Week 10 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the overlooked IDP players who showed out in Week 10. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 10, so there are more than a few intriguing names on the waiver wire in leagues of all sizes. Let’s take a look at some of the names that may be worth some of your free agent budget.
Week 11 IDP Waiver Wire
Linebacker
Elandon Roberts (LB – PIT): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Elandon bounced back in Week 10 with a strong line of six solos, two assists, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. He is set to be thrust into an expanded role due to the injuries to Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander and should be one of the top IDP targets for Week 11. Elandon has impressed on limited snaps and could easily cement himself as an LB2 option with a starter’s role. He is an obvious fit in the Steelers scheme; it is just that inconsistent snaps led to inconsistent enough production to keep him in the LB3 range. The ceiling is high here. Add and start Elandon everywhere as an LB2 option for a plus Week 11 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Kaden Elliss (LB – ATL): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Kaden Elliss was excellent in Week 10, recording six solos, five assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Both Elliss and teammate Nate Landman had strong fantasy outings, with solid solo counts and a sack a piece. Elliss has disappointed relative to expectations this season but may be turning a corner as far as his comfort level in the Falcons’ scheme. Atlanta is on bye in Week 11, so managers wishing to add Elliss to their roster should be aware that rival managers’ FAAB claims will not be as aggressive as they otherwise might be. Add Elliss as an LB3 option who can easily enter the top-tier LB2 range wherever needed.
Isaiah McDuffie (LB – GB): 1% rostered on Yahoo
McDuffie has shined whenever Quay Walker or De’Vondre Campbell miss time, most recently recording seven solos and three assists against the Steelers in Week 10. McDuffie will be a top waiver add this week, but managers should be especially aggressive if there is no positive news regarding Quay in the coming days. Add and start McDuffie everywhere as an elite LB3 option if Quay misses another game.
Devin Lloyd (LB – JAC): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Lloyd has been excellent since returning from injury, most recently recording seven solos and three assists in Week 10. Lloyd has recorded five or more solos in each of his last four games, with seven in three of those four. He is an easy LB2, even on non byes, so he should be rostered and started universally in competitive leagues. Add the talented linebacker wherever possible.
Jack Sanborn (LB – CHI): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Sanborn got another start in Week 10, recording three solos, four assists, and one pass defended. The production was modest and not what fantasy managers were hoping for, but Sanborn remains an elite LB2 play for as long as Tremaine Edmunds remains sidelined. Sanborn should be rostered in all competitive leagues for the time being. Make the add where available.
Others to consider: Denzel Perryman (LB – HOU): 1%, Deion Jones (LB – CAR): 0%, David Mayo (LB – WAS): 1%, Micah McFadden (LB – NYG): 4%, Jahlani Tavai (LB – NE): 1%, Blake Cashman (LB -HOU): 4%, Jack Campbell (LB – DET): 6%
Defensive Line
Boye Mafe (DE – SEA): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Boye Mafe continues to cook for the Seattle Seahawks, most recently recording four solos, one assist, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. One game away from joining truly elite company, Mafe has now recorded a sack in seven straight games. His seven sacks tie him for 12th in the league. Mafe needs to be started as a DL1 option as long as he is on fire, and will be a DL2 option when he starts to cool down. Mafe should be rostered in all competitive leagues. Start him as a DL1 option for a plus Week 11 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
B.J. Ojulari (DE/LB – ARI): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Ojulari went off in Week 10, recording four solos, four assists, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. He is still playing limited snaps but saw a season-high 52 percent against the Atlanta Falcons. He now has three sacks in his last three games and may be settling in as far as adjusting to the NFL’s game speed. Ojulari is highly talented and could emerge down the stretch as a major factor, so fantasy managers will want to add the edge rusher where possible. Add and start Ojulari as a DL3 option for a plus Week 10 matchup against the Houston Texans.
Jadeveon Clowney (DE – BAL): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Clowney was excellent in Week 10 against one of his former teams, racking up two solos, four assists, two sacks, and two tackles for loss against the Cleveland Browns. He is now up to 5.5 sacks on the season and makes for a solid bye week filler where needed. His sacks have come in bunches this season (four have come in two of his games), and his solo count is not where fantasy managers would like it to be, so he is more bye week filler than every week DL3. With that said, we are on a four team bye, and the Ravens will be facing off against a Cincinnati Bengals team that has had its issues in pass protection. Start Jadeveon as a DL3 option where needed.
