2019 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 16

Defensive Linemen
(Previously recommended DLs: Sam Hubbard, Nick Bosa, Quinton Jefferson, Denico Autry, Chase Winovich, Robert Quinn, Brian Burns, Stephon Tuitt, Josh Allen, Robert Quinn, Ezekiel Ansah, Vic Beasley, Takkarist McKinley, Nick Bosa, Robert Quinn, Matt Ioannidis, Mario Addison, Jarran Reed, Jerry Hughes, Jarran Reed, Taco Charlton, Jabaal Sheard, Jeffery Simmons, Jason Pierre-Paul, DeMarcus Walker, Jason Pierre-Paul, Bruce Irvin, Yannick Ngakoue, Frank Clark, Jabaal Sheard, Leonard Williams, Clelin Ferrell, Derek Wolfe, Jordan Phillips, Maxx Crosby, Jarran Reed, Chad Thomas, Carlos Dunlap, Jabaal Sheard, Lawrence Guy, Derek Barnett, Olivier Vernon, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Jarran Reed, Alex Okafor, Sheldon Richardson)

DE Carlos Dunlap (CIN) – After a very slow start to the season, Dunlap has really turned on the jets over his last five games. During that span, he has 30 total tackles and 5.5 sacks. I like for him to keep that hot streak going against a Dolphins offensive line that has had a difficult time protecting the quarterback this year. He should be started with confidence in most leagues.

DT Kenny Clark (GB) – After two solid seasons in 2017 and 2018, Clark has fallen back down to Earth in 2019. He went through a 10-week stretch between Weeks 3 and 13 where he failed to register a sack. However, he has ramped up things lately with 3.5 sacks over his last two games and has a very appealing matchup against the Vikings this week who give up the third most points to opposing defensive tackles. He makes for a solid DT2+/DT1- for Week 16.

DE Vic Beasley (ATL) – Beasley, the 8th overall pick in the 2015 draft, has largely been a bust outside of a 15.5 sack campaign in 2016. He’s been very quiet for the vast majority of this season but is riding a mini hot streak coming into Week 16 as he’s compiled three sacks over his last two games. The Jaguars aren’t a great matchup for opposing defensive ends, but Beasley has multi-sack potential and may be worth the risk for owners looking for high ceiling potential. 

Linebackers
(Previously recommended LBs: Jordan Hicks, Shaq Thompson, Josey Jewell, Kyzir White, Blake Cashman, Zach Cunningham, Quincy Williams, Mark Barron, Kevin Minter, Anthony Walker, Bobby Okereke, Shaq Barrett, Mack Wilson, Ryan Connelly, Todd Davis, Devondre Campbell, Nicholas Morrow, Nick Kwiatkoski, Vince Williams, A.J. Johnson, Ben Niemann, Troy Reeder, Rashaan Evans, Wesley Woodyard, A.J. Johnson, David Mayo, Nate Gerry, Najee Goode, Bernardrick McKinney, Lorenzo Alexander, Blake Cashman, Rashaan Evans, Blake Cashman, Austin Calitro, Sean Lee, Wesley Woodyard, Brandon Copeland, Nick Kwiatkoski, Jerome Baker, Drue Tranquill, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Neville Hewitt, Clay Matthews, Bernardrick McKinney, Drue Tranquill, Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Sean Lee, Anthony Walker, Donald Payne, Joe Walker, Donald Payne, James Burgess, Nick Kwiatkoski, Jahlani Tavai, Craig Robertson)

OLB Sean Lee (DAL) – After not practicing all week, Lee was quite questionable to play coming into the Cowboys’ Week 15 contest against the Rams. However, he ended up starting and having one of his better games in recent memory with 4 tackles, a sack, and an interception. LVE doesn’t sound close to returning, so Lee will more than likely get another start this week in a pivotal matchup with the Eagles that will likely decide who wins the NFC East. This said, I expect him to be super geared up for this game and he should put up low-end LB2 numbers.

ILB Will Compton (OAK) – In somewhat of a surprise move, the Raiders opted to utilize Compton as the team’s sole every down linebacker last week. He responded with 9 total tackles. The matchup this week against the Chargers is middle of the road, but Compton has shown the ability to be a fairly efficient point scorer in the past, so for owners in a bind in Championship week, he has the potential to serve as a competent LB4 option.

OLB Ryan Anderson (WAS) – Anderson has four sacks over his last four games and had the first multi-sack performance of his young career last week while filling in for the injured Ryan Kerrigan in a near every-down capacity. If Kerrigan is out again, Anderson becomes an intriguing play in deeper IDP leagues that reward more heavily for big plays, especially considering he plays a Giants team that allows the third most points to edge-rushing OLBs.

OLB Austin Calitro (JAX) – The Jaguars linebacking crew has been absolutely decimated with injuries as Myles Jack, Quincy Williams, and Jake Ryan are all on injured reserve. This allowed for Calitro to play 75% of the defensive snaps against the Raiders last week and he compiled an attractive 8-3-1 stat line. Although he was the benefactor of a great matchup and isn’t quite a full-time player, the matchup this week is fairly good as well (top 8) and he may be worth a look as a LB4+ in very deep IDP leagues.

Defensive Backs
(Previously recommended DBs: Juan Thornhill, Jordan Whitehead, Xavier Woods, Ronnie Harrison, Terrell Edmunds, Tracy Walker, Darnell Savage, Kemal Ishmael, Roderick Teamer, Tre Flowers, Reshad Jones, Khari Willis, Dre Kirkpatrick, Eric Weddle, Isaiah Oliver, Eric Reid, Byron Murphy, Maurice Canady, Jermaine Whitehead, Taylor Rapp, Marquise Blair, Ken Crawley, Morgan Burnett, Darnell Savage, DeAndre Baker, Taylor Rapp, Tavon Wilson, Patrick Peterson, Erik Harris, Morgan Burnett, Khari Willis, Reshad Jones, Kenny Moore, Adrian Amos, Derwin James, Adrian Phillips, Adoree’ Jackson, Julian Love, Malcolm Jenkins, Tre Boston, Andrew Wingard, Khari Willis, Tye Smith, Sheldrick Redwine)

S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (NO) – Johnson filled in for the injured Von Bell and racked up a solid 6-2 tackle line on 71% of the defensive snaps played. This stat line is more impressive when you consider the Saints offense controlled the time of possession. If Bell misses another game, Gardner-Johnson remains a solid DB3+ pickup even in a non full-time role given the productive nature of the SS position in the Saints’ defensive scheme.

CB Sam Beal (NYG) – The release of Janoris Jenkins opened the door for Beal to assume a starting role at cornerback last week. Not surprisingly, the Dolphins attacked him a lot and that translated to Beal leading the team with tackles with 11 (8 solo). Washington isn’t a great matchup, but I think Beal should still have a solid game as he will likely continue to get thrown at relentlessly.

CB Danny Johnson (WAS) – Johnson was just activated off the PUP list last week and, due to the plethora of injuries at the position, he was directly inserted into a prominent role. Additionally, Jimmy Moreland exited this past week’s game with an injury pushing Johnson into a starting role, racking up 9 solo tackles and an assist in the process despite a relatively poor matchup. He has a top 5 matchup against the Giants this week and should remain a great streaming option at the position as long as he continues to start.

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Last Updated: December 17, 2019