“IDP Week 5 waiver wire guide with top linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs to add for consistent fantasy football production.”
The first month of the season has produced a clear picture of which defenders are making the most of their opportunities. With four weeks of results in the books, managers can now identify consistent contributors as well as breakout players who belong on rosters. The IDP Week 5 waiver wire offers talent at all three levels of defense.
Several linebackers are showing every-week utility, while the defensive line group features both steady producers and volatile upside plays. In the secondary, multiple defensive backs have already posted DB1-level numbers. The following guide highlights the top options to add ahead of Week 5.
Linebackers
Dee Winters leads the linebacker list. Against Jacksonville, Winters recorded ten tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass defended. He has thirty-two tackles across the last four games, averaging between seven and eight per contest. Now the number two linebacker beside Fred Warner, Winters has proven matchup matchup-proof and reliable for fantasy lineups.
Devin White has thrived in Las Vegas. He posted nine tackles, eight solo, with a tackle for loss and a pass defended against Chicago. Over his last four games, he has thirty-six tackles. With Indianapolis up next, the projected game script should boost his numbers further, making him the linebacker to own in Vegas.
Devin Bush has been highly efficient despite not playing every snap. In Week 4 against Detroit, Bush produced nine tackles, six solo, while playing around seventy to eighty percent of snaps. Over four games, he has thirty-one tackles and one sack. Cleveland’s tendency to lean on the run gives Bush another favorable opportunity.
Devin Lloyd delivered his best performance of the season against San Francisco. He totaled eight tackles, six solo, a tackle for loss, and two interceptions. His snap share rose to ninety-four percent, his highest of the year. A Week 5 meeting with Kansas City brings more chances for splash plays, even if he is not a pure volume tackler.
Depth Linebackers
Cedric Gray erupted for seventeen tackles against Houston, the most in the NFL for Week 4. During Weeks 1 through 3, he averaged seventy-seven percent of defensive snaps and produced nineteen tackles, over six per game. While Krys White’s health adds uncertainty, Gray faces Arizona next and should be added from the IDP Week 5 waiver wire.
Eric Wilson continues to step up for Minnesota. He recorded nine tackles, five solo, against the Steelers and now has sixteen tackles in his last two games. With Blake Cashman still on injured reserve, Wilson’s Week 5 matchup with Cleveland remains appealing.
Ivan Pace has outproduced Wilson in recent weeks. He logged seven tackles against Pittsburgh and nineteen over his last two games, averaging nearly nine and a half per contest. Both Vikings linebackers carry Week 5 value against Cleveland, though their long-term usage could decline after the Week 6 bye once Cashman returns.
Honorable mentions include Kaden Davis, who produced ten tackles on a season-high seventy-nine percent of snaps, and Drake Thomas, who collected five tackles and a sack versus the Cardinals. Troy Dye racked up thirteen tackles against the Giants, while SirVocea Dennis posted eight against Philadelphia. Each carries deep league value. An IR stash option also exists in Jaylon Carlies, who could soon be activated and holds linebacker and defensive back eligibility in some formats.
Defensive Linemen
Tuli Tuipulotu posted one of the most dominant box scores of the season in Week 4. Against the Giants, he piled up ten tackles, four sacks, five tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. This surpassed his combined output from the first three weeks, where he totaled eight tackles and no sacks. Tuipulotu remains volatile but carries league-winning upside.
Jeffery Simmons showed his ceiling against Houston. He finished with five tackles, four solo, along with a sack and four tackles for loss. After only nine tackles and one sack in his first three games, Simmons rose to the occasion. His Week 5 matchup with Arizona looks highly favorable.
Leonard Williams remains a steady option. He recorded four tackles, one and a half sacks, and a pass defended against Arizona. Through four games, he has nineteen tackles, just under five per contest, and two and a half sacks. He faces Tampa Bay in Week 5, a game script expected to feature plenty of rushing volume.
Josh Sweat added another sack in Week 4 against Seattle, finishing with two solo tackles, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. Across four games, he has eight tackles and three sacks. With Tennessee on deck, and quarterback Cam Ward among the most sacked in the league, Sweat should continue producing.
