X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 1 - Fantasy Football Streamers and Free Agent Adds

Ravens Defense - Fantasy Football DST Rankings, Draft Sleepers, IDP Targets

Mitch Blatt's top IDP waiver wire adds and defensive streamers for Week 1 of the 2023 fantasy football season. These LB, DL, and DB have matchups worth exploiting.

Week 1 of the NFL season is here! Whether you had an unexpected injury on your defense after drafting early or focused on other positions at the expense of IDPs, you might need to make some lineup adjustments before the first kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium.

You are in luck. I have compiled a list of 11 players who are available in leagues of different sizes and who will be ready to produce starting this weekend. Some of them are streaming options with good matchups this week that also have season-long upside. Others are purely season-long plays.

Take a look at these eleven DLs, LBs, and DBs who could help fill your weak spots at IDP.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

IDP Waiver Wire Adds in Shallow Leagues

Emmanuel Forbes, CB, WAS

Emmanuel Forbes has been a highlight of the Washington Commanders' training camp. He's kept tight coverage on star receivers like Terry McLaurin. He also made an impressive tackle in the preseason games that bodes well for his IDP scoring prospects.

He only played in two games and was only targeted once on 31 snaps, so we didn't get to see much of his legendary ball skills. But this is the guy who led the SEC twice in interceptions and ranked in the top ten for pass defenses twice. He also set the record for most all-time interception return touchdowns and ranked second all-time in interception return yards. Interceptions translate smoothly from college to the NFL, so it is reasonable to expect more big plays from Forbes as a rookie.

Daron Payne, DT, WAS

Daron Payne is available in about half of the shallow (four to six starters) IDP leagues I am participating in, even though he finished as a middle-range DL1 last season and a low-end DL2 in 2019. He set a career-high with 11.5 sacks last season, 6.5 more than his previous high. He also made over 50 tackles in each of his five seasons and over 60 tackles in each of the past two.

The Commanders have the best defensive line matchup of the weekend as they take on the Arizona Cardinals, PFF's No. 31-ranked offensive line. Their center, Hjalte Froholdt, has only played about 350 snaps at center after playing tackle and guard. They moved rookie Paris Johnson Jr. from tackle to left guard. Cardinals projected starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs has attempted 68 passes in the past two years, and he was sacked six times.

Payne has a great matchup in Week 1, and he could continue to be a starting-caliber IDP beyond Week 1 if he keeps up his high-sack pace from last year.

Carl Granderson, DT, NO

Carl Granderson played 45% of the Saints' defensive snaps in 2021 and 2022, and he should be in for a heavy increase in playing time this season after the departure of Marcus Davenport. Granderson's pressure rate in two of the past three seasons surpassed 10%, higher than Maxx Crosby's pressure rate in his second year. If he can achieve a 10% pressure rate this season, he could end up with about 10 sacks.

His Week 1 matchup against the Titans is a good opportunity for him to start off his breakout season. The Titans have the worst offensive line, ranked No. 32 by PFF, Pro Football Network, and Sharp.

Za'Darius Smith, DE, CLE

Za'Darius Smith is being undervalued after joining the Browns this year. However, lining up on the opposite side of Myles Garrett is a great opportunity for the three-time Pro Bowler and ninth-place finisher in the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year voting. Garrett attracts a lot of attention from opposing offenses and forces quarterbacks to flee, which might cause them to end up in Smith's trajectory.

Sure, Smith is going to be 31 years old, and he joins a new team for the second straight year. However, he made double-digit sacks in each of his past three healthy seasons. He's showing no signs of aging, as he had a 15.8% pressure rate at age 30. At this point in a defensive lineman's career, they might lack the athleticism of their young days, but they make up for it in their understanding of the game and how to beat offensive linemen.

Devin Lloyd, LB, JAX

Rookies usually struggle to play off-ball linebacker, and it was no different for Devin Lloyd, the Jaguars' No. 27 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Lloyd missed 14.7% of his tackle attempts and allowed an 82.6% completion percentage in coverage. He played so poorly that he lost his starting job (briefly) in Week 12, but got it back in Week 14 after an injury to fellow rookie Chad Muma.

