Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Eight

After suffering through a six-team bye week, we’ll see all 32 teams in action in week eight, so I’d like to think the waiver wire isn’t such a huge need in week eight. Perhaps it’s mostly a bout of recency bias and general frustration, but it also seems to me that more players are missing games this season due to injury. Whether you’re streaming or just nursing some beat-up rosters, it never hurts to churn the bottom of those rosters and continue to work the waiver wire in hopes of hitting something big.

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

Charles Omenihu, KC

After serving a six-game suspension to start the season, Omenihu made his Chiefs debut against the Chargers, collecting a sack on two quarterback hits, getting a hand on a Justin Herbert pass attempt and contributing to an interception, and picking up a couple of solo tackles. The former 49er could be a nice fantasy contributor the rest of the season; Omenihu boasted an impressive number of pressures (59) in 2022 given his number of snaps played (573). He was only credited with four-and-a-half sacks, though Pro Football Focus gave him seven. I prefer him (at least this year) to edge-mates Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Michael Danna.

Food for Thought

Anfernee Jennings, NE – Jennings is seeing some serious snaps with Matthew Judon on the mend from a torn bicep and Josh Uche nursing knee and foot injuries, and Jennings’ six combined tackles (one for loss) will help him pop on waiver wires among edge rushers this week. But he’s not creating many pressures or plays in the backfield, and his week eight matchup against Miami is not good for fantasy purposes. He’s not worth rostering in my humble opinion.

Interior Defensive Linemen

David Onyemata, ATL

Grady Jarrett has been a massive fantasy disappointment this season, but the veteran Onyemata, who joined Atlanta in the off-season, continued to put up nice fantasy numbers on Sunday with a sack on three quarterback hits, plus a solo tackle and three assists. His next three matchups prior to a week 11 bye aren’t great, but from week 12 on, Atlanta’s schedule provides an appealing slate of defensive tackle-friendly fantasy opponents.

Milton Williams, PHI

Coming off a marquee win over Miami on Sunday night, the Eagles fly to Washington in week eight, and we know that means big things for Philly defensive linemen. It’s a great week to have Hasaan Reddick, Josh Sweat, Jalen Carter, and Jordan Davis in your lineups, but if you’re missing those big names and want to get in on the action, Williams offers an intriguing play. He’s always had a lot of potential given his athleticism, but he’s been limited by snaps. He’s maybe too much of a gamble for lineups right now, but he’s still a decent deep dynasty stash.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Christian Barmore, NE – Barmore (one sack, three total tackles) has quickly elevated to must-start status in defensive tackle-required leagues. If for whatever reason he’s on waivers, he’s once again a dynasty asset even after that miserable sophomore campaign.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Tyrel Dodson and A.J. Klein, BUF

Rookie Dorian Williams was apparently benched during the second quarter of Buffalo’s stunning loss to New England, yielding to Dodson (seven total tackles, one for loss). Ultimately I do believe, for the rest of the season, that Williams remains the top choice of any Bills linebacker not named Terrel Bernard. But for now, Dodson needs to be rostered – perhaps not trusted in lineups though. And to that end, would it surprise anyone to see Klein line up and play serious snaps next to Bernard next week?

Luke Masterson, LV

An ankle injury knocked Divine Deablo out of the Raiders’ ugly loss to the Bears, and while Deablo has been yielding the full-time off-ball role to Robert Spillane the past three weeks, Deablo has still been a borderline starter in leagues that require three to four starting linebackers. Masterson (four combined tackles and a pass defensed in week seven) is an absolute add in most leagues in case Deablo either misses time with the injury, or falls out of favor due to inconsistent play.

David Mayo, WAS

No one, and I mean no one, would be excited to plug Mayo into their starting lineup. After posting seven solo tackles and two assists in relief of the injured Cody Barton, who injured an ankle early in Washington’s loss to New York, Mayo is worth an add in large tackle-heavy leagues this week. Don’t count on full-time snaps for Mayo – that honor should go to Jamin Davis – but he’s worth grabbing in case the ankle keeps Barton out multiple weeks. While there aren’t any byes in week eight, the following three weeks include four teams on bye each week, and the Commanders don’t catch a break until week 14. Sometimes you just need a warm body to plug into a lineup spot, and Mayo at least has that going for him.

