Week 8 IDP Free Agent Focus
Jonathan Greenard, DE, Texans
We made Greenard a late addition to last week’s IDP Free Agent Focus. Then he went out and delivered another 2 sacks in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals. That makes 2 straight 2-sack games, 6 total sacks in 5 appearances and at least 1 sack in every game in which he has played more than 25% of snaps. Greenard will be tough to sit even for a Week 8 Rams matchup that has ranked among the worst in the league for sack production.
Anthony Walker, LB, Browns
If no one nabbed Walker in your league leading up to Thursday night’s game against Denver, they probably will this week. He collected a game-high 10 tackles (7 solo) in the 1st game after Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah landed on IR. That’s 3 games of 9+ total tackles and 6+ solos for Walker among his 4 outings this year.
Nick Bolton, LB, Chiefs
We’ll give the rookie 1 more mention here after he posted a season-high and game-high 15 tackles in Sunday’s loss to the Titans. That came in the 1st game after Anthony Hitchens suffered elbow and triceps injuries and included 4 of Kansas City’s 5 tackles for loss in the game. Don’t be surprised if Bolton leads Chiefs LBs in fantasy scoring the rest of the way, regardless of who else is healthy or not.
Jayon Brown, LB, Titans
Brown spent his 3rd game on IR in Sunday’s win over the Chiefs. That makes him eligible to return for the Week 8 trip to Indianapolis, if his sprained knee is ready. Brown was dealing with a hamstring injury before the knee issue, so it’s tough to tell what his role will look like once he does return. But don’t mistake Sunday’s blowout win over K.C. as a signal that Tennessee’s defense is good. The team entered Week 7 ranked 24th in scoring defense, 24th in total yards allowed and 28th in Football Outsiders DVOA. Neither ILB David Long nor Rashaan Evans looks irreplaceable.
Marcus Maye, S, Jets
Maye returned from his ankle injury for a game-high 12 tackles in Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. That included 1 for a loss, and he added a pass defensed. Maye figures to remain a key tackler for a team weak at LB and dealing with multiple injuries in that position group.
Ronald Darby, CB, Broncos
Darby has seen full playing time in his 2 games back from IR and delivered a solid 13 total tackles (10 solo) over the 2 contests. That’s enough to get him into CB-required lineups, and there will be room in even generic DB slots for Week 8. Darby and the Broncos face a Washington offense that hit Week 7 with the 2nd most passes defensed supplied to DBs.