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Mitch Blatt's top IDP waiver wire adds and defensive streamers for Week 15 of the 2023 fantasy football season. These LB, DL, and DB have matchups worth exploiting.
Welcome to the Week 15 IDP waiver wire column for fantasy football IDP leagues.
Some of the biggest IDP producers of Week 14 included Saints safety Jordan Howden, who replaced the injured Marcus Maye and made 10 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble; Browns cornerback Martin Emerson, who made two interceptions for four on the season; and Seahawks safety Julian Love, who forced a fumble and made an interception.
These guys might be available as waiver wire adds in leagues of various sizes, but they aren't my top picks. Here are 11 DBs, LBs, and DLs I would prioritize instead.
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IDP Waiver Wire Adds for Shallow Leagues
Ji'Ayir Brown, S, SF
The Niners' Ji'Ayir Brown was one of the defensive rookies I was most excited about in my IDP sleepers article. As I said all the time, he's a full-field playmaker. He made 10 interceptions and 4.5 sacks in college. It took him some time to get going because he was buried on the depth chart. But since Talanoa Hufanga was placed on the IR in late November, Brown has taken over as a starter and started to produce big.
He made his first interception in Week 11 against the Buccaneers, followed by another interception last week against the Seahawks. In fact, it was not the only chance he had to make a pick. In a locker room interview, he said he tried for a pick, but "the feeling just wasn't right." He excels at reading the quarterback and high-pointing the ball.
He's playing nearly every single snap, and he made six tackles in each of the past two games.
Ivan Pace Jr., LB, MIN
Minnesota's Ivan Pace has been the biggest recipient of increased opportunity since Jordan Hicks went down. Pace is playing 100% of the snaps, and he has had his three biggest tackle games in the past three weeks. This week, in the Vikings' heart-thumping 3-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, Pace made 13 tackles and a sack. The 13 tackles were a season-high for the rookie, and he also made his first career interception.
Kyle Hamilton, S, BAL
Still available in 60% of Sleeper-hosted IDP leagues, the Ravens' Kyle Hamilton is a tackle-making DB with big play upside. He has logged seven or more tackles in five games, and he's also made three sacks, a forced fumble, and a pick-six.
Hamilton, unfortunately, was ruled out late in the Ravens' win. He's not expected to miss time, but fantasy managers should monitor the situation.
Demario Davis, LB, NO
The Saints' Demario Davis is continuing his prolific production as a blitzing inside linebacker. He made 1.5 sacks against the Panthers this week and now has 5.5 on the season, just one shy of his 2022 career-high of 6.5. With a game against the Giants next week, the team that is allowing the most sacks of all teams, he could set a new career high.
IDP Waiver Wire Adds for Deep Leagues
Jonathan Greenard, OLB, HOU
Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is stepping up with increased opportunity in the Texans' defense, as the team doesn't have many other edge rushers. Having added two sacks this week and one sack the week before, Greenard now has 10 sacks on the season, tied for No. 12 in the league.
Derrick Brown, DT, CAR
The Panthers' Derrick Brown is one of the few defensive tackles who can record 10 combined tackles in a game. Week 14 was the second time he had done it this season. He has already set a career-high with 74 tackles, and he's on his way to numbers that would be respectable for a low-end inside linebacker.
Joey Porter Jr., CB, PIT
The Steelers' early-second-round draft pick has gotten more playing time in the second half of the season. Since Week 9, he has played 68 or more snaps four times. His tackle numbers are also up. He has made four or six tackles in four of the past five games.
Byron Young, OLB, LAR
While the Rams' starting edge rusher has made six sacks, Byron Young is underutilized in IDP, being rostered in just 5% of leagues. Young isn't going to be worth starting in your ordinary league with four, six, or eight IDP starters, but he is a viable starter in those very large leagues.
IDP Waiver Wire Adds for Big Play Leagues
Trey Hendrickson, DE, CIN
Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson rarely makes more than one or two tackles in a game, but often, his couple of tackles are all for sacks.
Hendrickson has made a sack in each of the past five games and in all but two games this season. He's only rostered in 25% of Sleeper leagues.
D.J. Wonnum, DE, MIN
Vikings defensive end D.J. Wonnum isn't the All-Pro contender Danielle Hunter is, but he has stepped up this season since Minnesota lost Za'Darius Smith. He has been on a roll, making five sacks in the past seven games.
Jaylon Johnson, CB, CHI
Bears corner Jaylon Johnson is an interception-dependent player who has made four interceptions since Week 7. He only made one tackle this week and two last week, but he made interceptions in both weeks.
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