IDP Upgrades: Week 6

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. When warranted, I'll also call out some players under No Change to explain why the stat lines may be misleading. 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 DeForest Buckner, IND (4 solos, 4 asst, 2 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 PD, 1 FF on 81% of snaps)
One week after being shut out on a season-low 18 snaps and despite a short week of practice, Buckner looked like the player everyone expected him to be. He dominated the Broncos on Thursday night in a game that went to overtime with eight tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble.

DT Zach Allen, ARI (5 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 2 QH, 1 PD on 79% of snaps)
Allen followed up his big game a week ago with an even better performance this week in a close loss to the Eagles. He now has 14 combined tackles with two sacks and four passes defensed in the past two games and looks like a potential top-10 player.

DT Jeffery Simmons, TEN (3 solos, 2 asst, 1.5 sacks, 3 QH, 1 PD on 84% of snaps)
Simmons posted six tackles with two sacks in Week 1 but then went cold. He was credited with just one solo and six assists with no sacks in the next three games. He bounced back against Washington this week, however, and remains an elite player at the defensive tackle position.

DT D.J. Jones, DEN (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 53% of snaps)
Jones warrants an upgrade as he picked up a sack for the second week in a row. While the nose tackle isn’t known as a sack artist, he is an elite run defender who piled up 40 solo tackles for the 49ers last year. If he can continue to convert his pressures into sacks, he becomes a much more valuable fantasy piece.

DE Montez Sweat, WAS (5 solos, 1 asst, 2 sacks, 3 TFL, 4 QH on 66% of snaps)
Things have not gone very well for Sweat this year as he went without a sack in his first four games while collecting just seven solo tackles. The former first-round pick has the talent to become a consistent double-digit sack threat so this week was a welcome sign as he collected two sacks on four quarterback hits while also nearly doubling his tackle total for the year.

DE Dorance Armstrong, DAL (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 QH, 1 FF on 55% of snaps)
Armstrong is a big factor in the Cowboys' defensive success. He’s only averaging around 50% of the defensive snaps but generating consistent pressure up front. Although he doesn’t generate many tackles in run support, he now has four sacks in his last four games.

DE Logan Hall, TB (3 solos, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QH on 58% of snaps)
Hall was not in the starting lineup this week, but he saw a season-high 38 snaps. The rookie also picked up his second sack in the last three games and looks like he could be ready to take on a bigger role going forward.

DE Jadeveon Clowney, CLE (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL on 73% of snaps)
Clowney returned to the starting lineup this week after sitting out the past two games with an ankle injury. He didn’t pick up a sack but was productive with five tackles and held up over 52 defensive snaps and even added six more on special teams. Myles Garrett also returned this week and had a quiet game (two solos) while playing a normal workload (82%).

EDGE Bradley Chubb, DEN (4 solos, 3 asst, 2.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 3 QH, 1 FF on 72% of snaps)
Chubb hasn’t topped 7.5 sacks since his rookie season in 2018, but he is off to a great start on an excellent Broncos defense. With a huge game against the Colts on Thursday night, he now has 5.5 sacks on the season and looks headed for a big year, provided he can stay healthy.

LINEBACKERS

LB Cole Holcomb, WAS (11 solos, 4 asst, 1 TFL on 100% of snaps)
Holcomb had a very productive season last year with 84 solo stops and 58 assists. Despite solid production, he was well off that pace before this week. He was everywhere this week, however, and racked up 11 solos and 15 tackles on 52 tackle opportunities generated by the Titans. His upcoming schedule also looks favorable and should get him back to the top-12 range.

LB David Long, TEN (6 solos, 5 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Zach Cunningham has missed the past two games and has been replaced by a combination of Dylan Cole and Joe Schobert. That leaves Long as the clear top option in the middle of the defense, and he came through in a big way this week. He helped limit Washington to just 2.5 yards per rush attempt and had a game-winning interception late in the fourth quarter at the 1-yard line.

LB Fred Warner, SF (7 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 2 QH, 1 PD on 88% of snaps)
Warner has had a quiet start to the season as the 49ers defense did not face many tackle opportunities early on. Those numbers have improved over the past few weeks, however, and he has seen a clear increase in his production as well. Including this week’s performance, he now has 17 solos, 8 assists, a sack, and 2 pass breakups over his last 3 games combined.

LB Isaiah Simmons, ARI (8 solos, 5 asst on 92% of snaps)
Simmons has seen a large increase in playing time over the past two games, but his production is still likely to be highly variable. He played most of this game in a coverage role but still managed to get involved in 13 combined tackles in a game where the Eagles offense generated 61 tackle opportunities. It doesn’t look like his role has changed, so this type of production is unlikely to be replicated in most weeks.

LB Kwon Alexander, NYJ (6 solos, 4 asst, 1 TFL on 94% of snaps)
Quincy Williams sat out again this week, so Alexander played nearly every snap for the second game in a row. Miami still averaged over five yards per rush attempt, but Alexander was highly productive and finished with 10 combined tackles on 47 opportunities.

LB Damien Wilson, CAR (7 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 3 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF on 67% of snaps)
Wilson warrants an upgrade based on his impressive stat line this week, which will likely stand out on waiver wires. Note that he only saw an increase in playing time due to the absence of Frankie Luvu, and he still only saw time in clear running situations while Cory Littleton and Shaq Thompson both played 100% of the snaps.

LB Tyrel Dodson, BUF (7 solos, 4 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH on 84% of snaps)
The Bills likely took a cautious approach with Tremaine Edmunds this week and decided to rest him in anticipation of their matchup next week against the Chiefs. Many thought rookie Terrell Bernard would get the start, but they went with the veteran Dodson instead. He performed well and piled up 11 tackles with a sack but will probably go back to the bench next week.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S DeShon Elliott, DET (10 solos, 2 asst, 3 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PD on 88% of snaps)
Elliott wasn’t even in the starting lineup this week and was carted off the field due to cramps but still managed to play 88% of the snaps. He was benched in favor of Saivion Smith, who was carted off the field with a scary neck injury. The Lions defense continues to be a problem, and Elliott has shown that he can be very productive with 19 solo tackles plus an interception in just the past two games combined.

S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, PHI (10 solos, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Gardner-Johnson was often held back in New Orleans while playing behind Malcolm Jenkins and had an opportunity to expand his role in Philadelphia this year. He has had a slow start, but much of that could be due to the fact the Eagles defense ranks bottom-five in tackle opportunities. This week he showed off some of his potential as he led his team in tackles with 10 solos while also picking off his first pass of the year in a game where the Cardinals generated 28 completions and 55 tackle opportunities.

S Alohi Gilman, LAC (4 solos, 3 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Gilman had been playing limited snaps in a third safety role, but he started on Sunday while Nasir Adderley was bumped down to a reserve role. Gilman came up huge with a clutch interception in the fourth quarter to prevent the Browns from taking a late lead. Given his performance, we should expect him to continue playing alongside Derwin James in the base defense.

S Rayshawn Jenkins, JAX (7 solos, 5 asst on 100% of snaps)
While his fantasy upside is limited playing behind some highly productive linebackers in Jacksonville, Jenkins warrants a mention this week. He led all players in the game with 12 combined tackles for his best game of the year and already has six passes defensed on the year as well.

S Juston Burris, CAR (6 solos, 2 asst, 1 PD on 97% of snaps)
With Jeremy Chinn on IR, Burris was brought up from the practice squad and inserted into the starting lineup. He finished with the second-most tackles on the team and looks like he could provide some short-term value with the Rams and Buccaneers coming up next on the schedule.

S Terrell Burgess, LAR (6 solos, 2 asst on 100% of snaps)
With Jordan Fuller on injured reserve and Taylor Rapp sitting out this week with a rib injury, Burgess got the start. He was one of just 3 Rams defenders to play every snap in the game and also wound up leading the team in tackles with eight stops. Seems likely that he’ll move back to a reserve role once Rapp is healthy, though.

CB Paulson Adebo, NO (6 solos, 2 asst, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Adebo missed the first couple of weeks of the season while recovering from a high ankle sprain, but he’s been highly productive in the last two games. Playing opposite a shutdown corner like Marshon Lattimore, he figures to see plenty of targets each week, and he now has 14 solos, 2 assists, and 2 passes defensed in his only two starts of the year. He also has the Bengals, Cardinals, and Raiders coming up on the schedule, so he’s a must-start each week.

CB Kaiir Elam, BUF (7 solos, 3 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
The Bills drafted Elam in the first round this year. He has played well at times, but he was also clearly a target of the Steelers on Sunday. That is also a good thing from a fantasy perspective, however, as he gave up many catches and finished with 10 tackles while adding the first interception of his career. TreDavious White could be close to returning to the lineup, pushing Elam back to the bench.

