“Four IDP waivers and two team defenses that can swing your Week 9 matchup.”
The IDP Week 9 waivers has four defenders worth an add: Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson, Buccaneers defensive back Jacob Parrish, and Broncos defensive lineman Malcolm Roach. On the team defense side, stream the Chicago Bears at home against Tampa Bay. If they’re gone, the Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta are a solid backup for Week 9.
Every pick comes from the Ultimate Fantasy Football Tool, which grades players on stats through Week 8 and then adjusts for this week’s opponent. IDP scoring changes a lot from league to league, so each projection below is a range. The low end fits tackle-heavy leagues. The high end fits big-play leagues that pay more for sacks and tackles for loss. Team defense projections use standard D/ST scoring: 1 point per sack, 2 per turnover, plus points-allowed tiers. Also, the Steelers and Titans are on bye this week.
Best IDP Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
Wilson is the safest add of the three from your Week 9 waiver wire. Parrish brings the most ball-hawking upside. Roach is the pick if your league requires a defensive lineman.
Eric Wilson – Minnesota Vikings – LB
Wilson highlights the strongest add off waivers for Week 9 as an every-down linebacker who played 94% of Minnesota’s defensive snaps. That volume gives him the safest floor of any defender on the IDP Week 9 waiver wire. In Week 8, he posted 7 solo tackles, a sack, and 2 tackles for loss. He also has 3 sacks on the season, so he adds some big-play juice on top of the tackles. The matchup is the one knock. Wilson hosts Buffalo on Monday night, and the model gives him a matchup grade of 65 out of 100, the lowest of the three.
However, the Bills average 33.3 points a game. That usually means long drives and plenty of snaps for the Vikings defense, which keeps the tackle chances coming. As a result, the model projects him for 7.3 to 8.9 points, the highest ceiling in this group.
Bottom line: Wilson is the add for managers who want a steady, every-week linebacker even beyond this week’s waiver wire.
Jacob Parrish – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DB
Parrish has 13 passes defended and 2 interceptions in 7 games. That is rare ball production for a defensive back still sitting on waivers. He also played 89% of Tampa Bay’s defensive snaps, so he rarely leaves the field. His Week 9 trip to Chicago earns a matchup grade of 85, one of the best for any DB this week. The model projects 7.9 to 8.7 points. That narrow range shows how steady he is across scoring formats.
Still, the projection can’t fully price in his biggest weapon. One interception or a pick-six can push him well past that range.
Bottom line: Parrish is a strong play in any format, and he’s the top target in leagues that pay 1 point per pass defended, which is why I like him so much in Week 9 off waivers.
Malcolm Roach – Denver Broncos – DL
Roach is a rotational lineman who played 55% of Denver’s defensive snaps. Because of that, his floor is lower than Wilson’s or Parrish’s, and the model projects him for 4.8 to 5.9 points. That said, his pass rush is heating up. Roach has 9 QB hits over the last three weeks, plus 3.5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss on the year. His trip to Carolina also earns a matchup grade of 86, the best of the three waiver adds for week 9.
Bottom line: Roach is the pick for leagues that require a defensive lineman.
Kyler Gordon – Chicago Bears – DB
Gordon is the high-risk pivot. He has the model’s top matchup grade (86) of any available DB. However, he has played only three games since returning. So treat him as an upside swap for Parrish in big-play leagues, not a safe weekly starter. However, he was absolutely flying last night and showed big-play flashes numerous times.
Bottom line: add in a favorable matchup for week 9 and this waiver add could save your matchup.
Week 9 Team Defenses to Stream
Neither the Bears nor the Bengals are in FantasyData’s top 100 most-rostered players this week. In other
words, both defenses should be sitting on most waiver wires.
Chicago Bears – D/ST
The Bears host Tampa Bay as 6-point favorites, and the Buccaneers’ implied total is just 20 points. That combination gives Chicago a safe points-allowed floor. The model projects 7.3 points, the best of the two streams. The turnover upside is real, too. Chicago’s defense has 22 sacks, 5 interceptions, and 6 fumble recoveries through 8 games. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has given up 23 sacks, thrown 7 interceptions, and lost 5 fumbles. The Bucs also scored just 16 points in Week 8.
Bottom line: The Bears are the top D/ST stream of Week 9.
Cincinnati Bengals – D/ST
The Bengals are the higher-risk option. They travel to Atlanta as 3-point favorites, and the Falcons’ implied total is 25 points. The game’s 52.5-point total is also the highest on the Week 9 board. As a result, Cincinnati will likely give up some points. So this is a bet on sacks and turnovers, not a shutout. The Bengals’ pass rush has 23 sacks in 7 games. Atlanta has thrown 11 interceptions, and Tampa Bay shut the Falcons out 16-0 last week. The model projects 7.0 points.
Bottom line: Grab the Bengals if the Bears are gone or you need a second stream.
Before You Lock In Your IDP Week 9 Waiver Wire Adds
Week 9 injury reports start Wednesday, so these projections don’t include practice news yet. Check each player’s status Thursday or Friday before you set your lineup. Also, Wilson plays Monday night. If you’re choosing between him and a Sunday option, watch his status closely. Add the above IDP and D/ST Week 9 waivers for your IDP+ advantage, and THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE!
