Week 6 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the overlooked IDP players who showed out in Week 6. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 6, 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.
Week 7 IDP Waiver Wire
Linebacker
Dorian Williams (LB – BUF): 0% rostered on Yahoo
The biggest Week 6 IDP surprise was rookie Dorian Williams playing 84 percent of the snaps in a tightly contested matchup against the New York Jets. Tyrel Dodson, who was expected to take on Matt Milano‘s role due to being the veteran, played just five percent of the snaps. Dorian played 65 defensive snaps, while Dodson played just four. Williams responded with six solos and four assists and was a general menace on defense for the Bills. His sideline-to-sideline ability and closing speed pop and it will likely take multiple mental errors before Dodson gets elevated past the impressive Williams. Add Williams everywhere to start as an LB3 who can quickly ascend to LB2 status. Treat him as an elite LB3 option for a plus Week 7 matchup against a crumbling New England Patriots team.
Blake Cashman (LB – HOU): 0% rostered on Yahoo
In a surprise development, Blake Cashman was active, and Denzel Perryman was a healthy scratch. Perryman played just 45 percent of the snaps in Week 5, but the prevailing thought was that the team kept him on a snap count in his first game back from injury. Instead, it was evidence that Henry To’oTo’o has supplanted him on the depth chart and is the preferred starter when Christian Harris is healthy. Cashman plays special teams, so it is easy to see why he was tapped to be on the game day roster over Perryman. Cashman cashed in on the Texans’ belief in him by recording nine solos, six assists, two tackles for loss, and two passes defended in a victory over the imploding New Orleans Saints. Temper your FAAB bids due to the Texans being on bye, but this is definitely someone deep leaguers will want to stash. Add Cashman where needed with an eye on starting him as an LB3 option for Week 8 and beyond.
Demario Davis (LB – NO): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Demario flashed his vintage form in Week 6, racking up four solos, three assists, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one pass defended. He remains more LB3 than the LB2 fantasy managers drafted him to be, but with the byes here in full force, someone like Demario should be rostered universally in competitive leagues. Tap him as a strong LB3 option for Week 7 despite the neutral on-paper matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jahlani Tavai (LB – NE): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Jahlani Tavai continues to separate himself as the off-ball linebacker to roster from New England, this week posting six solos, one interception, and one pass defended. Tavai will never see an every down role but has proved to be consistent enough to be a strong LB3 option. With the byes now here in full force, Tavai can be tapped as an LB2 option for Week 7, thanks to a plus matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Tavai should be rostered in all competitive leagues during the byes. Add and start him where available.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB – CLE): 4% rostered on Yahoo
JOK was excellent in Week 6, racking up three solos, two assists, one sack, and three tackles for loss. JOK is someone who generally only sees starts in 11 v. 11 IDP leagues (or against Baltimore), but when the byes hit, especially the heavy ones, he becomes an instant part of the LB2 conversation. He is a special talent but has yet to find the consistency needed to take his IDP game to the next level. Treat him as a borderline LB2 for a plus Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Make the add where needed.
Others to consider: Kwon Alexander (LB – PIT): 2%, Kaden Elliss (LB – ATL): 6%, Nate Landman (LB – ATL): 3%, Nakobe Dean (LB – PHI): 4%, Micah McFadden (LB – NYG): 2%, Devin Lloyd (LB – JAC): 2%
Defensive Line
Samson Ebukam (DE/LB – IND): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Samson Ebukam continues to impress. With his three solos, one sack, and one tackle for loss in Week 6, Ebukam made it at least one sack in four of his last five games. He has been hot enough to be rostered in all competitive leagues, so expect his rostership numbers to skyrocket this week, especially with a heavy bye upon us. Ebukam should be treated as a strong DL3 option who can operate as your DL2 in a pinch. Start Ebukam everywhere for a plus Week 7 matchup against the depleted Cleveland Browns.
Bradley Chubb (DE/LB – MIA): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Chubb was excellent in Week 6, racking up four solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss against the Carolina Panthers. The sack was his first since Week 2, but Chubb is a premier pass rusher when he is on and will likely continue to see fewer chips and doubles now that Jaelan Phillips is healthy and back in the lineup. Chubb should be rostered as a DL3/LB4 option for the byes and should be treated as such for what should be a plus matchup against a Philadelphia Eagles team dealing with an injury to Lane Johnson. If Johnson is out, Chubb can be plugged in as a DL2 option, if he is active, deploy him as your DL3 for Week 7.
