Week 3 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the overlooked IDP players who showed out in Week 3. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 3, 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 4 IDP Waiver Wire

Linebacker

Terrel Bernard (LB – BUF): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Bernard went nuts in Week 3, racking up five solos, two assists, two sacks, two tackles for loss, one interception, one pass defended, and one fumble recovery. Bernard has been solid to start the season, but this sort of explosion makes him someone who needs to be taken seriously in all competitive formats. He will settle in as an LB3 option on non bye weeks, but he has proven LB1 upside and can be considered as an LB2 play when he has strong matchups during the byes. Treat him as an LB3 with LB2 upside for Week 4 against Miami and beyond.

Micah McFadden (LB – NYG): 1% rostered on Yahoo
McFadden was all over the field on Thursday night, racking up nine solos, one assist, and an impressive four tackles for loss. He has emerged as the off-ball linebacker to roster from the Giants and should be treated as a high-upside LB3 going forward. He has shown enough to suggest that he has an LB2 future, but the second year man will have to string together a few more impressive outings before truly entering that conversation. With that being said, he will be an LB2 option during the byes. Add and start McFadden as an LB3 option for Week 3 against Seattle.

Kenneth Murray (LB – LAC): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Kenneth Murray continues to impress with Eric Kendricks sidelined and may have finally turned a corner in his career. Perhaps being in the same room as an All-Pro like Kendricks has had a positive impact on him. Whatever the case, Murray needs to be started as an LB2 option as long as Kendricks is sidelined and has earned himself some time back as an LB3 option, even when Kendricks returns. Murray was an LB1 level performer in Week 3, tallying eight solos, one assist, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended.

Kyzir White (LB – ARI): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Kyzir White went off on Sunday afternoon, turning in eight solos, six assists, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. He was talking smack to Dak Prescott and then backed it up with a game-sealing interception late in the fourth. He has been a solid LB3 option through the first two weeks but has now entered the weekly LB2 conversation, especially with the byes fast approaching. Add and start Kyzir as an LB2 option for Week 4’s plus matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Others to consider: Blake Cashman (LB – HOU): 0%, Azeez Al-Shaair (LB – TEN): 3%, Cody Barton (LB – WAS): 6%, Jamin Davis (LB – WAS): 6%, Kaden Elliss (LB – ATL): 6%, Henry To’oTo’o (LB – HOU): 0%, Damone Clark (LB – DAL)

Defensive Line

Rashan Gary (DE/LB – GB): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Gary exploded for three solos, three sacks, and three tackles for loss in Week 3 despite playing just 38 percent of the snaps. He is being ramped up slowly as the season progresses, so he is still more DL3 than high-end DL2, but he appears to be well on his way to a double-digit sack season despite the limited snaps as he works his way back from injury. Treat Gary as a DL3 option for Week 4 against the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football.

Samson Ebukam (DE/LB – IND): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Ebukam was impressive in Week 3, racking up four solos, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. He has sacks in back-to-back games and, with two on the season, is already on pace to shatter his previous career high of five set last season. Ebukam hopes to be more of a pass rush specialist this season, but how many snaps that means for a Colts team that has surprised thus far remains to be seen. Regardless, Ebukam needs to be rostered as a DL3 play in all competitive leagues. Treat him as such for Week 4’s plus matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

Leonard Floyd (DE – BUF): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Leonard Floyd impressed in Week 3, recording two solos, one assist, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Floyd is quietly tied for sixth in the NFL with 3.5 sacks and should maintain his role even when Von Miller returns from the PUP list. Floyd is playing 47 percent of the snaps this season, a snap share that he can hold onto, even as the third in the rotation. Miller’s snaps should come at the expense of A.J. Epenesa, Shaq Lawson, and Kingsley Jonathan. With that in mind, it is safe for fantasy managers to view Floyd as a DL3 option. He will likely finish with DL2-level numbers but will likely be too inconsistent to be part of the DL2 conversation outside of strong matchups during the byes.

