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.
Akiem Hicks (Chi, 34%) — Hicks is having a monster season, with 18 tackles (12 solo), 3.5 sacks, and 6.5 TFL. Playing a 77% snap share, Hicks has at least 3 solos in three of his four games, and at least 1 sack in three of four games as well. He’s DL #3 so far, trailing only Myles Garrett and Aldon Smith.
Yannick Ngakoue (Min, 19%) — Ngakoue continues to settle in as a Viking, as he racked up his 3rd sack in three games, adding 5 solos. After a slow Week 1 while clearly in his first action of the summer, Ngakoue now has 9 solos and 3 sacks in his last three games.
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, 18%) — Hubbard recorded 4 tackles (3 solo) in Week 4, and is climbing back up the DL leaderboard after a bum Week 2 game. Outside of that TNF debacle by the entire CIN D, Hubbard has 17 tackles, 2 TFL and 1 sack in three games. He’s currently the 16th-ranked DL.
Justin Houston (Was, 14%) — Houston has at least a half a sack in each game this season. He continues to get more one-on-one matchups with stud DT DeForest Buckner garnering a ton of attention. He has 9 tackles (7 solo), 3.5 sacks, 4.5 TFL, and a safety.
Grady Jarrett (Atl, 12%) — Even a banged-up Jarrett posted 4 tackles (3 solo), and 1.5 TFL in Week 4. Jarrett has been in the top-5 DLs each week. As Jarrett gets healthier, he should add to his 2.5 sacks so far. He’s also clearly on a defense that will see the field a ton, even though a few really long Falcons drives limited the GB offense to just 55 snaps.
Josh Allen (Jax, 11%) — Allen now has a sack in back-to-back games, though he does carry a low tackle floor. Allen has just 2 tackles in three of his four games, but he’s starting to heat up as the weather cools down. He just missed multiple times earlier this season, so now he’s getting home more, we’re hoping he gets on a roll.
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.
Leonard Williams (NYG, 4%) — Williams produced another 5 tackles (3 solo) in Week 4, and now has 5 tackles in three of his four games. His only outlier still produced 3 tackles, so Williams is maintaining a solid tackle floor. Looking every bit like the 1st-rounder he is, Williams seems rejuvenated on this Giants D-line. He also has 2 sacks and 4 TFL and is the #6 DL.
Kerry Hyder, Jr. (SF, 3%) — Hyder keeps flying under the radar but keeps flying atop DL leaderboards. With 18 tackles (10 solo), 2.5 sacks, and 3 TFL, Hyder has maintained a 75% snap share since taking over for Nick Bosa in Week 2. Hyder is a top-10 DL through four games.
{D.J. Reader|DL|CIN}} (Cin, 1%) — Reader posted another solid game, with 5 tackles (2 solo). He has at least 5 tackles in three of his four games and has been one of the more reliable options on this Cincy D-line. Once Geno Atkins returns (which might be this week), Reader will get some more help, which could increase his tackle floor. Reader’s 18 tackles rank 5th-most in the NFL. It’s the fact that only 7 have been solo that keeps him out of the top-10 for tackle-heavy DLs.
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.
Eric Kendricks (Min, 48%) – Kendricks posted another double-digit tackle game (12 tackles - 7 solo), and continues to lead the league in tackles, with 45. He’s been a top-2 LB through four weeks and is in full charge of the middle of this Vikings D. His lowest tackle total has been 10 so far, and as I wrote last week, that level of production isn’t likely to diminish any time soon.
Tremaine Edmunds (Buf, 26%) – After being injured early in the season, Edmunds finally saw a full snap share in Week 4, and posted a very Edmunds-like 12 tackles (8 solo). I mentioned during training camp that Edmunds had seemingly improved his ability to diagnose plays and weave through traffic, and we saw that in Week 4. Edmunds is LB1 material but rostered as LB3 material.
Top Targets
In leagues with 2-3 IDPs per position, these could be league-winners. We’re going decent floor, but mostly upside here.
Jon Bostic (Was, 13%) – Even with several other LBs rotating around him, Bostic remains the play-caller and main producer in this LB corps. He pulled in 14 tackles (6 solo), and has at least 7 tackles in each game this season. Bostic is LB8 through four weeks.
Benardrick McKinney (Hou, 9%) — McKinney posted another double-digit tackle game (10 tackles - 5 solo) and now has three double-digit tackle games in a row. He tends to split his solos and assists fairly evenly, though. McKinney is a high-end LB2 and should remain that throughout the season.