Randy Gregory (DE/LB – SF): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Left for dead by the Denver Broncos and fantasy managers alike, Randy Gregory has a new lease on his NFL career in San Francisco. He started his 49ers tenure by recording three solos, one sack, and two tackles for loss. He will not see an everydown role as they will only ask him to do what he does best, which is rush the passer, and have paired him with an elite pass rusher who will command extra attention on every snap. Gregory is a solid option for the byes and should be viewed as a DL3 option for Week 7’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Justin Madubuike (DT – BAL): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Madubuike has been on a roll for the Baltimore Ravens and deserves immediate attention for the bye weeks. Madubike continued his strong play in Week 6, reeling off four solos, one assist, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. He now has 3.5 sacks in his last three games, with at least a half sack in each. Now up to 4.5 sacks on the season, Madubuike is now second among defensive tackles in sacks, behind only DPOY candidate Chris Jones (5.5). Madubuke needs to be taken seriously as a DT1/DL3 option as long as he remains productive and has shown enough to remain a DT2 option even when he hits a drought. Add and start Madubuike as a DT1/DT3 despite the tough on paper Week 7 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Jalen Carter (DT – PHI): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Carter did not play in Week 6 but is still someone you want on your roster, especially with the byes being a part of the conversation. Carter has recorded a historic 23 pressures in his first five games, the most ever by a defensive tackle, and ranks second among the position this season, behind just Chris Jones. He should be active for what should be an exciting matchup against the Miami Dolphins and needs to be rostered universally. Treat the emerging superstar as a DT1/DL3 for Week 7.
Others to consider: Harold Landry (DE/LB – TEN): 1%, Casey Toohill (DE – WAS): 0%, Harrison Phillips (DT – MIN): 7%, Jadeveon Clowney (DE – BAL): 2%, D.J. Wonnum (DE/LB – MIN): 0%
Defensive Back
Josh Metellus (S/CB – MIN): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Josh Metellus continues to shine in the nickel role for the Minnesota Vikings, most recently reeling off five solos, three assists, one sack, and two tackles for loss against the Chicago Bears in Week 6. He has recorded five or more solos in four of six games this season and is an excellent DB3/CB1 option for the heavy bye in Week 7. Metellus will get a beat-up San Francisco 49ers team in Week 7 and should see plenty of action as the nickel. Fire him up with confidence as a DB3 option for what should be another productive afternoon.
Tony Adams (S – NYJ): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Tony Adams had the breakout game Robert Saleh has been waiting for, and it could not have come at a better time as Adams fourth quarter pick permanently shifted the momentum in the favor of the New York Jets and their stellar defense. He finished the night with five solos, two assists, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. Adams is on bye during Week 7, so you will not need to be overly aggressive with your FAAB bid. Treat him as a DB3 with DB2 upside for Week 8 and beyond.
Grant Delpit (S – CLE): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Grant Delpit went a little quiet after a hot start but picked things back up in Week 6, racking up five solos and one assist. He has not had the breakout DB1 season many projected but has instead settled in as a high-level DB2 option week-in-and-week-out. An everydown starter with all of the talent needed to become an elite IDP weapon, Delpit just needs to find some consistency to cement himself as part of the DB1 conversation. Treat him as an elite DB2 option for a plus Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Jabrill Peppers (S – NE): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Jabrill Peppers continued to make his case for DB3 status in Week 6, racking up seven solos and one pass defended. Peppers has been inconsistent this season but has picked it up lately, recording five or more solos in three of his last four games. He is getting hot at the right time as we are smack dab in the middle of a heavy bye, putting Peppers in DB3 conversation for Week 7. Peppers gets a Buffalo Bills team allowing the 18th most fantasy points per game to the safety position. Add and start Peppers where needed.
Markquese Bell (S/LB – DAL): 0% rostered on Yahoo
|Bell operated as the Cowboys’ second off-ball linebacker in Week 6 and is likely locked into that role as long as Donovan Wilson, Jayron Kearse, and Malik Hooker remain healthy. Bell has proven he can make an IDP impact given the requisite snaps and will now see more stop opportunities now that he is playing in the box more frequently. The Cowboys are on bye, so you will not need to be aggressive with your FAAB bid, but be sure to bid to a level to avoid disappointment. Tap Bell as a DB3 with obvious DB2 upside for a plus Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Others to consider: Tre’von Moehrig (S – LV): 1%, Kerby Joseph (S – DET): 2%, Andre Cisco (S – JAC): 4%, Christian Izien (S – TB): 0%, Kareem Jackson (S – DEN): 3%, Ryan Neal (S – TB): 3%, Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 7%, Tracy Walker (S – DET): 3%
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