Sheldon Rankins (DT – HOU): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Rankins was elite in Week 10, recording five solos, three sacks, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. He now has a sack in two straight games and is up to four on the season. He has entered the DT1 conversation with his strong play and is also a DL3 option for Week 11. Expectations need to be tempered, but the Texans’ defense is clicking right now and playing like a unit that believes they have a guy at quarterback that can win them any game. Start Rankins where needed as a DT1/DL3 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Dayo Odeyingbo (DT/DE – IND): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Dayo was excellent in Week 10, reeling off four solos, three sacks, and three tackles for loss. He has started to heat up for the Colts and now has four sacks in his last two games. Sitting at six sacks on the season, it is time to start taking Dayo seriously again, especially now that he is getting a higher concentration of his snaps on the edge. Add and start Dayo as a DL3 where needed.
Others to consider: Odafe Oweh (DE/LB – BAL): 0%, Dennis Gardeck (DE/LB – ARI): 1%, Derrick Brown (DT – CAR): 3%, Harold Landry (DE/LB – TEN): 1%, Denico Autry (DT/DE – TEN): 6%, Yannick Ngakoue (DE – CHI): 4%, Leonard Williams (DT/DE – SEA): 4%, Sam Williams (DE – DAL): 0%
Defensive Back
Kerby Joseph (S – DET): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Kerby Joseph was excellent in Week 10, racking up five solos, two assists, one interception, and one pass defended. Kerby has been a strong DB3 option since returning from injury, recording at least four solos in four of his five games. He has recorded five or more solos in two of his last three. He should already be on rosters as a DB3 but makes for an intriguing DB2 play for Week 11, thanks to a plus matchup against the Caleb-chasing Chicago Bears.
Keanu Neal (S – PIT): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Keanu Neal appears set to make another start for the Steelers this weekend after a strong Week 10 that saw him record four solos, four assists, one interception, and one pass defended. Minkah Fitzpatrick missed his second straight game and will likely be a DNP for at least the first two practices this week. Pittsburgh’s defense has kept them in the Wild Card race, so expect the Steelers to be cautious with their superstar safety as they eye having him healthy for the stretch run and potentially the playoffs. An IR stint was considered, so this was always going to be a two to four week injury; Pittsburgh is just hoping he doesn’t miss the full four games he would be forced to miss if they had made that move when he initially hurt his hamstring. Start Keanu as a DB2 option for as long as Minkah is sidelined.
Xavier McKinney (S – NYG): 2% rostered on Yahoo
McKinney makes yet another appearance in this column. McKinney finished Week 10 with eight solos and two assists and has now recorded an elite seven or more solos in back-to-back games. He has recorded five or more solos in four of his last six, with four or more in five of those six. Suffice it to say that McKinney has been a DB2 in fantasy points on the season and a DB1 (DB11) since Week 5. Add and start McKinney everywhere as a strong DB2 play for a plus Week 11 matchup against Washington.
Percy Butler (S – WAS): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Percy Butler was excellent in Week 10, racking up six solos, three assists, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. It was his first game recording more than four solos since getting tapped as the starter following Darrick Forrest being lost for the season, and may be a sign of good things to come. He continues to play 100 percent of the snaps despite rookie Jartavius Martin seeing an expanded role, making him roster-worthy in all competitive leagues. Add and start Butler as a DB3 for a terrific Week 11 matchup against the New York Giants.
Rudy Ford (S – GB): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Rudy was excellent in Week 10, reeling off seven solos and three assists. Ford has been a steady DB2 force when healthy and should be started in all competitive leagues. He has recorded four or more solos in all but one week this season, giving him the type of floor we expect from DB1s. Start him as a strong DB2 play for a plus Week 11 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Others to consider: DeAndre Houston-Carson (S – HOU): 0%, Jonathan Owens (S – GB): 1%, Alohi Gilman (S – LAC): 0%, Marcus Maye (S – NO): 1%, Josh Metellus (S – MIN): 7%, Tracy Walker (S – DET): 2%, Jamal Adams (S – SEA): 3%
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