Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week 17

Merry Christmas, you filthy animals. If some of your teams are still alive and are making a final championship push, congratulations, and keep reading for some potential help on the IDP waiver wire. If you’ve been eliminated, this article’s for you too. As DLF subscribers know, there is no off-season. And as this is the final dynasty IDP waiver wire article for 2023, the format for this final iteration of the season-long series will differ just a bit to provide some quick hits on week 17 options plus potential stashes headed into 2024.

Keep in mind, as always, I gear this advice more toward 14- and 16-team dynasty setups, or 12-team setups with fairly large roster limits (65 spots or so) and lineups with 11 IDP starters. If you are in shallower leagues, I recommend giving my top 150 and rookie rankings a look when prioritizing pickups off the wire. Mine are freshly updated as of Christmas Eve.

Edge Rushers

Week 17 Options

Calais Campbell, ATL – As long as you’re not bothered by his advanced football age, Campbell is well positioned to provide streaming value in a good matchup against Chicago. Considering the 37-year-old is coming off a performance that included a sack and a half on three quarterback hits, and considering Lorenzo Carter sustained a neck injury that knocked him out of Sunday’s game, Campbell is sure to be a hot pickup where available.

Derek Barnett and Jerry Hughes, HOU – Already without Will Anderson due to an ankle injury, Houston lost Jonathan Greenard to an ankle injury of his own on Sunday after just three defensive snaps. If either starter misses week 17, Barnett (three quarterback hits and three total tackles – two for loss – plus a pass defensed) becomes a viable streamer. Should both miss – and you’re desperate – Hughes (a sack and five total tackles) should be available on the wire. The Texans have a nice matchup against Tennessee.

Patrick Jones II, MIN – Jones saw a season-high 54 defensive snaps on Sunday, and enjoyed his best outing of the season with a sack, a pass defensed, five solo tackles – three for loss – and an assist. Is it an indicator of week 17 success? Probably not with both Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum also in the fold, but the matchup against Green Bay is a good one.

Dynasty Priorities

James Houston, DET – It doesn’t appear that Houston will be able to return during the regular season from the broken ankle he suffered in week two. We’ve at least learned the Lions need him – even if in a rotational role – to generate a pass rush on the opposite side of Aidan Hutchinson. And while his remarkable production during his 2022 rookie season isn’t sustainable, he should play heavily into the Lions’ plans next season.

Nick Herbig, PIT – He’s not displacing either T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith, but Herbig has shown the ability to get after the quarterback when in the game. Outside of 2022 when he missed seven games, Watt has stayed healthy, but that seems like a hard thing to continue to bet on as he nears 30. Herbig offers fantasy starting upside whenever Watt or Highsmith miss games.

Zach Harrison, ATL – The rookie is suddenly on a roll with three sacks over the past two weeks. It might be hard to justify putting him in lineups given his snap volume (29 in week 15; 25 in week 16), but he’s at least deserving of a dynasty roster spot headed into the off-season.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Week 17 Options

B.J. Hill, CIN – Hill posted a season-high eight total tackles in Cincinnati’s first game without D.J. Reader (torn quad). This week’s matchup against Kansas City isn’t the best for interior lineman, but you can at least count on Hill for big snap volume.

Dynasty Priorities

Keeanu Benton, PIT – Pittsburgh has Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi set for 2024, but Benton has been impressive as a rookie as a versatile pocket disruptor and run defender with the ability to line up from the zero out to the four tech. Benton’s setting himself up well to be the heir apparent to Heyward, who will be 35 when the 2024 season kicks off, as the leader for the interior line.

Gervon Dexter, CHI – It’s a bit of a reach but in a great year for rookie interior defensive linemen, Dexter ranks fifth in pressures (per Pro Football Focus) behind Jalen Carter, Kobie Turner, Calijah Kancey and Bryan Bresee.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Week 17 Options

Khaleke Hudson, WAS – I wasn’t expecting a repeat performance from Hudson, but he followed up a huge week 15 with ten solo tackles, five assists and a couple of passes defensed. I guess you have to consider streaming him, even in a bad statistical matchup against the Niners.

Myles Jack and Mykal Walker, PIT – The curse of the Pittsburgh linebacker struck Elandon Roberts, who on Saturday suffered a pec injury that was serious enough to knock him out of the game and left him in a sling. The Steelers of course already lost Cole Holcomb (knee) and Kwon Alexander (Achilles) to serious season-ending injuries in November, leaving Walker (eight combined tackles) and Jack, who recently came out of retirement and logged a sack on two quarterback hits to go along with six total tackles in his season debut. Jack looks like the full-time ‘backer here and is a much higher priority than Walker.

Duke Riley, MIA – A resurgent Riley, plugged into the lineup following Jerome Baker’s season-ending injury, seems good for five combined tackles each week. So if that does it for you, have at him. At least the championship matchup against Baltimore is fantastic for opposing linebackers.

Devin Bush, SEA – Jordyn Brooks was forced from the action against Tennessee with an ankle injury, and Seattle was forced to give Bush (five solos, one assist) more work than it certainly wants to. Bush is again in streaming consideration should Brooks be ruled out for week 17.