De’Vondre Campbell (Ari, 11%) — The reason Jordan Hicks isn’t producing at the insane level he was last season is largely due to Campbell. Through four games, Campbell’s 32 tackles is only one fewer than Hicks’ 33. He’s posted between 6 and 10 tackles each week, with a solid 2:1 ratio of solos-to-assists. Currently outscoring Demario Davis, Joe Schobert, and Deion Jones, Campbell’s barely-above-single-digit rostering needs to be rectified.
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.
Eric Wilson (Min, 4%) — Wilson recorded 9 tackles (3 solo) in Week 4, and now has at least 7 tackles in all three games without Anthony Barr. Since then, Wilson has been a low/mid LB2 and is settling in as a nice 7-10 tackle option for your LB3 slot. He’s also played every snap sine taking over for Barr, which gives him a healthy floor.
Anthony Walker (Ind, 10%) — This one is risky, but oh the upside… If Darius Leonard’s groin injury keeps him out of this week and possibly longer, Walker is an LB2+/LB1- instantly. In games where Leonard was Out over the last few years, Walker has been a weekly double-digit tackle option. Last week with Leonard leaving in the first half, Walker soaked up 11 tackles (9 solo). The only issue is that we don’t have any new info on Leonard’s status and likely won’t before you submit waiver claims.
Kyzir White (LAC, 2%) — After posting 10 tackles (8 solo) in Week 4, White has back-to-back double-digit tackle games, and at least 7 tackles in the three games since he’s taken over the WILL spot. Since then, White is the #7 LB, with 28 tackles (21 solo), 1.5 TFL, and 1 PD.
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.
Justin Simmons (Den, 26%) — Simmons remains a top-10 DB despite his poor matchup in Week 4. The Jets give up the lowest tackles to DBs in the league - 22.1 per game - which can happen with anemic offenses. Still, Simmons came through with 5 solos, demonstrating his reliable tackle floor. This week, his matchup is much improved. The Patriots are the #2 team for opposing DB production, averaging over 28 tackles per game to DBs. Oh, and Simmons will be facing Jarrett Stidham. Sweet, fancy Moses.
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, 6%) — How different would Jones’ roster % be if he didn't have that Week 2 dud where poor Andrew Wingard was mercilessly attacked by Ryan Tannehill? Still, even in that game, the former Packers safety laid a solid floor of 5 tackles (3 solo). In Week 4, Jones posted 11 tackles (7 solo) and has posted at least 6 solos in three of his four games. His 36 tackles lead all DBs.
Jeremy Chinn (Car, 11%) — Chinn posted 8 tackles (5 solo) in Week 4, and has at least 7 tackles in each game this season. Involved on every level of the defense (and playing every snap through four games), Chinn’s 35 tackles are second only to Josh Jones. He’s DB #11, and would be higher if his home crew didn’t love solos as much as I love naps.
Chuck Clark (Bal, 14%) — As the every-down play-caller on the Baltimore defense, Clark’s tackle floor is comfortably high. He has at least 6 tackles in every game, including his 4 solo/2 assist game in Week 4. He’s also got some big paly upside, with 2 forced fumbles and a half-sack in four games.
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.
{Donovan Wilson|DB|DAL}} (Dal, 0%) — Let’s talk boom/bust. With Darian Thompson struggling mightily at the back end of this porous Dallas D, the team made a mid-game switch in Week 4, allowing Wilson to finally see some game action. Wilson led the team with 10 tackles (6 solo) and a sack. Could Wilson be a double-digit tackle guy going forward? I’m not banking on it, but if he can keep the job, he could easily be a 5-7 tackle guy. To me, the risk is worth the reward.
Trevon Diggs (Dal, 2%) — Diggs posted 8 tackles (4 solo) and a sack in Week 4, giving him at least 6 tackles in each of his last three games. He will continue to get picked on as a rookie corner, and so far he’s settling in as dependable CB1. He’s DB #12 so far, and the big plays should be coming soon once he’s over his shoulder injury.
Ryan Neal (Sea, 0%) — As long as Jamal Adams is Out with a sore groin, Neal is a viable starter in deep leagues. He posted 6 tackles (5 solo) in his first start for Adams, and also snagged an INT. In Week 3, Neal entered mid-game and wound up with 4 solos. Neal does have a Week 6 bye, however.
