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. The players listed are in waiver wire order based on balanced scoring.
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.
Cameron Jordan (NO, 24%) — Jordan has been on fire lately, posting 18 tackles and 7.5 sacks in his last three games. He’ll close out his season against one of his favorite targets, the Falcons. Earlier this season, Jordan had 4 tackles and a sack against Atlanta.
Top Targets
In leagues with 2-3 IDPs per position, these could be league-winners. We’re going decent floor, but mostly upside here.
Jonathan Allen (Was, 13%) — Allen is generally a high-tackle option — he’s had at least 5 tackles in three of his last four games — but he has big-play upside this week. The Giants have been a mess all season, and have been a top-10 option for DLs. Earlier this season, Allen bagged 6 tackles and 2 sacks in their matchup.
Ed Oliver (Buf, 6%) — Oliver is heating up after a cold mid-season stretch. He has 8 tackles and 2 sacks in his last two games. This week, he faces the Jets in a game that Buffalo needs to win to improve their seeding.
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 most give you a 1A option.
Harrison Phillips (Buf, 0%) — With Buffalo still playing for seeding, Phillips should get tons of snaps against a leaky Jets D-line. Phillips is a solid option in tackle-heavy and/or DT-required leagues. He’s usually between 3 and 6 tackles each week.
Zach Sieler (Mia, 1%) — Sieler has seen his snaps rise lately, anchoring next to Christian Wilkins on this dominant D-line. He had an 8-tackle game last week against Tennessee and now has 17 tackles and 2 sacks since earning a promotion in snaps three weeks ago.
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.
Isaiah Simmons (Ari, 61%) — Well it took all season, but Simmons finally took over as the primary LB in Week 17. He posted his first double-digit tackle game and should push for similar production in Week 18. The last time he faced Seattle, he also added a sack.
Top Targets
In leagues with 2-3 IDPs per position, these could be league-winners. We’re going decent floor, but mostly upside here.
Divine Deablo (LV, 4%) — After his audition at MLB with Denzel Perryman out, it appears the team is trying Deablo out at SLB next to Perryman (keeping Cory Littleton on the bench). Deablo led the team with 9 tackles (all solo) on 83%. Why wouldn’t the team keep seeing what they have in the converted safety as they plan for next season?
Jerome Baker (Mia, 10%) — Since his Week 14 bye, Baker has turned it on. Not only has his tackle production risen, but he also has 4.5 sacks in those three games. Back in Week One, Baker had 12 tackles (9 solo) against the Patriots (his Week 18 opponent).
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.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Det, 1%) — In Week 17, Reeves-Maybin duplicated his 8 tackles (4 solo) from Week 16. He’s the new every-down LB in Detroit now that Alex Anzalone is out for the season and is producing at an LB2 clip since then.
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.
Kamren Curl (Was, 6%) — Curl had back-to-back games of 8 tackles, then posted 10 (6 solo) in Week 17. He’s back to being a DB1 now that Landon Collins is a subpackage dime LB. Curl gets a juicy matchup with the Giants this week.
Top Targets
In leagues with 2-3 IDPs per position, these could be league-winners. We’re going decent floor, but mostly upside here.
Desmond King II (Hou, 10%) — King has been more heavily involved in the Houston secondary over the last few weeks. King can bounce back and forth between outside corner, slot, and safety. In his last two games, King has 18 tackles (16 solo), an INT, and 3 PD. He also occasionally returns punts. King had a monster game (including 2 INTs) when he last faced Tennesee.
Eddie Jackson (Chi, 4%) — As mentioned last week, Jackson is normally good for 4-6 tackles and after a slow stretch, he’s back and producing better than before. His last three games have produced 5, 9, 6, and 8 tackles while playing every snap.
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.
Brandin Echols (NYJ, 0%) — Echols is giving us a solid tackle floor as a result of getting picked on often in this secondary. He’s been a 4-6 tackle option each week, but also has 2 INTs in his last three games. This week, he faces the pass-heavy Bills. Echols posted 5 tackles in their previous meeting.
