2020 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 7

(Please note that a majority of these pickups early on are long-term, rest of season pickups as opposed to matchup-type recommendations. As the season progresses and the waiver wire becomes thinner and matchup information becomes more reliable, the focus of this article will shift more towards recommendations based on the weekly matchup.)

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Defensive Linemen

(Previously recommended DLs: Aldon Smith, Montez Sweat, Michael Brockers, Akiem Hicks, Mario Addison, Stephon Tuitt, Jonathan Allen, Kerry Hyder, Jeffery Simmons, Carl Lawson, Stephon Tuitt, Leonard Williams, Yetur Gross-Matos, Emmanuel Ogbah, Trey Hendrickson, Denico Autry, Justin Madubuike)

DE Melvin Ingram (LAC) – Ingram has been on injured reserve since suffering a knee injury in Week 2. However, he’s expected to be activated this week and return to this typical starting role. Given he’s been out for a handful weeks and is coming off a bye, there’s a solid chance he’s now available in a decent chunk of leagues. If that’s the case, he should be one of this week’s priority pickups as he’s consistently performed as a top 15 DL for us throughout his career.

DE Leonard Williams (NYG) – The Eagles have far and away given up the most points to defensive ends this season. Williams is coming of a 5 tackle, 1 sack performance and has a very good chance of increasing his season sack total from three while still providing a good tackle floor this week. Consider him a top 30-35 play at his position this week.

DT Sheldon Richardson (CLE) – For those in DT-required leagues, Richardson could serve as a nice streaming play against a Bengals team that is currently allowing the most points to opposing DTs. They are allowing the most sacks to interior linemen and also are above average in terms of tackles allowed. I’m projecting something along the lines of a 2-3-1 stat line for him in Week 6. 

.Linebackers

(Previously recommended LBs: Germaine Pratt, Nate Gerry, Jon Bostic, B.J. Goodson, Micah Kiser, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Foyesade Oluokun, Eric Wilson, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Joe Thomas, Ty Summers, Avery Williamson, Kyzir White, K.J. Wright, Mykal Walker, Anthony Walker, Josey Jewell, Nick Kwiatkoski, Tyrel Dodson, Foyesade Oluokun, Avery Williamson, Tyrell Adams, Jerome Baker, Troy Reeder)

OLB Dre Greenlaw (SF) – With Kwon Alexander out last year, Greenlaw performed at a LB2+ level while serving as an every down linebacker next to Fred Warner. That trend carried over last week for Greenlaw as he put up 8 solos as a three-down guy with Alexander inactive due to a high ankle sprain. I expect this to continue for as long as Alexander is out.  

ILB Krys Barnes (GB) – Barnes started, called the defensive plays, and played in 88% of the defensive snaps and racked up 10 total tackles in the process. The Packers run a lot of one-linebacker sets which helps Barnes (or whoever is in that role) consistently compile tackles at an above average rate. It’s not yet known when Christian Kirksey will return from IR, but Barnes should be rolled out as a LB3+/LB2- for as long as Kirksey’s out. 

ILB Robert Spillane (PIT) – With Devin Bush out for the year, Spillane will assume his every down role. He racked up 6 total tackles in the second half as his replacement and should serve as a decent LB3- fill-in for the remainder of the season if he plays well enough to hold this role. 

ILB Tae Crowder (NYG) – The Giants have had a turnstile of players at ILB next to Blake Martinez this year. Tae Crowder was the latest man up and he played a relatively high percentage of snaps at 85% and had 10 total tackles (6 solos). If he can show decent enough play, he could lash on to a bigger role and should be productive enough on a per snap basis given the relative lack of tackle competition within the front seven.

OLB Alex Singleton (PHI) – The Eagles linebacking crew has not been good this year and has recently been bitten by the injury bug. This allowed Singleton, a former DPOY in Canada, to get starter snaps (89%) and post a respectable 4-5 tackle line. The team actually trusted him enough to call the defensive plays which is a sign that he could maintain this playing time moving forward. He’s more of a watch in moderately-sized leagues and pickup in only deeper leagues for now though. 

Defensive Backs
(Previously recommended DBs: Marcus Maye, Jeremy Chinn, Adrian Phillips, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Josh Jones, Brandon Jones, Logan Ryan, Kenny Vaccaro, Troy Hill, Holton Hill, Logan Ryan, Julian Love, Taylor Rapp, Mike Hilton, Donovan Wilson, James Bradberry, Kareem Jackson, Kenny Moore, Kareem Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, Pierre Desir)

S Taylor Rapp (LAR) – With Jordan Fuller on IR, Rapp will be the every-down safety for at least the next two weeks. Both the player and role have been productive for us historically. His 6-3 stat line from Week 6 is the type of production I would expect from Rapp. 

S Deshazor Everett (WAS) – The WFT benched incumbent starter Troy Apke last week and inserted Everett into a full-time role at free safety (96%). He came up with a respectable 6 total tackles (3 solos) in a game where there wasn’t a ton of tackle opportunity. I don’t expect Everett to be a world-beater but he could be a nice DB3-/DB4+ matchup play for those in deeper leagues looking for a bye/injury fill-in.

CB Terrence Mitchell (CLE) – The Bengals continue to give up a boatload of points to opposing cornerbacks which makes Mitchell an intriguing streaming option in CB-required/deeper IDP leagues this week. He had an 11 solo tackle performance back in Week 4 and plays every down, so has the best chance of all Browns CBs to put up above average production.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at theidpguru@idpguru.com or follow me on Twitter.

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Last Updated: October 20, 2020