Every year fantasy owners complain about injuries, railing that they’ve never seen anything quite like the carnage unfolding each week.
In 2017, that might actually be true.
On offense, it’s been Arizona Cardinals tailback David Johnson (dislocated wrist). Then New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (fractured ankle). The latest was Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, felled in Week 6 by a broken collarbone that could be season-ending.
It hasn’t been one bit better on the defensive side of the ball. Linebackers Kwon Alexander of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (hamstring) and Reuben Foster of the San Francisco 49ers (ankle) went down in Week 1 and haven’t played since. Defensive end J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans suffered a season-ending leg injury back in Week 5. And Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, who has missed nine games over the past two years with a pair of concussions, is in the NFL’s protocol after taking a shot to the head in last week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg — the biggest names.
It’s an impressively depressing list, especially given that we’re only just hitting the halfway point of the fantasy regular season.
But there’s only one thing to be done at this point. Keep going.
Injuries are one of the reasons why it’s so important to draft depth in IDP leagues. Why it’s vital to remain active on the waiver wire all season long. Because that player you picked up even though you didn’t need him in Week 4 could be the guy who saves your season in Week 7.
With that in mind, let’s kick off this week’s look around IDP Nation with some waiver options for those fantasy owners who have been bitten by the injury bug.
WEEK 7 IDP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
Solomon Thomas – DE, San Francisco 49ers: Thomas statistical production has picked up of late, with 16 tackles and two sacks over the last three weeks. That includes a nine-stop performance in Week 6, and with Arik Armstead out (hand) Thomas should see plenty of time as the “LEO” defensive end.
Craig Robertson – OLB, New Orleans Saints: Despite leading the Saints with 114 total tackles in 2016, Robertson opened the season on the bench. Now the veteran is back in the starting lineup, playing in sub-packages and coming off a big game against the Detroit Lions.
Adrian Amos – SS, Chicago Bears: Another player who gained his starting job back due to an injury to Quintin Demps, Amos has now piled up eight tackles in three straight contests. He also added a 90-yard pick-six in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens.
WEEK 7 IDP INJURY REPORT
Kwon Alexander – ILB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Questionable – Hamstring): We haven’t seen Alexander on the field since Week 1, but he’s been cleared to practice fully per reports and appears to be on track for a Week 7 return.
Jonathan Allen – DE, Washington Redskins (OUT – Foot): After sustaining a Lisfranc sprain in his foot in last week’s win over the San Francisco 49ers, the Redskins first-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft will be sidelined indefinitely.
Arik Armstead – DE, San Francisco 49ers (IR-Hand): After breaking his hand against the Washington Redskins the 49ers placed Armstead on injured reserve. The third-year pro’s 2017 season is most likely over.
Cliff Avril – DE, Seattle Seahawks (Questionable – Neck): Publicly, the Seahawks continue to downplay the severity of Avril’s injury. But he hasn’t played since Week 4 and has consulted a number of specialists regarding his NFL future.
Michael Bennett – DE, Seattle Seahawks (Questionable – Foot): Bennett is currently battling plantar fasciitis – a condition that generally only improves with rest. However, he’s expected to play through the injury Sunday against the New York Giants.
Jatavis Brown – ILB, Los Angeles Chargers (Questionable – Ankle): Brown has been able to play through his ankle injury, but if his reduced snap count (and tackle production) was any indication he clearly isn’t himself.
Morgan Burnett – S, Green Bay Packers (Questionable – Hamstring): Burnett missed last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings with a hamstring injury. Monitor his practice participation in advance of a favorable Week 7 matchup at home against the Saints.
Kurt Coleman – S, Carolina Panthers (OUT – Knee): Coleman missed his second straight game last week with a sprained knee. When the injury originally occurred, Coleman’s estimated timetable was to be out about a month.
Johnathan Cyprien – S, Tennessee Titans (OUT – Hamstring): It’s never a good sign when a player is ruled out this early in the week. That Cyprien has been in each of the last two weeks (at least) is even more foreboding.
