Week 9 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 9. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 9, 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 10 IDP Waiver Wire

Linebacker

Jack Sanborn (LB – CHI): 4% rostered on Yahoo
That’s the Jack Sanborn we know and love. Sanborn’s rostership numbers show just how fondly he is remembered by IDP managers. I won’t go on and list all of the names that he appears on more rosters then, but it is impressive. Sanborn thanked IDP managers for their confidence by posting an LB1-worthy eight solos, two assists, and one tackle for loss in Week 9. Sanborn will remain locked into a high-leverage role as long as Tremaine Edmunds is sidelined and should be rostered universally until then. The upside and hype are real. Add and start Sanborn as a top-15 option for a plus Week 10 matchup against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football.

Damone Clark (LB – DAL): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Damone Clark was fantastic in Week 10, reeling off eight solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss. Damone has recorded five or more solos in three of his last four, with at least four solos in each. He has become a steady LB2/LB3 option in his newfound role and should be rostered universally in competitive leagues. It took him a while to truly get going after being handed an expanded role, but he is now showing flashes of his upside. Tap him as an LB2 option for a plus Week 10 matchup against the hapless New York Giants.

Nate Landman (LB – ATL): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Landman continues to impress for the Falcons, most recently recording five solos, five assists, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one pass defended. Landman has been a solid LB3 option on the season but has really picked it up over the last few weeks. He has recorded four or more solos in each of his last six games and totaled at least eight combined tackles in each. For someone slated to be a core special teamer and strict backup behind Troy Andersen, Landman has been very impressive. He is scooped up by this point in most competitive leagues, but the rostership numbers suggest that he is still available in some despite being back in the mix of bye weeks.

Zach Cunningham (LB – PHI): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Cunningham was excellent in Week 9, recording eight solos, two assists, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Still available in most leagues; he should pop up on even more wires now that the Eagles are on bye. His role has remained steady despite Nakboe Dean’s return. In fact, he has played 100 percent of the snaps twice in the last three weeks. Inconsistency has been the main issue for Cunningham. His game log suggests that he gets up for the more important matchups, and if that is the case, he should be rearing to go for Week 11’s Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs. Add and stash Cunningham where needed with an eye on starting him as an LB3 with LB2 upside for a plus Week 11 matchup against the Chiefs.

Leo Chenal (LB – KC): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Leo Chenal was solid in Week 9, recording four solos, three assists, and one sack on 53 percent of the snaps. It is a drop from the 65 percent he saw in Week 8, but he still started and played more snaps than the obviously out of favor Willie Gay. Snap Chenal up on the cheap with the Chiefs on bye, knowing you landed a starter who will only continue to get better as the season progresses. He is a strong LB3 option when the Chiefs return from bye to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11.

Others to consider: Isaiah McDuffie (LB – GB): 0%, Sengun Olubi (LB – IND): 0%, Kyle Van Noy (LB – BAL): 0%, Kaden Elliss (LB – ATL): 7%, Elandon Roberts (LB – PIT): 1%, Micah McFadden (LB – NYG): 4%, Tyrel Dodson (LB – BUF): 1%

Defensive Line

Byron Young (DE/LB – LAR): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Byron Young finally got it going in Week 9, recording eight solos, two assists, two sacks, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Young has long been an IDP darling for his pressure creation as he leads all rookies in the category, coming in ahead of brand names like Jalen Carter and Will Anderson. The Rams are heading into a bye this week, so you will not need to be as aggressive as you would need to be otherwise, but be warned, the world has now seen his upside, and there should not be an IDP manager worth his salt who will not be in on the talented rookie. Add Young wherever possible with an eye on starting him as a DL2 option for a plus Week 11 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

Boye Mafe (DE/LB – SEA): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Boye Mafe continues to get it done for the Seattle Seahawks, extending his sack streak to a franchise record five games. He was sensational in Week 9, recording five solos, one assist, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. The solos were a tremendously welcomed addition, and Mafe should be tapped as a DL2 for as long as he is cooking. The streak is going to end eventually, but if he can show some consistency in the solo department before then, he can hold onto his DL2 status. Otherwise, he will go back to being a high-upside DL3. Tap him as a DL2 for a plus Week 10 matchup against Washington.

