This article attempts to immediately highlight 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 that tries to explain why the stat lines may be misleading. It’s difficult 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. If you have any questions about specific players or situations, feel free to email me or reach out via twitter.
Email: rudnicki@footballguys.com
Twitter: @a_rudnicki
MINNESOTA @ L.A. RAMS
Upgrades:
DE Danielle Hunter, MIN (3 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH)
Hunter continues to be very productive, despite no longer having Everson Griffen playing across from him. He was on the field for 51 of 53 defensive snaps this week (93%) and finished tied for 2nd on the team with 6 combined tackles while also picking up a sack in his fourth consecutive game of the year. While the defense around him is falling apart, Hunter is not letting it drag him down and is now up to 17 solos and 4 sacks through a quarter of the year.
DE Aaron Donald, LAR (3 solos, 2 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 4 QH)
It took him a few weeks to get going but this is the Donald we’ve come to know and expect. He took advantage of a questionable Vikings offensive line and added his first two sacks of the year. Donald will try to keep it rolling next week in a divisional matchup with the Seahawks, who he posted 3 sacks against in their last meeting.
S John Johnson, LAR (6 solos, 5 asst, 2 PD)
Johnson flew under the radar this offseason but he’s quickly becoming one of the most important players in the Rams defense. The perimeter defenders for the Rams force a lot of plays to the inside and the injury to Mark Barron has softened the middle up as well. That creates a lot more tackle opportunities for Johnson and he’s cleaning them up with 20 solos, 11 assists, and 5 passes defensed through a quarter of the season.
Downgrades:
CB Trae Waynes, MIN (2 solos)
Waynes is an above-average corner in run support but he’s having a hard time staying on the field this year. He left the game after just 24 snaps this week with a concussion, but not before giving up two big passes for a touchdown. He also missed most of the game in Week 1 with a knee injury and Week 3 with an ankle injury so there’s not much going right for him at the moment. Rookie corner Mike Hughes took over in the base defense after Waynes left and wound up leading the team in tackles.
CINCINNATI @ ATLANTA
Upgrades:
DE Takkarist McKinley, ATL (3 solos, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH)
McKinley was a 1st round pick of the Falcons last year who posted 6 sacks as a rookie and showed clear signs that he was capable of much more. He was forced to sit out Week 3 with a groin injury but returned to action this week and posted 3 sacks in an overtime loss to the Bengals. That brings him up to 5 sacks in just 3 games played this year, although he’s rather one dimensional with only just 1 other solo tackle that didn’t come from a sack.
S Jessie Bates, CIN (7 solos, 1 asst)
The Bengals added Bates in the second round of this year’s draft and showed their confidence in him when they cut veteran safety George Iloka loose late in training camp. Bates took over as a full-time starter at free safety from Week 1 and has been very active in all four games with 8 combined tackles in three of them and an interception in the other.
Downgrades:
Atlanta secondary
The Falcons made moved a lot of players around this week to try and plus some of the holes in their depleted secondary. Brian Poole moved from slot corner to strong safety, Damontae Kazee slid over to free safety, and Desmond Trufant moved inside to cover Tyler Boyd. That often left rookie corner Isaiah Oliver and Robert Alford lined up out wide. Nobody in this group played well this week so it’s hard to know if this will carry over, but it’s worth mentioning. If it continues though, it should provide a boost for Trufant and possibly Poole as well.
TAMPA BAY @ CHICAGO
Upgrades:
LB Aaron Lynch, CHI (3 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 INT, 1 PD)
Lynch probably doesn’t get enough regular playing time to warrant a significant upgrade but he saw a season-high 48% of the snaps this week and showed he can contribute as an edge rusher. Not only did he pick up his second sack in the past three weeks but he also had an interception while dropping into coverage late in the game. Lynch hasn’t been able to stay healthy during the last couple of years in San Francisco but fits well as a pass-rush specialist on this impressive Bears defense.
Downgrades:
DE Akiem Hicks, CHI (1 solo, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH)
Hicks was ejected for bumping an official after just 17 defensive snaps (27%). He’s one of the most valuable players on this defense so it would be a big loss if he’s forced to miss any time due to a suspension. That seems unlikely given that it was a pretty minor infraction though.
