This article attempts to immediately highlight 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. When warranted, I'll also call out some players under No Change that tries to explain why the stat lines may be misleading. It’s difficult 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. If you have any questions about specific players or situations, feel free to email me or reach out via twitter.
Email: rudnicki@footballguys.com
Twitter: @a_rudnicki
GREEN BAY @ CHICAGO
Upgrades:
LB Preston Smith, GB (2 solos, 3 asst, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 3 QH, 1 PD)
LB ZaDarius Smith, GB (3 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 3 QH)
The Packers made a big splash in free agency when they signed both edge rushers to contracts that combined for $118 million with $36 million guaranteed. Neither was projected to have a big fantasy impact in balanced scoring leagues this year due to a lack of tackle opportunities, but their debut showing suggests otherwise. Each of them was on the field for at least 92% of the defensive snaps in the game with Preston playing a remarkable 72 of 73 snaps in the game, and they combined for 8 tackles with 2.5 sacks and 6 quarterback hits.
LB Leonard Floyd, CHI (4 solos, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH)
Khalil Mack gets most of the attention and deservedly so, but Leonard Floyd is another former 1st round pick who may be ready to finally reach his potential as an impact pass rusher. After showing improvement as a run defender last year, he put together a strong training camp and got the year off to a great start with a pair of sacks while playing just 3 fewer snaps than Mack. The Bears don’t have a lot of depth behind him so he should continue to see a heavy workload in the weeks to come.
CB Kevin King, GB (5 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 PD)
King missed the entire preseason while dealing with a hamstring injury but he returned to practice just in time to suit up in the opener. While he only saw 42 snaps (58%) in the game, he made his presence felt with 5 solo tackles plus a sack and a near-interception. Tramon Williams got the start at cornerback opposite Jaire Alexander, but he’s 36 years old and better suited to more of a limited role so King should be able to take his spot when fully healthy.
Downgrades:
None
LOS ANGELES RAMS @ CAROLINA
Upgrades:
LB Cory Littleton, LAR (8 solos, 6 asst, 1 INT, 2 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR)
Littleton came into the year as a clear top-10 fantasy linebacker after posting 90+ solo tackles, 4 sacks, and 3 interceptions a year ago. There may have been some concern over whether the former undrafted player would be able to replicate those numbers, but we can likely put those behind us after seeing what he did in week 1. Littleton was all over the field and finished with 14 tackles out of 48 non-sack tackle opportunities while also generating two turnovers. The preseason injury to Micah Kiser also leaves very little depth behind Littleton at inside linebacker as special teamer Bryce Hager got the start but saw just 25 snaps (37%).
CB James Bradberry, CAR (2 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 INT, 2 PD)
Bradberry has been a reliable fantasy option over the past several years due to above-average tackle numbers but he’s been held back by a lack of big plays. In three combined seasons as a starter, he has collected just 5 interceptions (with 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles) despite often matching up against the primary target for the opposing team. With two big plays in week 1, however, perhaps the shift to a more aggressive 3-4 base at times this year will help boost his playmaking numbers and make him a low-end CB1.
Downgrades:
DE Mario Addison, CAR (0 tackles, 1 QH)
Addison has quietly averaged just under 10 sacks/season over the past three years and he appears to be a good fit for the new 3-4 hybrid defense the Panthers are trying to implement. Even though the Panthers were without a key player like Bruce Irvin in the opener, however, Addison saw just 48 snaps (62%) and was nearly invisible on the box score. In comparison, the rookie Brent Burns saw a similar workload and was credited with 2 tackles and 2 QB hits in his debut.
S Eric Weddle, LAR (2 solos, 4 asst)
The 13-year veteran Weddle figures to be a strong addition to the back end of the Rams defense this year, but he was forced to leave the game early this week following a blow to the head. He still finished with 6 combined tackles in just 26 snaps (39%) so there is reason for optimism once he clears the concussion protocol. Meanwhile, rookie Taylor Rapp (3 solos, 4 asst) also made his presence felt as the team’s third safety as he finished with 7 combined tackles on just 32 snaps. He’s too good to remain on the bench and figures to be a key piece of their subpackages even when Weddle is fully healthy.
