Welcome to the IDP Waiver Wire article. Each of the three main positions will be broken down by league size. For shallow leagues, visit the Higher-owned Options. For 6-9 IDPs, check out the Top Targets, and for deeper leagues, check out the Going Deeper section. In general, we’re focusing on players who are less than 50% rostered in Yahoo! leagues.
Defensive Linemen
Higher-owned Options
These IDPs have steady, productive roles with high floors. Others may have better weeks but at the end of the season, these are most likely to help you most.
J.J. Watt (Hou, 36%) — Watt racked up 6 tackles (5 solo), 1 sack, and 4 TFL against the Colts in Week 13, giving him at least 4 tackles in three of his last four games. He’s playing between 90-99% and carries a high tackle floor along with his massive big-play upside. He also gets the best matchup of the year in Week 16 (Cincinnati).
DeForest Buckner (Ind, 19%) — Buckner announced his return to the lineup with authority, notching 2 sacks, 4 tackles (all solo), and 2 TFL. He now has at least 4 tackles in 7 of his 11 games. He’s hit 6 tackles twice, and 5 tackles four other times. Buckner plays around 80% and has the highest tackle floor of any DL. That comes in handy in the playoffs.
Top Targets
In leagues with 2-3 IDPs per position, these could be league-winners. We’re going decent floor, but mostly upside here.
Sam Hubbard (Cin, 5%) — Putting up 10 tackles (7 solo) last week after 7 tackles (4 solo) the week before, Hubbard has solidified himself as a DL1, and just in time for the playoffs. 17 tackles over two weeks is the kind of production we saw from Hubbard last season. His 2020 was derailed with injuries early, but he’s back on top, and criminally under-rostered.
Calais Campbell (Bal, 8%) — Campbell is off the COVID/Reserve list and is practicing after missing multiple weeks with a calf injury. Campbell had been a tackle machine before going down, posting at least 4 tackles in four of five games before his injury. CC’s a great grab who will play a ton down the stretch.
Leonard Williams (NYG, 5%) — Williams hasn’t slowed down in his bid to show why the Giants re-signed the Jets castoff. He had 3 tackles and 2.5 sacks in Week 13, and now has two 5-QB hit games in his last three. His usage remains around 70% since Week 4 and he’s usually good for 2-5 tackles as well.
Going Deeper
In leagues with 11-14 total IDPs, these are high-upside options who could come out of nowhere to be at least a solid 2nd/3rd starter, and at best give you a 1A option.
Steven Means (Atl, 0%) — Since the Week 10 bye, Means has been a terror. He’s collected 3 sacks and 13 tackles in the last three weeks, and he has a forced fumble in back-to-back games.
Adam Butler (NE, 0%) — After spending Weeks 6-9 hovering around 20-30% usage, Butler’s usage and production have taken a noticeable leap. Over the last three weeks, Butler’s usage has been 50-60% and he has 13 tackles and 2 sacks since then.
Clelin Ferrell (LV, 1%) — I had mentioned earlier this season that Ferrell seemed to have turned a corner for Las Vegas. He hasn’t been the producer we were hoping for from such a high draft pick, but we saw that come to a head in Week 13. Ferrell posted 6 tackles and 2 sacks on 84% usage (all season-highs). If he can stay anywhere near that going forward, he’ll make a sneaky DL3.
Linebackers
Higher-owned Options
These IDPs have steady, productive roles with high floors. Others may have better weeks but at the end of the season, these are most likely to help you most.
Tyrell Adams (Hou, 22%) — Since he inherited the starting job from the injured Benardrick McKinney, Adams has been an LB1. He has five double-digit tackle games in eight games and has taken over as the every-down LB over Zach Cunningham.
Myles Jack (Jax, 16%) — Jack posted 11 tackles for the fifth time in ten games, and has at least 8 tackles in four of his last five games. He also has 12 big plays on the season, giving him plenty of upside for his strong tackle floor. He also gets two of the top-5 teams for producing tackles to LBs up next (Ten, Bal).
Top Targets
In leagues with 2-3 IDPs per position, these could be league-winners. We’re going decent floor, but mostly upside here.
Alex Singleton (Phi, 11%) — Week 12’s 5-tackle effort proved to be the outlier, as Singleton notched his third week out of four with at least 12 tackles. He’s clearly the new every-down LB for Philly and has been playing at a high level. He gets the bountiful Saints next, who continue to rank near the top in LB production.
Troy Reeder (LAR, 3%) — Three starts, three double-digit tackle games. Reeder now has 36 tackles in the three games he’s replaced Micah Kiser. He’s also playing over 90%, which is something Kiser struggled to do. Kiser is out for at least the next two games, so ride Reeder through the playoffs.
Neville Hewitt (NYJ, 18%) — Hewitt has been an under-the-radar LB2 with LB1 upside lately. He has three double-digit tackle games in his last six, and has a sack in back-to-back games. His production has picked up since Avery Williamson was traded and Blake Cashman’s hamstrings failed him.
Going Deeper
In leagues with 11-14 total IDPs, these are high-upside options who could come out of nowhere to be at least a solid 2nd/3rd starter, and at best give you a 1A option.
Harvey Langi (NYJ, 1%) — Langi recorded 8 tackles (4 solo) in Week 13. He now has at least 8 tackles in all four of his starts. The Jets D should continue to log massive snap counts, so Langi is a high-floor LB2.
Cole Holcomb (Was, 1%) — Holcomb has moved ahead of Jon Bostic as the lead dog for Washington’s LB corps. Since returning from injury in Week 6, his snaps have risen into the 80% range, and he now has 19 tackles in his last two games.
Todd Davis (Min, 0%) — With Eric Kendricks still struggling to get over his calf injury, Davis started and posted 11 tackles (3 solo). Davis is worth an end-of-the-bench stash in case Kendricks can’t go this week, or possibly longer. Davis has borderline LB1 potential if Kendricks misses time.
Defensive Backs
Higher-owned Options
These IDPs have steady, productive roles with high floors. Others may have better weeks but at the end of the season, these are most likely to help you most.
Jessie Bates (Cin, 35%) — Bates had a monster Week 13, recording 13 tackles (10 solo). He has at least 7 tackles in four of his last five games, and has four double-digit tackle games on the season. He also has 3 INTs, 13 PD, and a forced fumble. Needless to say, Bates is a DB1.
Jabrill Peppers (NYG, 14%) — Peppers is usually good for 5-6 tackles per game, and pads that solid tackle floor with big-play upside. On top of the 9 PD in his last five games, the Giants have been using him to rush the passer more lately. He has 1.5 sacks and 4 TFL over his last three games. He also continues to return the occasional punt.
Top Targets
In leagues with 2-3 IDPs per position, these could be league-winners. We’re going decent floor, but mostly upside here.
Josh Jones (Jax, 2%) — Jones returned from IR and picked up right where he left off: 10 tackles (7 solo). Jones was a DB1 before going down with injury, and has one of the highest tackle floors of any DB (playing on a defense that stays on the field a ton sure helps). He has at least 8 tackles in six of his seven full games.
Kamren Curl (Was, 6%) — Curl missed some snaps due to a hand injury, but that didn’t stop him from posting another 8 tackles. He’s had at least 8 tackles in all five games he’s started. Only Jamal Adams has more fantasy points than Curl since then. His 45 tackles over that stretch leads all DBs.
D.J. Reed (Sea, 4%) — Reed found himself back in the lineup, and produced 6 tackles and a TFL. He also logged a 22-yard kick return. He’s been a dynamic returner over the past four games, which gives you a nice advantage in CB-required return-yardage leagues. Reed’s been a top-5 DB over the last three weeks.
Going Deeper
In leagues with 11-14 total IDPs, these are high-upside options who could come out of nowhere to be at least a solid 2nd/3rd starter, and at best give you a 1A option.
A.J. Terrell (Atl, 0%) — We always love a good rookie corner, and Terrell has delivered for us this season. He’s been a rock with 5-6 tackles per game, but he’s picked up his PDs (3 in his last four games) and his forced fumbles (two in his last three games). These are the signs of a rookie getting comfortable and starting to turn up the heat. Speaking of heat, his next three opponents throw the ball a TON (LAC, Tam, KC).
Jeff Heath (LV, 3%) — With Johnathan Abram out, Heath has picked up his production. In the last two games, Heath has 18 tackles (16 solo), and it looks like Abram may miss another game this week.
