Week 7 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the overlooked IDP players who showed out in Week 7. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 6, 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.
Week 8 IDP Waiver Wire
Linebacker
Kenneth Murray (LB – LAC): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Better late than never. Kenneth Murray has kept up his strong production even with Erick Kendricks in the lineup, recording seven solos, one assist, one sack, and two tackles for loss in Week 7. Many thought that he might never put it all together, and the Chargers even drafted his replacement this off-season. However, osmosis seems to have played at least a correlative factor in Murray finally coming into his own this season. Always a mega talent, Murray has cemented himself as an LB2 option for the rest of the season. Murray should be rostered in all competitive leagues. Treat him as a high-end LB2 option for a plus Week 8 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Kyle Van Noy (LB/DE – BAL): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Kyle Van Noy went off in Week 7, recording two solos, three assists, two sacks, and two tackles for loss against the Detroit Lions. Van Noy has, at the very least, put himself on the radar as a bye-week filler in shallower leagues while putting him in the LB4/flex1 conversation in deeper formats. Van Noy now has three sacks on the season, with at least one sack in two straight. He has become an integral part of the Ravens’ defense in just four games played and looks to have his role locked in for the rest of the season. Make the add where needed.
David Mayo (LB – WAS): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Mayo went off in Week 7, recording nine solos and two assists. He was thrust into a massive role due to Cody Barton suffering an ankle injury, and based on the fact that he did not return to the contest, we can assume that it is of the multi-week variety. We will get an injury update prior to your league’s waiver run, so keep an eye out for Cody Barton’s testing results. If Barton does miss time as expected, Mayo becomes an LB3 option. He will carry an LB2 upside, but due to not having the New York Giants on the other side every week, he is safer to view as an LB3. Make the add and start where needed.
Nate Landman (LB – ATL): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Nate Landman has been impressive for Atlanta, most recently racking up five solos, seven assists, and one forced fumble. He started slow when he took over the starting gig for the injured Troy Andersen but has picked up his play lately, recording five or more solos in three of his last four while posting at least eight combined tackles in each. Landman has worked his way into the LB3 conversation and will be a valuable piece during the bye weeks. Add Landman wherever possible, either as a stash or as an LB3/4 option for a plus Week 8 matchup against the struggling Tennessee Titans.
Devin Lloyd (LB – JAC): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Devin Lloyd impressed in Week 7, reeling off five solos, six assists, and one pass defended. An injury and a slow start to the season have caused the talented Lloyd to lose some of his offseason luster, but he is starting to look like the top-20 option you were hoping for when you drafted him. However, in some leagues, Lloyd was cut loose and sent to the wire, and based on his rostership numbers, this has even happened in some competitive leagues. Lloyd is much too talented to give up on, even in redraft, unless you were simply facing an untenable roster crunch. Lloyd should be viewed as an LB2 with LB1 upside going forward and should be treated as such for a plus Week 8 matchup against a struggling Pittsburgh Steelers offense.
Others to consider: Damone Clark (LB – DAL): 3%, Isaiah McDuffie (LB – GB): 0%, Tyrel Dodson (LB – BUF): 0%, Kaden Elliss (LB – ATL): 5%, Willie Gay (LB – KC): 2%
Defensive Line
Bradley Chubb (DE/LB – MIA): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Bradley Chubb is starting to heat up for the Miami Dolphins, most recently recording five solos, two assists, two sacks, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Chubb now has a sack in two straight and four or more solos in three straight. The Dolphins’ defense is only going to get better once the secondary gets healthy, and with two All-Pros on the outside, coverage sacks are going to be in the offing. Add and start Chubb as a DL2 option for a plus Week 8 matchup against the New England Patriots.
Za’Darius Smith (DE – CLE): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Za’Darius Smith had a strong outing for the Cleveland Browns this past weekend, racking up four solos, one sack, and one forced fumble. Despite ample snaps every week, Smtih has just the one sack on the season. However, he remains a factor on the edge, and playing alongside Myles Garrett was going to reap its benefits eventually. The hope here is that this is the start of Smith finally making good on the potential he has as a consistent IDP producer. Smith is more of a stash than someone you want to play in Week 8, but for those in deep leagues or for those looking ahead to Week 9, he is someone to take into consideration.
Justin Madubuike (DT – BAL): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Madubuike has been a revelation for the Ravens. Having a pressure creator in the middle has helped transform the Baltimore Ravens’ defense into a group that can create consistent pressure without rushing a fifth or sixth defender. Madubuike recorded two solos, one sack, and one forced fumble in Week 7 and is now up to 5.5 sacks on the season. He has at least a half sack in four straight games and has a full sack in three of those four. He is simply too hot to ignore, even in DL-only leagues. Treat him as a DT1 or DL2/3 as needed for a plus Week 8 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Boye Mafe (DE – SEA): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Mafe has been locked in over the last few weeks, recording at least one sack in four straight games. He has not done much in the form of counting stats outside of the sacks, but he is playing enough snaps to warrant a spot on your bench. Mafe is a DL3 option for as long as he is playing at a high level and makes for an excellent bye week filler/injury replacement. Tap Mafe as a DL3 option where needed.
George Karlaftis (DE – KC): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Karlaftis is heating back up for the Kansas City Chiefs, recording one solo, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss in Week 7. He is now up to 3.5 sacks on the season, and it should only be a matter of time before we start to see more consistency from the talented pass rusher. Furious George is seventh in the NFL with 33 pressures, a stat that suggests a breakout streak is coming. Add and start Karlaftis where needed. Furious George is a DL3 option for Week 8.
Others to consider: Michael Hoecht (DT/LB – LAR): 0%, Larry Ogunjobi (DT – PIT): 1%, Charles Omenihu (DE – KC): 0%, Leonard Williams (DE/DT – NYG): 3%, Baron Browning (DE/LB – DEN): 0%
Defensive Back
Kerby Joseph (S – DET): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Kerby Joseph was excellent in Week 7, recording nine solos and one assist. Injuries and inconsistency have kept Joseph as more of a DB3 option than a DB2, but spike weeks like this highlight why he is such an intriguing piece in IDP leagues. His nine solos are more than he had in any game combined this year, so gamescript and matchup have something to do with his tackle explosion, but with at least four solos in each of his last four games, Kerby is someone fantasy managers should be paying close attention to during the bye weeks. Kerby is someone to consider as a DB3 option for Week 8, even without a bye, due to a plus matchup against the mess that Josh McDaniels created, otherwise known as the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jabrill Peppers (S – NE): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Jabrill is heating up for the Patriots, most recently recording four solos, one assist, one interception, and one pass defended. Peppers has had DB2-level performances in four of his last five, putting him firmly on the DB3 radar going forward. He can double as a DB2 option during the heavy byes but should be treated as a DB3 for Week 8’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Peppers should be rostered in all competitive leagues.
Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Kyle Dugger was solid in Week 7, racking up seven solos and one tackle for loss in a victory over the media darling Buffalo Bills. Dugger has not been very consistent this season. In fact, he has been inconsistent enough to drop him from the DB1 ranks down to the DB3 dungeon. He has recorded two or fewer solos in four of his seven games this season and has become hard to trust on non bye weeks. His name equity keeps his rostership numbers up, but weeks like this remind of us of why he is so hard to bench, even when he is playing poorly. Roll with Dugger as a DB3 option for what should be a heavy snap contest against what should be an angry Miami Dolphins team.
Ryan Neal (S – TB): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Ryan Neal seems to be finding some comfort as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary, recording six solos and four assists in Week 7. He has been inconsistent, hence the rostership numbers, but has shown enough to be tapped as a DB3 option as needed. Treat him as one for Thursday Night Football against a Buffalo Bills team that has just not looked right this season.
Jamal Adams (S – SEA): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Jamal Adams was solid in Week 7, recording five solos, one assist, and one pass defended. Adams hasn’t quite gotten back to DB1 level yet but is a solid DB2 option in the meantime. The Seahawks have been ramping up his snaps every week, and he has responded with increased IDP production. Now, back to 100 percent of the snaps, it is time for Adams to be scooped up in leagues of all sizes. Add and start Adams everywhere.
Others to consider: Markquese Bell (S/LB – DAL): 0%, Tony Adams (S – NYJ): 1%, Dean Marlowe (S – LAC): 0%, Bryan Cook (S – KC): 0%, Geno Stone (S – BAL): 1%, Terrell Edmunds (S – TEN): 0%
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