2012 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9
Hello and welcome back to the IDPGuru.com’s most popular in-season article, IDP Waiver Wire Pickups, which will be releasing every Tuesday of the regular season.
Let’s start things off by going through some IDP news, notes, and commentary from Week 8 of the NFL season.
Steelers FS Ryan Clark left Sunday’s game against the Redskins with a concussion and did not return. He will have to pass concussion tests this week in order to play in Week 9, but it’s believed that he’ll be OK.
Patriots RCB Kyle Arrington was forced from Sunday’s game with a head injury caused by a helmet-to-helmet hit, and was most likely concussed.
Falcons WLB Sean Weatherspoon left Sunday’s game against the Eagles in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. However, he’s believed to have escaped with only a garden-variety ankle sprain.It sounds like he’ll be good to go for Week 9 even if he misses some practice time.
Giants MLB Chase Blackburn was forced from Sunday’s game against the Cowboys with a hamstring injury, and did not return. He is listed as questionable on this week’s injury report.
Dallas Cowboys LB Dan Connor suffered a stinger in the team’s Week 8 game however the injury should not require a long-term recovery.
FOX’s Jay Glazer reports Bucs CB Eric Wright is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Jerrell Freeman continued to receive every down snaps while Pat Angerer rotated 50/50 with Kavell Conner. It seems as though the Colts are phasing Conner out of the starting lineup and I’m guessing that Freeman and Angerer will be the every down linebackers once Angerer is fully recovered from injury.
With 2 more sacks on Monday Night, Daryl Washington continues to be an IDP man beast. He’s currently on pace for 120 solo tackles and 18 sacks! Holy crap!
Eric Berry continues to be a major IDP disappointment. He’s not even averaging 5 total tackles per game and has been completely absent in the big play department. It’s safe to dump him in redraft leagues, if you haven’t already.
In his 2nd game back, Jonathan Vilma posted 5 total tackles and played in 84% of the team’s snaps. However, I wouldn’t trust him as anything more than a LB4. Curtis Lofton is the new leader of the defense and will continue to be the main IDP producer along with Roman Harper.
Coach Mike Munchak stated last week that the Titans will use WLB Zach Brown more in the nickel package and will start using SLB Akeem Ayers as a rush end in that grouping more often.
Now onto The Guru’s IDP waiver wire selections for Week 9!
(Please note that a majority of these pickups are long-term, rest of season pickups as opposed to matchup-type recommendations. As the season progresses and the waiver wire becomes more thin and matchup information becomes more reliable, the focus of this article will shift more towards recommendations based on weekly matchup.)
Defensive Linemen
(Previously recommended DLs: Chandler Jones, Derrick Morgan, Derrick Wolfe, Greg Hardy, Randy Starks, Darnell Dockett, Cameron Jordan, Henry Melton, Tyson Alualu, Carlos Dunlap, Michael Bennett, Michael Johnson, Tyson Alualu, Cameron Wake, John Abraham, Everson Griffen, Terrell Suggs, Ray McDonald, Brian Robison, Chris Kelsay)
LDE Da’Quan Bowers (TB) – Just five months removed from a torn Achilles, Bowers was activated off the PUP list shortly before last week’s Thursday night game against the Vikings. He only played 14 snaps in the game, but the important thing is he managed to get through the game without suffering any setbacks with his injury. The Bucs are extremely thin at DE and will consequently look to increase Bowers’ snap counts dramatically over the next few weeks. He’s just a player to watch for now, but keep a close eye on him in deeper leagues as he could be valuable down the playoff stretch.
LDT Jonathan Babineaux (ATL) – The Cowboys interior offensive line has really struggled to protect the QB this season. They have allowed at least 1/2 sack in 6 of the team’s 7 games to an interior lineman. Babineaux has 2.5 sacks so far this season and plays the run well. He should have one of his better games of the year this week. Solid DT play for those in leagues that require you to play one.
RDE Jerry Hughes (IND) – With Robert Mathis hindered by injury, Hughes has been getting starter snaps over the last couple of weeks. He’s an up-and-coming talent who is finally getting a chance to emerge from the shadow of Freeney/Mathis. The Dolphins are a middle of the road matchup, but with the waiver wire being so thin at the position, Hughes is worth a look as a DL3 in 10-12 team leagues this week if Mathis is a no go.
RDE Austen Lane (JAX) – Rookie Andre Branch’s ineffectiveness during the first handful of games this season led to his demotion out of the starting lineup. Lane has stepped up into that starting role and has played well. Over his last three games, he’s had 14 total tackles and a sack. These aren’t world beater numbers, but he’s a viable DL3 option in tackle-heavy leagues.
Linebackers
(Previously recommended LBs: Wesley Woodyard, Larry Foote, Jerrell Freeman, Paris Lenon, Erin Henderson, Russell Allen, Dannell Ellerbe, Akeem Ayers, Will Witherspoon, Zach Brown, Phillip Wheeler, Rey Maualuga, Vontaze Burfict, Pat Angerer, Colin McCarthy, James Harrison, Demorrio Williams, Bruce Carter, Thomas Davis, Chase Blackburn, Aldon Smith)
WILB Brad Jones (GB) – The matchup for Jones isn’t ideal this week and he goes on bye in Week 10. However, he’s worth keeping in the back of your mind in deeper leagues as he (and not A.J. Hawk) has become of the team’s every down linebacker after the injury to D.J. Smith. Also, Jones is an above average pass rusher who should generate a good amount of pressure in Dom Caper’s aggressive scheme to go along with a good amount of tackles (albeit on a compiler basis).
SILB DeMario Davis (NYJ) – Davis has been filling in as an every down linebacker in replace of the injured Bart Scott. And filling in quite well. Scott expects to be able to play following the team’s week 9 bye week and it’s still unclear whether or not the Jets coaching staff will continue to play Davis in an every down capacity or revert back to him just subbing in during nickel packages. Either way, Davis is a must add in moderate to deep dynasty leagues. I see low-end LB1 potential come 2013.
WLB Wesley Woodyard (DEN) – I mentioned Woodyard as a waiver wire pickup way back in my Week 2 column. At that time, I saw him mainly as a 5-7 week pickup with D.J. Williams returning to the starting lineup after finishing his suspension. However, with Joe Mays headed to IR and Woodyard establishing himself as the leader of the defense, I think he’s a safe bet to continue to produce high level fantasy numbers even if Williams returns, which is looking increasingly unlikely.
MLB Colin McCarthy (TEN) – Chances are good that McCarthy is already sitting on someone’s roster in most fantasy leagues. But for those in shallow/novice leagues, if he’s available, scoop him up now. The Titans receive a ton of tackle opportunity and have a generous home scorekeeper. As McCarthy’s health continues to improve, so will his on-the-field play. I expect LB2 numbers for the next couple of weeks, with a strong LB2+/LB1- finish.
LOLB Erik Walden (GB) – Much like my Aldon Smith suggestion last week (he had two sacks by the way), Walden is a one week matchup play against the Cardinals’ pathetic offensive line. After the injury to D.J. Smith, Brad Jones slid into the middle with Walden taking his spot at LOLB. I expect a few tackles and a sack this week out of Walden (I can’t imagine the type of week Clay Matthews is going to have).
Defensive Backs
(Previously recommended DBs: T.J. Ward, Craig Dahl, William Moore, Alterraun Verner, Tracy Porter, Michael Griffin, Madieu Williams, Buster Skrine, William Gay, Josh Norman, Atari Bigby, Jordan Babineaux, John Wendling, Matt Giordano, Rahim Moore, Malcolm Jenkins, M.D. Jennings, Mike Adams, Glover Quin)
SS Stevie Brown (NYG) – Brown, a 7th round pick out of Michigan, has been on a tear since taking over for the injured Kenny Phillips in Week 4. During this time span, he’s had 29 total tackles, 2 FRs, and 4 INTs. Phillips is questionable to play this week and with how well Brown has been playing, you would figure the Giants would err on the side of caution and roll with Brown for at least another week if not longer. He’s a great pickup in leagues that reward for big plays.
SS Glover Quin (HOU) – I mentioned Quin in last week’s waiver wire article, however I wanted to mention him here again this week. With the injury to Brian Cushing, Wade Phillips has been using Quin closer to the line of scrimmage and sometimes lining him up as a linebacker in nickel packages. He’s had 5 or more solos in 4 consecutive games and I fully expect that type of production to continue moving forward.
LCB Casey Hayward (GB) – With Sam Shields and Charles Woodson both unavailable last week, Hayward was thrust into a starting role and had 8 total tackles (6 solos). If Shields is unable to go again this week, Hayward becomes a nice low-end CB1 option against the Cardinals.
LCB E.J. Biggers (TB) – Biggers has seen an increase in playing time due to the suspension of Aqib Talib (not due back until Week 10) and will likely continue to start over the next few games as the Bucs other starting CB, Eric Wright, has a multiple game suspension looming right now. Biggers has shown willingness to step up and defend the run and should be a decent bet for 5-6 solos this week against Oakland.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at theidpguru@idpguru.com or follow me on Twitter. Also, feel free to post any questions or comments for me in the comments section of this post.
Last Updated: October 31, 2012