IDP Dynasty Sleepers: Week 8

IDP Dynasty Sleepers examines an array of linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs you should target. Depending on the makeup of your leagues, these players could be trade targets or solid grab-and-stash types who might be found on the waiver wire.

Dynasty Sleeper: LB Grant Stuard, Indianapolis

We all know how productive the Colt linebackers can be if thrust into a role where they see regular snaps.  With E.J. Speed sitting this past week out, Stuard entered the fray and "just" had 11 solos and eight helpers.  That kind of tackle volume on a regular basis makes you an LB1, for sure.  Speed's knee forced him to miss this past week, but there's some hope he can return in Week 8.  That said, Stuard is definitely a grab-and-stash type.  Also, an honorable mention to Jaylon Carlies, who's listed as a safety on the Footballguys depth chart tool but is a linebacker on a few other depth chart sites and, most importantly, MyFantasyLeague.  Carlies, with only 30% of the snaps, logged five solos and a sack.  Carlies, a rookie, is also a solid grab-and-stash.

Dynasty Sleeper: LB Trevor Nowaske, Detroit

For those of you in big-play formats, look at the undrafted second-year pro out of nearby Saginaw Valley State.  He has a sack in each of the last two contests and could be the pass-rush presence the Lions will need with Aidan Hutchinson nursing his broken leg.  Nowaske also chipped in with four solos last weekend; if he's able to log that many solos on a regular basis he will also have value in more standard formats.  

Dynasty Sleeper: LB Christian Elliss, New England

Elliss found himself in a starting role this past Sunday and came through with nine total tackles.  Raekwon McMillan, more of a two-down thumper, was relegated to spot duty (13% of the snaps), while Elliss logged 69%.  Elliss will likely never put up LB1-type numbers, but if he's getting regular snaps for this defense, he will have a decent floor with some upside.