Week 5 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the players turning it on in time for the byes. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 5, so there are more than a few intriguing names on the waiver wire in leagues of all sizes. Let’s take a look at some of the names that may be worth some of your free agent budget.
Defensive Back
DeShon Elliott (S – DET): 5% rostered on Yahoo
DeShon Elliott went bonkers in Week 5, racking up 10 solos, two assists, two tackles for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. He spent more than half of his snaps close to the line of scrimmage for the second straight week, and it has proved a boon to his fantasy value. Now the DB4 overall on the season, Elliott should be a top waiver option despite the Detroit Lions being on a bye week. He looks like he will carry DB2 value for the rest of the season. Make the add immediately, wherever available.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S – PHI): 0% rostered on Yahoo
CJGJ broke out in Week 5, recording 10 solos, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. This is the type of game fantasy managers were waiting all season for, making now the time to start the talented safety going forward. He is a DB2 option during the byes and should be started as just that for a plus Week 6 matchup against a Dallas Cowboys team relinquishing the 17th most fantasy points to the position. Make the add where possible.
Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Kyle Dugger was excellent in Week 5, racking up one solo, four assists, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown. He played just 58 percent of the snaps for the second straight week, but his performance against the Lions suggests that he is rounding back into form. Whether or not this means that he recaptures the 85 percent snap role he saw to start the season remains to be seen. With that said, Dugger is a DB1 option when he sees over 80 percent of the snaps, so he should still get some DB2 love when he hovers around the 60 percent mark. View him as a DB2 option for a plus Week 6 matchup against a Cleveland team allowing the 14th most fantasy points per game to the position.
Brandon Jones (S – MIA): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Brandon Jones went off in Week 5, tallying five solos, four assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Jones saw 97 percent of the snaps in Week 5, a week after seeing just 39 percent against Cincinnati Bengals. It seems like his snaps may be inconsistent, as he has seen over 90 percent of the snaps in three of his five games, with a 64 percent share and the aforementioned 39 percent also in the mix. Jones is a better pure talent than Eric Rowe, but there must be some packages they prefer Rowe in. Regardless, Jones is back in the DB2 mix for the byes, including this week against the Minnesota Vikings. The matchup is not a good one in terms of fantasy points against, but Jones will see heavy snaps in the box, making the 12 solos we saw from the Bears safeties a comfortable floor to project Jones and Jevon Holland hitting this week. Add Jones where available.
Julian Love (S/CB – NYG): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Julian Love was excellent in Week 5, racking up six solos, one assist, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Love should be rostered universally during the byes. Love has played every snap in four of five games this season and has four contests with four or more solos. Love is likely long gone in CB leagues, but it is well past time that we start viewing him as a DB2 option, especially when he has great matchups like he does this week. He will get the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, a team surrendering the ninth most fantasy points to the position. Make the add where roster space allows for it.
Others to consider: Jaylinn Hawkins (S – ATL): 0%, Damar Hamlin (S – BUF): 1%, Jordan Whitehead (S – NYJ): 1%, Jalen Pitre (S – HOU): 14%, Grant Delpit (S – CLE): 4%
Linebacker
Jacob Phillips (LB – CLE): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Jacob Phillips exploded in Week 5, recording seven solos, three assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. He would be on his way to locking up LB2 status for the rest of the season, but the Cleveland Browns went out and traded for Deion Jones. Phillips should have another week or two of starter’s snaps, but after that, it should only be a matter of time before Jones is soaking up middle linebacker snaps next to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Regardless, Phillips should be a strong producer for Week 6 and should be started as an LB2 with the byes now upon us.
David Long (LB – TEN): 7% rostered on Yahoo
David Long finally gave fantasy managers the LB1-level performance many were expecting from him this season, tallying six solos, five assists, one interception, and one pass defended. Going off before the bye means he should be a less expensive target than other names on this list, as many will pass him over in favor of options playing this week. This is especially true in the shallower formats. Take advantage of this where possible, as he could be hitting his stride just in time to back up all of your LB slots from Week 7 on. Long is a borderline LB2 option with no byes but will be firmly in the LB2 discussion now that they are here. Make the add where needed.
