IDP Waiver Wire for Week 2
Welcome back to the RPO weekly IDP waiver wire column! For those who followed our coverage last season, you know how valuable these early-season pickups can be for your championship aspirations. With only 50-60 defensive snaps in the books for most players, this isn’t the time to blow your entire FAAB budget. However, sitting idle isn’t an option, as Week 2 waiver claims often produce league-winning additions.
This article covers all three levels of the defense, and we’ll include both defensive tackles and cornerbacks for managers in deeper, five-position formats. Ownership percentages (shown in parentheses) are from Sleeper, and all fantasy point references use IDP123 scoring.
My weekly mission is to deliver at least one viable waiver target, regardless of league structure. Let’s dive into this week’s top waiver wire recommendations and separate the diamonds from the fool’s gold!
Defensive Linemen
For those in deeper leagues, there are plenty of intriguing options. My personal favorite is Raiders edge Malcolm Koonce (13%). The veteran tore his ACL in practice and missed the entire 2024 season. He marked his return against the Patriots in Week 1 with three tackles (one solo), one forced fumble, and a sack. The 45% snap share was not ideal, but the team could be ramping him up to begin the season.
If you’re in a defensive tackle-required league, take a look at Ed Oliver (16%) of the Buffalo Bills. He put on an absolute clinic during Sunday Night Football. His stat line of six solo tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble, and a sack resulted in almost 30 fantasy points! Those in deeper leagues could do worse than the Packers’ Devonte Wyatt. In an expanded role that granted him a healthy 73% snap share, the former Georgia Bulldog posted three tackles (one solo) and a sack. He’s tallied 10.5 sacks over the past two seasons and with Kenny Clark gone, Wyatt could be on the precipice of a breakout.
Other options: Haason Reddick (29%), Buccaneers; Carl Granderson (26%), Saints; Marshawn Kneeland (6%), Cowboys; Marcus Davenport (5%), Lions; and Isaiah McGuire (4%), Browns.
Linebackers
In IDP fantasy football, how teams deploy players is crucial for success, and that definitely applies to the linebacker position. You want to start guys that are seeing as close to a full-time role as possible. The Panthers’ Christian Rozeboom (26%) wore the green dot in Week 1, played 100% of snaps, and racked up eight tackles (seven solo). He’s a must-claim if available in your league.
Other linebackers that are seeing above 90% of snaps include the Falcons’ Divine Deablo (23%), the Rams’ Nate Landman (19%), the 49ers’ Dee Winters (13%), and the Bucs’ SirVocea Dennis (11%). I’d happily add any of these players to my roster if they are in the free agent pool. Landman is the priority of those options as he calls the defense for the Rams. He lit the box score up against the Texans with 10 tackles (six solo) and a game-saving forced fumble in the final minutes. Grab him now!
If you are in a deep league or need some short-term help, the Giants lost LB Micah McFadden to a leg injury against the Commanders. X-rays came back negative, and he’s likely not to miss much time, but if he does, Darius Muasau (7%) would pair up with Bobby Okereke. Another possibility is Justin Strnad (7%) of the Broncos, who played in place of Dre Greenlaw. He will continue to do so until the latter returns from a quad injury. The backup saw almost 70% of snaps and posted three tackles (one solo) and a sack.
Other options: Demetrius Knight (33%), Bengals; Matt Milano (24%), Bills; and Cedric Gray (13%), Titans.
Defensive Backs
Defensive backs are not as valued as the other defensive positions in IDP because most NFL teams start five defensive backs. That adds up to over 100 possible choices for managers. However, they still can make a difference and shouldn’t be ignored.
For those in three-position leagues, I’d check and see if rookie S Xavier Watts (25%) of the Falcons is available. He had an impressive debut against Tampa Bay, playing every down and seeing almost 40% of his snaps in the box. His six solo tackles and two pass deflections amounted to 18 fantasy points. Kansas City’s Chamarri Conner (21%) appears to have won a starting job and offers IDP appeal with a role that played significant time in both the box and slot.
My favorite cornerback options are Tarheeb Still (8%) and Jourdan Lewis (4%). Still didn’t impress stats-wise in São Paulo, only making three solo tackles, but he was on the field almost all game and saw utilization in the slot. That’s a recipe for more fantasy points in the future. Lewis blew up in his first game for the Jaguars, making five tackles (three solo), three pass deflections, one interception, and a fumble recovery. That’s not sustainable every week, but he’s seeing a ton of slot work as the nickel back and should have a solid tackle floor.
Other options: Tykee Smith (16%), Buccaneers; Amani Hooker (15%), Titans; Riley Moss (14%), Broncos; Christian Benford (13%), Bills; Will Harris (12%), Commanders; Tony Adams (9%), Jets; Craig Woodson (4%), Patriots; and Marques Sigle (3%), 49ers.
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If you want to win your IDP leagues, make sure you check out our 2025 Weekly IDP Rankings.