IDP Waiver Suggestions and Start/Sits - Week 12

I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving holiday and any time off that’s headed your way. We have three great games on the docket that should provide plenty of fantasy goodness on both sides of the ball. We still have, not only injuries, but suspensions to deal with heading into Week 12, so let’s get to the wire and find some gems before looking ahead to the defensive matchups to take advantage of this week.

IDP Waiver Wire

Defensive Line

Hargrave seems to be the one in line for more snaps now that Cameron Heyward is out for the year. I’d look at him in just big-play scoring formats if you need the depth at DL. I like the matchup for the Steelers D-line this week against Indy’s porous offensive line.

Dareus should be a target in DT-required leagues and has produced sacks in the games he’s been active in. He should be good-to-go this week and in two games, he’s notched eight tackles and 1.5 sacks. I really like the matchup for him against the Jaguars and he also has a nice matchup against the Browns in Week 15.

Even though Addison is receiving fewer than 40 percent of the defensive snaps, he’s been productive with his playing time. Since the bye week, he’s producing 0.31 points per snap and has sacks in three straight games.

Ninkovich has picked up his play over the last two games, resulting in sacks in consecutive games. He’s producing 0.26 points per snap and is generating a near 21-percent QB pressure rate over the last two weeks, so he’s been getting to the QB consistently.

Linebacker

Jackson's snaps have been up and down over the last four games and he has been primarily been used on special teams. In two of his last three games, Jackson has appeared in 66 percent of the snaps and has recorded an 11.5-percent tackle rate. If he can get on the field for at least 60 percent of the snaps, he can put up decent numbers (which makes him worth a look in deeper leagues for depth).

Rey has three straight games of 12 or more fantasy points and has recorded a 23.7-percent tackle rate, resulting in 31 tackles in those last three games. As long as Rey Maualuga continues to miss games, Vincent Rey is going to receive plenty of snaps and remain productive. In just 415 snaps, he’s producing a 14.9-percent tackle rate.

Kwiatkoski is in line to start opposite Danny Trevathan and receive more snaps now that Jerrell Freeman is going to miss the next four games. If you’re a Freeman owner, Kwiatkoski should be one of your top priorities on the wire this week.

David Mayo, ILB, Carolina Panthers (9 snaps/12 percent)

Luke Kuechly suffered a concussion in Week 11 and has an undetermined timetable for his return. Mayo is the backup at middle linebacker in Carolina and looks to get the start this week.

Defensive Backs

Amos is producing a 7:1 solo-to-assist ratio this season and has appeared in over 650 defensive snaps. He only has three games where he hasn’t recorded double-digit fantasy points and is coming off a solid game against the Giants. He could see more tackle opportunities now with Jerrell Freeman out.

Nelson has been a nice CB-streamer this season and has nice matchups against pass-happy offenses over the next few weeks (Denver, Atlanta, Oakland). Over his last four games, Nelson has notched 17 tackles, seven defended passes and recovered two fumbles. Since the bye week, he has four games of 11 or more fantasy points, resulting in nearly 0.20 points per snap.

Wilson has four straight games of 10 or more fantasy points and three straight games of five or more solo tackles. In 411 defensive snaps overall, Wilson is producing an 11.7-percent tackle rate.

Since Week 7, Whitner has just been compiling tackles and now has four straight games of eight or more total tackles, which has resulted in a 12.8-percent tackle rate. No matter where he’s been, Whitner just makes tackles, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon. He should also see plenty of opportunities this week against Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys run-first offense.

IDP Matchups

Defensive Line

Devin Taylor, DE, Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings

Although Taylor hasn’t recorded a sack since Week 6, a matchup with TJ Clemmings should help in ending his slump. Clemmings has been really bad all season at allowing pressure, so I’m hoping Taylor will take advantage of the matchup. Taylor has four total sacks and eight QB hits, and I think he'll improve upon those numbers this week.

Tuitt’s matchup against Indianapolis was already good, but now Scott Tolzien is starting, it gets even better. Tuitt looked like Reggie White against Cleveland, and he'll get another favorable matchup this week, lining up against Denzelle Good. The Colts are allowing the highest pressure rate in the league, and Tuitt has improved his pressure rate to near 10 percent.

