It's only been two weeks and it already feels like the injuries are piling on at a crazy rate. Like any grueling fantasy season, staying active is going to be crucial to your IDP roster as we navigate through the rough patches. I did my best to sift through the snaps and stats to find some potential waiver wire options for your IDP leagues. Please keep in mind there are many fun ways to play this IDP game we love, and if you ever have any league-specific questions, feel free to reach out. Alright, let's get to it.
Linebackers
Cody Barton, Washington Commanders
Week 2 Stats: 10 tackles (4 solos), 2 QB hits, 1 fumble recovery
Cody Barton has yet to leave the field through the first two weeks of this young season. While Barton holds a 100% snap share after two contests, teammate Jamin Davis has just a 63.5% snap share at the other Washington linebacker spot. So far, it's apparent Washington is leaning on Barton to be the leader in the middle of its defense.
In Week 1, Barton produced a modest five-tackle outing. However, Barton had a much more IDP-friendly stat line this week, pacing the Washington defense with 10 tackles (4 solos). As the only current full-time linebacker in Washington, Barton is a solid waiver wire addition where available.
Terrel Bernard, Buffalo Bills
Week 2 Stats: 6 tackles (3 solos), 1 interception, 1 pass defended
Typically, this article gets written before Monday night's action concludes. Last week, I mentioned Terrel Bernard as a player of interest at the Buffalo LB2 spot for Monday night. In that Week 1 game, Bernard played all 54 defensive snaps, compiling a solid 11 tackles (4 solos). In Week 2, Bernard again held down the spot next to Milano, with both linebackers seeing an 85% snap share. The Bills took it to Las Vegas, so both linebackers got a rest at the end.
Bernard has been donning the coveted green dot and appears to have a firm grasp on the starting spot next to Milano. If he's still sitting on your waiver wire, Bernard is an excellent addition after his promising start to the season.
Kenneth Murray Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
Week 2 Stats: 10 tackles (5 solos), 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 QB hit
Kenneth Murray has had a sizeable role for the Chargers defense to start the year. In Week 1, Murray played 60 defensive snaps (90%) but produced just three tackles (2 solos). In Week 2, the Chargers were without Eric Kendricks (hamstring), meaning they needed to lean on Murray even more as he played all 65 defensive snaps. With rookie Daiyan Henley (hamstring) still unavailable as well, Ben Nieman (50 snaps/77%) was the other linebacker to see playing time of note.
After a slow Week 1 outing, Murray ramped things up in Week 2, compiling 10 tackles (5 solos), two tackles for loss, and a sack. Murray has been tough to trust in the past. However, given the state of the Chargers' linebacker unit, he should have a solid role for now. Murray is a fine waiver wire pickup, and his value would get a boost in Week 3 if Kendricks is unable to go again.
Henry To'oTo'o, Houston Texans
Week 2 Stats: 7 tackles (4 solos)
Denzel Perryman continues to hold down the lead role in Houston, but things seem to be changing at the spot next to him. It appears Christian Harris has potentially fallen out of favor in place of rookie Henry To'oTo'o. Harris saw his role diminish to just 22 defensive snaps (39%) in Week 2, as To'oTo'o (46 snaps/81%) saw his grow. The two flip-flopped from Week 1, where Harris played 46 snaps (72%) and To'oTo'o saw just 22 snaps (34%).
It was a respectable seven-tackle IDP output for To'oTo'o in his first career start. More importantly, he's entered the mix for a bigger role in the Houston defense. In dynasty leagues, make sure to check your waiver wire in case To'oTo'o is floating around. In deeper redraft leagues, To'oTo'o is worth a look after his uptick in involvement in Week 2. The Houston linebacker snaps after Perryman will be a position of interest in Week 3.
Zach Cunningham / Nicholas Morrow, Philadelphia Eagles
Cunningham Week 2 Stats: 8 tackles (5 solos), 1 tackle for loss
Morrow Week 2 Stats: 3 solo tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 fumble recovery
Let's start with Zach Cunningham, who I mentioned in last week's waiver wire article. Cunningham again had a prominent role, playing 53 defensive snaps (91%) against Minnesota Thursday night. As we hoped, it was a much more productive IDP showing for Cunningham as he notched eight tackles (5 solos) and one tackle for loss. While Nakobe Dean remains out, Cunningham is the Eagle linebacker to target where available.
Now for Nicholas Morrow. It was Morrow and not Christian Elliss who stepped into Dean's vacant role. Morrow played 55 defensive snaps (95%) in Week 2, filling in as the team's defensive play caller. Elliss was relegated to special teams, seeing just four defensive snaps. Morrow isn't an exciting IDP option, but if he's going to see this type of playing time, he's on the warm-body production radar in deep leagues.
In other news, Rashaan Evans is looking for work again, as his time with the Eagles has come to an end already.
Continue reading this content with a ELITE subscription.
An ELITE subscription is required to access content for IDP (individual defensive players) leagues. If this league is not a IDP (individual defensive players) league, you can edit your leagues here.
Defensive Line/Edge-Rusher
Randy Gregory, Denver Broncos
Week 2 Stats: 5 tackles (3 solos), 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 QB hit, 1 pass defended
After an extremely quiet Week 1 outing, Randy Gregory got things going in Week 2. Against a beatable Washington offensive line, Gregory produced five tackles (3 solos), two tackles for loss, and notched his first sack of the season. Through his first two games, Gregory carries an admirable 66% snap share, seeing 40 defensive snaps (68%) in Week 1 and 47 snaps (64%) in Week 2.
