has collected 19 TT over the past four contests, and 1.5 sacks as well.

DeForest Buckner DT IND

In addition to picking up the pace on his production of late, the Colt defensive tackle has a couple of top 10 matchups on tap with the Titans and Jets on the schedule the next two weeks. He has had a sack in back-to-back weeks now, and 11 TT in those contests (nine solo).

Defensive Backs

Marcus Maye S NYJ/Ashtyn Davis S NYJ

Both the starting safeties for the Jets are providing great value for their fantasy owners. Maye is coming off a 12 TT effort (seven solo, one TFL), and Davis finished just one off that pace with 11 TT (10 solo). Free safety Maye is a better bet for the big plays, but both should continue to have nice value in tackle-oriented formats.

Lonnie Johnson S HOU

Johnson is now starting for the Texans in their secondary, and provide nine TT (six solo) against the host Cardinals in Week 7. He also picked off a pass (INT) and defended a pass (PD). He has become a valuable asset in both tackle oriented and big play leagues with his versatile efforts on defense.

Josh Norman CB SF

The lone cornerback profiled this go around, Norman showed his value in Week 7. Putting up some big plays with two FF and a PD to go with his 10 TT effort (seven solo, three TFL). The 33-year-old veteran came through against the Colts, and now gets to face the scuffling Bears and then the Cardinals at home.

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

None to speak of except those who landed on the Injury Report below.

Defensive Linemen

Chase Young DE WAS

Much was anticipated in the second season for the DE out of Ohio State, especially after gathering in 7.5 sacks in 2020. To date, he has just 1.5 sacks and a paltry 21 TT (11 solo) this year. He is certainly not performing up to snuff, and feel free to cut him loose.

Fletcher Cox DT PHI

Cox spoke out this week about his frustration with his usage by the Eagles, and his production is certainly not up to his former standards. He is coming off a two solo tackle effort in Vegas, and he has a mere seven solo tackles on the season among his 11 TT. A single sack is also not his expected output heading into the middle of the season. Keep an eye on his role going forward, but the Eagle team is not exactly burning up the league in any aspect in 2021.

Defensive Backs

Not a DB to profile here; pay attention to the Injury Report below for those to consider benching or moving off your roster.

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 Bills, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB or DE on the Bears that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Inside Linebackers

Buffalo Bills vs Miami

Kansas City Chiefs vs New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers @ Chicago

Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee

Outside Linebackers

Seattle Seahawks vs Jacksonville

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta 

Defensive Ends

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta

Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland

San Francisco 49ers @ Chicago

Defensive Tackles

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis

New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay

Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina

Safeties

Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina

Denver Broncos vs Washington

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota

Cornerbacks

New England Patriots @ Los Angeles Chargers

Buffalo Bils vs Miami

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle

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

Rashan Gary GB

Deion Jones ATL

Kenny Young DEN

Markus Golden ARI

Sam Eguavoen MIA

Defensive Linemen

Sam Hubbard DE CIN

Dexter Lawrence DT NYG

DeForest Buckner DT IND

Defensive Backs

Marcus Maye S NYJ

Ashtyn Davis S NYJ

Lonnie Johnson S HOU

Josh Norman CB SF

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

Isaiah Simmons ARI shoulder

Jordan Hicks ARI toe

Devon Kinnard ARI shoulder

Tanner Vallejo ARI hand

Kylie Fitts ARI concussion IR

Zeke Turner ARI shoulder IR

Daelin Hayes BAL ankle IR

L.J. Fort BAL knee-ACL IR

Shaq Green-Thompson CAR foot

Caleb Johnson CHI undisclosed IR-COVID

Robert Quinn CHI illness IR-COVID

Jeremiah Attaochu CHI pectoral IR

Jordan Evans CIN knee IR

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah CLE ankle IR

Jacob Phillips CLE biceps IR

Montrel Meander CLE Achilles IR

Francis Bernard DAL hamstring IR

Malik Reed DEN groin

Baron Browning DEN concussion

Von Miller DEN ankle

Bradley Chubb DEN ankle IR

A.J. Johnson DEN pectoral IR

Andre Mintze DEN hamstring IR

Josey Jewell DEN pectoral IR

Natrez Patrick DEN leg IR

Trey Flowers DET knee

Romeo Okwara DET Achilles IR

Shaun Dion Hamilton DET undisclosed IR

Preston Smith GB oblique

Chauncey Rivers GB knee-ACL IR

Za’Darius Smith GB back IR

Randy Ramsey GB leg IR

Christian Kirksey HOU thumb

Jordan Glasgow IND concussion IR

Myles Jack JAX back

Dylan Moses JAX knee

Anthony Hitchens KC triceps

Javin White LV knee IR

Nicholas Morrow LV ankle IR

Darron Lee LV undisclosed

Kenneth Murray LAC ankle IR

Drue Tranquill LAC chest

Terrell Lewis LAR ribs

Justin Hollins LAR pectoral IR

Jerome Baker MIA knee

Terez Hall HE undisclosed PUP

Anfernee Jennings NE undisclosed IR

Harvey Langi NE knee-MCL IR

Dont’a Hightower NE elbow

Cameron McGrone NE knee-ACL

Raekwon McMillan NE knee-ACL IR

Chase Hansen NO groin IR

Quentin Poling NO undisclosed

Lorenzo Carter NYG ankle

Elerson G. Smith NYG hamstring IR

Justin Hilliard NYG ankle IR

Blake Martinez NYG knee-ACL IR

T.J. Brunson NYG knee-ACL IR

Jarrad Davis NYJ ankle IR

Blake Cashman NYJ groin IR

Jamien Sherwood NYJ Achilles IR

Quincy Williams NYJ concussion

C.J. Mosley NYJ hamstring

Hamsah Nasirildeen NYJ undisclosed IR

Dre Greenlaw SF groin IR

Azeez Al-Shaair SF concussion

Ben Burr-Kirven SEA knee-ACL IR

Lavonte David TB ankle

Derick Roberson TEN knee IR

Monty Rice TEN groin

Jayon Brown TEN knee IR

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

Dante Fowler ATL knee IR

Derek Wolfe BAL back IR

Bryan Cox BUF Achilles IR

Austin Larkin CAR groin

Akiem Hicks CHI groin

Khalid Kareem CIN shoulder IR

Joseph Ossai CIN knee-meniscus IR

Wyatt Hubert CIN pectoral

Dorance Armstrong DAL ankle

Demarcus Lawrence DAL foot IR

Aaron Patrick DEN ankle

Da’Shawn Hand DET groin IR

Joel Heath DET knee-ACL IR

Dean Lowry GB ankle

Kemoko Turay IND groin

Dayo Odeyingbo IND Achilles

Malik Herring KC knee-ACL

Joshua Kaindoh KC ankle IR

Janarius Robinson MIN lower body IR

Chase Winovich NE hamstring IR

Henry Anderson NE pectoral IR

