The IDP landscape can be a cruel terrain to navigate at times. Injuries are inevitable, but can still hurt none the less. Last Sunday, defensive end J.J. Watt was lost for the season, due to a torn pectoral. Losing one of the top scorers at a position that is thin at the top to begin with further decreases the talent pool as the fantasy playoffs approach.

It’s all good. That’s where we come in to help IDP owners by searching high and low for the best waiver wire options on a weekly basis. With four teams that more than a handful of top linebackers play for on their bye weeks, it’s not an easy task. That being said, let’s take a look at some of the top Week 9 IDP waiver wire options. Keep in mind that Atlanta, Cincinnati, the Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans are on their bye weeks.

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Josh Allen (DL – JAC) – 22% owned (9% FAAB)
It is more than a little surprising to see the rookie defensive end owned at just a 22% rate. He had two more sacks last week, which brings his streak of posting at least one to four games. He leads the team in sacks with seven, as well as quarterback hits with 13. On the season, he is putting up top-12 defensive linemen numbers in most balanced scoring formats. While he is in a rotation along the Jaguars’ defensive line, Allen is averaging 71% of the snaps. Getting a top-notch edge rusher on waivers at this point in the season could mean the difference between just making the playoffs or bringing home a championship.

Matt Ioannidis (DL – WAS) – 13% owned (4% FAAB)
In his fourth season, Ioannidis has quietly become a highly productive IDP option at defensive end. In his last three games, he has put up 16 total tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for a loss. Through the first eight games, he has put up a career-high in total tackles with 40 and has added 3.5 sacks. The playing time is there for continued success as he is averaging 77% of the snaps this season. He is currently putting up top-15 numbers for defensive linemen in balanced scoring formats. This week he faces a Bills’ offense that has allowed 10.5 sacks to opposing defensive linemen.

Michael Bennett (DL – DAL) – 4% owned (1% FAAB)
Let’s try to get ahead of the curve with this waiver wire selection. After a brief, albeit eventful, stay with New England, Bennett is now a member of the Cowboys’ defense. He never seemed to fit in with the Patriots as his snap counts diminished weekly and he was suspended a game for conduct detrimental to the team and ultimately traded to Dallas. He did have a bit of success while playing just 33% of the snaps, posting five total tackles, and 2.5 sacks in five games played. He’ll step into a rotation with DeMarcus Lawrence and Robert Quinn, which is an excellent spot to jump-start his season. He will face very few double teams, allowing him to get after the quarterback. He is a great pickup that can be had on the cheap.

Jon Bostic (LB – WAS) – 8% owned (4% FAAB)
The Redskins decided to overhaul their linebacking corps heading into the season, moving on from Mason Foster and Zach Brown. Unfortunately, they lost Reuben Foster (ACL) for the season in May and turned to the much-traveled Bostic. Playing for his fifth team in six seasons, the journeyman linebacker has settled in nicely on the Redskins’ defense. He has been particularly productive over the past three games, in which he has put up 24 total tackles and a sack. Those are top-20 linebacker totals in balanced scoring formats. The matchup this week is a positive one, as the Bills’ offense is among the top 10 in allowing production to opposing linebackers.

Blake Cashman (LB – NYJ) – 4% owned (3% FAAB)
The Jets’ linebacking corps has been ravaged by injuries and this is truly a last-man-standing situation. It appears that C.J. Mosley will miss significant time with a groin issue and Neville Hewitt is dealing with both knee and neck injuries. That leaves the rookie Cashman as the main man in the middle of the Jets’ defense. While likely forced into a full-time role sooner than the coaching staff would have preferred, he has himself nicely. Last week, he played 97% of the snaps, finishing with six total tackles and a fumble recovery. On the season, he has put up 38 total tackles, half a sack, three tackles for a loss, and a recovered fumble. A three-down starting linebacker on a team with a struggling offense is an asset as the fantasy playoffs loom ahead.

Matt Milano (LB – BUF) – 12% owned (3% FAAB)
After missing Week 7 and putting in a week of limited practices due to a hamstring injury Milano was considered a game-time decision last Sunday. He not only managed to play, but he also ended up having a monster game, putting up a season-high 13 total tackles. More importantly, he played 100% of the defensive snaps. In his third season, he is emerging as a solid IDP contributor on the Bills’ defense alongside Tremaine Edmunds. In his first six games, he is averaging 7.3 tackles per game, which puts him on pace to surpass the triple-digit plateau. The matchup this week is a middling one as the Redskins’ offense has been running the ball just 20.4 times per game. He is worth a stash and grab as better matchups lay ahead.

Roderic Teamer (DB – LAC) – 2% owned (3% FAAB)
Injuries have hit the Chargers’ secondary hard this season, particularly at the strong safety position. Derwin James was placed on injured reserve in the preseason with a stress fracture in his foot and then his replacement Adrian Phillips was lost to a broken forearm in Week 2. The team turned to rookie undrafted free agent Teamer out of Tulane. Last week, he put up eight solo tackles and a sack. Since taking over in Week 3, he has racked up 39 total tackles, a sack, an interception, and two passes defended. Those are top-15 defensive back numbers in standard-scoring formats.

Eric Reid (DB – CAR) – 23% owned (5% FAAB)
The veteran safety has found a home in Carolina and is having a very productive season for IDP purposes. As the starting strong safety, he has played 99% of the snaps and is coming off of an eight-total tackle, one-sack performance last week. He has put up at least six total tackles in five straight games and has also been a big-play producer. Through his first seven games, he has two sacks and a pair of recovered fumbles. In his seven seasons in the league, he has put up 23 big plays, including 11 interceptions. The matchup this week against the Titans’ offense isn’t an ideal one, but they have allowed five big plays to opposing defensive backs in the past three weeks.

Quandre Diggs (DB – SEA) – 3% owned (1% FAAB)
There are a lot of moving pieces in the secondary for Seattle these days as they sort out the safety position. Bradley McDougald continues to deal with a back injury that had him inactive for Week 7 and an active bystander in Week 8 that didn’t play a snap. Rookie Marquise Blair has been more than a solid replacement for the veteran. The newly acquired Diggs is dealing with a hamstring issue that limited him in practice last week, but should make his debut in Week 9. The current Seahawks’ safeties lack a playmaker and he can fill that void. In his career, he has put up 10 big plays, including six interceptions and a defensive touchdown.

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Walton Spurlin is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Walton, check out his archive and follow him @waltonspurlin.