We are officially past the halfway point of the fantasy season and the Individual Defensive Player (IDP) landscape continues to shift on a daily basis. Injuries have hit some teams hard as top IDP talents such as Minnesota safety Harrison Smith and Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner are on the shelf. This is where the crack staff (me, my stepdaughter Maddie and the cat) of the ‘53 Deep' column spring to work. Utilizing state of the art technology (DirecTV Sunday Ticket and the Mac) and a healthy dose of legal energy boosting supplements (Red Bull ... lots of Red Bull) we bring you all the sleepers you'll need to win your leagues (or at least get back to .500). LINEBACKER Jon Bostic, MLB, CHICAGO at Washington: With D.J. Williams lost for the season (chest injury), Bostic will step into the starting middle linebacker position. While likely to be a two down player out of the gate, the opportunity for Bostic is there to be a fantasy-worthy IDP option moving forward. Playing 21 snaps last week he posted a single tackle but has extra time to get prepared for his first start against Washington. Roll the rookie out this week as an excellent sleeper candidate. Brandon Spikes, MLB, NEW ENGLAND at New York Jets: Spikes has played 107 of a possible 137 defensive snaps the past two games after playing less than half the snaps in the first four games. He produced 17 total tackles and an interception in Weeks 5 and 6 and is poised for a bigger role with the season-ending injury to Jerod Mayo. The Jets are a decent matchup for a three-down linebacker and that is what I expect Spikes to be this week. Jon Beason, MLB, NEW YORK GIANTS vs. Minnesota: Welcome back to fantasy relevance. As the new three down middle linebacker for the Giants, Beason racked up 11 solo tackles last week and had 12 total stops. For as long as his body holds up he looks to be a viable fantasy option. Minnesota is a top-10 team in allowing fantasy points to linebackers and Beason will have plenty of tackle opportunities attempting to contain running back Adrian Peterson this week. Colin McCarthy, MLB, TENNESSEE vs. San Francisco: McCarthy will start at the middle linebacker position this week in place of the injured Moise Fokou (knee). This is his chance to fulfill on some of that promise IDP owners saw in him prior to the 2012 season. McCarthy looked rusty on the 23 snaps he played last week and finished with as many missed tackles (three) as he did total stops. With his future as a viable NFL and fantasy linebacker on the line, it's do-or-die time for McCarthy. I look for him to play well this week. Tamba Hali, OLB, KANSAS CITY vs. Houston: Pass rushing outside linebackers Terrell Suggs and Jarret Johnson both registered sacks against the Texans in their matchups. Hali and fellow outside linebackers Justin Houston have combined for 17 sacks through six games. The Texans have allowed 17 sacks and new starting quarterback Case Keenum will be under siege this week. Hali has added 17 total tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception returned for a touchdown. Yeah, he's having a great year and will add to those totals against a struggling Houston offense. DEFENSIVE BACKS Josh Robinson, CB, MINNESOTA at New York Giants: Teams are completing more than 92 percent of the passes thrown into Robinson's coverage to the tune of 479 yards and two touchdowns. That has led to plenty of tackle opportunities and Robinson has racked up 32 tackles, with 31 being solos. The Giants will look to test him early and often with the likes of Victor Cruz , Hakeem Nicks and Rueben Randle . With quarterback Eli Manning struggling with turnovers, a big play or two as well as solid tackle numbers are on tap for Robinson. Rodney McLeod, FS, ST. LOUIS at Carolina: The second-year free safety has amassed 33 total tackles in six games. He also has one forced fumble with a pass defended while playing every defensive snap for the Rams. McLeod is a willing tackler who will step in and help with run support. His struggles in coverage make him an inviting target and that leads to even more tackle opportunities. The Panthers will look to move the ball on the ground against the suspect Rams run defense but mix in enough shots down the field to wide receiver Steve Smith to keep McLeod very busy. Antrel Rolle, SS, NEW YORK GIANTS vs. Minnesota: Rolle is coming off of his best game of the season where he posted seven solo tackles against Chicago. This week Rolle will have a nice matchup against a Josh Freeman-led Vikings offense. In his last six games, including Weeks 15-17 last