After weeks of telling people not to drop Robert Quinn, and to have patience in shallower IDP leagues, the Rams talented pass-rusher finally puts together a decent game and ends Week 8 as the No.1 scoring fantasy defensive-end. However, the top-end of the defensive end market was rocked by the news that Chandler Jones’ absence is now likely to be six weeks, and perhaps a season ending injury, while column regular, Lamarr Houston finally recorded a sack, and then injured himself celebrating it, and now finds himself on IR. Ouch. Anway, on with this week’s recommended pickups.
Defensive Lineman
We’re entering the second half of the season now and it’s been a somewhat strange year for defensive lineman production, and now as the dust begins to settle, it’s harder to find starting players on the waiver wire. We’ll start with a more obvious one, who may or not be owned in your league in Olivier Vernon.
Vernon is a guy who we liked pre-season and had ranked as an upside DL2, and he’s done little to change our opinion, but perhaps hasn’t done enough to please the more needy fantasy owners out there. He has just 3.5 sacks on the season, which will be frustrating for some, but it’s worth noting he has a further seven hits and 11 hurries, as well as six tackles for loss. It’s these hidden stats which are making Vernon a very solid fantasy play and why he currently grades out as our No.7 4-3 defensive end with a +6.9.
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Ross Miles is a Lead Writer for Pro Football Focus Fantasy. Follow him on Twitter – @RossMilesNFL
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