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.
Sam Hubbard (Cin, 19%) — You might have missed out on Hubbard earlier this year, but after two slow games (gasp, a DL has a slow game??) his roster % dropped below 20%. That was just in time for his bounceback 5-tackle, 2.5-sack game in Week Seven. He gets the hapless Jets and run-heavy Browns next.
Leonard Williams (NYG, 19%) — Williams added another 1.5 sacks and 6 tackles (1 solo) in Week Seven. He now has six straight games of at least 5 tackles and four straight games of at least 6 tackles. He also has 3.5 sacks in his last three games. D. L. 1.
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 Greenard (Hou, 5%) — Last week, I wrote this about Greenard: He’s the waiver wire droid you’re looking for. But even I didn’t expect another 2-sack performance from Greenard (54% snap share). Since moving into a starting role three weeks ago, Greenard is the #1 DL. If you saw his stat line of 4 tackles (3 solo) 2 sacks, 2 TFL, and 1 PD, you’d have thought you were looking at former Texan J.J. Watt’s production. Greenard isn’t prime Watt. But he’s not something that should be rostered so poorly. Greenard has DL1 upside and DL2 floor at this rate.
Trey Hendrickson (Cin, 9%) — Hendrickson continues to be an important asset in big-play leagues. He added another sack on 69% of the snaps. This gives him 6.5 sacks so far, putting him comfortably on pace to break the double-digit sack mark. He’s not much for tackles, though. Hendrickson has 2 or fewer tackles in five of his seven games. Put simply, that’s not his role on this defense. His business is getting to the quarterback. And — say it with me — business is good.
Quinnen Williams (NYJ, 6%) — Williams had 4 solos in his first game after his bye. He now has at least 4 tackles in three of his last four games. He also has 3.5 sacks and 4 TFL, making him DL #22 in balanced leagues. Fire this DL2 up as a high-floor tackler who will occasionally bring you a sack.
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.
Kwity Paye (Ind, 2%) — In his 2nd game back from injury, the rookie looked more like the player we saw earlier this season. Playing 73%, Paye had 4 tackles and a fumble recovery. His high snap share and considerable advantage while playing next to DT DeForest Buckner make him a sneaky mid-season waiver wire add. His best football is in front of him.
Linval Joseph (LAC, 1%) — Joseph’s renaissance marches on in L.A. After being a dominant DT with Minnesota for years, Joseph’s role and production as the 3-tech in Gus Bradley’s system has proven fruitful. He has at least 3 tackles in every game so far, making him a steady DT2 in balanced leagues and DL2 in tackle-heavy ones. He also just completed his bye week.
Derek Barnett (Phi, 0%) — Previously part of a heavy rotation, Barnett’s snaps have skyrocketed with so many injuries to the Philly D-line. Now playing around 80%, his tackle floor has been noticeably elevated. He has 9 tackles in his last two games and at least 4 tackles in three of his last four games. His big-play production has been non-existent, but his usage warrants a spot on the back end of your starting lineup.
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.
Foye Oluokun (Atl, 29%) — Other than going up against the anemic Jets offense when he only posted 5 tackles (2 solo), Oluokun has hit double-digit tackles in every game. He’s 7th in FPG and is now past his bye. He continually outperforms Deion Jones and is a locked-in LB1.
Demario Davis (NO, 28%) — Davis was on my “top targets” list last week, so hopefully you picked him up and enjoyed his 8-tackle/1-sack game (Yahoo! gave him 7-3 and 2 sacks, but it will likely get corrected). He has at least 8 tackles in four of his last five games and is 11th in FPG. He just finished his bye and is playing every snap as a high-floor tackle LB with big-play upside. Davis’ big plays include 3 sacks, 8 TFL, and 4 PD.
Top Targets
In leagues with 2-3 IDPs per position, these could be league-winners. We’re going decent floor, but mostly upside here.
Anthony Walker, Jr. (Cle, 11%) — Since working his way back to a full snap count after his injury, Walker has shown his LB1 potential. In those two games, Walker has 19 tackles (13 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 PD. A healthy Walker as a solid backend LB1.
David Long, Jr. (Ten, 10%) — Long registered his third double-figit FP game in a row since taking over for Jayon Brown. He’s LB #3 since he earned the starting role in Tennessee. Through three games, Long has 34 tackles, 2 TFL, and 2 PD. His bye isn’t until Week 13.
Nick Bolton (KC, 8%) — When the Chiefs made some wholesale changes to their defense after their loss to the Bills in Week Five, Bolton’s much-anticipated ascension followed. After being a 40-50% player earlier this year, Bolton played 84% last week. He racked up 15 tackles and 4 TFL. Granted, it was against the Titans offense which produces tons of LB tackles. But also, Bolton looked the part. Those 4 TFL were elite plays, and the Chiefs kept their opponent under 30 points for the 2nd week in a row (the only two times all season they've accomplished this). Bolton looks to be locked in as the primary LB now.
