November 17, 2016

Bryan Levin takes a look at some of the top defensive players (IDP) to add for Week 11 of the 2016 fantasy football season.

What’s up, Rotoballers. Welcome to our weekly columns to help you win on the defensive side of the ball. Today we are here to review some IDP waiver wire pickups for Week 11. Week 10 saw mixed results, with some hits (Korey Toomer, Vontaze Burfict, Darian Stewart) and some whiffs (Aaron Donald, Nate Stupar).

The following players are not necessarily “must start” players for IDP leagues, but rather, players that currently have below 25% ownership levels (in Yahoo! Leagues) and are suggested deep-league IDP additions for this week.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.

Linebackers - Week 11 IDP Waiver Adds

Gerald Hodges Jr., 49ers

Matchup: vs. Patriots

Ownership: 5%

Hodges was an intriguing IDP prospect several years ago when a member of the Vikings that never really materialized into anything significant. Following a trade last season to the 49ers, a defense that lacks much talent, many thought Hodges had a path to consistent production. Again though, that never amounted to anything. 2016 has been a different story for the still young (25) veteran. He has been an absolute beast in his previous three games, contributing 25 total tackles (22 solo) and pitching in with a sack, two interceptions and multiple pass deflections. He is not a household name, which reflects his 5% ownership level, but he has been a must-start IDP linebacker for three weeks in a row and is certainly worth riding the hot hand.

Justin Houston, Chiefs

Matchup: vs. Buccaneers

Ownership: 5%

2015 was a lost year for Houston, who missed multiple games due to a knee injury, which prompted an offseason surgery in February. The former IDP stud is set to return this week after missing the first nine contests for Kansas City, and though he is likely to be on a bit of a “snap count” for his first few weeks back, would anybody be surprised if he is able to get to the quarterback in only 15-20 snaps? For those in a comfortable position in the standings, Houston could be a potential ace-in-the-hole stash candidate for later in the season.

Chandler Jones, Cardinals

Matchup: @ Vikings

Ownership: 11%

While the Cardinals have underachieved thus far, their big offseason acquisition has been productive rushing the passer, accumulating 7.0 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries. Coming off a big game in Week 10, Jones gets a great matchup against a Vikings offensive line that has been a disaster in recent weeks (and still losing bodies), allowing over 3.0 sacks per game in their previous three contests. Jones will likely be able to overpower whomever he lines up against.

Ryan Shazier, Steelers

Matchup: @ Browns

Ownership: 17%

The Steelers have their freakishly athletic linebacker back in the lineup, and he is clearly healthy, playing in all 65 of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps in Week 10. Shazier gets a matchup against a hapless Browns opponent this weekend, a team he faced twice in 2015, totaling 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks. As long as he is healthy (which is certainly not a given), he remains a linebacker that should be in lineups.

D’Qwell Jackson, Colts

Matchup: vs. Titans

Ownership: 24%

Jackson has been one of the most productive and consistent IDP linebackers over the past decade. This season, the 33 year old veteran has shown signs of wear and slowed down considerably, no longer producing at a LB1 or even LB2 caliber level. However, he remains the rock at the center of the Colts defense and leads their linebackers in snaps on a weekly basis. The ground-and-pound Titans will look to run the ball down the soft Indy defense’s throat, and Jackson will be tasked with containing it.

Defensive Linemen - Week 11 IDP Waiver Adds

Frank Clark, Seahawks

Matchup: vs. Eagles

Ownership: 8%

Like others on the Seahawks defensive line, Clark is on an absolute rampage in recent weeks. Without Pro Bowl DE Michael Bennett in the lineup, Clark has benefitted from extra snaps and has been making the most of them, registering 4.5 sacks in his last four games. He has been in the sack column in each of those games, and has chipped in with a forced fumble and 19 total tackles. Clark gets a decent matchup this week against an Eagles offensive line that is not 100%, and is tasked to protect a rookie quarterback in the most hostile of environments in the league.

Olivier Vernon, Giants

Matchup: vs. Bears

Ownership: 21%

The G-Men broke the bank on Vernon this spring to boost their woeful pass rush. Vernon, long known as a guy who can get to the quarterback but doesn’t always finish the job, was doing just that in the Giants first seven games of the season. His 19 quarterback hurries are tied for fourth in the NFL, but only has 3.0 sacks for the season. The good news is that he has registered a sack in each of the last two contests and faces a shaky Bears offensive line that gave up 4.0 sacks in a Week 10 thrashing at the hands of the Buccaneers. Could the big free agent signing finally be getting going? Expect Vernon to not only hurry Jay Cutler multiple times this Sunday, but to bring him down as well.

Defensive Backs - Week 11 IDP Waiver Adds

Kevin Byard, Titans

Matchup: @ Colts

Ownership: 1%

The Titans third round pick in this years draft, Byard has emerged as a stabilizing force in the Tennessee defensive backfield since Week 8. In the past three weeks, Byard has played right around 76% of defensive snaps, where he has totaled a minimum of 6 total tackles in those games including a Week 10 performance that saw him notch 8 solo stops. Expect the rookie to log heavy snaps this week against the division rival Colts, who know they need to rely on Andrew Luck and the air attack to stand a chance in any game.

Kenny Vaccaro, Saints

Matchup: @ Panthers (Thursday)

Ownership: 10%

Vaccaro is on some roll for IDP owners over the past two games, collecting a minimum of 9 total tackles. He was extra generous this past week, throwing in a sack, interception, and two pass deflections for good measure. A Thursday night meeting with the Panthers, who have been fairly generous to opposing teams safeties this season, should help Vaccaro remain a strong start candidate. Don’t count on him for long though, as he still has a four-game suspension looming.

Kam Chancellor, Seahawks

Matchup: vs. Eagles

Ownership: 19%

Last week, I urged owners in need of DB help to keep an eye on the Seahawks situation throughout the week. The All-Pro Chancellor was expected back in the lineup after not playing since Week 4 and is a guy that should be owned in most IDP leagues for his tackle potential and game-changing plays. Chancellor returned in a big way Sunday night, combining for 8 tackles, deflecting a pass, and forcing a fumble. Chancellor was not limited at all, playing in every defensive Seahawk snap, and his physical nature was felt all night long. Like Shazier, as long as Chancellor is healthy, he is a must-own player and should be started this week against a rookie quarterback at home.