IDP Waiver Wire: Week 1 Pickups & Matchup Plays

Sep 05, 2017

Well fellow IDP fanatics, after months of waiting, sifting through news and praying our defenders don't get hurt, we're here; Week 1. Every year, the offseason continues to fly by as the summer months feel the longest of our lives. Just waiting for training camp to open and the preseason to arrive. The preseason is over, rosters have been trimmed to 53 and roles have been established. Some surprising cuts, like TJ Ward, have opened opportunities for others. As we head into Week 1, I'm going to take a look at some of the IDPs you can nab off the waiver wire if you need help. Once we get through those, I'll analyze my rankings to see which matchups stand out at each position.

If you have specific questions, feel to hit me up on Twitter @Mike_Woellert

Week 1 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups

Defensive Line

Akiem Hicks, DE, Chicago Bears

Hicks is an under-appreciated talent and enjoyed a fine first season in Chicago. Hicks established career-highs in sacks and solo tackles (36) and produced a 6% tackle rate as an every-down player in 2016. Hicks appeared in 87% of the defensive snaps last season, his most since 2013. Hicks is strong against the run and in pass rushing situations, as Hicks recorded a near 10% QB pressure rate on over 900 snaps. If you're in need of some depth at the line, he typically flies under the radar and you can find yourself a solid DE2 for free.

Stephon Tuitt, DE, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tuitt is another DL who goes unnoticed but has been a consistent producer. He's productive against the run, so his tackles are valuable in most formats. He missed two games due to injury last season. He's a lineman you can count on to be on the field for at least 80% of the defensive snaps, as he received nearly 90% in 2015 and 86% in 2016. If he can maintain an 8% tackle rate, while pitching in five sacks, he'll be a solid DL2 in most formats.

Sheldon Richardson, DT, Seattle Seahawks

I liked Richardson heading into the season, however, the trade to Seattle does give him a boost, especially in DT-required leagues. He'll slot right in between Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, and Frank Clark. He should find himself lined up over most guards in base defense and kick inside to the interior in sub-packages. Since entering the league, he's been nearly a three-down player, appearing in over 80% of the Jets' defensive snaps. In his four seasons, he's recorded a 7.6% tackle rate, so he'll be an asset in tackle-heavy formats.

Stock Up: Kony Ealy's stock is also up with Sheldon Richardson being traded to Seattle. In the Week 4 preseason game, he saw 30 snaps and played as a hand-in-the-dirt DE. I don't think he's going to change to LB.

Stock Up: If Emmanuel Ogbah is available, he should be picked up. In deeper leagues, consider Carl Nassib and Nate Orchard. Myles Garrett suffered an ankle injury and is getting an MRI. Initial thoughts are that it's serious.

Continue reading for LB and DB wavier wire pickups and the best matchup plays...