Week 4 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 4. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 4, 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 5 IDP Waiver Wire
Linebacker
Nicholas Morrow (LB – PHI): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Nicholas Morrow exploded in Week 4 with 10 solos, one assist, three sacks, three tackles for loss, and one forced fumble against Sam Howell and the Washington Commanders. Morrow is going to be an LB2/LB3 for as long as Nakobe Dean remains on injured reserve and should definitely be rostered in all competitive leagues with the bye weeks upon us. Morrow didn’t do much fantasy-wise in his first two weeks with the Eagles but found his groove thanks to a terrific Week 4 matchup. He will look to keep the good times rolling this week against a Los Angeles Rams team with some struggles on the offensive line. Treat him as a low-end LB2 option, thanks to the plus matchup.
Andrew Van Ginkel (LB – MIA): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Van Ginkel was back to doing Van Ginkel things in Week 4, racking up four solos, one assist, two sacks, and three tackles for loss. He shined on the edge again while filling in for Jaelan Phillips and is looking like a must-start whenever Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Jerome Baker, or David Long are sidelined. His usage when all are healthy leaves him as more of an LB3 option, but fire him up as an LB2 whenever he is needed to fill in on the edge or as a middle linebacker. Add the versatile defender where needed.
Zach Cunningham (LB – PHI): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Cunningham had some more home cooking in Week 4, racking up nine solos and four assists against the Washington Commanders. He has been excellent in his home games this season, recording 14 solos in two outings while adding just four solos on the road. He will have an opportunity to buck that trend this weekend against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are going to have their hands full with the Eagles defensive front and are going to see a heavy dose of Cunnigham and Morrow on all levels. Tap Cunningham as an LB3 option for Week 5.
Jahlani Tavai (LB – NE): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Tavai was excellent in Week 4, recording four solos, two assists, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one pass defended. Tavai has alternated strong weeks with poor ones, so he is more of a depth option for the byes than someone to trot out there weekly. With that said, the byes are here, and Tavai is going to have positive gamescripts more often than not with how the Patriots offense is looking. Consider Tavai a LB3/LB4 for a plus Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
David Long (LB – MIA): 1% rostered on Yahoo
David Long should be on rosters during the byes. Long will lose snaps to Andrew Van Ginkel when he is not needed for full-time edge duties, but Long shown enough this season to warrant being rostered as a depth piece. He has been an LB2 level producer when AVG is on the edge, most recently recording seven solos, three assists, and two tackles for loss against the Bills in Week 4. He played just 58 percent of the snaps the last time Jaelan Phillips was active but still managed an LB3 level four solos and four assists. The snap count leaves him in the LB3 realm during the byes, even in plus matchups. Treat him as such for a terrific Week 5 matchup against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants.
Others to consider: Nate Landman (LB – ATL): 0%, Christian Harris (LB – HOU): 0%, Elandon Roberts (LB – PIT): 0%, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB – CLE): 6%, Cody Barton (LB – WAS): 7%, Azeez Al-Shaair (LB – TEN): 4%
Defensive Line
Khalil Mack (DE/LB – LAC): 3% rostered on Yahoo
The return of the Mack! Too outdated a reference? In all seriousness, Mack had a game for the ages in Week 4, going bonkers with eight solos, two assists, six sacks, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one pass defended. His six sacks were one off the all-time NFL record held by former Chiefs edge rusher Derrick Thomas and put him in a tie for the current league lead. That Mack was able to go off against his former team with Joey Bosa sidelined is all the more impressive. Mack should be rostered in all competitive leagues as a DL3/LB4 option. He has obvious DL1 upside, as he showed this weekend, but is inconsistent enough to keep out of the DL2 conversation, at least for now.
Chase Young (DE – WAS): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Chase Young was solid in Week 4, recording two solos, one assist, one sack, and one tackle for loss. He now has 2.5 sacks in three games, with a sack in two of three, and should only get more comfortable with being back out there as the season progresses. He has a dream Week 5 matchup against the Chicago Bears and should be viewed as a top-15 option at worst. Start Young wherever possible.
