IDP Waiver Wire: Week 9 Pickups and Matchup Plays
Week 9 is shaping up to be a brutal one between injuries and bye weeks. A few of the injuries you need to keep an eye on are Anthony Hitches, Reuben Foster and Jacquiski Tartt. If you're a Carl Lawson, you'll need to find a replacement, as it appears he's out for the year.
In terms of bye weeks, there are six teams on a bye this week; Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Arizona, Cincinnati, Jacksonville and New York Giants. We'll be without the top LB (Darius Leonard). Among others, no Telvin Smith, Myles Jack, Calais Campbell, Jordan Hicks, Carlos Dunlap - just to name a few. Week 9 is here, so let's take a look at who target on the wire to help navigate these landmines.
Week 9 IDP Waiver Wire
Defensive Back
Karl Joseph, SS, Oakland Raiders (31 snaps/40 percent)
Is that a Karl Joseph sighting? By the time this is published, Joseph could be traded or he is starting to see increased usage in the defense. Definitely keep his name on your radar in deeper leagues. He ended up appearing in 31 snaps - resulting in a 16.1-percent tackle rate.
Justin Reid, FS, Houston Texans (66 snaps/100 percent)
There have been quite a few free safeties producing quality IDP numbers this season. Reid has recorded double-digit fantasy points in four of the last five games and is producing 0.22 points per snap. He's coming off a nine-tackle game against the Dolphins and I like the matchup ahead of Week 9 against Denver - they're allowing 14 total tackles to the safety position this season.
Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay Packers (78 snaps/100 percent)
Alexander has been thrown at 37 times this season and has recorded an INT and six defended pass - five came this past week against the Rams. He's also recorded 24 tackles this season. He's missed a few games to injury, but has some favorable matchups coming up over the next few weeks if you need a CB streamer. With Ha Ha Clinton-Dix getting traded, keep an eye on Jermaine Whitehead.
Defensive Line
Everson Griffen, DE, Minnesota Vikings (37 snaps/70 percent)
If someone dropped Griffen due to uncertainty, it's a great time to buy a top-15 DL for free. Griffen has missed the last five games and returned in Week 8 against the Saints. It was a tough matchup, however, he had a 70 percent snap rate. Don't let his underwhelming box score steer you away, as the Saints were a tough matchup. He's well worth picking up and plugging in as a DL2.
Damon Harrison, DT, Detroit Lions (39 snaps/62 percent)
Harrison has made an immediate impact with his new team. He's now back in a 4-3 scheme and produced an 18 percent tackle rate - resulting in seven solo tackles. He also made an impact in the pass rush - registering a sack. His IDP value is useful in tackle-heavy formats as he's recording a 14.7 percent tackle rate, which has led to 38 total tackles.
Markus Golden, DE, Arizona Cardinals (39 snaps/59 percent)
I think you still have the opportunity to grab Golden, but I'd only consider him in big play scoring formats. He's recorded sacks in two of his last three games and is generating a 17.5 percent pressure rate in that span. Playing alongside Chandler Jones gives him more one-on-one matchups while opposing offenses focus on Jones.
Linebacker
Reggie Ragland, ILB, Kansas City Chiefs (54 snaps/74 percent)
Anthony Hitchens appears to be week-to-week with a rib injury. Ragland appeared in 74 percent of the snaps in Week 8, so he'll be a deeper league option or if you were a Hitchens owner and the wire is bare. Ragland recorded seven tackles - resulting in a 13 percent tackle rate. If you're in a league where you're starting 3-4 LBs weekly, he could make for a decent bye-week/injury replacement. Keep an eye on Dorian O'Daniel and Ben Niemann, as well.
Todd Davis, ILB, Denver Broncos (55 snaps/95 percent)
You still may not want to trust Todd Davis. I get it. He's recorded double-digit fantasy points in every game this season and will, not only, get the tackles but will also make a few big plays. He appeared in a season-high 95 percent of the snaps in Week 8. Through eight weeks, he's producing 0.28 points per snap and a 13.8 percent tackle rate. It's okay. You can grab him.
BJ Goodson, ILB, New York Giants (59 snaps/87-percent)
Keep an eye on Alec Ogletree's injury. Goodson received the start and appeared in 87 percent of the snaps against the Redskins. He ended up leading the team in tackles (8) and recorded seven solo tackles. If Ogletree misses any more time, Goodson appears to be a solid injury replacement.
Jordan Evans, OLB, Cincinnati Bengals (86 snaps/98 percent)
Evans got the start at weak-side on Sunday and made the most of his opportunity. With Vontaze Burfict and Nick Vigil on the shelf, Evans made himself useful against the Chiefs. He ended up with 11 tackles and recorded 1.5 sacks while appearing in 98 percent of the snaps. This was a high-paced game and the Bucs put the Bengals defense on the field for 88 snaps.