Alex Highsmith (DE/LB – PIT): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Highsmith got back on track in Week 9, recording two solos, two assists, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Highsmith had been a major disappointment relative to expectations after his 14.5 sack outburst in 2022, but hopefully, his performance against the Tennessee Titans is a sign of good things to come. He has another plus matchup on tap this weekend against a struggling Green Bay Packers offense and is back in the DL3 conversation for Week 10. Add and start Highsmith where needed.

Bradley Chubb (DE/LB – MIA): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Bradley Chubb is catching fire for the Miami Dolphins. He recorded two solos, one assist, one sack, one forced fumble, and one pass defended in Week 9 and is up to six on the season. He has recorded five of those six sacks in his last four games and should only get better now that the defense is getting healthy. Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard are going to help generate coverage sacks, so there is no reason to think that Chubb will not continue to produce as a DL2 for the rest of the season. Add and stash him where available.

Others to consider: Kobie Turner (DT – LAR): 0%, Dalvin Tomlinson (DT – CLE): 0%, David Onyemata (DT/DE – ATL): 0%, Calijah Kancey (DT – TB): 1%, Cam Jordan (DE – NO): 6%, Deatrich Wise (DE – NE): 3%

Defensive Back

Markquese Bell (S/LB – DAL): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Bell continues to produce at linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, and it is a wonder that IDP managers have taken so long to catch on the positional cheat. He racked up six solos and two assists in Week 9, marking his highest solo output of the season. He has recorded at least five solos in each game since being handed an expanded role. He saw 93 percent of the snaps in Week 9 and should stay north of 80 percent as long as he is in the starting lineup. Start him with confidence as a DB2 play for Week 10’s plus matchup against the New York Giants.

Josh Metellus : 3% rostered on Yahoo
Metellus impressed again in Week 9, this time reeling off three solos, two assists, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery. Metellus is thriving in the nickel role for the Vikings and has been a strong DB2 option all season. There is absolutely no reason for him to still be available in competitive leagues, so be sure to correct that if you find yourself in one. He is a safe DB2 play for the rest of the season and should be started wherever possible for a plus Week 10 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

Geno Stone (S – BAL): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Geno Stone needs to be on fantasy rosters as long as Marcus Williams is sidelined. All of them. Yes, he is a backup who will go back to the bench when Williams returns. Yes, he has failed to top three solos in any of his last six games. However, he recorded an interception in five of those six, with his only game without a pick coming when he was sent back to the bench for the aforementioned Williams. Stone finished Week 9 with one solo, one interception, and two passes defended. His NFL leading sixth interception is made all the more remarkable when one considers he played less than 50 percent of the snaps in two of those games and has started just six games this season. Add the playmaker where possible.

Tre’von Moehrig (S – LV): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Moehrig finds a way to remain productive for fantasy managers. His solo production is not always where you want it to be, but his five solos, one sack, and one tackle for loss in Week 9 serve to highlight his upside. Moehirg has recorded five or more solos in each of his last three games and also had a three game streak this season with at least one sack or one interception. Moehrig has forced his way into the DB2 conversation for Week 10 and could stay there permanently if he can prove that his recent streak of strong production is the new norm as opposed to an aberration. Stick Moehrig in lineups as a strong DB2 option for Week 10 against the hapless New York Jets offense.

Xavier McKinney (S – NYG): 2% rostered on Yahoo
McKinney had his best fantasy game of the season in Week 9, recording seven solos and three assists in a Week 9 loss. He has recorded four or more solos in four of his last five and six of his last eight. He makes for a high floor DB3 option and can be tapped as a DB2 option if you find yourself in a pinch due to byes and/or injuries. Add and start the fourth year saftey where needed.

Others to consider: Jonathan Owens (S – GB): 1%, Marcus Maye (S – NO): 0%, Jordan Fuller (S – LAR): 3%, Mike Edwards (S – TB): 0%, Alohi Gilman (S – LAC): 0%

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio