Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Five

Karl Brooks | © Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jason King Posted On October 2, 2023

Who says football’s a young man’s game?

On Sunday, we witnessed one of the all-time great individual defensive performances. I, like many, had future Hall of Famer Khalil Mack firmly on my bench in the one league I had him rostered. (And he scored 96.3 points in that league!)

I’m not mad; I can only marvel at a stat line that includes six sacks, two forced fumbles, ten combined tackles, and a pass defended. It’s a little bit of a lesson for fantasy: we all highly value youth, talent and draft capital for dynasty, but elderly production comes cheap, and it’s often better than those young bucs that cost so much more.

Week four was for Mack and Harrison Smith, two legends approaching the end of their runs. If only most of us had them in our lineups.

Before you dig into this week’s waiver wire column, keep in mind this advice is geared more toward 14- and 16-team dynasty setups, or 12-team setups with fairly large roster limits (65 spots or so). The reason is there are plenty of sites, podcasts and Patreons (and good ones) providing what I would consider obvious waiver wire advice for leagues that are of the “start eight IDPs” variety with combined defensive lines and defensive backs. My goal is to write this for managers who must dig deeper on the wire in order to stay ahead for both this season and future years.

And of course not every IDP listed here is a good dynasty stash. Dynasty rosters need those short-term values too though, and this early in the season it’s worth it to churn a few end-of-your-roster-types to see if an IDP available on waivers is making a leap in play rather than just taking advantage of a good matchup.

Edge Rushers

Samson Ebukam and Dayo Odeyingbo, IND

The Colts have developed a nice three-man edge rush group, with free agent acquisition Ebukam joining classmates Kwity Paye and Odeyingbo. Paye has nice dynasty value, and both Ebukam and Odeyingbo are worth roster spots in deeper leagues. Of those two, Ebukam (four combined tackles and two quarterback hits on Sunday) has carried more value, but it was Odeyingo with the big week four with a sack-and-a-half on four quarterback hits, plus five solo tackles and two assists.

Jonathan Greenard, HOU

Greenard could be available in smaller leagues after a disappointing 2022 campaign, and/or a couple of quiet weeks after a nice week one. The Houston edge provided a rude welcome to the NFL for Steelers rookie left tackle Broderick Jones, who saw big snaps after starter Dan Moore left with an injury. Greenard finished with two sacks on three quarterback hits to go along with four solo tackles and an assist. Houston has a nice matchup for edges again next week at Atlanta.

Food for Thought

Tavius Robinson, BAL – The fourth-round rookie from Ole Miss got the start with Odafe Oweh banged up. He didn’t do much of anything from a pass rush perspective, but did collect four total tackles (one for loss). Robinson is likely only worth rostering if you have, oh, 40 roster spots for your IDPs.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, DEN – With Denver grasping for any hope to cling on to, Bonitto and Cooper delivered on Sunday, as Bonitto’s strip-sack of Justin Fields led to a fumble return touchdown by Cooper that brought the Broncos even with the Bears in a game Denver eventually won. Both edges logged two quarterback hits, with both of Bonitto’s resulting in sacks. Scoop up either if available on your waiver wires.
John Comisky, DET – Comisky has turned into a decent NFL lineman since moving to Detroit, and outside of Aidan Hutchinson, Comisky is the best fantasy option among a bunch of Lions linemen. His sack was his first of the season, and came on three quarterback hits. He added five combined tackles on 36 snaps.
Andrew Van Ginkel, MIA – Take your time coming back, Jaelen Phillips. Van Ginkel has been one of the stories of the season so far at edge, and picked up two sacks at Buffalo. Three of his five total tackles were in the backfield. He’s Edge2 worthy as long as Phillips remains out – or until Bradley Chubb suffers an injury.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Karl Brooks, GB

I understand it can be hard to get behind Green Bay’s fourth defensive tackle, but it’s also hard to ignore any rookie lineman with two sacks over his first four games. Brooks had a good bit of buzz coming out of Bowling Green and Senior Bowl practices – and still slid to the sixth round, probably in part due to his sub-32-inch T-Rex arms. In addition to his sack on Thursday Night Football, Brooks notched two solo tackles and got his paws on a pass while playing 31 of 75 snaps. In 14- and 16-team leagues with deep benches and defensive tackle-premium scoring, Brooks should probably be rostered.

David Onyemata, ATL

Grady Jarrett’s been pretty fantastic this year, despite mostly being a bust for fantasy. His buddy on the interior, Onyemata, did put up the production in London with a sack-and-a-half on two quarterback hits plus two solo tackles and five assists. You need to be in a deep league to really consider the former Saint for lineups, and for dynasty purposes he’s almost 31 years old, but Onyemata makes for a decent flier at defensive tackle in any given week.

Kobie Turner, LAR

Turner didn’t have a big week four (just two solo tackles), but he already has a couple of sacks early in his rookie season. Turner’s worth rostering in defensive tackle-premium leagues; he’s in an envious position of being able to spend time with and learn from Aaron Donald early in his career. The Rams committed during the off-season to giving opportunity to unproven and unheralded defenders, and Turner actually has decent third-round draft capital. I’d expect him to maintain his current usage, if not see an increase, as the season goes on.

Food for Thought

Malcolm Roach, NO – Roach is going to pop on available tackles lists following an eight combined-tackle performance. All Saints tackles – including rookie Brian Bresee and Khalen Saunders – were productive against the Buccaneers, however, and Roach’s snaps are inconsistent from game to game. Pass.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Alim McNeill, DET – McNeill came into the league as a nose but has dropped weight and now mostly lines up at 3-tech. His sack on Thursday night was his second in as many weeks, and both his tackles were in the backfield. McNeill should be rostered in defensive tackle-premium leagues. Even in 12-team leagues that require just one defensive tackle starter, McNeill makes for a good backup.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Ezekiel Turner, ARI

Don’t go overboard with any bids on Turner, who played just 38 of 55 snaps while subbing in for Josh Woods as the No. 2 linebacker next to Kyzir White. Though Turner did lead the Cardinals in combined tackles with nine, he’ll be relegated to a much lesser role as soon as Woods returns to the field, or Arizona decides Krys Barnes is a better option.

Food for Thought

Christian Harris, HOU – Did anyone drop Harris in anger? I suppose as long as Denzel Perryman misses time, Harris is worth starting consideration following his 12-total tackle performance against the Steelers. It shouldn’t change anything in terms of Harris’ dynasty standing – he remains a stash now unlikely to pay off.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Nate Landman, ATL – Landman was surely added last week after Troy Andersen landed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Landman was a beast in London, tallying eight solo tackles and a couple of assists. He of course needs to be added wherever available; there’s a chance we won’t see Andersen again this season.

Safeties

Food for Thought

Sam Franklin, CAR – Franklin took advantage of Xavier Woods‘ absence, opening the scoring between the Panthers and Vikings with a 99-yard interception return. Otherwise he was pretty meh with four combined tackles. I’d leave him on waivers.
Nick Scott, CIN – Just in case Scott’s still floating around on waivers in your more shallow leagues, he won’t be after this week following a nine-solo, one-assist outing. Jordan Battle will have to wait.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Darrick Forrest, WAS – I mentioned last week that Forrest, who despite a slow start production-wise plays full-time snaps, had some appealing matchups for safeties on the upcoming slate. That kicked off against Philadelphia, and Forrest responded with seven combined tackles. Consider Forrest S3 material.
Taylor Rapp, BUF – As noted after week two, Rapp has potential as a long-term successor to either Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde. The dynasty appeal is admittedly minimal, but if you need an end-of-roster safety with some dynasty upside and appeal as a fill-in in case of injury to either of Buffalo’s current aging starters, Rapp is acceptable. He netted five solos and one assist as Poyer’s stand-in on Sunday.
Delarrin Turner-Yell, DEN – Justin Simmons missed his second consecutive game with a hip injury, again providing Turner-Yell with an opportunity to play full-time snaps. The production was, again, great, with nine solos to go along with a quarterback hit and a pass defended. I don’t think we’re looking at a long-term answer at safety in Denver, but he’s obviously worth rostering and starting when either Simmons or Kareem Jackson are out.

Cornerbacks

Myles Bryant, NE

Who knows when Jonathan Jones (ankle) will make his season debut. Marcus Jones is already on injured reserve. Star rookie Christian Gonzalez injured a shoulder on Sunday and didn’t return to the game. New England’s cornerback corps is looking pretty depleted, and Bryant is the best man standing. Playing both outside corner and slot defender, Bryant racked up ten total tackles and forced two fumbles in a busy day for Patriots defensive backs against Dallas. Fire up Bryant in week five vs. New Orleans.

Food for Thought

Dane Jackson, BUF – Bills corners are eventually going to look better as fantasy starters, and following what looks like a brutal Achilles injury for No. 1 Tre’Davious White and a shoulder injury for No. 2 Christian Benford, Jackson is going to be a starter on the outside moving forward.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Daron Bland, DAL – Mac Jones is going to see the Dallas D in his nightmares all week. Bland will be one of his chief haunts after intercepting the Pats quarterback twice – one returned for a touchdown – defending three passes and tallying four combined tackles. If Bland’s on your roster, he’s in your lineup.
Julius Brents, IND – The rookie has played just two games, and both have been fantasy starter-worthy. After his eight-solo, one-assist showing in week four, Brents is pretty much a must-start in week five, even against Tennessee.
Alontae Taylor, NO – After a massive week three, Taylor was relatively quiet in week four with just four combined tackles. This week’s matchup against New England is a good one though, so should Taylor be released back into the wild, he makes for a good start.

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Jason King

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Jason is a lifelong Steelers fan and proud alumnus of NC State University. He caught the fantasy football bug in 1996, and has a strange but strong affinity for IDP dynasty leagues with multiple copies of players. When he's not thinking about fantasy football, he's doing something with his two children, dabbling with photography or fixing something around the house.