LB Leonard Floyd, CHI (2 solos, 1 QH, 1 PD)
Floyd is a talented player loaded with potential but he has been a clear disappointment through the first four games. His snap count has not been an issue as he saw 46 snaps this week (73%) but he’s only been credited with 6 solos and 0 sacks on the year. The addition of Khalil Mack figured to make things easier on him but he hasn’t been able to take advantage yet for some reason.
S Adrian Amos, CHI (2 solos)
Amos was very productive in 2017 after taking over as the team’s starting strong safety but his numbers are way down this year. He had 27 solos in his first 4 games with significant playing time last year but sits at just 15 this year. Amos also doesn’t have any history of being a playmaker so he derives his fantasy value almost entirely from tackles. Doesn’t look like the upgrades up front are allowing enough plays to get into the second level for him to reach pre-season expectations.
DETROIT @ DALLAS
Upgrades:
DE Demarcus Lawrence, DAL (6 solos, 2 asst, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH)
While this huge game wasn’t a surprise from a player who posted 15 sacks a year ago, his strong start to the year (16 solos and 5.5 sacks through 4 games) indicate last season was certainly no fluke. If the Cowboys offense can start playing better and giving the defense more opportunities to play with a lead, Lawrence could easily finish as the top-scoring defensive end this year.
DT A’Shawn Robinson, DET (6 solos, 3 asst)
DT Da’Shawn Hand, DET (3 solos, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF)
Both defensive tackles were likely boosted by the matchup this week as the Cowboys ran the ball 35 times, but it was still impressive that Robinson was credited with 9 tackles on 36 snaps. Hand was a fourth-round pick of the Lions this year but was considered the top recruit in the nation out of high school. He sacked Dak Prescott late in the game with a bull rush and knocked the ball loose but the Lions were not able to recover. These are two young players to pay attention to if you are in a DT-required league.
Downgrades:
S Tavon Wilson, DET (0 tackles)
Wilson was replaced as the primary strong safety by Quandre Diggs this year but he was still seeing regular (but declining) playing time as the #3 safety. Unfortunately, he had to leave the game after just 4 snaps this week with a back injury and wasn’t able to return.
S Quandre Diggs, DET (2 solos, 2 asst, 1 PD)
Diggs is a converted corner who beat out Tavon Wilson for the strong safety job this year. His production hasn’t been quite as high as many expected, however, despite a pick-6 in the opening game against the Jets. He also had to leave the game after just 43 snaps (62%) this week due to a hand injury.
BUFFALO @ GREEN BAY
Upgrades:
DE Jerry Hughes, BUF (5 solos, 3 TFL)
It’s not readily apparent from looking at the stat sheets or his fantasy production, but Hughes is playing some of the best football of his career. He’s been credited with just 2 sacks but coming into this week he was tied with Khalil Mack for the league-lead with 20 quarterback pressures. This week in a tough loss against the Packers, Hughes and the defense did their best to try and keep it close as he collected 5 tackles with 3 of them behind the line of scrimmage.
LB Kyle Fackrell, GB (4 solos, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH)
Fackrell has seen a slow and steady increase in playing time each week this season, from 4 snaps in the opener to 26 snaps (45%) this week. He had 3 sacks in 16 games last year but matched that total in one game against the Bills. He’ll likely remain behind Clay Matthews and Nick Perry at outside linebacker but defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is great at generating pressure and that could make him valuable in deeper sack-heavy leagues.
CB Ryan Lewis, BUF (7 solos, 1 asst, 2 FF, 2 PD)
CB Taron Johnson, BUF (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 QH, 1 FF)
The Bills secondary has been getting excellent play from Tre’Davious White, which creates more targets for the other cornerbacks. Ryan Lewis is the latest option to start outside while the rookie Taron Johnson has been the primary nickel back when healthy. Both players had very productive games this week, but Johnson is likely the better long-term hold.
Downgrades:
S Micah Hyde, BUF (1 solo)
Hyde is coming off a great first year in Buffalo that saw post 65 solo tackles, 5 interceptions, and 13 passes defensed. He’s off to a much slower start this season, however, and was forced to leave the game this week after just 11 snaps with a groin injury. Rafael Bush took over for him and posted 3 tackles in 69 snaps.
