Think IDP leagues are the way to go? Then Ballhawkin' is for you. Here, we pick out a few Individual Defensive Players that could have huge weeks and are possibly sitting in your free-agent pool.After Antwan Odom's monster day against the Packers, it's become pretty clear that you must start your defensive ends against Green Bay. Not that anyone was benching Jared Allen in the first place. The Minnesota monster was unstoppable, sacking quarterback Aaron Rodgers 4.5 times while forcing a fumble and scoring a safety. Now that's the kind of performance that can win you the week on its own. Unfortunately, that offensive Packer offensive line has a bye this week, but there are other matchups to exploit.
Linebackers
1. Lofa Tatupu, Seahawks (26% owned). Last week we discussed the emergence of little-known David Hawthorne of the Seahawks, who did an amazing job filling in for Tatupu. Well, Tatupu came back in Week 4 and put up 11 total tackles for the Seahawks. Only owned in a quarter of Fleaflicker leagues, Tatupu has a history of IDP success that speaks to his place on a roster in your league. This week he faces the Jaguars, and he should rack up tackles yet again while trying to stop Maurice Jones-Drew.
2. Ricky Brown, Raiders (4% owned). Elevated to the starting lineup, Brown has become a consistent IDP option, tallying seven total tackles in each of his first four games. Last week he even threw in a couple passes defended for good measure. This week he'll face the Giants, and this means he could surpass the seven-tackle total for several reasons. One, the Giants have a great power back capable of getting to the second level. Two, Eli Manning's injury will mean the offense leans more on the running game than they normally would. And three, the Giants should have the ball for 40-plus minutes on Sunday.
3. Kawika Mitchell, Bills (3% owned). The Bills really can't boast any level of success this year, but Mitchell has been the bright spot of a bad defense. In Week 4, he notched nine total tackles and forced a fumble, and the coaching staff took notice. Mitchell has been moved to middle linebacker for the duration of Paul Posluszny's injury, and we know that being in the middle usually leads to a rise in tackle opportunities. Mitchell makes for a great pickup over the next few weeks as you juggle your IDP's bye weeks.
Defensive Backs
1. Reggie Nelson, Jaguars (9% owned). Nelson is a good DB to own, a guy that gives you six total tackles on a consistent basis, laying the groundwork for a solid point total. He chipped in a fumble recovery last week and could be in line for an interception this week. Matt Hasselbeck returns for the Seahawks, and since I don't foresee him looking 100% on Sunday, I think Nelson has a great shot at grabbing a mistake for an interception and possibly taking it to the house. Even if that doesn't happen, I'll still take the six tackles from a bye-week fill-in.2. Corey Webster, Giants (6% owned). Normally the right play is to start a safety if your league doesn't distinguish between the two positions that make up the DB classification. However, Webster has been doing a fantastic job of shutting down receivers this year, and now he faces a QB that's prone to making mistakes. He's a deep sleeper for sure, but I feel Webster can snag his second interception of the season in this game. For a guy available in most of your leagues, he's worth the CB gamble.
Defensive Lineman
1. Derrick Harvey, Jaguars (4% owned). Harvey, who still qualifies at DL in most leagues, has been playing outside linebacker as a result of Jacksonville's in-season move to the 3-4. Now he faces the Seahawks, a team with a banged-up QB under center and a team that's missing its top two tackles. This is a good sign for Harvey, a former No. 8 overall draft pick, who should be able to notch his first sack of the season in this game.
