Let's take a quick look at a few linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs who are either good grab-and-stash types or those that you should target in trades. Hope you enjoy the article and it opens your eyes to some of the gems that can be found on your leagues' waiver wires!
Linebackers
Kwon Alexander (NOS): Yes he’s been on this list recently but I continue to see him on the wire in many of my leagues, and with Demario Davis being 32 years old (33 in about a month), grabbing Alexander is wise. Alexander’s stats have been solid over the past month, and should Davis ever go down with injury, you gotta think Alexander would instantly achieve high-end LB2 status, if not better. A perfect speculative pickup that won’t burn you since you can also plug him in as a lower-level LB3 in most leagues right now.
Blake Lynch (MIN): Another repeat here, but bears mentioning once again because he’s a) available in a lot of leagues and b) stands to benefit if Eric Kendricks or Anthony Barr were to ever miss significant time. With both Kendricks and Barr out last week, Lynch went buck-wild, tallying six solo stops, three assists, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and to boot, a pair of sacks. He’s just 24 and in his second season, so if you add him, he’s DTS-eligible in most dynasty formats. A nice stash in case Kendricks or Barr get significant injuries or possibly move on somehow.
Joe Bachie (CIN): With Logan Wilson likely out for a couple of weeks if not the season, Bachie steps into a role that should really produce. In only 39 snaps, Bachie accumulated nine total tackles against the Chargers last week. I was a fan of Bachie’s coming out of Michigan State and thought he could break into the Saints’ rotation a year or so back. Now a Bengal, he’s got a real opportunity to show his coaches and ownership that he can produce if given a legit chance. Get him into your lineup if Wilson is indeed declared done, or just stash him and hope that he’s given a shot in 2022 and beyond.
Defensive Linemen
Davon Godchaux (DT – NEP): The Patriots do a lot of moving guys in and out, but Godchaux continues to outsnap the likes of Christian Barmore and Lawrence Guy. He’s got 12 solos over the past two weeks, and while he’s on bye this week, there are great matchups against the run-heavy Colts and Bills once more in the coming weeks. A nice addition in DT-start leagues.
Al-Quadin Muhammad (DE – IND): Muhammad had a fairly nice start to the season, looking great in Weeks 3 and 5, however he cooled off significantly in the middle part of the season. He’s quietly chipped in with five sacks this season, after a two-sack effort against the struggling Texans last week. He won’t face sub-par opposition every week, so we’re not suggesting he’ll produce like that every week, but in deeper leagues, he’s worth keeping on your radar, as he’s just 26, has a solid size/speed profile, and should see plenty of opportunities for the Colts in 2022.
B.J. Hill DT – CIN): Hill is a massive space-eater at 6’3” and well over 300 lbs., and while he may not rack up as many tackles as we’d like to see, the fact that he has 4.5 sacks on the season is promising. Don’t let his snap count percentages fool you; he’s doing more with less. Should D.J. Reader or Larry Ogunjobi get hurt or move on from the Bengals, Hill’s numbers could spike.
Defensive Backs
Anthony Brown (CB – DAL): Brown started the season off hot, then cooled off a bit until his 24-point outburst against the Saints last week, which included nine solos and a pair of pass breakups. We wouldn’t expect that kind of output on a weekly basis, especially from a tackling standpoint, but with opposing quarterbacks avoiding Trevon Diggs on the other side, Brown will have plenty of opportunities for tackling and making the big play. Upcoming games against the Giants and the Football Team don’t scream huge production, but you could do worse, especially in leagues that break apart safety and corner.
Elijah Riley (S– NYJ): Marcus Maye is a free agent in 2022 and may command more money than the Jets are willing to shell out. Riley, from Army, has been a decent fill-in at the safety spot over the past few games, chipping in with 11 solos and a sack. Given his two years of NFL service, you can grab and stash in most formats and hope that he retains a starting spot in 2022.
Amani Oruwariye (CB – DAL): Few corners have the consistency in terms of pass breakups than the ex-Nittany Lion. He secures one just about every week and had seven solo stops last week against the Vikings. He may have limited upside against the Broncos this week but should finish strong against the Cardinals and Falcons. He’ll represent a nice value play in 2022 in leagues that break apart corners and safety.
