Week 11 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 11. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 11, 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 12 IDP Waiver Wire
Linebacker
Blake Cashman (LB – HOU): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Blake Cashman went off in Week 11, racking up 13 solos, six assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Cashman took advantage of the absences of Denzel Perryman and Henry To’oTo’o to put up what will likely go down as one of the best fantasy lines of his career. Perryman is out for one more game, and To’oTo’o is still in concussion protocol, making Cashman a sudden LB2 play despite every team playing this week. Start Cashman as a high-upside LB2 everywhere.
Elandon Roberts (LB – PIT): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Elandon Roberts shined in Week 11, racking up 11 solos, four assists, and two tackles for loss. He has been terrific in the expanded role and will continue to soak up snaps with Cole Holecomb and Kwon Alexander on IR. He has six or more solos in both games in which he has seen 90 percent of the snaps and is proving time and time again that the Steelers scheme is an ideal fit for the veteran linebacker. Tap Roberts as an LB2 option for a plus Week 12 matchup against the banged-up Cincinnati Bengals.
David Mayo (LB – WAS): 1% rostered on Yahoo
David Mayo was excellent in Week 11, reeling off five solos, one assist, two sacks, and three tackles for loss. Mayo has been an IDP force since Cody Barton went down with injury, racking up five or more solos in four of five games since. Mayo remains an LB3 play for Week 12 due to no byes, but with another strong week will be a definite part of the LB2 conversation for the heavy bye in Week 13. Add Mayo wherever available.
Tyrel Dodson (LB – BUF): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Dodson was back it again in Week 11, recording six solos, one assist, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. He continues to play over Dorian Williams, making him a weekly part of the LB3 conversation. There is no reason for him to be available in any competitive leagues, but the rostership numbers suggest that he is still on the wire in far too many. Correct that during this week’s waiver run. Start Dodson everywhere as an LB3 play for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Christian Harris (LB – HOU): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Harris made the most of his expanded role, racking up five solos, two assists, and one tackle for loss. He should continue to see more snaps in Week 12, putting him on the LB4 radar. However, if Henry To’oTo’o misses another game with the concussion, Harris will be on the LB3 radar. Add and start Harris where needed.
Others to consider: Micah McFadden (LB – NYG): 4%, Ivan Pace (LB – MIN): 1%, Devin Lloyd (LB – JAC): 7%, Monty Rice (LB – TEN): 0%, Jack Sanborn (LB – CHI): 3%
Defensive Line
Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE/LB – NYG): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Kayvon has been electric this season, most recently reeling off three solos, two assists, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and one pass defended. He is up to 10.5 sacks on the season, good enough to tie him with Maxx Crosby for fifth in the league. He has entered must roster territory, regardless of format, even on providers where he qualifies as an LB only. Add and start Kayvon universally as a DL1/LB2 for a plus Week 12 matchup against the New England Patriots.
Leonard Floyd (DE – BUF): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Leonard Floyd went off in Week 11, racking up three solos, one assist, 2.5 sacks, and two tackles for loss. He is up to 9.5 sacks on the season, which puts him in a four-way tie with Justin Madubuike, Josh Allen, and Trey Hendrickson for eighth in the league. Floyd has been incredible on the season as a whole, but 5.5 of his sacks came between Week 1 and Week 6. Before Sunday night, Floyd had just 0.5 sacks in four games. Hopefully, his strong night against the Jets is a sign of good things to come, but the fact that four of his 9.5 sacks have come against the Jets leaves him in DL3 territory for Week 12. Treat him as such for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jaelan Phillips (DE/LB – MIA): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Jaelan went off in Week 11, racking up five solos, one assist, two sacks, two tackles for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. He is up to 5.5 sacks on the season, but five of his sacks have come in his last four games, with at least one sack in each. The Dolphins’ secondary is finally healthy, which is allowing the Dolphins’ pass rush more time to tee off on opposing quarterbacks. Tap Jaelan as a DL2 option for a saliva-inducing Week 12 matchup against the New York Jets.
Will Anderson (DE – HOU): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Anderson is starting to heat up for the Texans, most recently recording two solos, one sack, and two tackles for loss in an exciting matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. He has just three sacks on the season, but two of them have come in his last three games. He is more of a depth piece for shallower formats but should be in the DL3 conversation for Week 12, thanks to a plus matchup against a Jacksonville Jaguars team that has surrendered the 11th most fantasy points to the defensive end position. Add and start Anderson where available.
Baron Browning (DE/LB – DEN): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Browning is starting to heat up for the Denver Broncos, most recently recording three solos and one sack against the Minnesota Vikings. He has three sacks in his last three games and continues to see more snaps than Nik Bonitto. He is too talented to be at zero percent rostership, so those in competitive leagues will want to correct that this week. Browning is a DL3 option for a terrific Week 12 matchup against a depleted Cleveland Browns offense relinquishing the third most fantasy points to opposing edge rushers. Add and start Browning wherever possible.
Others to consider: YaYa Diaby (DE/LB – TB): 0%, Jonathan Cooper (DE/LB – DEN): 2%, Odafe Oweh (LB – BAL): 0%, Michael Hoecht (LB/DT – LAR): 4%, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (DE – CLE): 0%, Rashan Gary (DE/LB – GB): 1%
Defensive Back
Jordan Battle (S – CIN): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Jordan Battle has officially replaced Nick Scott at safety for the Cincinnati Bengals. He took over in Week 11 and responded by recording a team-high 10 solos and two assists. The exciting rookie will be a far superior IDP contributor than Scott and is an immediate part of the DB2 conversation. He has been working on his tackling issues since the offseason, and the initial results look promising. Tap Battle as a DB3 option for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jalen Thompson (S – ARI): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Thompson was excellent in Week 11, racking up eight solos, one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended against C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. Thompson has been inconsistent on the season as a whole but has shown flashes of the DB2 mainstay from last season. He should start to show more consistency now that he is back at safety and could be a difference maker for IDP managers down the stretch. Add Thompson everywhere as a DB3 with proven DB1 upside.
Xavier McKinney (S – NYG): 6% rostered on Yahoo
McKinney was at it again in Week 11, racking up eight solos, four assists, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovered. He’s now recorded an elite seven or more solos on three straight games and is a must-start until he cools down. Treat him as an elite DB2 play for Week 12. Start him everywhere.
Brian Branch (S – DET): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Branch may be finding his groove again. He posted four solos, two assists, three tackles for loss, and one pass defended. Branch was an elite DB2 earlier this season, but multiple injuries have caused some inconsistency. This game was a step in the right direction and elicits more confidence in the rookie going forward. He remains a DB3 option for Week 12 but can be deployed as a DB2 in a pinch. Add and start him wherever possible for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday afternoon.
Isaiah Simmons (S/LB – NYG): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Simmons was electrifying in Week 11, making an impact with four solos, one interception, one pass defended, and one touchdown. The 31 snaps he saw were the second most snaps he has seen all season, though the 38 percent is a snap share he saw in two other weeks. He is still not playing enough snaps to trust as anything more than a flex option in 11 v. 11 leagues, but this performance gives us a reason to actually consider plugging him in for Week 12. Add and start Simmons
Others to consider: Ji’Ayir Brown (S – SF): 0%, Quandre Diggs (S – SEA): 3%, Alohi Gilman (S – LAC): 1%, Terrell Edmunds (S – TEN): 1%, Isaiah Pola-Mao (S – LV): 0%, Trevon Moehrig (S – LV): 6%, Markquese Bell (S/LB – DAL): 1%, Quentin Lake (S – LAC): 0%, Marcus Williams (S – BAL): 1%, Delarrin Turner-Yell (S – DEN): 0%
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
