Photo: USA Today Sports

This article immediately highlights 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. It isn’t easy 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. I'm also going to try and group edge rushers together with the understanding that classification as a defensive end or linebacker will depend on your league setup/host. If you have any questions about specific players or situations, please email me or reach out via Twitter.

Email: rudnicki@footballguys.com
Twitter: @a_rudnicki

UPGRADES

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/EDGE RUSHERS

DE Josh Sweat, PHI (5 solos, 1 asst, 2 sacks, 3 TFL, 2 QH on 75% of snaps)
The Eagles took advantage of a favorable matchup this week and collected six sacks of Josh Fields. Sweat has been their most consistent pass rusher of late and picked up two more sacks this week to give him five in his last three games and seven in his last six. He also saw a season-high workload this week with 75% of the snaps after averaging close to 50% since their Week 7 bye.

DE J.J. Watt, ARI (4 solos, 1 asst, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 QH, 1 FF, 1 PD on 84% of snaps)
Watt looked more like his younger self this week with a huge three-sack outing against the Broncos. Watt is no longer the dominant player he once was but his 84% workload this week was a season-high and he’s now put up seven sacks over his last seven games.

DE DeMarcus Walker, TEN (4 solos, 1 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH on 59% of snaps)
Walker has flown under the radar in Tennessee, but he’s quietly been putting up some impressive numbers in the second half of the season. With two sacks against a tough matchup this week, he now has 6.5 sacks in his last eight games.

DE Romeo Okwara, DET (2 solos, 2 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH on 41% of snaps)
Okwara returned to the lineup last week following an Achilles injury last year. While little was probably expected of him given the injury, he came through with a pair of sacks and looks like he may be able to contribute as a situational pass rusher as the Lions make a push for the playoffs.

DL DeShawn Williams, DEN (2 solos, 3 asst, 2.5 sacks, 2 TFL, 4 QH on 62% of snaps)
Williams saw a heavier workload this week since the Broncos were without DreMont Jones and Jacob Martin. He took advantage and produced his second multi-sack outing in the past three weeks. The Rams matchup next week also looks pretty favorable.

EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, NYG (9 solos, 3 asst, 1 sack, 3 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD on 79% of snaps)
This may have been a coming-out party for the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft. He made plays all over the field and led the Giants with 12 tackles while also adding a strip-sack that he recovered for a touchdown in a huge win over their division rivals.

EDGE Haason Reddick, PHI (3 solos, 1 asst, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH on 75% of snaps)
Reddick may not have as much fantasy value this year due to getting a linebacker designation in some league host sites, but he remains highly productive as a pass rusher. With two more sacks this week, he now has 12 on the season and has recorded a sack in 10 of his last 12 games.