Week one of the 2019 season did not disappoint. We had some upset victories but fantasy wise some surprise performances as well. Here we cover who should still be available on waivers who could help you pick up a win.
2019 kicked off with a bang with some serious IDP performances. There were multiple guys in bigger and different roles than they had last year that showed up in big ways. There were even a couple of guys who seemed to have played better just do to a change of scenery. Tune into the IDPGuys website every week for my IDP waiver wire pickups. Lets see here who the top waiver wire IDP adds are leading up to week two at each position.
Defensive Tackle
Quinton Jefferson – Seattle Seahawks
Week 1 Stats: six tackles (two solo), two tackles for a loss, two sacks and two passes defensed.
Quinton Jefferson is now into his fourth NFL season, all with the Seahawks. He did not see any significant playing time until last season and he made some significant progress coming up with 25 tackles and three sacks. This season he is stepping into a start role with the Seahawks at defensive tackle but can slide all over the line where the team needs him most. With L.J. Collier and Ezekiel Ansah both on the shelf last weekend Jefferson was the benefactor with two sacks. With the state and health of the Seahawks defensive line Jefferson could in for a solid year and at a thin position could be a solid waiver pickup.
Tyeler Davison – Atlanta Falcons
Week 1 stats: eight tackles (four solo) and one tackle for a loss.
Eight total tackles from the DT position is an eye opener in its own right. Davison is a guy who will be available on all waiver wires. This is his fifth year in the NFL and has not made a big splash yet. What he does bring is solid starting experience to be placed next to Grady Jarrett. Davison has 49 career starts under his belt. Jack Crawford starter next to Grady Jarrett much of last season and put up career highs in tackles and sacks after he had played six years previous with little production. It looks like playing next to Grady Jarrett brings out the best in his running mates and you could do much worse than Davison.
Defensive End
Sam Hubbard – Cincinnati Bengals
Week 1 stats: 10 tackles (six solo), two tackles for a loss and two sacks.
If Sam Hubbard is on your waiver wire than shame on you. The writing was on the wall when he outperformed Carlos Dunlap during the second half of last season. I pegged him to be one of my year two breakout IDP players in a previous article you can read here. Hubbard not only is a great pass rusher but he sets the edge well in the run game. This gives him a solid floor where he can still rack up tackles if he does not come up with any sacks. Hubbard should already be rostered but if he is available he is a top priority add.
Roy Robertson-Harris – Chicago Bears
Week 1 stats: three tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack.
Roy Robertson-Harris was a nice surprise week one. He was a bit player his first few seasons in the NFL but showed progress in his game each season. The Bears have been lacking in the defensive end are outside of Akiem Hicks for a while now but Robertson-Harris has sprung some new life into the line. He was able to come up with three tackles, two for a loss and a sack this week while playing on 41% of the teams snaps. This may seem low but was still second on the team after Bilal Nichols outside of Hicks. Nichols got the start but Robertson-Harris was far more effective and should see the field more than Nichols.
Benson Mayowa – Oakland Raiders
Week 1 stats: three tackles, one for a loss and two sacks.
Benson Mayowa has always been a rotational player in the league. He has been successful rushing the passer though coming up with four sacks with the Cardinals last season and six sacks with the Cowboys in 2016. Last season with the Cardinals he also was able to come up with 11 tackles for a loss and 11 QB hits. He is now with the Raiders where Arden Key was slated to start but the Raiders do not seem overly confident with him.
In week one other than Clelin Ferrell, who played on 73% of the snaps, the Raiders went with a deep rotation on the edge. Arden Key still led the with 47% of the snaps, Josh Mauro was next with 42%, then it was Mayowa with 39%, followed by rookie Maxx Crosby playing on 36%. Mauro and Crosby respectfully had good games as well but Mayowa was by far the most disruptive. I do not think it takes long for Key to lose his starting spot with Mayowa getting the majority of the pass rushing snaps. Mayowa may be a bit boom or bust but may be worth it.
Linebacker
Thomas Davis – Los Angeles Chargers
Week 1 Stats: 14 tackles (7 solo)
Father Time does not seem to have caught up with Thomas Davis yet. He is 36 years old but looked like his former All Pro self on Sunday where he came up with 14 total tackles. Davis played on every single defensive snap the Chargers were on the field for and did not show any signs of age. He was all over the field making plays being one of the top tacklers of the week. Davis brings great veteran leadership to a team that was really lacking this on defense and he could help take the Chargers defense to the next level. Thomas Davis is a must add for all IDP leagues.
Neville Hewitt – New York Jets
Week 1 Stats: seven tackles ( four solo), one pass defensed and an interception.