Dynasty Priorities

Leo Chenal and Willie Gay, KC – Granted these are shallow league options, and both are in my top 150, but both stand to see value bumps in the off-season. Gay and Drue Tranquill are scheduled to hit free agency, leaving Nick Bolton and Chenal tentatively atop the Kansas City linebacker depth chart. Gay has appeal if he’s snapped up by the right team; he’s never really had a consistent three-down role and I think he’d excel statistically as long as he’s not plugged in as a middle linebacker.

Owen Pappoe, ARI – The fifth-round pick from Auburn got his first start of the season and played a career-high 35 snaps (his previous career high was six, so it was a low bar). It’s not out of the question Pappoe could be the No. 2 off-ball in the desert next season.

Safeties

Week 17 Options

Ifeatu Melifonwu, DET – The converted corner has found a home at safety after replacing an ineffective Tracy Walker in week 14. Melifonwu is the S1 since that time, thanks in part to a massive week 16 that included two sacks, an interception on two passes defensed, and five solo tackles. This week’s matchup against Dallas is excellent.

Nick Cross, IND – Assuming Julian Blackmon’s shoulder injury keeps him from playing in week 17, we’ll see Cross in the strong safety role we all envisioned for him when he was drafted by the Colts in 2022. Cross has actually had some good games recently, so he may actually have some dynasty value with a good closeout to 2023, especially considering Blackmon is scheduled to reach free agency.

Ronnie Hickman, CLE – Hickman’s output hasn’t been huge since he started getting full-time snaps in week 14, but he’s getting full-time snaps with Grant Delpit on injured reserve. And while he’s playing a lot and he’s a rookie, Hickman’s path to meaningful snaps over the next few seasons is blocked by both Delpit and Juan Thornhill, so his dynasty value is nil.

Eric Rowe, PIT – Minkah Fitzpatrick’s status for week 17 is unknown, but entering week 16 it didn’t sound like he was a week away from returning from his knee injury suffered in week 15. Damontae Kazee of course remains suspended, and Trenton Thompson wasn’t able to go this week. Rowe picked off a pass in his Steelers debut, and compiled seven tackles. He’s risky but an OK pickup if you’re desperate at safety.

Dynasty Priorities

Jeremy Chinn, CAR – Free agency can’t get here soon enough for Chinn, who has seen his fantasy star fade fast. I’d think Chinn would be one of the more coveted (as far as safeties are coveted) free agent safeties in the class. If he’s been dropped over the course of the season, grab him before the off-season begins.

Marte Mapu, NE – I can’t say what direction the Patriots are taking in the off-season with rumors of Bill Belichick’s imminent departure. It simply doesn’t seem likely during a franchise reset that the front office would be willing to make safety a priority in free agency, and for that reason I’m not expecting Kyle Dugger to return to New England. If that plays out, Mapu, who has been productive the past two weeks even on limited snaps, seems likely to slide into a starting safety role in 2024. In “start 11” leagues he’s likely rostered, but Mapu could be hanging out on the wire in shallow leagues given his statistically quiet rookie season.

Jartavius ‘Quan’ Martin, WAS – As mentioned last week, the rookie has officially taken over the slot defender role in Washington. You can’t start him this week coming off a six total tackle game and San Francisco – a statistically terrible matchup for opposing defenders – on deck, but Martin is going to be a fixture in the Commanders’ defensive back lineup for the foreseeable future.

Jordan Howden, NO – He’s surprised a bit as one of the better rookie safeties, and could supplant Marcus Maye as a starter. (Maye has void years tacked on to the end of his deal post-2024, so I’m not seeing him as a cap casualty unless the Saints make him a post-June 1 cut.)

Anthony Johnson, GB – Johnson’s also a week 17 consideration if Darnell Savage sits again. The seventh-round pick compiled six solo tackles and two assists to lead the Pack in tackles on Sunday, and deserves a good look to see if he has starting potential next season. And considering Johnathan Owens, Rudy Ford and Savage are all set to enter free agency, Green Bay is going to be looking for answers at the position prior to 2024.

Quentin Lake, LAR – Lake is a little of both weekly and dynasty priority – albeit at the low end – as the second-year safety is emerging as an excellent slot defender. With both Jordan Fuller and John Johnson III entering free agency, Lake has an opportunity for full-time work as both a starting safety in heavy base sets and a slot defender in nickel and dime. The week 17 matchup against the Giants isn’t great, so if you’re adding him, it’s more for dynasty.

Cornerbacks

Week 17 Options

Antonio Hamilton and Starling Thomas, ARI – The Arizona duo has a pretty good matchup against Philadelphia to close out the fantasy season, and both are widely available in corner-required leagues.

Dynasty Priorities

There are corners such as Nate Hobbs and Kenny Moore who I’ll probably hang on to in true dynasty formats, but for the most part, I don’t recommend carrying corners through the off-season. There’s a ton of variance in defensive back production from season to season, and corners tend to see a steeper drop than safeties. I haven’t figured out how to predict which corners are going to carry value from one year to the next, so I’m using my roster spots to take swings on backs, receivers or other IDPs who I think might be in line for a value bump before 2024. And if nothing else, I’m clearing these roster spots for 2024 rookies.