S Kentrell Brice, GB (1 solo, 1 asst)
Brice was able to beat out Josh Jones for a starting safety spot this summer but he has not been very impressive since Week 1. He gave up several long touchdowns in weeks 2 and 3 and that increased calls for him to be benched. Although he continues to play an every-down role, he’s been credited with just 3 solos and 3 assists over the last two games. It’s surprising that the Packers aren’t at least trying to rotate Jones in on some defensive packages to see if he might be an upgrade.
HOUSTON @ INDIANAPOLIS
Upgrades:
DT Denico Autry, IND (7 solos, 2 asst, 2 sacks, 4 TFL, 2 QH)
Autry played primarily at defensive end during his time with the Raiders but he’s lining up as the 3-technique for the Colts. He played 73% of the snaps in the opener and had a couple pressures but was forced to miss weeks 2 and 3 with an ankle injury. He returned to the lineup this week and exploded for a huge game while once again seeing a heavy workload (76 snaps, 88%). This Colts defense has been impressive and has been generating a lot of production for fantasy owners at multiple positions.
LB Jadeveon Clowney, HOU (4 solos, 2 sacks, 4 TFL, 4 QH, 1 FR)
It took him until his 3rd game of the year but Clowney finally started to play up to his potential this week. He combined with J.J. Watt for 4 sacks of Andrew Luck and the two should be able to terrorize opposing quarterbacks the rest of the season if they can stay healthy.
S Tyrann Mathieu, HOU (7 solos, 1 PD)
The Texans haven’t had a quality fantasy safety in a long time but Mathieu looks like he should be able to reverse that trend. He’s now posted 7 solo tackles in consecutive games and should benefit from all the pressure that the Texans are able to generate up front.
No Change:
Matthias Farley, IND (7 solos, 1 asst, 1 PD)
May not mean much but Farley was in the starting lineup this week as a 3rd safety and saw a season-high 45 snaps (52%). Starting corner Kenny Moore II left the game early with a concussion, which may have been why the Colts decided to go with more of a big nickel package.
Downgrades:
None
N.Y. JETS @ JACKSONVILLE
Upgrades:
S Jamal Adams, NYJ (10 solos, 2 asst, 1 TFL)
Adams is quickly becoming one of the elite fantasy safeties in the league. He had an interception and sack in the first couple weeks of the year and filled up the tackle columns this week. Improved consistency is all he needs but given the lack of playmakers on the Jets defense, he should remain a clear top choice at the safety position.
No Change:
DE Henry Anderson, NYJ (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 3 PD)
Anderson is an underrated player who has been plagued by injuries the past two years. He’s off to an impressive start with the Jets this season and now has 2.5 sacks over the past 3 games. His workload hasn’t been particularly high, however, as he’s played less than half the snaps in 3-of-4 games. That has kept his tackle numbers low (4 solos, 4 assists) and raises doubts about his long-term value.
Downgrades:
CB Jalen Ramsey, JAX (1 solo, 1 PD)
CB A.J. Bouye, JAX (2 solos, 1 PD)
The Jaguars corners were both very productive last year despite often playing shutdown-quality defense. Both finished in the top-15 at the position using a balanced scoring system. They were helped by a dominant pass rush up front but also benefit from playing opposite each other as it’s very difficult for quarterbacks to avoid both on any given play. Through 4 games this year, however, neither player ranks among the top-50 or so at the position. Ramsey has 12 solos, 0 interceptions, and just 1 pass defensed while Bouye has 11 solos, 0 interceptions, and 1 pass defensed. Given the depth at the position, it’s probably time to move on from them even though they are both excellent players.
MIAMI @ NEW ENGLAND
Upgrades:
DE John Simon, NE (2 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH)
The Patriots signed Simon off the street last week and gave him 20 snaps (41%) to try and boost their lethargic pass rush. He put up some incredibly efficient numbers with 5 combined tackles plus a sack. Trey Flowers returned this week and saw 28 snaps while the trio of Simon, Deatrich Wise (19), and Adrian Clayborn (18) also rotated in.
