It happens every year, trade demands and injuries this late in the preseason cause issues for both teams and fantasy owners. This year is no different as we already have three pretty impactful situations causing everyone to scramble. Let’s look at those situations and which players could be primed for big roles in their place. Here are three players you should check waivers for and possibly add to your IDP portfolios.

EJ Speed, LB, Colts

The Indianapolis Colts placed their starting LB Darius Leonard on the PUP list for multiple injuries (back and ankle surgeries) with no timetable for his return. If he remains there to begin the season, will have to miss at least four weeks before he can return and that is the expectation right now. If that’s the case then EJ Speed could be the guy to add. Even if the Colts were to move Bobby Okereke inside there is still an opening. I don’t see them doing that as of now so Speed would move inside where they can protect him some.

Speed was selected in the 5th round with the 164th pick of the 2019 NFL draft. He is entering his 4th season and coming off his best season to date. Speed has primarily played a heavy role on special teams but he did make one start last season. That game came in week 15 on the road at Arizona, where he played all 65 defensive snaps (100%). In that game, Speed showed some major potential with a breakout performance of nine tackles, with eight being solos with one pass breakup.  Those are solid numbers even for an everyday starter.

For fantasy purposes, this is basically a four-week rental option as of this moment. If and when Leonard returns, expect Speed to go back to his current role of special teams. Until then, Speed can be a viable option for your fantasy rosters as a replacement. I don’t expect him to produce LB1 numbers each week like Leonard, but the volume will be there for him to have an opportunity for a bigger role. If you need LB depth with potential, then go see if Speed is available and add to your IDP portfolios.

Career Stats: 47 tackles, 34 solos, 1 TFL, 1 Forced Fumble, and 1 PBU

Nicholas Morrow, LB, Bears

The Chicago Bears and football fans around the world were caught by surprise when LB Roquan Smith requested a trade. This situation got ugly quickly for both sides and fantasy managers are caught in a bind as to what to do. So many what-if scenarios such as they get a deal done, he holds out or they trade him, and at this point who knows? But in the event, that Smith isn’t on the field in week one, you should have Nicholas Morrow ready as a plan B.

Morrow was picked up by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent. He spent four seasons with the Raiders and now enters year five with the Bears. Morrow has shown some solid improvement throughout his career, but with a new coaching regime in place, he wasn’t a part of their plans. He had decent numbers in Oakland and last year was his best season to date. Morrow played in 14 games, making 11 starts, with 78 tackles, with 62 being solos, eight TFLs, six QB hits, 3 sacks, one INT, nine PBUs, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

In the fantasy world, this is a hard one to gauge with the uncertainty around Smith, but Morrow is a starter for the Bears even if Smith plays. If he doesn’t Morrow kicks inside where he has had experience playing the position. Fantasy managers can expect a slight increase in his numbers if he’s inside at MLB. If Smith plays and Morrow stays at the SLB, I would keep expectations right where they have been. Worst case you still have a starting LB that can be of decent value. If you’re looking for LB help, add Morrow as you could do a lot worse.

Career Stats: 254 tackles, 185 solos, 20 TFLs, 15 QB hits, 4 sacks, 2 INTs, 20 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

Photo By: USA Today

Joe Schobert, LB, Broncos

The Denver Broncos were hit with some bad news when one of their starting inside linebackers, Jonas Griffith, injured his elbow on the second play of last week's game and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Denver was already thin at the position so it wasn’t unexpected that they would add someone but more of who? That who would be veteran Joe Schobert who was surprisingly still available. The Broncos were lucky to get a player of Schobert’s caliber as a replacement.

Schobert is heading into his seventh season in the NFL, having played with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s been a major producer at each stop, with 100+ tackles in every season except his rookie year. Last season with the Steelers, Schobert played in 16 games starting 15 of those contests. He would produce 112 tackles, with 70 being solos, two TFLs, one interception, six PBUs, and one forced fumble. Those were down a bit from his previous seasons, but he didn’t have to shoulder the load like at his previous stops.

Hopefully, for fantasy managers, you were patient like me and held onto Schobert in your leagues. He’s just too good of a player to not find a place to play. He has been a super dependable fantasy option even posting some LB1 fantasy seasons. Schobert can and will be that again this year, but the question is what happens when Griffith returns? Griffith is said to miss 4-6 weeks, so you can count on Schobert over that span. Six weeks is half of most fantasy regular seasons and we’ll have to see how quickly Griffith gets back. For now, I’m adding Schobert everywhere I can.

Career Stats: 661 tackles, 504 solos, 23 TFLs, 26 QB hits, 11 sacks, 10 INTs, 30 PBUs, 10 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries

Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy.