We are reaching the point in the season where the IDP Waiver Wire is the place no one wants to be—and a place that is absolutely necessary for some fantasy managers.
Sure, as we enter the stretch run for the fantasy playoffs, it’s nice to be able to just plug the same trustworthy, productive defensive starters into starting lineups every week. Or at least it sounds like it would be nice—damned if it’s ever happened to me. I’m combing the wire by Week 3 most years, and 2024 is no exception.
It doesn’t help that at this time of year, many IDP managers have what amounts to zero margin for error. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, those managers can’t afford to have holes blasted in their lineups. But the injury bug cares not about our happiness—never mind when a guy gets benched out of nowhere or outright cut like linebacker Tyrel Dodson (formerly) of the Seattle Seahawks.
Didn’t see that coming.
We’re going to do things a little differently with this week’s waiver wire. Partly, it’s just to test-drive a format that’s heavier on players and numbers and lighter on blathering (have no idea if the old format is any good—it’s just how I’ve written the article for a decade-plus). And partly it’s because this is being written at 6 AM on a Tuesday morning after being up all night and The Godfather is legitimately starting to see double.
Hopefully that will make me twice as smart. That’s how that works, right?
WEEK 11 IDP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
Defensive Linemen
EDGE Anfernee Jennings, New England: With Josh Uche now in Kansas City, Jennings and Deatrich Wise have become the Patriots’ primary edge-rushers. Jennings was already posting solid tackle numbers—at least four total tackles in every game but one this season. Add in the two sacks he tallied in Week 10, and you’ve got a legitimate IDP starter.
EDGE Preston Smith, Pittsburgh: Smith was acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as depth on the edge at the trade deadline. As it turns out, that depth will be needed sooner rather than later—Alex Highsmith is expected to miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury, and Smith logged three stops and a sack in his Steelers debut last week.
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers: With both Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa banged up, Tuipulotu saw a snap share of at least 75 percent each of the last two weeks. During that time the 22-year-old has been on an absolute tear—11 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and the third-most fantasy points among defensive linemen.
Linebackers
Omar Speights, Los Angeles Rams: The rookie was a favorite among IDP enthusiasts for his aggressive playing style in the preseason, and he saw his heaviest snap count of the season in Monday night’s loss to the Dolphins, turning a 74 percent snap share into a team-leading eight total tackles and a tackle for loss.
Jahlani Tavai, New England Patriots: That Tavai is available in as many leagues as he is is a mystery to me—he should long ago have been rostered in all but the shallowest of formats. With 20 total tackles and a sack over the past two games and playing the most snaps of any Patriots linebacker, the sixth-year veteran has absolutely earned a roster spot now.
Anthony Walker Jr., Miami: At some point over the past month or so, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver decided he had seen enough of David Long Jr.—Walker has assumed the defensive play-calling duties for the Dolphins and is playing full-time, posting nine total stops against the Rams in Week 10.
Defensive Backs
S Tony Adams, New York Jets: Adams returned to action last week for the Jets after missing time, logging 10 total tackles against the Arizona Cardinals. Adams isn’t the kind of defensive back who will win fantasy managers a matchup single-handedly, but he’s a relatively steady veteran who should post a solid stat line.
S Jeremy Chinn, Washington: Last week at least, Chinn turned back the clock to his heyday with the Carolina Panthers—13 total tackles and an interception. That actually marked Chinn’s second straight week with a Baker’s Dozen stops, and over that admittedly short span Chinn leads all defensive backs in fantasy points in The Godfather’s Default IDP Scoring.
S Taylor Rapp, Buffalo: Rapp had his moments for fantasy managers as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Now a full-time starter for the Buffalo Bills, Rapp has amassed 17 total tackles and an interception over his last two games, and he’ll likely be plenty busy in this week’s massive AFC showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Gary Davenport (“The Godfather of IDP”) is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter (Can’t make him call it X) at @IDPSharks
