IDP Upgrades: Week 8

This article immediately highlights defensive players whose production was significantly better or worse than normally expected for the prior week of games. Note there is sometimes limited information available when this article is written, but I will try to give everyone an early look at players who are moving up or down in value among IDP circles. It isn’t easy to give waiver advice for IDPs since there is such a wide variety of lineups and scoring systems, but hopefully, the information provided can help inform your waiver, trade, and upcoming lineup decisions. I'm also going to try and group edge rushers together with the understanding that classification as a defensive end or linebacker will depend on your league setup/host. If you have any questions about specific players or situations, please email me or reach out via Twitter.

Email: rudnicki@footballguys.com
Twitter: @a_rudnicki

UPGRADES

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS

DT Grover Stewart, IND (7 solos, 5 asst on 75% of snaps)
Stewart is primarily a run-stopping nose tackle, so it’s very unusual to see him collect 12 tackles in a game to lead his team. The Titans offense generated 50 tackle opportunities in this game but 30 of them came from Derrick Henry rush attempts so that certainly played a part. Regardless, Stewart is a very good player and also benefits from DeForest Buckner drawing much of the attention.

DT Calais Campbell, BAL (3 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 FF on 67% of snaps)
Campbell recently turned 36 years old, but he’s playing more snaps than anyone else on the Ravens defensive line and remains effective. He registered a sack for the second week in a row and now has three on the season with the struggling Tampa Bay offense next on the schedule.

DL DreMont Jones, DEN (2 solos, 1 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH on 64% of snaps)
As a 3-4 defensive end, Jones isn’t expected to put up big sack numbers, but he registered his second multi-sack game of the year. It looks even more impressive when you consider he saw a season-low snap count of 38 as the Jets only attempted 26 passes in the game.

DE Sam Williams, DAL (3 solos, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH, 1 FF, 1 FR on 24% of snaps)
The Cowboys have perhaps the deepest group of pass rushers in the league, so Williams, a second-round pick this year, has only played limited snaps each week in a situational role. With two sacks on 14 snaps though, perhaps he will earn some more playing time going forward.

DE Aidan Hutchinson, DET (2 solos, 1 asst, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 3 QH on 89% of snaps)
Hutchinson has struggled to make an impact for most of this year, but he’s a rookie and that is to be expected. He continues to see a heavy workload each week and it was encouraging to see him produce this week with 1.5 sacks coming off the bye.

EDGE Jaelan Phillips, MIA (4 solos, 4 asst, 1.5 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH on 80% of snaps)
Phillips played a season-high 80% of the defensive snaps this week and came up big in the box score as well. His 8 combined tackles tied for the team lead and he also added 1.5 sacks to give him three in his past four games.

EDGE Justin Houston, BAL (2 solos, 2 sacks, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF on 27% of snaps)
Houston returned to the lineup for the first time since Week 3 and made his presence felt with a pair of sacks on just 16 snaps. It may be hard to rely on him if his workload remains that low each week, but he clearly has plenty to give with four sacks on 125 total snaps this year.

LINEBACKERS

LB DeVondre Campbell, GB (7 solos, 5 asst, 3 TFL, 1 QH, 1 INT, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
LB Quay Walker, GB (5 solos, 8 asst, 2 QH, 1 PD on 73% of snaps)
Campbell continues to produce like a #1 linebacker this year despite the addition of a talented rookie in Quay Walker. Campbell has yet to miss a single snap

LB Bobby Okereke, IND (6 solos, 4 asst, 1 FR, 2 PD on 100% of snaps)
While Zaire Franklin appeared to overtake Okereke on the depth chart, it hasn’t mattered much since Shaquille Leonard has only played 16 snaps all year. Over his past three starts, Okereke has been credited with 20 solos and 12 assists for an average of nearly 11 combined tackles per game.

LB Divine Deablo, LV (6 solos, 5 asst, 1 TFL on 100% of snaps)
Despite the return of Denzel Perryman to the lineup this week, Diablo remained on the field in all situations. Perryman played 57% of the snaps as he split time with Blake Martinez (23%), which likely makes Diablo the only reliable fantasy linebacker here for now.

LB Willie Gay Jr, KC (4 solos, 4 asst, .5 sack, 1 QH on 56% of snaps)
Gay returned to the lineup this week and posted impressive numbers with 8 tackles and a partial sack on 44 snaps. His workload of 56% was still somewhat low, however, as Darius Harris played 22% of snaps against a run-heavy 49ers offense.

LB Christian Harris, HOU (1 solo on 68% of snaps)
Harris was only credited with a single tackle in this game, but that masks what happened. He played 38 snaps compared to just 18 for Kamu Grugier-Hill, and it looks like the rookie third-round pick out of Alabama may be headed for a bigger role in the second half of the season.

LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CLE (5 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL, 2 PD, 1 FF on 80% of snaps)
Deion Jones appeared to split time with Jacob Phillips at middle linebacker this week, while Owusu-Koramaoh led all Browns linebackers with 51 snaps in the game. He forced a fumble late in the game that gave the Browns a great chance to tie or win the game, but the field goal attempt was blocked.

LB Kenneth Murray, LAC (5 solos, 1 INT, 1 PD on 89% of snaps)
Despite being a former first-round pick, Murray has not made much of an impact for the Chargers thus far. While expectations are still somewhat low, he showed signs of progress this week with a season-high workload of 63 snaps as well as picking off the first interception of his career.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S Andrew Adams, TEN (6 solos, 4 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 TD on 97% of snaps)
S Amani Hooker, TEN (9 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL, 1 FR on 100% of snaps)
Hooker returned to the lineup this week after missing the past two games with a concussion. He recently signed a three-year contract extension for $33 million dollars and is clearly a core player. What was surprising this week, however, was seeing Andrew Adams play 97% of the snaps as the third safety. Signed off the Steelers practice squad in Week 3, he was often lined up in the box to help stop Jonathan Taylor while Hooker worked out of the slot.

S Juan Thornhill, KC (9 solos, 2 asst, 1 INT, 2 PD on 100% of snaps)
Thornhill isn’t typically a big tackle-producer, and he had nearly as many solo stops in this game as he did in the previous six games combined. He was called on often this week as the 49ers offense threw the ball 49 times and generated 55 tackle opportunities, but that is unlikely to be replicated.

S Ryan Neal, SEA (6 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 4 PD on 100% of snaps)
The Seahawks defense continues to impress as they held the Chargers in check for a big win. This was the second huge game in a row for Neal, who contributed an interception and 4 pass breakups. He’s proving to be a viable replacement for Jamal Adams at strong safety.

S Duron Harmon, LV (5 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 TD on 100% of snaps)
The veteran has played nearly every snap for the Raiders this year and came up with his second interception of the season. The tackle numbers (24 combined through 6 games) have underwhelmed, but he offers some upside in big-play leagues.

S Geno Stone, BAL (8 solos, 1 FF, 1 FR on 100% of snaps)
Stone has filled in for an injured Marcus Williams the past two games and has 14 solo tackles to show for it. He helped his case even more with a forced fumble and recovery on the last play of the game.

CB Jeff Okudah, DET (12 solos, 3 asst, 1 TFL 90% of snaps)
Okudah proved to be a willing run supporter as he finished with 15 tackles in a game where the Cowboys offense only completed 19 passes. The Lions remain a work in progress, but the former third-overall pick is looking like a building block after recovering from a torn Achilles.

CB Ahmad Gardner, NYJ (9 solos, 1 asst, 3 PD on 100% of snaps)
The rookie has helped lead a resurgence for the Jets as they continue to play excellent defense. Through seven games, he leads the league with 11 passes defensed and was also very active against the run with 10 tackles to lead all Jets players.

CB Chris Harris, NO (5 solos, 1 asst, 1 FF on 94% of snaps)
The veteran corner has helped fill in for a Saints defense who were without their top three cornerbacks for most of this game. Over his past two games, Harris has played all but five snaps and has 13 solo tackles with a forced fumble and should remain busy next week against the Raiders.

DOWNGRADES

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS

DT Jeffery Simmons, TEN (3 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 2 QH on 81% of snaps)
Simmons was his usual dominant self in the game again this week, but he left late with an ankle injury and did not return.

DT Jonathan Allen, WAS (0 tackles on 87% of snaps)
Allen was completely shut out this week despite playing a heavy workload against what looked like a favorable matchup. The Packers offense struggled to do much in the game, however, and only generated 12 rush attempts on 35 tackle opportunities.

DL Leonard Williams, NYG (1 QH on 86% of snaps)
Williams has only played four games this year but has not shown much in-the-box scores to this point, despite an impressive 6-1 record for the Giants. He posted four solos and one assist in Week 1, but has just two solos and two assists (with a fumble recovery) in the three games since, despite averaging around 50 snaps/game.

DE Jonathan Greenard, HOU (DNP)
Greenard sat out week 5 and the Texans had their bye last week, but he was just placed on IR this weekend after injuring his calf in practice. He’s expected to return in 4 to 6 weeks, which will be right near the end of the regular season in most fantasy leagues. Mario Addison has picked up most of the slack in the past two games but has little to show for it.

DE Trey Hendrickson, CIN (1 solo, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 57% of snaps)
Hendrickson picked up a sack in a win over the Falcons but suffered a neck injury in the second half that kept him out. If it was just a stinger, it seems like he should be ok to play next week.

