Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week 14

We’ve reached December, and week 14. In the majority of fantasy leagues, it’s the final week of the regular season, and it’s last call for any of your teams making a final push for the playoffs or better playoff seeding.

While it wasn’t as bad as week 13 when six teams were on bye, we’re still dealing with bye weeks, and unfortunately in IDP circles Washington is one of two teams – Arizona being the other – we won’t see this week. The Commanders have been in the Christmas spirit all season and are one of the most giving matchups for IDP production. We’ll miss you, Washington offensive line.

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

YaYa Diaby, TB

I wrote up Diaby in week 12 but he bears a big mention once again after replacing Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in the starting lineup and posting a sack to go along with six combined tackles. He’s obviously a dynasty keeper, but he also merits immediate starting consideration after seeing his snap count increase dramatically over the past two weeks. The matchup this week against Atlanta is pretty good, too.

Food for Thought

Arnold Ebiketie, ATL – I get that he has five-and-a-half sacks now over his past seven outings, but hopefully you have more trustworthy options. Bud Dupree, Calais Campbell and Lorenzo Carter are all seeing more snaps than Ebiketie, who seems like an odd size fit for what new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen looks for at edge.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Jarran Reed, SEA

Who says you can’t go home? Reed’s signing in Seattle seemed to be a bit of an afterthought after the Seahawks coughed up in free agency for Dre’Mont Jones, and it’s safe to say I didn’t see his nice season coming – especially after the ‘Hawks brought on Leonard Williams via an in-season trade. But Reed, drafted by Seattle in 2016, picked up his fifth sack of the season against Dallas, and added seven total tackles to boot. Temper your expectations a little – the Seahawks played a massive amount of defensive snaps (89) on Thursday Night Football – Reed was fairly quiet when Seattle and San Francisco met just two weeks ago, and the matchups aren’t great down the stretch, but he won’t give you a goose egg if you’re desperate.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Jack Cochrane, KC

I’m going to assume Nick Bolton returns in week 14 for a home showdown with Buffalo, but there’s no guarantee that happens. And there’s no assurance that Drue Tranquill, who was knocked out of Sunday night’s loss to Green Bay with a concussion, is ready to return. So Cochrane, who played well when pressed into action, is worth adding until we learn one or both of Bolton and/or Tranquill is ready to man the middle for the Chiefs defense. Cochrane, a second-year former undrafted linebacker out of South Dakota, picked up seven solo tackles – two for loss.

Blake Martinez, Mark Robinson and Mykal Walker, PIT

Pittsburgh’s linebacker room has the feel of San Francisco’s quarterback situation in last season’s playoffs: there’s no one left. Elandon Roberts’ groin injury may not be quite as bad as the knee injury suffered by Cole Holcomb, or the Achilles rupture endured by Kwon Alexander, but it will likely sideline Roberts for a while. That leaves the Atlanta castoff Walker (ten combined tackles against Arizona) and probably the recently unretired Blake Martinez to man the Steelers’ top two off-ball spots.

Martinez hasn’t yet been active since Pittsburgh plucked him off of Carolina’s practice squad prior to week 12, but I’m guessing he’ll be preferred in a primary role over Mark Robinson, whom the Steelers have shown little trust in. Robinson did post four solo tackles and three assists in the larger role, and it’s possible he’s the pick over Martinez on a short week with New England coming to town on Thursday night. At the rate the injuries are piling up, we may see Myles Jack back on the black-and-gold sideline soon, too.

Duke Riley, MIA

Jerome Baker’s knee injury might not be a season-ender, but it does seem like something that will keep him out for a game or three. After Baker exited Sunday’s game in the second quarter, Riley took the spot next to David Long, and the pair each tallied seven total tackles. Riley added a forced fumble while dropping Antonio Gibson for a loss on a catch in the backfield. This isn’t an overly productive spot, so don’t think you’re landing a league winner with Riley, but he should be a serviceable LB3/4 type in Baker’s absence.

