Week 2 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the overlooked players who showed out in Week 2. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 2, so there are more than a few intriguing names on the waiver wire in leagues of all sizes. Let’s take a look at some of the names that may be worth some of your free agent budget.
Week 3 IDP Waiver Wire
Linebacker
Nicholas Morrow (LB – PHI): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Morrow started for the Eagles on Thursday night and played a whopping 95 percent of the snaps. With Rashaan Evans released on Thursday, Morrow became the only show in town worth giving heavy snaps in the middle. He responded with a modest three solos and one fumble recovery. Yes, the production is not normally the type we get hot and bothered about, but the role, at least as long as Nakobe Dean is sidelined, is. Morrow played more snaps than Zach Cunningham and should be more active in the box score once he gets more familiar with the defensive scheme. Add and start Morrow everywhere as an LB3 option.
Robert Spillane (LB – LV): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Spillane was excellent in Week 2, recording nine solos, five assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Spillane has emerged as the everydown linebacker in Las Vegas and needs to be rostered in all competitive leagues. An LB2/LB3 option, depending on the matchup, Spillane should be treated as a top-tier LB2 for the narrative street revenge game against his former team in Week 3. Make the add and start where possible.
Kenneth Murray (LB – LAC): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Kenneth Murray impressed in Week 2, notching five solos, five assists, one sack, and two tackles for loss. The extra production can directly be linked to Eric Kendricks‘ absence, so Murray is more of a low-priority add. However, due to his talent (however frustratingly untapped), he is someone to stash if your bench allows it. If Kendricks misses Week 3, Murray is an easy LB3 option with LB2 upside.
Divine Deablo (LB – LV): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Divine may not have a hold of the every down role, but the 95 percent of snaps he’s played through the first two weeks will certainly do. He recorded an excellent six solos, four assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss in Week 2 and is up to 11 solos in two games. Deablo is in the LB2 discussion for a plus matchup against Pittsburgh in Week 3.
Kaden Elliss (LB – ATL): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Elliss showed up in Week 2, racking up six solos, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Elliss was an IDP star when getting starts for the Saints last season and is an LB2 option in Atlanta. He started the season slowly, but his Week 2 production highlights the type of upside he has as someone who even took edge snaps in New Orleans. Start Elliss as an LB2 option for Week 3 for a plus matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Others to consider: E.J. Speed (LB – IND): 0%, Devin Lloyd (LB – JAC): 3%, Terrel Bernard (LB – BUF): 1%, Ivan Pace (LB – MIN): 1%, Zach Cunningham (LB – PHI): 1%, Azeez Al-Shaair (LB – TEN): 4%, Kyzir White (LB – ARI): 4%, David Long (LB – MIA): 1%
Defensive Line
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (DE/LB – TB): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Tryon-Shoyinka disappointed in his first two seasons in the NFL, but through two weeks of play is already halfway to matching his career high of four sacks. JTS recorded four solos, two sacks, and two tackles for loss against the Chicago Bears and is someone to stash where bench sizes allow. His snap share is fluctuating between 53 and 61 percent, which is lower than last season, but if leaving the field more often keeps him fresh to rush the passer, so be it. At this point, JTS is more stash than someone to start as a DL3 but is someone with the talent profile to quickly become part of the weekly DL2 conversation, especially in plus matchups. Add the young pass rusher where needed.
Danielle Hunter (DE/LB – MIN): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Hunter was on the hunt in Week 2, and Jalen Hurts was his prey. The premiere pass rusher notched five solos, three assists, three sacks, and three tackles for loss while generating six total pressures. Hunter leads the NFL in sacks through two weeks of action with four and also leads with five tackles for loss. The former All-Pro has tallied double-digit sacks in three of the last four seasons. The one year he failed to reach double digits, he had six sacks in seven games played. Suffice it to say that Hunter should be viewed as someone in the same tier as other Yahoo LB-only players like T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons. But if you cannot fathom that, he should at least be considered where names like Josh Allen, Hasson Reddick, and Matt Judon are. A DL1/LB2 option on a weekly basis, Hunter should be rostered in all IDP leagues where you can start one DL or two or more LBs. Add Hunter wherever still available.
Dennis Gardeck (DE/LB – ARI): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Gardeck was at it again in Week 2, recording four solos, one sack, and two tackles for loss on 46 percent of the snaps. His role didn’t expand as much as one thought it would, as he played just 46 percent of the snaps this week after playing 39 percent in Week 1. He did extend his sack streak to two games and climb to three on the season, which makes him someone IDP managers need to pay attention to, especially in deeper leagues. As mentioned last week, before being lost on special teams, Gardeck recorded seven sacks in 2021, so there is a history of production that suggests that this is not a fluke. Start Gardeck as a DL3/LB4 option where needed.
