Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week 13
Ugh. Is there anything worse in fantasy than losing players you have rostered on multiple teams on the eve of the playoffs? It’s especially tough after the trade deadline passes, which happens in most leagues right about now. (And, in spite of my disgust with the idea of trade deadlines in dynasty leagues, every one of mine has them.)
Injuries happen though, and it’s so important to stay on top of the waiver wire as the season goes along to build depth. I certainly didn’t care to lose Logan Wilson to a shoulder injury on Sunday, but thanks to staying active on the waiver wire I’ve got fill-in depth to hopefully pull me through if he misses time.
If you’re reading a waiver wire column post-week 13, you probably have a playoff contender or three. And even if you don’t, the focus here at DLF is dynasty – duh! – so I’ll continue to include options that could pay off starting in 2022.
As always when reading through this article, try not to just look at the names – not all of the options listed are targets. I’m also writing up players who you might be tempted to bid on, but shouldn’t. So just be aware that this is not just a list of guys to go pick up.
Edge Rushers
Uchenna Nwosu and Chris Rumph, LAC
Nwosu and Rumph kept the pressure on Joe Burrow following Joey Bosa‘s exit with a possible concussion. Rumph, a rookie fourth-rounder from Duke, picked up a sack on three quarterback hits to go along with two solos and an assist on 31 of 76 snaps. Nwosu delivered a pair of sacks – one that forced a fumble that Nwosu also recovered – to go along with a couple of solo tackles. For dynasty purposes, Rumph doesn’t strike me as the caliber of edge rusher to ever be a consistent fantasy producer, but with Nwosu in the final year of his rookie contract and Kyler Fackrell scheduled to become a free agent, there’s a chance Rumph is the Bolts’ primary pass-rush option opposite Bosa in 2022. Bosa, by the way, was cleared to return to the game but held back by coach Brandon Staley due to Bosa’s history of concussions.
Food for Thought
- Carl Granderson, NO – I think he’s a viable option in week 14 against the Jets as long as Marcus Davenport remains out. He only delivered one quarterback hit and an assist against Dallas, but he was noticeable as a pass-rusher.
Revisits from Recent Weeks
- Dorance Armstrong and Chauncey Golston, DAL – The Cowboys opted to move rookie sensation Micah Parsons back to off-ball linebacker (for the most part) with Demarcus Lawrence back on the field. That means that Armstrong (three solo tackles, one assist) isn’t useless after all. If he was dropped in any of your IDP leagues, you can consider him an edge option. He led all Dallas defensive ends with 51 snaps (73 percent). Second in line was actually rookie Chauncey Golston, who didn’t do anything with his 42 snaps but remains a dynasty stash.
Interior Defensive Linemen
Jordan Elliott and Malik McDowell, CLE
The Browns are coming off a bye and headed into a second consecutive game against the Ravens, who Cleveland played in week 12 (nice work, NFL schedule makers). It’s an ideal matchup for interior defensive linemen. McDowell is the top option, but don’t forget about Elliott, whose snap share has approached or exceeded 50 percent for his past six outings. The talented second-year pro had his best showing in week 12 with half a sack, a quarterback hit, a solo tackle and two assists. Malik Jackson also sees a healthy snap share, but you can ignore him as a streaming option, and he’s certainly not a dynasty asset at this stage of his career.
Sheldon Richardson, MIN
The veteran saw a season-high 62 snaps (86 percent) on Sunday while getting work as an edge-rusher for the beat-up Vikings. He managed just three solo tackles at Detroit, but Richardson probably merits some deep-league consideration in Thursday night’s tilt with Pittsburgh if he’s going to get that much work. His production was better in week 12 against San Francisco with two quarterback hits, a solo tackle and four assists on 53 snaps (76 percent).
Food for Thought
- Chris Wormley, PIT – The former Raven had the game of his life, racking up two-and-a-half sacks on three quarterback hits to go along with three solo tackles and two assists. That said, it was the game of his life, so don’t count on it ever happening again, even though he’s getting a ton of snaps with Pittsburgh missing Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu on the inside.
Revisits from Recent Weeks
- Greg Gaines, LAR – The third-year pro continued to make the most of his opportunity in the wake of Sebastian Joseph-Day’s season-ending injury, posting four total tackles and two quarterback hits in the Rams’ pasting of the Jaguars.
- D.J. Jones, SF – He’s been on a tear the past two games, first giving us five total tackles in week 12, and now seven solos against the Seahawks in week 13. The Bengals are one of the better fantasy matchups for defensive tackles, so plug Jones in as a streamer in week 14.