CB Cameron Dantzler, MIN (7 solos, 1 asst, 1 FF, 1 FR on 100% of snaps)
5 weeks into the season and Dantzler currently ranks as a top-5 fantasy cornerback. He’s been credited with 28 solo tackles and has four or more in every game, which is remarkable consistency for the position. He’s being mentored by Patrick Peterson and came up with several huge plays in the game, including a forced fumble and recovery that sealed a win.

CB Byron Murphy, ARI (7 solos, 2 asst, .5 sack, 3 TFL, 1 QH, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Murphy had been rather disappointing through the first month of the season, due in part to the Cardinals, but he showed off his huge upside this week. He was credited with nine tackles but even more encouraging was the fact he had three tackles for loss and a partial sack, which suggests he was effective playing close to the line of scrimmage.

CB Jaylon Jones, CHI (9 solos, 4 asst, 1 FF on 91% of snaps)
Jones is an undrafted rookie who started this week as the team’s nickel back. He played 91% of the snaps on defense and also added two tackles plus a forced fumble on special teams. Makes sense that teams would target him when he’s in the game, but there’s a good chance Jaylon Johnson will return to the lineup on Thursday against Washington.

DOWNGRADES

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS

DT Shy Tuttle, NO (1 solo on 52% of snaps)
Tuttle had a nice run earlier this year but has lost his momentum. After posting 16 combined tackles over a two-game stretch, he’s gone cold and has just three solos and one assist in his last two games while seeing a season-low 27 snaps this week.

DT Larry Ogunjobi, PIT (0 tackles on 12% of snaps)
While he hasn’t been very productive thus far, Ogunjobi did play 73% of the snaps a week ago against the Jets. He didn’t get a chance to do much against Buffalo this week, however, as he left the game very early with a back injury.

DE Nick Bosa, SF (1 asst on 38% of snaps)
Bosa was off to a very strong start this year and had collected six sacks through the first four games. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave the game after just 26 snaps this week with a groin injury. Reports on Monday indicated it was a strain and left his availability for Week 6 in doubt. Charles Omenihu and Drake Jackson would likely see more playing time if he’s unable to go.

DE Gregory Rousseau, BUF (1 QH on 49% of snaps)
Rousseau has been playing very well, so he was probably due for a game like this. He was kept off the stat sheet apart from a single quarterback hit in a game where Pittsburgh’s offense generated 52 pass attempts. Next week’s matchup against Kansas City should also be rather difficult.

DE Kwity Paye, IND (1 QH on 45% of snaps)
Paye had been playing well for the Colts and averaging over 70% of the defensive snaps each week. He was forced to leave the game early this week with what’s believed to be a high-ankle sprain that will likely keep him out for several weeks, depending on the severity. Dayo Odeyingbo (1-4-.5) played 55% of the snaps and posted solid numbers while filling in.

DE Aidan Hutchinson, DET (2 solos on 95% of snaps)
Hutchinson looked like a star when he collected three sacks back in Week 2. Since then, he’s struggled to generate much of a pass rush and was ineffective this week against a third-string rookie quarterback. He’s collected just four solos and three assists with no sacks in his last three games and will use the upcoming bye week to try and get back on track.

DE Jermaine Johnson, NYJ (0 tackles on 22% of snaps)
The rookie picked up his first sacks last week and seemed to be gaining momentum, but he left the game early with an ankle injury this week. His status for next week against the Packers is in doubt.

EDGE Alex Highsmith, PIT (1 solo, 1 QH on 86% of snaps)
Highsmith is the typical 3-4 edge rusher who will typically post some very productive games when they get to the quarterback. The problem is in the other games, they often do very little, and that’s what Highsmith looks like this year. In his good weeks, he can help win games on his own as he’s averaged seven tackles and nearly two sacks per game in his good weeks but just two combined tackles with no sacks in his bad games.

LINEBACKERS

LB Josey Jewell, DEN (7 asst, .5 sack, 1 QH on 43% of snaps)
Jewell had been playing well in the middle of the Broncos defense the past two games, but he suffered a sprained knee that knocked him out of the Thursday night game against the Colts. He is reported to be “week-to-week,” which could create an opening for Alex Singleton, who posted nine tackles on 43 snaps this week.

LB Mykal Walker, ATL (7 solos, 4 asst on 57% of snaps)
Walker was having himself an amazing game with 11 combined tackles on just 45 snaps. He had to leave the game with a groin injury, however, and never returned to add to those totals. That would be a big loss for next week’s matchup with the 49ers if he’s not able to play, and the rookie Troy Andersen added four tackles on his 30 defensive snaps.

LB Frankie Luvu, CAR (DNP)
Luvu has been one of the year’s biggest surprises thus far but was held out this week with a shoulder injury. What’s perhaps more concerning is the news that Carolina fired their head coach and defensive coordinator on Monday, so we could perhaps see some personnel changes as a result.

LB Josh Allen, JAX (1 solo, 1 TFL on 72% of snaps)
Allen has been playing well for Jacksonville year but had a rough showing on Sunday. He was held to just one tackle on 42 snaps, although part of that was due to the Texans relying very heavily on their running game.

LB Jacob Phillips, CLE (7 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL on 100% of snaps)
Phillips has filled up the stat sheet since taking over for Anthony Walker as middle linebacker. However, the Browns have also been terrible against the run, so they made a move to trade for veteran Deion Jones on Sunday night. Have to assume that he will be taking over for Phillips as soon as he’s ready.

LB Tae Crowder, NYG (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL on 79% of snaps)
Crowder had played every defensive snap the past two weeks, but he saw a drop to just 79% this week. This also appears to coincide with an uptick in time for Jaylon Smith, who played 65% this week. Both of these players have flaws, but Smith finished with six tackles on 41 snaps compared to just three tackles on 50 snaps for Crowder. This situation is difficult to get a read on.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

S Marcus Williams, BAL (2 solos on 46% of snaps)
Williams was brought in to try and stabilize the back of the Ravens secondary, and he had an incredible start with 22 combined tackles and 3 interceptions in the first two games. Unfortunately, he suffered a wrist injury this week that will send him to IR and keep him out for at least the next four games. Kyle Hamilton seemed like he should benefit, but Geno Stone stepped in and played 56% of the snaps, while Hamilton saw his playing time drop to a season-low 14 snaps.

S Minkah Fitzpatrick, PIT (1 asst, 1 QH on 96% of snaps)
Fitzpatrick has been one of the best IDPs in the league through the first month of the season, but he looked powerless against the Bills on Sunday. He was credited with a single assisted tackle in the game while the Bills generated 552 yards of offense. To be fair, however, the Steelers defense only faced 40 tackle opportunities, and Fitzpatrick almost had an interception before the ball was ripped out of his hands by Gabe Davis for a touchdown.

S Mike Edwards, TB (1 solo, 1 asst on 98% of snaps)
Edwards came into this game with 26 combined tackles in his last two games. He was due for some regression but seeing him finish with just two tackles was still surprising. However, his workload remained high, so this was likely an outlier.

S Kamren Curl, WAS (2 solos, 1 TFL on 100% of snaps)
With Cole Holcomb picking up 15 tackles this week, there wasn’t a whole lot left over for Curl, apparently. He was held to just two solo stops after posting 15 tackles in the past two games combined.

S Harrison Smith, MIN (1 solo, 1 asst, 1 PD on 100% of snaps)
Smith is an elite safety but showed this week that matchups still matter. He was held to just two tackles on 50 snaps due in part to the fact the Bears offense only generated 15 pass completions and 41 tackle opportunities overall.

CB Roger McCreary, TEN (2 solos on 100% of snaps)
The rookie has been one of the most productive players at his position coming into this game and had 25 solos in his last three games combined. Washington completed 25 passes for 359 yards in the game, but McCreary wasn’t nearly as involved as he had been.

CB Carlton Davis, TB (4 solos, 1 PD on 56% of snaps)
Davis remains one of the most consistently productive cornerbacks in the league but he suffered a hip injury this week and did not return to the game. His likely replacement, Sean Murphy-Bunting, also suffered a quad injury in the game.

CB Denzel Ward, CLE (9 solos, 1 asst, 1 PD on 79% of snaps)
Ward had another strong game with 10 tackles and a pass breakup before leaving the game with a concussion. He’ll need to clear the protocol if he hopes to play next week against the Patriots.

CB Jeff Okudah, DET (1 asst on 88% of snaps)
This season is getting ugly in a hurry due to the Lions' struggles on defense, and Okudah had a rough game after showing well in previous games. He’s still young and recovering from a serious injury, so some growing pains are to be expected. Still, he didn’t cover particularly well and was flagged for a pair of pass interference calls in the game.

CB A.J. Terrell, ATL (1 solo, 1 asst on 100% of snaps)
Terrell played all 79 defensive snaps in this game against an offense that generated 35 pass completions and still finished with just two combined tackles for the second week in a row. He’s capable of shutting down his opponent in any given week, so these low-output games may become more of the norm.