Week 13 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 13, 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.
Linebacker
Chad Muma (LB – JAC): 1%
Chad Muma went into full beast mode on Sunday, racking up seven solos, four assists, 1.5 sacks, and two tackles for loss. He played well enough that redraft fantasy managers can safely drop Devin Llyod and that Muma should now be considered a part of the LB2 conversation. Luckily, most teams will have added him late enough in the season that they can plug him in as an LB3 instead, but the LB1 upside he displayed this week is highly intriguing, even for managers in leagues that only start two linebackers per week. Muma should be added in leagues of all sizes as a potential game-changer down the stretch. Start Muma as an LB2 or LB3 option as needed.
Alex Singleton (LB – DEN): 8%
Alex Singleton was excellent in Week 13, racking up nine solos and eight assists. Singleton has been terribly inconsistent this season, but his peaks have seen him produce at an LB2 and even an LB1 level. He now has three games with eight or more solos under his belt this season but has six with four or less. His snap share has been all over the place, but he is averaging just 44 percent on the season, the lowest mark of his career. However, Singleton saw 88 percent of the snaps against Baltimore, the highest he has seen since back in Week 7. Treat Singleton as a borderline LB2 for a plus Week 14 matchup against a Kansas City Chiefs team surrendering the 12th most fantasy points per game to the position.
Jamin Davis (LB – WAS): 4%
Jamin Davis was excellent in Week 13, recording seven solos, three assists, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery. Washington is on bye this week, which means Jamin may be overlooked in shallower formats, so take advantage of this where possible. Jamin has been a solid LB2 option since Cole Holcomb has been on the shelf and may finally be building the confidence needed for him to thrive even when the veteran is fully healthy. Treat Jamin as an LB3 for Week 15 if Holcomb is back, with LB2 status being on the table if he is not.
Josey Jewell (LB – DEN): 14%
What does Jewell have to do to get some respect on his name? Jewell has been an LB1 all season but is still being rostered and started as an LB2 or lower in most leagues. Jewell has been an IDP stud despite playing with an odd front, most recently racking up seven solos and 10 assists against the Baltimore Ravens. Jewell has had less than five solos just once all season, and that was back in Week 11 when he finished with four solos, seven assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Suffice it to say that Jewell should be rostered universally. Treat him as an LB1 option for a plus Week 14 matchup against a Kansas City Chiefs team relinquishing the 12th most fantasy points per game to opposing linebackers.
Others to consider: Jerome Baker (LB – MIA): 4%, Micah McFadden (LB – PIT): 0%, Alex Anzalone (LB – DET): 11%, Ernest Jones (LB – LAR): 5%, Logan Wilson (LB – CIN): 13%
Defensive Line
Josh Uche (DE/LB – NE): 0%
Mister Uche has been coming on strong for the Patriots and is emerging as a legitimate star pass rusher alongside Matt Judon. The toolsy edge rusher has finally started to see success in the NFL and is up to seven sacks on the season, already more than double his previous career high. He was elite again in Week 13, tallying six solos, one assist, two sacks, and one forced fumble. Uche now has recorded a sack in four of his last five games, with all seven of his sacks coming in that span. He saw a season-high in snaps and snap share in Week 13 and should continue to see an uptick now that he has proven that his breakout is not an aberration. Fire him up as a DL2 option while he is cooking. Those in Yahoo leagues should consider him an LB3 option until he cools down.
Chandler Jones (DE/LB – LV): 3%
For whatever reason, Chandler Jones finally showed up for the Las Vegas Raiders. Perhaps he realized the Raiders could save $9.5 million if they release him this offseason and that he needs to put out some tape to get a deal large enough for him to want to continue playing in the NFL. Perhaps he was tired of pundits saying he is washed and that his contract was the biggest mistake of the offseason. Perhaps facing Khalil Mack energized him. Whatever the case, Chandler went off for five solos, one assist, three sacks, two tackles for loss, and a pass defended. The sacks were his first full sacks all season, putting him at just 3.5 on the year. Chandler is one of the league’s premier pass rushers when he is trying, so this may be the start of a trend. Whatever the case, he needs to be added in leagues of all sizes just in case he decides to keep up this level of play for the rest of the season. Add him where available as a DL3 option who can be an impact DL2 option down the stretch.
