The final bye week of the 2022 season has finally arrived, and with it, six teams out of action. Setting a NFL fantasy football lineup will be a challenge, yet there are many rising options to choose among, as set forth below. Keep an eye on the injury reports, though, since the various ailments IDP suffer over the course of the season will continue to put our favorite defensive players on the sidelines at inopportune moments.

 

Bye Weeks Coming Up: 

Week 14-Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Alex Singleton Denver Broncos

Singleton pairs well with Josey Jewell in the Bronco defensive scheme, and is racking up good to great tackles numbers on a regular basis. He had 17 total tackles (TT) in Week 13’s matchup against the host Raven offense, with 9 of those being of the solo variety. With a spotty offense in Denver, the defense gets plenty of action on a weekly basis and now they have a couple of home games against opponents that are a good matchup for ILBs.

Jerome Baker Miami Dolphins

Another ILB with double digit TT in his last game (12 TT, six solo) with included one tackle for a loss of yards (TFL). He also picked up half a sack and a QB hit/hurry against the 49ers, and has a good pair of matchups on the slate with the Dolphins heading out on the road to take on the Chargers and then the Bills.

Micah McFadden New York Giants

This IDP fell one tackle short of reaching the double-digit level of the previous two LBs, but he still had 9 TT in Week 13 (four solo). He also contributed on the big play side with forced fumble (FF). With an increasing snap count the past couple of weeks, his presence is seeing an uptick which makes him a sneaky addition late in the regular fantasy season, heading into the playoffs.

Tony Fields II Cleveland Browns

The injury suffered by Sione Takitaki (torn ACL) has thrust the second-year player into the starting role as the strong side LB, and he responded big time Week 13 with an INT returned for a TD, a pass deflection (PD) and four TT (three solo) on just over half the snaps on defense. That snap count should increase in the coming weeks.

Josh Uche New England Patriots

In limited action, the edge rusher has picked up the pace on sack collection, with seven in the past five games, two last week against the Buffalo offense. He also contributed a FF, three QH and seven TT (six solo). 

Monty Rice Tennessee Titans

Rice saw increased action on defense with David Long Jr. leaving the game against the host Eagles, and used his time on the field to rack up seven TT (four solo, one TFL) while playing just 36% of the snaps. If Long’s hamstring injury lingers, Rice would be a good pickup off waivers in a week with six byes to cover.

Joe Schobert Tennessee Titans

The aforementioned injury to Long will also benefit Schobert should the Titans need to shore up their inside LB crew. Schobert was signed for depth later in the season, and saw a bit better than 50% of the snaps on defense, grabbing six TT (four solo) in Week 13.

Dylan Cole Tennessee Titans

A third Titan LB to consider is starting right ILB Cole, and if Long is unable to suit up this coming week, he should see the majority of snaps on defense in the middle of the linebacking corps. He had five TT in Week 13 (four solo), and the Titans have two great matchups on the schedule.

Nakobe Dean Philadelphia Eagles

Dean’s current value is dependent on the status of Kyzir White, who was limited in practice this week with an ankle injury. Even if his playing time (PT) is limited, the young LB managed to collect six TT (five solo) on just 15 snaps on defense.

Cody Barton Seattle Seahawks

Barton had a nice seven TT effort in Week 13 (four solo), to which he tacked on an INT and a PD. His snap count has increased significantly the past few contests, which should allow him to serve as a dependable LB2/3 on your fantasy roster(s).

Defensive Linemen

Josh Sweat DE Philadelphia Eagles

Sweat has been limited to being on the field for just around half the snaps the defense takes, but has been extremely effective as a pass rusher. He had two more sacks last week, giving him four over the last four contests. He also contributed with a trio of QH and collected four TT (two solo, one TFL).

Christian Wilkins DT Miami

Wilkins is a consideration in those leagues that highlight tackle production and/or require a DT position on your lineup. He had 12 TT (sight solo, one TFL) in Week 13, although do not rely on that level of value with a pair of poorer matchups on the slate coming up.

Defensive Backs

Nasir Adderley S Los Angeles Chargers

Adderley is a starting defensive back that is an every down player for the Chargers. He is not flashy but has been averaging better than six TT per week over the last five weeks where he has seen action in the defensive backfield.

Andrew Wingard S Jacksonville Jaguars

Despite coming off a nine TT effort in Week 13 (seven solo), his value in IDP circles is entirely dependent on the health of Andre Cisco. If Cisco is sidelined in Week 14, he is a savvy pickup during a six bye team week. If he goes back to his previous special teams role, he is not worth rostering.

Justin Simmons S Denver Broncos 

Simmons was profiled as a rising safety option in Week 7 here, and his recent production merits another mention. He has collected 14 TT over the past two games (eight solo), and in Week 13, he added some big play value with two INT, a pair of PD and a FF. Two great matchups are in store for him as well, with the Chiefs and Cardinals on the schedule.

