Welcome to IDP Waiver Wire (Week 2). 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, each with separate tabs for ownership percentage.
Defensive Tackles
– Justin Jones, Cardinals (3% rostered)
Jones recorded career-highs in 2023 with the Chicago Bears before signing with the Arizona Cardinals during the offseason. In Week 1 he got off to an average start but only managed two tackles and one fumble recovery. It may take Jones a game or two, but when he gets fully comfortable in this new defensive system he will be a stud again. Buy low on Jones before he picks up his pace.
– Sheldon Rankins, Bengals (2% rostered)
– A’Shawn Robinson, Panthers (2% rostered)
– Harrison Phillips, Vikings (6% rostered)
Phillips got off to another blazing start for the Vikings in Week 1 where tallied five tackles and one sack for an impressive 18 fantasy points. His fantasy production is not always the most consistent, and he will be subject to some major peaks and valleys, but very few waiver wire targets will present his upside. That upside was on full display in Week 1 against the Giants and should continue into Week 2 and beyond.
– Sebastian Joseph-Day, Titans (7% rostered)
– Mario Edwards, Texans (8% rostered)
– Grady Jarrett, Falcons (16% rostered)
Jarrett made his presence felt in Week 1 against the Steelers when he racked up 23 fantasy points on three tackles and 1.5 sacks. He is coming off of an ACL injury last season that cost him half of the season and is only going to get better as he gets closer and closer to 100%. If you think his fantasy production is scary now, just wait until he has gotten back to his full explosiveness.
– Keion White, Patriots (12% rostered)
– Emmanuel Ogbah, Dolphins (10% rostered)
Defensive Ends
– Andrew Van Ginkel, Dolphins (5% rostered)
Van Ginkel endeared himself quickly to the Minnesota faithful with a 30-point fantasy outing in Week 1 against the Giants. He totaled four tackles, one sack, and an interception that he promptly returned for a touchdown. Now that’s how you win over your new teammates. Van Ginkel has always been a solid producer but has just missed out on climbing into the elite tier of defensive ends. I fully expect that to change in 2024 as he ascends into stardom. He also offers eligibility as a linebacker, which is a nice bonus.
– Jonathon Cooper, Broncos (4% rostered)
– Dallas Turner, Vikings (5% rostered)
– Rashan Gary, Packers (10% rostered)
Gary seemed to make the transition from The Packer’s 3-4 defense to their new 4-3 defense with little effort as he racked up 18 fantasy points in Week 1 against the Eagles in Brazil. He recorded three tackles and one sack and was a force to be reckoned with all over the field. Over his career with Green Bay, he has been the definition of a consistent producer and is a weekly set-and-forget-it option in your lineup.
– Kwity Paye, Colts (7% rostered)
– Darrell Taylor, Bears (9% rostered)
– Travon Walker, Jaguars (19% rostered)
Walker was an absolute beast in the Jaguars Week 1 loss to the Dolphins, getting after Tua Tagovailoa all day and recording two sacks. He also chipped in an impressive six tackles to make for a 25-point opening week in IDP leagues. The 23-year-old has seen his production increase in each of his NFL seasons and will undoubtedly see it happen once again in 2024. He also adds in eligibility as a linebacker which is always a win.
– Zaven Collins, Cardinals (23% rostered)
– Harold Landry, Titans (21% rostered) Injured*
Linebackers
– Zack Baun, Eagles (0% rostered)
Baun was a monster of a whole different level on Friday Night against the Packers. He racked up an insane 43 fantasy points that night. His production consisted of a whopping 15 tackles and two sacks. Read that again, 15 tackles! That was easily a career-night for Baun who records 43 points in a year on most occasions, but after Week 1 he seems poised to be the breakout star of the IDP season. He is my number one IDP waiver priority for this week.
