2015 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 13
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.
OK. Let’s start things off by going through some IDP news, notes, and commentary from Week 12 of the NFL season.
Injuries
Robert Quinn missed yet another game due to back and hip injuries. He did work out on Monday and hopes to practice Wednesday, however. He’s shaping up to have a 50/50 chance of playing in Week 13.
Justin Durant has been the Falcons’ most productive linebacker when on the field. However, he just can’t stay healthy. He suffered his third significant injury of the year in Week 12 as he managed only 18 snaps before leaving with an injured ankle. Owners need to take his very high injury risk into consideration before starting him. Phillip Wheeler will fill-in for Durant if he misses any more time.
Justin Houston suffered a knee injury last week after just 14 snaps. It’s reportedly similar to an injury he suffered previously and isn’t considered to be overly serious. He may miss a week or two, however. We should get a better idea of his long-term status over the next couple days. Frank Zombo will man the outside opposite Tamba Hali in the mean time.
Veteran Jerrell Freeman left the game against the Bucs due to a hamstring injury and did not return. As with a lot of soft tissue injuries, we are unsure of the severity of the injury at this point. We should know more later in the week based on his practice status throughout the week.
Dont’a Hightower seemed to suffer a sprained MCL in Sunday Night’s game against the Broncos. If this is the case, he’ll likely miss a couple of weeks. This potentially leaves the Patriots thin at linebacker if Jamie Collins remains out with an illness.
Ryan Shazier sustained a concussion and will have to go through the protocol before practicing/playing again. Vince Williams and Sean Spence split snaps at ILB in his absence.
Titans outside linebacker Derrick Morgan missed last week’s game due a shoulder injury. Reserve player David Bass played every down as his substitute.
Premier safety Harrison Smith missed last week’s game due to an injured knee after being listed as questionable to play on Friday.
DB2/DB3 T.J. Ward suffered a high-ankle sprain and will likely miss multiple weeks with the injury.
Glover Quin exited the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Eagles with an ankle injury and did not return. He was replaced by James Ihedigbo. It’s not yet known how much time (if any) Quin will miss.
On the opposite team, Nolan Carroll of the Eagles broke his ankle and is done for the year.
General Player Notes
After getting burned repeatedly in the passing game on prime time television, the Ravens started subbing Daryl Smith out for Zach Orr in throwing situations. It’s unclear if this will continue into future weeks, but it’s definitely a situation to watch and makes Smith’s production more volatile.
Josh Bynes saw a bump in playing time at the expense of Tahir Whitehead last week which left no Lions backer as an every down player. Stephon Tulloch has been a productive LB4+ despite limited snaps, so he’s probably the only linebacker worth rostering at this point.
The Giants linebacker rotation seems to be settling into place as Jasper Brinkley and Devon Kennard both saw 80%+ of the snaps. Uani Unga was active but only played one snap. Both of the former linebackers mentioned could provide value to owners in deeper leagues.
Mychal Kendricks was back to playing near every down with DeMeco Ryans and Kiko Alonso splitting snaps at the other inside linebacker spot. It’s safe to bump Kendricks back into the LB2 range.
Greg Hardy continues to disappear in the box scores as he’s had just 3 total tackles and half a sack in his last three games. He’s too good of a player to bench and typically stud DEs explode for big games after a multi-week silence. Consider him a DL1- moving forward.
Now onto The Guru’s IDP waiver wire selections for Week 13!
(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: Henry Anderson, Allen Bailey, Mario Addison, Jacquies Smith, Jabaal Sheard, Sen’Derrick Marks, Jared Allen, Stephon Tuitt, Greg Hardy, Sheldon Richardson, Stephon Tuitt, Jarvis Jenkins, Kerry Wynn, Ryan Delaire, Jay Ratliff, Kony Ealy, Lawrence Guy, Cameron Wake, Adrian Clayborn, Sheldon Richardson, Jared Allen, William Hayes, DeMarcus Lawrence, Kawaan Short, Jason Pierre-Paul, Derrick Shelby, Mario Edwards, Frostee Rucker, Kony Ealy, Desmond Bryant, Linval Joseph, Mario Edwards, Derrick Shelby, Linval Joseph, Corey Liuget, Kony Ealy)
DE Olivier Vernon (MIA) – Vernon got off to a super slow start but has been more like his 2013/2014-self after Dan Campbell took over head coaching responsibilities. He’s had 26 total tackles and 3 sacks in his last 5 games. Although the Ravens matchup this week isn’t great on paper, I feel as though he will have more sack opportunities than normal with Matt Schaub under center. Plus, Vernon has been somewhat matchup independent in recent weeks.
DE Derek Wolfe (DEN) – I mentioned Wolfe in this column a few weeks back as a player to keep an eye on. He wasn’t on many owners’ radars as he missed the 1st four weeks while serving out a suspension. He’s posted solid tackle numbers since his return (nearly 5 total tackles per game) and has had a sack in each of the last two weeks. He’s a nice high floor, DL3.
