What’s going on, TSA family? It’s been a while. At this point in the season, fantasy football becomes more about luck than skill. You are not looking for perfection; you are looking to survive the week and advance by any means necessary. Playoffs are like a backyard wrestling brawl, anything goes. The defensive linemen discussed here are not ideal starters, but they are active, accessible, and involved enough to be used when options are minimal.

In deeper IDP formats, players like these matter. If your roster needs a temporary solution rather than a long-term answer, these are the types of players who can quietly do enough to hopefully keep your playoff run alive.

All statistics, snap counts, and matchup data referenced in this article were sourced from PFF.com.

Thomas Booker IV: DI/DL, Las Vegas Raiders

Booker has been used as a rotational interior defensive lineman with consistent involvement against both the run and the pass. His snap usage reflects a balanced role rather than a situational one, keeping him involved regardless of game flow. He has contributed to interior pressure and remained active as a tackler, with regular involvement around the line of scrimmage. Booker’s value is tied to snap volume and steady participation rather than big-play upside.

Matchup:

Booker draws a matchup against a red-hot Houston Texans offense, which could keep the Raiders’ defense on the field for extended stretches. He is expected to line up primarily against center Jake Andrews and guards Ed Ingram and Tytus Howard. Howard is better known for his pass-blocking ability, while Andrews has allowed consistent pressure this season. With the Raiders’ offense struggling to sustain drives in recent weeks, Booker could see increased tackle opportunities through volume alone.

Jalyx Hunt: DL/EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles

Hunt has functioned primarily as a stand-up edge defender, spending most of his snaps attacking the quarterback rather than dropping into coverage. While his tackle production has been modest and his efficiency uneven, his usage has kept him involved in both pressure and run-stopping situations. Also, he has “big play ability” and has shown the potential to bust out big plays for fantasy managers sporadically.

Matchup:

With the Commanders dealing with injuries, the offense is expected to lean more heavily on tight end Jake Bates to help ease pressure on the outside, especially with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota under center. Hunt is likely to see snaps against both Laremy Tunsil and rookie Josh Conerly Jr. Tunsil has been efficient in pass protection this season, while Conerly Jr. represents the more favorable matchup after allowing frequent pressure and multiple sacks. Hunt’s opportunities are more likely to come when aligned opposite the rookie tackle.

David Onyemata: DI/DL, Atlanta Falcons

Onyemata continues to operate as a true interior defensive lineman, seeing steady snaps in both early-down and passing situations. His role emphasizes gap control and interior disruption rather than chasing quarterbacks off the edge. He has remained semi-active as a tackler and has consistently been involved in defensive stops, while limiting missed tackles.

Matchup:

Atlanta faces the Arizona Cardinals this week, placing Onyemata across from Arizona’s interior offensive line. He is expected to see Isaiah Adams at guard, Hjalte Froholdt at center, and Jon Gaines II at the opposite guard spot. Adams has logged significant snaps at both guard positions but has been inconsistent in both run and pass blocking. Froholdt has allowed steady pressure over the course of the season, while Gaines enters the matchup as the least experienced starter with limited NFL snaps. Onyemata’s interior alignment gives him multiple points of engagement rather than a single key matchup.

Jacob Martin: EDGE/DL, Washington Commanders

Martin’s role is built almost entirely around pass rushing. He is regularly deployed off the edge to create pressure, and when he wins, the impact shows up quickly. His involvement in the run game and as a tackler is limited, and missed tackles have been an issue, making him a volatile option. His value is tied to disruption rather than consistency.

Matchup:

Martin draws one of the more difficult matchups among the players featured in this article, but his recent stretch of IDP production made him worth consideration. He faces a Philadelphia offensive line with two very different offensive tackle profiles. Fred Johnson has limited sack and pressure totals allowed across a sizable snap count. At the same time, Jordan Mailata remains one of Philadelphia’s most reliable linemen in both the run and pass game. With clean wins on the edge likely difficult, Washington may need to rely on movement and twist concepts to create pressure opportunities rather than straight one-on-one rushes.

Kingsley Enagbare: EDGE/DL, Green Bay Packers

Enagbare has worked this season as a rotational edge defender, seeing consistent but not dominant usage in passing situations. His opportunities have allowed him to generate pressure at times, though his production has been uneven. He contributes as a tackler in certain situations and has been involved in stopping plays when attacking downhill. His role fits best as short-term depth rather than a player to rely on weekly.

Matchup:

Green Bay heads into a matchup with Chicago in one of the league’s most historic rivalries. With the Packers losing a key edge presence to a season-ending injury last week, additional responsibility will fall on the remaining rotation. Enagbare is expected to line up across from rookie offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who has limited NFL experience and fewer than a full season’s worth of snaps. Trapilo is not known for his run blocking, and his lack of experience makes him a potential point of emphasis as Green Bay looks to test Chicago’s offensive line in a high-stakes divisional game.

Playoff Takeaway

At this stage of the season, survival matters more than perfection. These players are not ideal starters, but they are active, involved, and accessible. In deeper IDP leagues, that can be enough to get through a playoff week because nothing is worse than taking a zero on a player in a playoff game. If your roster could lose a short-term patch rather than a long-term fix, consider these defensive linemen before your league mates do.