We are fully into the fantasy playoff season now. Fortunately, there are some outstanding defensive players picking up their game when it matters for the actual NFL games, as well as providing us fantasy players with options on the wire. Picking your IDP players on a week-to-week basis is more art than science, as the flow of the game has a lot to do with how effective your players will be, but there are some guys that you need to either look to add or should be dropping in place of a more reliable option. That is what this article is all about, maximizing your potential on game day and avoiding those IDP that are trending downward.

Although there are a number of IDP submitted for your attention this week, and the IDP Report will be published up through Week 17, expect your options to dwindle as the playoffs progress. I will be here for your IDP questions, however, so feel free to message me (my address is at the bottom of the article). And if you are still vying for your league’s title, good luck in your efforts.

Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Vontaze Burfict CIN

Bruce Carter TB

Curtis Lofton OAK

Jerod Mayo NE

Bernardrick McKinney HOU

Jadeveon Clowney HOU

Dee Ford KC

Chad Greenway MIN

Lamarr Houston CHI

Connor Barwin PHI

Despite inciting a potential donnybrook before the game against Pittsburgh (he was the player responsible for sending Le’Veon Bell to the IR), Vontaze Burfict has been putting up great tackle numbers. He does not play every down, though, and was on the field for about 2/3 of the defensive snaps for the Bengals in Week 14. Despite the limited snaps, he is averaging just over eight tackles per game over the past five weeks. Just do not expect many big plays, as he is more valuable in tackle-oriented IDP leagues. Bruce Carter is seeing more playing time, with rookie Kwon Alexander serving his suspension. He had eight combined tackles in Week 14 against the Saints (six solos), and also managed to collect a sack. Because of his recent ascension to the starting lineup, he is likely unowned in your league, and with the Buccaneer defense starting to click, is someone to target for the final weeks of the fantasy season.

Curtis Lofton was impressive against the Broncos, collecting eight solo tackles. He is starting at inside linebacker, and should have ample opportunity to pad his tackle numbers when the Packers visit Oakland in Week 15. Jerod Mayo put up eight total tackles Sunday night against the Texans, with seven of those being of the solo variety. So long as Dont’a Hightower and Jonathan Freeny are not playing, he will need to step up his game, and the increased snap count should result in good, if not great, tackle numbers for him. Bernardrick McKinney and Jadeveon Clowney were forces to be reckoned with Sunday night, when Houston took on the Patriots. McKinney collected 10 combined tackles (six solos), while Clowney made seven tackles (four solo), as well as picking up a pair of sacks. The Texan defense has shaken off the funk that affected it early in the season, and is now making life difficult for opposing offenses on a weekly basis. Clowney is beginning to look worthy of the first round pick Houston used to snag him in 2014, having overcome his injury woes. Because he was disappointing until recently, you may be able to grab him off the wire in your league still, and I would guess that McKinney is there for the asking.

Dee Ford dominated against the Chargers in Week 14, sacking Philip Rivers three times, and also racking up seven solo tackles and a pass deflection. This is really the first he has hit the IDP radar, despite being a first round pick in 2014, and like the Houston LBs I discussed above, he should be widely available on your league waiver wire. Chad Greenway was a linebacker I relied on heavily in years past, but he has been sporadic in his production this season. With Anthony Barr on the sidelines, though, he is being used as an every-down LB, and he had eight solos against Arizona in the Thursday night game in Week 14. Given that he is now a full-time player on defense in Minnesota, he will be more consistently productive going forward. Lamarr Houston picked up a sack in Week 14 when the Bears hosted Washington, giving him six on the season. Note, though, that five of those sacks have come in the last six games. He also had eight solo tackles and one assist against Washington. He is not the starter, but is doing a ton of damage to opposing offenses in limited snaps, nonetheless.

Connor Barwin wraps up the rising IDPs available at linebacker this edition. He has been a steady source of tackles, averaging five per game over the last six weeks following the Eagles’ Week 8 bye. He also has 5.5 sacks and seven pass deflections on the season, but those come sporadically, so do not use him expecting a big play or two, just be pleased when it comes about when he is in your lineup. He is available in more than 90 percent of leagues on Yahoo and ESPN, and with the strides the Philly defense has made since the start of the season, so long as he is starting on the outside, he would be a fine LB2 to snag off the wire for your playoff run.

Defensive Linemen

Armonty Bryant DE CLE

Jabaal Sheard DE NE

Lamarr Houston DE/LB CHI

Fletcher Cox DE PHI

DeMarcus Lawrence DE DAL

Kawann Short DT CAR

Armonty Bryant led his team in tackles with seven solos in the Week 14 matchup against San Francisco. He also collected two sacks in that contest. He is frequently on the sidelines as he is considered a pass rusher, not a run stopper, and Cleveland has not been in the lead in many games this year. To use him, you need to look at matchups and only put him in your lineup against pass-reliant teams. Jabaal Sheard took advantage of Texans on Sunday night, forcing a pair of fumbles and snagging four solo tackles and a couple of sacks. He is not a starter on defense, but makes the most of his playing time. Sunday marked his second game this season with multiple sacks, and he has six sacks on the year in only 10 games. Lamarr Houston is classified as both a DE and LB in Yahoo and ESPN, and that adds to his value as he plays primarily as a linebacker. He has six sacks this season so far, which is impressive as he is coming off the bench as a pass rush specialist and not seeing a full complement of snaps on a weekly basis. His tackle numbers are not spectacular, but that comes with his limited playing time. Fletcher Cox does not provide consistent performance, but it would be hard to argue with the seven solos and one assist in Week 14, especially with him also collecting a sack against Buffalo. The Philly defense has ramped things up lately, and while Cox is difficult to trust on a week-to-week basis, it is possible that he is now useful as DL2, especially in deeper IDP leagues.

DeMarcus Lawrence picked up another sack in the loss to the Packers in Week 14, giving him five over the past five games. He also contributed five combined tackles, with four of those solos. The second-year player is one to keep your eye on in dynasty or deep keeper leagues, as he is developing into a fine defensive end for the Cowboys. Our lone defensive tackle this week is Kawann Short, who you could roster even in non-DT mandatory leagues. He is a disruptive force on the D-line for Carolina, and put up a fine stat line against the Falcons in Week 14: three solo tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He has collected a total of nine sacks this season, which all have occurred during the past nine games he has played. In the Carolina 4-3 defensive scheme, he is finding plenty of opportunity to pressure the QB. He is only owned in 15 percent of Yahoo leagues, although you will have a tougher time snapping him up on ESPN, where his ownership sits at 59 percent.

Defensive Backs

Jaquiski Tartt S SF

Shareece Wright CB BAL

Jason Verrett CB SD

Jaquiski Tartt, along with NaVorro Bowman, is one 49er I would consider rostering. He had eight tackles (seven solos) against Cleveland, tossing in a pass deflection and an interception, to make him a useful defensive back for IDP purposes. He is best in a tackle-oriented system, however, as he has racked up 29 total tackles over the past four games (21 solos). It is evident to all that the Raven offense has been hurt dramatically by injuries, but that means that their defense spends a great deal of time on the field.

Shareece Wright put up nine tackles against Seattle (seven solos), and while he is not the starting corner (that role belongs to Jimmy Smith), he did see 48 snaps against the Seahawks. If he continues to see that much time on the field, he should continue to be a fine source of tackles. Jason Verrett has stepped his game up drastically of late, providing three interceptions over the past five games. He had eight solo tackles when the Chargers were in Kansas City on Week 14, along with an interception and a pass deflection. He is starting opposite Brandon Flowers at corner for the struggling Chargers, and is seeing plenty of action as evidenced by his tackle numbers. He is also useful in big play leagues, with 10 pass deflections on the season to go with three interceptions.

Escalator Going Down

Linebackers

Brian Orakpo TEN

Karlos Dansby CLE

For a while this season, it looked as though Orakpo had been reborn, when he collected six sacks over a six-game stretch. He has now gone three games without a sack, and is not exactly making up for the lack of big plays with his tackling, having made just eight tackles over those same three games. It seems unlikely that he will be much use going forward, and if you have been holding him waiting for another hot streak, I fear you are deluding yourself. Dansby is not doing much better, averaging less than four tackles a game over the past three weeks (six solo, five assists). He is not providing any big play potential, either. He is 34 years old, and it is possible he is just running out of gas as the season winds down. You can do better at linebacker, just hit the wire and snag one of the guys I profiled above or in past weeks.

Defensive Linemen

Charles Johnson DE CAR

Johnson has not been productive since being activated from the IR in Week 12, and was held to no tackles in Week 14. He has just one tackle, a solo, in the past three games, and aside from adding a pass deflection in Week 12, has been disappointing. He is also not seeing as many snaps as you want from a starting DL, as the Panthers are rotating him with Kony Ealy, Jared Allen and Mario Addison. None of those players are worth rostering, although Ealy does provide sack potential.

Defensive Backs

Morgan Burnett S GB

Burnett had a down week, as the Cowboys were stinking it up on offense in Week 14. He should bounce back in Week 15 when the Packers head to Oakland, as the run game should be more in place with the Raiders, and his tackle numbers should bounce back up to a more useful figure.

Ouch (My Aching Roster)

All the injury reports below need evaluation prior to kickoff.  Teams are notoriously sketchy about injury reports, and we often do not know a player's status until just before game time. Consider the list below as a "heads up" as to what is going on early in the week, and should not be considered definitive.

Linebackers

Bruce Carter TB (foot)

Rolando McClain DAL (concussion)

Jonathan Freeny NE (wrist)

Lerentee McCray DEN (hamstring)

Pernell McPhee CHI (knee)

Derrick Morgan TEN (shoulder-out for the season on IR)

Defensive Linemen

Dominique Easley DT NE (left thigh)

Defensive Backs

Kam Chancellor S SEA (tailbone)

Devin McCourty S NE (ankle)

T.J. McDonald S StL (shoulder-out for the season)

William Moore S ATL (ankle)

DaNorris Searcy S TEN (hamstring)

Darian Stewart S DEN (hamstring)

Bene Benwikere CB CAR (broken left leg-out for the season)

Sam Shields CB GB (concussion)

Joe Haden CB CLE (concuccion-out for the season on IR)

As ever, good luck and Godspeed in your fantasy efforts. Make sure to read all of our great articles to help you win your fantasy match ups every week and ultimately bask in championship glory. If you have any fantasy football questions, especially about IDP leagues, I can be reached at ia@fantasyalarm.com.