Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week 12

I gave an overhaul to my dynasty IDP top 150 rankings the four-day weekend, and with each update it’s pretty amazing to see just how quickly linebackers can lose their value. Jaylon Smith, not only out of my rankings but out of the league, has a cliff at the end of his rankings history chart that is reminiscent of some of my telecom stocks in the early 2000s.

Via Smith’s DLF Player Page.

We’re also seeing precipitous value drops for Patrick Queen, Kenneth Murray, Devin Bush and Zach Cunningham due to poor play and/or reduced snaps this season. While I’m not yet giving up on any of them – particularly Queen and Cunningham, whose play has been better as of late – their struggles underscore the need to stay on top of the waiver wire throughout the season, even once you’re eliminated from playoff contention. In Bush’s case, for example, Robert Spillane could be a fantasy factor in 2022. You can add and stash him now in many leagues in case Bush continues to bomb down the stretch and the Steelers don’t address the position in the off-season.

I’ll be including some of these options in the waiver wire column, along with current backups who could see a value boost should the starters running ahead of them depart in free agency. Back in the post-week eight column, I mentioned Mykal Walker as one of these options, and we caught a glimpse of Walker’s potential production in a full-time role with Deion Jones inactive this week.

As always, it helps to stay ahead of the game.

Edge Rushers

D.J. Wonnum, MIN

It’s slim pickings at edge this week. The Vikings’ defensive end depth chart looks just as barren, and that means Wonnum is a high-volume play right now (61 of 70 snaps against the 49ers). He’s nothing special, but did respond with a sack among his three total tackles.

Food for Thought

• Derick Roberson, TEN – The third-year undrafted edge rusher made a positive impression with Bud Dupree on injured reserve and Ola Adeniyi inactive. On 34 of 60 snaps, Roberson registered half-a-sack on three quarterback hits, with two of his four total tackles coming in the backfield. If you’re tempted, note that the Titans have a week 13 bye.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

• Tyus Bowser, BAL – As mentioned last week, he’s quietly having a career year, and that continued on Sunday Night Football with three quarterback hits – one that resulted in a sack – four total tackles and a pass defensed. He’s streamer worthy in true position formats.
• Jacob Martin, HOU – He’s really been coming around lately and continued his hot streak with a sack and two total tackles against the Jets. As mentioned last week, I don’t think he has a ton of dynasty value – he’s a bit light for an edge and better suited for a situational pass rush role – but he’s getting the volume right now if you need a fill-in in true position formats.
• Adetokunbo Ogundeji, ATL – Ever desperate for quality edge rushers, the Falcons may have found a quality rotational piece in the fifth-round rookie from Notre Dame. Ogundeji had his most productive tackle outing with five solos and four assists (one in the backfield) on 38 of 73 snaps. He’s going to be hard to trust for fantasy right now but is worth monitoring ahead of next season.
• Quincy Roche, NYG – Lorenzo Carter’s return dings Roche’s current fantasy viability, but the rookie was still productive with three solo tackles on half-time work. There’s sure to be organizational coaching turnover, but I think Roche’s shown himself to be a keeper.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Greg Gaines, LAR

You know what? Gaines is good. I plugged him after week nine following Sebastian Joseph-Day’s injury, but I didn’t necessarily see him as a quality interior disruptor – just one who would see a big uptick in volume. He was winning one-on-one matchups pretty handily throughout Sunday’s affair at Green Bay, and his stat line (five solos, two assists and a sack) showed it. You could do a lot worse at your defensive tackle spot. Even in non-true position leagues where he’s listed at defensive end, he should merit DE2 consideration right now.

Levi Onwuzurike, DET

The second-round pick could be available in more shallow defensive tackle-required leagues. Considered by many to be the best three-tech prospect in the draft, Onwuzurike has served as a rotational backup during his rookie season. He won’t help you this season, but he did finally get to the quarterback in week 12 while playing 23 of 70 snaps. He’s worth a stash if you’re not in contention, particularly in defensive tackle-premium formats.

Food for Thought

• Phil Hoskins and Bravvion Roy, CAR – Er, you never want to hear the coach say that he’s still “very excited about so-and-so’s future” after a demotion, but that’s what Matt Rhule was saying about Derrick Brown on Sunday after getting thumped by the Dolphins. Roy, the big second-year nose, had a season-high four solo tackles and two assists, while late-round rookie Hoskins notched a sack and two solos. Don’t rush out to add either of them. Let’s see how this plays out with Brown after the week 13 bye.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

• Davon Godchaux, NE – Godchaux made good on the matchup versus Tennessee with six solos, an assist, a quarterback hit and a forced fumble while playing a season-high 78 percent of the snaps. This week’s matchup with Buffalo is only an average one for defensive tackle production, but Godchaux has certainly been playing well of late.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Azeez Al-Shaair, SF

With news of Dre Greenlaw‘s return prior to the week, I’m thinking it’s possible that Al-Shaair was dropped in some spots. If that’s the case in any of your leagues, run to pick him up this week. Greenlaw did return, but only for a short while before injuring a groin. To make matters worse, Fred Warner suffered a hamstring injury that could keep him out in week 13. Al-Shaair, who has played well in Greenlaw’s absence, seems likely to hold his starting fantasy linebacker value for the time being. He led the Niners on Sunday with seven solo tackles, an assist, an interception, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery.

Christian Jones and Alec Ogletree, CHI

Danny Trevathan‘s season never really got going and is now over. Now, Roquan Smith looks like he could miss time with a hamstring injury he suffered early in last Thursday’s game. That leaves Ogletree as the Bears’ top linebacker option, with Jones set to operate as the No. 2 until Smith returns to action. Ogletree, who has been productive for much of the season, may have been dumped in shallow leagues once Trevathan started eating into his snaps.

If both are on your waiver wire, target Ogletree, who registered two solo tackles and three assists on 41 of 49 snaps. Jones, who put up three solos and three assists while playing a little more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps, won’t likely see as many snaps as Ogletree but could still be useful as a short-term LB4 in 14- or 16-team leagues.

Shaquille Quarterman, JAC

If you’ve been relying on Damien Wilson, you’ll need to monitor his status this week after he left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. In his absence the Jaguars turned to Quarterman, a second-year thumper who managed five total tackles on 20 snaps. From a dynasty perspective, I haven’t seen anything from Quarterman to suggest he’s anything more than an NFL backup, but he could garner LB4 looks in deep leagues this week should Wilson be inactive.

Robert Spillane, PIT

You could do a lot worse at the back end of your roster. As mentioned above, Bush has been terrible this season – he’s been a liability in coverage, and can’t get off a block to save his life versus the run. Spillane is already serving as the Steelers’ dime linebacker, and would seem to be in line to assume a larger role if Bush continues to falter or if Joe Schobert is cut in the off-season.

Mykal Walker, ATL

As discussed above, Walker was included in week eight’s column, but his week 12 performance bears another mention. With Deion Jones on the inactive list with a shoulder injury, Walker played a full-time role and led the Falcons with six solo tackles and five assists to go along with a hit on the quarterback and a pass defensed. Walker’s short-term dynasty value hinges on Foyesade Oluokun’s free agent market and destination this off-season. If Oluokun does return to Atlanta, Jones’ current contract makes him a salary cap cut candidate after the 2022 season.

Food for Thought

• Kevin Minter, TB – Keep an eye on Devin White‘s status for week 13. The fantasy stud was dealing with a quad injury prior to Sunday and missed time during the game after either re-aggravating the injury and/or suffering a hip injury. Minter would be the replacement, although he wasn’t overly productive as a near-full-time fill-in for Lavonte David in weeks six and seven.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

• Troy Reeder, LAR – Just in case he’s available in shallow leagues, know that Reeder (13 total tackles) wasn’t second fiddle to rookie Ernest Jones. He wasn’t a full-time linebacker, but he easily was the most disruptive of the two against Green Bay.

Safeties

Dean Marlowe, DET

If you’re absolutely desperate for safety help, I think you can consider Marlowe for the next couple of weeks. Nickel defender A.J. Parker was placed on injured reserve prior to Thanksgiving, and the Lions used Will Harris in that spot. Marlowe played all 70 snaps alongside Tracy Walker and put up six solo tackles and three assists with a pass defensed. I have no idea if Detroit will keep Marlowe, a veteran backup, in a full-time role, but Dan Campbell’s post-game quotes indicated that he feels Harris could stick in the nickel spot until Parker returns.

Caden Sterns, DEN

With Sterns subbing for the injured Kareem Jackson, Denver gave us a look at next year’s starting safety tandem. The rookie’s production (one assist, one pass defensed) paled in comparison to that of Justin Simmons, but Sterns has acquitted himself well when called to duty. If safeties are at a premium in any of your IDP leagues, you should be sure that Sterns is rostered.

Food for Thought

• Eric Rowe, MIA – Don’t read too much into the week 12 snapshare for Rowe (one solo, four assists and a pass defensed). Starter Brandon Jones was inactive with an elbow injury and will likely return for week 13.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

• DeAndre Houston-Carson, CHI – If you were wondering what happened to him on Thursday, he was apparently demoted to third safety and played just six snaps. He had a nice four-game run. Time to move on.
• Eric Murray, HOU – He’s been a high-end S1 since moving back into a full-time role in week nine, and finished with five solo tackles and three assists against the Jets. Even if you’re set at safety, pick him up where available just to keep him from the competition.
• George Odum and Andrew Sendejo, IND – This duo keeps producing at a level worthy of low-end streaming consideration. The Colts don’t really have any other safeties to turn to until Khari Willis is ready to go, so I think you can count on them to continue to see full-time work.
• Elijah Riley, NYJ – The second-year pro was indeed the primary safety option next to Ashtyn Davis, but logged just under 80 percent of the snaps while producing three solos (one for loss) and two assists. Hopefully you have better options.

Cornerbacks

Carlton Davis, Pierre Desir and Sean Murphy-Bunting, TB

It has been an injury-riddled season for Bucs corners. Jamel Dean continued the trend Sunday, playing just five snaps before exiting the game with a shoulder injury. Pierre Desir, his replacement, had a productive game with six solo tackles, an assist, and a game-ending interception. Murphy-Bunting has been starting-worthy since returning in week 11 from an eight-game absence, and Davis was designated to return from injured reserve last Wednesday. This is a cornerback room worth monitoring and streaming, particularly Davis (once activated) and Murphy-Bunting. Desir can be considered for week 13 if both Davis and Dean are out.

Mike Hilton, CIN

Hilton tormented his former teammates with a pick six in week 12. Week 13 brings a fantastic matchup in the slot against target hog Keenan Allen. Add and start Hilton wherever he’s available.

Dane Jackson, BUF

Jackson was a good prospect coming out of Pitt in 2020 but didn’t get drafted until the seventh round. With Tre’Davious White shelved with a torn ACL, Jackson is now looking at a large role moving forward as the No. 2 outside corner next to Levi Wallace. Jackson saw 36 snaps after White was injured and made three total tackles. He’ll no doubt be tested by opposing quarterbacks in the coming weeks.

Food for Thought

• Chargers corners are nice streaming options this week against Cincinnati. Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr., and Asante Samuel Jr. (if he returns from concussion protocol) are all viable options.