RADIO
Take one look at the fantasy football corner of any social media platform, and you’ll find no shortage of people who have the entire NFL figured out after just one or two games. Two weeks ago, people on Reddit might have told you, “Toss Aaron Rodgers like you would any rotten cheese." This week, your Twitter feed may be full of people calling Justin Fields supporters "idiots who don’t know their taint from a taco.” It’s a wonderfully inconsistent rabbit hole, the confident and conflicting nexus where fantasy football and social media meet, and it can be tricky figuring out just how much of the noise matters.
With so many hot takes and so much turnover bombarding you right now, especially with a generational rookie QB class that is disappointing, it is ultimately up to you to know which projections and opinions are a good fit for your fantasy team. You can’t know this by simply following a box score or listening to helpful folks who say, “Sam Darnold sucks,” either. You need to feel comfortable disagreeing with analysts you like if you feel strongly about a player, and you need to figure out what statistical models will matter in your league. You must engage with the product on the field, make your team your own, and let your eyes be the final decision maker. Only then will your fantasy losses come with lessons and your wins with satisfaction.
With that addressed, let’s get to our weekly list of IDP waiver priorities. As always, to qualify for this list, the defender must be rostered in less than 20% of IDP leagues. We will also try to tailor this list to include relevant players both for casual IDP formats and much deeper ones.
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Logan Wilson, LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Rostered in 5.4% of IDP leagues
Despite our clamoring for you to add Wilson and start him in an ideal matchup against the Steelers this past weekend, Wilson is still available in nearly 95% of IDP leagues. We even made him our IDP Streamer of the Week in Week 3, and his roster rate jumped less than 2%. Hopefully, his 14 tackles and two interceptions were enough to convince you, and he won't be eligible for this list much longer. The thumper is first in the NFL in interceptions and seventh in tackles through three weeks. What isn't there to like?
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 5%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 14%
Kenny Young, LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rostered in 10.2% of IDP leagues
We mentioned earlier this season that Troy Reeder's stock was on the rise because he seemed pegged as the new Cory Littleton and Micah Kiser on the Rams' defense. We noted just how valuable that position is in fantasy, too. We were right about the value of the position but wrong about who would fill it.
Through three weeks, Young has established himself as the clear inside leader of Los Angeles' elite unit. Every snap that the former Bruin has been healthy, he has played. He is currently tied for 15th in tackles despite missing over a quarter of play to injury, plus he's got a sack and a PD as well. Young is worth adding as a bench stash in deeper IDP leagues or as an LB2.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 3%
Jaquiski Tartt, DB, San Francisco 49ers
Rostered in 1.0% of IDP leagues
This past weekend, Green Bay exposed San Francisco's lack of depth in the secondary, suggesting that Kyle Shanahan's club could struggle to stop offenses with accurate quarterbacks and real receivers. Unfortunately for the 49ers, they still have two games each against elite passing attacks led by Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford, and Russell Wilson, along with a matchup against a promising Bengals attack and a tough Titans team.
As the 49ers struggle to find healthy corners to stop opposing passing attacks, look for them to continue using Jaquiski Tartt in various ways. So far this year, Tartt has dropped in coverage 66.8% of the time, and that’s allowed him to average six tackles a game while sitting 12th in TFLs. Given the lack of depth in the San Francisco secondary, it’s reasonable to expect Tart to continue putting up low-end DB2 numbers as he cleans up after second and third-string corners.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 4%
Matthew Judon, DL/LB, New England Patriots
Rostered in 9.2% of IDP leagues
There are reasons to believe Judon’s a candidate to disappoint after his hot start to the season. He currently has an unsustainable 29.1% pressure rate, which is more than twice the career rates of elite pass rushers like Myles Garrett and the Bosa Brothers. There is reason to think he is worthy of an IDP pickup even if he is bound to regress, though.
Judon was a productive pass rusher in Baltimore, which gives some reason for optimism here. The former Raven also could be seeing the patented Belichick boost that many defenders experience in New England, provided they fit into the scheme and culture of the team. With Judon seeing a healthy number of snaps despite his inconsistencies in run support, expect him to continue taking advantage of a solid Patriots secondary as he puts up DL3 caliber production.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 3%
Javon Hargrave, DL, Philadelphia Eagles
Rostered in 9.4% of IDP leagues
Hargraves made this list last week, and then he kept getting better. Opponents have averaged half as many rushing yards with him on the field than when he’s off it, and he’s shown the ability to get regular pressure from the inside. He is looking like one of the most disruptive interior defenders in the NFL this year, and he merits rostering in any league that utilizes a DT position.
FAAB in IDP Leagues Requiring a DT: 4%
Gregory Rousseau, DL, Buffalo Bills
Rostered in 3.0% of IDP leagues
You have to be pleasantly surprised with how Rousseau is playing at the start of his rookie season. The kid wasn’t a dedicated defensive lineman in high school, and he played only one full season of college ball at the position before sitting out 2020 and joining this year’s NFL Draft. So it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if he started slow, but he hasn’t.
While Rousseau's two sacks came against a woeful Dolphins offensive line, he's been a sturdy tackler and produced nine pressures over his first three pro games. According to Football Outsiders, his schedule for the rest of the year is also favorable, as nine of his remaining contests come against offensive lines that currently rank in the bottom half of the NFL in Adjusted Sack Rate. Rousseau offers you upside and a soft schedule the rest of the way, so he’s worth rostering in dynasty and deep IDP leagues.
FAAB in Dynasty IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 4%
Byron Murphy Jr., DB, Arizona Cardinals
Rostered in 4.5% of IDP leagues
Mentioned in prior waiver columns, Murphy Jr. is Arizona’s primary corner. He plays on a team that will run up the score frequently, forcing opponents to throw the ball a lot. Murphy Jr. is the primary candidate to shadow for Arizona, and they use shadow coverage about five or six games per year. He also has very good ball skills, proven by his league-leading five pass deflections. We've said this before, but if your league requires you to start a CB, then Murphy Jr. is a strong option.
FAAB in Leagues Requiring a CB: 5%
Nick Bolton, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Rostered in 3.9% of IDP leagues
The injury to Willie Gay Jr. has silenced most of our pre-season concerns about what kind of playing time Bolton would get as a rookie. Despite having some struggles in coverage to start, the Missouri product has seen 76% or more of his team's defensive snaps every game so far. He’s averaged a solid 7.6 tackles per game, shown the ability to get into the backfield, and he should keep getting better. If the Chiefs keep trusting him on passing downs, he should continue improving and giving you LB3 upside.
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Dynasty IDP Leagues: 0%
Quandre Diggs, DB, Seattle Seahawks
Rostered in 4.4% of IDP leagues
The fact Diggs is rostered in so few leagues is a bit perplexing. He is currently fourth amongst defensive backs in total tackles, and he's averaged a solid 3.3 turnovers per season over his career. There's typically a solid tackle floor with this player and the potential for big plays. He's a borderline DB2 for now and is being underrated by many of us this year.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
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