DEFENSIVE LINE
Corey Peters- Peters has now had four straight decent games in a row. Whether it is snaring a one handed interception or applying immense amounts of pressure to opposing quarterbacks, Peters has stepped his game up the past few weeks. He now has 10 tackles over the last four games and has three tackle in three of those games. He also has two sacks, three passes defensed and an interception over the past three weeks. This was a really slow week for Defensive Linemen and not many other than the usual suspects really stepped up. Peters was one of the unknowns to do so and is a decent add in deeper leagues or in leagues that require a DT.
Adrian Clayborn- As mentioned above, this was a really slow week for Defensive Linemen and most of those that did perform are guys owned in every IDP league. Clayborn is one that isn’t owned in many leagues and is doing a decent job getting acclimated as the season wears on. Adrian now has three sacks in seven games and is regularly getting a couple solo tackles a game. While he is not setting the world on fire, he is a decent bye week fill-in going forward and a nice player to add in deeper dynasty leagues.
LINEBACKERS
Phillip Wheeler- Wheeler has at least four tackles in the last six games and with the way the Colts are playing, he will be on the field a lot and teams will be running out the clock a lot on this team. Currently, Wheeler has 39 tackles over the last six games and has five solo tackles or more in three of the last four games. He is shaping up as a nice LB3 going forward despite playing the SLB position.
Paris Lenon- Lenon has done a good job keeping Stewart Bradley at bay and is still holding off Bradley for the other starting ILB spot next to Daryl Washington in Arizona. Despite Bradley’s big contract, he simply cannot seem to surpass the steady Lenon for the starting job. Lenon has six or more total tackles in five of six games and has a low of four tackles, which isn’t too shabby. He is widely undervalued and provides good value as a bye week fill in and is really a suitable LB3 in most leagues.
Adam Hayward- Hayward is a solid core special teams player for Tampa who was thrust into the game this week when MLB Mason Foster couldn’t finish the game due to his ankle injury. Hayward responded with five solo tackles in his time and could see extensive time going forward if Foster’s ankle injury lingers or is anything serious.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Kendrick Lewis- While Lewis is not going to be a weekly starter for your fantasy team; he is a nice bye week filler over the next few weeks. He is seeing a lot of time at FS for the Chiefs and he has four or five tackles in five of six games this year for the Chiefs. This week he had a nice pick-six and made quite a nice return on his interception. He is a pretty solid bet for around 6-10 fantasy points per week in most scoring systems and is a good option to look at until bye weeks are completed.
Jonathan Wilhite- Wilhite has been very solid in four of the past five Broncos games. During those four games he has 25 total tackles, an interception and two passes defensed. As teams try to stay away from Champ Bailey, they are finding their way toward Wilhite more and more. This past week he totaled 11 tackles (10 solo) and was solid in both pass and run support. Wilhite got the nod as the starting FS in Denver this past week, and if he hangs onto that spot he could provide some sneaky value moving forward.
Kevin Thomas- Thomas drew the start this week in place of Jacob Lacey and had a great game. The Colts are getting gashed in the passing game and the running game and as teams stay away from Jerraud Powers (the only legit cover guy the Colts really have), that second CB spot will be a hotbed for numbers. The only thing to watch is whether the spot stays manned by Thomas or if it will be Lacey or even Terrence Johnson going forward. However, with this season being a waste, the Colts might as well evaluate Thomas. He was drafted high in order to be a solid contributor in the secondary and he has the inside track to be the guy going forward. 10 total tackles and a pass defensed in his first start is not a bad start. He also narrowly missed intercepting a pass in the end zone as well.