DT Malcolm Brown (NE) – Brown, a 1st round selection this year out of Texas, has seen his playing time increase over the last few weeks and he’s responded with 18 total tackles (3 for loss) and 2 sacks since Week 10. He faces the Eagles this week who are a top 5 matchup for defensive tackles and ends a like, so I like his chances for a solid game in Week 13.
Linebackers
(Previously recommended LBs: Thomas Davis, Vincent Rey, Brian Cushing, Koa Misi, Uani Unga, Dont’a Hightower, DeMeco Ryans, Jordan Hicks, Justin Durant, Hau’oli Kikaha, Jordan Hicks, Malcolm Smith, A.J. Klein, Christian Kirksey, Anthony Hitchens, Manti Te’o, Thurston Armbrister, Christian Kirksey, Eric Kendricks, Rolando McClain, Avery Williamson, Michael Wilhoite, Dannell Ellerbe, Eric Kendricks, Michael Wilhoite, Denzel Perryman, Justin Durant, Jon Beason, Kevin Minter, Manti Te’o, Vontaze Burfict, Wesley Woodyard, O’Brien Schofield, Jake Ryan, Chad Greenway, Phillip Wheeler, Jonathan Anderson, Tahir Whitehead, Kelvin Sheppard, Shea McClellin, Jasper Brinkley, Justin Durant, Kelvin Sheppard, Brian Orakpo, Will Compton)
LB Philip Wheeler (ATL) – Wheeler has only seen action when Justin Durant has missed time due to injury. During those two games though he’s posted LB1 numbers (8-2 and 6-5). If Durant misses Week 13, Wheeler becomes a nice LB2 option against Doug Martin and the Bucs.
LB Jonathan Freeny (NE) – With Jamie Collins out, Freeny has produced at a LB3+ rate. He had stat lines of 4-4, 4-2 FR in Weeks 10 and 11. And with both Collins and Hightower out in Week 12, he exploded for 12 total tackles and a sack. If both normal starters are out again, Freeny becomes one of the top waiver wire pickups this week. If only one is out, he still makes for a decent LB3-/LB4+ option.
LB Kelvin Sheppard (MIA) – Sheppard has been on a tear in recent weeks (hence why this is his third appearance in this column) with 35 total tackles in his last three games. Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins both returned from injury last week but Sheppard was still the team’s lone (near) every down linebacker and had 9 total tackles. There’s always some risk he goes back into a two down role, but he’s too hot right now to not start in most three/four linebacker leagues.
LB Denzel Perryman (SD) – This is for you dynasty league owners. Pick up Perryman if he’s available in your league. The kid is going to be a stud. In the two games he’s started this year, he’s posted box score figures of 7-1 with a FF and 6-1 despite only playing about 60% of the snaps. Donald Butler hasn’t developed into the player the Chargers had hoped and Te’o is decent but not anything special. Chances are good Perryman becomes the centerpiece of the Chargers defense as early as next year.
Defensive Backs
(Previously recommended DBs: Calvin Pryor, Trenton Robinson, Josh Norman, Adam Jones, Will Allen, Eric Berry, Adam Jones, Tony Jefferson, Corey Graham, Brandon Meriweather, T.J. Ward, Ronald Darby, Chris Conte, Jonathan Cyprien, David Amerson, Jonathan Joseph, Brandon Browner, Mark Barron, Jason McCourty, Antwon Blake, Jason McCourty, Devin McCourty, Mark Barron, Jaquiski Tartt, Kemal Ishmael, Jacquiski Tartt, Ibraheim Campbell, Logan Ryan, Prince Amukamara, Kurt Coleman, Leodis McKelvin, Will Allen, Isa Abdul-Quddus, Marcus Peters, Logan Ryan, Will Allen, Clayton Geathers)
S Robert Blanton (MIN) – With both Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo out with injury, Blanton played every down and posted a 8-1, 1 PD stat line. The opportunity will be there again against the Seahawks if Smith and Sendejo are out. So pay close attention to the Vikings injury and practice reports and be ready to pounce on Blanton over the weekend if he’s starting and you are desperate for production.
CB DeShawn Shead (SEA) – Shead, who played safety earlier in the year, was moved into the starting cornerback spot opposite Richard Sherman last week with Cary Williams being a healthy scratch. The Steelers targeted him relentlessly which translated to 8 solo tackles, 2 assists, and 4 pass deflections. If Shead gets the start again this week against the Vikings, he should make for a decent play. Although the Vikings don’t throw much at all, Shead will likely see enough targets still to be a CB2+.
CB Jude Adjei-Barimah (TB) – For those in deeper, CB-required leagues, Adjei-Barimah should serve as a sneaky pickup this week. He’s been serving as the Bucs starter at cornerback since Week 9. During that time he’s had 3 above average tackles games out of four (4-2, 6-0, 6-3). He plays against Julio Jones and the Falcons this week who have been one of the best tackle matchups for cornerbacks. I think 5-6 solos and a couple assists is a good prediction.
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Last Updated: December 1, 2015