Carlos Dunlap is a weekly starter, but Johnson is looking like a good streamer option against the Ravens. Ronnie Stanley has been a sieve at tackle and has not been very good in pass protection this season. Even though Johnson has just two sacks, he’s still generating a near 11-percent QB pressure rate, so he’s still getting to the QB (but has just missed the sack). I think Johnson will get to Flacco this week.

Clayborn finds himself with a nice matchup against the Cardinals and John Wetzel this week. Arizona is ranked 23rd in pressure allowed, and Wetzel hasn’t been able to give Carson Palmer a clean pocket this season. Clayborn has five sacks on the year, while generating an 11-percent QB pressure rate, so I'm looking for Clayborn to continue his assault on opposing QBs against the Cardinals this week.

JPP has the easier matchup of the two, as he’ll lineup on Austin Pasztor while Vernon should draw Joe Thomas for most of the day. Thomas, however, hasn’t been himself and has been off his game over the last few weeks, as he’s been having to pick up slack for others on the line. JPP and Vernon are both generating double-digit pressure rates, so I look for each of them to have at least one sack against the Browns (with upside for multiples).

Since Week 6, Clark has been on the field for at least 82 percent of the snaps and has picked up his game in the absence of Michael Bennett. Clark should lineup on Donovan Smith’s side of the line this week, who is ranked near the bottom in pass protection this season (which has helped led to Tampa ranking 31st in pressure rate allowed). Clark is generating a 14-percent pressure rate, which has led to eight sacks and 14 QB hits.

Linebacker

Bosa has a good matchup this week and should be started in big-play scoring formats. He's generating a near 18-percent QB pressure rate, which has resulted in four sacks, and the Chargers are allowing nearly a sack per game to opposing edge rushers in 3-4 defenses.

Continue to ride Robertson as long as he’s producing. He’s already gone over the 90-tackle mark and is producing a 13.5-percent tackle rate. The Rams are yielding nearly 15 solo tackles per game to opposing LBs, so Robertson should have plenty of tackle opportunities on Todd Gurley this week.

With Andrew Luck out this week, I expect the Colts to lean heavily on Frank Gore, which puts Shazier in a prime spot to make plays. Since Pittsburgh’s bye week, he’s recorded at least seven tackles in three straight games, resulting in a 12.4-percent tackle rate in that span. He’s also notched at least six solo tackles in two of his last three games. The Colts are allowing 16 solo tackles per game to opposing LBs, so I really like Shazier’s tackle upside in this game.

Burfict has been a tackle machine over the last three games, recording 10 or more tackles in each of those games. He’s also getting to the ball carrier first with 30 solo tackles in the last three games. Burfict should feast on the Ravens this week, as they are allowing 17 solo tackles per game to opposing LBs. Burfict is shaping up to be an LB1 in Week 12.

As of now, Luke Kuechly is without a timetable to return from a concussion suffered in Week 11. In the three games Kuechly missed last season, Davis notched 29 tackles. He's a three-down LB, so he should find himself in advantageous spots for tackles this week. He should be able to swallow up the opportunities that come his way, as Oakland is allowing 17 solo tackles per game to opposing LBs this season.

As long as the Cowboys keep giving Ezekiel Elliott the ball, opposing linebackers will have the opportunity for tackles. The tackles may happen well past the line of scrimmage, but the opportunities will be there. Compton is producing a 13.4-percent tackle rate this season, and in the last go around with Dallas, he notched 10 tackles.

Defensive Back

Neal is not just a defensive back. He plays all over the field and he’s put in position to make plays. He has seven straight games of seven or more tackles and has just one game of fewer than five solo tackles. Neal is recording a 13.4-percent tackle rate and faces a Cardinal soffense that is allowing 12 tackles per game to the safety position.

Not only will the Dallas/Washington game provide some fantasy goodness on the offensive side of the ball, but on the defensive side as well. In three of his last four games, Jones has at least eight or more tackles. He’s stepped up his play in Barry Church’s absence and faces a Redskins offense that is allowing 15 tackles per game to the safety position.

Gaines is a streamer option against the Saints this week. He’s recorded 30 solo tackles and seven defended passes, and has been targeted 34 times so should see plenty of passes thrown his way. The Saints are allowing 12 solo tackles and two defended passes per game to the cornerback position.

I like Hayward’s matchup against Houston and Brock Osweiler this week. Hayward has five INTs and 13 defended passes while being thrown at 50 times. Hayward should find himself in opportune spots to make plays this wek, as the Houston offense is allowing 11 tackles, an INT and three defended passes per game to the cornerback position.