Fantasy Football IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 16 (2025)

Week 15 is now in the books. Congratulations if you are reading this, as it likely means you made the semis or got a bye week in at least one of your leagues. There are numerous storylines to track after an exciting week of football, but perhaps the most significant is the overlooked IDP players who showed out in Week 15. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 15, 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 16 IDP Waiver Wire

Linebacker

Matt Milano (LB – BUF): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Matt Milano went off in Week 15, piling up nine solos, one assist, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Milano stepped up when it mattered the most for the Bills and fantasy managers alike, and becomes an option for the final weeks of the season despite being bench depth at best most of the season. The veteran linebacker turned on the switch in the heavyweight clash against New England and could be leaned on heavily this week if Terrel Bernard is sidelined again. Treat him as an LB3/flex option for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

D’Marco Jackson (LB – CHI): 1% rostered on Yahoo
D’Marco Jackson stepped up in Week 15, reeling off two solos, five assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception, and two passes defended. His solo count has been muted since Week 12, but this performance puts Jackson back on the flex radar for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Add and start D’Marco where needed in deeper formats.

Drue Tranquill (LB – KC): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Drue was excellent in Week 15, tallying eight solos, six assists, and one tackle for loss. Tranquill has put together three LB3 or better level performances in his last five games, putting the veteran linebacker on the flex radar for a tasty Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Add the Chiefs’ linebacker where needed for semifinals week.

Dre Greenlaw (LB – DEN): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Greenlaw was productive in Week 15, racking up five solos and three assists. The showing makes it three plus outings in his last five, but Dre has struggled in the solo department prior to this, instead relying on peripheral contributions. Tap him as an upside LB3/flex option for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Add Greenlaw where needed.

Azeez Al-Shaair (LB – HOU): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Al-Shaair was excellent in Week 15, ripping off seven solos and five assists. Azeez has started rolling for the IDP managers, putting together four straight plus outings, with at least four solos and three assists in all four. Start Azeez with confidence as a potential LB2 option for Week 16, thanks to a plus matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Defensive Line

Abdul Carter (DE/LB – NYG): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Abdul Carter stepped up in Week 15, stacking five solos, two assists, one sack, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Has just 2.5 sacks on the season, but is riding a two game sack streak heading into a tasty Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Tap him as a DL3/flex option where needed in competitive leagues. Make the add where possible, even if it is just to block your opponent.

Tuli Tuipulotu (DE/LB – LAC): 8% rostered on Yahoo
Tuipulotu stayed hot in Week 15, generating four solos, two sacks, and three tackles for loss. Now fifth in the league with 12 sacks, the Chargers’ edge rusher has seven sacks in his last seven games, with at least one sack in five of those seven. Fire Tuli up as a top-15 option for Week 16 despite the neutral-at-best matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Odafe Oweh (DE/LB – LAC): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Odafe was excellent in Week 15, piling up four solos, two sacks, and three tackles for loss. Oweh is up to seven sacks on the season, with at least one sack in back-to-back games. Treat Oweh as an elite DL3 option for a neutral-at-best Week 16 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

James Pearce (DE/LB – ATL): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Pearce stayed scorching in Week 15, tallying two solos, one assist, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and two passes defended. Suddenly up to an elite eight sacks in his rookie season, Pearce has registered at least one QB takedown in a stellar six straight contests, a span where he recorded 7.5 of his eight sacks on the year. Fire the exciting rookie edge rusher up as a DL2 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Chase Young (DE – NO): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Chase Young stayed hot in Week 15, racking up four solos, two assists, one sack, and two tackles for loss. Young is up to six sacks on the season, with a sack in three of his last four games, and five of his last seven. Tap Chase as a top-25 option for a tasty Week 16 matchup against the New York Jets. Make the add wherever possible.

Defensive Back

Nick Emmanwori (S – SEA): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Emmanwori stayed hot in Week 15, ripping off six solos, one assist, one sack, one tackle for loss, and two passes defended. The rookie has been scintillating for fantasy managers and checks in as the DB1 in fppg since Week 10. Already locked in as a top-10 IDP pick at his position in future seasons, start Emmanwori with confidence as a DB1 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against a suddenly banged-up Rams offense. Pancake block on the rookie, add him even if you do not need him, as you do not want your rival using him against you.

Antonio Johnson (S – JAC): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Antonio Johnson was at it again in Week 15, racking up five solos, one interception, and one pass defended. Johnson has tallied five or more solos in three of his last four, putting him on the DB2 radar for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Denver Broncos. He projects as a high floor option based on his recent production and should be added wherever possible.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S – CHI): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Gardner-Johnson showed up in Week15, tallying three solos, one assist, one tackle for loss, one interception, and two passes defended. CJGJ has snared a pick in two straight contests, which has helped him provide two plus matchup for fantasy managers when they needed it most. Tap CJGJ as a DB2 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Malachi Moore (S – NYJ): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Malachi was excellent in Week 15, notching six solos, three assists, and one fumble recovery. Moore has registered at least five or more solos and two or more assists in four of his last seven, putting him in the DB2 conversation. Malachi has been showing up in his plus matchups since the Jets Week 9 bye, making him an elite DB3 option for Week 16, thanks to a tasty matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

Malik Mustapha (S – SF): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Mustapaha stayed hot out of the bye week, racking up six solos and four assists against the Tennessee Titans. Malik has tapped into his IDP potential and strung together three plus outings with at least five solos in each. The DB8 in fppg over that stretch, feel free to tap Mustapha as a DB2 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.