Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week 12

Welcome to the most compressed week of the NFL season. If you’re managing multiple leagues, you’ll have a tight turnaround between Wednesday night waiver runs and Thursday at 12:30 p.m., when the first of three Thanksgiving Day games kicks off. If you’re traveling Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, plan accordingly.

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

The third-round pick is coming on strong. Diaby bagged his first multi-sack game at San Francisco, and he now has four over his past four outings. His snap share has been fairly consistent since week one, but at this rate he’s going to start siphoning them away from former first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. With a 9.86 Relative Athletic Score, Diaby has a high ceiling and a path to serious snaps in 2025 assuming Tryon-Shoyinka isn’t retained (or fails to become more of a factor as a pocket disruptor). He’s a no-doubt add in dynasty formats.

KJ Henry, WAS

Sure, why not? Washington, seeking anything resembling NFL edge play, gave the rookie from Clemson 37 snaps, and Henry responded with a sack-and-a-half on two quarterback hits, two passes defensed, and four combined tackles. Granted that production came against a porous Giant offensive line, but still given the competition, Henry likely earned himself a much larger role for the rest of the season. The fifth-round pick is worth an add in deeper leagues.

Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche and Deatrich Wise, NE

If you like beneficial matchups – and you do like those – no edge group has a better one this week than New England. While we’re all licking our chops and digging into Thanksgiving leftovers for the fifth or sixth time, Jennings, Uche and Wise will be licking theirs at the thought of getting after the Giants’ pass protectors and whoever is under center.

Jennings has been a hot waiver wire column topic in recent weeks, but with the Patriots on a bye in week 11, he may have been cut loose in shallow leagues. Uche played just 17 snaps in each of New England’s past two outings and would be hard to trust, but he’s the most appealing dynasty option of the group, and might have that big week he’s been due to have (don’t forget Uche had three multi-sack games over the second half of the 2022 season). The versatile Wise is the best bet for snap volume, and is also likely the least available of the three.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, CLE

Za’Darius Smith has been a massive fantasy disappointment this year, and honestly production across from Myles Garrett has mostly been missing for the Browns. But Okoronkwo (one sack on one quarterback hit, plus five total tackles – four in the backfield) looked great at times at Pittsburgh, and he has some nice matchups down the stretch, including week 17 against the Jets.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Tuli Tuipulotu, LAC – The second-rounder has had streaky production – not unexpected for a rookie – but has seen his snap volume drop as well. That’s likely to change following Joey Bosa’s foot injury, and it’s worth checking to see if Tuipulotu is somehow available in any shallow leagues.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Alim McNeill, DET

McNeill made an early appearance in this column back in week two, and he’s had a solid year operating as the Lions’ three-tech tackle. He’s having a low-end DT2 season, and notched his fifth sack of the year on Sunday to go along with a couple of solo tackles.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Markquese Bell, DAL

I’m betting Bell got dropped in several leagues following a disappointing week ten that saw him get just 22 snaps. He rebounded nicely against Carolina, collecting six solo tackles and four assists on 50 defensive snaps (which led Dallas linebackers). Rashaan Evans, who played just seven snaps, still has a path to relevance by the end of the season.

Sirvocea Dennis, TB

Lavonte David is in the midst of one of his finest fantasy seasons ever, and he’s been remarkably durable, missing just a handful of games over his 12-year career. But a groin injury sidelined the 33-year-old linebacker on Sunday, and should David miss multiple games, the rookie Dennis would be thrust into a much larger role. Should that be the case, the Bucs can at least get a good look at Dennis, who could be in line for full-time snaps starting in 2024 considering both David and Devin White are scheduled to hit the open market in the off-season.

Mykal Walker, PIT

Word got out late last week that Walker could have a big role in a Pittsburgh linebacker corps that recently lost Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander to season-ending injuries. And Walker did play 63 snaps, but finished with just two assists as Elandon Roberts (15 total tackles) hogged up all the production. I wouldn’t consider Walker for lineups, but given the volume he should probably be rostered.

Revisits from Recent Weeks

Isaiah McDuffie, GB – In shallow leagues, McDuffie may have been dropped with both Quay Walker and De’Vondre Campbell both healthy enough to play in week 11. The latter suffered a shoulder stinger against the Chargers though, and given Green Bay’s quick turnaround and trip to Detroit, odds are Campbell will rest, putting McDuffie in a spot to again see fantasy starting-level snaps.

Josh Woods, ARI – Woods hasn’t been exciting by any stretch, but he’ll be looking better should Kyzir White miss time with an elbow injury that knocked him from Sunday’s loss to Houston. And as the second linebacker anyway, Woods (six solos, one assist) at least has a floor that isn’t a zero.

Safeties

Jordan Battle, CIN

Nick Scott’s stint as a starter in Cincinnati seems to be over as Battle took over for the ineffective veteran and ran with the opportunity, leading the Bengals in tackles with ten solos and an assist. Battle brings a lot of high-level college experience (44 starts over four seasons at Alabama) and day two draft capital as the 95th overall pick. He looks ready to pair with Dax Hill to give the Bengals a young, affordable safety duo for the next few seasons.