Germaine Pratt (LB – CIN): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Germaine Pratt continues to reassert himself as an LB2 option, racking up two solos, six assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and two passes defended against the Baltimore Ravens. He has put up LB1-level numbers in each of his contests this year and is going to be gold during the byes. Pratt is still behind Logan Wilson, so he is not seeing every snap, but has seen over 70 percent in three of four contests and should continue to do so as long as he is playing well. Add him as a bye week LB2, wherever still available.
Cody Barton (LB – SEA): 10% rostered on Yahoo
Barton quieted changing role doubts for at least one more week, recording seven solos and five assists in Week 5. He jumped up to 77 percent from the 62 percent he saw in Week 4, but it is clear that the Seahawks intend to make their three safety package a weekly staple. This means that his snaps may fluctuate from week to week, but as long as he sees over 70 percent, he should be able to post low-end LB1 level numbers more often than not. Start him as an LB2 option for a plus Week 5 matchup against an Arizona Cardinals defense, allowing the 15th most fantasy points to the position.
Kwon Alexander (LB – NYJ): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Kwon finally turned his heavy snap role into fantasy production, racking up six solos, four assists, and one tackle for loss. He has played over 92 percent of the snaps in consecutive weeks and appears to be set to see at least 85 percent of the snaps going forward. Kwon is an excellent LB3 option during the byes who can creep into the LB2 discussion during great matchups. Kwon is an LB3 option for a neutral Week 6 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Add him where needed.
Others to consider: Damien Wilson (LB – CAR): 0%, Isaiah Simmons (LB – ARI): 2%, Patrick Queen (LB – BAL): 14%, Josh Bynes (LB – BAL): 0%, Nicholas Morrow (LB – CHI): 3%
Defensive Line
Montez Sweat (DE – WAS): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Montez Sweat had a monster Week 5, recording five solos, one assist, two sacks, and three tackles for loss. The sacks are his firsts of the season, but he is heating up at just the right time. Sweat is a DL1 option when he is at his best and has help coming in the next few weeks in the form of Chase Young. Sweat is back to being a high-end DE2 option for a plus Week 6 matchup against a Chicago Bears team relinquishing the 14th most fantasy points to opposing edge rushers. Sweat should be rostered in all competitive formats.
Bradley Chubb (DE/LB – DEN): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Now up to 5.5 sacks on the season, Bradley Chubb needs to be started universally during the byes. He went off in Week 5 with four solos, three assists, 2.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. He does carry the unfortunate LB-only designation at Yahoo but should still be rostered as an LB3 or a bye-week filler for your LB2. Chubb has never quite recreated the magic of his record approaching rookie season, but if, at his current pace, he stays healthy, he should be able to threaten his career highs of 12.5 sacks and 36 pressures. Make the add where possible.
Matt Judon (DE/LB – NE): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Matt Judon was strong again in Week 5, racking up two solos, one assist, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Judon has been on fire this season, tied for first in the league with six sacks. Judon has at least one sack in every game this season and will look to make it six games in a row against the Cleveland Browns this weekend. Treat Judon as a borderline DL1/LB2 option for the plus matchup.
Zach Allen (DE/DT – ARI): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Zach Allen was at it again in Week 5, tallying five solos, three assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. He recorded a sack for the second straight game and now has five passes defended in his last three contests. He plays most of his snaps as a defensive tackle or defensive end in an odd front, so there is little chance that he can stay hot all season, but he seems to be coming into his own and to be scratching the surface of his potential. He is an obvious option for DT leagues but has some bye-week value as a DE option as well. Consider him a DT1/DL3 option for a plus Week 6 matchup against a Seattle Seahawks team surrendering the 12th most fantasy points per game to the position.
Carl Lawson (DE – NYJ): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Lawson recorded a sack for the second straight game in Week 5, posting one solo, one assist, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Lawson started the season slowly but seems to be turning it on just in time for the byes. The Week 6 matchup is not ideal, as the Green Bay Packers have limited the position to the seventh-fewest fantasy points, but for those who find themselves in a bye week or injury-related pinch, Lawson makes for a strong DL4/flex option.
Others to consider: Yannick Ngakoue (DE – IND): 3%, Logan Hall (DE/DT – TB): 1%, Dorance Armstrong (DE – DAL): 2%, Denico Autry (DE/DT – IND): 2%, Dexter Lawrence (DT – NYG): 1%
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.
