IDP Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Adds: Week 13
It’s Thanksgiving Week. And while some fortunate fantasy managers have winning teams with solid records and few injuries who are just about locked into the playoffs, for most of us schmucks, it’s a different story.
It’s bad enough that any margin for error is gone. Vanished like a three-dollar towel at a Black Friday sale. Take a loss in Week 13, and that’s that. No playoffs. Just one more game and then it’s Christmas sweaters and tinsel hanging and visiting that cousin you secretly loathe.
Or, you could already be relegated to the role of spoiler. It’s one I thoroughly encourage—for two reasons. The first is that every fantasy manager should continue running their team to the best of their ability through the end of season. Ghosting your league mates does a disservice to both the league and yourself.
Plus, there’s a certain sick satisfaction in taking as many teams down with you as humanly possible. Whoever said misery loves company wasn’t kidding even a little.
There’s also the matter of injuries, which never take a week off. This past week fantasy managers were without San Francisco 49ers edge-rusher Nick Bosa and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith—two elite IDP options. There are innumerable other IDP-relevant players who are banged up or just out.
So, whether you’re covering for an injury, looking to make one last playoff push or just want to Grinch as many folks as possible (They deserve it—or that’s what I tell myself), here’s a look at some of the top players widely available in IDP leagues in Week 13.
WEEK 13 IDP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
EDGE Zaven Collins, Arizona: Collins may never live up to his draft slot, but over the past few weeks it appears that perhaps a lightbulb of sorts has come on for the fourth-year veteran. Over his past three games, Collins has amassed 12 total tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. Those numbers aren’t jaw-dropping, but this week’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings should afford him some opportunities to get after Sam Darnold.
EDGE Nick Herbig, Pittsburgh: Herbig has flashed at times in place of the injured Alex Highsmith this season, including five tackles, a sack, two QB hits and a forced fumble last week against the Cleveland Browns. Herbig’s numbers for the season aren’t super impressive, but he just showed he can make hay in the right matchup—and while Cincinnati’s offensive line is better than it was, it still isn’t great.
EDGE Chop Robinson, Miami: With the Dolphins hard-up for pass-rush help, they have had little recourse but to throw Robinson into the proverbial deep end, and the results from the rookie have been encouraging to say the least. Not only does the former Penn State standout have 3.5 sacks over his last four games, but Robinson’s advanced metrics have been even better. The future is bright for the youngster—and that future may be now.
LINEBACKERS
LB Malik Harrison, Baltimore: With Roquan Smith out with a knee injury, the Ravens employed a rotation at linebacker, with Harrison leading the way with a 72.5 percent snap share. The former Ohio State standout made the most of the additional playing time, racking up a career-high 13 total tackles. With Saquon Barkley and the Eagles next up for Baltimore, Harrison will be a hot commodity on waiver wires if Smith sits again.
LB Jordan Hicks, Cleveland: Hicks’ tackle numbers haven’t been great since he returned to Cleveland’s lineup a couple of weeks ago, but he had a sack against the Steelers last week and could have had two if the scorekeepers were any fun. Perhaps most importantly, Hicks has played every defensive snap each of the past two games—full-time linebackers aren’t easy to find on the wire this late in the season.
LB Malcolm Rodriguez, Detroit: Full disclosure—the Godfather has a soft spot for Turkey Day waiver plays—nothing juices up the holiday like having a player to root for as you slam cheesy potatoes into your face. Rodriguez isn’t just an excuse to eat though—he played 89 percent of the Lions snaps last week against the Colts and paced the team with eight total stops and seven solos—“Rodrigo” rides again!
DEFENSIVE BACKS
S Jordan Fuller, Carolina: Fuller has missed more games than he has played in this season due to a hamstring injury suffered all the way back in Week 3. But the veteran safety was back out there last week against the Chiefs, and while his five tackles and a forced fumble weren’t the sort of stats that inspire cartwheels, the 26-year-old played every defensive snap and draws a favorable IDP matchup for his position this week with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
S Jonathan Owens, Chicago: With Jaquan Brisker on injured reserve, the Bears have cycled through a number of options at safety opposite Kevin Byard III. Last week, it was Owens, who played all 71 defensive snaps and logged eight tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. We have seen Owens post big numbers in the past in both Houston and Green Bay. When the snaps are there, the stats usually follow.
S Harrison Smith, Minnesota: Is Harrison the player he was earlier in his career? Nope. He’s 35, for Pete’s sake. But after lighting up the Bears last week to the tune of 11 total tackles, Smith has quietly a top-25 defensive back for the season in The Godfather’s Default IDP Scoring. Smith has actually been a fairly consistent producer this season, and this week’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals isn’t a bad one.
For more of our IDP Waiver Wire content throughout the season, click here!
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