We march into Week 17. If you’re in the fantasy football championship round, best of luck, and bring that trophy home. If you’re in a roto or season-long league, we have two weeks left to make our mark.
Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.
Defensive linemen
EDGE Nolan Smith Jr., Philadelphia Eagles
The 2023 first-round pick has experienced some growing pains, but he’s in probably his best window of his short career. He has sacks in four of the last six games. Smith managed three tackles and two fumble recoveries in Week 16. He’ll face the hapless Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 in what will be a great matchup.
DT Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Defensive tackles are risky in fantasy, but we have seen a modest uprise in interior linemen in fantasy this season. Simmons picked up his fifth sack of the season last week, and he is amassing tackle numbers. He has nine, five, seven, and eight tackles over the last four games.
Linebackers
LB Darius Muasau, New York Giants
The 2024 sixth-round pick started in place of Bobby Okereke in Week 16, and he delivered 11 tackles. He had six tackles and eight tackles over the last two weeks. Muasau’s status may be hinged to Okereke’s availability, but this team is gunning for the top pick and should want to get a look at Muasau.
LB Jacoby Windmon, Carolina Panthers
Windmon played in 76% of the defensive snaps in Week 16 and picked up eight tackles, a sack, and a PD. That’s a good baseline as he enters a solid matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17.
LB Mohamoud Diabate, Cleveland Browns
The 23-year-old Diabate was worthy of picking up from Week 6-12, and he just kind of fell off. He’s worthy of another look after six tackles in Week 16 because he has a phenomenal matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. They allow a ton of points to LBs because of their dual-headed running back situation.
Defensive backs
SS Isaiah Pola-Mao, Las Vegas Raiders
The 25-year-old USC product had nine tackles in Week 15 and had an even bigger Week 16. He had 11 tackles and forced two fumbles. He’ll have a solid matchup against the New Orleans Saints this week to build on it.
S Jalen Thompson, Arizona Cardinals
Thompson was possibly rostered earlier in the year, but he went into an ice box from Weeks 9-14. He’s started to ramp it back up with six tackles in Week 15 and 10 tackles in Week 16. The Los Angeles Rams aren’t a great matchup, but they still like to throw the ball enough to allow for potential tackles.
S Damontae Kazee, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kazee has been in for SS DeShon Elliott, and he has been good. He had eight tackles two weeks ago and seven last week. If Elliott is out again, Kazee has a strong matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