Reuben Foster – ILB, San Francisco 49ers (Questionable – Ankle): Foster returned to practice last week but sat out the 49ers loss to the Washington Redskins. He looks to be on track to get back out there in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Jordan Hicks – ILB, Philadelphia Eagles (Questionable – Ankle): Hicks, who spent much of last Thursday’s win over the Carolina Panthers watching from the sidelines, has stated that his ankle injury isn’t serious.
Luke Kuechly – ILB, Carolina Panthers (Questionable – Concussion): The Panthers’ repeated assertions that Kuechly is “fine” took a hit after he missed practice Tuesday. His status for Week 7 is uncertain at best.
Sean Lee – OLB, Dallas Cowboys (Questionable – Hamstring): Lee, who missed the Cowboys’ last two games before their Week 6 bye, was back at practice for the team last week. Barring a setback, he should play against the 49ers.
Denzel Perryman – ILB, Los Angeles Chargers (IR – Ankle): Although he can’t return to Chargers active roster until Week 10 it’s worth pointing out that Perryman is expected to return to practice for the Bolts this week. The Chargers will then have 21 days to evaluate his progress before a decision is made.
Eric Reid – S, San Francisco 49ers (Questionable – Knee): After missing several weeks with an MCL sprain, Reid was back in action for the 49ers in Week 6. However, he played just 10 snaps, and it may be a while before he’s back to a full-time role.
Andrew Sendejo – S, Minnesota Vikings (Questionable – Groin): After posting top 10 fantasy production for much of the season, Sendejo was sidelined against the Packers. His status for Week 7 is up in the air.
Keith Tandy – S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Questionable – Hip): The safety position has been a revolving door for the Buccaneers this season, with Tandy just the latest to miss time. His Week 7 status is uncertain.
Olivier Vernon – DE, New York Giants (Questionable – Ankle): Vernon has now missed two games since spraining his ankle back in Week 4. It’d be great to have him back for a favorable matchup with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7, but that’s no sure bet.
Vince Williams – ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Questionable – Hip): Williams piled up five tackles and two sacks last week against the Chiefs but was also forced from the game with a hip injury. The Steelers are optimistic the 27-year-old will not miss any time.
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Shaq Thompson – OLB, Carolina Panthers (at CHI)
When Luke Kuechly missed time last season, it was Thompson who took over his role in sub-packages – something he told Bryan Strickland of the team’s website was a valuable learning experience. “Especially with them putting me in Luke’s position, that helped me understand the defense more as far as where everybody is supposed to be and what’s going on in front of me,” Thompson said. “I feel like I got better each and every game. It started off kind of rough, but towards the end I feel like I started picking it up, started to understand the game more.”
In 2017 Thompson had already been seeing work alongside Kuechly (ahead of Thomas Davis) in the nickel. If Kuechly does miss Week 7 Thompson could be a great play against the Chicago Bears, but even if “Kooch” is cleared Thompson still has enough upside to merit a look as a LB3/4.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 7
Joey Bosa – DE, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. DEN): Bosa has been an absolute animal this year, tallying five solos and/or a sack in all six games. He may well get both Sunday in a top-five IDP matchup at home against the Denver Broncos.
Aaron Donald – DE, Los Angeles Rams (vs AZ): Donald has racked up QB pressures by the bushel, but his sack against the Jaguars last week was just his second of the season. He’ll get No. 3 on Sunday across The Pond against the Redbirds.
Akiem Hicks – DE, Chicago Bears (vs. CHI): Hicks has piled up seven tackles and three sacks over the past two weeks and draws a Week 7 matchup with a Carolina Panthers team giving up the third-most fantasy points to defensive linemen this season.
Lavonte David – OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at BUF): David wasted no time in making a dent in his first game back last week, with three stops, two forced fumbles and a fumble return for a score. The tackles will be there this weekend in Western New York.
Eric Kendricks – ILB, Minnesota Vikings (vs. BAL): I’ve long argued that Kendricks is a better NFL player than IDP option. But if ever there was a week for him to post a fat stat line it’s this one against a Ravens team that’s second in fantasy points allowed to linebackers.
Wesley Woodyard – ILB, Tennessee Titans (at CLE): There’s no reason to think Woodyard’s stellar first half won’t continue this week in Cleveland. No team in the NFL has surrendered more fantasy points to linebackers in 2017.
Kevin Byard – S, Tennessee Titans (at CLE): It’s a Titans two-step with Byard and Woodyard in this week’s recommendations for a simple enough reason. The Browns are No. 1 in the AFC in fantasy points given up to defensive backs too.
Sean Davis – S, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CIN): Davis has been something of a disappointment for IDP owners this year, but Week 7 has the looks of a rebound. The Bengals are a top-five fantasy matchup for defensive backs in 2017.
Trumaine Johnson – CB, Los Angeles Rams (vs. AZ): No team in the NFL has been more generous to defensive backs this season than the Redbirds, and Johnson will probably spend most of his day in coverage on Larry Fitzgerald -- assuming he clears the NFL’s concussion protocol.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 7
DeForest Buckner – DT, San Francisco 49ers (vs. DAL): Through six weeks this year Buckner leads all DT in fantasy points. But the second-year pro will have his hands full with the likes of Zack Martin and Travis Frederick Sunday.
Jurrell Casey – DE, Tennessee Titans (at CLE): Casey’s one of the more underrated 3-4 ends in the NFL, but believe it or not no team in the NFL has given up fewer fantasy points to d-linemen this year than the hapless Browns.
Chris Jones – DE, Kansas City Chiefs (at OAK): Jones has been a pleasant surprise this year, with 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. But the Raiders have long been a rotten fantasy matchup for defensive linemen, and that hasn’t changed in 2017.
Preston Brown – ILB, Buffalo Bills (vs. TBB): Ramon Humber’s injury has caused Brown’s production to get a bump, but there’s another bump this week – a bad matchup with a Tampa squad that’s 30th in fantasy points given up to linebackers.
Deone Bucannon – ILB, Arizona Cardinals (at LAR): This game is a double-whammy of things I don’t like – a lousy matchup with a Rams team that’s 31st in FPPG allowed to linebackers and a game in London that tends to go sideways as often as not.
Blake Martinez – ILB, Green Bay Packers (vs. NOS): Martinez has been a nice find this year as Green Bay’s only every-down linebacker. This week’s matchup doesn’t set up well – the Saints have been a fantasy wasteland for linebackers in 2017.
Justin Evans – S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at BUF): Evans has made the most of his recent playing time, with 16 tackles over the last two weeks. That hot streak will be hard to keep going Sunday against a Bills team that’s dead last in fantasy points allowed to defensive backs.
Matthias Farley – S, Indianapolis Colts (vs. JAX): Figuring out Farley’s weekly usage has become a maddening exercise. But we know this for sure heading into Sunday’s AFC South battle – the Jaguars are a putrid matchup for Farley’s position.
Rodney McLeod – S, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS): McLeod is back to playing every down at SS in Philly. But his numbers of late have been less than impressive and the Redskins are giving up the fourth-fewest fantasy points in the secondary this year.
THE SCRAP-HEAP STREAMING CORNERBACK PLAY OF THE WEEK
In recent years the number of dependable weekly fantasy starters at the cornerback position has dwindled to just about zero. So as a service to those hearty souls who play in IDP leagues that require them, each week I’ll point out a player at that position available in many leagues who should serve as a fine streaming option.
Trevor Williams, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. DEN): Williams, who was pressed into starting duty by Jason Verrett’s season-ending injury, has quietly become an interesting spot-starter, with five or more tackles or an interception in two of his last three games. He’ll make it three out of four Sunday against a Broncos team that’s fourth in fantasy points allowed to cornerbacks in 2017.