However, he still put up okay numbers for IDP purposes: 115 tackles, three interceptions, eight pass defenses, and two fumble recoveries (and zero sacks). He was regarded as one of the most well-rounded inside linebackers in the 2022 class. He was graded as the No. 2 best linebacker in the nation in PFF's database. While he has to compete with Foye Oluokun for tackles and playing time, he should at least put up better numbers than last season. He'll have the opportunity to step up his game and possibly play 90% of the defensive snaps rather than the 80% he played last season.

Kyzir White, LB, ARI

Kyzir White emerged as the every-down linebacker in Arizona after the Cardinals traded Isaiah Simmons. White made 110 combined tackles with the Eagles last season despite not having regular playing time. This season, he should play about 90% of the Cardinals' snaps. He's not an impact player, as he'll only make at most two interceptions and two sacks, but he could be a high-volume tackler.

 

IDP Waiver Wire Adds in Deep Leagues

Denico Autry, DT, TEN

Like Za'Darius Smith (and Justin Houston and Jerry Hughes), Denico Autry has perfected his craft and achieved some of the highest pressure rates late in his career. In his two seasons as a Titan, he pressured the quarterback on over 10% of his pass rush snaps. Last season, he set a career-high 13.9% pressure rate. He remains the starter on a team without much depth.

Michael Hoecht, DE, LAR

Michael Hoecht got significant playing time at right end beginning in Week 12 of last season, and he produced. He had five sacks in the final six weeks of the season and he pressured the passer on 11.7% of his pass rushes. He will be a starting outside linebacker this season on a team that is filling a lot of holes with rookies and already is suffering multiple injuries.

 

Christian Rozeboom, LB, LAR

Another Rams player who will start due to their depleted lineup is 26-year-old inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom. It will be his first year on an active roster all season long, let alone as a starter. He played special teams for the Chiefs in Week 7 of the 2021 season. Rozeboom set a South Dakota State record with 475 tackles over his five-year collegiate career. In deep leagues, he's worth keeping an eye on because of his volume.

Josh Woods, LB, ARI

Talk in the IDP community is that Josh Woods could start next to Kyzir White on the Cardinals. Woods started in the second preseason game. Woods entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and made five tackles in special teams work with the Bears in 2019. He's an intelligent player who maintained a 4.267 GPA in high school. However, you would be hard-pressed to find a spot for him except in the deepest of deep leagues. We're talking 32-team leagues with two or three linebacker spots.

Marlon Humphrey, CB, BAL

Marlon Humphrey could miss the first game of the season. His status is listed as "questionable," but the reports make it sound more severe than your average "questionable" when you read between the lines. If he does suit up in Week 1, he is a good streamer.

The Ravens face the Texans in what will be C.J. Stroud's first regular season game. Stroud had a poor preseason, going 11-of-20 for 89 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Humphrey and the Ravens' secondary will be a tough challenge for him, and they are all good options to take a swing on a pick or two. Cornerbacks Humphrey and Rock Ya-Sin, on the other side, are the most likely to be available in a deep league, while there is an outside chance safeties Kyle Hamilton or Marcus Williams might be available in extremely shallow leagues.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Connor McDavid

Scores First Finals Goal
John Hunter Nemechek

Is John Hunter Nemechek Worth Rostering In Mexico City DFS Lineups?
Sam Bennett

Nets Another Road Goal in Game 5 Win
Eetu Luostarinen

Earns Two Points Saturday
Brad Marchand

Pots Two Goals in Game 5 Victory
Sergei Bobrovsky

Ties NHL Record with 10th Road Win
Ross Chastain

Trackhouse Racing's Mexico Focus Makes Ross Chastain a Leading Contender for the Win
Kyle Busch

One of Two Past Mexico City Winners in Field
Ryan Preece

Earns Surprising Front Row Start, but Probably Won't Sustain It
Austin Cindric

Not as Strong a Road Racer as People Think
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Stronger on Infield Road Courses Than Purpose-Built Ones
Joey Logano

