Week 17 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups (2024 Fantasy Football)

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

Blake Cashman (LB – MIN): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Cashman rewarded fantasy managers who stuck with him despite the tough on-paper matchup, going off for nine solos, three assists, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Cashman has caught fire and should be treated as a top-15 option for Week 17 despite the tough on-paper matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Add and start Cashman everywhere.

Christian Harris (LB – HOU): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Harris was excellent in Week 16, tallying five solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Harris is set to get another start this week with Azeez Al-Shaair serving the last game of his suspension and should be on rosters where needed, even if it is just as injury depth for someone like Eric Kendricks. Add and start Harris as an LB3 with LB2 upside for a plus Week 17 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

Jaylon Carlies (LB/S – IND): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Dual eligibility too? Jaylon saw an expanded role in Week 16 and responded with six solos, four assists, and one tackle for loss. Carlies saw extra snaps due to E.J. Speed being ruled out with a knee injury and could be in line for a start this week if Speed is unable to return for next Sunday’s matchup against the New York Giants. Jaylon is a smooth LB3 play for Week 17 if Speed is out. Deep leaguers should make the speculative add where possible.

Jordan Hicks (LB – CLE): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Hicks showed up again in Week 16, racking up seven solos and two assists. Hicks has officially caught fire for the Browns, and while he has not had any massive spike weeks, he still has recorded one in four of his last five games. Hicks is an LB3 with LB2 upside for a plus Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Add Hicks where possible, even if it is just to block your opponent.

Darius Muasau (LB – NYG): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Darius Muasau was solid in Week 16, tallying four solos, seven assists, and one tackle for loss. Bobby Okereke missed practice all of last week with a back injury and has little reason to return until he is fully healed in what was always expected to be a lost season for the New York Giants. This means Muasau should continue to start for New York, making him an LB3 option for Week 17, despite the tough on-paper matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Add Muasau where needed.

Defensive Line

Matthew Judon (DE/LB – ATL): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Matthew Judon showed up again in Week 16, racking up one solo, one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception, one pass defended, and one touchdown. Judon is heating up for the Falcons, recording at least one sack in three of his last five games. He is up to 4.5 sacks on the season and, due to his recent production and a tasty matchup, is back on fantasy radars for finals week. Fire Judon up as a DL3 option for a plus Week 17 matchup against Washington. Add and start Judon where needed.

Joseph Ossai (DE – CIN): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Ossai was at it again in Week 16, tallying four solos, one assist, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Ossai has stealthily caught fire for the Bengals, registering four sacks in his last five games, with at least one sack in four of those five. Tap Ossai as a DL3 option for a plus Week 17 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Add Ossai where needed.

Kyle Van Noy (DE/LB – BAL): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Van Noy has caught fire for the Ravens, most recently notching two solos, three assists, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery. Van Noy has recorded a sack in three of his last four games and can be counted as a DL2 option for a plus Week 17 matchup against the Houston Texans. Add Van Noy where available.

Nolan Smith (DE/LB – PHI): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Nolan Smith was at it again in Week 16, racking up three solos, one sack, and two fumble recoveries. Nolan has recorded a sack in three of his last four games and in four of his last six. He is up to 6.5 sacks on the season and is quickly becoming a force off the edge, not only on the field but in fantasy. Tap Nolan as a top-25 option for a plus Week 17 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Arnold Ebiketie (DE/LB – ATL): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Ebiketie was excellent in Week 16, tallying two solos, three assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Ebiketie has registered four sacks in his last four games, with at least one sack in three of those four. He had just one sack before he caught fire in this recent four game stretch, but none of that matters with one week left in the fantasy season. Ebiketie is playing at a high level and is an easy DL3 tap for Week 17, thanks to a plus matchup against Washington on Sunday Night Football. Add and start Ebiketie where needed.

Defensive Back

Isaiah Pola-Mao (S – LV): 1% rostered on Yahoo
IPM was excellent in Week 16, going off for seven solos, four assists, and two forced fumbles against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pola-Mao is starting to heat up for the Raiders, hitting two games of more than four solos for the first time all season. IPM has been inconsistent all season but is worth a look due to his recent hot streak. Fire him up as a DB3/4 where needed despite the tough on-paper Week 17 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Add IPM where needed.

Jonathan Owens (S – CHI): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Owens was at it again in Week 16, tallying seven solos, one assist, and one tackle for loss against the Detroit Lions. Owens has been rock solid since stepping into the starting lineup and can be counted as a DB3 option for Week 17, thanks to a plus matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Add and start Owens where needed.

Jalen Thompson (S – ARI): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Jalen was excellent in Week 16, notching seven solos and three assists against the Carolina Panthers. Thompson has been quieter than expected this season but has shown glimpses of his DB2 form. He is worth a look as a DB3/4 option for Week 17 thanks to a plus matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, and makes for a fine insurance plan for any DBs you may have who are listed as questionable going into Christmas Day games or Thursday Night Football. Add Jalen where needed.

Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Dugger showed up in Week 16, racking up six solos, two assists, and one tackle for loss. Dugger has strung four strong weeks together and comes into Week 17 as a top-15 option. He has a tough on-paper matchup for Week 17, so he should be viewed as more of an elite DB2 than a DB1. Add Dugger wherever needed.

Demani Richardson (S – CAR): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Demani got the start in Week 16 as the Carolina Panthers have shifted to evaluation mode at the position. Jordan Fuller is not a long-term answer and is not much of a short-term solution either, so the Panthers want to see if Demani can continue the strong play he showed when the Panthers’ secondary was decimated by injuries several weeks ago. Demain responded to his coach’s trust in him by tallying three solos, three assists, one interception, and one pass defended. Demani has proven DB3 talent and should be treated as such for Week 17, provided he gets the start. Add Demani where needed.

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