Off-Ball Linebackers
Joe Bachie and Germaine Pratt, CIN
The lowlight of my Sunday was seeing Logan Wilson carted to the locker room with a shoulder injury. If he misses games, Pratt, along with Bachie, look to be the primary beneficiaries. Neither is ideal on passing downs, but I’m not sure where else Cincinnati would turn with Akeem Davis-Gaither on injured reserve (and likely not playing again this season). Pratt (three solos, six assists and a forced fumble/recovery while playing all but two snaps) would surely continue to see the largest number of snaps, but he is rostered in most dynasty leagues. Bachie, who was a tackle machine at Michigan State, may actually be a better option in tackle-heavy formats. He posted six solos and three assists against the Chargers on 39 of 64 snaps.
Divine Deablo, LV
Talk about announcing your presence with authority! With Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski both dealing with injuries, Deablo (helluva name) registered seven solo tackles and three assists (helluva game) on 38 of 67 snaps. A rocked-up, converted college safety selected in the third round, Deablo is hanging out on the waiver wire in a lot of leagues – even those with taxi squads – so he’s worth snagging in deep leagues in case he manages a larger role in 2022.
Blake Lynch and Nick Vigil, MIN
With no Eric Kendricks and no Anthony Barr, the Vikings were running out the “B” team linebackers against Detroit. Vigil was a tackle monster with nine solo tackles, six assists and a quarterback hit, while Lynch had a field day as a blitzer with two sacks – including one that caused a fumble – to go along with six solos and three assists. Minnesota has a quick turnaround with a Thursday night home game against Pittsburgh, so both are options if Kendricks and Barr miss another week.
Food for Thought
- Josh Woods, DET – Sunday’s biggest box score head-scratcher may have been Woods, who picked up Jalen Reeves-Maybin‘s snaps (43 of 76) with the veteran inactive due to a shoulder injury he suffered on Thanksgiving. Woods’ career day included six solos, two assists and a quarterback hit, but I can’t recommend the add. He saw just 57 percent of the snaps, and Reeves-Maybin could very well be back in week 14.
Safeties
Andrew Adams, TB
Stepping in for the injured Jordan Whitehead and the suspended Mike Edwards, Adams was a box score surprise with seven total tackles. This is another “only if you have no other options” option, but you could consider Adams in week 14 against the Bills if Whitehead remains on the sideline with his calf strain.
Food for Thought
- Eric Rowe, MIA – He’s terrible, and he’s going to get targeted a lot. Just keep in mind if you’re tempted by his production (five solos and two assists) that his snaps are going to drop in a major way once Brandon Jones returns from injury.
Revisits from Recent Weeks
- Dean Marlowe, DET – He was again serviceable (six solos) as the primary safety opposite Tracy Walker. There’s no big upside to the veteran, and I’d only use him if desperate.
- Elijah Riley, NYJ – He’s getting his shot as a full-timer in Gang Green’s decimated safety corps, so you can plug him in as an S3 if needed. He finished with a sack, six solo tackles and an assist against the Gardner Minshew-led Eagles.
Cornerbacks
Aaron Robinson, NYG
I don’t know for sure that Robinson will play the primary slot defender role for the Giants in week 14 – it could depend on Adoree’ Jackson‘s availability – but if the rookie is anywhere near Keenan Allen, we can be certain where Justin Herbert is going with the ball. Robinson had a productive day against the Dolphins with four solo tackles, three assists and a pass defended while playing all 69 snaps. Lining up against Allen was certainly beneficial this week for Mike Hilton, who racked up six solos, three assists and a pass defended. Check in on Big Blue’s defensive backfield – specifically Robinson – if you’re streaming a corner. If Jackson sits again and Robinson plays on the outside, safety Julian Love could again pick up slot work.
Food for Thought
- Artie Burns, CHI – He looks like an inviting target in a matchup with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in week 14, but I don’t trust him not to get benched. He has been productive (five solos – one for loss – and a pass defensed against the Cardinals) since taking an outside spot from Kindle Vildor.
Revisits from Recent Weeks
- Pierre Desir, TB – Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting returned, but Jamel Dean’s concussion opened the door for Desir (four solos, an assist and a forced fumble) to remain fantasy relevant. He should be OK to consider against Buffalo should Dean be unable to go, which seems likely.
- Brandon Stephens, BAL – Manning the deep safety spot for the Ravens, Stephens remains a low ceiling streamer, but did deliver five solo tackles and two assists against Pittsburgh.
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