December 13, 2016

Bryan Levin takes a look at some of the top defensive players (IDP) to add for Week 15 of the 2016 fantasy football season.

Happy Playoffs, RotoBallers.

If you are reading this, you have made the tournament and are looking for some help in a pivotal IDP matchup. Welcome to our weekly column to help you win on the defensive side of the ball. Today we are here to review some IDP waiver wire pickups for Week 15.

The following players are not necessarily “must-start” players for IDP leagues, but rather players that currently have below 25% ownership levels (in Yahoo! Leagues) and are suggested deep-league IDP additions for this week.

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 15 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Linebackers - Week 15 IDP Waiver Adds

Stephone Anthony, Saints

Matchup: @ Cardinals

Ownership: 1%

Anthony is one of the most curious cases this season both from an NFL standpoint and for IDP leagues. After turning in a strong statistical season as a rookie in 2015, the defense-needy Saints moved Anthony to OLB in the summer, where his role was expected to decrease. Inexplicably, when the season got underway, Anthony was buried on the depth chart, mostly seeing the field as a special teams player only. Finally, and seemingly out of nowhere, with the Saints all but eliminated in Week 14, Anthony was on the field for 100% of defensive snaps, and turned in what head coach Sean Payton called a “winning performance”, making nine total tackles (seven solo) including a tackle for loss. The matchup this week isn’t ideal, but Anthony is a talented young player who has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.

Ramik Wilson, Chiefs

Matchup: vs. Titans

Ownership: 1%

Wilson’s ownership levels should be skyrocketing right now, but for whatever reason he is still barely owned. After a ruptured Achilles tendon ended long-time Chiefs MLB Derrick Johnson’s season this past Thursday night, Wilson stepped in to log roughly 77% of the defensive snaps, and for the second straight week, combined for eight tackles. He’s far from a household name, but a pickup like this could prove to be a major difference-maker for the final two weeks of the fantasy season.

Denzel Perryman, Chargers

Matchup: vs. Raiders

Ownership: 4%

This will be the last time that I issue this plea to IDP owners: Get Perryman on your rosters! As noted in last week’s column, Perryman has a world of talent, but was a major disappointment for the first half of the season, where he was battling multiple nagging injuries. After missing three weeks to get healthy, Perryman has returned in style, looking like the second-half player he was as a rookie to finish 2015. Perryman’s tackle totals over the previous three weeks: 10,9, and 8 including multiple tackles for loss. He has really looked impressive in this stretch, and with the Chargers eliminated from any playoff race; they are not going to take their future star LB off the field.

David Harris, Jets

Matchup: vs. Dolphins (Saturday)

Ownership: 15%

I recommended the veteran inside linebacker last week against the 49ers, where he turned in seven solo stops. Harris is the definition of solid, and safe, with a low floor due to his tackling prowess (27 total in three weeks) and durability. These factors alone should make him a more valuable commodity. He faces a Dolphins offense that has relied heavily on the running game and will turn to it even more this week without QB Ryan Tannehill. Harris and the Jets should be motivated to play spoiler against their division rival in a home tilt.

Jamie Collins, Browns

Matchup: @ Bills

Ownership: 32%

Collins is currently over 25% owned, but at only 32% ownership, he is being underutilized on IDP rosters and could play a major role down the stretch run. Collins led the NFL in solo tackles last week (13), seeing plenty of chances for stops against the Bengals who ran the ball almost 40 times. Collins' Week 15 opponent, the Bills, are 6^th in the NFL in rushing attempts and will most likely lean heavily on the ground game this week, especially if the weather comes into play again.

Defensive Linemen - Week 15 IDP Waiver Adds

Cameron Wake, Dolphins

Matchup: @ Jets (Saturday)

Ownership: 8%

An injury-plagued 2015 campaign knocked the 34-year-old off many IDP draft boards this year. A slow first month of the season (1.5 sacks in four games) led many to believe Wake was finished. Turns out, the veteran simply needed to knock off the rust after missing more than half of last season, and has recorded at least 1.0 sack in six of his previous seven games. Despite showing toughness and resiliency, Jets QB Bryce Petty was brought down six times last week in only his second career start, primarily due to holding onto the ball too long. If Petty does the same this week against Miami, Wake will feast on the Jets banged up O-Line and inexperience at QB.

Marcell Dareus, Bills

Matchup: vs. Browns

Ownership: 12%

Dareus has had a strange 2016 season, missing a ton of time but showing how disruptive and effective he can be when on the field. Dareus has 23 combined stops, 3.5 sacks and multiple tackles for a loss in only five games from the NT position for Buffalo, and faces a Browns offensive line that has allowed a league-high 3.7 sacks per game, and has allowed an average of 6.0 sacks per game in their last three. Let me repeat: an average of 6.0 sacks allowed per game in their last three. Dareus has a chance to completely blow this game up all day if healthy and motivated.

Defensive Backs - Week 15 IDP Waiver Adds

Lardarius Webb, Ravens

Matchup: vs. Eagles

Ownership: 2%

Several years ago, Webb was a great option at DB in IDP leagues. While injuries and an overall dip in production have taken their toll on the veterans value, his versatility and solid play have given him a renaissance of sorts this season, and his recent play has been excellent: 26 combined tackles, 2 pass deflections and 1 INT in his last four games. Production aside, Webb has barely left the field for the Ravens defense, playing between 95%-100% of snaps over that same span. Webb faces rookie QB Carson Wentz this weekend, whose propensity to throw high has led to 7 INT in his last four contests. The Ravens defense has been tough on opposing quarterbacks all season, and there is a strong possibility that Wentz will continue that trend.

Daryl Worley, Panthers

Matchup: @ Redskins (Monday)

Ownership: 8%

Worley has appeared in this column before, and for good reason. The rookie corner has really picked up his all-around play over the last five weeks, posting high tackle totals (44 in five games) and intercepting his first pass last week against the Chargers, who rank 16^th in the NFL in pass attempts. This week, Worley takes on Kirk Cousins and the Redskins offense, which ranks eighth in the NFL in passes attempted. The league leader in solo stops from the DB slot in the NFL over the previous four weeks; he should see plenty of opportunity to make plays on Monday night.

Byron Jones, Cowboys

Matchup: vs. Buccaneers

Ownership: 19%

The second-year DB has turned in a nice season for the Cowboys, and has emerged as a valuable IDP asset. With 63 total stops through 13 games, he is about to surpass his rookie total and has averaged eight combined tackles over his previous five contests. He is tackle dependent, with 0 career INT and only one forced fumble, his against a Tampa offense with no ground game and an emerging superstar at QB, expect them to throw plenty against the Cowboys secondary on Sunday night.