Who are some names to know in your IDP leagues after a wild Week 9? Let’s take a look at a list of players who make for potential waiver wire Week 10 additions to your IDP squads.
Week 9 brought us another action-packed week of football with plenty to digest. We still have one more game to cap it off, as the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Chicago Bears on Monday night. The waiver wire Week 10 IDP article was written before the conclusion of that game, so unfortunately it doesn’t include those players. Now it’s time to dive into some potential waiver wire Week 10 IDP additions!
Disclaimer: All league sizes and formats are different. Meaning some of these players may or may not be available in your league. Each week I’ll be doing my best to cover a wide enough base of scenarios. If you ever have any league-specific questions, I’m always willing to help and so is our fantastic team here at IDP Guys.
Linebackers
Josh Bynes, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Week 9 Stats: 11 tackles (8 solos), 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass defended
With Patrick Queen struggling, Josh Bynes has seen his role continue to increase. After playing in the 70% snap range in Weeks 6 and 7, Bynes saw a season-high snap share of 83% this week. With the young buck struggling, it seems Baltimore is turning to the old vet to hold down the middle.
Bynes had his most productive IDP showing of the season this week as his 11 tackles (8 solos) paced the team. Given Queen’s issues, the Ravens should continue to lean on Bynes’ experience which provides him a stable role. If your IDP unit is in need of a linebacker, Bynes is a fine waiver wire addition.
Jayon Brown, LB, Tennessee Titans
Week 9 Stats: 7 solo tackles
After missing the past four games, Jayon Brown made his return from IR this week. In his return, Brown played 55 defensive snaps (71%) and collected seven solo tackles. Brown’s role is one that could be tough to figure out initially, as he saw it reduce before going on IR.
This week, Rashaan Evans was out, but Brown played well ahead of rookie Monty Rice. David Long has been playing well since taking over as the main man in Tennessee but suffered an injury himself late in the game Sunday night. Not much is known right now about Long’s injury, so it’s something to keep an eye on.
Rashaan Evans has failed to live up to expectations and I can see Brown taking over his spot next to Long. Bottom line is, Brown is a better player than Evans, he just needs to stay healthy. Grab Brown now off the waiver wire and let’s see how this all shakes out in Tennessee.
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Dallas Cowboys
Week 9 Stats: 12 tackles (7 solos), 1 tackle for loss
Leighton Vander Esch‘s role has been anything but ideal from an IDP standpoint this year. He just hasn’t been seeing enough snaps to put up steady weekly production. However, this week, he saw a season-high 51 defensive snaps (65%) and produced a team-high 12 tackles (7 solos).
If Vander Esch can continue to hover around the 65-70% snap range, he could start to have some IDP appeal once again in deeper leagues. While I’m still skeptical of his role, I think he’s worth taking a shot on to see what happens here. At this point of the season, any player with upside is worth considering and Vander Esch has plenty of it if he gets the snaps.
Dre Greenlaw, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Week 9 Stats: Did Not Play
We haven’t seen Greenlaw since Week 1 after he suffered a groin injury that placed him on IR. It sounds like the 49ers are expecting Greenlaw to finally return to the practice field this week. Promising news for both the 49ers and IDP managers alike.
Greenlaw is an impact IDP player when healthy and his possible return is exciting. Given he’s been out a while, Greenlaw may be eased back in initially. Once he’s ready to go, I expect him to take back his every-down role. If Greenlaw is sitting on your waiver wire, picking him up now could pay off nicely once he’s ready to rock.
Defensive Line/Edge
Arik Armstead, DE, San Francisco 49ers
Week 9 Stats: 10 tackles (2 solos), 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 1 QB hit
Heading into this week’s game, San Francisco said they were moving Arik Armstead inside to play more defensive tackle. Armstead indeed saw his heaviest usage of the year at DT and it yielded some nice IDP production. While he’s versatile enough to play inside and outside, Armstead can really create some problems on the interior, especially when he’s singled up.
This is one of those cases where a defensive lineman kicking inside isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This week was by far Armstead’s most productive IDP performance of the year and hopefully, there’s more to come. Armstead also holds a 73% snap share on the year, so the snap volume is definitely there. If your team is in need of defensive line help, Armstead is a solid waiver wire option.
Denico Autry, DE, Tennessee Titans
Week 9 Stats: 3 tackles (2 solos), 1 tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hits, 2 passes defended
The Tennessee defense gave the Rams offense fits on Sunday and Denico Autry was a big reason why. Autry created all sorts of problems for the Rams offensive line and had a big day (see stats above). In fact, over his last three games, Autry has registered three and a half sacks and seven quarterback hits. He’s certainly been a problem for opposing teams lately.