year as well as Weeks 1-3 this year, Freeman has thrown 12 interceptions and lost three fumbles. Rolle has picked off 18 passes in his career and taken four back for touchdowns while averaging 76 total tackles per season. He's a very nice fantasy option this week. Marcus Gilchrist, SS, SAN DIEGO at Jacksonville: With the return of wide receiver Justin Blackmon to their offense, the Jaguars have become a nice fantasy matchup for opposing secondaries. Gilchrist is a converted cornerback that has put up 25 total tackles (16 solo) this season and is solid when called upon in coverage. He'll be helping to try and contain the damage that Blackmon will do this week which means plenty of tackles and the opportunity to make a big play or two as well. Tashaun Gipson, FS, CLEVELAND at Green Bay: Over his past three games Gipson has posted 18 total tackles (11 solo) while defending five passes and intercepting one. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not have his full complement of receiving options this week but will still put the ball up plenty. Gipson will have his hands full trying to help cover tight end Jermichael Finley down the seam. The added rushing attempts that running back Eddie Lacy receives will also allow Gipson a chance to rack up some tackles. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Olivier Vernon, DE, MIAMI vs. Buffalo: The return of a healthy Cameron Wake should work to enhance Vernon's fantasy value as he builds on a two-game sack streak. During Wake's absence and limited snaps over the past three games, Vernon was credited with 11 quarterback hurries, a quarterback hit and two sacks according to Pro Football Focus. The Bills will have a less than 100 percent Thad Lewis under center and have allowed seven sacks the past three games. Look for a big week from Vernon. Arthur Jones, DE, BALTIMORE at Pittsburgh: Jones leads all Ravens defensive linemen in sacks with three and has added 18 total tackles in five games. He has a nice matchup this week with division rival Pittsburgh, who has allowed 5½ sacks in the past two games. The Steelers will struggle to run the ball and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be dropping back a lot. That means opportunities for Jones to rack up a sack or two. In two games against Pittsburgh last season, Jones put up eight total tackles and a sack. He's a sneaky good defensive lineman option this week. Michael Brockers, DT, ST. LOUIS at Carolina: Ride the hot hand here and get the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Brockers in your IDP lineup. The Panthers are a top-10 matchup in allowing fantasy points to the defensive line position and Brockers is coming off of a two-sack, seven-solo tackle performance. He brings consistent pressure from the interior and has racked up 18 solo tackles, 3½ sacks and a forced fumble in six games. Brockers is in line for another excellent fantasy point-producing week. Corey Liuget, DE, SAN DIEGO at Jacksonville: Liuget is off to a slower start than many envisioned on the heels of his 50-tackle, seven-sack campaign last season. Through the first six weeks he has a single sack and only 17 total stops. Look for Liuget to have a breakout week against a Jaguars offense that has given up eight sacks in their last three games. San Diego should manhandle the struggling (I'm being kind) Jacksonville offense and multiple sacks are not out of the question with Liuget getting at least one. Desmond Bryant, DE, CLEVELAND at Green Bay: After starting the season strong with 3½ sacks in the first three games, Bryant's production has tailed off. That could change this week, as he will have the chance to get after quarterback Aaron Rodgers , who will be working with a depleted receiving corps. Bryant has still been providing pressure as the six quarterback hurries and three quarterback hits that he's amassed the past three weeks can attest. Look for Bryant to cash in on those quarterback hurries this week with at least one sack and 4-6 tackles. Congratulations on reaching the end of another '53 Deep' column and allow me to show my gratitude with a bonus player! Rey Maualuga, MLB, CINCINNATI at Detroit: After a couple of middling weeks in which he recorded only eight total tackles, look for a bounceback performance from Maualuga. The Lions have been running the ball enough (154 times) to offer up tackle opportunities for linebackers and Maualuga is due for a big week. Back in Week 4 against the Browns (another running game challenged team), Maualuga racked up 11 total tackles. Look for the same this week. As always ... have fun!!