Linebackers
Matt Judon (BAL): Judon has always flirted with being a force, especially in big-play formats. Terrell Suggs is not getting any younger and Judon is just 26. He’s shown that he can rack up tackles as well as the big plays. A nice stash and even startable in larger, big-play leagues.
Breeland Speaks (KCC): Like Judon, he’s younger and learning from one of the better big-play linebackers in the league. He should have a field day this Sunday against the Cards. With Justin Houston out, Speaks has barely seen the sidelines. A great stash, and could even spot start this week.
Uchenna Nwosu (LAC): Nwosu’s snap counts have been all over the place, and we have expected more, especially with Joey Bosa out. He was flashing some skill early in the season but has tailed off a bit. He did get 43% of the snaps last week and has a nice stretch of matchups here. Let’s see what the kid can do before we add him to our taxi squads.
Defensive Linemen
Matthew Ioannidis (DE – WAS): Ioannidis started the season out on a 3-game sack streak, and over his past two contests, has 3.5 sacks and 32.5 fantasy points. In those two contests, his tackle numbers have jumped as well. Let’s see what he does against the Bucs.
Cassius Marsh (DE – SFO): The Niner D is desperate for playmakers, especially up front. Marsh was highly-regarded coming out of UCLA and has been a bit of a disappointment. He’s in a timeshare with guys like Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas, and Ronald Blair III. One of those four could really step up in the back half of the season.
Carl Nassib (DE – TBB): Nassib has always been a heady, lunch-pail sort of defender. It was a little shocking that the Browns let him go, but the Bucs pounced on him. He got his revenge on the Browns, tallying a pair of sacks and a pass breakup Week 7. Weeks 11 and 12 could result in double-digit fantasy output.
Defensive Backs
Desmond King (CB – LAC): King was in the mix to start at safety prior to the season kicking off. He has great size and instincts. These traits have resulted in decent tackle totals in a few games as well as pass breakups and picks. His snaps counts have been pretty steady, so he’s almost a lock to continue producing.
Bashaud Breeland (CB – GBP): Breeland was signed by the Packers several weeks back, but just got on the field last week as the team’s defense suffered a number of injuries. He was on the field all but a snap or two and is now returning kicks with Ty Montgomery shipped off. His role(s) should continue with the Packers.
Tedric Thompson (S – SEA): He’ll never put up Early Thomas-like numbers. Or even Kam Chancellor numbers. But there are tackles and big plays to be had in the Seattle secondary. Thompson has steadily broken up passes in the past month and the tackle numbers are decent. A solid bye week filler at DB.
Last Week’s Picks
- Jordan Evans (LB – CIN): BYE
- Dee Ford (LB – KCC): 1 solo tackle
- Reggie Gilbert (LB – GBP): 1 assist
- Harrison Phillips (DT – BUF): 1 solo, 1 assist
- Grady Jarrett (DT – ATL): 1 solo, 2 assists, 1 sack
- Markus Golden (DE – ARI): BYE
- Jermaine Whitehead (S – GBP/CLE): waived, now a Brown
- Eli Apple (CB – NOS): 4 solos, 1 assist, 1 pass defensed
- Patrick Chung (S – NEP): 3 solos, 2 assists