Seemingly Alternating Between Good and Mediocre Races
Brad Keselowski

One of the Few Drivers with Mexico City Experience, but It Probably Won't Help
Denny Hamlin

Ryan Truex Makes First Cup Series Start Since 2014 Subbing for Denny Hamlin
Erik Jones

Despite Increased Intermediate Speed, Mexico City Will Likely Be a Struggle for Erik Jones
Noah Gragson

Front Row Motorsports's Speed May Make Noah Gragson a Decent DFS Option
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Road Courses Are Ricky Stenhouse Jr's Worst Track Type
Riley Herbst

Surprisingly Outqualified 23XI Racing Teammates at Mexico City
Cody Ware

a Very Experienced Road Racer, but Still a Longshot
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen the Heavy Favorite to Win in Mexico City
Christopher Bell

the Chalk DFS Play in Mexico City
Tyler Reddick

Has a Lot of Work To Do To Be Competitive in Mexico
AJ Allmendinger

Struggling to Find Speed in Mexico City
Chris Buescher

Says Car is "Bad Fast" Heading into Mexico City Race
Michael McDowell

Confident Heading into Viva Mexico 250
Ryan Blaney

Finds Speed in Second Practice at Mexico City
Giancarlo Stanton

Likely Returning Early Next Week
Spencer Strider

Registers 13 Strikeouts
Hunter Brown

s Records 12 Strikeouts
Emeka Egbuka

"the Talk" of Bucs Minicamp
Royce Lewis

to be Placed on Injured List
Byron Buxton

Exits Early on Saturday
Evander Kane

Drops to Fourth Line Saturday
Kasperi Kapanen

Won't Play on Saturday
Calvin Pickard

Starts Game 5 for Oilers
Jaxson Dart

Working as No. 2 QB During Offseason Workouts
Xavier Gipson

Roster Spot Could be in Jeopardy
Josh Reynolds

the Front-Runner for WR2 Duties
Garrett Wilson

Stock Up This Offseason
Breece Hall

Motivated Going into 2025 Season
Brandon Aiyuk

Making Good Progress From Knee Injury
Keon Coleman

Inconsistent at Minicamp
Mitchell Trubisky

Not a Lock for Backup Job
Dalton Kincaid

Adds Strength and Bulk
James Cook

a Full Participant in Mandatory Minicamp
Tyrese Haliburton

Struggles in Friday's Loss to OKC
Jacob Misiorowski

Expected to Make Next Start
Chet Holmgren

Dominates the Glass in Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads the Way in Game 4
Jalen Williams

Has a Quality Showing on Friday Night
Charlie Morton

Continues Good Work With 10 Strikeouts
James Wood

Homers, Drives in Four
Agustín Ramírez

Agustin Ramirez Homers Twice to Snap Skid
Isaac Paredes

Astros Hopeful Isaac Paredes Can Avoid the Injured List
Royce Lewis

Dealing With Hamstring Strain
Kodai Senga

Diagnosed With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain
Gleyber Torres

Goes Deep Twice on Friday
Jonathan India

Leaves With Apparent Shoulder Injury
Evan Carter

Leaves Early With Wrist Soreness
Anthony Richardson

Should be Fine for Training Camp
Russell Westbrook

to Decline Player Option
Kevin Durant

Trade Could Happen in the "Next Few Days"
A.J. Puk

Pauses Throwing Program
Matt Chapman

Can Begin Rehabbing in a Week
Logan Gilbert

Next Start Could Come in the Big Leagues
Cam Akers

Joining Saints
Yordan Alvarez

Still Not Hitting
Michael Mayer

to Get More Involved
Aaron Rodgers

DK Metcalf Building Chemistry with Aaron Rodgers
Colston Loveland

Likely to be Primary Tight End
Jacob Wilson

Returns on Friday
Justin Martinez

Out 12-13 Months With UCL Sprain
Will Johnson

Returns to Practice
Harold Fannin Jr.

