Monk's Week 3 IDP Fantasy Football Rankings and Waiver Pickups

Immediate Pickups

Linebackers

Linebackers that I have previously recommended: Kelvin Sheppard (ILB, Buf), Paris Lenon (ILB, Ari SLB), Stephen Nicholas (SLB, Atl), Larry Foote (ILB, Pit), Erin Henderson (WLB, Min), A.J. Hawk (ILB, GB), Bruce Carter (ILB, Dal), Phillip Wheeler (SLB, Oak), Mychal Kendricks (SLB, Phi), Justin Durant (WLB, Det), K.J. Wright (SLB, Sea), Jo-Lonn Dunbar (WLB, NO), Akeem Ayers (SLB, Ten).

Erin Henderson (WLB, Min) – A huge Week Two game out of Henderson, adding onto his solid Week One game.  Twelve total tackles and a sack is not a fluke. He flashed these types of skills many times last year and all things point to him continuing to put up numbers like this moving forward. He has a good matchup vs. the 49ers in Week Three and I like him moving forward for the rest of the season.

Ray Maualuga (MLB, Cin) – He was a favorite sleeper among many IDP experts last year, but didn’t prove to be as valuable as many hoped. However, the man on the this defense that rose to the occasion last year, Thomas Howard, tore his ACL this past week in practice and Maualuga pick up the slack with 10 total tackles this week. Next week it’s a matchup vs. the Redskins where ILBs have excelled.

Jerrell Freeman (ILB, Ind) – It has been Freeman, and not Kavell Conner, who has stepped up to pick up some of the “IDP slack” that Pat Angerer left behind. His Week One was five tackles and an INT, but his Week Two was 13 tackles and a sack. He takes on Jacksonville’s running game next and I like the matchup a lot.

Russell Allen (SLB, Jac) – As long as Daryl Smith is out, get this guy in your lineup. He put up 7 tackles last week and followed up this week with 12 solos. The Minnesota linebackers put up nice numbers against the Colts and that’s who the Jaq’s play next.

Phillip Wheeler (SLB, Oak) – Wheeler was a late addition update to my waiver list last week so I just wanted to make sure I drive the point home that he is a very solid LB4 with high LB3 upside. He had 7 solos again this week and two quarterback hits that could have easily turned into sacks.

Dannell Ellerbe (ILB, Bal) – I’m starting with his matchup against the Patriots Week Three. The two trends that have developed against the Patriots over the last two weeks are inside linebackers have had very big games against them and pass rushers also do well. Ellerbe is both an ILB and a blitz specialist.  He’s not an elite ILB that I can recommend for the rest of the season, but if you have a guy Lawrence Timmons, who we thought would have a different role this year, feel free to drop him for Ellerbe in Week Three.

Defensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen that I have previously recommended: Cameron Jordan (DE, NO), Henry Melton (DT, Chi), Chandler Jones (DE, NE), Derrick Morgan (DE, Ten), Randy Starks (DE, Mia)

Cameron Jordan (DE, NO) – In Week One, he put up 11 total tackles and picked up a sack and solid tackle numbers in Week Two. He is your number one defensive linemen pickup.

Rock Bernard (DT, NYG) – He’s a solid pickup for DT-required leagues after his 3 tackles and a sack last week and 5 tackles in Week Two. His matchup against the Panthers in Week Three is ideal for defensive tackles.

Tyson Alualu (DT, Jac) – Alualu was a recommendation on my waiver lists many times last year. He has earned the honor again this year by not only putting up 4 solos and a sack in Week One, but following that up in Week Two with 6 solos.

Defensive Backs

Defensive Backs that I have previously recommended: Devin McCourty (CB, NE), Harrison Smith (S, Min), Madieu Williams (S, Was), Tracy Porter (CB, Den), Alterraun Verner (CB, Ten), Atari Bigby (SS, SD).

Michael Griffin (FS, Ten) – A lot of IDP folks dropped Griffin after Week One for better options and he proved us all wrong in a big way – to the tune of 16 solos. He’s probably going to be the most wanted IDP pickup this week and with the Lions passing game up next, I’ll be one of those guys trying to pick him up.

Craig Dahl (SS, Stl) – It might be too late to get Dahl off your waivers, but if he’s available, he’s worth a pickup in every type of IDP league. He’s going to put up big numbers all year.

Madieu Williams (SS, Was) – Every Redskin strong safety needs to be a consideration. It has always been a position of value over the years and Williams has proven this theory with the numbers he has put up. He’s a solid DB2 who should average 6-8 solos each week with the possibility of adding an occasional pass deflection or INT.

DeJon Gomes (FS, Was) – Gomes had value last year and now that he has a secure spot on this team, he has shown that he’s going to be a very consistent IDP value for us with 5 tackles and an INT last week and 7 solos in Week Two. He’ll be a solid DB2 for us, but I like Madieu Williams value just a bit more.

Buster Skrine (CB, CLE) – Eight tackles in Week One and seven tackles in Week Two. With Joe Haden suspended until Week Five, Skrine should continue his high tackle streak against the Bills in Week Three.