2010 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 4

First off, I apologize for the lateness of this article. I try to have my waiver wire article out by Tuesday afternoon, but sometimes life interferes and sidetracks us from certain duties. I was in Chicago over the weekend visiting some close friends and got behind on work. Additionally, I am now doing the IDP Forward Projections for Footballguys.com, which take a significant amount of time away from my writing on this website.

Well, enough talk about my boring, mundane life. Let’s talk some IDP Fantasy Football.

A few things I learned last week:

1) The New England defense is BAD. Their IDPs should be on the field quite a bit this season which is good news for Jerod Mayo and Patrick Chung owners.
2) The Giants once again used their “Big Base” defensive package quite a bit and the linebacker numbers suffered as a result. I wouldn’t touch any of the NYG linebackers this season except for possibly Michael Boley against pass-heavy offenses.
3) The Lions are incredibly thin at linebacker and are allowing running backs to get to the 2nd level on a lot of plays. This should be good for C.C. Brown and Louis Delmas’ fantasy value.
4) The Rams scorekeeper continues to be a stingy a-hole and not hand out assists. I have to devalue any IDP playing for or against the Rams when they play in St. Louis.
5) David Hawthorne finally broke out with 9 tackles last game. I’m not buying his value though. I see this game as somewhat of a fluke. Show me again next week and I’ll buy it.

Now let’s take a look at the waiver wire suggestions for this week:

1. LDE Alex Brown (NO) vs. CAR – Brown has been a major disappointment so far this season by posting below average tackle numbers and failing to take down a QB yet. But he has a matchup to die for this week against the Panthers as they have given up nine sacks this year. Brown has been as consistent a defensive lineman as they come over his career and he’s due for a good game. I’d get him in your lineups if your hurting at the DE position.

2. RDE Chris Clemons – We’ve been waiting for this speed rusher to break out and he finally did last week by bringing Phillips Rivers down, not once, but twice. Clemons won’t provide his owners with many tackles, but he could surprise you with his end of the season sack totals. ***SACK-HEAVY LEAGUE SPECIAL***

3. LDE Robaire Smith (CLE) vs. CIN – If you’re looking for consistent week-to-week production from a lineman, Smith is a good option. He doesn’t have much going on in the sack department (man, that sounded dirty), but he’s averaged close to 7 total tackles a game so far this season and should see a good amount of plays run to his side this week in the divisional game against the Bengals.

***THE GURU’S LOCK OF THE WEEK***

RDE Matt Shaughnessy (OAK) vs. HOU – Shaughnessy hasn’t lived up to his preseason fantasy hype primarily because of the heavy rotation used by the Raiders along their defensive line. But Shaughnessy has still managed a respectable two sacks and goes up against backup LT Rashad Butler who surrendered 3 sacks to DeMarcus Ware last week. I’m going with the odds here and predicting that “Shag Nasty” will come through with a sack this week.

1. SLB James Anderson (CAR) @ NO – Dan Connor who? Anderson has outperformed Connor in each of the last two weeks and serves as a confirmation that three-down linebackers (no matter the position) almost always out produce two-down linebackers. Coming off a solid week in which he posted 9 tackles, Anderson has another good matchup against the Saints this week. Get him in your lineups.

2. WILB Paris Lenon (ARI) @ SD – I recommended Lenon last week and he came through with 8 tackles and a sack. Even though he only has an average matchup this week against the Chargers, Lenon is still worth a pickup as he has shown that he can be matchup independent. Ride this hot hand while you can.

SIDE NOTE: I kind of wished I owned London Fletcher. Then I would have “London” and “Paris.” Ba dump!

3. WLB Ashlee Palmer (DET) @ GB – With WLB Zack Follett out after suffering a concussion in Week 2, Palmer saw a good amount of action last week against the Vikings and put up a respectable six tackles. DeAndre Levy suffered a right ankle injury in that game to compound his groin injury and is questionable to play this week. If both Levy and Follett are out this week, Palmer becomes a decent flex play by default. If you’re in one of those crazy deep IDP leagues and need a one week filler, Palmer has a good shot at being your man.
***SUPER-DUPER, DEEP LEAGUE SPECIAL***

4. WLB Zac Diles (HOU) @ OAK – Zac has really been dialing it in this season (pun intended). I stated in Week 1 that I didn’t think his production was a fluke as Diles has shown us good fantasy production in the past. With Brian Cushing returning next week from suspension, this is most likely your last week to cash in on Diles’ above-average production.

POINT OF CLARIFICATION: His name is “Zac” not “Zach.” I’ve seen this wrong on the majority of websites.

5. MLB Rolando McClain (OAK) vs. HOU – McClain has been perhaps the biggest IDP disappointment this season. I’ve seen a lot of owners dump McClain in redraft leagues as there is currently a lot of better options on the waiver wire. But, I think this is the week he finally breaks out. He’s going up against the Texans who figure to pound the ball 30+ times against this Raiders porous run defense. Even though McClain has been playing with too much hesitation and not reading plays quickly enough, he is still ultra-talented and I just don’t see how he doesn’t rack up a good amount of tackles in this matchup.

***THE GURU’S LOCK OF THE WEEK***

WILB Eric Barton (CLE) vs. CIN – Barton’s actual NFL talent is marginal at best, especially at this point in his career. However, he finds himself in a great situation in Cleveland as he is the current frontrunner to take over the WILB duties from the injured D’Qwell Jackson. He put up 7 solos and 2 assists last week and, with little competition within the front seven for tackles, I expect that type of production to continue as long as he remains the starter. He’s got a nice matchup against Cedric Benson and the Bengals this week. My only major concern is that “Mangina” will play musical chairs at this position and not settle on one main guy. However, the upside is high enough to take a risk on Barton especially in deeper leagues.

1. LCB Walter Thurmond (SEA) @ StL – Thurmond came in for the injured Marcus Trufant and was thrown at relentlessly by Phillip Rivers resulting in 8 solo tackles. If Trufant is out again this week, Thurmond will start and we will likely see similar results. He figures to be a nice pickup in CB-required leagues this week.
***DB-REQUIRED SPECIAL***

2. FS Kareem Moore (WAS) @ PHI – We’ve seen average players like Reed Doughty put up respectable numbers out of the free safety position in Washington. After sitting out the first two games with an injury, Moore was immediately inserted back into the starting lineup and came up with six tackles and an interception. I like him as a low DB3 with decent upside.

3. FS Michael Huff (OAK) vs. HOU – The Texans have been extra generous in handing out fantasy points to opposing safeties. Even fantasy dud Gerald Sensabaugh put up 7 solos against them last week. It’s reasonable to expect similar numbers from Huff this week. He could be a nice one week pickup if you’re in a bind.
***DEEP-LEAGUE SPECIAL***

4. LCB Kelvin Hayden (IND) vs. JAX – Hayden’s been averaging close to 7 solo tackles a game this season with a pass deflection in each game. Even though no one expects him to continue this pace, as long as the Colts continue to jump out to quick leads in their games, he’s going to be a solid option moving forward.

***THE GURU’S LOCK OF THE WEEK***

SS Lawyer Milloy (SEA) @ StL – Last week I fought the law and I won. I advised those of you in deeper leagues to snatch up Milloy and he ended up providing his owners with another solid week. He has the advantage of playing closer to the line of scrimmage than most other strong safeties and should continue to post above average tackle numbers as a result.

Thanks a bunch for reading and feel free to ask me any specific questions. I want to help you dominate your fantasy leagues! Until next time, this is The IDP Guru signing off.

Last Updated: September 29, 2010