Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Four

It has been a banner season so far for the injury bug. Last week saw season-ending injuries to Shaq Thompson and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, plus a hamstring injury that sent Budda Baker to injured reserve. All this news broke after this column was written on Sunday evening, and those injuries begat waiver wire priorities in Kamu Grugier-Hill, Tracy Walker, and K’Von Wallace.

This week, we wait for news on Derwin James (hamstring), De’Vondre Campbell (ankle) and Frankie Luvu (hip), and the way this season has been going, we should expect the worst.

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

Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, DEN

Denver’s defense was absolutely throttled in a 70-20 drubbing at the hands of Miami, so don’t go investing heavily in Broncos defenders. Both Bonitto, the 2022 second-round pick, and Cooper (mentioned last week) posted respectable numbers with six total tackles each. Two of Bonitto’s tackles came in the backfield, plus he registered a hit on the quarterback. Given the draft capital, he’s certainly worth taking a shot on if you need edge depth with modest dynasty upside. Keep in mind Frank Clark missed the game with a hip injury and Baron Browning is available to return in week five from the reserve/PUP list. We’ll need to see if Bonitto’s snap count was just a one-week blip or if he has some staying power, and if that’s the case he’s a candidate for a larger role next year with Clark’s contract voiding after this season.

Food for Thought

Tuli Tuipulotu, LAC – I almost wrote up the rookie last week but didn’t since he was spoken for in all my IDP leagues. I’ve since added him to my top 150 rankings, and against Minnesota, Tuipulotu collected a second sack on the season to go along with four solo tackles and four quarterback hits. Be sure he’s rostered in IDP dynasty leagues.

Alex Wright, CLE – He got a lot of snaps as a rookie last season and was an absolute zero, so I can’t recommend him even after a good outing that included a sack and four total tackles.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Zach Harrison, ATL – He may have already surpassed Arnold Ebiketie, whose size doesn’t match what defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen looks for in the position, in the edge pecking order. It’s not saying much, but the talented rookie (four combined tackles in week three) is already the top dynasty option among Atlanta edge rushers.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Christian Barmore, NE

I dropped him from my top 150 rankings over the weekend and he promptly responded with a sack, a pass defensed and two total tackles. He’d be hard to trust in a lineup right now, but it’s worth remembering was a high second-round pick in 2021, and had a nice rookie season that included compliments from Bill Belichick (gasp!). He’s certainly worth rostering in defensive tackle-premium settings.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Keeanu Benton, PIT – The rookie second-rounder notched his first career sack against Las Vegas. Benton is more than the nose tackle that he played at Wisconsin. Don’t count on another Cameron Heyward, but Benton is going to be more than fine.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Blake Cashman, HOU

With Denzel Perryman inactive due to an injury, Cashman logged a healthy 46 snaps – three more than Christian Harris. A former fifth-round pick of the Jets, Cashman has some minor appeal given the instability in the Houston linebacker corps. Henry To’oTo’o is a rookie, Perryman is nearing 31 and is oft-injured, and Harris is shaping up to be a bust. It’s unlikely you’ll ever want to check the box next to Cashman on a Sunday morning, but it’s not totally out of the realm of possibility, either.

Deion Jones, CAR

Carolina’s linebacker depth is really getting tested. After losing Shaq Thompson to a season-ending broken ankle during week two, the Panthers saw Frankie Luvu leave Sunday’s game at Seattle with a hip injury he suffered during the second quarter. Luvu did not return, leaving open the possibility he misses time going forward. With Kamu Grugier-Hill getting snapped up last week, longtime Falcon Deion Jones looks to be the next off-ball up. He intercepted a Geno Smith pass in week three, plus posted four combined tackles, so apparently he’s still capable of making a few plays.

Isaiah McDuffie, GB

De’Vondre Campbell was knocked out of Green Bay’s win over New Orleans relatively early on Sunday with an ankle injury of unknown severity. The fact that he didn’t return to the game isn’t good though, and Campbell owners should brace themselves for bad news early this week. McDuffie (five solo tackles and one assist on 37 defensive snaps) is a priority add for linebacker-needy teams. The former Boston College star is no slouch, and I’d like him more for dynasty if Quay Walker and Campbell weren’t locked in for multiple seasons.

Chad Muma, JAC

We may be on the precipice of a Devin Lloyd freefall. Through four weeks of his rookie season, he was everything we expected, taking Defensive Rookie of the Month honors in September 2022. Since then, he’s seemingly forgotten what he’s good at, and he’s occasionally been benched for Muma. Lloyd’s snaps dropped a bit this week, and Muma found the field in his stead. Muma wasn’t anything special (two solo tackles and two assists in 19 snaps), but if the coaching staff is starting to consider a reduced role for Lloyd, Muma is the obvious next man up.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

David Long, MIA – His week one disappearing act seems to be an aberration. He wasn’t on the field for every snap, but he still logged five solos and three assists. Make sure he’s not on your waiver wire.