Uchenna Nwosu (DE/LB – SEA): 2%
Uchenna Nwosu was excellent in Week 13, racking up four solos, two sacks, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Tied for 10th in the league with nine sacks, Nwosu is a DL2 option the rest of the way. Nwosu has recorded two sacks in three of his last five games, making him one of the hotter pass rushers in the league and a must-start until he cools down. Those in Yahoo eagles should treat him as an LB3 option as long as he is cooking.
Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE/LB – NYG): 5%
Kayvon was excellent in Week 13, tallying two solos, three assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Thibodeaux has struggled to produce due to the extra attention he receives from offenses but has made a notable impact, even if the counting stats don’t really reflect that. The sack was just his second all season but may be a sign that he is ready to take off as an IDP contributor. Kayvon is worth a look as a DL4 or stash target who could quickly morph into a DL2 option. Treat him as a bye week filler DL3 option for a plus Week 14 matchup against a Philadelphia Eagles team surrendering the fourth most fantasy points per game to the position.
Kwity Paye (DE – IND): 5%
Kwity returned from injury and didn’t miss a beat, posting six solos, three assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. He has recorded a sack in three of his last four full games and should prove to be an impact DL2 option down the stretch. Paye should be added in leagues of all sizes, even with the Colts heading into a bye week.
Others to consider: Josh Sweat (DE – PHI): 6%, George Karlaftis (DE – KC): 0%, Carl Lawson (DE – NYJ): 0%, Carlos Dunlap (DE – KC): 2%, Dexter Lawrence (DT/DE – NYG): 6%
Defensive Back
Justin Simmons (S – DEN): 10%
Justin Simmons was electric in Week 13, going off with four solos, one assist, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, two passes defended, and one forced fumble. Simmons looks to be back in Pro Bowl form and should be treated as a top-15 option going forward. Consider him a DB1 option for a plus Week 14 matchup against a Kansas City Chiefs team relinquishing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the position.
Kamren Curl (S – WAS): 11%
Curl was excellent in Week 13, racking up nine solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss. Curl has been a solid DB2 option since returning from injury back in Week 3 but looks to be rounding back into form for the stretch run. Curl should be viewed as an elite DB2 option going forward and should be treated as such when the Commanders emerge from their bye in Week 15.
Jordan Whitehead (S – NYJ): 2%
Whitehead had another strong outing on Sunday, this time reeling off eight solos, two assists, and one pass defended. He continues to be maddeningly inconsistent, which keeps him down in DB3 territory, but he has DB2 upside on a weekly basis. Treat him as a mid-level DB3 option for a neutral Week 14 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Juan Thornhill (S – KC): 0%
Thornhill had a strong IDP outing in Week 13, racking up six solos and four assists against the Cincinnati Bengals. He is going to continue to be inconsistent this season but is worth a long look with a heavy bye on our hands. Treat him as a bye week DB3 option for a plus Week 14 matchup against a Los Angeles Chargers team allowing the 14th most fantasy points per game to the safety position.
Kerby Joseph (S – DET): 4%
Kerby was excellent in Week 13, tallying seven solos and one assist. Joseph has been producing at a DB1 level since Week 8 and should be viewed as a DB2 option going forward. He will have some down weeks but has proven to be a dependable IDP option. Treat him as a DB2 for what should be an exciting Week 14 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Add him wherever possible.
Others to consider: Camryn Bynum (S/CB – MIN): 4%, Jimmie Ward (S – SF): 0%, Nick Scott (S – LAR): 1%, Taylor Rapp (S – LAR): 3%, Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 3%
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.