Jonathan Greenard (DE – HOU): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Greenard was excellent in Week 4, getting to Kenny Pickett twice and finishing the afternoon with four solos, one assist, two sacks, and three tackles for loss. Now up to three sacks in four games, Greenard is a strong DL3 option for the byes and should be treated as such for a plus Week 5 matchup against the Desmond Ridder led Atlanta Falcons.
Yetur Gross-Matos (DE/LB – CAR): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Gross-Matos appears to be turning the corner in his development. He has played more than 50 percent of the snaps in each of the last three weeks and has recorded at least a half sack in each. Now up to 2.5 sacks on the season, he is set to easily surpass his career high of 3.5 sacks and may finally be ready to make good on the second round investment for Panthers made in him back in 2020. Tap YGM as a DL3 option where needed for a Week 5 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Uchenna Nwosu (DE/LB – SEA): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Troy Aikman and Joe Buck said it best when they called Monday Night Football against the New York Giants a get-right game. Nwosu, who came into the game with zero sacks on the season while never recording more than two solos, went off with four solos, two assists, two sacks, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. The Seahawks are on a bye in Week 5, which means you can likely be less aggressive with your FAAB spend than otherwise. Nwosu is a worthwhile stash, with an eye on starting him both Week 6 and Week 7. Make the add where needed.
Others to consider: D.J. Wonnum (DE/LB – MIN): 0%, Nik Bonitto (DE/LB – DEN): 0%, Boye Mafe (DE – SEA): 0%, Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE/LB – NYG): 2%, Dayo Odeyingbo (DE – IND): 0%, Vita Vea (DT – TB): 1%, Bryan Bresee (DT – NO): 0%, Myles Murphy (DE – CIN): 0%, Ed Oliver (DT – BUF): 0%
Defensive Back
Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Kyle Dugger finally flashed his elite DB1 form in Week 4, amassing 12 solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss. He sees snaps all over the field for the Patriots and seems to be heating up after a sluggish start through the first two weeks of the season. Now back to playing at the level we expected, he is safe to fire up as a DB1 option during the byes. Start him with confidence as one for a plus Week 5 matchup against a clearly injured Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints.
Rudy Ford (S – GB): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Rudy Ford has been excellent over the last three weeks, playing at a DB2 level for the Packers. He had his best week yet in Week 4, recording seven solos, one assist, one interception, and one pass defended. Ford has five or more solos in each of those three games and needs to be rostered and started in all competitive leagues until he cools down. He is a DB3 option for Week 5 but will likely see some DB2 option weeks during the heavy byes. Make the add wherever possible.
Julian Blackmon (S – IND): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Another week, another strong performance for the emerging DB2. Blackmon tallied seven solos and two assists against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4 and has now recorded six or more solos in three straight games. With the byes now upon us, rostership numbers this low is downright criminal. Blackmon should be starting weekly in leagues where you can start two or more DBs and is a no-brainer fill-in if you play in a one DB/S league and have a player who is dealing with an injury or is on bye. Add and start Blackmon wherever possible.
K’Von Wallace (S – ARI): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Wallace has been a steady DB3 force to start the season and produced more of the same in Week 4, posting four solos and four assists. He has recorded four or more solos in three of four games thus far and has at least seven combined in each. These are strong numbers that can propel him to the DB2 conversation during heavy byes. He is a must-stash who should be considered as a DB3 option for Week 5’s plus matchup against a confounding Cincinnati Bengals offense.
Tracy Walker (S – DET): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Tracy Walker is going to get some serious run for the Lions due to the myriad injuries they are dealing with in their safety room. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is on injured reserve, and both Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are dealing with injury issues of their own. He has a starting role even when Joseph and Branch are healthy and should be treated as a DB3 option during the byes. He was solid if unspectacular in Week 4, tallying three solos, two assists, and one forced fumble, and is a strong DB3 option for a plus Week 5 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Add and start him where needed.
Others to consider: Tre’von Moehrig (S – LV): 0%, Nick Scott (S – CIN): 3%, Andre Cisco (S – JAC): 3%, Jabrill Peppers (S – NE): 1%, Taylor Rapp (S – BUF): 0%, Russ Yeast (S – LAR): 0%, Vonn Bell (S – CAR): 2%,
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