EDGE Alex Highsmith, PIT (0 tackles on 87% of snaps)
Highsmith came into the week as one of the league’s sack leaders with 6.5, but he was held off the stat sheet by Miami. It wasn’t due to a lack of opportunities either as he played a full workload and the Dolphins offense generated 27 rush attempts and 35 pass attempts. Things may not get much better next week against the Eagles, either.

EDGE Rashad Weaver, TEN (1 asst, 2 QH on 41% of snaps)
The game could have been better for Weaver if he converted one of his two quarterback hits into sacks, but the bigger concern was his drop in playing time. After playing at least 70% of the snaps in the prior four games before last week’s bye, he was only on the field for 41% this week, which ranked 13th among Titans defenders.

EDGE Melvin Ingram III, MIA (1 solo, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 44% of snaps)
Since recording two sacks in a win over the Bills, Ingram has gone missing. He has been credited with just three solo tackles and one assist over the past four games combined and has seen his playing time reduced despite the absence of Emmanuel Ogbah this week.

EDGE Rashan Gary, GB (2 asst, 3 QB on 61% of snaps)
Gary was having a solid game with three quarterback hits, but he left the game early with a concussion that could keep him out of next week’s game against the Bills.

EDGE Shaquil Barrett, TB (2 asst on 64% of snaps)
In a surprising twist, the Panthers dominated Tampa this week, and players like Barrett were not given many opportunities to rush the passer. What’s more concerning is that he has not registered even a partial sack since collecting two against the Saints back in Week 2.

LINEBACKERS

LB Frankie Luvu, CAR (1 solo, 3 asst on 66% of snaps)
Luvu was a fantasy revelation in the first month of the season, but there is a risk he doesn’t get back to that level following the recent coaching change. After missing the past two weeks with a shoulder injury, he returned to the starting lineup this week but only played two-thirds of the snaps, while Cory Littleton seemed to spell him in passing situations.

LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, HOU (2 solos, 1 asst on 32% of snaps)
Grugier-Hill was in the starting lineup but quickly gave way to rookie Christian Harris. He’s shown flashes, including 18 tackles back in week 1, but it looks like Houston may be ready to see what the rookie can do.

LB Baron Browning, DEN (0 tackles on 37% of snaps)
Browning was in the starting lineup for the Broncos this week at outside linebacker but didn’t show much before leaving the game with a hip injury. The Broncos travel to London this week and then have a bye after that, so he’ll likely be out until week 10 at the earliest.

LB Dre Greenlaw, SF (1 solo, 2 asst on 56% of snaps)
Greenlaw left the game in the second half with a calf injury and did not return. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles wound up seeing a large increase in playing time as a result but wasn’t credited with any tackles on 36 snaps.

LB Mykal Walker, ATL (4 asst on 100% of snaps)
Walker returned to the lineup this week and played all 68 snaps, but he was surprisingly ineffective as he finished with no solo tackles and four assists. For comparison, Rashaan Evans also played every snap and was credited with seven solos and six assists. Walker had been the better player previously, so perhaps the groin injury that kept him out last week was still bothering him.

LB Devin White, TB (1 solo, 4 asst, 1 QH on 100% of snaps)
The recent struggles in Tampa Bay have taken a toll on White as well. He’s no longer producing like an elite fantasy option and has finished with just five tackles in three of his last five games without any big plays to compensate.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S Brandon Jones, MIA (2 solos, 5 asst on 56% of snaps)
Jones had to be helped off the field in the second half with a knee injury that’s expected to land him on injured reserve. That likely creates an opportunity for Eric Rowe to take over at strong safety again in the short-term at least.

S Antoine Winfield, TB (2 solos, 1 TFL on 56% of snaps)
Winfield has been one of the most productive safeties in the league this year, but he left the game early with a concussion this week. That also figures to keep him out of next week’s matchup as Tampa plays on Thursday night against the Ravens. Keanu Neal played 82% of the snaps this week and seems most likely to benefit.

S Rodney Thomas, IND (1 solo on 64% of snaps)
Thomas had served as a capable fill-in for Julian Blackmon at free safety, but it looks like his days in the starting lineup may be coming to an end. He got another start this week but saw his snap count drop as Blackmon saw 21 snaps as he recovers from an ankle injury he suffered in week 3.

CB A.J. Terrell, ATL (1 solo on 12% of snaps)
This looked like a great matchup for Terrell, but he only lasted eight snaps before leaving with a hamstring injury. Reports on Monday said it was not minor, and he’s considered “week-to-week,” which suggests he will miss next week’s game against Carolina.

CB J.C. Jackson, LAC (2 solos, 1 PD on 55% of snaps)
Jackson suffered a dislocated kneecap in the game this week, which will bring his first year with the Chargers to an early end. The big free agent signing had not made much of an impact thus far, with no interceptions and just two passes defensed through five games played.