Week 16 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 16. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 16, 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 17 IDP Waiver Wire
Linebacker
Andrew Van Ginkel (DL/LB – MIA): 1% rostered on Yahoo
AVG went off on Sunday afternoon, racking up seven solos, three assists, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Van Ginkel had been inconsistent since taking back over as the starter for the injured Jaelan Phillips but showed up when it mattered most in a potential (but unlikely) Super Bowl preview against the Dallas Cowboys. Van Ginkel has two sacks in his last two games and is heating up at the perfect time for fantasy managers and the Miami Dolphins alike. Tap AVG as a DL3/LB3 with DL2/LB2 upside for a potential AFC Championship game preview against the Baltimore Ravens. Start him everywhere.
E.J. Speed (LB – IND): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Speed went off during Week 16, reeling off 10 solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss. Speed is showing why the Colts felt comfortable in moving on from Shaq Leonard’s contract and projects as a strong LB2 option for finals week. Speed has recorded five or more solos in four straight games, but wholly more impressive is the nine or more solos in each of the last two. Speed could enter the LB1 conversation ahead of next season if he drops another eight solos this week and the Colts do not add anyone superior at the position this offseason. Start Speed universally for the all-important00 Week 17.
Khaleke Hudson (LB – WAS): 1% rostered
Hudson was excellent in Week 16, racking up 10 solos, five assists, and two passes defended on 92 percent of the snaps. He has been much better than expected filling in for Jamin Davis, and one has to wonder if Jamin, despite his pedigree, will even be a starter next season if Ron Rivera is still the head coach. Start Hudson as an LB2 option for championship week despite the tough on-paper matchup against a San Francisco 49ers offense limiting the linebacker position to the fewest fantasy points per game. The 49ers will run more than enough plays for a ball magnet like Hudson to post an appreciable tackle total. Start Khaleke wherever possible.
Cody Barton (LB – WAS): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Barton showed up in Week 16, pleasing fantasy managers with seven solos, three assists, one interception, and one pass defended. Barton has played every snap since returning from injury and has posted four or more solos in each of those four games. More impressively, he has recorded five or more solos in each of his last three. Barton has been hot enough to tap as an LB2 option everywhere, so do not hesitate to plug him for Week 16 despite the tough matchup against a San Francisco 49ers team surrendering the fewest fantasy points per game to enemy linebackers.
Myles Jack (LB – PIT): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Myles Jack is back. And in the nick of time. Elandon Roberts was knocked out of Week 16’s contest, thrusting Jack into a near every down role. He played 73 percent of the snaps when the Steelers were hoping to limit him to 40 to 50 percent. Jack responded well, putting up three solos, three assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. With minimal competition on the roster, Jack could be an everydown player this week if Elandon is forced to miss time. Even if Elandon is able to suit for championship week, Jack should still see 60 to 70 percent of the snaps after his standout performance in his first game on the active roster. Start Jack as an LB3/flex for a plus Week 17 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Defensive Line
YaYa Diaby (DE/LB – TB): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Yaya has made a name for himself lately, most recently racking up four solos, one assist, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. The rookie third round pick is up to 6.5 sacks on the season, which leads the Buccaneers. One of the bright spots on a defense that has seen better days, Yaya has recorded all of his 6.5 sacks since Week 7. The DL14 overall since Week 8, Yaya should be added and started wherever available. Start Yaya everywhere as a DL3 with DL2 upside for championship week, thanks to a plus matchup against a New Orleans Saints team surrendering the 15th most fantasy points per game to opposing edge rushers.
Boye Mafe (DE – SEA): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Mafe showed back up in Week 16, racking up five solos, one assist, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Now at nine sacks on the season, Mafe is someone to consider as an elite DL3 option for championship week. He can be started as a DL2 in a pinch but does not usually offer much when he is not getting sacks. With no sacks in five straight games prior to Week 16, Mafe was a flex2 at best just last week. Treat him as a DL3 option where needed for a plus championship week matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bradley Chubb (DE/LB – MIA): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Bradley Chubb has been on a roll. Once again looking like the superstar that threatened the rookie sack record, Chubb is up to 11 sacks on the season and has 4.5 in his last two games alone. He is on pace to finally beat his rookie season sack mark of 12, and one can only imagine what his numbers would look like if Jaelan Phillips had not missed multiple games more than once this season. Tap Chubb as an elite DL2 option for a plus matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Harold Landry (DE/LB – TEN): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Landry continued his strong play in Week 16, reeling off three solos, one assist, one sack, and two tackles for loss. He has four sacks in his last three games, adding to the column in two of those three. Up to 9.5 sacks on the season, Landry makes for a strong DL3 option for championship week, even if C.J. Stroud is back under center for the Texans.
Christian Barmore (DT – NE): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Barmore exploded in Week 16, racking up five solos, three assists, three sacks, and two tackles for loss. Suddenly up to 8.5 sacks on the season, Barmore is locked in as a DT1 option for Week 17. He makes for an elite DL flex option for championship week and could even be plugged in as a DL3 in a pinch. Barmore has 5.5 sacks since Week 11, making him the DL5/DT2 in that time period. Start Barmore wherever feasible for a plus championship week matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Defensive Back
Ifeatu Melifonwu (S – DET): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Ifeatu went off in Week 16, racking up five solos, two sacks, two tackles for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. He has caught fire at the perfect time for the Lions and fantasy managers alike and is far and away the DB1 overall during the fantasy playoffs. Start him as a DB2/3 with league-winning upside for a plus Week 17 matchup against a Dallas Cowboys team surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the safety position.
Brian Branch (S – DET): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Branch was excellent in Week 16, reeling off five solos, one assist, one sack, one forced fumble, one interception, and two passes defended. Branch has been one of the most exciting rookies in IDP but remains more inconsistent than one would like due to playing the nickel role for the Lions. Start Branch as a DB3/flex option for a plus championship week matchup against a Dallas Cowboys team relinquishing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing safeties.
Kerby Joseph (S – DET): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Kerby Joseph was elite in Week 16, racking up six solos, three assists, two interceptions, and two passes defended. Kerby has recorded four or more solos in four of his last five games, making him a strong DB3 option for championship week. Start him as a DB2 in a pinch, but DB3 is where he will help make a case for your team to win the chip. Start Kerby wherever possible for a plus Week 17 matchup against a Detroit Lions team allowing the eighth most fantasy points to the safety position.
Jalen Thompson (S – ARI): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Thompson was excellent in Week 17, racking up four solos, one assist, one tackle for loss, one interception, and three passes defended. The DB3 overall since Week 11, Thompson has recorded four or more solos in each game during that span with five or more in three of those five games. Thompson thrives when given safety snaps and should continue to see the majority of his snaps there against Philadelphia. Start him everywhere as a DB2 option for a plus championship week matchup against a New England Patriots team allowing the third most fantasy points per game to the safety position.
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