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
Azeez Al-Shaair (SFO): With Dre Greenlaw on IR, Al-Shaair has stepped his game up, with 10 total tackles against the Packers on Sunday night. He also had a solid Week 1 outing, tallying 7 total tackles and had a couple of pass breakups. He’s just 24 and has nice size, fitting the Niner scheme well. He’s one to watch if not add already if you’re thin at linebacker.
Elandon Roberts (MIA): Roberts seems like he’s been in the league forever, but he’s still just 27 and still has some shelf life. He’s doing a lot with around 50% of the total snaps each week. He filled up the box score last week and if he ever gets consistent snaps, could be a guy that puts up LB3 type numbers most weeks. Not worth an add at this point but certainly should be on your radar.
Tae Crowder (NYG): Crowder made this list a couple of times last year and we’ll highlight him again, especially for those in big-play formats. Crowder put up good numbers at the tail end of 2020 and has seen his snap counts rise each of the first 3 weeks of 2021.
Defensive Linemen
Austin Johnson (DT – NYG): In leagues that start DT separately, Johnson’s a must-add. He has a couple of sacks, 8 solo stops, and 6 helpers in 3 weeks of action. We’d like to see more consistent snaps for the big guy, but when he sees the field, he produces.
Angelo Blackson (DE – CHI): Deeper dive here, but Blackson’s already got an INT and a half-sack on the young season. Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols have been the snap count leaders on the edges for the Bears, but Blackson’s done enough in the rotation to merit being on your watch list, especially in deeper formats.
Jonathan Greenard (DE – HOU): Greenard came back from injury to 55% of the snaps Week 3, and if he continues to produce, will overtake guys like Charles Omenihu and Jacob Martin. Greenard is a great complement to Whitney Mercilus on the other side. Definitely one to watch for the Texan D.
Defensive Backs
Andrew Wingard (S – JAC): The safety spot for the Jags was a turnstile in 2020, with guys like Wingard putting up good to great numbers if given regular snaps. It looks like Wingard is the one putting up numbers for this defense in 2021, with double-figure fantasy points in each of the first three weeks of the season. Strike while the iron is hot, especially with the Jag defense on the field quite a bit.
Will Harris (S – DET): If you want a cheap source of tackles, Harris is your guy. He has 16 solo stops thus far in 2021 and will be a regular producer for the Lions defense. He’s a safe bye week filler.
Byron Murphy (CB – ARI): So far in 2021, Murphy has racked up 5 pass breakups. He may not be a volume tackler, but he’s seeing plenty of balls come his way and with the way the Cardinal offense looks right now, it would stand to reason that Murphy will be in a position to have some big weeks, especially if he can increase the tackle numbers.