TENNESSEE @ CLEVELAND
Upgrades:
LB Cameron Wake, TEN (2 solos, 1 asst, 2.5 sacks, 2 TFL, 4 QH)
While Wake took a big hit to his fantasy value in most leagues following the move to Tennessee since he’s now considered a linebacker in their 3-4 front, the 37-year old clearly has more to give as a pass-rush specialist. He saw 24 snaps (33%) this week and contributed 2.5 sacks with 4 QB hits, suggesting he could contribute as an edge rusher in scoring systems that heavily weight big plays.
CB Logan Ryan, TEN (7 solos, 1 asst, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 INT, 1 PD)
The Titans slot corner played 69 snaps (95%) against the Browns and cemented his status as one of the most reliable fantasy options at the position. Not only did he lead his team in tackles with 8, but he also added 1.5 sacks and an interception to make him one of the most productive IDPs in the league this week.
Downgrades:
DE Olivier Vernon, CLE (0 tackles)
Despite the success of Myles Garrett, this game script did not favor the Browns pass rushers. Olivier Vernon saw 56 snaps (92%) and the Browns had 9 defenders play more than 80% of the game as there was little need for nickel and dime subpackages. The Titans only had 14 completions on 24 pass attempts as they hit on some big plays and relied heavily on their ground game to protect a lead. Even though Vernon was shut out completely from the box score, that type of heavy workload is a positive sign for his outlook in the weeks to come. In this case, it looks like Titans right tackle Jack Conklin got the better of him.
KANSAS CITY @ JACKSONVILLE
Upgrades:
S Juan Thornhill, KC (5 solos, 3 asst)
The rookie got the start at safety alongside Tyrann Mathieu, played all 58 defensive snaps, and led the Chiefs in tackles with 8. He had an impressive training camp and was able to beat out the veteran Daniel Sorensen, who was reduced to a reserve/special teams role.
Downgrades:
LB Myles Jack, JAX (2 solos)
Jack lasted just 20 snaps (29%) before he was ejected for throwing a punch and had to be dragged off the field. Early reports indicated he wouldn’t face a suspension, but it’s a disappointing start considering he’s expected to lead the way at linebacker with the absence of Telvin Smith Sr. Rookie Quincy Williams started alongside him and posted 4 solo tackles on 45 snaps (66%), but he missed most of the preseason and should take on a bigger role as he gets acclimated.
LB Reggie Ragland, KC (Inactive)
Ragland was expected to be the starting middle linebacker for the Chiefs this year so seeing him as a healthy scratch against a run-heavy team like Jacksonville was very surprising. Damien Wilson (5 solos, 1 FF) started alongside Anthony Hitchens in the nickel defense and played 47 snaps (81%), suggesting these are the only two linebackers with value here. Darron Lee lined up as the weakside linebacker in their base defense but saw just 10 snaps in the game.
BALTIMORE @ MIAMI
Upgrades:
LB Patrick Onwuasor, BAL (5 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 PD)
The blowout makes it hard to reach too much into this one game, but Onwuasor certainly appears to the primary 3-down inside linebacker as he was on the field for 49 of 50 defensive snaps. Meanwhile, Kenny Young (42%) and Chris Board (26%) appeared to share playing time at the other inside linebacker position. Miami’s offense only generated 12 rush attempts and 30 tackle opportunities in the game, so Onwuasor’s numbers were rather impressive here and he should see a big jump this year following the free-agent defection of C.J. Mosley to the Jets.
CB Eric Rowe, MIA (9 solos, 2 asst)
There wasn’t much to like from Miami this week, but from an IDP perspective, it should be clear that this group is going to be on the field a lot this year. They had no answers for the Ravens passing game and it appeared as though Rowe was one of the most picked on players as he finished with 9 solos and 11 tackles on a game-high 72 defensive snaps (94%). Xavien Howard has been emerging as one of the better young cornerbacks in the league, which should lead to plenty of targets and opportunities for Rowe.
Downgrades:
LB Raekwon McMillan, MI (1 solo, 2 asst)
Despite the recent trade of Kiko Alonso to New Orleans, McMillan wasn’t even in the starting lineup this week as the Dolphins opened in their nickel defense. However, it was Sam Eguavoen (2 solos, 2 asst, .5 sack) who got the start and saw 68 snaps (88%) compared to just 22 (29%) for McMillan. Considering the Ravens finished the game with 46 rush attempts and 70 tackle opportunities created, it’s very disappointing that only one Dolphins defender had more than 4 solo tackles.
