This article immediately highlights defensive players whose production was significantly better or worse than normally expected for the prior week of games. Note there is sometimes limited information available when this article is written, but I will try to give everyone an early look at players who are moving up or down in value among IDP circles. It isn’t easy to give waiver advice for IDPs since there is such a wide variety of lineups and scoring systems, but hopefully, the information provided can help inform your waiver, trade, and upcoming lineup decisions. I'm also going to try and group edge rushers together with the understanding that classification as a defensive end or linebacker will depend on your league setup/host. If you have any questions about specific players or situations, please email me or reach out via Twitter.
Email: rudnicki@footballguys.com
Twitter: @a_rudnicki
UPGRADES
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS
DE Aidan Hutchinson, DET (8 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 89% of snaps)
Hutchinson has struggled with consistency, like most young players in the NFL, but he’s shown some elite potential at times. The Bears offense gained 258 yards rushing, but Hutchinson was very active and led all Lions defenders with eight solo stops while also adding a sack.
DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DAL (5 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF on 72% of snaps)
While Lawrence has put together an excellent season, it has been driven more by his play against the run than his sack totals this year. He’s currently on pace for 55 solo tackles, 25 assists, and 9.5 sacks.
DE A.J. Epenesa, BUF (3 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF, 2 PD on 60% of snaps)
With Gregory Rousseau out injured, it was Epenesa who picked up most of the workload this week as he saw a season-high 50 snaps compared to 33 for Shaq Lawson and 25 for Carlos Basham.
DL Leonard Williams, NYG (5 solos, 4 asst, .5 sack, 1 QH, 1 FF on 92% of snaps)
Williams appears to have put his slow start behind him after his second strong game in a row. After posting just 6 solos, 3 assists, and 0 sacks in his first 4 games played, he now has 10 solos, 7 assists, and 1.5 sacks in his last 2.
DT Malcolm Roach, NO (5 solos, 2 asst, 1 TFL on 52% of snaps)
Roach posted an impressive stat line this week and also played a season-high 44 snaps while collecting 7 combined tackles plus a sack. Worth noting, however, that the Steelers offense ran the ball 43 times in this game while also giving up six sacks, so the script worked very well in his favor.
LINEBACKERS
LB Jack Sanborn, CHI (9 solos, 3 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH on 90% of snaps)
Sanborn appears to be picking up where Roquan Smith left off. Over the past two starts, he has been credited with 16 solo stops, 3 assists, and a pair of sacks to rank among the top-5 fantasy linebackers.
LB Frankie Luvu, CAR (8 solos, 4 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 1 QH on 100% of snaps)
It took a few weeks since he returned from injury, but Luvu was back to a full-time role for the Panthers this week. He played all 63 snaps and led all players in the game with 12 combined tackles while also adding a pair of sacks.
LB Devin White, TB (8 solos, 1 asst, 2 sacks, 1 TFL, 3 QH, 1 FF on 100% of snaps)
White had an emotional game this weekend as he learned his father passed before boarding a flight for Germany. He hasn’t always played up to his potential this year but is at his best when he’s allowed to rush the passer and he now has 5 sacks on the season.
LB Cody Barton, SEA (8 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD on 80% of snaps)
Barton had seen his playing time reduced over the past month and was averaging fewer than 50% of the snaps. He saw an increase to 80% this week though and was very productive with nine tackles while also adding the first interception of his brief career.
LB Jayon Brown, LV (4 solos, 4 asst, and 1 FR on 100% of snaps)
With Blake Martinez suddenly retiring and Denzel Perryman inactive again, Brown moved back into a full-time role this week. His 8 tackles were somewhat underwhelming in a game where the Colts offense generated 30 rush attempts but he should be in line for more work until Divine Deablo returns.
LB Kaden Elliss, NO (3 solos, 4 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF on 96% of snaps)
Pete Werner sat out the game this week with an ankle injury, which created an opening for Elliss. He played a remarkable 96% of the snaps and filled up the box score with seven tackles along with a sack, his third in the past five weeks.
