Tag: IDP waivers

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 1

Check your waiver wire for these IDP options ahead of Week 1.

Welcome to the 2022 fantasy football season! Each week, we’ll highlight some diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.

Defensive Linemen

DE James Smith-Williams, Washington Commanders

Star DE Chase Young is on the PUP and may miss close to half the season recovering from a torn ACL. Smith-Williams, a third-year end, had 40 tackles and three sacks in his first two seasons combined. He’ll have an opportunity in Week 1 to create havoc against a Jacksonville Jaguars O-line that has some gelling to do. They retained LT Cam Robinson in the offseason on the franchise tag and signed OG Brandon Scherff, but they don’t have much else. JSW is worth picking up in case he breaks out in a good matchup.

DE Tashawn Bower, Las Vegas Raiders

Bower is one to keep on your watch list or snatch in deeper leagues. He’ll be a rotational player behind Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, but he’ll get the chance to rush the passer. He led the league with four sacks this preseason, and he was all over the place with 12 tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

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Linebackers

LB Bradley Chubb, Denver Broncos

Chubb and Von Miller were supposed to be a lethal pass-rush duo, but they couldn’t stay on the field together. Now Chubb will have Randy Gregory on the weak side, and they have a great matchup against a hapless Seattle Seahawks offensive line. Look for Chubb to start quickly in his quest to surpass his career-high 12 sacks from his rookie season. Bonus points aplenty if he qualifies as a DE in your league.

LB Myjai Sanders, Arizona Cardinals

Starting strongside LB Markus Golden (undisclosed) is questionable for Week 1, which opens the door for the rookie. Sanders had a solid 14.1 pressure percentage last year as a senior at Cincinnati. He converted that into only 2.5 sacks. The Cards thought enough of him to spend a third-round pick on him, and he could earn more reps with a big debut.

Defensive Backs

FS Andre Cisco, Jacksonville Jaguars

Cisco is the type of high-motor guy you like to see in a potential breakout at safety. QB Trevor Lawrence said that Cisco takes calculated risks in practice, and more times than not – they pan out. Cisco had 26 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two pass defenses in 17 games last year. He’ll be in the starting lineup and could compile enough tackles to make an early splash.

CB Jeff Okudah, Detroit Lions

If you want to talk about post-hype prospects, you can’t get much more post-hype than the 2020 No. 3 overall pick. He had 47 tackles, one pick and two pass defenses in nine games during his rookie season and was only able to suit up for one game last year. He’s still just 23 and in line to start opposite Amani Oruwariye. He’s big and quick enough to compete with anyone, and now he may be hungry to erase that “bust” label.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 18

The best one-week plays in Week 18 IDP leagues.

In what has been a trying, wacky season, it all comes down to this. Welcome to the first of its kind – Week 18. Here are some one-week plays to bank on when you’re scouring the waiver wire.

Defensive Linemen

DE Leonard Williams, New York Giants (vs. WAS)

The Washington Football Team has been decimated up front with injuries, and it shows. They have allowed the most fantasy points to defensive linemen the last five weeks and coughed up 11 sacks to boot. Williams has been a bright spot for the G-Men and had eight total tackles last week. He hasn’t recorded a sack since Week 8, but that could change in the season finale.

DE Jadeveon Clowney, Cleveland Browns (vs. CIN)

Welcome back to the fantasysphere, Clowney! He showed up and showed out for six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. The Cincinnati Bengals are tied for the most sacks allowed to D-linemen the last five weeks, and Clowney is looking to land a gig for next season. The Bengals will come ready, though, as they still have a shot at the top seed in the AFC if KC loses on Saturday.

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Linebackers

LB Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. BAL)

The Baltimore Ravens have allowed the second-most sacks to linebackers the last five weeks, and their quarterback situation is still in flux with Lamar Jackson (ankle) iffy. They also have very slim odds of making the playoffs. Enter Highsmith, who has rattled off 12 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble the last two weeks.

