Week 5 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups (2024 Fantasy Football)

Week 4 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 4. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 4, 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 5 IDP Waiver Wire

Linebacker

Troy Andersen (LB – ATL): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Andersen went wild in Week 4, racking up 10 solos, seven assists, one tackle for loss, one interception, one pass defended, and one touchdown. He has at least five solos in every game this season and needs to be treated as an LB2 until he cools down. He is dealing with an ankle injury, so prepare your FAAB bid accordingly. Treat him as an LB2 for a plus Week 5 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Add and start Andersen everywhere.

Ventrell Miller (LB – JAC): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Ventrell stepped up in the absences of Foye Oluokun and Devin Lloyd, racking up eight solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss. He should soak up tackles in the Jaguars scheme as is a sneaky LB2 play for as long as Lloyd is sidelined. Miller projects as more of an LB3/flex when Lloyd returns. Add and start Ventrell wherever needed.

Blake Cashman (LB – MIN): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Cashman was excellent in Week 4, tallying six solos, five assists, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Cashman has been inconsistent in the solo department but has still put up LB2 numbers for fantasy managers. Treat him as such for a plus Week 5 matchup against the New York Jets. Add and start Cashman wherever available.

Trevin Wallace (LB – CAR): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Wallace appears set for an expanded role in the wake of the Shaq Thompson injury and is expected to draw the bulk of the snaps next to Josey Jewell. Wallace played 37 percent of the snaps in Week 4 and should jump up to north of 60 percent for the rest of the season (barring a free agent addition). He didn’t do much with his expanded Week 4 role but should flash given a whole week to prepare as a starter. Wallace has LB2 upside and talent but should be viewed as more of an LB4/flex option until he shows some consistency in terms of snaps and production. Still, for those in redraft leagues, Wallace is a potential depth chart changer. Make the add everywhere possible.

Christian Rozeboom (LB – LAR): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Rozeboom was excellent in Week 4, posting six solos and five assists. This was his first contest above the four solo mark, putting him on the radar as an LB3/4 option now that the byes are here. Rozeboom should be rostered in all competitive leagues, at least during the byes. Tap Rozeboom as an LB3 option for a plus Week 5 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Defensive Line

Kyle Van Noy (DE/LB – BAL): 1% rostered on Yahoo
It’s time we all start taking Kyle Van Noy seriously. Yes, he is still playing less than 50 percent of the snaps in Baltimore’s edge rusher rotation, but he is up to six sacks on the season and is set to shatter the career high nine sacks he set last season. Van Noy recorded two solos, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills. He is riding a three game sack streak in which he has recorded two sacks in each. His snap share will keep him as a DL3 option outside of the heavy byes, but he needs to be rostered and started in all competitive leagues. Add Van Noy everywhere.

Kevin Givens (DT – SF): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Givens went bonkers in Week 4, racking up two solos, one assist, 2.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss. He is up to 3.5 sacks on the season and should be on radars for those in DT leagues. He is not much of an option outside of DT leagues, but 3.5 sacks in three games makes him worth a DL4/flex look for those in deeper 11 v 11 leagues. Add and start Givens where needed.

Maliek Collins (DT – SF): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Collins was excellent in Week 4, registering two solos, one assist, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery. He has recorded a sack in two straight weeks and is worth a start as a DT1 option for those dealing with byes or injuries. Treat him as a top-15 DT option for a plus Week 5 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Dorance Armstrong (DE – WAS): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Dorance was excellent in Week 4, racking up three solos, two assists, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Armstrong has played roughly 60 percent of the snaps for Washington and after 0.5 sacks last week, appears to be heating up just in time for the byes. Tap him as a DL3/4 option where needed.

Jonathan Allen (DT – WAS): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Jonathan Allen showed up in Week 4, tallying four solos, one assist, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Allen has been a disappointment through four weeks of the season, as he had three solos and zero sacks total coming into the weekend. Still, he is a DT1 option and should be treated as such for a plus Week 5 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

Defensive Back

Xavier Woods (S – CAR): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Woods was excellent in Week 4, tallying seven solos, three assists, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. Woods has been inconsistent but is on the IDP radar now that the byes are here, and he is playing well. He has a plus matchup set for Week 5 against the Chicago Bears and has four more plus matchups after that. He makes for a solid DB4/flex/bye week filler for those in deeper leagues. Make the add wherever needed.

P.J. Locke (S – DEN): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Locke showed up in Week 4, tallying eight solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. It was by far Locke’s best fantasy game of the season and is hopefully the start of more consistent play for the popular offseason breakout candidate. Locke should absolutely be rostered in all competitive leagues, but you cannot blame anyone who got impatient after the first three weeks of the season. Tap Locke as an upside DB3 for a plus Week 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

DeShon Elliott (S – PIT): 3% rostered on Yahoo
DeShon Elliott was excellent in Week 4, tallying eight solos, four assists, and one forced fumble. DeShon has been solid through four weeks of the season and is someone to consider as a depth option during the byes. Add and start him as a DB3/4 ahead of a plus Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Jeremy Chinn (S – WAS): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Chinn was excellent in Week 4, notching seven solos, three assists, and one forced fumble. Chinn has stepped up his production over the last two weeks and has played nearly every snap, putting him back on the IDP radar. He should be rostered in all competitive leagues and makes for an intriguing DB3 option for Week 5, thanks to a tasty matchup against a struggling Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns. Add and start Chinn wherever possible.

Isaiah Pola-Mao (S – LV): 1% rostered on Yahoo
IPM was excellent in his first career start, racking up four solos, two assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Pola-Mao is slated to start for the rest of the season with Marcus Epps (knee) suffering a season ending injury and should be rostered as a DB3/4/bye week filler in deeper leagues. He flashed his versatility in Week 4 and should be able to increase the counting stats once he gets more comfortable. Add IPM wherever possible ahead of an excellent Week 5 matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.