LB Sione Takitaki, CLE (8 solos, 2 asst, 1 TFL on 96% of snaps)
The Browns linebacker group has been ravaged by injuries as they lost Anthony Walker and Jacob Phillips both to season-ending injuries, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is also dealing with a knee injury. Takitaki has played nearly every snap in the past two games as a result and has helped carry the load with 14 solos and 9 assists.
LB Isaiah McDuffie, GB (8 solos, 5 asst on 82% of snaps)
McDuffie filled in for the injured DeVondre Campbell this week and collected 13 tackles on 68 snaps. There are some favorable matchups coming up, so he could have some short-term value if Campbell misses any more time.
LB Willie Gay Jr, KC (6 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 PD on 67% of snaps)
Gay had a very productive game this week with eight tackles plus a sack and pass deflection, but his workload was lower than last week. He continues to play about two-thirds of the snaps each week, so his production will be harder to predict and more matchup-dependent than Nick Bolton, who rarely leaves the field.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
S Rudy Ford, GB (4 solos, 2 INTs, 2 PD on 76% of snaps)}
The Packers pulled off a huge win in overtime over the Cowboys thanks in part to the play of Ford. He lined up in the box as an inside linebacker at times and looked comfortable defending the run but also came up with two interceptions in a breakout performance. Expect the Packers to try and find more ways to get him on the field in three-safety packages going forward, which may wind up blocking newcomer Jonathan Abram after he was claimed on waivers from Las Vegas.
S Jonathan Owens, HOU (10 solos, 2 asst on 86% of snaps)
The Texans are a work in progress at the linebacker position, which is often leaving plenty of tackle opportunities for Owens in the secondary. He is on pace to finish with 100+ solo tackles this year, but a lack of big plays has limited his value slightly.
S Nick Scott, LAR (8 solos, 1 asst, 1 FF on 100% of snaps)
Scott has not been very consistent this year and part of that is likely due to playing behind Bobby Wagner, but he’s a full-time safety who is likely on waivers in most leagues. He added nine tackles with a forced fumble this week and could see an uptick given the struggles the Rams are having on offense.
CB Antonio Hamilton, ARI (10 solos, 1 asst, 2 PD on 90% of snaps)
Hamilton started in place of Byron Murphy and was targeted often by the Rams as he collected 10 solo tackles. Murphy sat out this week with a back injury but appears like he could be healthy enough to return next week against the 49ers.
CB Sam Webb, LV (6 solos, 2 asst, 1 FF, 2 PD on 97% of snaps)
The undrafted rookie was not in the starting lineup this week but still managed to play 97% of the snaps, which ranked 4th among Raiders defenders. He had a strong showing despite the loss and appears to be gaining the trust of the coaching staff.
CB Patrick Peterson, MIN (3 solos, 1 asst, 2 INT, 2 PD on 100% of snaps)
The veteran cornerback is taking full advantage of all the close games the Vikings have been in. His tackle numbers are perhaps lower than you’d prefer from a fantasy cornerback, but he has been all around the ball with three interceptions and eight passes defensed over his last four games.
CB Terrance Mitchell, TEN (7 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 3 PD on 100% of snaps)
Mitchell started in place of Kristian Fulton this week and had a huge game. He was credited with eight tackles and also came up with a game-clinching interception at the end. Fulton may not be out for long though as he sat out this week with a hamstring injury.
DOWNGRADES
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS
DE Kwity Paye, IND (0 tackles on 26% of snaps)
Paye came into this week with a questionable tag after missing practice on Friday. He was healthy enough to start but lasted just 18 snaps before leaving the game with another ankle problem. Dayo Odeyingbo played 60% of the snaps in his place but finished with just two quarterback hits.
DE Darrell Taylor, SEA (1 asst on 37% of snaps)
Taylor only played three snaps over the past two games while recovering from a hip injury. He found a more crowded depth chart in his return as Seattle played Bruce Irvin and Uchenna Nwosu for most of the game while rotating in Taylor as well as rookie Boye Mafe.