LB Alec Ogletree, Chicago Bears (vs. MIN)

The Minnesota Vikings have pretty much mailed it in after losing to Green Bay last week. Ogletree, has not, as he scooped up eight tackles in each of the last three games. He can give you tackles and pass-coverage numbers in this one.

Defensive Backs

S Marcell Harris, San Francisco 49ers (vs. LAR)

The aerial barrage of the Los Angeles Rams yields a ton of tackles to DBs. Over the last five weeks, opposing secondaries have 159 tackles. Harris was a standout in Week 17, picking up 10 tackles of his own. He picked off his first pass of the year, too. Give him a look in the season finale.

CB M.J. Stewart, Cleveland Browns (vs. CIN)

His name doesn’t jump off the page, but, man, his stats do. Over the last three weeks, he has 27 tackles, three pass defenses and a forced fumble. The Cincinnati Bengals, as previously mentioned, have something to play for if KC wins on Saturday and will look to gun it downfield. Stewart has been up to the task of late without a lot of fanfare.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 17

Forecasting the free-agent IDPs you should target in fantasy leagues.

It’s championship week for most fantasy football leagues and the second-to-last week of the long grind for others. Let’s see what kind of gems we can pluck from the waiver wire in Week 17.

Defensive Linemen

DE Carlos Dunlap, Seattle Seahawks

The 32-year-old former Pro Bowler has reignited the last couple of weeks. He has sacks in three of four games, and he has five sacks in the last two weeks. Dunlap put up nine tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defense in the two slates as well as he is looking to get a new contract in the offseason.

DE William Gholston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gholston opened up for 2.5 sacks in Week 16 to double his yearly output. The 30-year-old has made his case to replace the injured LB Shaq Barrett (knee) off the edge. He has a tasty matchup against the New York Jets this week to add to it.

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Linebackers

LB Jonas Griffith, Denver Broncos

If his nine tackles in Week 15 didn’t catch your attention, his 13 total stops last week should have. Griffith is an undrafted rookie who has taken his chance and run with it. Pick him up for depth in most formats.

LB Markus Bailey, Cincinnati Bengals

The second-year man is another unknown looking to become known. The former seventh-rounder had eight total tackles in Week 16 after he made a splash in Week 15. He had five tackles, a half-sack and a pass defense. He’ll chase around the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns in the last two games.

Defensive Backs

SS Jeremy Reaves, Washington Football Team

The South Alabama product has emerged onto the scene in the last two weeks with 22 tackles in the last two games. It’s pretty hard to find 10-tackle players at this point in the season, and you should rush to the wire to add him at least as depth.

FS Darnell Savage, Green Bay Packers

The 2019 first-round pick has been slow to develop, but after he picked off his second pass of the season last week – now may be the time. He averaged seven tackles the last two weeks to pad his roster viability even more. Savage has the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions the last two weeks.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 16

Forecasting the free-agent IDPs you should target in fantasy leagues.

What a wild, crazy Week 15 we experienced. The pandemic continues to wreak havoc on rosters, and we have to keep rolling with the punches in fantasy. Here are this week’s gems to add from the waiver wire.

Defensive Linemen

DE DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys

He missed 10 games to injury and hasn’t set the world ablaze, but there are promising signs. Lawrence had his first sack of the year two weeks ago. He followed up with five tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defense last week. He has Washington, Arizona and Philadelphia left on the schedule to terrorize their pockets.

DE Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears

After missing a month of action, Hicks returned with a bang in Week 15. He had five tackles and two sacks. He’ll have the Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings are remaining on the schedule, and those O-line situations leave a lot of leaks for opposing pass rushers.

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Linebackers

LB Garret Wallow, Houston Texans

Wallow saw more action in Week 15 after the defense was hit hard by COVID-19. The fifth-round rookie responded with 11 tackles and a sack. With the team going nowhere this season, they have every reason to keep him in there to see what he can do.

LB Lorenzo Carter, New York Giants

Carter has seen a boost in playing time lately, and it’s showing in the stat sheet. In just over 60 percent of the defensive snaps the last two weeks, he has eight tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defense. He’s more of a deep-league option, but we could be seeing the beginning of a peak.

Defensive Backs

SS Terrell Edmunds, Pittsburgh Steelers

Edmunds had a season-high 10 tackles against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. He doesn’t do much beyond the tackle column, but he could be busy against the Kansas City Chiefs over the middle of the field next week. He’s a potential flex play there.

CB Dane Jackson, Buffalo Bills

The second-year man has made a name for himself the last couple of weeks. He was thrust into action in Week 13, and he has posted 19 tackles and four pass defenses in the last three. Teams clearly have thrown his way not believing in the seventh-round pick. Maybe it’s time to start.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 15

Forecasting the free-agent IDPs you should target in fantasy leagues.

For many leagues, the fantasy playoffs are upon us. Whether you snagged one of the top seeds and have a bye this week, or you’re still charging to the end of the season in a roto league, let’s nail those IDP gems on waivers.

Defensive Linemen

DE Greg Gaines, Los Angeles Rams

Gaines is a bit of an unknown as a fourth-round pick from 2019. As of three weeks ago, he had just 1.5 sacks and 28 tackles on the year. He came alive in the last three games with 16 tackles and two sacks. He has the Seahawks, Vikings and Ravens to pad that sack total.

DE Dre’Mont Jones, Denver Broncos

The 2019 third-round pick has come on strong the last few weeks with 5.5 sacks in the last six games. He has been ablaze the last two games with seven tackles, three sacks and a pass defense. He has a favorable schedule to continue terrorizing pockets the last three weeks of the season.

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Linebackers

LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, New England Patriots

The only thing that kept Bentley out of this piece last week was the bye the Pats had. Over the last four games, he had 25 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles. Bentley has had peaks and valleys, but he’s peaking at the right time.

LB Josh Woods, Detroit Lions

Thirteen tackles will certainly get your attention. That’s what Woods posted last week as an injury replacement. He had eight total tackles in Week 13, and he should be scooped up for depth or to block another leaguemate if that earned him more PT.

Defensive Backs

SS Elijah Riley, New York Jets

The 23-year-old from Army first emerged two weeks ago with even tackles and a sack. He followed that up with 10 tackles last week in what looks like a spot he can use for an audition for a role for next year.

CB Bashaud Breeland, Minnesota Vikings

The 29-year-old veteran has been a beast the last two weeks. He has 17 tackles, a forced fumble, an INT and two pass defenses. His final three games are against the Bears, Rams and Packers as the Vikings try to stay in the hunt.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 14

Forecasting the free-agent IDPs you should target in fantasy leagues.

With one of the windiest games in recent memory in the rearview, let’s keep the momentum going as we charge forward toward the fantasy playoffs. Keep an eye out for these hidden gems to add to your championship pedigree.

Defensive Linemen

DE Chris Wormley, Pittsburgh Steelers

Wormley, 28, is in the midst of a breakout. He had just 3.5 sacks in his career entering this season, and he has matched that the last two weeks to give him five on the year. He also has nine tackles in that stretch. He’ll have a chance to add to it against the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans the next two weeks.

DE D.J. Wonnum, Minnesota Vikings

The 24-year-old is a risky proposition, because he doesn’t get many tackles. He has a sack in each of the last two games, though, and faces the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears the next two weeks. He could easily get two or three more during that stretch and is worth consideration.

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Linebackers

LB Drue Tranquill, Los Angeles Chargers

The Notre Dame product had some banner weeks earlier in the season, but injuries caught up. He bounced back last week with 10 tackles, a sack and a pass defense. You don’t find many starting inside linebackers on waivers around this time, so scoop him up at least for depth.

LB Baron Browning, Denver Broncos

The third-round rookie has started to kick up dust the last few weeks. He has averaged 7.5 tackles the last two. He had one clunker in Week 10, along with a bye week, but if you throw those two out – he averaged 7.25 tackles during a four-game stretch. Give him a look.