Kenneth Murray and Nick Niemann, LAC – With Eric Kendricks on the inactive list once again, we got IDP awesomeness from both Murray (eight solos – one for a loss – one assist and an interception) and Niemann (eight combined tackles and a pass defensed). Niemann is certainly turning back into a pumpkin once Kendricks returns, and Murray likely will too once rookie Daiyan Henley gets up to speed.

Henry To’oTo’o, HOU – The rookie hit double-digit tackles with six solos and four assists, and led Texans linebackers in snaps. He’s clearly ahead of Harris until further notice, and should be rostered in any IDP league – dynasty or not.

Safeties

Darrick Forrest, WAS

Forrest started hitting waiver wires after two disappointing weeks to open the season. His role hasn’t changed from 2022, when he served as a decent S3, but week three was the first time this season he finished with respectable IDP production (five solo tackles, three assists). Washington has another stellar matchup for opposing safeties in week four (Philadelphia), meaning Forrest should make for a nice S2 or S3 in week four.

Jabrill Peppers, NE

He played 60 of 63 snaps Sunday and has clearly distanced himself from Adrian Phillips (six defensive snaps), and he paced the Patriots with six solo tackles (one in the backfield) and one assist. The star is certainly off this former first-round pick, but his best football may still be ahead of him. Peppers doesn’t turn 28 for another week, and he’s under contract with New England next year as well.

Delarrin Turner-Yell, DEN

Miami’s speedy offense can make a good defense look poor, and a poor defense look absolutely awful. I mentioned Turner-Yell last week as a desperation option in case Kareem Jackson was suspended for a hit on Washington tight end Logan Thomas. Jackson didn’t get suspended, but Denver played without injured starter Justin Simmons (hip). Already without Caden Sterns (lost for the season in week one with a torn patellar tendon), the Broncos had to turn to Turner-Yell, and while the stats – eight solo tackles and three assists – were good, the play was not. At least we know that Turner-Yell is nothing more than a short-term play, and dynasty value is very unlikely.

Jimmie Ward, HOU

The 32-year-old veteran made his Texans debut with five solo tackles and three assists. Sure, Jalen Pitre missed the game due to a chest injury, but he’ll retain a full-time safety spot even when Pitre returns. With the Houston linebacker corps still unsettled, the safeties here should carry weekly value. Ward’s a decent rest-of-season option.

Food for Thought

Dane Belton and Jason Pinnock, NYG – Pinnock has certainly been a fantasy asset during this young season, but he’s looked rough in my estimation. I don’t necessarily believe Belton is going to replace Pinnock or provide an upgrade, but from a dynasty perspective, I don’t think much of Pinnock’s standing. With Xavier McKinney playing out the final year of his rookie deal, safety is going to be a position Big Blue will have to address in the off-season.

K’Von Wallace, ARI – Just in case he slipped through the cracks in one of your leagues last week following the news of Budda Baker’s trip to injured reserve, scoop Wallace up. He’s playing the prime box safety role, and parlayed it into four solos, three assists and a pass defensed in week three.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Adrian Amos, NYJ – With Tony Adams inactive, Amos got some extra burn en route to six solos, one assist and a pass defensed. He’s older (30) and has no dynasty appeal, but if your safety room is decimated by injuries, Amos is a short-term option should Adams miss additional time.

Cornerbacks

DaRon Bland, DAL

He was already worth rostering after week one’s outburst that included a pick-six, but following Trevon Diggs‘ season-ending torn ACL suffered in practice last week, Bland’s part-time role grew into a full-time one. He posted four solos and an assist in Sunday’s shocking loss to Arizona, but he should see better numbers in week four at home against New England.

Julius Brents, IND

The second-rounder out of Kansas State made his professional debut against Baltimore, and made a big play by tracking down Kenyan Drake, punching the ball free and recovering the fumble after a 24-yard catch-and-run. Brents added four solo tackles on 53 snaps, and he should be busy again in week four in a nice matchup against the Rams.

Kei’Trel Clark, ARI

The speedy sixth-round pick has been busy as a rookie, and is coming off his best statistical outing with eight solo tackles, two assists, and two passes defended in a high volume game against Dallas. He won’t see 81 snaps in week four against San Francisco, but he could see a decent share of targets, and is worth adding off waivers and getting into your lineups.

Michael Davis, LAC

He’s been excellent for fantasy in two of three weeks, and notched eight solo tackles and a pass defensed against Minnesota. The Chargers get Las Vegas at home in week four, and while it’s not a fantastic matchup, Jimmy Garoppolo did just toss three interceptions against the Steelers.

Roger McCreary, TEN

I admit, I cut him in a couple of leagues after he put up a goose egg in week one. But he’s bumped inside to the slot in the two games sense, and he’s worth starting in cornerback-required leagues. The 2022 Draft’s 35th overall pick picked up a sack to go along with five solos and five assists against a surprisingly accurate Deshaun Watson, and has 16 total tackles over the past two weeks.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Akayleb Evans, MIN – He was a stud against the Chargers with seven solos and four assists. The week four matchup against Carolina isn’t so appealing, but at least the usage is good.