Week 15 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 15. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 15, 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 16 IDP Waiver Wire
Linebacker
E.J. Speed (LB – IND): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Speed was elite in Week 15, racking up nine solos, one assist, and one forced fumble on 90 percent of the snaps. Speed has recorded five or more solos in each of his last three games (all starts) and has played 90 percent or more of the snaps in each. He has forced his way into the LB2 conversation for Week 16 and makes for an elite LB3 otherwise. Speed needs to be added in and started everywhere for a plus semifinals week matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Christian Harris (LB – HOU): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Christian Harris continues to show out for the Texans, most recently posting seven solos, one assist, and two tackles for loss. Harris has an elite seven solos in three of his last four games, each of those three were games he started. He is set to see another start this weekend against the Cleveland Browns, making him a sneaky LB2 option for Week 16. Harris has been on a tear lately and should be added and started wherever possible for his plus semifinals week matchup.
Denzel Perryman (LB – HOU): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Perryman was excellent in Week 15, racking up seven solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss. Perryman has started each of the last three weeks, making him worth a look as a flex option for Week 16. He has a lower floor than most who make the write-up portion of this column, but with semifinals week upon us, adding a player who just stacked seven solos and is about to face off against a Cleveland Browns team allowing the second most fantasy points per game to the linebacker position is a smart decision. Add Perryman where possible.
Divine Deablo (S/LB – LV): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Deablo was excellent in Week 15, reeling off seven solos and five assists. His performance put him back on the flex radar for Week 16, especially with a plus matchup on tap for Week 16 against a Kansas City Chiefs team surrendering the 11th most fantasy points per game to opposing linebackers. Mind the floor, but Deablo has enough upside to warrant starting in all 11 v. 11 formats. Make the add where needed.
Damone Clark (LB – DAL): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Clark played 93 percent of the snaps in Week 15 and responded with an excellent seven solos and four assists. He has been inconsistent since taking over for Leighton Vander Esch in the middle, but his peaks have been excellent. The valley’s will keep him out of the LB3 conversation for something as important as semifinals week, but he makes for an excellent flex option for a neutral, at best, Week 16 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Make the add and start where needed.
Others to consider: Khaleke Hudson (LB – WAS): 0%, Cody Barton (LB – WAS): 5%, Nate Landman (LB – ATL): 6%, Tyrel Dodson (LB – BUF): 1%, Micah McFadden (LB – NYG): 3%, Duke Riley (LB – MIA): 0%, Jahlani Tavai (LB – NE): 1%
Defensive Line
Bradley Chubb (DE/LB – MIA): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Bradley Chubb exploded in Week 15, single-handedly swinging fantasy matchups with his stellar five solos, two assists, three sacks, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. It was an IDP performance for the ages and came at the perfect time for fantasy managers. Suddenly at 9.5 sacks for the season, Chubb is an elite DL2 play for a plus matchup against what should be an aggressive Dallas Cowboys team eager to prove that Week 15 was an aberration. Start Chubb everywhere as a DL2 for Week 16.
Jonathan Cooper (DE/LB – DEN): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Cooper has been showing up for IDP managers, most recently reeling off five solos, one sack, and one tackle for loss in Week 15. He has ‘just’ 6.5 sacks on the season, but with four solos in three of his last four games, he is getting it done for fantasy managers even when he is not adding to his sack ledger. Start Cooper as a DL3 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against the struggling New England Patriots.
D.J. Wonnum (DE/LB – MIN): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Wonnum has been heating up for the Vikings. He has a sack in four of his last five games and has six sacks in his last seven games. The DL10 since Week 8, Wonnum should be getting the respect that he deserves. He is up to eight sacks on the season, and after an excellent Week 15 that saw him record four solos, two assists, one tackle for loss, and two passes defended, he is locked in as a DL2 option for Week 16. He may not have the name, but he has proven lately that he has the game. Start him everywhere for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Travon Walker (DE/LB – JAC): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Travon Walker has been showing signs of life, most recently posting two solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Walker has recorded at least a half sack in eight of his 14 games this season and is starting to scratch the surface of his potential. He may never be as good as Kayvon Thibodeaux or Aidan Hutchinson as a pure pass rusher, but when you add in his elite run defense, he just may turn out to be the superior edge defender when all is said and done. Whatever the case, Walker has played himself into the flex conversation for semifinals week and should be rostered in all competitive leagues. Make the add and start where needed for Week 16.
Harold Landry (DE/LB – TEN): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Landry was excellent in Week 15, posting five solos and one assist. Landry has been heating up lately, making him a strong DL3 with DL2 upside for Week 16. He has 8.5 sacks on the season and has been one of the more consistent tacklers at the position. Start him everywhere for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Others to consider: Anthony Nelson (DE/LB – TB): 0%, Lukas Van Ness (DE/LB – GB): 1%, Tanoh Kpassagnon (DE – NO): 0%, Kenny Clark (DT – GB): 3%, Bryan Breese (DT – NO): 0%
Defensive Back
Jonathan Owens (S – GB): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Owens bounced back after a slow Week 14, recording seven solos and five assists in Week 15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The DB5 since his second start in Week 9, Owens should be started universally for semifinals week. He has a terrific matchup this week against the Carolina Panthers, giving him DB1 upside at the perfect time. Start him as a top-15 option for Week 16.
Geno Stone (S – BAL): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Super sub Geno Stone was back in the mix in Week 15, playing 77 percent of the snaps due to an injury to Marcus Williams. He has been excellent when making starts for Williams this season and may get another chance during semifinals week. Stone will be a must start DB2 if Williams is eventually ruled out, so fantasy managers with the roster space should make the speculative add where possible. Second in the league with six interceptions, Stone should be started in leagues of all sizes if he is getting the start for the Ravens.
Ifeatu Melifonwu (S – DET): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Ifeatu went off in Week 15, racking up six solos, three assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and two passes defended. Ifeatu will likely lose his role if Chauncey Gardner-Johnson returns during the regular season, but his Week 15 performance helps to highlight his upside in this defense. Start him as a DB3 option for Week 16’s plus matchup against the depleted Minnesota Vikings offense.
Brandon Jones (S – MIA): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Jones is more of a speculative add for Week 16, but based on his Week 15 performance, he is as close to a must-add as a clear backup can be with a murky injury situation ahead of him. Jones went off in Week 15, stacking five solos, two interceptions, and two passes defended. If DeShon Elliott misses another game with the concussion or Jevon Holland is inactive for any reason, Jones is a must-start. He will have more value in DeShon’s role as he becomes a sneaky DB2 option but is still a DB4 play if he is replacing Holland. Make the speculative add where possible.
Trenton Thompson (S – PIT): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Trenton Thompson was thrust back into action in Week 15, racking up six solos and one assist against the Indianapolis Colts. Thompson is all but assured of seeing a start in Week 16 as Damonte Kazee has been suspended for the rest of the season and the playoffs, and Minkah Fitzpatrick is dealing with an injury. Start Thompson as a DB3/flex option for semifinals week.
Others to consider: Xavier Woods (S – CAR): 0%, Taylor Rapp (S – BUF): 0%, Eddie Jackson (S – CHI): 1%, Christian Izien (S – TB): 0%, Donovan Wilson (S – DAL): 5%, Rudy Ford (S – GB): 6%, Jalen Thompson (S – ARI): 3%, Ji’Ayir Brown (S – SF): 1%, Jabrill Peppers (S – NE): 3%, Percy Butler (S – WAS): 0%, Andrew Wingard (S – JAC): 2%
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio