Have injured defensive players in your IDP league? Here are the top defensive players to pickup for week 5 of fantasy football that haven’t already been recommended in previous articles.
Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison had surgery on his right orbital bone today and will be out indefinitely which presents an awkward situation for IDP owners. Lawrence Timmons will slide over from middle linebacker and replace Harrison at right outside linebacker while Larry Foote will start in the middle.
Timmons’ value will decrease in tackle-heavy formats as he will likely see less tackle opportunities playing on the outside while being more valuable in big-play leagues because he will be blitzing more often. You might want to consider stashing him on your bench and picking up someone else or even dropping him in shallow, tackle-heavy leagues if you don’t have a big enough bench to keep him.
The 31-year-old Foote is a 10-year veteran and has been a decent IDP option in the past as a starter, but don’t expect huge numbers out of him. During the upcoming bye weeks he will be an above-average option, but not elite so you will likely be able to find someone better on the waivers.
There are also some other injuries to take note of like New England’s Jarod Mayo who will likely miss six weeks with an sprained MCL. This is very bad news for the Patriots and IDP owners because he has been a very productive linebacker and is very valuable to his team as the defensive play-caller. His replacements aren’t likely to produce even close to Mayo’s level so owners will need to look elsewhere for a fill-in.
LB Pickups for IDP
D.J. Williams, Denver Broncos – As of right now he is owned in a little less than half of ESPN leagues and could be available on waivers if you’re in a shallow league. Williams returned to action last week after missing the first three games of the season and tallied seven solo tackles and one assist against the Packers. The Broncos match up against the San Diego Chargers next week who are running the ball more than they did last year, although they still throw it a lot like the Packers, so Williams will have enough chances for tackles. He hasn’t had any huge games against the Chargers the past couple of seasons, but this could be a good start with all things considered and should be a good option for the rest of the season after his team’s bye week in Week 6. This also means that Wesley Woodyard, who started for Williams the past three weeks, should be dropped in every format as his value has dramatically decreased.
Von Miller, Denver Broncos – Williams’ rookie teammate and second overall pick in this year’s draft, Von Miller, has four sacks through the first four games to go along with two forced fumbles. He is a good pick up if you play in a league that highly rewards big plays, i.e. sacks, interceptions, forced and recovered fumbles. Even as a rookie, the former Texas A&M star has made his presence know rushing from the outside and also notching a few tackles each game. Look for him to continue to record sacks and forced fumbles as he eventually becomes a household name like how Dallas Demarcus Ware is for striking fear into quarterbacks.
Donald Butler, San Diego Chargers – Here’s a young player on the rise who not many people know about and is worth a look in deep leagues. The second-year guy out of Washington has 23 solo tackles, five assists and a sack through four games playing right inside linebacker next to veteran Takeo Spikes. Butler is only 22-years-old, turning 23 later this month, and is in his first season as a starter. The Sacramento native should be a good option to fill-in for your starters during bye weeks as the above average production should continue this season.
Another injury to take note of is Philadelphia’s Trent Cole, a feared pass rusher that will be out of action for at least the next three weeks with a strained calf muscle. The All-Pro defensive end recored a sack in each of the first three games this season before getting hurt. IDP owners will need Plan B for the next month or so and there are a couple guys out there that may be available in your league and can contribute right away.
DL Pickups for IDP
Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals – With 15 solo tackles, 9 assists and 2.5 sacks so far this year, Campbell is playing very well and should be picked up in shallow leagues because of his high tackle stats and ability to get to the quarterback. Now in his fourth season, the former Miami Hurricane has gotten better each year as a pro which is what IDP owners want to see along with consistency. Don’t be afraid to go after this guy although most novice football fans have never heard of him. He is the best player on the Arizona defensive line and would be a great addition to take over Cole’s starting spot on your team or provide depth for upcoming bye weeks.
Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tampa’s first round pick this year was clearly the teams’ best pass rusher on Monday night against the Colts and is a great pickup in deep leagues. With a sack in each of the last two weeks, look for Clayborn to be a high-energy guy who could breakout and have a multiple sack game in the next couple weeks playing San Francisco in Week 5 (14 sacks allowed this season) and the Chicago Bears in Week 7 (15 sacks surrendered).