Leonard Williams (DT/DE – NYG): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Williams has had a slow start to the season but picked it up in Week 3, tallying four solos, two assists, and 0.5 sacks. He is usually one of the most consistent options at DL due to his activity in the tackle department but managed just one solo through his first two weeks of action. He played 75 percent of the snaps against the 49ers, a welcomed jump from the 55 and 58 percent he saw in Week 1 and 2, respectively. Treat Williams as a DT2/DL3 for a plus Week 4 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. He will be a DL2 option during the byes. Make the add where needed.

Trey Hendrickson (DE – CIN): 8% rostered on Yahoo
Hendrickson was excellent on Monday night, creating constant pressure, racking up two solos, eight pressures, 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. Hendrickson will find his way to double-digit sacks this season, but will come with peaks and valleys. He is not very active against the run, so when he is not notching sacks, he often disappoints with his fantasy production. With that said, he should be rostered in all competitive IDP leagues. He will have DL1 upside in the right matchups but will be more of a DL2 option due to said inconsistency. Treat him as a DL2 play for a plus Week 4 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Others to consider: A.J. Epenesa (DE – BUF): 0%, Emmanuel Ogbah (DE – MIA): 2%, Jarran Reed (DT – SEA): 1%, Ed Oliver (DT – BUF): 1%, Denico Autry (DT/DE – IND): 5%

Defensive Back

Brian Branch (S/CB – DET): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Branch went bonkers in Week 3, posting 11 solos, three tackles for loss, and two passes defended. He is still playing nickel on most of his snaps, so his production may be a little inconsistent, but he has true safety skills playing at corner, making him an easy CB1 play. In DB-only leagues, he is a strong DB2 option, especially during the byes. Tap him as a low-end DB2 option for Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.

Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Kyle Dugger was solid in Week 3, racking up five solos, two assists, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Dugger is in the weekly DB1 conversation due to his usage and role, but started the season slow enough to be benched and even dropped in some leagues. Similar to skill players, when it comes to top IDP players who are playing meaningful snaps, roll with your studs. They will get it going eventually in most cases. Tap Dugger as a low-end DB1 option for a plus Week 4 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Vonn Bell (S – CAR): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Vonn Bell was back at it in Week 3, piling up eight solos while playing every snap. This is the first game that Bell looked like the player we saw in Cincinnati, and it suggests that Bell may be turning the corner in terms of comfort with the scheme, but it may also just be due to Shaq Thompson being sidelined and Frankie Luvu getting hurt. Whatever the case, Bell remains a DB3 option for Week 4, albeit with a DB2 ceiling. Start him with confidence where needed.

Reed Blankenship (S – PHI): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Reed Blakenship was a force once again for the Philadelphia Eagles, making his presence known against both the run and the pass. He finished Monday night with six solos, one assist, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. He has become a key piece of the Eagles secondary and is going to become a star in his own right, especially in the city of Brotherly Love. Blankenship was a solid DB3 option as a spot starter last season but has now forced his way into the DB2 conversation and should be rostered in all competitive leagues. Tap him as an upside DB2 play for Week 4 against the Washington Commanders.

Christian Izien (S – TB): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Izien was all over the field on Monday night, piling up six solos and two assists. His interception streak ended at two games, but they are always tough to predict and chase. It was his activity in the tackle department that now has him on redraft IDP radars. The undrafted rookie has been highly impressive through three games, and now that we have seen a glimpse of his tackle upside, we can now trust him as a DB3 option. He will, of course, be one during the byes but should be treated as one for Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints as well. Add Izien wherever needed while bearing in mind he has a bye in Week 5. Plan your FAAB claim accordingly.

Others to consider: Delarrin Turner-Yell (S – DEN): 0%, Julian Blackmon (S – IND): 0%, Camryn Bynum (S – MIN): 7%, Alohi Gilman (S – LAC): 2%, Darrick Forrest (S – WAS): 1%, K’Von Wallace (S – ARI): 1%, DeShon Elliott (S – MIA): 3%, Rudy Ford (S – GB): 0%

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