Week 8 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the players turning it on in time for the byes. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 8, so there are more than a few intriguing names on the waiver wire in leagues of all sizes. Let’s take a look at some of the names that may be worth some of your free agent budget.

Defensive Line

Za’Darius Smith (DE/LB – MIN): 1% rostered at Yahoo
Za’Darius went bonkers in Week 8, racking up an eye-popping seven solos, three sacks, four tackles for loss, and one pass defended. The star pass rusher has gotten his hands on the quarterback in all but one contest, with a full sack in five of seven games. He has five sacks in his last two contests and is up to 8.5 sacks on the season, good for first in the NFL despite already having his bye week. Playing across from Danielle Hunter means Za’Darius rarely sees a double team, and he has been feasting with less attention. Unfortunately, for you Yahoo gamers, he is still LB only on that provider, but his recent torrid play puts him in the mix as an LB2 at worst and a possible LB1 option during this heavy six-team bye. Za’Darius needs to be rostered and started universally.

Uchenna Nwosu (DE/LB – SEA): 1% rostered at Yahoo
Nwosu has been solid this season and is now up to five sacks on the season, following a five solo, one assist, two sack, two tackle for loss, and one forced fumble outing in Week 8. He is leading the team in edge snaps and should continue to do so, especially with Darrell Taylor coming out of this weekend banged up. Nwosu is still an LB only at Yahoo but has DL eligibility everywhere else. He is a worthwhile option during this heavy bye, projecting as an upside DL2 option for a plus matchup against an Arizona Cardinals team allowing the 12th most fantasy points to the position.

Justin Houston (DE/LB – BAL): 1% rostered at Yahoo
Someone should tell Justin Houston that limited snaps is supposed to mean limited production. Houston went off again this past week, recording two solos, two sacks, and two tackles for loss on Thursday Night Football. He now has four sacks in his last two games, making him one of the hottest pass rushers in the NFL. However, he has played just 40 combined snaps over the last two weeks, which is less than he saw in Week 1 or Week 2. The snap share has climbed from 27 percent to 35 percent, but we would like to see him a little higher before trotting him out there on a weekly basis. With that said, Jason Pierre-Paul is now on the team and is a superior run defender, so we may see Houston stuck under 50 percent going forward. With that said, Houston is as hot as anyone and has at least one sack in four of five games this season. Treat him as a low-floor DL2 option against the Saints this weekend. Try to plug him into lineups where possible.

Carl Lawson (DE – NYJ): 2% rostered at Yahoo
Carl Lawson has been a quiet DL3 force this season and now has 3.5 sacks in his last five games. He posted two solos, one assist, one sack, and two tackles for loss this past weekend and is an excellent bye-week filler during this heavy bye. While, as noted above, he is more of a DL3 option, with six teams resting, Lawson can be deployed as a DL2 option if you find yourself in a multiple bye pinch. Treat him as a DL3 where possible for a tough Week 9 matchup against a Buffalo Bills offense surrendering the fewest fantasy points to the defensive end position.

Greg Rousseau (DE – BUF): 13% rostered at Yahoo
Big G continues to get it done for the Buffalo Bills and is now up to five sacks on the season. The man who Von Miller tapped as being special upon his arrival to the Bills has not disappointed and looks to be on his way to a Pro Bowl appearance, despite playing rotation-level snaps. The Bills continue to pull Von and Rousseau when they are up big, so the young pass rusher has never played more than 67 percent of the snaps and has been under 50 percent in three of seven contests. Big G tallied three solos, one assist, one sack, and one tackle for loss on 56 percent of the snaps, his highest mark since the thriller against the Baltimore Ravens. Treat Rousseau as an elite DL2 for a plus Week 9 matchup against a New York Jets offense allowing the 18th most fantasy points to the defensive end position.

Others to consider: Leonard Floyd (DE/LB – LAR): 0%, Payton Turner (DE – NO): 0%, J.J. Watt (DE – ARI): 0%, Dante Fowler (DE – DAL): 3%, Leonard Williams (DT/DE – NYG): 11%

Defensive Back

C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S – PHI): 6% rostered at Yahoo
CJGJ went nuts in Week 8, tallying seven solos, one assist, one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. Big play C.J. has been on fire over the last three weeks and is a must-start while he is this hot. His transition back to safety has been seamless, and one has to wonder just how good the Saints’ defenses in years past could have been, had they played him at his real position. Treat him as a DB1 option until he cools down, especially this week against David Mills and a Houston Texans offense surrendering the 23rd most fantasy points to the safety position.

Jaquan Brisker (S – CHI): 11% rostered at Yahoo
Brisker continues to light up the box score, assuaging any doubts about his place in the DB1 conversation. He made his case for inclusion again this past weekend, recording seven solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. With three sacks in his last five, Jaquan now has a sack or an interception in four of his last five contests. The peripherals lock him in as a DB1, and fantasy gamers should not hesitate to utilize him as such. Plug him in as just that for a wonderful Week 9 matchup against a Miami Dolphins team relinquishing the fourth most fantasy points to opposing safeties.

Mike Edwards (S – TB): 13% rostered at Yahoo
Mike Edwards was excellent in Week 8, tallying eight solos and three assists. He has been excellent all season and has spent most of it as a DB1. While still easier to trust as a DB2 due to his slow down after his hot start, he seems to be getting back into the groove of things and could still finish as a DB1 overall on the season. Treat him as a DB2 option for a neutral Week 9 matchup against a Los Angeles Rams team allowing the 24th most fantasy points. Edwards should be rostered in all competitive leagues.

Jalen Pitre (S – HOU): 12% rostered at Yahoo
Pitre continues to impress, most recently racking up five solos, one assist, and two tackles for loss against the Tennessee Titans. He has been an elite DB2 option this season but can be trusted as a DB1 option during this heavy bye week. He may not have another DB1 overall level game in store, but he is an elite option for Week 9 thanks to a plus matchup against a Philadelphia Eagles team allowing the most fantasy points per game to the position. Roster and start Pitre in all competitive leagues.

Geno Stone (S – BAL): 1% rostered at Yahoo
Geno Stone needs to be rostered universally, especially during this heavy bye. Stone emerged from Week 8 with six solos and one pass defended and has been a solid DB2 option while starter Marcus Williams has been on IR. He has at least six solos in three straight games, making him one of the most consistent options at the position. He has a tough Week 9 matchup against a New Orleans Saints team allowing just the 19th most fantasy points per game but should be busy enough in the tackle department to accrue DB2 value once again. Start him this week despite the neutral on-paper matchup.

Others to consider: Jayron Kearse (S – DAL): 2%, JuJu Hughes (S – DET): 0%, Kerby Joseph (S – DET): 0%, Kareem Jackson (S – DEN): 4%, Damar Hamlin (S – BUF): 5%

Linebacker

Malcolm Rodriguez (LB – DET): 6% rostered at Yahoo
Rodrigo has been a force for most of the season and was able to get it done in Week 8, despite playing his lowest snap share since Week 1 at 68 percent. He recorded five solos, two assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovered, and one pass defended. His inspired play should lead to an uptick in snaps and help keep him in the LB2 ranks. Treat him as just that during this heavy bye despite the tough on-paper matchup against a Green Bay Packers team surrendering only the 21st most fantasy points to the position. Rodrigo stays busy enough to still produce at an LB2 level, regardless of fantasy points against. Start him where needed with confidence.

Isaiah Simmons (LB – ARI): 10% rostered at Yahoo
Isaiah Simmons continues to tease with solid outings and was at it again in Week 8, racking up five solos, one sack, and one forced fumble. He is still spending half of his snaps in slot coverage, lowering his weekly upside but is an LB3 option to consider with six teams on bye. He has been on a mini tear over the last four weeks, posting four LB1-level outings with Nick Vigil sidelined. Vigil could return soon, but Simmons should have at least one more week of upside LB3 value. Add and start him where needed for a plus Week 9 matchup against a Seattle Seahawks team relinquishing the ninth most fantasy points to the linebacker position.

Shaq Thompson (LB – CAR): 9% rostered at Yahoo
Shaq Thompson was excellent in Week 8, recording eight solos, five assists, and one tackle for loss. It was a bit of a slow start to the season for Thompson, but now that he is back to an every snap role, his production has returned to the level expected from the LB2 mainstay. He has at least five solos in each of his last three games and is a high-end LB2 option with six teams on bye. He should be rostered in most competitive leagues, but for those in leagues where he was dropped, Shaq should be a priority IDP add. Start Thompson as an LB2 for a plus Week 9 matchup against a Cleveland Browns team surrendering the 13th most fantasy points to the position.

Divine Deablo (LB/S – LV): 13% rostered at Yahoo
Deablo was excellent in Week 8, racking up nine solos and five assists against the New Orleans Saints. Deablo remains a fixture at linebacker despite the addition of Blake Martinez and Denzel Perryman‘s return to health, making him a weekly DB1/LB2 option. He has recorded six or more solos in three straight games and will look to make it four in a row this weekend against Jacksonville. Deablo should be rostered and started universally going forward.

Josey Jewell (LB – DEN): 3% rostered at Yahoo
Josey Jewell made his return to the Broncos lineup this week and got right back to business, racking up seven solos, two assists, and two tackles for loss. He has only played three full games this season but has produced like an LB1 in all of them. Jewell should be rostered in leagues of all sizes despite heading into a bye week. He will be a consistent LB2 option for the rest of the season.

Others to consider: Matt Milano (LB – BUF): 9%, Frankie Luvu (LB – CAR): 9%, David Long (LB – TEN): 10%, Kyzir White (LB – PHI): 9%, Quincy Williams (LB – NYJ): 12%

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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.