Welcome to IDP Waiver Wire (Week 1). This is where we highlight a few players at each position that we want to add this week. As for ownership percentages we will be using My Fantasy League. For our full weekly rankings list, head to The FFU Weekly Rankings Page or try out our Sit/Start Tool Powered by Fantasy Pros. The waiver lists are sorted by defensive position with each position having separate tabs for ownership percentage.
Defensive Tackles
– Keeanu Benton, Steelers (3% rostered)
Benton made massive strides forward in his rookie season and seems destined for a much larger role as a sophomore. He sustained an eye injury during the Steeler’s first preseason game which has helped to suppress his ADP but by all accounts, he should be healthy and ready to play a big role for Pittsburgh come Week 1. Benton was never a full-time player in 2023, so with him in store to see a large increase in playing time, he should easily prove to be an indispensable defender on your IDP roster. He is even more valuable in leagues with high-scoring for tackles, he is going to be a tackling machine in 2024.
– Javon Kinlaw, Jets (1% rostered)
– Darius Robinson, Cardinals (2% rostered) Injured*
– Braden Fiske, Rams (6% rostered)
Fiske enters his rookie season as one of the most impressive rookies in the class. His time at Florida State was impressive, to say the least, but he displayed his full potential at the 2024 NFL Draft Combine and showed just how explosive he can be. As of now, Fiske looks to be the Day 1 starter at defensive end on the left side, and if that holds he is going to be a dominant force in the Rams offense from Week 1. If Fiske is available in your IDP league, add him now. He is going to be top 12 in the DE rankings by this time next year.
– Jordan Davis, Eagles (7% rostered)
– Denico Autry, Texans (8% rostered) Suspended*
– Zach Sieler, Dolphins (13% rostered)
Sieler enters his seventh NFL season and has seen his fantasy production increase in each of those seasons. Last season he set career-highs across the board and showed he can be a top 10 IDP asset. He has thrived under Vic Fangio and is a perfect fit for this defensive scheme. The duo of Sieler and Chrisitan Wilkins was one of the best in the NFL last season, but with Wilkins moving on to Las Vegas it’s going to fall squarely on Sieler to be a dominant force. He is sure to face more double teams in 2024, but he is also a lock to have a career-high and improve on an impressive 2023 season.
– Daron Payne, Commanders (12% rostered)
– Dexter Lawrence, Giants (11% rostered)
Defensive Ends
– Nik Bonitto, Broncos (5% rostered)
Bonitto is entering his third NFL season, all of which have been with the Denver Broncos and while he has only been a part-time player to this point, he has been solidly when on the field. Bonitto was primed to be a larger contributor on the Bronco’s defense before a training camp back injury sidelined him. If Bonitto can get healthy in time for Week 1 he should see the largest role of his NFL career and will be in a prime spot to take a big step forward and make the leap into fantasy stardom.
– Arnold Ebiketie, Falcons (4% rostered)
– Za’Darius Smith, Browns (5% rostered)
– Dallas Turner, Vikings (8% rostered)
Turner was a highly-touted draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft coming out of Alabama. He was scooped up by the Minnesota Vikings with the 17th pick of the first round and looks to be a huge part of a new-look Viking’s defense. Turner has dual eligibility on most platforms as a DL and LB but is officially an LB on the Vikings depth chart. This is not ideal as Andrew Van Ginkel profiles to start ahead of him as a linebacker, but if Turner can operate more as a swiss-army knife and play a tweener role, his value could skyrocket.
– Lukas Van Ness, Packers (7% rostered)
– Laiatu Latu, Colts (9% rostered)
– Jonathon Cooper, Broncos (15% rostered)
Cooper saw a snap share of over 50% for the first time in his three year NFL career and it led to a massive season for the Denver defender. 70 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and an interception is a massive season for Cooper. Despite a monster breakout year, he is going largely unnoticed for fantasy football. Cooper has a legit league-winning upside and if he is available on your waiver wire you need to scoop him up now. The hatred towards the Broncos offense has extended into their defense and you should take full advantage of that and grab an IDP stud.
– Kwity Paye, Colts (16% rostered)
– Jaelen Phillips, Dolphins (14% rostered) Injured*
Linebackers
– Kyle Van Noy, Ravens (4% rostered)
Van Noy enters his 10th NFL season and if you are looking for upside, he isn’t the player for you. Rather, Van Noy is a solid and reliable veteran who is going to produce for your fantasy team every week. He may only be an IDP flex but he is a set-it-and-forget-it option. His tackle and sack numbers are always going to be solid with the occasional boom week, but as I said, he is a consistent flex option and not a league-winner.
– Anthony Walker, Dolphins (5% rostered)
– Trevin Wallace, Panthers (4% rostered)
– Junior Colson, Chargers (9% rostered)
Targeting undervalued rookies during the offseason is always a solid strategy for fantasy leagues and that’s the strategy here. Colson was a dominant player at The University of Michigan during the 2023 championship run and his skillset will translate well to the NFL, but after an emergency appendectomy earlier in the offseason, Colson has gone undrafted in many leagues. He is currently not listed as a starter on the Charger’s depth chart but his talent level should allow him to easily make his way to the top as Los Angeles is devoid of high-end talent outside of a few players.
– Payton Wilson, Steelers (7% rostered)
– Edgerrin Cooper, Packers (8% rostered)
– Alex Anzalone, Lions (18% rostered)
Anzalone has been the definition of consistency since joining the Detroit Lions. He produces week in and week out and is completely undervalued by the fantasy football IDP community. After a 77-tackle season in his first year with Detroit, Anzalone has now put up back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons and is a monster value in all formats but even more so if your league awards higher points to tackles. He is going to produce every week of the fantasy season and rarely comes off the field, the fact that his rostership level is this low is shameful.
– Jack Campbell, Lions (16% rostered)
– Kaden Elliss, Falcons (15% rostered)
Cornerbacks
– Jaycee Horn, Panthers (4% rostered)
The first three seasons of Horn’s NFL career have been an injury-plagued struggle but if he can manage to play a full season healthy he has the talent to be an elite cornerback and a solid fantasy producer. Horn is part of a new-look Panthers defense that has lost some of its most important pieces including Jeremy Chinn. He can be a ball-hawking corner and will produce at a healthy level when he can, stay healthy.
– Terrion Arnold, Lions (4% rostered)
– Marshon Lattimore, Saints (5% rostered)
– Keisean Nixon, Packers (8% rostered)
It’s extremely rare for a player to have his breakout season in his fifth year and with his third NFL team but that’s exactly what happened to Nixon. Nixon’s career-high in tackles was 17 through the first four years of his career before he exploded onto the fantasy scene in 2023 with 79 tackles. It’s possible that Nixon was just a one-year wonder, but it’s also possible that he is just a perfect fit for this Green Bay system and will continue to be a stud. Scoop him up and see if he can repeat the performance.
– Deommodore Lenoir, 49ers (7% rostered)
– Christian Gonzalez, Patriots (9% rostered)
– Paulson Adebo, Saints (12% rostered)
Adebo enters his fourth NFL season and has been able to post 60 or more tackles in each of his first three seasons. This production though consistent has not been overly useful for fantasy football until 2023. the difference later year was his newfound ability to create turnovers for the Saints. In 2023, he recorded two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions which was the difference between him being fantasy-irrelevant and him being a fantasy steal. Target Adebo on the waiver wire in a Saints defense that is sure to be on the field often.
– Rasul Douglas, Bills (11% rostered)
– Nate Hobbs, Raiders (13% rostered)
Safeties
– Cole Bishop, Bills (5% rostered)
This rookie out of Utah is in a prime spot to walk into a full-time role in Week 1. The once-vaunted Buffalo Bill’s defense has been decimated by age and injury over the past two seasons, leaving them to revamp the entire unit on the fly. The Bills have been retooled from top to bottom on both sides of the ball and need a young player who can step up and produce right from the get-go, and Bishop should be that player. He was hampered during the preseason with a shoulder injury but if he can get fully healthy for the regular season he is going to announce his presence to the IDP community very quickly.
– Eddie Jackson, Ravens (2% rostered)
– Darnell Savage, Jaguars (3% rostered)
– Jordan Battle, Bengals (9% rostered)
Battle was nothing more than a streamer for fantasy in 2023, but with a rookie stat line that saw him post 69 tackles, two sacks, and one interception there is potential for a true breakout. The Bengals are looking to rebound as a team from a disappointing 2023 season that was full of injuries to key players, and BAttle is going to be a key player on the defense. He is a worthwhile stash in the event his workload increases and he has a true breakout.
– Jimmie Ward, Texans (6% rostered)
– Isaiah Simmons, Giants (8% rostered)
– Josh Metellus, Vikings (17% rostered)
After three seasons of relative obscurity in the Vikings secondary, Metellus exploded onto the fantasy scene in 2023. His tackle totals jumped from a combined 40 through his first three seasons to a whopping 112 last season. He also chipped in with 2.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception and was suddenly a must-own fantasy asset. There are plenty of options in this Minnesota lineup so it’s unclear if he will maintain his role into this season, but if he does, he is a key player to target.
– Reed Blankenship, Eagles (18% rostered)
– Kevin Byard, Bears (16% rostered)
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