IDP Defensive Playbook - Week 17

Dec 30, 2015

Welcome to your Week 17 IDP Defensive Playbook. Each week, I'll highlight some of the top defensive waiver wire targets, as well as matchups to exploit and avoid in each game. Week 16 is in the books, and for most of you, it marks the end of the grind of the fantasy season. For those in championship games this week, I’ll help you navigate your way to a title.

Week 16’s waiver wire performers

Akiem Hicks, DT, NEP: No stats generated
William Gholston, DE, TBB: Five tackles
Danielle Hunter, DE, MIN: Three tackles/One sack
Nathan Stupar, ILB, ATL: Four tackles
Jasper Brinkley, ILB, NYG: Seven tackles
Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, SDC: Three tackles
Michael Thomas, FS, MIA: Two tackles
DeAngelo Hall, CB, WAS: Four tackles/Forced fumble/Fumble recovery/TD
Kareem Jackson, CB, HOU: Five tackles/One defended pass/Forced fumble

Defensive Line

Jabaal Sheard, DE, NEP: Sheard has sacks in three straight games and has produced 11 or more fantasy points in three straight, as well. I think Sheard can take advantage of the Miami offensive line.

William Hayes, DE, STL: Hayes has been boom or bust and notched his first sacks since Week 10 last week. I like the matchup against the struggling 49ers and Hayes is playing alongside Aaron Donald, so he’s seeing one-on-one matchups.

T.Y. McGill, DE, IND: This will be name to look at in deeper leagues. He saw 32 snaps last week and generated consistent pressure throughout the day.

Linebacker

Preston Smith, OLB, WAS: He’ll be a target in big play scoring formats. He has four sacks in his last two games and the Cowboys struggle against edge rushers.

Will Compton, ILB, WAS: Since taking over as starting ILB, he’s produced 11 or more fantasy points in six of eight games and is averaging almost eight tackles per game.

John Timu, ILB, CHI: Timu has started two straight games and has notched 15 tackles. If he draws another start this week, he’ll be in the LB3 conversation in deeper leagues.

Defensive Back

Adrian Phillips, FS, SDC: If you’re in a deeper league looking for a replacement for Eric Weddle, Phillips is the handcuff here.

Michael Griffin, SS, TEN: Griffin continues to go under-owned and I see him on waiver wires. He’s been a DB1 and if he’s on your wire, grab him, start him and thank your league. He has four straight games of 11 or more fantasy points and is a solid tackle heavy target.

Trumaine Johnson, CB, STL: I like Johnson in CB-required leagues. Johnson is making a play on the ball 27 percent of the time he’s thrown at and has three straight games of 14 or more fantasy points, including two games of 21 fantasy points.