Isaiah McDuffie, GB

McDuffie is long gone in most leagues, but with veteran De’Vondre Campbell still hobbled with an ankle injury he suffered in week three, the third-year Boston College product is proving he can play at the NFL level. McDuffie’s value may be hit-and-miss over the remainder of this season (and next, given Campbell’s contract and Quay Walker’s development), but he’ll also have LB3 value when he sees the field – and given Campbell’s age, he may see more of it than we think in the short- and long-term.

Drue Tranquill and Leo Chenal, KC

Nick Bolton’s season of disablement continues. The IDP star left Sunday’s game with a dislocated left wrist, an injury that will surely cost Bolton most if not all of the remainder of the fantasy season. Tranquill is Bolton’s direct replacement, and he’s an obvious priority add anywhere he’s available. And as mentioned in the week three iteration of this column, Tranquill is on a one-year deal with the Chiefs and could find full-time work next off-season.

Speaking of off-season free agents, Willie Gay is playing out his rookie contract, and Chenal could be in line for a much larger role in 2024 should Gay find greener pastures in another city. If you’re in a smaller league and have some unproductive and aging veterans on your bench for depth purposes, Chenal is a stash with high payoff potential.

Josh Woods, ARI

Woods has been serviceable as a fill-in LB4 since returning from a week one ankle injury. You can pretty much expect outings just like Sunday – four solo tackles and two assists – and they won’t win you a week, but they won’t kill you either. The post-week eight byes look rough for linebackers, so it doesn’t hurt to plan ahead, and the Cardinals don’t see their bye until week 14.

Food for Thought

Tony Fields II, CLE – Fields had a banner day, recovering a Myles Garrett strip sack for a touchdown and tallying two solos and four assists on a season-high 32 snaps. I don’t think he’s worth rostering except for maybe in 16-team leagues with huge roster limits, but given the prevalence of injuries this season, almost everyone seems roster-worthy at some point during the season.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Rashaan Evans, DAL – The ‘Boys were off in week seven, but don’t forget to check on Damone Clark, safety Markquese Bell, and Evans, who Dallas added to its practice squad following the injury to Leighton Vander Esch. We at least know Evans has high-tackle potential if he gets an opportunity.

Safeties

Andre Chachere, ARI

The shuffling among Arizona defensive backs continued in week seven. While Budda Baker returned, K’Von Wallace apparently returned to the bench, with Baker and Chachere both playing full-time roles. Both finished with six solo tackles. Chachere is seeing enough work in the box to merit S3 consideration.

Food for Thought

P.J. Locke, DEN – Veteran Kareem Jackson went head-hunting again, this time laying out Packers rookie tight end Luke Musgrave. Given his track record this season, a suspension for Jackson doesn’t seem uncalled for, and if he indeed misses games, it looks like Locke is the next man up. The journeyman UDFA totaled three tackles and an interception on 15 defensive snaps against Green Bay.

Cornerbacks

Paulson Adebo, NO

Adebo had a rough start to the season but shined on Thursday night with five solo tackles, two assists, two passes defensed, and a forced fumble. In deep leagues where even startable corners are hard to come by on waivers, Adebo’s worth scooping up in case the performance marked a “turning of the corner” for the former day two pick. Adebo is even worth a stream in week eight, as he should see a lot of target hog Michael Pittman in week eight when the Saints travel to Indianapolis.

Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson, CHI

Sunday was a nice day for Chicago, and Bears corners in particular. Gordon (four solos, three assists, and a quarterback hit), Stevenson (six solos and three passes defensed) and Johnson (two interceptions, including a pick six, on two passes defensed to go along with three combined tackles) were all productive against backup Raider quarterbacks. The QB competition will be better in week eight against Justin Herbert, but the Chargers represent an excellent matchup for opposing cornerbacks.

Food for Thought

Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, NYJ – Neither is available in most leagues that require two cornerback starters, but just in case, you should check with the Giants on tap in week eight. Big Blue has been a goldmine of production for opposing corners.

Garrett Williams, ARI – Williams made his professional debut on Sunday and made it a memorable one with an interception and two tackles. An underrated slot defender out of Syracuse, Williams should provide Arizona with a solid play at nickel defensive back – at least until Jalen Thompson returns. And if Williams shows well, it would allow Thompson to return to a free safety position next to Budda Baker.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Benjamin St-Juste, WAS – If your scoring settings account heavily for passes defensed, you were pleased if you rolled out St-Juste (four PDs, four solo tackles, and one assist) against the Giants. His spot as a full-time outside corner seems cemented.