LB Jerome Baker, MIA (6 solos, 4 asst)
Appears to have over for Raekwon McMillan in the team’s nickel packages this week as his workload took another jump from 61% last week to 80% this week. Maybe McMillan will figure things out in the future, but he’s certainly looking like a 2-down run stopper at the moment and Baker offers more upside due to his 3-down role despite being rather undersized at 216 pounds.
S Minkah Fitzpatrick, MIA (4 solos, 6 asst, 1 INT, 2 PD)
An injury to Reshad Jones has created a huge opportunity for Fitzpatrick, who has gone from a part-time role in the nickel package to a full-time role at safety. He played 100% of the defensive snaps this week and picked off Tom Brady for his first career interception. While his numbers are very assist-heavy, he has been very active with 20 combined tackles (6 solos, 14 assists) over the past two games.
No Change:
DE Charles Harris, MIA (1 solo, 3 asst, 1 TFL)
Injuries to William Hayes and Andre Branch were supposed to create a lot of additional playing time for Harris but it didn’t work out that way. He wound up playing 34 snaps (42%) on defense this week, which was pretty much identical to the 34 (45%) he saw a week ago. The biggest jump came from Jonathan Woodard, a 7th round pick who made his debut and posted 3 solos in 37 snaps (46%).
Downgrades:
DT Malcolm Brown, NE (0 tackles)
Despite offering limited upside as a pass rusher, Brown has been a productive fantasy option in the past. His playing time is down significantly this season, however, as he’s only averaging about 45% of the defensive snaps each week after routinely seeing 60+% last year. Through a quarter of the season, he’s been credited with just 7 solos and 2 assists and looks droppable in DT-required leagues.
S Devin McCourty, NE (3 asst)
Despite playing a less favorable free safety role for the Patriots and putting up very few big plays, McCourty still managed to post top-10 safety numbers a year ago. Through 4 games of 2018, his role hasn’t changed much but he’s been much less productive. He has just 7 solo tackles and 4 assists over his last 3 games and there are likely better options available on your waiver wire.
CB Bobby McCain, MIA (2 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD)
McCain has been playing surprisingly well for the upstart Dolphins this year and even had an interception this week. Unfortunately, he left the game after just 41 snaps (51%) with a knee injury so his status for next week is in doubt.
PHILADELPHIA @ TENNESEE
Upgrades:
S Corey Graham, PHI (8 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL)
Rodney McLeod sat out this week and was placed on IR, thus creating an opportunity for Corey Graham to take on a full-time role at free safety. While things didn’t go very well for the Eagles defense against the Titans this week, it worked out very well for Graham’s fantasy value as he led the team in tackles with 9 as Corey Davis went off for 161 yards on 9 catches. While his best days are clearly behind him at this point, Graham has always been a strong tackler for a defensive back and could offer some short-term value here.
S Kevin Byard, TEN (9 solos, 2 asst, 1 QH)
Byard showed that it was too early to write him off after a slow start to the year as he doubled his tackle numbers on the season in just one game. He may have been helped by the injury to Kenny Vaccaro though, who left with an injury after 26 snaps and is expected to miss the next 2 to 4 weeks.
CB Malcolm Butler, TEN (9 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF)
The Titans have a long history of churning out very productive defensive backs and it looks like Butler may wind up as the breakout player of this year’s group. He’s a proven player from his time with the Patriots but topped out at 55 solo tackles during his 3 years as a starter. Through his first four games with the Titans, he’s already been credited with 23 solo stops while also contributing several big plays (sack, interception, and forced fumble).
Downgrades:
LB Wesley Woodyard, TEN (1 solo)
Woodyard has been playing great for the Titans this year but left after just 2 snaps this week with a shoulder injury and could not return to the game. His absence allowed Jayon Brown to play nearly the entire game and he was credited with 10 tackles with a sack and several quarterback hits.
S Kenny Vaccaro, TEN (2 asst, 1 QH)
Vaccaro has provided a steady presence at strong safety for the Titans this year but he left this week’s game after just 26 snaps (33%) with a dislocated elbow. The injury is expected to keep him out for 2 to 4 weeks, which means more work for Kendrick Lews, who posted 3 solos in 47 snaps this week.