Autry seems to be playing his best football as of late and the Tennessee defense put on a show this week. With Autry, Harold Landry, and Jefferey Simmons all generating steady pressure, teams certainly have their hands full. In leagues where you start 3-4 defensive lineman, Autry is worth a look off the waiver wire.
Jonathon Cooper, Edge, Denver Broncos
Week 9 Stats: 4 tackles (3 solos), 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 QB hits
With Von Miller now out of town, the Broncos turned to their seventh-round rookie out of Ohio State to fill the void. Cooper did more than just fill in, he stepped up in a big way. The rookie generated seven pressures on the day, per PFF, and turned them into two sacks. Hell of a day for the rookie as he played a big part in Denver’s upset win this week.
Cooper played a season-high 56 defensive snaps (90%) this week and should see a steady volume going forward. In deeper leagues where he has EDGE or DL eligibility, Cooper is worth a waiver wire pickup. He should see plenty of opportunity going forward and could be a nice depth piece if injuries/byes hit your squad.
Dawuane Smoot, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 9 Stats: 3 solo tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 2 QB hits, 1 forced fumble
Dawuane Smoot now has sacks in back-to-back weeks coming out of Jacksonville’s Week 7 bye. This week, Smoot also saw his highest snap share playing 55 defensive snaps, good for 82%. While Smoot’s role seems to be growing, teammate K’Lavon Chaisson‘s role seems to be dwindling as he played a season-low 13 snaps this week. If you’re looking for DL reinforcements in deeper roster leagues, Smoot is a worthy waiver wire option.
Defensive Backs
Anthony Harris, S, Philadelphia Eagles
Week 9 Stats: 4 tackles (3 solos)
Anthony Harris made his return to the Eagles’ starting lineup this week after missing the previous two games. Harris played 62 defensive snaps (90%) in his first game back and returned to his nearly every-down role. Also notable, was that Harris played 41 of his 62 snaps up in the box, slot, and defensive line, per PFF.
If Harris made his way to the waiver wire in your league while he was out, he’s definitely worth picking up. The stat line wasn’t anything special, but the fact he walked right back into his same role is encouraging.
Erik Harris, S, Atlanta Falcons
Week 9 Stats: 8 tackles (7 solos)
For the second consecutive week, Erik Harris has played every snap for the Falcons defense. Harris has also been spending more time up in the box and slot areas over his past two games. Over that two-game stretch, Harris has amassed 15 tackles (12 solos) and has generated some solid IDP production.
Atlanta deciding to utilize Harris up in the box/slot more, bodes well for his IDP outlook. Let’s just hope this trend continues going forward. If you’re in need of safety help, Harris is certainly worth a look.
George Odum, S, Indianapolis Colts
Week 9 Stats: 5 solo tackles, 1 forced fumble
I mentioned George Odum in last week’s waiver wire article as he replaced Khari Willis after he left with a calf injury. Unfortunately, Willis was placed on IR last week and will miss at least three games. With Willis out, Odum got the start in Week 9 and played all 77 defensive snaps for Indianapolis.
Odum looks to have a starting role for a few weeks with Willis out and is worth a look in deeper leagues. With injuries and byes continuing to hit, Odum could be an option as a fill-in for IDP managers.
Brandon Stephens, S, Baltimore Ravens
Week 9 Stats: 3 tackles (2 solos), 1 pass defended
The Ravens’ secondary lost a key piece this week as DeShon Elliot is now out for the season with a torn bicep and pectoral, just brutal. Replacing Elliot after he was forced out was third-round rookie Brandon Stephens. Stephens had filled in for Elliot earlier in the year when he was out and should be the next man up for the vacated spot. In deeper leagues where the waiver wire is thin, Stephens is someone to consider.
Conclusion
Thanks for tuning into this week’s edition of the waiver wire Week 10 IDP! I can’t believe we are already hitting the double-digit weeks of the season. The fantasy playoffs are creeping up and it’s important to continue to work the waiver wire and stay active. Hopefully, the list of players above provides you with some options to add some talent to your IDP rosters. Good luck this week everyone and happy bidding!
To get the low-down on everything IDP relevant from Week 9, make sure you check out Johny The Greek’s “The Monster”!
Thanks for taking the time to read my article, I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful. You can find my work here at idpguys.org and follow me on Twitter @KBellf54. I’m always available for any questions or feedback you may have and my DMs are always open.
