RADIO
For that fan who requested it (we're looking at you, Trevor in Lubbock), Rotoballer finally has a weekly IDP waiver column! Trevor is going to be psyched! But hopefully, this column reaches more than just Trevor since he doesn't actually exist. Heck, let's hope this even helps a few people!
If you're active in IDP, you know that not all IDP leagues have the same roster and scoring settings. In fact, IDP leagues are famous for their customizability. This high degree of variation in IDP scoring can result in different fantasy defenders having wildly different fantasy values, depending on your league scoring and setup, however. Just like playing in a PPR league may raise James White's value higher than it would be in Non-PPR scoring, certain IDP defenders hold different values depending on your league scoring and setup.
For that reason, Rotoballer's weekly IDP waiver column will offer custom FAAB recommendations for various IDP setups. Each week we will pick our waiver wire players to add, list which IDP formats you should add them in, and tell you how much FAAB you should offer for them.
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IDP Settings
For our purposes, we will use the following designations/league settings for our FAAB recommendations:
- Standard Scoring Leagues: This system usually rewards 1-point per tackle, 3-points per sack, 4-points per turnover, and sometimes offers 2-points for a tackle for loss (TFL) or pass deflection (PD). Standard leagues also usually only start one DL, LB, and DB, respectively. You will always prioritize your FAAB budget towards offensive players in Standard Scoring IDP leagues, though you shouldn't underestimate the value of adding a great defender in them.
- Defense Premium Leagues: Defense Premium leagues tend to try to make defensive players worth as much as offensive players. Commissioners often accomplish this by rewarding 2-points per tackle, 3-points for TFL or PDs, 4-points per sack, and 6-points per turnover. In these leagues, you don't necessarily prioritize offensive players on waivers. While it is a case-by-case analysis, defenders in these leagues can often be worth as much as most offensive waiver additions.
- Deep Defense Leagues: These are leagues that have you start a full defense, or require you to start CBs and DTs, or they are leagues so deep (think 16 team leagues) that at least 32 players at each position (DL, LB, and DB) start every week.
- Dynasty Leagues: This is self-explanatory to most. Dynasty leagues are those in which every player you draft/add is on your team until you trade or release him.
Now that we have that explanation out of the way, let's get to this week's top adds! Remember that we will only address defenders who are rostered in less than 30% of IDP leagues on ESPN, Yahoo, or other prominent sites. We will also do our best to avoid obvious additions. While players like Myles Garrett are somehow rostered in only 31% of ESPN IDP leagues, we assume that anyone reading this material knows to add Garrett if they can.
1. Marcus Maye, New York Jets
Maye was an entry on our pre-season IDP sleepers list, picked as the most likely player to take over the beneficial role Jamal Adams filled in this Jets Defense. While Maye doesn't match Adams in talent, he is the best pure defender that the Jets have right now, and they will continue to utilize him all over the field as their primary playmaker.
It is astounding that his roster percentage in IDP leagues on ESPN is just 19% despite his quick start to the season. He sports a decent DB fantasy floor, thanks to his tackling ability, and a nice ceiling because of his heavy blitz usage. Maye should be rostered as a top-12 fantasy DB right now. While he is young enough to merit interest in dynasty leagues, his future fantasy potential will likely depend on how many defensive playmakers New York adds next offseason and beyond.
Standard Scoring FAAB: 5%
Defense Premium FAAB: 7%
Deep Defense FAAB: 8%
Dynasty: 5%
2. Christian Kirksey, Green Bay Packers
Kirksey is one of those guys who should be rostered in almost all IDP leagues at this point. He has taken over the valuable role that Blake Martinez vacated in the middle of Green Bay's defense, and he is playing it just as well, if not better than Martinez did. Kirksey has totaled 24 tackles (16 solo) in two games, and nine of the remaining games on his schedule are against teams who love to run the ball.
As long as this former Brown is healthy, he should provide you one of the better floors in Standard Scoring leagues. His tackle totals should be high enough that he is valuable even in shallow Defense Premium leagues, and he is young enough (just turned 28) that he merits dynasty consideration as well.