George Karlaftis also notched a sack in Week 4, finishing with two solo tackles against Baltimore. Over four games, he has eighteen tackles and three sacks. He will see Jacksonville in Week 5, a matchup expected to bring opportunities against a run-heavy opponent.
Calais Campbell remains consistent. Against Seattle, he recorded three tackles, two solo, a sack, and two tackles for loss. In total, Campbell has fourteen tackles and three sacks across four games. He faces Tennessee next, another strong matchup for defensive linemen.
Laiatu Latu rounds out the list with four tackles, three solo, a tackle for loss, and a pass defended against the Rams. He had just eight tackles and one sack over his first three games. A Week 5 contest against Las Vegas presents another chance to build momentum.
Defensive Backs
Kamren Curl stands at the top among defensive backs. He posted nine tackles, three solo, two interceptions, and three pass defenses against Indianapolis. Through four games, he has thirty-five tackles, averaging nearly ten per game, along with two interceptions, a sack, two tackles for loss, and five pass defenses. He draws San Francisco in Week 5, a matchup that funnels tackles to the defensive back position.
Tykee Smith continues to deliver. He had nine tackles, five solo, and two pass defenses against Philadelphia in Week 4. His season totals include thirty-three tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, and four pass defenses. Despite a difficult Week 5 matchup against Seattle, his steady usage makes him a strong IDP Week 5 waiver wire pickup.
Chamarri Conner recorded six solo tackles against Baltimore. In four games, he has thirty total tackles and one forced fumble, though no pass breakups or interceptions. Jacksonville awaits in Week 5, a neutral matchup, but Conner is a reliable season-long play for deeper leagues.
DeShon Elliott returned in Week 4 with a standout performance against Minnesota, producing six tackles, four solo, along with a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, and two pass defenses. Although Pittsburgh is on bye in Week 5, Elliott brings top-12 DB upside and makes sense as a stash.
Jalen Thompson leads Arizona’s secondary with thirty-three tackles, four more than Budda Baker. He logged nine tackles against Seattle in Week 4 and has added a pass defense this season. His consistent tackling keeps him in starting territory for Week 5.
Quentin Lake is another riser after producing nine tackles, five solo, and a tackle for loss against Indianapolis. His first four games include twenty-two tackles, five pass defenses, and a tackle for loss. With San Francisco up next, he holds strong streaming appeal.
Xavier Watts collected six tackles, two solo, plus an interception and a pass defended against Washington. He now has twenty-three tackles, two interceptions, and four pass defenses across the first four games. With a Week 5 bye, Watts is best treated as a stash for managers planning ahead.
DB Depth and Stashes
Tyson Campbell continues to produce in cornerback-required formats. He has twenty-seven tackles across four games, consistently active in run support and target-heavy coverage. Jonas Sanker has started three games, recording sixteen tackles, an interception, and three pass defenses in that stretch.
Marques Sigle offers twenty-six tackles over four games for San Francisco. He faces the Rams in Week 5, a matchup favorable for safeties. Andrew Wingard has twenty-two tackles across four games, with forced fumbles and tackles for loss supplementing his totals. Both players carry value in deeper leagues.
Finally, Jaylon Carlies remains a stash candidate. Eligible at both linebacker and defensive back in some formats, his eventual activation could provide a cheat-code roster piece. Managers in deeper leagues should monitor his status closely on the IDP Week 5 waiver wire.
Closing Thoughts
The IDP Week 5 waiver wire is filled with opportunity across all three levels. Dee Winters, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Kam Curl headline the list, but multiple depth options and stashes hold situational value. Monitoring snap counts and matchups will remain crucial, but the first month has already revealed players who can deliver consistent points and those capable of explosive weeks.
Thank you for reading this article from @IDP_Plus. This article was crafted with insights from the original podcast hosts, supported by AI tools, and shaped by our staff. For the full discussion and even more great content, be sure to check out the episode on YouTube. Follow the host @JohnnyFreakInF1 on the X!!
