Let’s Get Defensive: 12/3/17

If you are scouring the waiver wires for Individual Defensive Players to start in your fantasy league, we have the top five IDP players to stream for week 10.  These players are available in a large percentage of leagues.

1. Tahir Whitehead, LB Detroit Lions:

Fresh off a 10-tackle game, Whitehead will face the Baltimore Ravens in week 13.  Baltimore will look to establish Alex Collins and the run game, and boasts one of the shortest yards-per-pass-attempt in the NFL, meaning lots of short to intermediate passes over the middle.  This will give Tahir plenty of opportunities to rack up the tackles.  Baltimore gives up the 4th-most fantasy points to opposing LB’s.  Expect double-digit tackles once again.

2. Christian Jones, LB Chicago Bears:

The Bears will take on the San Francisco 49ers and QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who will be making his first start of the year.  Expect San Fran to lean on the running game and Carlos Hyde, allowing Jones the opportunity to have a huge day as the Bears’ primary run-stopping LB. Christian has racked up six games with at least four solo tackles, and is a good bet to reach double digit total stops this week.

3. Calais Campbell, DE Jacksonville Jaguars:

Already with a career-high 11.5 sacks on the year, Campbell will get to feast on the porous Indianapolis Colts’ offensive line in week 13. The Colts give up the eight-most fantasy points to opposing defensive ends, and surrendered a whopping eight sacks to the Tennessee Titans last week.  Look for four to five solo stops for Campbell, including 1.5 sacks against the Colts.

4. Landon Collins, S New York Giants:

Used heavily near the line of scrimmage, Collins has been a beast in the run-stopping game, as he has totaled double-digit tackles in consecutive weeks.  Today he will face the Oakland Raiders, who will probably give Marshawn Lynch a ton of touches as they are missing their top two receivers.  Oakland is surrendering the eight-most fantasy points to opposing safeties, and it would not be a surprise if Collins exceeds 11 total stops this week.

5. Adoree’ Jackson, CB Tennessee Titans:

The Titans’ rookie defensive back out of USC gets the tough draw this week, as he will matchup with the Houston Texans other-worldly DeAndre Hopkins.  With Texans’ QB Tom Savage locking in on Hopkins week-in and week-out, Jackson will see a ton of throws his way.  Hopkins will surely get the better of this matchup today, but if you need to play a cornerback this week, Adoree’ is a great option based on his volume of opportunities.  Expect plenty of tackles for Jackson, and maybe a pick or two, as Savage has been a turnover machine all year.  Jackson also adds value on special teams, having amassed almost 600 return yards so far in 2017.