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.
Montez Sweat (Was, 26%) — After a strong start to the season, Sweat hit a lull in Week 9 and 10, prompting a drop in his roster %. But that turned out to be just a bump in the road, as Sweat has 14 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 4 PD, and a pick-six over his last four games. He also has two solid matchups for the playoffs: Seattle and Carolina
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, 7%) — Hubbard is playing nearly every snap and has 23 tackles in his last three games. He’s led all DLs in tackles since his return in Week 10, and he had a 9-tackle game in Week 1. You can’t find a DL with a higher tackle floor. He hasn’t been a big-play monster, but if you prefer high floor over boom/bust, ride Hubbard through your playoffs.
Fletcher Cox (Phi, 6%) — Cox finally has the support he’s needed. After spending years being double and triple-teamed, the ascension of Javon Hargrave and Josh Sweat (along with the continued high play of Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett) have freed up the veteran DT to do more damage lately. Cox has a sack in five of his last six games and has at least 3 tackles in seven of his last eight games. He has 6.5 sacks and 9 TFL on the season, most of which have come since the bye week.
Leonard Williams (NYG, 8%) — Williams had 4 tackles in Week 13, the sixth time he’s posted at least 4 tackles this season. That’s a solid tackle floor to pair with his 8.5 sacks and 10 TFL. Williams faces the high-tackle Browns in Week 15 and the high-tackle/high-sack Ravens in Week 16.
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.
Larry Ogunjobi (Cle, 2%) — Ogunjobi has been a value in tackle-heavy leagues and DT-required leagues. He’s had between 2-5 tackles in every game but one (five times he’s had at least 4 tackles). He’s been an anchor in deep leagues and goes into the playoffs with two of the best matchups for DLs: the Giants and Jets.
Damon Harrison (Sea, 0%) — Harrison seems to have found his groove, climbing over the 40% usage mark and getting 6 tackles and a forced fumble in Week 14. Harrison has long been an elite run defender. Perhaps he’s finally back in shape and ready to be an asset in tackle-heavy leagues.
Johnathan Hankins (LV, 0%) — Hankins has at least 4 tackles in four of his last seven games and gets the most tackle-friendly matchup for DLs. The Chargers produce 19 tackles and 3 TFL per game to defensive linemen. Back in Week 9, Hankins had 4 tackles (3 solo) against L.A. Let’s hope he can do it again during the semi-finals.
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.
Myles Jack (Jax, 17%) — Remove his two injury-shortened games and Jack has at least 8 tackles in all but one game. He’s hit the double-digit tackle mark in six of his nine full games and gets Baltimore this week; a team that produces over 22 tackles per game to LBs (which is top-5).
Tremaine Edmunds (Buf, 35%) — Edmunds got unlucky in Week 14, as the Steelers completely abandoned the run game and Edmunds managed just 6 tackles. But Edmunds has two great matchups for playoffs. The Broncos weren’t productive on the ground until they got Melvin Gordon back and fully healthy. Since then, they’ve been producing between 8-10 tackles to primary ILBs. Week 16 features a Patriots team producing 22.9 tackles per game to LBs.
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, 14%) — Another game, another double-digit tackle effort from Singleton. Since taking over as the every-down LB in Week 10, Singleton’s 55 tackles lead all LBs. Both the Cardinals (Week 15) and Cowboys (Week 16) give up over 21 tackles per game to LBs, so plug in Singleton through your playoffs.
Harvey Langi (NYJ, 1%) — Langi posted another 9 tackles in Week 14, giving him between 8-11 tackles in every game since he won the starting job. He got unlucky playing in Seattle, as their dreadful stat crew cut his 9 tackles into 3 solos/6 assists. But this week, Langi gets to play in front of the 2nd-most generous stat crew when he visits the Rams and their renewed commitment to the run game, courtesy of Cam Akers.
Avery Williamson (Pit, 4%) — Williamson stepped up and produced one of the few double-digit tackle games from a Steeler LB we’ve seen this season: 11 tackles (9 solo). Vince Williams is likely to return this week, shaving the top end off of Williamson’s upside, but I still like AW to post 7-9 tackles, and he can be scooped up and plugged into your LB3 slot.
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.
Cole Holcomb (Was, 1%) — Holcomb had another 8 tackles in Week 14, as he saw his already high usage climb to 98%. Holcomb has been the clear leader for Washington’s LBs and faces two teams that produce over 20 tackles per game to LBs (Seattle and Carolina).
Kyzir White (LAC, 4%) — White returned to the lineup in Week 14 and had 7 tackles (5 solo). He’s not the every-down double-digit tackle guy he was earlier in the season, but he’s still good for 6-9 tackles and is playing 70-80%.
Kenny Young (LAR, 0%) — Young earned a start in Week 14 and boy did he produce. He had 8 tackles, 1 sack, and a pick-six on 69% usage. That’s the highest usage all season, and while we can’t bank on pick-sixes, we can look forward to some more 6-8 tackle games if he continues to start. Judging from his performance, it’s hard to see the Rams sitting him.
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.
Jeremy Chinn (Car, 28%) — Chinn’s roster % is embarrassingly low, considering he’s the #3 DB overall. Chinn had 8 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble in Week 14 and continues to be one of the best combinations of high-tackle floor and big-play upside.
Antoine Winfield, Jr. (TB, 26%) — Winfield has been picking his play up lately, with 29 tackles in his last three games. He also wrapped up a sack and a forced fumble in Week 14 and has at least 7 tackles in five of his last six games. He’s DB1-ing just in time for 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.
Kamren Curl (Was, 7%) — Curl boosted some savvy IDPers into the playoffs last week with his gorgeous pick-six. Besides being the #1 scoring DB for fantasy last week, Curl has recorded at least 7 tackles in every game since he won the starting job, and his 52 tackles lead all DBs over that stretch. Top-5 DB production.
Adrian Phillips (NE, 10%) — Phillips recorded 10 tackles (8 solo) in Week 14, and now has 22 tackles in his last two games. Phillips has a unique role, part of which includes enough LB snaps to provide a high tackle floor for a DB (at least 5 tackles in every game but one), and also carry double-digit tackle upside. This week, he’ll face a Miami team that produced 9 tackles for Phillips in their last meeting.
Jabrill Peppers (NYG, 15%) — Peppers had a monster 13-tackle game in Week 14, and now has at least 6 tackles in seven of his last eight games. He’s also getting into the backfield more lately. Peppers now has 4 TFL to go with the 4 PD over his last four games. And he’s also utilized occasionally as a punt returner.
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.
Khari Willis (Ind, 4%) — Willis returned from his injury to snag a pick-six. He also resumed his role as a 6-8 tackle safety for the Colts. To help that high tackle floor, Willis is playing at home this week in front of one of the most generous tackle crews in the league, then faces the team that gives up the most tackles to DBs in Week 16: Pittsburgh.
A.J. Terrell (Atl, 1%) — I mentioned last week that Terrell had turned the corner as a rookie, and we’re starting to see the fruits of that. Terrell had 13 solos and a PD, posting his best fantasy game of his young career. He’ll close out the season against two of the more pass-friendly teams: Tampa Bay and Kansas City. Expect both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes to test the rookie early and often. And expect the 16th overall pick to be ready.
Will Parks (Den, 0%) — Parks returned to his former team after being released by the Eagles and immediately jumped in as the team’s slot corner in the Big Nickel role. He posted 6 solos and a sack on 81%. He’s a deep-league grab who could provide a surprisingly high tackle floor this late in the season.