KJ Wright, OLB, Seattle Seahawks (50 snaps/85 percent)
Wright has missed most of the season, so if he was drafted and dropped, now's the time to swoop in and scoop up a potential LB2 for free. In his first action of 2018, Wright recorded five solo tackles and a defended pass while appearing in 85 percent of the snaps.
Week 9 IDP Matchup Plays
Defensive Line
Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints vs. Rob Havenstein, Los Angeles Rams
I think Jordan is in line for a solid game in terms of tackle output. He does have a tough matchup against Rob Havenstein, however, the Rams offensive line is allowing the seventh-most points to the DL position. Jordan could find himself in position to make tackles on Toddy Gurley this week. I think Jordan breaks out of his scoring slump this week with 5-6 tackles and he's generating a consistent pressure rate (10.5 percent) that he could sneak in a sack.
DeForest Buckner, DE, San Francisco 49'ers vs. Joe Feliciano, Oakland Raiders
Buckner should find himself matched up on Joe Feliciano most of the day in their base or subpackage defense. Feliciano has been below average in pass protection this season and Bucker has been relentless. Buckner is generating a 10.8 percent QB pressure rate over 286 pass rush snaps this season. Oakland is struggling and Buckner could feast on Thursday.
Frank Clark, DE, Seattle Seahawks vs. Dan Feeney, Los Angeles Chargers
Clark looks to have some favorable sledding this week against Dan Feeney. He should be able to move around the defensive line to draw the favorable matchup. Feeney has struggled in pass protection this season - allowing three sacks and 21 total QB pressures this season. Clark is generating a 13.1 percent pressure rate this season, so Feeney is going to have some trouble this week.
Jason Pierre-Paul, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Chris Clark, Carolina Panthers
JPP has stacked six huge games in a row and should find himself matched up on Chris Clark for most of the day. Clark has been well below-average in pass protection and struggled in the run. Clark has been responsible for three sacks and 19 total QB pressures. JPP is generating a 10 percent pressure rate - resulting in eight pressures converted to sacks. He has DL1 upside this week.
Linebacker
Danny Trevathan, ILB, Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills
The Bills offense is not doing much of anything these days and is yielding the most points to the LB position this season. Since the bye week, Trevathan has recorded 25 tackles over three games and is producing a 12.3 percent tackle rate over 399 defensive snaps. His matchup puts him in the LB2 territory this week.
Vince Williams, ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have been a favorable matchup for opposing LBs all season. They are allowing the fourth most points to the LB position and eight solo tackles per game. He had a below average game against Cleveland, however, I think he bounces back against the Ravens and improves upon his 10.6 percent tackle rate. He should find plenty of tackle opportunities against their backs, as he recorded nine tackles in their first go around.
Tahir Whitehead, ILB, Oakland Raiders vs. San Francisco 49'ers
I know Tahir can be a 'meh' option, but I really like the matchup for him against the 49'ers. He's recorded 10 or more fantasy points in all but one game this season. Over 458 defensive snaps, he's generating an 11 percent tackle rate. The 49'ers are yielding 15 solo tackles per game to the LB position.
Mason Foster, ILB, Washington Redskins vs. Atlanta Falcons
Foster has been the more productive LB of the group this season, but Brown has been taking advantage of his tackle opportunities over the last few weeks. I do like Foster's matchup this week against the Falcons. The Falcons should utilize Tevin Coleman, so Foster should be busy covering him in the passing game. The Falcons offense is allowing 10 total tackles per game to opposing ILBs.
Defensive Back
Justin Reid, FS, Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos
Reid is another IDP who has stacked a few solid games together and now draws a favorable matchup against the Broncos. Reid produced his second INT of the season and notched nine tackles in Week 8. He faces a Bronco offense that just traded Demaryius Thomas and is allowing the second-most points to the DB position. Opposing safeties are averaging nearly an INT and 14 tackles per game against Denver.
Kentrell Brice, SS, Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots
IDP production has opened up for Brice with Green Bay shipping off Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Brice has cooled a bit after getting off to a quick start. He has a favorable matchup against the Patriots offense as they are allowing 15 total tackles to the safety position. I think he's going to be busy against New England's offense - he's playing half of his snaps up near the line of scrimmage and is playing deep safety, as well.
James Bradberry, CB, Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bradberry has produced double-digit fantasy points in all but two games this season. Bradberry has been targeted the most among Carolina corners and has recorded 35 tackles and seven defended passes through eight games. He should be busy in coverage if he ends up shadowing Mike Evans for most of the game. Opposing corners are averaging 13 solo tackles and two defended passes per game.
Jordan Lucas, SS, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns
Lucas has been filling in at SS while Eric Berry has been on the shelf. He's been playing all over the field for the defense, which includes 43 percent of his snaps up near the line of scrimmage. He's recorded at least six tackles in three of his last four outings. Cleveland's offense is yielding 14 total tackles per game to the safety position and the fifth-most points to opposing DBs.
Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images.
