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

Edgerrin Cooper (LB – GB): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Cooper went off on Sunday night, exploding for six solos, one assist, two tackles for loss, one interception, and two passes defended on 58 percent of the snaps. Cooper cemented his LB1 upside with the performance but remains more of a low-end LB2 option for Week 16 despite the plus matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Cooper was excellent in his return from the hamstring injury but is still rotating snaps with Isaiah McDuffie, limiting his upside. Still, Cooper is available in some competitive redraft leagues and is worth a look if you have a need for an LB3/flex play. Add Cooper where needed.

Micah McFadden (LB – NYG): 5% rostered on Yahoo
McFadden was excellent in Week 15, notching seven solos, four assists, and one sack. McFadden has caught fire at the right time for fantasy managers and can safely be counted as an LB2 play for semifinals week. He has recorded six or more solos in three of his last four games and also has a sack and five tackles for loss in that span. Add and start McFadden everywhere despite a tough on-paper matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Jordan Hicks (LB – CLE): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Hicks was excellent in Week 15, racking up six solos, three assists, and one pass defended. Hicks is on a mini burner for IDP managers, producing three spike weeks in his last four contests. Hicks has worked his way back into the LB2 conversation and should be treated as one for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Add Hicks wherever possible, even if it is just to block your opponent.

Malik Harrison (LB – BAL): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Harrison was excellent in Week 15, tallying two solos, six assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss on a season-high 79 percent of the snaps. Malik has started each of the last four games, firmly supplanting Trenton Simpson as the starter. Tap Malik as an LB3/flex option for Week 16, thanks to a plus matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Add Harrison where available.

Luke Gifford (LB – TEN): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Gifford was excellent in Week 15, racking up five solos, three assists, one interception, and one pass defended. Gifford has been filling in for Kenneth Murray but entered concussion protocol after exiting the matchup against the Bengals with the injury. If he is cleared and Murray remains sidelined as expected, Gifford becomes an instant LB3 play. Tap Gifford where needed as an LB3 play if he is active. Add him where needed.

Defensive Line

Nik Bonitto (DE/LB – DEN): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Bonitto continued to cement himself not only as an IDP star but as one of the premier edge rushers in the league this past Sunday, racking up three solos, two assists, 0.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown. Now up to 11.5 sacks on the season, Bonitto’s star has arrived. Add and start Bonitto everywhere as a DL1 play for Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Nolan Smith (DE/LB – PHI): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Nolan Smith was at it again in Week 15, tallying three solos, one assist, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one pass defended. Smith is starting to come into his own on the edge for the Eagles, recording 4.5 sacks since Week 6, with two of them coming in his last three games. Nolan has shown enough to be trusted as a DL3 option for semifinals week, thanks to a plus matchup against Washington. Add and start Smith where needed.

Alex Highsmith (DE/LB – PIT): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Highsmith was excellent in Week 15, tacking up six solos, two assists, one sack, and two tackles for loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. Highsmith has struggled to stay healthy this season but has been a DL2 option when he has been on the field. He has a sack in each of his last two games and should be flying around on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens. Tap Highsmith as a DL2 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against Baltimore. Add Alex Highsmith wherever available, even if just to block your opponents.

George Karlaftis (DE – KC): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Karlaftis showed up in Week 15, racking up two solos, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Karlaftis has now tallied three of his seven sacks in his last three games and should be firmly on fantasy radars for the rest of the fantasy playoffs. Add and start Furious George as a DL3 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Houston Texans,

Kingsley Enagbare (DE/LB – GB): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Kingsley went crazy on Sunday night, reeling off five solos, four sacks, and three tackles for loss. Enagbare has at least one sack in two of his last three games and is trending upward at the right time for deep leaguers. Kingsley has always had the tools to be an impact defender, so ride with him during his hot streak as needed. Tap Kingsley as a DL3/4 option where needed. Add Enagbare where available.

Defensive Back

Jeremy Chinn (S – WAS): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Chinn was excellent in Week 15, racking up five solos, two assists, one sack, and two tackles of loss. Chinn showed up for the quarterfinal round and should be able to produce at least at a DB2 level for Week 16, thanks to a plus matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Chinn should see all of the workload he can handle against the Eagles’ rushing attack. He exploded for 10 solos and three assists against Philadelphia in Week 11. Add and start Chinn everywhere as a top-15 option.

Brandon Jones (S – DEN): 9% rostered on Yahoo
Jones has been elite this season but is still available in far too many leagues. Jones was excellent in Week 15, racking up eight solos, one assist, one interception, and three passes defended. Brandon has been a peak and valley player due to his inconsistency in the solo department but has had more peaks than valleys, which have helped make him a DB1 on the season. Fire him up as a top-20 option for Week 16, despite the tough on-paper matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Jones registered 11 solos, one assist, and one pass defended against the Chargers in Week 6. Add and start Brandon Jones everywhere.

Ugo Amadi (CB/S – NO): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Ugo was at it again in Week 15, tallying five solos, two assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Amadi has been on fire since entering the starting lineup after the Marshon Lattimore trade and has forced his way into the DB2 conversation. Treat him as such despite a neutral at best matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. Add Ugo wherever possible, even if just to block your opponent.

Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Dugger was excellent in Week 15, racking up six solos, four assists, and one tackle for loss. Dugger has strung three strong weeks together and should be considered a DB2 option for Week 16 despite the tough on-paper matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Add Dugger where needed.

Dane Belton (S – NYG): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Belton shined against the Ravens, exploding for seven solos, eight assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Belton got the start with Tyler Nubin lost for the season and made his case to be in the DB2 conversation for Week 16 despite the one game sample. He has another plus matchup on tap for Week 16 (as well as Week 17) and should be rostered by any manager looking for some added firepower for the semifinal round. Add and start Belton as a top-25 option for a tasty Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

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