Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week 17

It’s Championship Week in dynasty fantasy football and, if you’re reading this, you’re likely one of the lucky few who made it to this final weekend. If you are, allow me to be the first dynasty IDP waiver wire analyst to congratulate you on your feat, and wish you a very Happy Holidays.

I count myself among the lucky few who are still playing this week for an IDP dynasty championship, a league I started in 2018. Several years ago, I was working in the fantasy industry and heard about dynasty fantasy football for the first time. I’ve always loved the teambuilding side of fantasy football, so the sound of dynasty really appealed to me. After a year of trying and failing to find a league to join, I decided to start one myself. And, for some reason, I decided to make that league an IDP league. I had never played IDP and had no idea what I was getting myself into. Now, thanks in most part to that first league I started, I’m here writing IDP articles for Dynasty League Football. And, thanks to Zack Baun, Nick Bosa and Kaden Elliss, I’ll be competing for a title in that league!

With only one week to look ahead to, I’ll focus mostly on week 17 matchups to target for this article, along with players who will play an increased role in week 17. Next week, we’ll look ahead to pickups for the 2025 season. To everyone reading this who is playing this week, good luck and bring home the hardware!

As a reminder, these waiver wire suggestions are based on dynasty leagues that start seven defensive players, two at each position group and a flex. Some players profiled will be for deeper leagues, and others for more shallow leagues, but with no standard format for IDP leagues, we need to cast a wide net. I’ll be using roster percentage data from Sleeper.

Be sure to check out the DLF Expert IDP Rankings for our experts’ takes on how IDP players should be valued for dynasty leagues.

Defensive Linemen

Zach Sieler, DT MIA, 34%

The Browns remain the ultimate team to target for opposing pass-rushers. The Bengals have struggled this season rushing the passer, but they made five sacks this past week. Sieler has been a monster in opposing backfields lately. He has sacks in five of the last six games and 4.5 over the last three. Bengals DT Kris Jenkins had two sacks in this one, so expect Sieler to have a good chance to get to the quarterback in this one.

Derick Hall, DE SEA, 17%

Hall was a beast earlier in the year, getting five sacks over the first four games of the season. Since then, he only has two more, but one of them came this past week against the Vikings. This week, Seattle will take on the Bears, who have given up the second-most sacks in the league this season. To make things worse for Chicago, starting LT Braxton Jones suffered a leg injury on Sunday that looked serious. Check to make sure Leonard Williams isn’t available in your league first, but if he isn’t Hall is the next player worth picking up. Jarran Reed would also be a decent pickup to consider in leagues that require a defensive tackle.

Kyle Van Noy, LB BAL, 21%

After a mid-season lull, Van Noy is once again racking up the sacks for the Ravens defense. In the last three games he’s played, he has 3.5 sacks. He’s playing a limited snapshare, but he’s getting to the QB with efficiency and racking up the fantasy points. Next week, the Ravens have a Christmas Day game against the Texans, who are top ten in sacks allowed this season

Other Players to Consider: Chauncey Golston, DE DAL, 5%; Kingsley Enagbare, DE GB, 6%; Montravius Adams, DT PIT, 3%; Christian Elliss, EDGE NE, 27%, Jer’Zhan Newton, DT WAS, 23%; Nolan Smith, EDGE PHI, 34%

Linebackers

Christian Rozeboom, LB LAR, 35%

Rozeboom is so close to finally being ineligible for this article. This week, he should absolutely go above that 35% threshold. The Cardinals give up the second-most tackles to linebackers in the NFL, and Rozeboom has been a tackle machine this season. He’s up to a career-high 126 tackles this season, so he should flirt with the double-digits next week once again. One frustration for IDP managers, Rozeboom has 60 assisted tackles this season, fifth-most in the entire league.

Marist Liufau, LB DAL, 27%

The Cowboys have been decimated by injuries this season, allowing for several young players to enjoy breakout seasons. In the past two weeks, Liufau has been a playmaker in the Dallas defense and has earned more snaps to close out this season. For the second straight game, Liufau punched out a fumble and he also had seven total tackles. The rookie only has 1.5 sacks this season, but he pressured Baker Mayfield at times as well. He led all linebackers with 72 snaps, 100% of the defensive snapshare. Next week, the Cowboys play the Eagles, who give up the fourth-most tackles to the linebacker position. He may be worth a start next week, and a hold through the dynasty off-season.

Darius Muasau, LB NYG, 9%

With Bobby Okereke going on IR, Darius Muasau has taken on a full-time role for the Giants. At this point in the season, it’s tough to find an every-down linebacker available in 90% of leagues. This week, he had 11 total tackles on the Falcons, a career-high for the UCLA product. It’s a horrible matchup next week for the Giants linebackers against the Colts, but Muasau will be on the field plenty and he could be worth a spot-start in deep leagues.

Other Players to Consider: Jacoby Windmon, LB CAR, 0%; Cedric Gary, LB TEN, 18%; Devin Bush, LB CLE, 19%; Isaiah McDuffie, LB GB, 14%; Dorian Williams, LB BUF, 33%; Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB SF, 4%

Defensive Backs

Ar’Darius Washington, S BAL, 10%

The Ravens have a quick turnaround before a Christmas night game against the Houston Texans. The Texans allow the fourth-most tackles to safeties in the NFL. With Kyle Hamilton highly-managed, Washington becomes the primary target. He’s made big plays in back-to-back games, and the Texans struggled to protect the football last week against the Chiefs.

Jordan Battle, S CIN, 30% or Geno Stone, S CIN, 14%

The Bengals have a great matchup this week against the Denver Broncos, who give up the fifth-most tackles to safeties in the league. Battle has been playing more and more snaps in recent weeks for the Bengals while Vonn Bell has taken a step back in production. The 2023 third-round pick could be a good stash going forward if he can earn a starting role in Cincinnati next year. Both Battle and Stone are every-down players for the Bengals.

Christian Izien, S TB, 11%

With Antoine Winfield out this week, Izien played 93% of the snaps for the Bucs up against the Cowboys. He had 13 total tackles in the game (nine solo), a career-high for the second-year player. Next week’s matchup against Carolina isn’t great on paper, but the Panthers have been much more explosive on offense lately, especially after the bye week. This past week, the Cardinals’ top two safeties combined for 16 total tackles against the Panthers, including 10 from Jalen Thompson.

Other Players to Consider: Jaylen McCollough, S LAR, 6%; Jalen Thompson, S ARI, 35%; Darius Slay, CB PHI, 12%; Jonathan Owens, S CHI, 12%; Ugo Amadi, S NO, 31%; Julian Blackmon, CB IND, 34%