RADIO
Six weeks of NFL football are in the books now, and we can finally start concluding what is real and what isn’t. There’s no longer any need to rely on 2020 metrics, hoping that a team's offensive and defensive lines will be the same this year as last despite turnover and age. This far into the season, we also have a better idea of whether veterans' bodies are thriving or if they are tumbling into decrepitude like an old man falling in the shower.
If we are talking most reliable and best value in fantasy this year, IDP managers have to start with Logan Wilson. The Bengals’ defensive leader is currently on an unsustainable pace of 141 tackles and 10.6 interceptions and he’s failed to disappoint in any given week. That production came at a basement level price, too, as the former Wyoming star started the year on less than 2% of IDP rosters, and he was readily available in over 85% of IDP leagues through Week 4. No other waiver wire-eligible defender comes close to Wilson's consistent value this year.
If you’re looking for consistent units and not players, we have those for you too. This year's most consistent units have to be the offensive lines for the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and the Chicago Bears. These offenses are easily the best to stream your defensive linemen against, while the Titans and Steelers consistently elevate inside linebackers. It's important to know these units and their weaknesses right now because they will provide a valuable blueprint that should inform which defenders you pick up as bye week fill-ins. With that addressed, let’s get to our weekly list of priority IDP waiver additions. As always, to qualify for this list, the defender must be rostered in less than 20% of IDP leagues.
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Bargain Alert: Kyle Dugger, DB, New England Patriots
Rostered in 2.0% of IDP leagues
Dugger continues the IDP ascent we have been predicting since last year. He has at least seven tackles in each of his past three games, plus an interception, and he hasn’t yet hit his ceiling on this defense. The sophomore has nice matchups against the Jets, Chargers, and Panthers on tap, as well. Consider him a low-end DB2 in most formats and a sturdy streamer as bye weeks hit.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 3%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 5%
Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rostered in 17.8% of IDP leagues
Fitzpatrick has long been a player whose name, draft pedigree, and mid-2019 film elevated his fantasy stock beyond where it should be. He was always a big-play-dependent DB whose tackle floor was low enough to hurt you in weeks where he didn’t get you an interception. That role has reversed this year, however.
Fitzpatrick is currently on pace to shatter his previous career-high in tackles, projecting for 125.3 total tackles this year when his previous peak was 80. Though his big-play upside hasn't been what it was this year, his reliable tackle floor makes up for that in spades. The former Alabama star is honestly more valuable in fantasy with consistent tackles and no picks than when those trends were reversed.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 4%
Cory Littleton, LB, Las Vegas Raiders
Rostered in 10.4% of IDP leagues
Of defenders available in 80% of IDP leagues, Littleton easily leads the group in both combined and solo tackles. While you'd like to see him secure more big plays as he did as a Ram, beggars cannot be choosers. Littleton is a fine bye week replacement or a solid LB3 option if you play in a tackle-premium league.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 3%
Quandre Diggs, DB, Seattle Seahawks
Rostered in 10.3% of IDP leagues
Diggs had a slow game last week, which will inevitably force his fantasy stock down with casual fans. He is still a steady DB3 in most formats, however. The Texas product is a versatile defender who has had four fantasy-relevant games out of six, giving you some consistency at a hard-to-fill position. Consider him a bye-week fill-in against the Jaguars and Packers and starter in deeper leagues.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
Quincy Williams, LB, New York Jets
Rostered in 8.1% of IDP leagues
The brother of the more-heralded Quinnen Williams, Quincy has been making an IDP name for himself with elite snap rates and solid tackle production in 2021. While averaging 7.75 tackles and 71.5 snaps per contest, this Jet is a high-floor addition whose bye week has already passed. Adding Williams as your LB2 or LB3 may come with a lower ceiling than you prefer, but you have to like his consistency and the fact he plays every week from here on out.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
Gregory Rousseau, DL, Buffalo Bills
Rostered in 5.9% of IDP leagues
The rookie from Miami has seen his fantasy stock rise by nearly 6% this week, but it’s still low enough to keep him an IDP bargain. While he disappointed some against Tennessee, people starting this rookie have to know that inconsistency comes with the territory. The talent is there, and the schedule is still attractive, with eight of his remaining contests coming against offenses in the bottom half of the NFL in sacks allowed. At his current snap rate, the former Hurricane is a solid streamer, but he could become a consistent IDP starter in most formats if that rate goes up.
FAAB in Dynasty IDP Leagues: 3%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 1%
Trey Hendrickson, DL, Cincinnati Bengals
Rostered in 5.5% of IDP leagues
Our relationship with Hendrickson is… complicated. Last year we touted him as an underrated IDP bargain all year, and then he became one of our prime bust candidates when he joined the Bengals. However, this former Saint has surprised us by continuing his high level of play from last year, helping Logan Wilson turn Cincinnati's defense into a formidable unit in the process.
Sitting 12th in the NFL in sacks at this moment, Hendrickson is just the 49th-most rostered DL in fantasy. There’s no reason Sam Hubbard and his low ceiling should be rostered in twice as many leagues as his teammate (Hendrickson).
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 3%
Jordan Fuller, DB, Los Angeles Rams
Rostered in 5.2% of IDP leagues
Fuller is having a nearly identical fantasy season to Minkah Fitzpatrick, but the Ram is rostered in far fewer leagues and should command far less in FAAB. Fuller is a fantastic option if Fitzpatrick isn't available in your league, or you just want to save FAAB by adding a similar player at a much lower price.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 3%
Austin Johnson, DL, New York Giants
Rostered in 4.0% of IDP leagues
This little-known defensive tackle has registered at least four takedowns in every game this season while notching a sack in three different contests. Johnson is a worthwhile starter in leagues that require you to start multiple DTs, and he could be a deep sleeper against Carolina this week. However, you shouldn't consider him to be anything but a deep league addition because his pressure-to-sack conversion rate is unsustainable.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deeper IDP Leagues: 1%
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