Week 5 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 5. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 5, 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 6 IDP Waiver Wire
Linebacker
Tyrel Dodson (LB – BUF): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Dodson is line to be a starter for the rest of the season for the Buffalo Bills due to the season-ending injury to Matt Milano. It is possible the team brings in some competition like Rashaan Evans, but for now Dodson it is. Dodson was solid in spot duty last season and had a strong outing in relief in Week 5, registering four solos, one assist, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and one pass defended. Treat Dodson as an LB3 option for a plus Week 6 matchup against the New York Giants.
Henry To’oTo’o (LB – HOU): 1% rostered on Yahoo
To’oTo’o continues to impress for the Houston Texans, racking up six solos and six assists in Week 5. He has been entrenched as a starter due to the injuries to Denzel Perryman (who has now returned) and Christian Harris (who is now hurt). He has played well enough to maintain a role even when both are healthy but needs to be on rosters for as long as Harris or Perryman are missing time. Add To’oTo’o as a strong LB3 option for a plus Week 6 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
Jack Gibbens (LB – TEN): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Jack Gibbens has been rock solid for the Titans this season and was at it again in Week 5, posting seven solos and three assists against the Indianapolis Colts. Gibbens has four or more solos in four of five games this season and five or more in three of those. He leads the team in tackles but is still overshadowed by the talented Azeez Al-Shaair when it comes to IDP. Gibbens should be added and started as an LB3 with LB2 upside where needed. Treat him as such for a plus Week 6 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Kwon Alexander (LB – PIT): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Kwon Alexander was excellent in a surprising Week 5 win against the Baltimore Ravens, racking up six solos, one sack, and three tackles for loss. Kwon is on bye in Week 6 but is still worth an add as an LB3 with LB2 upside for the bye weeks. He has played well enough to be on rosters even without the byes and should be started as an LB3/4 option in all competitive leagues. Add Kwon where needed.
Robert Spillane (LB – LV): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Spillane was excellent on Monday Night Football, racking up a scintillating two solos, seven assists, two interceptions, and two passes defended. He has been quiet in the solo department over the last two weeks but has been strong on the season overall, returning LB2 value. Start him as an LB3 with LB2 upside for a plus Week 6 matchup against the New England Patriots.
Others to consider: Blake Cashman (LB – HOU): 0%, David Long (LB – MIA): 3%, Damone Clark (LB – DAL): 1%, Elandon Roberts (LB – PIT): 1%, Nicholas Morrow (LB – PHI): 4%, Willie Gay Jr. (LB – KC): 1%, Ja’Whaun Bentley (LB – NE): 8%, Azeez Al-Shaair (LB – TEN): 7%
Defensive Line
Nik Bonitto (DE/LB – DEN): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Nik Bonitto continues to impress for the Denver Broncos, racking up two solos, two sacks, and two tackles for loss in a Week 5 matchup against the New York Jets. Yes, it was a plus matchup, but Bonitto has been cooking with gas and is now up to 5.5 sacks on the season, good enough to put him in a tie for sixth in the league. He has played well enough to make Frank Clark, who is on a one year deal, expendable this offseason, and will form an exciting tandem with Baron Browning once the latter finally gets healthy. Tap Bonitto as a DL3 with DL2 upside for a prime-time matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6.
Haason Reddick (DE/LB – PHI): 8% rostered on Yahoo
Haason Reddick is back to doing Haason Reddick things. Blanked on the sack sheet through the first three weeks of the season, Reddick now has three sacks in his last two games. He recorded two solos, two sacks, and two tackles for loss against the Rams and appears to be heating up for the Eagles. He is back in the DL1 conversation and should be treated as an LB2 option if you still play your IDP on a provider that has him listed as an LB only. Reddick is a stud who should be on as many rosters as Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt, even if he will never have the same name equity. Make sure Reddick isn’t floating on your wire. Start him with confidence as a DL1/LB2 for a plus Week 6 matchup against the New York Jets.
Marcus Davenport (DE/LB – MIN): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Davenport is heating up just in time for the byes. He recorded two solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss in Week 5, making it two straight games with a sack. The Vikings are predictably struggling on offense after letting Dalvin Cook go, which means more negative gamescipt to keep sack opportunities down. However, with the byes here and Davenport playing well, he at least needs to be on rosters in case a spot starter is required. You could do much worse when you actually need someone to fill in, so make the stash where possible. Treat him as a DL3 option with DL2 upside for a plus Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Jalen Carter (DT – PHI): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Jalen Carter was elite in Week 5, racking up three solos, one assist, two sacks, and two tackles for loss against the Los Angeles Rams. Carter played a season-high 70 percent of the snaps with Javon Hargrave sidelined and thanked the Eagles with two takedowns, putting him at 3.5 for the season. Already a DT1 option, he is now locked in as a DT1 play and should be considered in the DL2 conversation when he has plus matchups. The plus matchups continue in Week 6 against the New York Jets, so start Carter everywhere, regardless of Hargrave’s health.
Yannick Ngakoue (DE – IND): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Ngakoue remains a sack or bust play through five weeks of the season. He was on in Week 5, recording two solos, one assist, one sack, and one tackle for loss. He is up to two sacks on the season but hasn’t quite made good on his efforts to be more effective as a run-stopper, as evidenced by his zero games with more than three solos and three out of five with one or fewer. With that said, he remains a solid DL3 play and comes with obvious DL2 upside in plus matchups. Treat him as a DL3 option for Week 6’s divisional tilt against the Minnesota Vikings.
Others to consider: Samson Ebukam (DE/LB – IND): 5%, Zaven Collins (DE/LB – ARI): 2%, Zach Allen (DT/DE – DEN): 1%, A.J. Epenesa (DE – BUF): 1%, Jermaine Johnson (DE – NYJ): 1%, Leonard Floyd (DE – BUF): 3%,
Defensive Back
Isaiah Simmons (S/LB – NYG): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Simmons shined with Micah McFadden sidelined, playing every snap and finishing with seven solos and two assists. Simmons should be on rosters for the byes and is an excellent spot starter when McFadden is sidelined. His own role in the Giants’ defense is supposed to expand, but we have not quite seen it yet, as his season-high snap share was 33 percent coming into Week 5. Add Simmons as a bye-week filler type with the obvious potential to become a DB2/LB2 if they start to give him regular snaps. Simmons is the type of player to stash if you can, especially on providers where he boasts dual eligibility. Add Simmons wherever needed.
K’Von Wallace (S – ARI): 1% rostered on Yahoo
K’Von was back it again in Week 5, racking up seven solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss. The S10/DB14 on the season; it is time to start taking K’Von seriously. He was always a versatile talent coming out of college and is lighting it up in his first opportunity as a true starter. Treat him as an upside DB2 going forward, and don’t be surprised to see him in the DB1 ranks during heavier byes. Wallace needs to be on rosters and starting in all competitive leagues.
Kareem Jackson (S – DEN): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Aside from a down week back in Week 2, Kareem has been excellent for IDP managers this season. He finished Week 5 with six solos and four assists, marking the fourth time this season he has finished with four or more solos. Always a solid DB3 with DB2 upside, Jackson can be considered a DB2 option during the byes. Often pushed out by players with more upside on non byes, Jackson’s consistency is exactly what you want from your spot starters during the bye weeks. He has produced well enough that he should be rostered in all competitive leagues. Make the add and start Jackson as a DB3 option for a plus Week 6 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football.
Rudy Ford (S – GB): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Rudy Ford was excellent in Week 5, recording five solos, four assists, one interception, and one pass defended, in turn solidifying himself as a DB2 option during the byes. Ford has been much better than expected since getting the nod over free agent addition Jonathan Owens. Now locked in as a DB2 option, Ford has posted five or more solos in four straight games and has an interception in two straight. The FAAB spend will not need to be as aggressive as it would normally be with the Packers resting this week. Start him everywhere when he comes off of bye in Week 7.
Kerby Joseph (S – DET): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Kerby Joseph is back in the lineup for the Detroit Lions after being sidelined for two games with an injury. His numbers were modest in his return, a four solo and one assist performance, but he played an every snap role right away due to the injuries to Brian Branch and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. Joseph was sent to the wire in many leagues due to the injury but needs to be scooped up immediately in all competitive leagues. Treat Joseph as a DB2 option for a plus Week 6 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Others to consider: Jordan Fuller (S – LAR): 2%, Xavier McKinney (S – NYG): 1%, Jayron Kearse (S – DAL): 2%, Jalen Thompson (S – ARI): 5%, Sam Franklin (S – CAR): 0%, Tony Adams (S – NYJ): 0%, Tre’von Moehrig (S – LV): 0%
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