Let's hope this gets Gregory going as he takes on Miami in Week 3 before drawing a favorable matchup against Chicago in Week 4. Gregory is a fine waiver wire addition if you need DE/edge-rusher help in leagues where you start 3-4 players.
Andrew Van Ginkel, Miami Dolphins
Week 2 Stats: 6 tackles (2 solos), 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 3 QB hits, 1 pass defended
Andrew Van Ginkel's utilization is an intriguing case to start the season. In Week 1, Van Ginkel saw 51 defensive snaps (63%), with 41 of those coming in the box, per Pro Football Focus. With Jaelen Phillips out in Week 2, Van Ginkel played 65 snaps (88%), with 61 of those coming on the defensive line, per PFF. Van Ginkel's shift to playing out on the edge this week is likely why we saw David Long (62 snaps/84%) see a boost in playing time at linebacker—something to monitor in Week 3.
If there's one thing for certain, it's that Vic Fangio is a Van Ginkel fan. The playing time and usage are intriguing, along with Van Ginkel's performance this week as he compiled six tackles (2 solos), one sack, and three quarterback hits. In deeper leagues where he carries the DE/DL tag, Van Ginkel is worth considering as we continue to track his alignment/usage.
Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams
Week 2 Stats: 5 tackles (3 solos), 1 sack, 2 QB hits
Rams third-round rookie Byron Young is seeing plenty of playing time and is off to a nice start to his first season in the big show. Through the first two games, Young carries a rock-solid 87.5% snap share, producing one and a half sacks, four quarterback hits, and eight pressures, per PFF. Young was already on the dynasty radar for an edge-depleted Rams defense. Now, he's on the redraft radar if you're looking for DE/edge-rusher help in deeper leagues.
Dennis Gardeck, Arizona Cardinals
Week 2 Stats: 4 solo tackles, 2 tackles for loss,1 sack, 1 QB hit
It's hard to ignore the heater Dennis Gardeck is on to start the year. Through the first two weeks, Gardeck has produced an impressive three sacks, three tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits. The only kicker is he holds just a 42.5% snap share so far. However, there's no denying Gardeck is making good use of his opportunities when he's out there.
The Arizona defense lacks playmakers in the edge-rusher department, so hopefully, Gardeck continues to see an uptick in playing time. Either way, Gardeck is worth a pickup in deep roster leagues after his hot start.
Harrison Phillips, Minnesota Vikings
Week 2 Stats: 13 tackles (7 solos), ½ sack, 1 QB hit
Harrison Phillips is quietly off to a nice start for us IDP gamers in those true-position and DT-required leagues. Through two games, Phillips has compiled an impressive 21 tackles (12 solos) and notched a half sack. Phillips also carries a hefty 83% snap share, logging 60 defensive snaps in each of his first two games. Phillips is excelling for us IDP gamers in Brian Flores' system and is a fine pickup in leagues where you're looking for reinforcements at the defensive tackle position.
Defensive Backs
Camryn Bynum, Minnesota Vikings
Week 2 Stats: 15 tackles (6 solos), 1 tackle for loss
From an IDP lens, it's been quite an impressive start for Camryn Bynum to begin the year. Through two games, Bynum has produced 25 tackles (11 solos), including a team-high 15 tackles (6 solos) Thursday night against Philadelphia. In Week 1, Bynum primarily aligned deep at free safety. However, in Week 2, he saw a slight uptick in ideal usage, with 34 of his 77 defensive snaps coming up in the box and slot area, per PFF. Bynum is a solid waiver wire target if available, as he should be busy again in Week 3 against the Chargers.
K'Von Wallace, Arizona Cardinals
Week 2 Stats: 8 tackles (5 solos)
The Cardinals were without Budda Baker this week and recently placed him on IR with a hamstring injury. K'Von Wallace was the prime beneficiary of Baker's absence, as he played all 68 defensive snaps in Week 2. Even more encouraging is Wallace's utilization for IDP purposes. Of his 68 defensive snaps, Wallace saw 46 of those up in the box and another 14 in the slot area, per PFF. Wallace should continue to have an IDP-conducive role while Baker is out, making him a solid waiver wire pickup this week.
Jason Pinnock, New York Giants
Week 2 Stats: 13 tackles (10 solos), 3 tackles for loss
It's been Jason Pinnock alongside Xavier McKinney at safety for the Giants to start the year. Pinnock had a quiet five tackles (3 solos) in Week 1 before erupting for a team-high 13 tackles (10 solos) and three tackles for loss in Week 2. Pinnock aligned primarily deep, with 39 of his 63 defensive snaps coming at free safety in Week 2. However, that didn't seem to hinder his IDP production as he had himself a day. If you're looking for DB help, Pinnock is a worthy option.
Geno Stone, Baltimore Ravens
Week 2 Stats: 9 tackles (7 solos), 1 interception, 1 pass defended
With Marcus Williams (pectoral injury) unavailable this week, it was Geno Stone drawing the start at safety. Stone had a solid day, compiling nine tackles (7 solos) and snagging an interception. Williams primarily lined up at free safety, while Ar'Darius Washington held down the slot role. If you're looking for help at the safety position, Stone is likely available in a wide variety of leagues. Just make sure to keep an eye on the news surrounding Williams as the week progresses.
Final Thoughts
That does it for the Week 3 edition of the IDP waiver wire. With two Monday night games this week, there is yet more information to take in after this article was written. If you have any questions regarding those two games or anything else IDP-related to Week 3, don't hesitate to reach out. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you all back next week.
Thanks for taking the time to read my article. Feel free to reach me on Twitter @KBellf54 with any questions or feedback.