Ji’Ayir Brown, SF

Perhaps the most cruel IDP injury of week 11 was to Talanoa Hufanga, who reportedly “likely” tore his ACL when he went down with a non-contact knee injury. After a slow start to his campaign, Hufanga has been an S1 since week six.

San Francisco will now see what Brown can do, and the early results were mixed despite big statistical output. Brown got burned for a long reception by fellow rookie Rakim Jarrett, but got the last laugh with three plays in the end zone in the fourth quarter, including an interception on a tipped pass that essentially sealed the win for San Francisco. Here’s what I wrote about the rookie from Penn State after he was drafted:

“Tashaun Gipson performed well for San Francisco last season and returned on a one-year deal, but the 49ers needed a long-term solution to pair with Hufanga, and Brown is a nice prospect who Daniel Jeremiah had as his top safety. Gipson is likely to start the season and may hold the job, but Brown will see the field in three-safety sets and has a nice runway to fantasy relevance starting in 2024.”

John Johnson III and Quentin Lake, LAR

The Rams came out of the bye with changes at defensive back. Russ Yeast played a season-low 14 defensive snaps, while Lake played a season-high 65. Lake picked up most of his work in the slot, and when he moved inside, Johnson (46 snaps) came on as the second safety. Lake is a strong tackler, as evidenced by his seven solos and one assist, and should be added in leagues that require at least two safety starters. He’s the son of former Steeler Carnell Lake.

Isaiah Pola-Mao, LV

Marcus Epps suffered a neck injury that knocked him out of Sunday’s loss to Miami, and Pola-Mao enjoyed a big week in relief. The undrafted sophomore from Southern Cal picked off a Tua Tagovailoa pass to start the second half, and collected four solo tackles and three assists. Pola-Mao did have one huge week in late 2022, so he’s capable should Epps miss time, and should you be desperate at safety.

Trenton Thompson, PIT

Already without Minkah Fitzpatrick and Keanu Neal, Pittsburgh lost Elijah Riley to an ankle injury on Sunday and was down to Damontae Kazee and Thompson. The second-year undrafted free agent wasn’t a terrible fantasy play either, with five solos, an assist and a couple of passes defensed. Fitzpatrick could certainly return this week in a big AFC North showdown against Cincinnati, and I’d only consider Thompson if both Fitzpatrick and Riley are out, but Thompson is at least a name to monitor if injuries have thinned out your safety corps.

Marcus Williams, BAL

Williams has missed almost as many games as he’s played over the past two seasons after migrating to Baltimore from New Orleans prior to the 2022 season. He’s coming off his best game of the year on Thursday night with five solo tackles, two assists and a couple of passes defensed, and has now played almost every defensive snap over the past couple of weeks. Williams’ availability in dynasty IDP leagues is hit-and-miss, but he’s not a bad add if injuries have ravaged your safety room.

Food for Thought

Adrian Amos, NYJ – A hand injury knocked Tony Adams out of New York’s loss to Buffalo, and Amos stepped in to record four combined tackles. If you’ve been relying on Adams for safety starts, Amos becomes the replacement should Adams not be able to play Friday vs. the Dolphins.

Ronnie Hickman, CLE – The rookie got some run after Rodney McLeod exited with a bicep injury he suffered on a Jaylen Warren run. The Browns were already without Juan Thornhill for the game, and Hickman probably just slots in as a backup long-term. He’s worth keeping on your radar though should Cleveland fail to bring back Grant Delpit in the off-season.

Cornerbacks

Rasul Douglas, BUF

If he got dropped following his trade to Buffalo from Green Bay, you’re going to want to pounce now. He’ll be a hot commodity on the waiver wire – and not just in cornerback-required leagues – after picking off two passes, recovering a fumble, and logging four total tackles. He’s also not coming off the field against Philadelphia, especially considering both Dane Jackson and Taron Johnson likely suffered concussions this week.

Antonio Hamilton and Marco Wilson, ARI

Arizona’s outside duo are looking at a nice matchup against the Rams. Wilson (three solos, three assists) and Hamilton (an interception, three solos and one assist) both had double-digit fantasy outings when the Cardinals and Rams met in week six, and the Rams have provided us with a fantasy CB1 in each of their past three games.

Ja’Quan McMillian, DEN

The Broncos have found their slot defender. McMillian made up for a low tackle night (two combined) with a fumble recovery and an interception on a deflected pass. No corner has better playoff matchups than McMillian, who will see Keenan Allen in both weeks 14 and 17, and draws the Lions and Patriots in between. If he’s still floating around waivers in your corner-required leagues, fix that this week.

Food for Thought

Troy Hill, CAR – The veteran corner (eight combined tackles, three passes defensed) has taken over as Carolina’s slot defender. The matchup against Tennessee isn’t as attractive as Dallas, but Kyle Philips will garner several targets, giving Hill decent opportunity. In large leagues that require two corners, you could consider Hill if you’ve been hit hard by injuries.

Ambry Thomas, SF – I don’t know that he’s worth picking up, but Thomas has seen a large workload over the past two weeks at outside corner, with Deommodore Lenoir moving to the slot and Isaiah Oliver heading to the bench.