SEATTLE @ ARIZONA
Upgrades:
DT Jarran Reed, SEA (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QH)
Reed posted 2 sacks a week ago and added another this week to make him one of the most productive defensive tackles in the league so far. He’s playing over 80% of the defensive snaps and looks headed for a breakout in his third season as Seattle continues their defensive makeover.
DT Robert Nkemdiche, ARI (4 solos, 2 TFL)
Despite being listed as questionable this week with a knee injury, Nkemdiche was able to suit up and play a full workload of 51 snaps (77%). He continued his strong start to the season and now has at least 4 tackles or a sack in every game. The former 1st round pick is finally living up to his potential after missing most of his first two years in the league due to injuries.
LB Deone Bucannon, ARI (6 solos, 1 FF)
Bucannon wasn’t quite back to a full-time role this week but he was on the field for 48 defensive snaps (73%) and added a tackle on special teams as well. He’s a key part of the Cardinals defense and pushed Gerald Hodges back to the bench. Looks like we should see Bucannon and Josh Bynes as the only two 3-down linebackers here when everybody is healthy.
CB Bene Benwikere (4 solos, 1 TFL, 1 FF)
Benwikere appeared to take over for Jamar Taylor at cornerback last week and that was confirmed this week as he started the game and played 98% of the snaps while Taylor saw just 17%. Benwikere hasn’t been particularly effective in coverage but he plays a physical game and could make a nice streaming option here as most quarterbacks will look to avoid Patrick Peterson and pick on him.
Downgrades:
S Earl Thomas, SEA (3 solos, 1 asst, 1 PD)
In one of the biggest stories of the weekend, Thomas was carted off the field with a broken leg. That’s a crushing blow for him given his contract dispute with the team, and it also puts an end to any chance of him being traded. He’ll now look to find a new home when free agency opens up in the spring. Meanwhile, Seattle will turn to Tedric Thompson who had 1 solo tackle in 23 defensive snaps this week but that’s a huge downgrade and unlikely to return much fantasy value.
CB Jamar Taylor, ARI (1 solo)
Taylor appears to have lost his grasp on the starting job opposite Patrick Peterson this week as he only saw 17 snaps (26%) while Bene Benwikere (4 solos, 1 FF) got the start and played nearly the entire game. Whoever plays opposite Peterson figures to be targeted frequently so Benwikere could make a nice streaming option.
CLEVELAND @ OAKLAND
Upgrades:
LB Marquel Lee, OAK (4 solos, 6 asst, 2 PD)
Lee has replaced Derrick Johnson as the full-time middle linebacker for the Raiders. He got the start this week and was on the field for 65 snaps (79%), which ranked 4th among all Raiders defenders while Johnson only saw 22 snaps (27%). Lee certainly warrants a pickup if you need help at linebacker but expect some inconsistency from week to week.
LB Christian Kirksey, CLE (4 solos, 1 asst)
Kirksey sat out the previous two games with injuries but was on the field for 83 snaps (90%) this week. So, it looks like he should return to a full-time role along with Joe Schobert while Jamie Collins Sr saw his playing time drop back to around 60% this week.
CB Rashaan Melvin, OAK (9 solos, 2 PD)
The Raiders secondary has been a work in progress this season but Melvin seems to be emerging as their top corner. Gareon Conley had an interception returned for a touchdown but was also benched later in the game after giving up a long reception. Melvin is already up to 7 passes defensed on the year and his 9 solo tackles this week led all players in the game. The Raiders also figure to get Daryl Worley back from his 4-game suspension, which could further complicate this situation.
CB E.J. Gaines, CLE (3 solos, 2 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD)
Gaines made his season debut for the Browns this week and picked off a pass while adding 5 tackles on 42 snaps (46%). With starter Terrance Mitchell undergoing surgery to repair a broken wrist, it looks like Gaines should slide into the starting lineup opposite Denzel Ward and make a strong pickup for cornerback streamers.
Downgrades:
S Reggie Nelson, OAK (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD)
Nelson has seen a reduction in his playing time the past few games as he appears to be in a time-share with Erik Harris. This week, Nelson saw 55 snaps (67%) while Erik Harris was on the field for 35 snaps (43%). Nelson recorded his first interception of the year but the 35-year-old player has likely lost a step and may be nearing the end of a productive career.
