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We had a fun Sunday without any byes and with nine games in the 1 pm hour this past week.
Now in Week 9, some key IDP players, including Baron Browning of the Denver Broncos, Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers, Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions, and Josh Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars, will be on bye in Week 9.
Who should you look to to replace them? Let's look at some linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs who can make an impact this week.
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Waiver Wire Adds for Shallow Leagues
Frankie Luvu, LB, CAR
He was a huge breakout star last year in his fifth season and first as a year-long starter. He was a big play-oriented boom-bust inside linebacker, and he still is, but he had a dry spell from Week 3 through Week 5 in which he did not make any sacks or impact plays and scored below 10 RotoBaller Standard IDP points in each game.
That contributed to some managers cutting him. Now, he is only rostered in 35% of Sleeper leagues. He is still boom-bust. Last week, he boomed, making 12 tackles and one sack against Houston. If your league starts four linebackers or eight total IDPs, then he's a no-brainer add, but he's more of a borderline decision in smaller leagues.
De'Vondre Campbell, LB, GB
Injury concerns plagued Campbell in recent years, including this year. He missed Weeks 4 through 7, but in his return in Week 8 against the Vikings, Campbell made 14 tackles, most of them being valuable solo tackles. He is rostered in a quarter of Sleeper leagues.
Eric Kendricks, LB, LAC
The eight-year veteran is consistently making close-to-double-digit tackles. He made seven or more tackles in four of the five games he started, including his first game with ten tackles against Chicago in Week 8. He is rostered in 24% of Sleeper leagues.
Budda Baker, DB, ARI
For all the hype surrounding Baker, who demanded a new contract paying him more than any other safety, Baker has been somewhat disappointing this season. Since returning from an injury in Week 7, he made six tackles in each of his games. That's okay for a defensive back. It averages out to 102 tackles over a full season, which would rank about No. 13 amongst DBs over the course of a season.
That's borderline starting caliber in a single-DB league if he can add any impact plays and definite starting caliber in a two-DB league. But Baker was treated as a contender for the DB1 and was drafted in the thirteenth or fourteenth round in some large-scale mixed IDP leagues. Now he's a free agent in 60% of Sleeper leagues.
Kwity Paye, DL, IND
Kwity Paye has made 11 combined tackles in each of the last two games. That's an extremely high tackle total for a defensive lineman. He hasn't made a sack since Week 3, but his tackle numbers are high enough to make him somewhat valuable even when he gets blanked. Paye is rostered in 15% of Sleeper leagues.
Waiver Wire Adds for Deep Leagues
Jalen Ramsey, CB, MIA
Jalen Ramsey was activated on Saturday before the Dolphins' Week 8 victory over the New England Patriots. The addition of the former All-Pro to an exciting Fins defense this offseason created much excitement. But then he tore his meniscus in the preseason. The initial prognosis was a long absence. In July, CBS Sports reported, "Ramsey ... is expected to be out until at least December."
Ramsey, like Aaron Rodgers, said he was going to be back a lot sooner than expected. Coach Mike McDaniel quoted him as saying, "Tell me whatever the timeline is, and I'm gonna beat it by a month." A lot of people didn't believe him. Well, now it's late October, and he's back--over a month before "at least December!"
A lot of people didn't notice he was back since his unexpected return came just a day before game day. In his first game, he played 49 snaps and was only targeted three times, allowing one reception for 24 yards and making an impressive interception. The interception was great, but his lockdown coverage may have prevented him from making tackles; PFF only credits him with one assist. Given his upside and the potential for him to be used as a pass rusher, I would add him if you have room.
Jamel Dean, CB, TB
Dean has been on a tackle tear, making eight or more solo tackles in each of the past two weeks. That's not including the 1-3 assists he usually makes, too. He also made two pass defenses in Week 8 against the Bills. Dean is playing nearly 90% of the Bucs' snaps this year, tied for the highest rate in his career.
Taron Johnson, CB, BUF
Taron Johnson is a big-time playmaker who makes impact plays all the time. He made a sack this week, and he has also made two forced fumbles and three pass defenses. Johnson is the No. 1 CB on the depth chart, and Tre'Davious White is reportedly out for the season, so Johnson will likely hold onto that role.
Still, he's only playing between 80% and 90% of the team's snaps most weeks, so he is not always a starter in most matchups except in deeper leagues.
George Karlaftis, DE, KC
The second-year defensive end is having a breakout season. He's made six sacks so far, No. 13 in the league. If he only had half a sack more, he would be inside the top ten. In the past three weeks, he has made 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 sacks.
His big 2.5-sack game came against the Broncos, a relatively weak offensive line that was a favorable matchup for the Chiefs. Next week brings the Dolphins. They have a better offense, but they also have some injuries on the offensive line, and they are likely to attempt a lot of passes.
Boye Mafe, DE, SEA
Now in his second year, Mafe is playing 64% of the Seahawks' snaps, almost twice as many as he played last year. He has made a single sack in five of the past six games. Last week against the Browns, he made eight combined tackles and a fumble recovery.
Christian Barmore, DT, NE
The third-year defensive end is having a career year. He has already set career highs for sacks, tackles for losses, and passes tipped, and he is on pace to set a career-high for tackles, too. His usage is at an all-time high: he's on the field for 59% of snaps. He has made sacks in each of the past two weeks, and his Week 9 matchup against the Washington Commanders is golden for defensive linemen.
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