Nephi Sewell, NO

With Pete Werner sidelined with an oblique injury, Sewell saw 72 percent of the Saints’ defensive snaps, and tallied eight total tackles (two in the backfield). If you’re looking for an injury fill-in for Werner should his injury linger into week 14, Sewell is definitely preferred to starter Zack Baun, but his path to a larger role is blocked by both Werner and Demario Davis through 2024. He’s probably worth an early week stash in larger tackle-heavy leagues.

Food for Thought

If you’ve been watching the Markquese Bell-Damone Clark battle for snap superiority, Bell was back on top in week 13, 58 to 49, and doubled Clark up in total tackles, eight to four. We’ll see if Shaquille Leonard ends up in Dallas and if so, who pays the price in volume, but I’m feeling pretty good these days about Bell, especially where he’s classified as a safety.

Christian Elliss, PHI – I don’t think much of him as an add, but Elliss (four solos, two assists) might be worth a shot should Zach Cunningham miss additional weeks, and Shaquille Leonard opt to sign with Dallas instead of Philly.

J.J. Russell, TB – Conditions had to be just right – veterans Lavonte David and Devin White, and rookie Sirvocea Dennis were all inactive, and K.J. Britt suffered a first-quarter back injury – but Russell was golden with a sack, six solos and an assist. You probably need unlimited roster spots to consider adding him.

Safeties

Mike Edwards, KC

Bryan Cook’s nasty ankle injury on Sunday night leaves a void on the back end of the Kansas City defense, and creates an opportunity for Edwards to have some value down the stretch. This won’t likely be a highly productive role – though Edwards tallied two solo tackles and four assists, production that mostly came after Cook left the game midway through the third quarter – but if you need depth, we’ve seen Edwards have some value from his days in Tampa Bay.

Jartavius ‘Quan’ Martin, WAS

He wasn’t quite Brian Branch as a prospect, but Martin was the next best thing for teams looking for a safety/nickel defender type. Martin’s snap share has increased over the past two weeks, and he easily had his best fantasy performance to date with five solos (one in the backfield) and two assists. His snap share isn’t high enough to merit starting, and the matchup against Miami was ideal, so consider this recommendation more dynasty-focused than for 2023.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Demarcco Hellams, ATL – I guess it’s not Hellams either/or Richie Grant. Rather, it’s both! Or neither. And neither mustered much production (two total tackles each) despite both eclipsing 50 snaps in a snoozer against the Jets.

P.J. Locke, DEN – Yes, the matchup against Houston was great, but give Locke his due: he’s locking down a safety spot long-term. For the second consecutive week, Locke notched a sack to go along with six solos, two assists. He’s an add for 2023 and beyond.

Cornerbacks

Kristian Fulton and Sean Murphy-Bunting, TEN

Assuming Roger McCreary is not available, Fulton and Murphy-Bunting are top streaming targets with Tennessee traveling to Miami for Monday Night Football. You’re hard-pressed to find a better matchup for cornerback production, and both could be available in shallow leagues.

Jack Jones and Amik Robertson, LV

With Marcus Peters no longer in the picture, Robertson and Jones presumably are the primary outside corners for the Raiders. It’s a little hard to know who to trust here (other than Nate Hobbs), but the matchup this week at home against Minnesota is too good to ignore. If you’re struggling at the position, one of these two is worth a gamble.

Food for Thought

Brandon Stephens, BAL – Coming off a bye, he’s available in some shallow leagues ahead of a nice matchup against the Rams. If you reach the championship round, the Ravens have Miami in week 17.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Deane Leonard, LAC – Kudos to you if you stuck out the Chargers-Patriots game on Sunday. Despite a goose egg from the Bailey Zappe-led Pats, Leonard managed five solos and two assists, plus a pass defensed. He gets another decent-to-good matchup this week against Denver.

Jaquan McMillian, DEN – He’s mostly rostered now, but if not, he’s a priority pickup in cornerback-required leagues with matchups against Keenan Allen and the Chargers in weeks 14 and 17. Let’s ride!

Ambry Thomas, SF – He’s coming off a big week with six solos and three passes defensed. This week’s matchup with Seattle is just OK, and he’s likely not startable until week 17, but if you make it to your championship, he’s going to look good in a matchup with Washington. If you have the roster space, he’s worth stashing.