Let's take a quick look at a few linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs who are either good grab-and-stash types or those that you should target in trades. Hope you enjoy the article and it opens your eyes to some of the gems that can be found on your leagues' waiver wires!
Linebackers
Garrett Wallow (HOU): Christian Kirksey was brought in to replace Benardrick McKinney and has been great, but he’s 29 and tends to bounce from team to team. Zach Cunningham has been a stud in years past but has been awfully quiet the past month. Wallow has a good size/speed profile and was productive in his final two seasons at TCU. Perhaps the floundering Texans will give him a shot now that Kirksey has a broken thumb. Worth a DTS stash for sure.
Kamu Grugier-Hill (HOU): If you’re in win-now mode and need a steady, double-digit-per-week kind of LB3, Grugier-Hill is probably safer than Wallow. If Kirksey misses any time, Grugier-Hill could really benefit.
Rashan Gary (GBP): Don’t let the signing of Whitney Mercilus scare you off; Gary is finally starting to produce. He’s had solid efforts against the Steelers (4 solos, 2 helpers, 1 sack) and last week against the Football Team (3 solos, 4 helpers, forced fumble, 1 sack). With both Preston and ZaDarius Smith nursing injuries, Gary has been the snap count leader on the outside for the Packers. Look for his stats to improve. A solid add in big-play formats.
Defensive Linemen
Carlos Basham (DE – BUF): The Bills D has some serious playmakers and Basham is one of them. He hasn’t burst onto the scene quite yet, but once some of the older edge rushers (Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison) depart, it could be up to Basham and fellow rookie Gregory Rousseau to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. A good time to buy low or add/stash.
Dean Lowry (DE – GBP): Along with Rashan Gary, Dean Lowry is getting extra run with the Smiths out. Lowry is one of those lunchpail kind of players. He does the dirty work and has a high motor. He has a bum ankle so watch the injury reports in the next couple of days to see if he’s worth adding in larger leagues that separate DE and DT.
Larry Ogunjobi (DT – CIN): Not much on my leagues' free agent lists in terms of defensive tackles. But Ogunjobi had a big Week 7 and has a fabulous pair of games coming up so he’s a solid add for those in leagues that start DT and need some extra oomph. Expect a solid effort against the Jets this week and then against his old team in the Browns the following week.
Defensive Backs
Anthony Averett (CB – NEP): The fourth-year pro out of Alabama is getting about one pass defense per outing, and has a very solid 17 solos in his past three games. The Ravens are on bye this week, so no need to run out and add him, but you can probably get him for next to nothing and there are some juicy matchups coming up, so he’s going to be a nice play in leagues that start CB separately.
Rasul Douglas (CB– GBP): The journeyman corner has landed in Green Bay and has a pair of double-digit fantasy games under his belt already. He has a tremendous Thursday night tilt against the high-flying Cardinals, and then another solid matchup against the struggling Chiefs. Both matchups are in Douglas’ favor in terms of producing tackles and pass breakups. He’s 28, so this is a win-now type of suggestion.
Jayron Kearse (S – DAL): There’s talk of the Cowboys trading for a safety, so this is a bit of a dice roll, but Kearse is definitely the best safety in terms of fantasy production. He has a great matchup this week against the Vikings, so if you’re struggling to field productive safeties, Kearse is a good play and a good stash for the rest of the season.