Standard Scoring FAAB: 4%
Defense Premium FAAB: 3%
Deep Defense FAAB: 6%
Dynasty: 1%
3. Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens
Queen has come out of the gates swinging to open his rookie year. He was always a terrific dynasty option, but he has hit his fantasy stride faster than most could have expected. The LSU product has 17 tackles (11 solo) in two games, plus a sack and an FF. That is terrific production for a rookie LB in both Standard Scoring and Defense Premium, especially considering he had little offseason work to acclimate himself to the pros.
His elite coverage skills, above-average ability to rush the passer and a well-established role in the middle of Baltimore's defense make him a better fantasy prospect than the more highly touted Isaiah Simmons right now.
Standard Scoring FAAB: 2%
Defense Premium FAAB: 4%
Deep Defense FAAB: 6%
Dynasty: 7%
4. Jeremy Chinn, Carolina Panthers
If you have read any of my IDP articles, you know I love Jeremy Chinn and have since before the NFL Draft. The Panthers are currently using Chinn as an LB, but he has DB eligibility on almost all fantasy platforms. That is insanely exciting… for Trevor and me! LBs pretty much always score more fantasy points than DBs overall, so having an LB who is DB eligible is a bit of a cheat code if the player is any good. Chinn is excellent, and he will continue to get better.
He is a priority add in dynasties, and he can start for you in all formats right now. If you play in a redraft league, however, he may hold more value in Standard Scoring than in Defense Premium thanks to his current usage as a tackler in the box rather than a deep safety who will collect PDs and picks.
Standard Scoring FAAB: 3%
Defense Premium FAAB: 3%
Deep Defense FAAB: 7%
Dynasty: 7%
5. Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Heyward isn't a sexy player, but he is consistent and has been for years. He has totaled more than 50 tackles and at least nine sacks in every healthy season he has had since 2014 except for one, and in that season, he totaled 12 sacks and 45 tackles. He gets lost on this talented Pitt defense, but he will continue to be a performer capable of contributing to your fantasy team in multiple ways.
He should be rostered in 12-team Standard Scoring leagues, as well as in all Deep Defense leagues. It is surprising to see he is rostered in less than 23% of leagues. If you need to replace Nick Bosa this year, Heyward should be one of your top options.
Standard Scoring FAAB: 4%
Deep Defense FAAB: 6%
6. Myles Jack, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jack was an elite NFL Draft prospect at one point, but he has yet to quite live up to his draft billing despite being a steady player for years. However, this season looks different so far. Through two games, he has 14 solo tackles, eight half-tackles, a sack, and PD. The Jaguars are more competitive than a lot of people were expecting, and this could lead to Jack continuing gis hot streak as he plays the run just as much as the pass, unlike in years past.
Jack is worth adding in deeper leagues and in Standard leagues based on the chance he continues this hot streak. Still, his age and lack of career consistency mean his dynasty value is lower than players like Queen, Kenneth Murray, and Isaiah Simmons.
Standard Scoring FAAB: 2%
Deep Defense FAAB: 4%
7. Emmanuel Moseley, San Francisco 49ers
Another member of our pre-season sleepers list, Moseley, has put up very nice production from the CB position the first two weeks of this season. Rostered in just 15% of IDP leagues, Moseley has registered an impressive 17 tackles (11 solo) plus two PDs. Expect him to continue to be picked on by opposing offenses with Richard Sherman, Nick Bosa, and others out. That means more opportunities for tackles and PDs. He will be picked on even more when Sherman returns, too.
Moseley is worth rostering in Deep Defense leagues that force you to start a CB or two, though he isn't worth using FAAB on in setups other than that one.
Deep Defense FAAB: 4%
8. Harold Landry III, Tennessee Titans
Landry was an undersized end coming out of Boston College, but he landed 21.5 sacks in his final 20 collegiate games. It took some time for him to acclimate to the pro game, but at 24 years old, he should be rostered in dynasty and Deep Defense leagues. He is off to a bit of a slow start this year, but expect him to come close to the nine sacks he put up in his second pro season last year. He may not merit rostering in most redraft leagues just yet, but he should be on Dynasty and Deep Defense rosters
Deep Defense FAAB: 2%
Dynasty: 2%
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