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Chris G's top IDP waiver wire adds and defensive streamers for Week 16 of the 2021 fantasy football season. These LB, DL, and DB have matchups worth exploiting.
This past NFL weekend was one of the most frustrating in recent memory, especially considering it was a playoff matchup for most fantasy managers. The superstars who put up putrid numbers for playoff managers include the legendary Tom Brady, Michael Pittman Jr., Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Najee Harris, Micah Parsons, Derwin James Jr., and many others. In short, this weekend was the fantasy equivalent of coming downstairs on Christmas morning to find a homeless man dressed as Santa has knocked your tree into the burning fireplace and vomited on a stack of presents you will later realize are school supplies.
The result of this horrendous weekend will be many very good teams being knocked out of the playoffs, while some lower seeds feel the magic. If that is the case in your league and you are one of those who beat the top seed with streamers like Jeff Wilson Jr. and D.J. Wonnum, we congratulate you. Now is your time to shine! Take this opportunity to remind your league-mates how awful they are, and I mean really berate them. Maybe consider driving by their house with a megaphone and announcing their failures to their neighbors at midnight, because it’s Christmas time and Christmas is when you tell people how you really feel... and yes, that’s a Love Actually quote. Sue me.
Anyways, that’s about all there really is to say about this truly horrendous week of fantasy. We saw so many truly outlandish outputs that it’s nearly impossible to take anything real from it. Instead, enjoy it if you are lucky. If you’re unlucky, make sure to give everyone you see the middle finger and consider drinking tubs of rum-nog until you feel better…. And with that, let’s get on with our Weekly IDP Waiver Priorities. Remember that defenders only qualify if their roster percentage falls below 20% in IDP leagues. Also, remember that our FAAB percentages are based on the amount you have to begin the season. So if you began the season with $100 in FAAB, our recommendation of 3% equates to $3 in FAAB.
Editor's Note: Stay competitive in IDP fantasy football leagues with RotoBaller’s IDP rankings, sleepers, and waiver wire pickups for individual defensive players.
Bargain of the Week: Arden Key, DL, San Francisco 49ers
Rostered in 0.1% of IDP leagues
Available in virtually every IDP league, Key has at least one half-sack in six of his past seven games. In limited snaps the LSU product continued his pass rush production this week, totaling one sack and losing another to a penalty issued for landing on Matt Ryan instead of teleporting off of him like any sane defender would do. Key also has plus matchups in each of his next two games, with the Titans and Texans on tap. While he doesn't get a ton of snaps, the former Raider carries sneaky playoff value in leagues that prioritize sacks.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 4%
Kyle Dugger, DB, New England Patriots
Rostered in 13.9% of IDP leagues
Why are we putting Dugger back on this list when everyone has heard us talk about him constantly? The primary reason is we expect many fantasy managers to prematurely drop Dugger out of fear he could be suspended or benched for his fight with Michael Pittman Jr. this past weekend. We are less concerned about Dugger missing time than most are, however.
As of now, there's no word on Pittman Jr. or Dugger being suspended by the league, and there’s little reason to anticipate Bill Belichick will punish his player. In fact, Belichick spoke as if he disagreed with Dugger being ejected, and he seemingly downplayed the incident. With that in mind, there's a solid chance Dugger plays his regular snaps this week, and he could come as a bargain if other managers bail on him…. Plus, Dugger is already available in 86% of IDP leagues, which is far too many.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 3%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 5%
Germaine Pratt, LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Rostered in 8.5% of IDP leagues
This is the third week Pratt has made our waiver column, and with good reason. As long as Logan Wilson is out, Pratt is a viable LB2. He put up nine solo tackles this past week, and Baltimore provides another plus matchup in Week 16.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 2%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 4%
Bradley Chubb, DL/LB, Denver Broncos
Rostered in 5.5% of IDP leagues
Chubb has struggled with injuries over the past few years, but he is still young and has a pedigree that blossomed during a nice rookie season in 2018. The former Wolfpack member is still a talented player, he’s back to getting solid playing time, and his next matchup with the Raiders is slightly above average for fantasy purposes. If you’re desperate and the waiver wire is thin, Chubb is one of the more physically gifted players who hasn’t yet broken out or been readily rostered in 2021.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
Ernest Jones, LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rostered in 5.2% of IDP leagues
The Rams’ rookie remains on our list because the Rams continue to give him regular shots in a fantasy-relevant position. While we still haven't seen him play in Week 15 at the time of this posting, that just means you may be able to grab him right this second if you have a spot on your bench.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 3%
Jevon Holland, DB, Miami Dolphins
Rostered in 3.3% of IDP leagues
Holland ended up missing this past week against the Jets, leading to his roster percentage dropping again. That said, there is a good chance Holland recovers from COVID in time to play New Orleans. If that happens, we like Holland more than his teammate Brandon Jones, who is rostered in nearly four times as many leagues as the rookie.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 3%
Jordan Whitehead, DB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rostered in 2.0% of IDP leagues
Whitehead was our Streamer of the Week last week, and he produced a solid eight tackles plus one TFL. It was his fourth game with eight or more tackles in his past five contests, and he has positive matchups in each of his final three games. Whitehead is a solid DB3 option for your playoff run.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 1%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 3%
Chris Wormley, DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rostered in 1.1% of IDP leagues
Wormley has been deceptively good over his past four contests, registering DL2-caliber numbers in three of those games. His playing time isn’t as consistent as you’d like, but he has seen more than 70% of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps in nine games so far. Wormley has a plus matchup in your Championship week (Week 17) against a Browns offense that has been hurting, too.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
Tyson Campbell, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rostered in 0.8% of IDP leagues
Campbell is a worthwhile addition in dynasties or leagues that play two or more CBs. He also has a solid matchup in Week 16 against the Jets and their rookie passer, though he will be tough to play against the run-heavy offenses he faces after that. Consider Campbell as a good dynasty stash or a one-week CB streamer.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 2%
Marcell Harris, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Rostered in 0.2% of IDP leagues
Harris isn’t an exciting addition, even in the deepest of leagues. Even when playing 100% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps and 21% of their special teams last week, he managed just three total tackles. That's not great. Still, the Titans are up next, and Harris could continue to see serious playing time if Azeez Al-Shaair and Dre Greenlaw are out.
Tennessee is the third most run-heavy offense in the NFL, and they've remained committed to a conservative approach even with Derrick Henry out. It's a plus matchup for Harris, who could be an "upside" option for those looking for an LB4 or LB5 streamer this week.
FAAB in Standard IDP Leagues: 0%
FAAB in Deep IDP Leagues: 0%
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