Do you feel that? These weeks are getting more and more meaningful as time ticks on. The decisions we must make could potentially extend our season or crash and burn them! The more info we have at our disposal, the better. What do we do with this info? Well, that's for you to decide! All I can do is give you my completely unbiased and nuanced look into the future, right? These are definitive stocks, as confident as I have ever posted. So do with this information what you will and remember, there's no point in playing this game without the intent to win it all!
Fortune 5
Stock Up: Nnamdi Madubuike, Baltimore
There is both good news and bad news associated with Madubuike. The good news is that he is still playing football, despite what his stats previously told us. The bad news is that we may never know if this week was an anomaly. His potential is extremely high but hasn't translated to fantasy production this year. He reminded us this week that he can still go off anytime. Remember, he scored more sacks this week than his season total before the game and achieved 25% of his tackle total. This is the type of game that gives me an appetite to buy him or acquire him if managers gave up early in the season.
Stock Up: T.J. Edwards, Chicago
By his standards, Edwards is having a down year. Because of this, he is not being talked about in the upper echelon of IDP linebackers. This week, he, too, reminded us of his previous greatness. 13 total tackles and an interception this past week must have managers feeling good. Despite his mediocre start to the season, he is still pacing for the 150-tackle range. It has just been an ugly journey to get there. I anticipate he will continue to improve this season and finish as a top 5 linebacker, but he may have his work cut out to do this. Regardless, he's still a top linebacker in IDP, and it was reassuring to get a game like this.
Stock Up: DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas
There's something nice about a young linebacker rising to the occasion and becoming a must-start player. We are seeing that happen in real-time with Overshown in Dallas. He not only has the consistent tackle floor of just over seven tackles a game, but he has shown an ability to affect the quarterback with four sacks. Last week, we saw his best career game with 11 tackles and two sacks. They may not all be as good as last week, but he has proven that he deserves recognition from IDP fans and a spot in your starting lineup. He has some very favorable matchups over the next few weeks against the Texans, Commanders, and Giants in consecutive weeks.
Stock Up: Josey Jewell, Carolina
He may not be the crown jewel of IDP, but Josey Jewell has always been reliable, and this season is no different. Sure, he may not be as sexy as some of these other young and athletic linebackers we all salivate over, but if you are forced to start Jewell, you are doing better than you may think. Since his return to the field, in Week 8 he has 22 tackles which is a solid average and has proven to be a good barometer for his production, considering prior to the injury he was averaging 7.5 a game. There is nothing wrong with having solid, reliable linebacker play, even if it may be boring. He deserves lineup consideration every week, and he rarely will be the reason you lose. But every now and again, he can be the reason you win a matchup, and there is real value in a player who can do this.
Stock Up: Jack Gibbens, Tennessee
Oh man, I skipped the pennies and went straight to the penthouse with this one. When a linebacker emerges with a huge week, I try to temper my expectations and give myself time to process why it happened. After two weeks, I don't need to think any longer; I am reacting, as should you! His stat line the last two weeks is 29 tackles and half a sack. Since Ernest Jones IV left, Gibbens has dominated not only the snap share at the position but the tackles on the field as well. We may have identified our latest "drop all the FAAB you have on this guy" player of the season. He's a dynasty darling, and if Tennessee decides to keep him long-term, he could also be a foundational player in IDP. It is too early to say all of that, but in the short term, you need to get him while you can.
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