IDP Defensive Playbook - Week 10

Nov 11, 2015

Welcome to your Week 10 IDP Defensive Playbook. Each week, I'll highlight some of the top defensive waiver wire targets, as well as matchups to exploit and avoid in each game. Week 9 is in the books, and there were both some fine performances and some stinkers thrown about. Jordan Hicks was the latest big IDP producer to go down, suffering a torn pectoral. Before I look at Week 10, here's how my Week 9 waiver targets performed last week:

Derrick Shelby, DE, MIA: Two tackles
Denico Autry, DE, OAK: No stats
Geno Atkins, DT, CIN: Four tackles/One sack
Vontaze Burfict, OLB, CIN: Three tackles
Pernell McPhee, OLB, CHI: Two tackles
Shaq Barrett, OLB, DEN: Six tackles (another good option this week with Ware re-injuring his back)
Demarious Randall, CB, GBP: Five tackles/Two defended passes/One INT
Ibraheim Campbell, SS, CLE: Five tackles
Roman Harper, SS, CAR: Six tackles/One defended pass

Defensive Line

Linval Joseph, DT, MIN: Joseph has had a subpar season so far in Minnesota, but has seen an uptick in his fantasy points over the last few weeks. In two of his last three games, he’s produced double-digit fantasy points and with injuries to the linebacker group, he could take on even more. If you were a Jonathan Hankins owner, Joseph makes a solid replacement in DT-required leagues.

Eugene Sims, DE, STL: Sims should be a target in deeper leagues, especially if Robert Quinn misses more games. He provided consistent pressure on the QB in Week 9 and is a good matchup play against a below-average Chicago offensive line.

Kendall Langford, DE, IND: He’ll be another deep league target, especially now that Henry Anderson is out for the year. Langford was a beast in Denver’s offensive backfield and will get the pass rush snaps from here on out. Target him in deeper leagues with big play scoring formats.

Linebacker

Jonathan Anderson, ILB/OLB, CHI: Anderson got the nod for the inactive Shea McClellin and had himself a big game. Anderson posted 11 solo tackles and played in all but one snap on Monday night. If you’re a McClellin owner, or in a deeper league, you might want to take a chance on him if the playing time continues.

Chad Greenway, OLB, MIN: The Chad Greenway from seasons past emerged in Week 9. With Audie Cole and Eric Kendricks injured, Greenway recorded a season-high eight solo tackles and was in on 100 percent of the defensive snaps. Keep an eye on the Vikes ‘backers, as they are hurting, so pickup Greenway as a handcuff.

Brandon Graham, OLB, PHI: He’s going to be unleashed more and given more snaps with Jordan Hicks on IR. Graham now has 3.5 sacks on the year and providing consistent pressure outside. He’ll be worth adding in big play scoring formats.

Defensive Back

Charles Tillman, CB, CAR: Tillman still needs to be respected when he’s around the football. He has six defended passes on the year and punched his first forced fumble last week. He has double-digit points in consecutive weeks and is worth adding in CB-required leagues with some great matchups on the docket.

Malcolm Butler, CB, NEP: Butler makes a nice matchup play this week in CB-required leagues, as he should draw the short-end of the stick, and get Odell Beckham, Jr in coverage. This means he should be targeted often and he has already notched 40 tackles and eight defended passes this year.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, NYG: Cromartie should draw Julian Edelman, who’s a target monster for Tom Brady. The Patriots are giving up nine solo tackles per game.