It’s that time again, IDP Nerds! As we head into Week 8 of the fantasy football season, IDP fantasy managers are searching for the next big playmaker on defense. In this week’s edition, we’ll break down the top waiver wire adds at each position—DL, LB, and DB—to help bolster your squad. Plus, we’ll cover a critical injury that could shake up the IDP landscape and impact your lineup decisions ahead of the weekend’s matchups. Let’s get into it!
High-Priority IDP Fantasy Pickups
Defensive Line (DL)
Dante Fowler | Washington Commanders
I hope you all listened last week when Dante Fowler was listed under “Best of the Rest.” If not, prepare to spend some of your FAAB ahead of Week 8. The former Florida Gator has been one of the hottest defensive linemen in fantasy over the last month. The Washington Commanders remain one of the top-10 defenses in sacking opposing quarterbacks this season.
Midway through the year, bye weeks and injuries could single-handedly lose you a matchup. Sometimes, we must ride the hot hand; Dante Fowler is almost too hot to touch. Fowler has played at least 53% of the snaps in every game since Week 3. During that span, he is DL15 overall. The Commanders EDGE rusher is DL7 in fantasy points per game over his past 3 games with 7 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 defensive touchdown. It’s important to note that all 3 Commanders EDGE rushers played together in Week 7, and Fowler thrived with a 53% defensive snap share.
Linebacker (LB)
Eric Wilson | Green Bay Packers
As a rotational linebacker, Eric Wilson has been highly efficient for the Green Bay defense this season. He has just a 19% defensive snap share but has posted an overall defensive grade over 82.0—twice (Pro Football Focus). The veteran LB saw his highest snap count of the season (57), with Quay Walker leaving the game early in Week 7.
Eric Wilson posted 5 tackles and 2 sacks against the Houston Texans. Quay Walker will likely remain in concussion protocol for most of the week. IDP fantasy managers should take advantage and add Eric Wilson to their teams.
Defensive Back (DB)
Taron Johnson | Buffalo Bills
Taron Johnson is one of the rare cornerbacks in IDP fantasy football that should be on all rosters. The Nickel CB for the Buffalo Bills defense has recorded 90 tackles or more in 3 of his last 4 seasons. He spent the majority of the first 5 games of this season on the injury report without an IR designation. The Weber State product has since returned to the Buffalo defense and picked up where he left off.
Both IDP fantasy managers and the Buffalo Bills defense sorely missed Taron Johnson. Since returning, Johnson has collected 15 tackles and a game-winning interception. He has been CB7 and DB23 in FPPG over his last 8 quarters. Now is an excellent time to get this IDP stud on your roster. Johnson has posted 190 fantasy points or more in 4 consecutive seasons.
Best of the Rest IDP
Defensive Line (DL)
Arden Key | Tennessee Titans
Arden Key is coming off his best game of the season, in which he recorded his first sack. The former LSU Tiger was the DL34 in Week 7. The Tennessee Titans are a bottom-3 team in sacks this season, but Key was able to record a sack against the Buffalo Bills, who have allowed the 2nd fewest in the NFL. Arden Key has a consistent 74% defensive snap share and has played at least 41 snaps per game. It is an added depth player for IDP fantasy managers. Hopefully, the Titans’ defense will create more pressure in the coming weeks and Arden Key can start to put together more consistent performances.
Linebacker (LB)
Grant Stuard | Indianapolis Colts
Admittedly, we had the wrong depth addition at linebacker last week. As Colts starting linebacker E.J. Speed was dealing with an injury, it appeared Jaylon Carlies would be the next man up. However, that was not the case, as veteran LB Grant Stuard stepped in. The 4th-year player from the University of Houston had a monster week with 19 tackles.
As it sometimes goes in fantasy football, Grant Stuard comes into the game with just 7 career tackles and finishes as LB1 overall in Week 7. Assuming Speed continues to be sidelined due to injury, Grant Stuard should be the top LB waiver add ahead of Week 8.
Defensive Back (DB)
Jordan Howden | New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints have suffered devastating injuries over the past few weeks. While most of the damage was being done on the offensive side of the ball, IDP managers felt the pain after last week’s blowout against the Denver Broncos. Unfortunately, the DB1 in FPPG heading into the previous week, Paulson Adebo, will miss the rest of the season after suffering a lower-body injury in Week 7.
Jordan Howden is a player to watch in the New Orleans secondary. Howden has had 18 tackles over his past 2 games while playing a season-high in snaps in back-to-back games. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher DB has finished as the DB24 overall in points since Week 6. It’s truly a “next man up” mentality for the Saints, and Howden should be able to produce fantasy points for your teams.
IDP Fantasy Players to Monitor
Terrel Bernard | Buffalo Bills
I know this feels like Groundhog Day, but weren’t we just here with the Buffalo Bills’ top linebacker option? Unfortunately, here we go again, as Terrel Bernard left the Week 7 matchup twice after head and ankle injuries. Hopefully, the late ankle injury was just precautionary as the Bills had the win in hand late in the game.
Much like last time, Baylon Spector will be the top option to replace Bernard if he is to miss another game this season. The Bills backup LB averaged 7.3 tackles per game in 3 starts. At this point of the season, you need to add all of the insurance policies you can, and for managers of Terrel Bernard, this is your best bet.
IDP Fantasy Summary
As we approach the midway point of the season, staying proactive on the waiver wire is essential. Even if you’re no longer competing for a playoff spot, staying engaged can help refine your strategy and make the season more enjoyable. Plus, staying active now could give you an edge for next season by identifying future stars before your league mates do. Keep grinding, make those savvy pickups, and don’t let a tough season stop you from building for the future. Good luck this week, and let’s continue to improve those IDP fantasy rosters.
If this season has not gone as you expected, check out the Dynasty Nerds Mock Draft to see what some of our writers have to say about your favorite 2025 Draft prospects.