Payton Turner NO calf

Kyle Phillips NYJ ankle PUP

Vinny Curry NYJ illness

Carl Lawson NYJ Achilles IR

Brandon Graham PHI Achilles IR

Calvin Taylor PIT undisclosed

Stephon Tuitt PIT undisclosed IR

Tyson Alualu PIT ankle IR

Dee Ford SF concussion

Derrell Taylor SEA neck

Shaka Toney WAS illness

Jalen Jelks WAS undisclosed IR

DT

Rashard Lawrence ARI calf

Xavier Williams ARI undisclosed

Corey Peters ARI illness IR-COVID

Jack Crawford ARI undisclosed IR

Deadrin Senat ATL undisclosed IR

Xavier Kelly BAL Achilles IR

Tashaun Gipson CHI hip

Deon Bush CHI quadriceps IR

Tyler Shelvin CIN illness

Neville Gallimore DAL elbow IR

Brent Urban DAL triceps IR

Trysten Hill DAL knee-ACL PUP

Mike Purcell DEN thumb

Kevin Strong DET concussion IR

Kenny Clark GB ankle

Jaleel Johnson HOU back

Vincent Taylor HOU ankle IR

Rob Windsor IND hip IR

Jay Tufele JAX hand

Gerald McCoy LV knee IR

Justin Jones LAC calf IR

Sebastian Joseph-Day LAR pectoral

Micael Pierce MIN elbow

Jaylen Twyman MIN pelvis

Byron Cowart NE undisclosed PUP

Carl Davis NE wrist

Jalen Dalton NO triceps IR

Danny Shelton NYG pectoral

Carlos Davis PIT knee

Kevin Givens SF ankle IR

Javon Kinlaw SF knee

Maurice Hurst SF calf

Marcus Webb SEA undisclosed IR

Sam Renner TB undisclosed 

Trevon Coley TEN foot iR

Defensive Backs

S

Charles Washington ARI hamstring IR

Erik Harris ATL shoulder

Khalil Dorsey BAL undisclosed IR

Myles Hartsfield CAR wrist IR

Tashaun Gipson hip CHI

Deon Bush CHI quadriceps IR

Essang Bassey DEN knee-ACL PUP

Duke Dawson DEN knee-ACL/MCL PUP

Mike Ford DEN knee IR

Corey Ballentine DET hamstring IR

Terrence Brooks HOU chest IR

Julian Blacmon IND Achilles IR

T.J. Carrie IND undisclosed IR

Roderic Teamer LV shoulder IR

Nasir Adderley LAC hip

Dayan Ghanwoloku LAR undisclosed

Jordan Fuller LAR knee

Darious Williams LAR ankle IR

Jason McCourty MIA foot IR

Joshuah Bledsoe ME wrist

Devon McCourty NE abdomen

Jabrill Peppers NYG knee-ACL IR

Joshua Kalu NYG pectoral IR

Lamarcus Joyner NYJ triceps IR

K’Von Wallace PHI shoulder-AC joint IR

Jathan Meadors PHI hamstring 

Anthony Harris PHI groin

Tarvarius Moore SF Achilles PUP

Jaquiski Tartt SF knee

Jason Verrett SF knee-ACL IR

Nigel Warrior SEA knee IR

Marquise Blair SEA kneecap

Dee Delaney TB ankle

Curtis Riley TB Achilles IR

Amani Hooker TEN groin

Maurice Smith TEN undisclosed

Darrick Forrest WAS hamstring IR

CB

Avery Williams ATL hamstring

A.J. Terrell ATL neck

Iasiah Oliver ATL knee IR

Chris Westry BAL knee-meniscus IR

Marcus Peters BAL knee-ACL IR

Iman Marshall BAL knee IR

C.J. Henderson CAR shoulder

Juston Burris groin IR

Stephon Gilmore CAR quadriceps PUP

Jaycee Horn CAR foot IR

Troy Pride CAR knee-ACL IR

Trae Waynes CIN hamstring IR

A.J. Green CLE shoulder

Denzel Ward CLE hamstring

M.J. Stewart CLE hamstring IR

Maurice Canady DAL concussion IR

Kelvin Joseph DAL groin IR

Reggie Robinson II DAL toe IR

Michael Ojemudia DEN hamstring IR

Ifeatu Melifonwu DET thigh IR

AJ Parker DET shoulder

Jeff Okudah DET Achilles IR

Kevin King GB shoulder

Jaire Alexander GB shoulder-AC joint IR

Will Redmond GB toe IR

Rock Ya-Sin IND ankle

Bopete Keyes IND undisclosed

Tyson Campbell JAX toe 

Damon Arnette LV groin IR

Trayvon Mullen LV toe IR

Robert Rochell LAR knee

Noah Igbinoghene MIA knee

Patrick Peterson MIN hamstring IR

Shaun Wade NE concussion

Keith Washington NO wrist

Ken Crawley NO hamstring IR

Aaron Robinson NYG abdomen PUP

RoDarius Williams NYG knee-ACL IR

Quincy Wilson NYG ankle IR

Zane Lewis NYJ knee-MCL IR

DeMarkus Acy PIT knee-MCL IR

John Reid SEA knee

Sean Murphy-Bunting TB elbow IR

Richard Sherman TB hamstring

Carlton Davis TB quadriceps IR

Caleb Farley TEN knee-ACL IR

Kristian Fulton TEN hamstring IR

Greg Stroman WAS undisclosed

William Jackson WAS knee

Darryl Roberts WAS quadriceps IR

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.