Linebackers
Will Compton (OAK): Compton may be on the wrong side of 30 when the 2020 season kicks off, but there could be an opportunity in the middle of Oakland’s linebacking corps. Compton saw 100% of the snaps last week and ended up with 5 solos and 4 helpers. Tahir Whitehead will continue to gobble up stats on the weak side, but there should be enough opportunities for a vet like Compton to compile some stats as well. Worth a grab-and-stash to see what happens once the team moves to Vegas.
Vince Biegel (MIA): This is not only a good Week 16 play but could pay dividends in 2020 and beyond. Raekwon McMillan is on the shelf for the last couple weeks of the 2019 season so look for Biegel to lead the Dolphins in tackles. Biegel may be on the inconsistent side but there will be stats up for grabs for the Dolphin D in 2020.
Nick Kwiatkoski (CHI): Here’s your chance to catch an owner napping, assuming he’s not on your free agent list (which he probably isn’t at this point). Danny Trevathan is a free agent in 2020, and Kwiatkoski has proven fully capable of manning the second ILB spot for the Bears. Yes, Roquan Smith is a beast and will almost always lead the team in tackles, but Kwiatkoski is excellent in coverage and is also adept at rushing the passer. The past few weeks have proven he can handle the job. Get him now if the price tag is reasonable, as he should put up solid LB2 numbers in 2020 if the Bears move on from Trevathan.
Defensive Linemen
Jeremiah Attaochu (DE – DEN): Von Miller will be 31 when the 2020 season kicks off, and the Broncos could start using Attaochu in pass-rush situations even if Miller is healthy. Bradley Chubb is certainly a force himself, but Attaochu has proven worthy over the past couple of weeks, including a 2-sack effort against the Texans. Let’s see how he fares against the Lions this week before grabbing him as a stash.
Deatrich Wise (DE – NEP): It’s hard to trust any Patriot IDPs, but they can be used in a pinch if they’re not named Jamie Collins. Wise saw a bit of a bump in his snaps last week and responded with 7 total tackles. If named a starter in 2020, he could be a sleeper in terms of logging tackles from the DL spot.
Shelby Harris (DT – DEN): We’ve featured Harris here before, but wanted to give him one last plug. If you’re in a DT-start league, he needs to be rostered. If he’s on a roster, throw out a line to his owner to see if they’d bite. Harris could be a real disrupter for the Broncos. Not saying he’s Aaron Donald, but he does have the rare blend of tackling ability, ability to sack the QB (6) and bat passes down (7).
Defensive Backs
Sam Beal (CB – NYG): Janoris Jenkins was cast off, opening up the spot for Beal. He responded with 8 solos, 3 assists, and a pass breakup. The undrafted second-year pro out of Western Michigan has nice size (6’1”, 192 lbs.) and, if given the starting spot in 2020, could be a huge source of tackles and pass breakups. In CB-start leagues, he’s worth stashing.
Sheldrick Redwine (S – CLE): Since being given a starting spot for the Browns, he’s logged 15 solos, 7 assists, and 2 pass deflections. Morgan Burnett and Damarious Randall aren’t spring chickens and have been hurt most of the 2019 season, so the job could conceivably be Redwine’s in 2020. He’s worth a grab-and-stash in larger leagues.
Deon Bush (S – CHI): If you’re in a larger league with larger rosters, Bush is a solid handcuff to both Eddie Jackson and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Should either of them get hurt, Bush would be a serviceable, lower-end DB2. Time to look towards 2020 and beyond.