Defensive Backs

FS Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers

Fitzpatrick was a solid contributor early in the season, but he missed some time on the COVID list. He has been a force the last two weeks with INTs and nine tackles in each game. He’s still on a lot of waivers, but he needs to be owned everywhere.

CB Amani Oruwariye, Detroit Lions

It’s time to take notice to this guy. He has averaged 5.5 tackles per game over the last month, and he picked off a couple passes with three passes defended. Three of his four remaining games are against teams under .500 that he could possibly jump a few more pass routes.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 13

Forecasting the free-agent IDPs you should target in fantasy leagues.

How is it Week 13 already? This season has flown by, and we hope the wind has been at your sails in the standings. Let’s keep the ship moving!

Defensive Linemen

DE Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs

The former All-Pro went off in Week 11 with a season-high 3.5 sacks and had a bye last week. He’ll be a hot pickup on waivers this week. The Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos. Teddy Bridgewater is under center, and he moves like his feet are in cement. Jones has a chance for another big game.

DE Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins

The first-round pick has come on strong. He has at least a half-sack in four straight games, and he’s coming off a breakout, three-sack game last week. He’ll face both lowly New York teams with a bye in between the next three weeks. Get him while he’s sizzling.

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Linebackers

LB Tyus Bowser, Baltimore Ravens

Bowser has been one of the better linebackers in fantasy the last two weeks. He has nine tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and two pass defenses during the stretch. He also has games against three banged-up quarterbacks when he faces the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers upcoming.

LB Kyle Van Noy, New England Patriots

The cagey veteran exploded in Week 11 with eight tackles, an INT, two sacks, a pass defense and a touchdown. He backed it up with five tackles, a forced fumble and three pass defenses last week. He’ll face the Buffalo Bills this week before a bye, so his shelf life might not last long, but he’s there for depth.

Defensive Backs

CB Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints

Usually better in real life than in fantasy, the stud corner has been piling up tackles. He has 20 stops over the last month but has just one pass defense. They’re clearly going away from him on the field, but he still has an eye for making plays.

SS Ronnie Harrison Jr., Cleveland Browns

He’s on a bye this week, but he just racked up 14 tackles and an INT last week. Pick him up and stash him as his schedule is pretty favorable the rest of the way.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 12

Forecasting the free-agent IDPs you should target in fantasy leagues.

It’s Thanksgiving Week as we head into Week 12. There’s a lot to be thankful for, and hopefully a spot in the fantasy playoffs is one. Let’s find those hidden gems on the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive Linemen

DE Dorance Armstrong, Dallas Cowboys

Armstrong has had nearly identical stat lines the last two games with three total tackles and a sack in each game. Injuries have thrust him into a position to see an extended look, and he has cashed in. He has a somewhat favorable schedule down the stretch to cement a place in your lineup.

DT A’Shawn Robinson, Los Angeles Rams

He’s coming off a bye week, but he was piling up tackles in the two previous weeks. He averaged seven total tackles per game. The nose tackle is an option in deeper formats if you need some depth.

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Linebackers

LB Zach Cunningham, Houston Texans

Cunningham was on a lot of rosters early on, but he fizzled out around midseason. He’s back with a vengeance, though as he had 11 tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defense last week. Scoop him up and get him in there as a potential flex.

LB Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears

The former Pro Bowl defensive end has taken over for his fellow converted linebacker in Khalil Mack with an eye-popping 3.5 sacks last week. He also forced a fumble and had five tackles. He’s an imperfect linebacker in fantasy, but he faces the Detroit Lions in Week 12. That could be quite a feast.

Defensive Backs

SS Eric Murray, Houston Texans

With a bye week sandwiched in, Murray has had two solid games in a row. He had 19 tackles, an INT and two pass defenses. With the New York Jets on the docket this week, he has potential to continue his ballhawking.