Jalen Pitre S Houston Texans 

Another DB that was profiled earlier this season in the IDP Report, Pitre had an amazingly productive Week 13 with 16 TT (nine solo) as an every down safety. He picked off a pass and defended another (INT, PD) while patrolling the defensive backfield against the Browns. The next two weeks see him having great matchups in store.

Donovan Wilson S Dallas Cowboys

Wilson bounced back to his regular production after a couple of subpar performances in Weeks 11 and 12, collecting 10 TT (nine solo, one TFL) and putting up some big play value, too, with a sack and a QH. Aside from those two weeks where he was not effective, he has been a steady IDP this season.

Jimmie Ward S San Francisco 49ers

Ward has been relegated to nickelback status, and he collected an INT last week, with a PD added in. He also still had five TT (four solo) despite not being the starting safety for San Fran presently.

Tre Avery CB Tennessee Titans

A rookie corner forced into action, he was immediately targeted by the offense and he collected seven TT (six solo) while also adding on two PD during his introduction to starting status. He does have to clear the concussion protocol to be active this week, so keep a close watch on his injury report status.

DaRon Bland CB Dallas Cowboys

Bland, a rookie cornerback pressed into action by injury, will likely be targeted plenty. That should result in days similar to his Week 13 breakout game, where he had eight TT (four solo) together with a PD and an INT on 86% of the defensive snaps played.

TreDavious White CB Buffalo Bills

White was treated gingerly in his first game back after recovering from his 2021 torn ACL, but he is looking healthy and with a series of pass-oriented offensive attacks on the schedule, look for him to build on the four TT (three solo) and one PD game he had in Foxboro against the host Patriots.

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Khalil Mack Los Angeles Chargers

Over his recent game action, the veteran LB has offered his owners just six TT (two solo) and has not contributed a sack during the course of those three games. No big plays and limited tackles while playing significant snaps indicates his time as a useful IDP may be over.

Defensive Linemen

Dante Fowler Jr. DE Dallas Cowboys

Experiencing a severe drop in PT (just 14 snaps on defense in Week 13), and a big goose egg in TT production, he is not worth roster space unless and until his snap count takes a dramatic upturn.

Defensive Backs

Marcus Epps S Philadelphia Eagles

He has not seen any great reduction in PT the past few weeks, yet his tackle production has fallen off drastically. He has just five TT over the past two weeks. This could simply be a blip on the radar, but it is tough to trust a DB that is not adding tackle numbers nor big plays to your fantasy team as playoffs loom.

Dane Jackson CB Buffalo Bills

Jackson seems to have coughed up his starting cornerback role, and the team seems poised to work on a rotating slate going forward. Jackson had but one solo tackle in Week 13, and was on the field for just over half the defensive snaps. There are more dependable and productive corners to pick up off the wire, if you play in a CB-mandatory league format.

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 Chargers, but certainly you will do well if you own a top LB on either side of the Bengal/Brown matchup, a New England Patriot DB or a DE in the game at the Meadowlands featuring a division matchup between the Eagles and host Giants that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Inside Linebackers

Los Angeles Chargers vs Miami Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Rams

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

Outside Linebackers

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals vs Cleveland Browns

Carolina Panthers @ Seattle Seahawks

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Los Angeles Rams vs Las Vegas Raiders

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets

Defensive Ends

Los Angeles Chargers vs Miami Dolphins

Los Angeles Rams vs Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots @ Arizona Cardinals

Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants

Defensive Tackles

New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Houston Texans @ Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans

Safeties

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins @ Los Angeles Chargers

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants

Arizona Cardinals vs New England Patriots

Cornerbacks

Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ San Francisco 49ers

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens

Arizona Cardinals vs New England Patriots

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions

Cincinnati Bengals vs Cleveland Browns

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

Alex Singleton Denver Broncos

Jerome Baker Miami Dolphins

Micah McFadden New York Giants

Tony Fields II Cleveland Browns

Josh Uche New England Patriots

Monty Rice Tennessee Titans

Joe Schobert Tennessee Titans

Nakobe Dean Philadelphia Eagles

Dylan Cole Tennessee Titans

Cody Barton Seattle Seahawks

Defensive Linemen

Josh Sweat DE Philadelphia Eagles

Christian Wilkins DT Miami

Defensive Backs

Nasir Adderley S Los Angeles Chargers

Andrew Wingard S Jacksonville Jaguars

Justin Simmons S Denver Broncos

Jalen Pitre S Houston Texans

Donovan Wilson S Dallas Cowboys

Jimmie Ward S San Francisco 49ers

Tre Avery CB Tennessee Titans

DaRon Bland CB Dallas Cowboys

TreDavious White CB Buffalo Bills

IDP INJURY NEWS

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

Defensive Linemen

DE

DT

Defensive Backs

S

CB

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.

 

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