Andrew Van Ginkel (DE/LB – MIA): 0% rostered on Yahoo
AVG has been a revelation for the Dolphins this season. One week after usurping David Long’s snaps at middle linebacker and holding the offseason addition to just a 21 percent share (63 percent for AVG), he was called on to fill in for an injured Jaelan Phillips. He did so excellently, recording two solos, four assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass deflection. The traditional box score doesn’t tell the whole story, however, as AVG was credited with five total pressures. He was playing so well that Emmanuel Ogbah barely saw his role expand despite Phillips being out. There is some hope that Phillips returns for Week 3, so don’t go crazy on your FAAB bid, but the top backup at two key spots who will start at off-ball linebacker based on defensive scheme is worth a roster stash. Treat him as a DL2/LB3 option when he is starting; otherwise, treat him as more of a deep league flex2.
Harrison Phillips (DT – MIN): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Phillips has emerged as a tackle monster for the Minnesota Vikings and deserves immediate consideration in leagues of all sizes. As we see with the other top DT options, being consistent in the tackle department can make them as, if not more valuable, than some, if not most, of their defensive line counterparts. Phillips followed up a surprising five solo, three assist effort in Week 1 with a value-cementing seven solos, six assists, and 0.5 sacks on Thursday Night Football. It is entirely possible that these end up as his top two fantasy games of the season, but at this point, he is playing far too productively to ignore. Start Phillips as a DL2/DT1 option in leagues of all sizes.
Others to consider: Samson Ebukam (DE/LB – IND): 2%, George Karlaftis (DE – KC): 3%. Denico Autry (DT/DE – TEN): 3%, Felix Anudike-Uzomah (DE – KC): 0%, Jordan Davis (DT – PHI): 2%, Jalen Carter (DT – PHI): 7%,
Defensive Back
Justin Evans (S – PHI): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Justin Evans is locked in as a starting safety for the Philadelphia Eagles and should be rostered in all competitive leagues. He was solid in Week 2, posting three solos, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass defended. He was solid in Week 1 as well, posting four solos and three assists. While we do think he has a DB2 ceiling, he looks more like a DB3 option due to the solo numbers. He was impressive enough in camp to beat out Terell Edmunds and prized rookie Syndey Brown to start beside Reed Blakenship, so it should surprise no one if he holds onto this job all year. Tap him as a DB3 play for Week 3 and beyond.
Geno Stone (S – BAL): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Geno Stone is going to be starting as long as Marcus Williams is sidelined, and if his Week 2 performance is an indication, he will be doing his best to match his fantasy output. Stone finished the week with an impressive seven solos, two assists, one interception, and one pass defended. Stone has always had versatility and talent, it was just that the depth chart ahead of him was always muddy as far as a clear path to playing time. He is going to go back to a rotational role at some point this season, so he is not a player to blow a sizable portion of your FAAB on, but he is someone that you should want on your roster. Treat him as a DB2/DB3 option for Week 3.
Dax Hill (S – CIN): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Dax Hill has been highly impressive in his first consecutive games as a starter. He followed up a DB1 level outing in Week 1 in which he had five solos, one assist, two tackles for loss, one interception, and one pass defended, with another DB1 level performance with nine solos and two assists in Week 2. Dax has thrust his name into the upper echelon of DB2’s and is essentially a must-start for Week 3’s tilt against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams offense is going to keep Dax busy and provide him with all of the tackle opportunities he can handle. Dax has top-15 upside for Week 3.
Camryn Bynum (S – MIN): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Camryn Bynum was impressive again in Week 2, recording six solos, nine assists, and one tackle for loss. He is settling in as a DB3 option but showed this week that he is a more than serviceable DB2 option in plus matchups. He should be rostered and started in competitive leagues at this point, especially deeper ones. Treat him as a DB3 with DB2 upside going forward.
Jason Pinnock (S – NYG): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Jason Pinnock went off on Sunday, tallying 10 solos, three assists, and three tackles for loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Yes, he is going to be inconsistent, and he won’t get to face the Cardinals every week, but this is not the first time Pinnock has flashed for fantasy managers, making him someone worth rostering, even if it is only as a depth piece that you use as a DB3 option due to injury or byes. He has shown a high enough ceiling that if he ever finds any consistency, he will immediately join the DB2 ranks. Wink Martindale is using him all over the field, so this may be the start of a true breakout. Start Pinnock as a DB3 in deeper leagues while stashing him in shallower formats.
Others to consider: M.J. Stewart (S – HOU): 7%, Julian Blackmon (S – IND): 0%, Ryan Neal (S – TB): 5%, Kerby Joseph (S – DET): 4%, Jalen Thompson (S – ARI): 4%
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