LB Jamie Collins Sr(2 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 PD)
Collins saw just 61% of the snaps in Week 1 when Christian Kirksey played and returned to that same level this week (57%) once Kirksey returned to the lineup. While the Browns used all three linebackers in their nickel packages a year ago, that no longer appears to be the case. Collins can offset the drop in playing time with big plays as he did this week but his week-to-week consistency and tackle production figures to take a clear hit.
CB Terrance Mitchell, CLE (3 solos, 1 PD)
Mitchell had been playing well and putting up nice numbers this year but he lasted just 17 snaps this week before leaving with a broken wrist. He underwent surgery on Monday and could miss the rest of the season.
SAN FRANCISCO @ L.A. CHARGERS
Upgrades:
LB Jatavis Brown, LAC (6 solos, 2 asst, 1 TFL, 1 PD)
With rookie Kyzir White sitting out this week due to a knee injury, Jatavis Brown got the start at weakside linebacker and played 59 snaps (98%) after topping out at 23 in the first 3 games. White had surgery to clean up his knee and will miss at least one more game, which creates more opportunity for Brown to try and reclaim his role.
Downgrades:
DE Melvin Ingram III, LAC (1 solo, 1 QH)
Ingram came into the year with clear top-10 expectations but he has mostly been a non-factor this year. He had 1.5 sacks in Week 2 against an overmatched Bills team but has just 2 solos, 2 assists, and 0 sacks in the other 3 games combined. Without Joey Bosa, offenses are better able to slide their protection to his side or chip him with a running back or tight end.
DE Solomon Thomas, SF (2 solos)
Thomas was a top-3 selection in last year’s draft and considered by most analysts to be the best interior pass-rusher in the class. Through 4 games this year, however, he’s only been credited with 4 solo tackles and 1 assist combined. He did see a season-high workload this week with 49 snaps (72%) but wasn’t much help in slowing down Melvin Gordon or the Chargers offense.
NEW ORLEANS @ N.Y. GIANTS
Upgrades:
LB Demario Davis, NO (9 solos, 2 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH)
Davis was signed to give the Saints some much-needed stability at linebacker and he’s providing that. He was everywhere on Sunday as he finished with 11 combined tackles and a pair of sacks, leading the Saints to their best defensive performance of the season. Surprisingly, the snap counts show him with just 44 snaps (71%) as the Saints appeared to rotate in some other linebackers throughout the game so he may have been even more productive if he had his normal every-down role.
LB Ray-Ray Armstrong, NYG (5 solos, 2 asst)
Armstrong started at inside linebacker over B.J. Goodson and wound up playing 57 snaps (81%) compared to just 11 (16%) for Goodson. This may have been related to the matchup against the Saints but Armstrong has outplayed Goodson and seems to have earned a bigger role.
Downgrades:
None
BALTIMORE @ PITTSBURGH
Upgrades:
LB Jon Bostic, PIT (6 solos, 3 asst)
Bostic may not be all that great as a player but he continues to post strong numbers week after week. Opportunity is key in IDP leagues and he’s playing about 75% of the snaps for the Steelers alongside Vince Williams at inside linebacker. Through 4 games, Bostic has 20 solos, 10 assists, and 2 sacks which makes him a strong LB2 in most formats if he can somehow keep up that pace.
No Change:
CB Anthony Levine (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 3 PD)
Levine had 5 solos a week ago and then came through with 5 tackles and an interception this week, but he did so while playing as the team’s dime back. His snap count in both weeks combined was well below 50% and he’s likely to fall further down the depth chart with the return of Jimmy Smith from his suspension next week.
Downgrades:
LB Patrick Onwuasor, BAL (1 asst)
With the return of C.J. Mosley and emergence of rookie Kenny Young, Onwuasor went from playing 99% of the snaps in Week 2 down to just 10% this week. Young only saw 40% of the snaps this week and was shut out on the stat sheet, but he should be the better option going forward given the large disparity in playing time.
SUMMARY
Upgrades
DE Demarcus Lawrence, DAL (6 solos, 2 asst, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH)
DE Danielle Hunter, MIN (3 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH)
DE Aaron Donald, LAR (3 solos, 2 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 4 QH)
DE Jerry Hughes, BUF (5 solos, 3 TFL)
DE Takkarist McKinley, ATL (3 solos, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH)
DE John Simon, NE (2 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH)
DT Robert Nkemdiche, ARI (4 solos, 2 TFL)
DT Denico Autry, IND (7 solos, 2 asst, 2 sacks, 4 TFL, 2 QH)
DT Jarran Reed, SEA (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QH)
DT A’Shawn Robinson, DET (6 solos, 3 asst)
DT Da’Shawn Hand, DET (3 solos, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF)
LB Demario Davis, NO (9 solos, 2 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH)
LB Christian Kirksey, CLE (4 solos, 1 asst)
LB Deone Bucannon, ARI (6 solos, 1 FF)
LB Jon Bostic, PIT (6 solos, 3 asst)
LB Marquel Lee, OAK (4 solos, 6 asst, 2 PD)
LB Jadeveon Clowney, HOU (4 solos, 2 sacks, 4 TFL, 4 QH, 1 FR)
LB Jerome Baker, MIA (6 solos, 4 asst)
LB Jatavis Brown, LAC (6 solos, 2 asst, 1 TFL, 1 PD)
LB Ray-Ray Armstrong, NYG (5 solos, 2 asst)
LB Aaron Lynch, CHI (3 solos, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 INT, 1 PD)
LB Kyle Fackrell, GB (4 solos, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH)
S Jamal Adams, NYJ (10 solos, 2 asst, 1 TFL)
S John Johnson, LAR (6 solos, 5 asst, 2 PD)
S Kevin Byard, TEN (9 solos, 2 asst, 1 QH)
S Jessie Bates, CIN (7 solos, 1 asst)
S Minkah Fitzpatrick, MIA (4 solos, 6 asst, 1 INT, 2 PD)
S Tyrann Mathieu, HOU (7 solos, 1 PD)
S Corey Graham, PHI (8 solos, 1 asst, 1 TFL)
CB Malcolm Butler, TEN (9 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF)
CB Rashaan Melvin, OAK (9 solos, 2 PD)
CB Bene Benwikere (4 solos, 1 TFL, 1 FF)
CB E.J. Gaines, CLE (3 solos, 2 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD)
CB Taron Johnson, BUF (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 QH, 1 FF)
CB Ryan Lewis, BUF (7 solos, 1 asst, 2 FF, 2 PD)
No Change
DE Charles Harris, MIA (1 solo, 3 asst, 1 TFL)
DE Henry Anderson, NYJ (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 3 PD)
CB Anthony Levine (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 3 PD)
Downgrades
DE Melvin Ingram III, LAC (1 solo, 1 QH)
DE Akiem Hicks, CHI (1 solo, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH)
DE Solomon Thomas, SF (2 solos)
DT Malcolm Brown, NE (0 tackles)
LB Wesley Woodyard, TEN (1 solo)
LB Jamie Collins Sr(2 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 PD)
LB Leonard Floyd, CHI (2 solos, 1 QH, 1 PD)
LB Patrick Onwuasor, BAL (1 asst)
S Quandre Diggs, DET (2 solos, 2 asst, 1 PD)
S Micah Hyde, BUF (1 solo)
S Kenny Vaccaro, TEN (2 asst, 1 QH)
S Devin McCourty, NE (3 asst)
S Adrian Amos, CHI (2 solos)
S Reggie Nelson, OAK (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD)
S Kentrell Brice, GB (1 solo, 1 asst)
S Tavon Wilson, DET (0 tackles)
S Earl Thomas, SEA (3 solos, 1 asst, 1 PD)
CB Jalen Ramsey, JAX (1 solo, 1 PD)
CB A.J. Bouye, JAX (2 solos, 1 PD)
CB Trae Waynes, MIN (2 solos)
CB Bobby McCain, MIA (2 asst, 1 INT, 1 PD)
CB Jamar Taylor, ARI (1 solo)
CB Terrance Mitchell, CLE (3 solos, 1 PD)
