The injury bug is sticking around and has attacked some defenses again in week nine. Lets see who can fill in and make a fantasy impact.
Week nine dug a knife deeper into some fantasy owner’s stomachs. More big name players missed time and some more have been sent to IR. Of of the biggest names being lost was Kwon Alexander and Blake Cashman, both out the remainder of the season. If you start either of these two than you are in a pickle. Read here to find out who their replacements are as well as the top IDP adds after week nine are.
James Burgess – Linebacker New York Jets
2019 Stats: 11 tackles (six solo), two tackles for a loss and a safety.
The New York Jets made C.J. Mosley their prized free agent acquisition this offseason. Unfortunately for the Jets Mosley has played in parts of only two games a he has battled a severe groin injury. The other starter was Neville Hewitt, an incumbent bench player from 2018. He has played very well this season filling in for Avery Williamson after he tore his ACL in the preseason. Hewitt has unfortunately been battling a neck injury and has missed a number of weeks. Then the next man up was Blake Cashman, a fifth round pick in the 2019 draft. Cashman also played great been has since been put on IR with a torn labrum and is shut down.
Enter the Jets fifth option at the position James Burgess. Burgess played sparingly in his time in Cleveland but has a great opportunity for the remainder of the season. He has started the past two games and averaged 98% of the teams defensive snaps. In his two starts he has averaged 5.5 tackles per game and will probably start the remainder of the season. If you need a linebacker than you could do much worse than Burgess.
Dre Greenlaw – Linebacker San Francisco 49ers
2019 Stats: 14 tackles (nine solo), one tackle for a loss and a sack.
The 49ers also lost their prized acquisition from free agency in Kwon Alexander to a torn pectoral. Luckily for the 49ers they have Dre Greenlaw waiting to start at weakside. Greenlaw was drafted in the fifth round and many thought this was a reach for him. He was spectacular in the preseason looking like the best player on the field for the 49ers.
Greenlaw started last week but at strongside but took over the weakside position when Kwon Alexander went down. Greenlaw showed up all over the screen and finished the game with three tackles, one for a loss and a sack on 47% of snaps. Greenalw could be a nice addition to your fantasy team.
Joe Walker – Linebacker Arizona Cardinals
2019 Stats: 20 tackles (11 solo) and two tackles for a loss.
The Arizona Cardinals went into 2019 with hopes that Haason Reddick would take the next step in his development at inside linebacker. That was not the case as he has now been conceding snaps to Joe Walker. Walker has started the last two games and played on 55.5% of the teams snaps. While this may not seem like a lot, he has been very productive in his limited time on the field which should garner more playing time.
Last game Walker put on a show against the 49ers. He totaled 10 tackles, seven being solo on Thursday night and has been very good on run downs. Walker should now be set to be the starter going forward and should be in the middle for at least 60% of the teams snaps.
Jamel Dean – Cornerback Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2019 Stats: Five tackles and four passes defensed. (one game)
The Buccaneers secondary has been attacked all season. Jamel Dean lit up the draft combine this past year showing his great speed and athleticism. Dean has been sitting on the bench for most of the season but was thrust into action during their week nine affair with the Seahawks. Dean came up huge in the defeat coming up with five tackles and four passes defensed show solid man coverage ability. The Buccaneers are almost always in shootouts and if Dean takes a hold of the starting job he has a very pass happy schedule ahead of him.
Conclusion
This could be the week that you add some real difference makers on the IDP side. With three starting inside linebackers likely available on waivers, it could be time to turn your season around. These three linebackers have the opportunity to be difference makers and put up some great numbers. Jamel Dean is a beautiful option at corner if he retains the starting job. His ball skills were very apparent and in pass deflection heavy leagues he could put up serious numbers.