– Tyrel Dodson, Seahawks (2% rostered)
– Mack Wilson, Cardinals (4% rostered)
– Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Browns (9% rostered)
Owusu-Koramoah had a strong outing to start off his 2024 season with an 18 fantasy point performance. He recorded nine tackles against the Dallas Cowboys in defeat. He started his career with two solid but not spectacular fantasy seasons before erupting last season with 272 points. Ouwus-Koramoah looks to build on that production and make himself a weekly must-start defender in IDP formats.
– David Long Jr, Dolphins (7% rostered)
– Dorian Williams, Bills (8% rostered)
– Eric Kendricks, Cowboys (27% rostered)
Kendricks put up 42 fantasy points in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns despite dealing with dehydration all game. Just imagine what he can do when he is properly hydrated. He totaled nine tackles, two sacks, and an interception and is an indispensable part of this vaunted Cowboys defense. Kendricks put up season after season of high-end production in Minnesota, and after doing it last year with the Chargers it appears he has plenty left in the tank for another year of elite production. Don’t let his age scare you off.
– Shaq Thompson, Panthers (16% rostered)
– Ja’Whaun Bentley, Patriots (15% rostered)
Cornerbacks
– Alontae Taylor, Saints (0% rostered)
Taylor has a sneaky 2023 season that went largely unnoticed by the IDP community, but it’s going to be difficult to miss him this year after a massive six-tackle and three-sack performance in Week 1 against the Panthers. Bryce Young was fleeing for his life all game long and frequently found himself making terrible decisions that played right into Taylor’s hands. He may not be a household name but he will be soon. Scoop up Taylor while you can.
– Quinyon Mitchell, Eagles (1% rostered)
– Ronald Darby, Jaguars (1% rostered)
– Keisean Nixon, Packers (8% rostered)
Nixon kicked off his 2024 against the Philadelphia Eagles and left the game with seven tackles and one sack for his efforts. He was a solid producer in 2023, putting up a total of 260 fantasy points, and will look to build off of that production in 2024. Nixon is a tackling machine from the defensive back position and racks up production on a level that is more consistent than most cornerbacks.
– Jaylon Johnson, Bears (7% rostered)
– Tyrique Stevenson, Bears (6% rostered)
– Jaire Alexander, Packers (15% rostered)
Alexander did what Jaire Alexander does, and that’s put up fantasy points in Week 1. The veteran totaled 22 fantasy points against the Eagles in a game that saw elite-level IDP play throughout. He recorded four tackles and one interception and in his seventh NFL season can be firmly locked into your lineup on a weekly basis without much thought.
– Dax Hill, Bengals (11% rostered)
– Byron Murphy, Vikings (13% rostered)
Safeties
– Justin Reid, Chiefs (3% rostered)
Reid saw a career-high in snaps in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens and parlayed that into nine tackles. This theoretically can be considered his first game in nearly a year as he played in only one game last season. He is well off the board for most IDP fantasy managers but has loads of talent. If he can continue to build on this performance it won’t be long before he is a weekly must-start safety in IDP leagues.
– DeShon Elliott, Steelers (2% rostered)
– Nick Cross, Colts (0% rostered)
– Julian Blackmon, Colts (9% rostered)
Blackmon has been an inconsistent producer throughout his career that briefly showed flashes of brilliance before this point. In Week 1 against the Houston Texans, he racked up 13 tackles and was all over the field. He is one of the youngest and most talented safeties in the league and if he can work on being more consistent, could soon be an indispensable IDP asset.
– Reed Blankenship, Eagles (6% rostered)
– Javon Bullard, Packers (8% rostered)
– Jaquan Brisker, Bears (27% rostered)
Brisker was a stud in 2023 and will continue to be so in 2024. In Week 1 he totaled 10 tackles against the Tennessee Titans and is a must-start for the immediate future. It’s puzzling that his rostership rate remains so low despite his production. If Brisker is available in your league, grab him now and reap the rewards.
– Tyrann Mathieu, Saints (14% rostered)
– Kerby Joseph, Lions (16% rostered)
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