DE Dorance Armstrong, DAL (1 asst on 50% of snaps)
Armstrong continues to play about half of the snaps each week on a deep Cowboys defensive line, but his production has trailed off. Since opening the year with five sacks in his first six games, he has 0 solos and 0 sacks over his last three games.
EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah, MIA (0 tackles on 15% of snaps)
This has been a lost season for Ogbah as he came into the game with no sacks since the season opener and suffered a torn triceps on Sunday. He’ll be placed on injured reserve and lost for the rest of the season.
EDGE ZaDarius Smith, MIN (1 solo, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 PD on 75% of snaps)
Smith picked up another sack this week but left the game early with a knee injury. Initial reports didn’t seem to suggest anything serious so he may be able to play next week against the Cowboys.
LINEBACKERS
LB Jonas Griffith, DEN (0 tackles on 21% of snaps)
Griffith was in the starting lineup this week but played just 21% of the snaps. This looked like a great matchup, but he wound up playing just 13 snaps and was shut out statistically, while Alex Singleton added 7 tackles on his 33 snaps.
LB Tremaine Edmunds, BUF (1 solo, 2 asst, 2 PD on 36% of snaps)
Edmunds came into the game with 26 combined tackles over his previous two games, but he was forced to leave the game early with a groin injury. Tyrel Dodson took his place and collected just two tackles on 53 snaps.
LB Blake Martinez, LV (DNP)
Martinez had a solid showing last week with 11 tackles but then decided midweek to suddenly announce his retirement. The Raiders used Jayon Brown in a full-time role this week and will hope to get Denzel Perryman back on the field soon.
LB Devin Lloyd, JAX (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 FR on 60% of snaps)
Lloyd appears to have hit a rookie wall, so the team limited his playing time this week. He split time with fellow rookie Chad Muma, who added 5 tackles on his 25 snaps.
LB Derrick Barnes, DET (1 solo, 1 asst on 69% of snaps)
Malcolm Rodriguez sat out this week due to an elbow injury, so Barnes got another chance to show what he could do. Unfortunately, he couldn’t repeat his performance from last week and was mostly a non-factor against the Bears.
LB Devin Bush, PIT (2 solos, 1 asst on 85% of snaps)
Myles Jack sat out this week with a knee injury despite getting in a full practice on Friday. That should have created an opening for Bush, but instead, it was Robert Spillane who capitalized with 7 tackles on 47 snaps.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
S Johnathan Abram, GB (1 solo on 0% of snaps)
Abram was cut from the Raiders last week and claimed by the Packers. He was active and collected a solo tackle, but it came on special teams, as he didn’t see any playing time on defense. With the emergence of Rudy Ford this week, it seems he will probably need an injury to see any kind of regular playing time in Green Bay.
S DeShon Elliott, DET (1 asst on 48% of snaps)
Elliott has been very productive this year for the Lions but had a rough game on Sunday in a win over the Bears. He collected just 1 assist on 29 snaps before leaving the game with a concussion that leaves his status for next week in doubt.
S Terrell Edmunds, PIT (2 asst on 100% of snaps)
The Steelers were without Minkah Fitzpatrick this week, which should have given Edmunds a boost, but he wound up with just 2 assists on 47 snaps. For additional context, the Saints offense didn’t offer much help as they generated just 34 tackle opportunities in the game.
CB Anthony Brown, DAL (0 tackles on 36% of snaps)
Brown has seen a large drop in his production over the past few games, and he was off to another quiet outing this week before leaving early with a concussion. Including this week’s game, he has just nine solo tackles and five assists over his last six games combined.
CB Cornell Armstrong, ATL (0 tackles on 0% of snaps)
Armstrong came into this week with 14 solos, 6 assists, and 4 passes defensed over the prior three games, but he was sent back to the bench. Rashad Fenton replaced him in the lineup and picked up 4 tackles on 66 snaps.