CB A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons

The 2020 first-round pick has been making noise the last three weeks with five, seven and nine total tackles, respectively. He also has one INT and four pass defenses. Darius Slay deserves some honorable mention for scoring touchdowns in three of the last four games, but Terrell brings stats that you can count on more.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 11

Forecasting the free-agent IDPs you should target in fantasy leagues.

It’s that time of the week! Ring in Week 11, and let’s find those hidden IDP gems on waivers.

Defensive Linemen

DE Marcus Davenport, New Orleans Saints

The former first-rounder is coming of age at 25 with two big games in a row. He has nine tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble over the last two weeks. Davenport gets to chase Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts this week in what is a good matchup for the position.

DT Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans

He has been feast or famine all season, but his last two weeks have been massive. He has 10 tackles, five sacks and a pass defense. He’ll look to add on against the lowly Houston Texans this week. Continue to ride his hot hand.

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Linebackers

LB Davion Taylor, Philadelphia Eagles

The second-year man has emerged the last two weeks with eight tackles two weeks ago and seven tackles with two forced fumbles last week. He’ll play the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and New York Jets the next three weeks to pile on more.

LB Elandon Roberts, Miami Dolphins

Roberts has been hovering our radar for a few weeks, and it might be time to act in deeper leagues. He has averaged six tackles per game the last four games and recorded his first sack of the season last week. He’ll face the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and New York Giants the next three weeks.

Defensive Backs

SS Ashtyn Davis, New York Jets

Davis has been hot and cold the last month, but he has been really on his game in the good slates. He had 11 tackles one game and nine stops with two forced fumbles in another. Another thing going for him, he faces one team with a favorable quarterback situation the rest of the year when he sees Tom Brady in the season finale – and they may not have to win that one.

CB L’Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs

We’re diving deep here, but Sneed has been racking up the tackles the last month. He’s averaging 6.5 tackles per game, and there should be plenty of chances for stops against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11. If you’re in a league that uses multiple DBs, give him a look.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 10

Forecasting the free-agent IDPs you should target in fantasy leagues.

With double digits comes double the importance of nailing the IDP gems in Week 10. You have stated your case as a contender, so now let’s cement your case for the top seed.

Defensive Linemen

DE Dawuane Smoot, Jacksonville Jaguars

Josh Allen is making all the headlines, but the guy playing on the other side of him has quietly made some plays. Smoot has sacks in three out of the last four games and pitched in nine tackles and a forced fumble during the stretch. Allen will continue to get all of the attention in game planning, and Smoot should continue to benefit.

DE Denico Autry, Tennessee Titans

He’s feast or famine, but there has been a lot to consume the last three weeks. He has nine tackles, 3.5 sacks and three pass defenses during the time period. He has New Orleans and Houston the next two weeks, and they don’t exude strong quarterback play.

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Linebackers

ILB Josh Bynes, Baltimore Ravens

Finally healthy after a sluggish start to the season, Bynes has been a standout of late. He had 11 tackles in the overtime win in Week 9, and has racked up 23 stops in the last three games combined. He tossed in two pass defenses as well. It’s hard to find double-digit tacklers this late, so pick him up even to block your opponents.

LB Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas Cowboys

The former first-round pick has really fallen from grace – mostly due to injuries. He picked up 12 tackles last week, which was by far his best game of the season. The Cowboys offense has been struggling, relatively speaking, and other teams are running the ball against them. That gives LVE upside.

Defensive Backs

FS Erik Harris, Atlanta Falcons

Harris has been consistent week to week, but it has been average, at best. He has six tackles in five of seven games with a season-high eight stops last week. He also has seven pass defenses on the season, which is one shy of his career high. There isn’t a lot of upside here, but he’s a safe tackle commodity.

CB Cameron Dantzler, Minnesota Vikings

The former third-rounder had a season-high 10 tackles last week. Two weeks ago, he had seven tackles and two pass defenses. He has been quiet all season to this point, but he’s making noise now that you can’t ignore in deeper leagues, especially as long as Patrick Peterson remains sidelined.