ATLANTA @ MINNESOTA
Upgrades:
DT Grady Jarrett, ATL (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF)
Jarrett was one of the only players to stand out for Atlanta in this game as he consistently caused havoc up front and generated the team’s only sack (with a forced fumble) on a day when Kirk Cousins only attempted 10 passes. He could certainly take another step this year and join the ranks of the elite among interior defensive linemen.
Downgrades:
LB Deion Jones, ATL (5 solos)
The stat line for Jones doesn’t suggest a downgrade, but he was only on the field for 33 defensive snaps (62%) compared to 53 (100%) for DeVondre Campbell, who only finished with 1 more. Most likely the Falcons were easing Jones back into things as he continues to recover from lingering foot issues stemming from his week 1 injury last season. Assuming he is healthy enough to handle a full workload soon, he should return to LB1 status, but there is some uncertainty there.
BUFFALO @ NEW YORK JETS
Upgrades:
LB Neville Hewitt, NYJ (4 solos, 3 asst, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 INT, 1 PD)
Hewitt took over for the injured Avery Williamson at weakside linebacker and wound up playing 68 of 69 defensive snaps in the game. He has primarily been a special teams contributor in the past but took full advantage of the opportunity this week with 7 tackles and an interception. If he can hold onto a 3-down role, he has a good chance to put up LB3 numbers given the situation.
No Change:
LB C.J. Mosley, NYJ (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 2 PD, 1 FR, 1 TD)
Mosley got the Jets off to a great start with an easy interception return for a touchdown on a ball that bounced right into his hands. He also added a fumble recovery in the game as the Bills turned the ball over 4 times in the game, but was forced to leave the game with a groin injury after just 48 snaps (70%). The injury occurred when he made a nice play in coverage to break up a touchdown pass to receiver John Brown, and his absence made it much easier for the Bills to complete the comeback win. Mosley expects to play next week but there’s always a chance he could re-aggravate the injury if it’s not fully healed.
S Siran Neal, BUF (5 solos, 2 asst)
Neal took over for an injured Taron Johnson midway through the game as the team’s nickel back and the Jets immediately started picking on him. He finished with 7 tackles on just 33 snaps (46%) as a result. If Johnson’s hamstring injury keeps him out for long, the Bills may need to consider some other options inside as Neal had no answers for Jamison Crowder who finished with 14 catches in the game.
Downgrades:
DT Quinnen Williams, NYJ (0 tackles)
Williams was held off the stat sheet in his professional debut and seemed to be playing more of a part-time role than expected. He left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury but saw just 24 snaps (35%) up until that point. The Bills came out with a pass-heavy game plan to try and take advantage of a suspect Jets secondary, but Williams (as well as his counterpart Ed Oliver for the Bills) likely will need some development time before they start making a big impact for IDP leagues.
WASHINGTON @ PHILADELPHIA
Upgrades:
LB Cole Holcomb, WAS (8 solos, 1 asst, 2 TFL)
While the preseason release of Mason Foster was expected to elevate Shaun Dion Hamilton into an every-down player, it was the rookie Holcomb who started alongside Jon Bostic at inside linebacker. He was only on the field for 51 defensive snaps (68%) but finished with 8 tackles on defense compared to just 2 assists for Bostic despite seeing 15 more snaps in the game. Hamilton was also part of the rotation and added 3 solo stops on 31 snaps (41%). Bostic has proven to be nothing special throughout much of his career so hopefully, Washington decides to let the young players develop at some point.
Downgrades:
DE Jonathan Allen, WAS (0 tackles)
Allen only lasted 7 snaps before leaving the game with a knee injury that was later reported to be an MCL sprain. Early indications are that he’ll likely miss some time and is considered “week-to-week”, which is a significant loss to this defense as he led the way with 8 sacks a year ago.
LB Zach Brown, PHI (2 solos)
Brown got the start in the game as part of the team’s nickel package but wound up playing just 29 snaps (43%) as the team often went with just one linebacker in their dime package in Nigel Bradham. Tough to rely on Brown as a fantasy starter when the team seemed so willing to go with more of a big nickel approach as he was out-snapped by third safety Andrew Sendejo (57%).
INDIANAPOLIS @ LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Upgrades:
LB Thomas Davis, LAC (7 solos, 7 asst)
The Panthers decided to move on from Davis this offseason and he quickly found a home with the Chargers. Despite being well past his prime at 36 years of age, his experience is a welcome addition for a Chargers defense that has lacked stability at linebacker for many years. In week 1, he played all 63 snaps and led the way with 14 combined tackles which was 5 more than middle linebacker Kyzir White had on 86% of the snaps.
No Change:
LB Anthony Walker, IND (4 solos, 3 asst, 1 TFL)
Walker started the game in the nickel package and finished in a tie with Darius Leonard for the team lead in tackles with 7. However, a closer look will show that he only played 36 snaps (56%) in the game, which could make it difficult for him to maintain this type of production consistently. The rookie Bobby Okereke, a 3rd round pick this year, saw 15 snaps (23%) in the game and likely has considerably more upside if he can steal the 3-down MLB job away from Walker.
Downgrades:
LB Denzel Perryman, LAC (0 tackles)
Perryman has been a starter in the past but appears to have fallen out of favor at this point due to his struggles in coverage and seems like a poor fit for the way the game is trending. He was on the active roster but didn’t see a single defensive snap this week, as the Chargers relied almost exclusively on Thomas Davis and Kyzir White with Uchenna Nwosu also seeing limited time.
CINCINNATI @ SEATTLE
Upgrades:
DE Sam Hubbard, CIN (6 solos, 4 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 4 QH)
Hubbard showed a lot of promise as a rookie when he posted 6 sacks despite averaging about 33 snaps/game as a backup. He’s taken over as a starter opposite Carlos Dunlap and showed what he’s capable of with a huge effort against Seattle this week that saw him finish with 10 tackles, 2 sacks, and 4 quarterback hits on just 43 snaps (81%).
DT Quinton Jefferson, SEA (2 solos, 4 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 3 QH, 2 PD)
Jefferson became a regular part of the defensive line rotation for Seattle last year and posted 2.5 sacks over the last 8 games in a part-time role. He got the start at defensive end this week and played 50 snaps (65%), which was a career-high. Given the uncertainty surrounding Ezekiel Ansah and 6-game suspension to Jarran Reed, he figures to see plenty of time early in the season and will look to build off his dominant performance against the Bengals this week.
Downgrades:
None
DETROIT @ ARIZONA
Upgrades:
LB Jordan Hicks, ARI (8 solos, 6 asst, 2 TFL, 2 QH)
There were plenty of tackle opportunities to go around in this game as the Cardinals defense saw 88 snaps but Hicks stood out and finished with 14 combined tackles. This is likely going to be a pattern for this team where the offense tries to run a lot of plays and continues to put a lot of pressure on their defense. As a result, Hicks should be in line for a very productive season and there should be a boost for most of the other defenders as well.
LB Devon Kennard, DET (4 solos, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH)
With Jarrad Davis sitting this one out with an injury, the Lions decided not to overwhelm their rookie linebacker Jahlani Tavai too much so they gave the play-calling duties to Kennard. It’s rare to see an edge rusher get the green dot on his helmet but Kennard didn’t suffer as he posted the first 3-sack game of his career and led all Lions linebackers with a career-high 81 snaps (91%). Recall a year ago when he also got off to a great start and posted 5 sacks over his first 5 games but then added just 2 more over his next 10 games so don’t overreact.
Downgrades:
DT Damon Harrison, DET (1 solo, 2 PD)
Harrison had an uncharacteristically quiet day and it was driven in large part by the game script. The Cardinals were forced to abandon the run relatively early in the game, which left them with a lot of clear passing situations. The Lions took Harrison off the field in those situations in favor of players who could provide more of a pass rush upfront and that left Harrison with just 27 snaps (30%) in the game. That was his lowest snap count in a non-week 17 game since 2015. Expect him to be more of a focal point in the weeks ahead but there has to be some concern that the coaches will use more of rotation given the excellent depth they have.