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.
Jarrad Davis (NYJ, 0%) — Davis was close to being ready last week and could be ready by this week. Even if he’s not game-ready this week, the Jets desperately need him. All six of their LBs are injured. Davis might just be the healthiest LB on the roster. When he’s active, he’ll be used often. As mentioned last week, HC Robert Saleh said Davis will get his job back next to C.J. Mosley when he returns. Starting ILBs shouldn’t be un-rostered.
Ernest Jones (LAR, 0%) — The Rams just traded ILB Kenny Young to the Broncos and apparently a large part of this move was based around getting Jones on the field, per the Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue. It’s likely that Troy Reeder will be the primary beneficiary, but Jones should be on the field enough to be an LB3 at worst. I say “at worst,” because he has an outside shot of being their single LB. He should be rostered in 3-4 LB leagues.
Josh Bynes (Bal, 0%) — For the 2nd week in a row, Bynes (73%) has out-snapped and out-produced Patrick Queen (43%). He now has back-to-back weeks of 6 tackles. He looks to be a solid LB3 now but he is currently on his bye week. He will go unrostered this week, so grab him a week early to solidify the backend of your LB corps.
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.
Khari Willis (Ind, 18%) — Not counting his two injured games, Willis has hit 6 tackles in every game. He’s tackling at an elite rate of 13.9% and is DB #1 in his five healthy games. He also has some big-play upside coming his way when he faces off against Jax and NYJ in a few weeks.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pit, 21%) — Since entering the league, Fitzpatrick has consistently played at a high level. But for fantasy, his role as a deep safety has been a bummer. He just hasn’t been around the ball as much as we’d like, which is not his fault. This year however, Fitzpatrick’s role has adjusted some. That adjustment has finally given us some substantial fantasy production. He’s hit at least 8 tackles in four of his six games and just finished his bye. He’s DB #6 so far.
Top Targets
In leagues with 2-3 IDPs per position, these could be league-winners. We’re going decent floor, but mostly upside here.
Kyle Dugger (NE, 11%) — Dugger’s third week on this list is highlighted by the combination of a barely-moving roster % and a 10-tackle Week Seven performance. After hovering around 70-80% usage earlier in the season, Dugger’s snaps are now in the 90+% range. He’s been out-producing fellow safeties Adrian Phillips and Devin McCourty, largely because Dugger essentially soaks up LB tackles instead of playing a true safety position. I think for the first time in quite a while, Bill Belichick might have a legit fantasy IDP.
Marcus Maye (NYJ, 6%) — After starting the season strong with 23 tackles (16 solo), 2 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 PD as DB #6 after three weeks, Maye hit the IR. In his first game back last week, Maye went right back to work with 12 tackles (7 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 PD. It seems as though new HC and defensive wizard Robert Saleh knows how to use Maye. We should, too.
Taron Johnson (Buf, 4%) — I’ve professed my IDP love for Johnson multiple times across this site, the IDP Corner podcast, and SiriusXM radio. He’s a slot corner who gives you a safety-like tackle floor and CB-like big plays (PD, INT upside). His 33 tackles, 1 sack, 6 PD, and 1 FF make him the 9th-best safety. In CB-required leagues, he’s CB #2. In leagues that favor PD, he’s a top-5 DB.
Kareem Jackson (Den, 4%) — Jackson has been a steady presence in the Denver secondary which is much-needed, given their 4 injured LBs in front of him. Jackson has at least 6 tackles in five of his last six games, including 9 tackles last week and 11 tackles in Week 4. He’s DB #23 so far this season.
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.
Rayshawn Jenkins (Jax, 1%) — Jenkins is coming off his bye and should pick right back up where he left off: a solid DB3. Remove his one poor outing vs. Arizona in Week Three and he’s DB #15. Jenkins has at least 6 tackles in four of his six games and provides a comfortable floor as your DB3+
Richie Grant (Atl, 0%) — Grant’s rookie season has gotten off to a slow start. Struggling in pre-season, Grant never had a chance at cracking the starting lineup over fellow safeties Duron Harmon or Erik Harris. Before Week Five, Grant amassed a whopping 6 snaps. But Week Five brought a 50% snap share, followed by what appears to be a bye-week shakeup in the secondary. Grant played 79% in Week Seven, totaling 6 tackles (4 solo) playing in the slot as well as some traditional safety. Grant’s ascension could be in full swing, so roster him now as your DB3/DB4 and don’t be surprised if he’s not your DB2 by season’s end.
