IDP Dynasty Sleepers, Week 7

Linebackers

Rodney Thomas (IND): Listing him under the linebackers since that’s how he’s designated at MyFantasyLeague.com. Granted, he’s playing at safety for the Colts, but for now you can add him and play him as a bye-week filler at linebacker, and perhaps next season, he’ll be a solid DB2 for your squad, assuming they fix his designation. The 6-foot-2 and 200-pound rookie out of Yale has been filling up the box score for the Colts’ defense, logging 100% of the snaps for the past three weeks. Nick Cross has fallen out of favor it would appear, giving Thomas a great chance at putting up solid fantasy numbers for the rest of the season.

Malik Harrison (BAL): No need to go out and grab Harrison just yet, but let’s just say the talent is there, and should Patrick Queen ever go down with an injury, Harrison’s numbers could jump. That being said, Queen is only signed through 2023 and hasn’t been ultra-productive. Josh Bynes has been stealing some of the snap share, but he’s “just a guy.” If you’re in a league with deep benches, keep an eye on Harrison as someone who could improve at some point.

Uchenna Nwosu (SEA): Heads-up for those in big-play formats: Nwosu has 3 sacks and 3 pass breakups already this season, all while usually logging around three solos and two helpers per week. Seattle tends to rotate their defensive linemen and edge rushers, making it hard to rely on Nwosu, but he’s worth a look in said big-play leagues if you need some punch off the bench given the right matchup.

Defensive Linemen

Derrick Brown (DT - CAR): The massive space-eater out of Auburn already has six pass breakups on the books for this season and has added a pick and a half-sack. He’s totaled double-digit fantasy points in both of the past couple weeks’ games, and with opposing defenses likely running the ball up the gut a lot against the struggling Panthers, look for Brown’s numbers to remain fairly consistent. Worth a shot in leagues that force you to start a defensive tackle or two.

John Franklin-Myers (DE - NYJ): Jermaine Johnson remains the young stud to stash for the Jets, but Franklin-Myers has three games in a row where he’s shown up rather well. He’s had a game with three solos and four helpers and then games with at least a half-sack and/or pass defensed. He may not be a volume-tackler, but in big-play leagues, he should be considered during bye weeks.

Marquise Copeland (DE – LAR): The fourth-year pro from Cincinnati has quietly overtaken Greg Gaines for the Rams’ defense, and over the past two weeks, he has four solos, seven assists, and a sack. Keep watch in bigger leagues.

Defensive Backs

Jaylinn Hawkins (S – ATL): Hawkins is putting up points even with fellow safety starter Richie Grant also producing. Even if Hawkins isn’t making 11 stops (as he did in Week 5), he’s making picks in the defensive backfield (Week 6). If you’re in a pinch and need a safety starter for Week 7, the matchup against the Bengals is fairly favorable.

Ryan Neal (S – SEA): Over the past couple of weeks, Neal has taken over for Josh Jones with Jamal Adams shelved. Quandre Diggs remains as a starter opposite Neal but has been only producing moderate numbers. Neal has far more Adams-esque upside, at least for the remainder of the 2022 season.

Damarri Mathis (CB – SEA): Rookie corner rule in full effect here! Mathis is getting tested, at least for the past couple of weeks, by opposing quarterbacks. He has 11 solos and a couple of passes defended in those two weeks. His next two matchups are only moderately favorable, but if you’re hurting for a cornerback in a league where you break up safety and corner, he’s worth a look. Definitely worth a grab-and-stash if you have room on your taxi squad in those leagues.