NEW YORK GIANTS @ DALLAS
Upgrades:
S Jabrill Peppers, NYG (6 solos, 1 asst)
Peppers entered the league with a reputation as a playmaker from his time in college but has yet to showcase that part of his game as a pro. While the lack of surrounding talent in New York may limit his upside in that respect, he does have an excellent opportunity in front of him as the replacement for Landon Collins at strong safety. The Giants have one of the weakest front sevens in the league, which should lead to plenty of tackle opportunities for Peppers and Antoine Bethea each week just as we saw this week when they led their team in tackles with 7 each.
No Change:
S Xavier Woods, DAL (9 solos, 2 asst, 1 FF)
Woods is a good young safety who could be headed for a breakout year of sorts, but it’s unlikely he’ll have a lot of games like this where he leads his team in tackles. As the team’s starting free safety, he’s mainly responsible for patrolling the deep secondary and preventing big plays but he was more active this week given how much of the Giants offense went through Evan Engram as he finished with 11 catches.
Downgrades:
LB Sean Lee, DAL (1 solo)
Looks like the end of an era in Dallas as Lee has been reduced to a much smaller role than he’s been accustomed to for most of his career. With the emergence of Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch as some of the best 2-way linebackers in the league, Lee wound up playing just 16 snaps (23%) this week. He’ll likely need an injury to one of the top-2 to return to prominence but at 33 years of age, his best days are likely well behind him.
SAN FRANCISCO @ TAMPA BAY
Upgrades:
S Jordan Whitehead, TB (7 solos, 1 asst)
Whitehead had a solid rookie season and has used a strong preseason and training camp to stake his claim to one of the starting safety spots. He paced the Bucs in tackles this week with 8 and had a 4th down sack wiped out by a holding penalty in the secondary. With Justin Evans headed to IR, there is not much of a threat of him losing his starting role anytime soon and he figures to remain busy playing behind a rookie middle linebacker.
Downgrades:
DT Solomon Thomas, SF (0 tackles)
The former 3rd overall pick has fallen way behind on the depth chart to the point he saw just 12 defensive snaps (17%) in the game. D.J. Jones played ahead of him in base situations and the 49ers liked to slide Arik Armstead inside in passing situations. With the additions of Dee Ford and Nick Bosa on the defensive line, this is going to be a deep group when healthy and that could wind up limiting the upside of several players with Thomas looking like the first casualty.
LB Kwon Alexander, SF (3 solos)
Alexander only lasted 21 snaps (30%) in a matchup against his former team before getting ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Jameis Winston. He’s not expected to be suspended for the hit, however, and should return to LB2 status next week against the Bengals. While it may not matter much given that both will play a similar role in the nickel packages, Fred Warner appears to be the middle linebacker while Alexander is lining up on the weakside.
PITTSBURGH @ NEW ENGLAND
Upgrades:
LB Devin Bush, PIT (7 solos, 4 asst)
The Steelers had a glaring need in the middle of their defense since Ryan Shazier suffered a serious injury and they traded up for Bush in the hopes that he can fill it. He’s an undersized player but has the athleticism and range to make plays all over the field. He had a tough matchup in the opener with Tom Brady picking the Steelers apart but took advantage of the opportunity with 11 tackles on his 53 defensive snaps (76%).
Downgrades:
DE Michael Bennett, NE (0 tackles)
The Patriots took a hit to their pass rush when Trey Flowers left to sign in Detroit but they hoped to replace him with the low-cost signing of Bennett. Through one week, however, Bennett didn’t show much as he finished with no tackles on just 39 snaps (57%) while playing as part of a 5-man rotation at defensive end. He’ll certainly have better games ahead but the unpredictable snap counts in New England will make it tough to rely on him from a fantasy perspective in most weeks. Surprisingly, former Raider Shilique Calhoun ranked 4th among Patriots defenders with 56 snaps (81%) in the game but finished with just 1 assist and 1 quarterback hit.
LB Vince Williams, PIT (2 solos, 1 asst)
Williams was in the starting lineup at inside linebacker but wound up playing just 22 defensive snaps (31%) as the Steelers apparently felt more comfortable with Mark Barron (69%) in coverage against the Patriots passing attack. There was some concern that it might be the rookie Devin Bush who sat in passing situations, but he brings some much-needed speed to the defense while Williams main contributions in passing situations often came as a blitzer.
