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Mitch Blatt's top IDP waiver wire adds and defensive streamers for Week 16 of the 2022 fantasy football season. These LB, DL, and DB have matchups worth exploiting.
As we enter the cold of winter, gameday temperatures drop below freezing, and the waiver wire looks bare. It becomes tougher but all the more critical to find top-notch pick-ups these weeks as the fantasy semi-finals and finals beckon.
So who do I have for you? The 49ers’ and Colts’ linebackers are under-rostered in Sleeper leagues relative to their production, and both teams have favorable matchups coming up. DaRon Bland and a bunch of cornerbacks are on hot streaks and would be worth an add in deeper leagues.
Read on for Week 16’s IDP waiver wire recommendations, and get your team set to win a virtual trophy. I have divided them into players who would be available in smaller leagues and those available in leagues with larger IDP lineups.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
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- 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
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- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
6-Starter IDP Leagues
Dre Greenlaw, LB, San Francisco 49ers - Rostered in ~50% of Sleeper Leagues
Greenlaw has made an impact play and six or more combined tackles in each of the five straight weeks. This past week, he forced a fumble, and he made an interception the week before. Next week, the 49ers face the Commanders, who run the fourth-most plays per game, so Greenlaw will have many opportunities to make plays.
Bobby Okereke, LB, Indianapolis Colts - Rostered in ~50% of Sleeper Leagues
After leading all defenders in the Colts @ Vikings game with 12 combined tackles, Okereke made 42 tackles in the past five games. Although he rarely generates turnovers or makes impact plays, he is among the highest scorers in tackle-heavy leagues. In Week 16, the Colts face the Chargers, who run the most plays of any team.
Christian Wilkins, DL, Miami Dolphins - Rostered in ~50% of Sleeper Leagues
Wilkins has the most tackles of all defensive linemen, and he’s still available in half of all Sleeper leagues. He’s averaging 4.2 solos and 1.4 assists per game and has only missed 4.9% of the tackles he has attempted. Lately, he has been making impact plays, too: two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one sack in the past three games.
Jalen Pitre, DB, Houston Texans - Rostered in ~50% of Sleeper Leagues
Pitre is leading all defensive backs in both solo tackles and assists. He’s also leading in missed tackles, according to PFF, but that doesn’t matter for fantasy purposes. He has made 12 or more tackles in each of the past three games.
11-Starter IDP Leagues
DaRon Bland, CB, Dallas Cowboys - Rostered in ~1% of MFL Leagues
Bland has been one of the greatest waiver wire adds of the past couple of weeks. He has been the CB3 in the IDP Invitational since Week 10. But he’s still available in almost all leagues hosted by My Fantasy League. He made another interception against the Jaguars, along with two pass defenses. He has made a pick and a PD in two of the past three games.
Stephon Gilmore, CB, Indianapolis Colts - Rostered in ~10% of MFL Leagues
The former Patriot deflected three passes to help the Colts get out to a big lead on the Vikings in Week 15, and he deflected two passes the week the Colts got destroyed by the Cowboys. He has 11 pass defenses in the season, 47 solo tackles, and two interceptions.
Deommodore Lenoir, CB, San Francisco 49ers - Rostered in ~1% of MFL Leagues
Lenoir, who is in his second year, has outperformed expectations, becoming a consistent starter. He led the 49ers in combined tackles for the first time against the Seahawks and has averaged 4.2 solo tackles for the past five weeks. Next week brings a matchup against the high-volume Commanders.
Anthony Barr, LB, Dallas Cowboys - Rostered in ~1% of MFL Leagues
Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch has a pinched nerve and could miss a week or longer, opening up even more opportunities for Barr. As Vander Esch left the game, he played over 90% of the Boys’ defensive snaps for the first time last week. In those snaps, he made six solo tackles and one assist. Consider Barr for tackle-heavy leagues while Vander Esch is out.
Zach Sieler, DT, Miami Dolphins - Rostered in ~40% of MFL Leagues
Sieler has played at least 80% of the Fins’ defensive snaps for the past three weeks. In that time, he has made 1.5 sacks, two tackles for losses, and 18 combined tackles. He has the sixth-most tackles for stops of all interior defenders.
Elandon Roberts, LB, Miami Dolphins - Rostered in ~35% of MFL Leagues
Roberts has been a solid low-end tackle-maker. He has made 22 solo tackles and three tackles for losses in the past four weeks.
Danny Johnson, CB, Washington Commanders - Rostered in ~1% of MFL Leagues
Johnson has been the latest cornerback to blow up. He has replaced the injured Benjamin St-Juste in the past two games and made a significant impact. The Southern Jaguars product made two pass defenses and one interception and was praised by coach Ron Rivera for his aggressive play. The Commanders were hoping to get St-Juste back last week, so Johnson could return to the bench, but he’s a good streamer as long as he starts.
Other Adds
DeAndre Houston-Carson, S, Chicago Bears
Carlton Davis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Christian Harris, LB, Houston Texans
Rayshawn Jenkins, S, Jacksonville Jaguars
John Johnson, S, Cleveland Browns
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