IDP Dynasty Sleepers, Week 4

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 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

Deion Jones (CAR): This isn’t meant to be an add-and-stash type of recommendation; rather, this is a guy you can probably get for fairly cheap, considering his track record over the past year or so. Shaq Thompson is shelved, and Frankie Luvu is dealing with a bum hip. That leaves Kamu Grugier-Hill and Jones to man the linebacking level for the Panthers. Jones is 28, so he may only have a year or two left in him, but if you’re struggling at filling your third linebacker spot, he’s certainly worth looking at in all leagues.

Isaiah McDuffie (GBP): De’Vondre Campbell is likely to be on the mend with an ankle injury for what’s likely to be at least one week, so McDuffie will get a shot here. He’s worth owning in most formats, especially if you own either Campbell or Quay Walker. Walker will probably pick up the most slack, but there are tackles to go around here, and McDuffie has been more than serviceable in the past. He’s just 24, so plenty of mileage is left here.

Noah Sewell (CHI): Sure, it was just in mop-up duty, but Sewell saw 10 snaps this past Sunday and came through with a solo stop and three helpers. T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds clearly have the main spots locked up for the foreseeable future, but it’s nice to see that Sewell would be the next in line should one of those guys go down. Don’t forget about Jack Sanborn, who’s probably still hanging around on someone’s roster, whereas Sewell may have gone undrafted in your rookie draft this past summer. Worth monitoring or perhaps even stashing in bigger formats.

Defensive Linemen

Tuli Tuipulotu (DE – LAC): This is probably the week's biggest no-duh add. Tuipulotu has recorded a sack in each of the past two contests after out-snapping the veteran Joey Bosa in each of those games. Bosa is still not 100%, and the snap counts prove it. And the rookie from USC is making the most of his extended playing time. Even if Bosa is back healthy sometime soon, you gotta think the rookie will push Bosa and the aging Khalil Mack for playing time.

Jarran Reed (DT – SEA): Reed is back with the Seahawks after bouncing around, and it looks like he prefers to be in Seattle. This past Sunday, he had a massive game, logging four solos, four assists, 1.5 sacks, and a pass breakup. He’s listed as a tackle in MyFantasyLeague, which means you should grab him immediately in leagues that separate the two line positions. He’s posted good numbers for Seattle in the past, and he’s on track to start doing so again.

Anfernee Jennings (DE– NEP): This is more of a deep league suggestion, as relying on Patriot linemen for consistent points is not always super-wise. But Jennings flashed some ability in years prior, and after finally getting some snaps (29% of the team total), he logged four solo tackles (one of them for a loss) and an assist. Keep Jennings on your radar if you’re in a deep league that breaks apart the line positions.

Defensive Backs

Amani Hooker (S – TEN): Kevin Byard is, of course, still a solid fantasy option, but right now, Hooker looks like, when he’s healthy, perhaps a steadier choice. He filled up the box score in Week 1 with three solo stops, a pair of assists, a forced fumble and recovery, a pick, and two pass breakups. Wow. And then, after skipping Week 2, he posted 9 solos and two helpers this past week. So when the big plays aren’t there, at least he’s showing the ability to make volume tackles. The ex-Iowa Hawkeye is addable in all formats and looks to be a solid start moving forward.

Delarrin Turner-Yell (S - DEN): If Justin Simmons continues to miss time with his hip injury, look for this youngster to get 100% of the safety snaps alongside Kareem Jackson. And a quick Google search reveals that Simmons could actually be on the trading block if the struggling Broncos look to engage in a fire sale. Right now, Turner-Yell looks like a nice add in all formats, even if it’s to stash him.

Brandon Stephens (CB – BAL): Stephens has yet to step off the field on defense for the Ravens in a spot that has traditionally been pretty decent fantasy production-wise. Stephens was solid in Week 1, with eight solos and four helpers. Week 2 against the Bengals was ho-hum, but this past week was yet another solid effort with 11 combined tackles and a pair of pass breakups. At this point, he is definitely worth starting in leagues that break apart the defensive back positions.