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 that 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 league's waiver wires!
Linebackers
Josh Woods (DET): With both Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Alex Anzalone hurting, Woods steps into a real nice situation. Filling in for JRM two weeks ago and logging just 57% of the snaps, he managed 6 solos and a pair of helpers. With both JRM and Anzalone hurting last week, Woods had a monster effort with 10 solos and three assists. He’s got a great chance to finish the year strong. Add and plug in now, and keep him around since there will likely be an open competition at the MLB and/or WLB spots in Detroit come 2022.
Benardrick McKinney (NYG): Reggie Ragland has always been just a guy, a warm body. He and McKinney have been seeing about the same amount of snaps alongside Tae Crowder (who doesn’t do much with 100% of the snap share). The G-men have a nice stretch of games to end the season in terms of tackle opportunities up the middle of the defense, so if McKinney can see the majority of the snaps, he may just be a value. He’s 29, so this is purely a speculative add for those looking to bolster their linebacking corps for the fantasy playoffs.
Tyrel Dodson (BUF): For those of you in larger leagues with deep benches/contract years, Dodson is worth adding and signing to a 2-year deal. Unfortunately, he’s 3+ years in, so he wouldn’t qualify for most taxi squads. But if either Matt Milano or Tremaine Edmunds were to go down with a significant injury, Dodson would instantly be a pretty solid add.
Defensive Linemen
DreMont Jones (DE – DEN): With Von Miller now in LA, the door is wide open for a guy like Jones to step in and produce. Since Week 8 he has 5.5 sacks and while he has given up some snaps to the journeyman Stephen Weatherly, the future looks pretty bright for the ex OSU Buckeye. Worth adding, signing to a 2-year deal on your squad, and seeing if he projects as a starter in 2022.
Dante Fowler (DE – ATL): Seems like Fowler’s been in the league for a decade-plus, but he’s still just 27 and his big games still come in spurts, usually against inferior competition. If you can pick and choose where to start him, he is a worthy DL2 for bye weeks. If you don’t like your current DL’s Week 16 matchups, may I present to you the Detroit Lions for Fowler and the Falcon D. Worth a shot. And worth keeping around for 2022 since there may still be some tread left on the tires.
Justin Jones DT – LAC): The Bolts do have some decent names lining up with Joey Bosa (Jerry Tillery for one), but Jones looks to be the most talented and when given regular playing time, can eat up space and make tackles and chip in with sacks as well. If you’re in a league that splits apart DT from the DL spot, Jones is worth a look for the final three weeks as well as 2022 and beyond.
Defensive Backs
Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB – TBB): Since returning from injury Week 11, he’s had double-digit fantasy output in every contest. He’s not much of a pass deflector, but he’s got a fairly high floor due to his ability to tackle. Should he add pass defenses to his repertoire, he would be an elite fantasy corner. Worth adding and plugging in for start-CB leagues for sure.
Brandon Stephens (CB – BAL): With all the injuries to the Raven corners, Stephens has been a mainstay and has come through, especially recently with Marlon Humphrey shelved. Stephens has 11 solos and four helpers in the past two contests. He’s not proficient at knocking down passes, but he’s going to be a volume tackler, especially over the final three games (@GBP, @CIN, vs. LAR). Get him into your lineup to wrap up the season.
Tashaun Gipson (S – CHI): Not an especially glamorous add here, but Gipson’s fantasy output could look pretty good this week against the Vikings. If you’re struggling to find a solid DB2 and want to be assured of 12-15 fantasy points, you could do worse. Purely an add for Week 15 (and perhaps Week 16 against the Seahawks).