Could Have Big Role in Rookie Season
Quentin Johnston

Still Running With Starters
Rashawn Slater

Takes Part in Minicamp
Jack Bech

Mostly Working With Second-Team Offense
Joaquin Buckley

Set For Main Event
Kamaru Usman

An Underdog At UFC Atlanta
Miranda Maverick

Set For Co-Main Event
Rose Namajunas

Looks To Bounce Back
Andre Petroski

Looks To Extend His Win Streak To Four
Edmen Shahbazyan

A Favorite At UFC Atlanta
Raoni Barcelos

Set To Take On Former Champion
Cody Garbrandt

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Cody Brundage

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Alonzo Menifield

Opens Up UFC Atlanta Main Card
Oumar Sy

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Connor Hellebuyck

Wins Vezina And Hart Trophies
Aleksander Barkov

Records Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Sam Reinhart

Collects Three Points in Thursday's Loss
Matthew Tkachuk

Notches Three Points in Losing Effort
Calvin Pickard

Joins Exclusive List with Thursday's Win
Mattias Ekholm

Logs Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Leon Draisaitl

Delivers Victory in Overtime Thursday
Myles Turner

Playing Through Illness
Reed Sheppard

Will Play in the NBA Summer League
Kevin Durant

Deal Could Come Sooner Rather Than Later
Dorian Finney-Smith

Undergoes Ankle Surgery
Anze Kopitar

Wins Third Lady Byng Trophy
Sergei Bobrovsky

Heading Out for Win No. 15
John Klingberg

Won't Play in Game 4 Against Panthers
Viktor Arvidsson

Sits Out Game 4 Against Panthers
Stuart Skinner

Remains in Oilers Crease Thursday
Chris Kreider

Ducks Acquire Chris Kreider From Rangers
Jalen Williams

Leads Thunder in Scoring Wednesday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Settles for 24 Points in Game 3 Loss
Pascal Siakam

Does Everything for Pacers Wednesday Night
Tyrese Haliburton

Gets Close to Triple-Double in Game 3 Win
Bennedict Mathurin

Leads All Scorers with 27 Points Wednesday
Brandin Podziemski

Has Second Offseason Surgery
Jaylen Brown

Undergoes Successful Knee Procedure
Kevin Porter Jr.

Likely to Decline Player Option
Matt McCarty

Comes Off Season-Best Showing at RBC Canadian Open
Justin Thomas

Desperate to Continue Good 2025 Season
Kevin Durant

Knicks Not Looking to Trade for Kevin Durant
Jon Rahm

Seeks Revenge at U.S. Open
Tom Kim

Aiming for Improvement in U.S. Open
PGA

Sungjae Im Expects Solid Performance at Oakmont
Brian Harman

Aims to Rebound From the Memorial
Tony Finau

has Been Up and Down at U.S. Open
Patrick Cantlay

Hoping This is the Year at Oakmont
Akshay Bhatia

Improving in Time for U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Primed for Another Major Championship Run
Cameron Young

May Struggle at U.S. Open
Collin Morikawa

Eyeing Third Major Championship Title
Matt Fitzpatrick

Seeks to Avenge Oakmont Collapse
Jordan Spieth

Can Contend at Oakmont
Shane Lowry

a Strong Value Play at U.S. Open
Brooks Koepka

Seeks Another Major Win at Oakmont
Viktor Hovland

Still Can Improve at U.S. Open
Michael Kim

a Boom-or-Bust Value Play at U.S. Open
Russell Henley

Looking to Play the Weekend at Oakmont
Tyrrell Hatton

a Safe Option at U.S. Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Eyeing Third U.S. Open Title
Darius Garland

Kings Targeting Darius Garland
Kevin Durant

Expected to Be Moved Soon
Sean O'Malley

Submitted For The First Time In His Career
Merab Dvalishvili

Defends Bantamweight Belt At UFC 316
Julianna Peña

Julianna Pena No Longer A Champion
Kayla Harrison

Is The New Champion
Joe Pyfer

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Kelvin Gastelum

Drops Decision
Patchy Mix

Drops Decision In His UFC Debut
Mario Bautista

Extends His Win Streak
Vicente Luque

Submitted At UFC 316
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF