It was another tough week for streaming in Week 7. Deatrich Wise seemed like a sure-fire streaming option against the Bears offensive line. The Patriots did come up with four sacks and four forced fumbles, so the matchup was good. Wise , unfortunately, did not get in on the action. He finished with just three tackles, one solo. Chandler Jones was the other streaming Edge defender, and he was so close to being a hit. Jones put up two tackles and half of a sack while creating three pressures...so close to a hit. The Edge sleeper of the week was Arnold Ebiketie of the Falcons. He did not drop any numbers in the box score, though he did create two pressures and had a QB hit. Still, it was a swing and a miss.
At the IDL position, we had a great call with the Buccaneers big man Vita Vea. Vea was one of the only impressive-looking Bucs in Week 7, compiling five tackles (two solos), one for a loss, and a sack. Jarran Reed was the other call, the second time he was used in this article series, and oddly enough, he finished with the exact same stat line as the first time. Reed tacked on three tackles (two solos) and a tackle for a loss on Sunday while creating two pressures. The IDL sleeper of the week did just that...he was asleep. Teair Tart did not accrue any stats, though he was almost a hit, creating three pressures and earning a pass-rush grade of 68.9 per PFF. Here are some awesome Week 8 IDL and Edge streaming options.
Week 8 IDL and Edge Streaming Options
Edge Samson Ebukam, San Francisco 49ers
Matchup: Los Angeles Rams - Ranked 29th in Matt Bitonti's Rankings
This is another player who is showing up as an Edge streamer for the second time. Ebukam has had a solid 2022 season and is actually on pace to break his career high in pressures (45). He has been a consistent contributor for the 49ers since coming over from the Rams. The 49ers have a great pass-rush group consisting of Nick Bosa, Drake Jackson, Charles Omenihu, and Ebukam himself. The unit stays fresh and consistently creates pressure. Ebukam has also taken on a leadership role with the team. You can see him here coaching up the rookie pass rusher.
Samson Ebukam coaches Drake Jackson on some pass rushing ahead of 49ers-Broncos pic.twitter.com/6Os1KyKioU
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 25, 2022
Ebukam has played on 76 % of the team's snaps over the past three weeks, including 73% last week with Bosa back. He gets to challenge his former team, the Rams, this weekend. The Rams have given up 22 sacks over their first six games this season. They are desperately missing Andrew Whitworth on the offensive line. Ebukam is in line for a strong performance.
Edge Dante Fowler, Dallas Cowboys
mATCHUP: Chicago bEARS - rANKED 26TH IN mATT Bitonti's rANKINGS
Yes, this is the same Dante Fowler who disappeared after one terrific season with the Rams. It looks like the Cowboys have figured out how to use him, though. Fowler should not be a team's premier pass rusher, but part of a rotation, and part of an excellent rotation he is. Fowler joins Micah Parsons, Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams, and Demarcus Lawrence. With Fowler not the second- or even third-best pass-rushing option on the team, he sees little attention from offensive lines. As a result, his pass-rush grade is at a career-high 74.5 per PFF. He only has a 30% snap share, though 70% of those snaps are pass-rush snaps. Needless to say, He has one job: rush the passer. Fowler has always been an explosive athlete, which you can see here.
RT .@dallascowboys: Dialing up the pressure â˜Žï¸ âž¡ï¸ Dante Fowler answers the call!
— Bill Porter (@BMack764) October 17, 2022
📺: NBCpic.twitter.com/PgOpCxEUlM
He has a terrific matchup against the Bears. They have allowed the most sacks in the league so far, with 27. Though Fowler has a low snap share, he has still created 14 pressures. If you need a dart throw hit, Fowler has a good chance of hitting home.
Continue reading this content with a ELITE subscription.
An ELITE subscription is required to access content for IDP (individual defensive players) leagues. If this league is not a IDP (individual defensive players) league, you can edit your leagues here.
IDL Shelby Harris, Seattle Seahawks
Matchup: New York Giants - Ranked 21st in Matt Bitonti's Rankings
After having a career year in 2021 with the Broncos, Harris has really picked up steam as of late after a slow start with the Seahawks. Over the past two weeks, Harris has accumulated six total tackles, two for a loss, a sack, two passes defended, and eight total pressures. He has been on the field for 59% of the team's defensive snaps, showing great volume on the field. Harris has strong hands at the point of attack and does a great job shedding blocks as you see here from last Sunday.
Shelby Harris ON pic.twitter.com/6GtxdC62S1
— Rapinas do Mar (Cortes) (@cortesrapinas) October 24, 2022
The Seahawks take on the Giants in an unexpected Week 8 clash with two surprising potential playoff teams. New York has given up the 7th most sacks so far this season with 20. The Giants have a strong rushing attack, but Harris's run defense grade of 67.0 is very strong. He should go into Week 8 with a strong tackle floor with potential pass-rush upside.
IDL Grover Stewart, Indianapolis Colts
Matchup: Washington Commanders - Ranked 30th in Matt Bitonti's Rankings
Speaking of a high tackle floor from an IDL, Grover Stewart has one of the highest. Stewart is averaging five tackles per game from the interior for the Colts. He also sees plenty of playing time. Stewart has enjoyed a 66% snap share so far this season. He has also enjoyed some recent pass-rushing success coming up with two sacks in his past four games. His two sacks this season are only one off of his career high. What is more impressive though is his 23 tackles over that same span. Stewart can cause havoc in the running game. Watch here how he splits the double team to get into the backfield.
What a rep for Grover Stewart. Nice swim move to help split the double team to blow up the wildcat run by Derrick Henry. He helped turn a 2nd-and-3 into a 3rd-and-6. pic.twitter.com/DSCg9eoxtD
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 25, 2022
The Colts take on the Commanders in Week 8. They have shown more commitment to the running game, with Brian Robinson running the football, while also being miserable in pass protection. The Commanders have given up the 3rd most sacks this season with 24. Stewart has one of the safest tackle floors from the interior in the NFL and now has showcased some pass-rush upside against a porous offensive line.
Week 8 IDL and Edge Sleeper Options
Edge Joseph Ossai, Cincinnati Bengals
Matchup: Cleveland Browns - Ranked 15th in Matt Bitonti's Rankings
Joseph Ossai has been granted every opportunity now to succeed. Trey Hendrickson is out with a neck injury, and Ossai is the benefactor to soak up the majority of the vacant edge snaps. Ossai played only 13 snaps this past Sunday, though created two pressures and was able to come away with a sack. He is an explosive athlete and showed a terrific spin move to get his first career sack.
#FFIDP I'd love to see Joseph Ossai get more snaps... pic.twitter.com/bC1qA4IVfV
— Mike Woellert (@Mike_Woellert) October 25, 2022
Ossai will match up against the Browns this weekend, and though they are middle of the pack with sacks allowed (14), Ossai should see enough volume to make him a sleeper edge stat for Week 8.
IDL Davon Hamilton, Jacksonville Jaguars
Matchup: Denver Broncos - Ranked 23rd in Matt Bitonti's Rankings
Davon Hamilton had a slow start to the 2022 season, though has turned it up over the past four games. After averaging just 41.67% of the team's snaps during the first three weeks, his playing time has spiked to 62.25% of the team's snaps over the past four games. During that four-game span, Hamilton has 19 tackles. He has also been racking up pressure too, even though he does not have a single sack on the season. Hamilton has seven pressures in the last three games and has made a living in the backfield making plays like this one.
Davon Hamilton TFL #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/MPcvIS7bty
— Pro Football Culture (@proftblculture) October 23, 2022
He draws the Broncos is Week 8. they have given up the 6th most sacks in the NFL with 21. Hamilton should have his name called as a disrupter during Week 8.
Final Thoughts
There are some injuries opening up playing time for some of these players, while others are finally coming into their own. Either way, all of these players are either on your waiver wire or riding your bench. The matchups presented for Week 8 should make all of these defensive linemen worth a start. Thank you again for reading, and good luck in all of your matchups.