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As is always the case, fantasy football is a war of attrition. You start the year healthy and optimistic, only to face Week 5 without six of your key starters. It can be completely backbreaking when you lose a major contributor like Cam Akers in the preseason, and it can be just as bad when David Montgomery goes down in Week 4. Such events don't have to be all bad, though. In fact, in situations like these, people should truly value a well-balanced IDP league because good IDP managers can compensate for offensive losses by exploiting them on defense.
While it may seem illogical to say fantasy managers can make points off their losses, it can be true. For example, the possible loss of Trent Williams would mean downgrading the fantasy value of all 49ers running backs and quarterbacks for however long Williams was out. However, the value of edge rushers going against San Francisco during that time would conversely go up. The same can be said of recent injuries to Joe Mixon, Jedrick Wills, and Montgomery. Their losses would undoubtedly hurt your fantasy team, but you can try to squeeze some lemonade out of those festering turds by streaming the right defenders against their teams. It’s a strategy that won’t make you feel better, nor will it make up for your overall losses, but it’s the best way some IDP managers can cope with the hemorrhoid outbreak that has become their season.
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. Also par for our course, we will try to tailor this list to include relevant players both for casual IDP formats and much deeper ones.
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Taron Johnson, DB, Buffalo Bills
Rostered in 16.8% of IDP leagues
Johnson has seen his stock drop over the past week, driven by an injury the Bills are now calling "day-to-day." Buffalo’s underrated defensive back is worth stashing in your IR and starting as your DB2 when he's healthy, though. The Weber State product has at least one pass deflection and four tackles in each game he's played this year, which is a nice weekly floor in most formats. Two of Johnson's next three games also come against the pass-happy Chiefs and a Dolphins offense that he dominated just two weeks ago, making for a great short-term sleight if he's healthy and you’re in need of a DB streamer.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 5%
Jonathan Allen, DL, Washington Football Team
Rostered in 15.9% of IDP leagues
Allen’s is a name that shouldn’t be eligible for this list. He’s got first-round NFL Draft pedigree, elite line-mates that make his job easier, and he’s been productive in every game he’s played this season. Despite that, Allen is the 25th most rostered DL in fantasy behind Za’Darius Smith (who is possibly out for the year), Sam Hubbard, and the injured Demarcus Lawrence. Allen should be rostered ahead of each of those players right now, and he should be considered a valuable waiver commodity at the thin DL position.
FAAB in Dynasty IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 6%
Matthew Judon, DL, New England Patriots
Rostered in 12.1% of IDP leagues
Week 4 was just another example of Judon’s supremely efficient start to the 2021 season, as the former Raven dominated an elite Tampa Bay pass-blocking unit to the tune of one sack and five pressures. At this point, no matter how unsustainable his pressure rate may be, it is getting hard to tell people to temper their expectations for the Grand Valley State graduate. While a regression in efficiency has to come at some point, there’s no telling when that will be. You may as well hop on this train while it’s still running through every barricade it comes across.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 5%
Byron Murphy Jr., DB, Arizona Cardinals
Rostered in 6.3% of IDP leagues
A regular member of our IDP Waiver column, Murphy has weekly big-play potential with a solid fantasy floor thanks to his PD production. IDP managers in need of a streamer also have to love Murphy’s Week 5 matchup against either a gimpy Jimmy Garoppolo, or a raw Trey Lance.
If the 49ers start their rookie quarterback this week, it could mean the North Dakota State product will make his first start in the NFL without star left tackle Trent Williams. What’s worse, Lance has yet to get his powerful arm under control and his accuracy is spotty at this stage of his career, so he will let some balls sail. All of that adds up to several interception opportunities for Murphy, who may end up being our DB Streamer of the Week.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 4%
Josh Allen, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rostered in 7.1% of IDP leagues
Despite starting the year with a sack in each of his first two games, the lesser-known Josh Allen is just the 43rd most rostered defensive lineman in fantasy right now. That number should surprise you, if only because you’d expect more people would add him thinking he’s the Buffalo Bills quarterback, right?
While it’s understandable why fantasy managers would fade everyone on a porous Jaguars defense, the Kentucky product has created nine pressures and two sacks in four games despite a general lack of help. If those stats don't float your boat, consider that he also has a terrific schedule these next three weeks. With his next three opponents (Tennessee, Miami, and Seattle) each ranking amongst the NFL’s worst in Adjusted Sack Rate and Sacks Allowed this season, Allen has terrific short-term streaming potential.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 2%
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Cleveland Browns
Rostered in 3.9% of IDP leagues
Arguably the most versatile linebacker in this year’s NFL Draft, the question surrounding Owusu-Koramoah’s fantasy stock was always about his opportunities rather than his talent. J.O.K. is on his way to answering those concerns, though, thanks to his gradually increasing snap count and a starting role in three of the Browns’ first four games. With teammates like Myles Garrett singing J.O.K.’s praises and the former Notre Dame star shutting down players like Dalvin Cook in the passing game, expect his opportunities to continue to grow. The rookie is worth a prospective pick-up and stash, given his potential for LB2 caliber numbers.
FAAB in Dynasty IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 3%
Javon Hargrave, DL, Philadelphia Eagles
Rostered in 17.8% of IDP leagues
This week makes a three-peat for Hargraves on our waiver list. Up to this point, we only recommended you start Hargrave in deep IDP formats or in leagues that require you to start a DT, but he is playing his way into general DL2 consideration at this point. You have to like his consistent pressure, safe tackle floor, and the Eagles' persistent usage of him so far. Hargrave’s roster percentage is on its way up, as is his fantasy value.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 4%
Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Rostered in 3.6% of IDP leagues
As long as Dre Greenlaw is out, you can count on Al-Shaair to get significant snaps on a 49ers defense that has trouble getting off of the field. San Francisco’s defense has a ‘bend but don’t break’ sort of philosophy to it this year, and it’s allowing Al-Shaair to average a whopping 61.5 snaps per game. He's taking advantage of that crazy volume, too, by averaging ten tackles over his last two contests. That production is worth a stash in deeper leagues, at least in the short term.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 1%
Eric Stokes, DB, Green Bay Packers
Rostered in 1.0% of IDP leagues
The Packers have started their first-round pick in two straight contests, and the defense has been rewarded with their two best showings of the year. In those starts, Stokes has seen 100% of Green Bay's defensive snaps, and he's collected 13 tackles, three PDs, and an interception in that time.
Stokes is another member of this list who possesses a nice schedule with terrific short-term streaming potential, too. Over the next two weeks, Stokes will face two offenses (the Bengals and the Bears) who may be without their starting running backs. Those contests could turn into pass-heavy affairs, with serious turnover potential depending on who starts at quarterback for Chicago.
FAAB in Dynasty IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
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