IDP Fantasy managers, we are back with our top options on the waiver wire for Week 4. The season’s first month is coming to a close, and injuries are starting to pile up. This article will show you some of the top defensive line, linebacker, and defensive back options to ensure you continue improving your roster. Some solid contributors identified in this article over the first three weeks include Patrick Jones, Baylon Spector, and Alontae Taylor. Let’s get to this week’s names…
High-Priority IDP Fantasy Pickups
Defensive Line (DL)
Mike Danna | Kansas City Chiefs
IDP managers know how difficult it is to roster depth at the defensive line position. When a player starts the season hot, it’s worth the dart throws of just hoping you land a consistent contributor. This week, we look to the Kansas City Chiefs’ EDGE rusher Mike Danna. The former Michigan Wolverine is coming off his best season in 2023 with 50 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and finishing as DL67 in fantasy points per game (FPPG).
Mike Danna is off to another solid start in 2024. Through the first three games, he currently ranks as DL46. Danna has a 65% defensive snap share this season, including over 70% in the past two games. He is only rostered in fewer than 10% of IDP leagues across the Sleeper and MyFantasyLeague.com (MFL) platforms. Danna will probably not win you a matchup in a given week, but his consistency and solid tackle floor give you a solid starter at the DL position.
Linebacker (LB)
Christian Rozeboom | Los Angeles Rams
IDP managers were bummed out after the late off-season trade of Ernest Jones, who has posted consecutive 100+ tackle seasons for the Los Angeles Rams. This left a frail linebacker group for the Rams, which has performed poorly over the first three games. However, a veteran undrafted LB, Christian Rozeboom, has stood out early this season. The South Dakota State product has averaged 7.3 tackles per game on a 77% defensive snap share.
Many times, IDP managers are left scrambling, looking for LB production during the season. Rozeboom is a player who will continue to be on the field, if nothing else, because of the weak depth chart for the Rams. The Rams LB is on pace to set a career-high in tackles this season; he currently ranks as the LB49 in FPPG as we enter Week 4.
Defensive Back (DB)
Tykee Smith | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Very few things make an IDP analyst as happy as late-round rookies making an impact. Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie defensive back Tykee Smith is off to a great start to his NFL career with 15 tackles and a 65% defensive snap share. The Buccaneers’ rookie has played nearly 87% of his snaps as the slot CB, a role he excelled at with the Georgia Bulldogs. Despite not being the most significant player, Smith plays the game with a linebacker mindset, which is evident in his tackle numbers.
Tykee Smith has averaged 6.5 tackles per game over the past two weeks and looks to have solidified himself as a starter in the slot, even when star DB Antoine Winfield Jr. returns. Fantasy managers who have not had things go their way to start the season, or who might be looking to start planning for their rookie drafts can add a player like Smith and trade away some of their veterans at the DB position.
Best of the Rest IDP Fantasy
Defensive Line (DL)
Brian Bresee | New Orleans Saints
Let’s try something newer and give you DT data for this week. Admittedly, this year’s content has lacked some of the more hardcore IDP fantasy manager’s content. Yes, I’m talking about those of us who play in leagues that require multiple starters at the defensive tackle and cornerback positions. Fair warning: if you don’t play in these formats and you’re looking for a serious challenge, these leagues will give you that.
The New Orleans Saints’ former 2023 first-round pick has started the season strong. If you’re interested, here’s my rookie profile from 2023 on Brian Bresee.
Bresee collected 24 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a rookie last season, finishing 78th among qualifying defensive tackles in (FPPG). This season, He entered 2024 looking to make a giant leap and has done well so far with 3 sacks in his first three games. Bresee is currently DT11 and DL49 in FPPG despite not scoring a single fantasy point in Week 1. The former Clemson Tiger has a 66% defensive snap share this season, averaging 44.3 snaps per game. Brian Bresee should be at the top of your list in those leagues with DT-premium scoring this week.
Linebacker (LB)
Raekwon McMillan | New England Patriots
Fantasy managers know the pain of having New England Patriots players on your dynasty teams. As a seasoned IDP manager, I can share that it’s just as frustrating with IDPs as offensive players. The New England defense lost their leader, Ja’Whaun Bentley, who had posted three consecutive 100+ tackle seasons, to a season-ending injury in Week 2. Since the injury, veteran LB Raekwon McMillan has stepped up. The former Ohio State Buckeye has battled injuries throughout his 8 NFL seasons. Remarkably, he’s still only 27 years old and finds himself in a great spot to offer IDP managers much-needed help at the LB position.
McMillan has posted 16 tackles over his past two games and should benefit from playing behind defensive tackle Keion White, who is having a fantastic season, as referenced HERE. The Patriots have very little competition in the LB position, which should lead to more opportunities for more snaps for McMillan. Raekwon McMillan finished as the LB21 in Week 3 and is rostered in fewer than 5% of leagues ahead of Week 4 waivers.
Defensive Back (DB)
Riley Moss | Denver Broncos
As promised this week, we are committing to the CB-required IDP managers. Riley Moss has been on my radar for the first few weeks. I gravitate towards his play style as an IDP manager. He’s an aggressive cornerback who plays across from one of the game’s best, Patrick Surtain II. Typically, NFL quarterbacks will stay away from the defense’s top cornerback, which leads to many opportunities for the other starting CB. Moss has played 98% of the defensive snaps this season, averaging 5.3 tackles per game, and has been targeted 16 times through the first three weeks. He should continue to produce consistent numbers for IDP fantasy managers.
IDP Fantasy Players to Monitor
Demario Davis | New Orleans Saints (Soft Tissue Injury)
Demario Davis has been the definition of steady for IDP managers over his career. He’s on a streak of seven consecutive seasons with at least 100 tackles. Unfortunately, Davis was forced out of action late in the Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He did return for a few snaps but seemed bothered by what was reported as a soft tissue injury. All signs report a potential hamstring injury.
It’s worth noting that Davis had a similar injury in late July during training camp. Pete Werner and Demario Davis are one of the most underrated linebacker duos in the NFL, but it’s clear Davis is the leader of the defense. IDP managers should expect Werner to see a spike in numbers, but Willie Gay Jr. will likely take Davis’s spot if he can’t suit up in Week 4. The former Chiefs linebacker has never been a high-volume tackler. However, he always finds a way to make an impact play, as he did with a fumble recovery in Week 3.
Derwin James | Los Angeles Chargers (Suspension)
Injuries are hard enough to deal with for IDP managers; adding in suspension for illegal hits is now another thing to keep in mind. At least for injuries, there are options to stash those players in your designated injured reserve (IR) spots. Unfortunately, this isn’t Derwin James’ first violation of player safety, and it will likely not be his last. Pending an appeal, James is going to miss this week.
The player IDP fantasy managers should be targeting is DB Alohi Gilman. The former Notre Dame defensive back will see an expanded role with James out. Gilman should also see an increase in box snaps. His usage with Derwin James out of the lineup should provide more opportunities for tackles. Alohi Gilman had three tackles and an interception in his last game against the Kansas City Chiefs and is rostered in fewer than 20% of fantasy leagues.
IDP Fantasy Summary
The IDP waiver wire data overload for Week 4 is complete. This seems well received, and the feedback has been powerful. We love doing this as a site, and offering free IDP content will continue. Please watch for the weekly columns this weekend to give you the advantage of staying ahead of your league mates. Good luck this week as we hunt for gold on the waiver wire in IDP leagues.
