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Headed into Week 7, fantasy IDP managers are reeling from injuries that occurred this past weekend.
Injured defensive stars include Cardinals LB Kyzir White, Falcons S Justin Simmons, Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II, and Commanders DLs Dorance Armstrong and Jonathan Allen. The biggest hit will be to managers starting Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson, who looks set to miss multiple weeks with a broken tibia.
Pick up these 11 players at linebacker, defensive line, safety, and cornerback to replace those injury casualties.
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Waiver Wire Pickups at Linebacker
Micah McFadden, ILB, New York Giants
Rostered in 40% of Sleeper IDP Leagues
McFadden is the kind of inside linebacker who can make impact plays in addition to tackles. This past week against the Bengals, he forced a fumble and recovered one. In the first two weeks of the season, he made 1.5 sacks.
Dorian Williams, ILB, Buffalo Bills
Rostered in 25% of Leagues
Williams has been the primary beneficiary of the preseason injury to Matt Milano (torn biceps). He has been the second starter, playing about 90% of the defensive snaps in most games, and he has made double-digit tackles in Weeks 2-5.
Milano would only be able to return late in the season, if at all.
Trevin Wallace, LB, Carolina Panthers
Rostered in 8% of Leagues
Trevin Wallace made my Week 5 waiver wire list because he was set to see more playing time after the injury to Shaq Thompson. He has made the most of his opportunities. In Week 5, he played every snap and made 15 tackles against the Chicago Bears. This past week, he made nine tackles, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble.
Thompson is out for the season, and fellow Panthers linebacker Josey Jewell (hamstring/groin) has missed the past two games, with his status for Week 7 up in the air.
Krys Barnes, ILB, Arizona Cardinals
Rostered in 0% of Leagues
After Kyzir White left the Cardinals' loss to the Packers with a knee injury, Barnes took over as middle linebacker and made nine total tackles.
It was by far the most tackles he's ever made this season, but he was being used as a blitzer earlier which led to two pressures and two sacks on seven rushes.
Waiver Wire Pickups at Defensive Line
Boye Mafe, EDGE, Seattle Seahawks
Rostered in 46% of Leagues
Mafe missed a couple of games with a hamstring injury, but he's back healthy now. He made three sacks in his first four games of the season.
Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings
Rostered in 38% of Leagues
Greenard has been incredibly consistent at getting to the quarterback. He has made at least one QB hit every game, and three QB hits in two games. Those pressures have caused four sacks; three of which came against his former team, the Houston Texans.
Chauncey Golston, DE, Dallas Cowboys
Rostered in 0% of Leagues
Taking advantage of increased playing time following the Micah Parsons injury (ankle), Golston has made an impact. On a nearly 90% snap share, Golston made five tackles and half a sack in each of the past two games.
The Cowboys are heading into their bye week, and Parsons is trying to return in Week 8, but that might prove undoable. Some high ankle sprains take six to eight weeks to recover.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste, DE, Washington Commanders
Rostered in 0% of Leagues
The 24-year-old rookie made his first career sack in Week 3 against the Bengals, and he could be in a good position to make more sacks if DE Dorance Armstrong, who hurt his ribs, has to miss Week 7.
Waiver Wire Pickups at Cornerback and Safety
Jaquan Brisker, S, Chicago Bears
Rostered in 29% of Leagues
Only in his second year, Brisker already made triple-digit tackles as a defensive back; a rare feat. He is on track to do it again and likely set a new career high if he can get back on the field.
He had made 40 tackles in four games and a fraction until Tommy Tremble hit him illegally and concussed him. He missed Week 6, but he will have an extra week to rest in Week 7 and should be back in time for Week 8.
Add Brisker if you want to get a jump on your opponents. He's a quality weekly starter in leagues with two or more IDP DB positions.
DeShon Elliott, SS, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rostered in 12% of Leagues
Elliott has made 45 tackles in six games and sprinkled in a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception. He's less famous than his teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick, but he's leading him in all categories, including tackles by six.
Riley Moss, CB, Denver Broncos
Rostered in 6% of Leagues
Cooper DeJean, the Eagles' 2024 second-round draft pick, got all the attention as the "white cornerback." But his former Iowa Hawkeyes teammate Riley Moss (third-round, class of 2023) is the first white cornerback to be a regular starter since Jason Sehorn.
He's pretty good. He's limiting opponents to a 61.3% completion percentage, and he has only allowed a single touchdown pass versus one interception. Things will get more difficult for him in Week 7 if Patrick Surtain II (concussion) is unable to go.
Moss would be covering the opponents' No. 1 receiver. But that could be a blessing for IDP purposes, as more passes would go his way.
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