If you did not pick up Neville Hewitt after the devastating Avery Williamson news than you have to now. That is if he is still available. Hewitt was always the guy in my eyes, though many thought it would be Blake Cashman, to replace Williamson. He did just that on Sunday and played well while being on the field for 99% of the teams snaps. To make matters worse for the Jets, but better for Hewitt, is that C.J. Mosley also left Sunday’s game with a groin issue. If Mosley misses any time it vaults Hewitt into the top linebacker spot on the team and should be able to accumulate solid production. Hewitt was an add before but he is a priority add now.
Cole Holcomb – Washington Redskins
Week 1 Stats: nine tackles ( eight solo) and two tackles for a loss.
Cole Holcomb was a nice rookie surprise in week one. Many people, including myself, thought that the starting job was going to Shaun Dion Hamilton but that was not the case. The rookie seems to have won the job starting next to Jon Bostic and played great in his first regular season action. He played 68% of the teams snaps compared to 41% for Dion Hamilton. Holcomb was second on the team in tackles, trailing only cornerback Quinton Dunbar. Holcomb has a real shot at leading this team in tackles and should be added right away.
Safety
Tracy Walker – Detroit Lions
Week 1 Stats: 9 solo tackles, one tackle for a loss, two passes defensed and an interception.
Tracy Walker was also pegged as one of my second year breakout players in the article I mentioned above. Walker was still undrafted in most leagues outside of real deep leagues. This in part was because of his designation of free safety. Walker did not look like a free safety out there on Sunday coming up with nine solo tackles while also picking off rookie Kyler Murray. He played every single snap for the Lions defense and was very impressive. Walker and Diggs seem to be playing more of a two safety system as opposed to one playing strong and one playing free safety. Both players are capable of both positions which should give Walker a fantasy boost.
Xavier Woods – Dallas Cowboys
Week 1 Stats: 11 tackles (10 solo) and a forced fumble
I had Xavier Woods slotted as a sleeper for me leading up to the start of the season as you can read here. Coach Rob Marinelli had both Woods and Jeff Heath learn both safety positions in the offseason so he could deploy a more confusing defense. This was not hard for Woods to do since he played that type of role while he was in Louisiana Tech. The good news for his fantasy value is that this gave him more opportunities in run support than the past where he played a traditional free safety. The results were obvious and Woods should be scooped up instantly. He cleared 10 tackles and also forced a turnover, something he was excellent at in college.
Karl Joseph – Oakland Raiders
Week 1 Stats: seven tackles (three solo) and one tackle for a loss.
Though there was much speculation about a Karl Joseph trade this offseason, those rumors are gone now. Rookie Johnathan Abram needs surgery on his shoulder and is going on IR possibly missing the entire season. Joseph is no longer expendable but now a season long starter. Joseph has already had a 78 tackle season under his belt and is hungry to prove he belongs in the NFL and has yet another season with the Raiders to do it. The Raiders looked hungry and together in week one with coach Gruden and Mike Mayock at the helm. The Raiders could be a surprise team in the AFC and Joseph has a chance to rack up the tackle numbers.
Cornerback
Eric Rowe – Miami Dolphins
Week 1 Stats: 11 tackles (nine solo)
Eric Rowe was slotted as the starting corner opposite of stud corner Xavien Howard, We have all seen that Howard is a lockdown corner in the NFL and should not be tested. Rowe has proven over the years to be a solid rotation cornerback with the Eagles and the Patriots. He showed enough promise to now head coach Flores to start. Rowe played under Flores during his time in New England and has the faith of the new coach. Rowe should be tested early and often with the abysmal Dolphins team and could add a huge boost to your cornerback lineup.
Rashaan Melvin – Detroit Lions
Week 1 Stats: eight tackles and three passes defensed.
Melvin had a mediocre career leading up to his time with the Indianapolis Colts. In 2017 he started 10 games totaling 36 tackles, 1 passed defensed and three interceptions. He then took that and garnered a decent free agent contract with the Raiders where he was ultimately benched for younger talent. With his lone season with the Raiders behind him he found himself another opportunity to produce. He signed as a free agent with the Lions who have desperately tried finding a starting caliber corner to play opposite of Darius Slay and they found their man. Melvin looked like his former self and came up big. Slay himself is a lockdown corner so Melvin should see a plethora of targets this season.
Conclusion
Those are my top waiver wire adds after week one of the regular season. A couple of nice surprises but also some guys who no matter how much we preach, people still sleep on them. This article will normally publish every Tuesday afternoon for you to read prior to waivers processing. I apologize for this week as I was on vacation but it will be here earlier from here in.
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