Week 8 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 8. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 8, 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 9 IDP Waiver Wire

Linebacker

Pete Werner (LB – NO): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Werner exploded in his return to action in Week 8, racking up seven solos, two assists, and two tackles for loss on 98 percent of the snaps. Willie Gay has played his way into a reserve role, so Werner should dominate snaps in two linebacker sets. Werner should solidify himself as an LB3 with LB2 upside over the next couple of games, starting with this week’s plus matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Add Werner wherever available.

Christian Elliss (LB – NE): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Christian Elliss is worth a speculative add after he got the start in Week 8 and responded with three solos, six assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Elliss played 84 percent of the snaps, well ahead of former starter Raekwon McMillan. Elliss should be considered in all league sizes, but those in deeper formats will want to be sure to check their wire. Elliss should start for the rest of the season as long as he remains solid in pass coverage. Treat him as an LB3 option for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Daiyan Henley (LB – LAC): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Henley was excellent in Week 8, reeling off six solos, five assists, and one pass defended. Henley has been inconsistent in the solo department but still makes for a strong LB3 option during the byes due to his upside. Treat Henley as an LB3 with LB2 upside for Week 9, thanks to a plus matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Add Henley where needed.

Josey Jewell (LB – CAR): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Jewell returned in Week 8, racking up six solos, four assists, and one tackle for loss. Jewell is an easy LB3 until he starts to heat up and should be rostered in all three LB leagues. Make the add where available.

DeMarvion Overshown (LB – DAL): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Overshown showed up in Week 8, registering three solos, five assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Overshown has been an impact IDP producer since pushing Damone Clark to more of a reserve role as opposed to a rotational role and is a borderline LB2 option. Treat him as an elite LB3 for a tough on-paper Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Make the add where available.

Defensive Line

Alex Highsmith (DE/LB – PIT): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Highsmith was elite in Week 8, racking up four solos, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Highsmith should be back on rosters now that he is healthy, and if Monday night is any indication, he is ready to settle back in as a DL2 option. Highsmith is on bye in Week 9 but should be stashed wherever possible. It is not often edge rushers with this kind of upside are on the wire this deep in the season. Make the add wherever possible.

Arden Key (DE/LB – TEN): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Key was excellent in Week 8, tallying three solos, three assists, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Key only has three sacks on the season, but all three of them have come in his last two contests. Key is a DL3 option as long as he is cooking. Add and start him as a DL3 for a plus Week 9 matchup against the New England Patriots.

Bud Dupree (DE/LB – LAC): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Dupree added his third sack of the season in Week 8, tallying four solos, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Dupree is a solid streaming option for Week 9, thanks to a plus matchup against the Cleveland Browns. He has another plus matchup in Week 10 against the Tennessee Titans, increasing his appeal. Add Dupree where needed.

Za’Darius Smith (DE – CLE): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Za’Darius was excellent in Week 8, racking up two solos, two assists, one sack, and two tackles for loss in an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens. Smith is up to five sacks in the season and could get a value boost if he gets traded to a contender with a need for an everydown edge presence. Even if he stays in Cleveland, he has proven that he belongs in the DL3 conversation. Treat him as one for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Make the add where needed.

Jonathan Cooper (DE/LB – DEN): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Jonathan Cooper was excellent in Week 8, notching four solos, one assist, one sack, and two tackles for loss. Cooper is up to 4.5 sacks on the season and makes for a strong DL3 option for Week 9 and beyond. Add Cooper wherever needed.

Defensive Back

Tre’von Moehrig (S – LV): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Moehrig was excellent in Week 8, tallying five solos, four assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Moehrig has yet to crack the DB2 conversation but has still been an excellent DB3. He has recorded five or more solos in three contests and has registered four or more in seven of his eight games played. Add and start Moehrig as a DB3 option for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Christian Izien (S/CB – TB): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Izien showed up in Week 8, racking up seven solos, two assists, and two tackles of loss. Izien has had some down weeks but has been a force this season with five or more solos in four of his seven games played. Treat him as a DB3 with easy DB2 upside for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.

Harrison Smith (S – MIN): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Smith was excellent in Week 8, tallying six solos, two assists, and one tackle for loss. Harrison has been more DB3 than DB2 this season but still has his spike weeks. He has recorded five or more solos just twice in seven games but has hit four or more in four of his last five. Treat him as an upside DB3 for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

Grant Delpit (S – CLE): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Delpit was solid in Week 8, notching five solos and four assists. Delpit has been a bit of a disappointment in the IDP realm but has recorded five or more solos in four of his six complete contests. He remains more DB3 than DB2 but should be part of the top-25 conversation when he has plus matchups. Treat Delpit as a DB3 for a neutral at best Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Add Delpit where needed.

Demani Richardson (S – CAR): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Demani saw an expanded role in Week 8 due to injuries to Jammie Robinson, Nick Scott, and Jordan Fuller and responded with seven solos and four assists. He should get some more burn for the Panthers in what is already a lost season, especially with Scott and Fuller being veteran talents who are known values. Richardson is more of a deep league speculative add, as we still do not know the Week 9 status of the other injured defensive backs. Make the add where needed.

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