IDP Waiver Wire – Week 6
The toughest part of fantasy football for me is when to pivot. How many disappointing games do you have to watch before it’s enough? It’s difficult to accept the sunk cost of a bad draft pick and it’s easy to beat yourself up for not drafting certain players. Yet, fantasy football at its core is about survival. We rarely use the same lineup in Week 1 as we do in the playoffs. Injuries and player performance dictate all of that. Welcome it as a part of the game and make the necessary weekly changes to win. Here are my Week 6 recommendations for redraft leagues.
The numbers in parentheses next to the player’s name represent their ownership on Sleeper. Going forward, I will limit this article to players that are owned in less than 15% of leagues.
Defensive Line
Emmanuel Ogbah (2%), Dolphins
Edge Emmanuel Ogbah was not supposed to be a part of the Dolphins’ plans in 2024. They released him for salary cap reasons in the offseason and he did not receive any offers in free agency. Shaq Barrett’s retirement prompted GM Chris Grier to bring Ogbah back. With Bradley Chubb still on PUP and Jaelan Phillips out for the year with a torn ACL, the veteran is a key contributor to the Miami defense. He has not fallen below 60% snap share in the first five games of the season. He also played 75% of snaps in Week 5 against the Patriots. Ogbah registered four solo tackles and one sack. His role looks steady for the rest of the campaign due in part to his mentorship of younger players like Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara. He’s a solid IDP flex or bye week starter for 16 team leagues.
Logan Hall (<1%), Buccaneers
Defensive lineman Logan Hall is showing major growth as a pass rusher in his third year in the NFL. He posted two sacks this week after grabbing his first in Week 4. His playing time also peaked at 66% of snaps. I’m probably not starting him in leagues that don’t differentiate defensive tackles and ends, but for those that utilize five positions, Hall is an intriguing player to add.
Other options: Micheal Clemons (<1%), Jets; and Dayo Odeyingbo (6%), Colts
Linebackers
Devin Bush (2%), Browns
Cleveland linebacker Jordan Hicks is dealing with a few different injuries (elbow/ribs/triceps) and missed Week 5. Devin Bush took over his role. The former first round pick performed well and amassed 10 tackles (eight solo). He even played a significant snap share (94%) that led all Cleveland defensive players. If Hicks can’t go next Sunday versus the Eagles, Bush would be a plug-and-play linebacker starter for all IDP fantasy teams.
JD Bertrand (2%), Falcons
Atlanta can’t seem to catch a break with their linebackers. Nate Landman and Troy Andersen are both injured at the moment. Tough luck. The next man up is rookie JD Bertrand. He played about 72% of the snaps in Week 5, while Kaden Ellis was on the field for the entire game in a three-down role. He also logged five tackles (four solo) for a modest showing of 9 points in IDP123 scoring. I wouldn’t waste FAAB or waiver priority on Bertrand, but I would play him if neither starter returns and there are no other options.
Other options: Jamien Sherwood (10%), Jets
Defensive Backs
Tykee Smith (2%), Buccaneers
At this point, I’m going to just recommend the whole Buccaneers defense as IDP starts. Here’s another player that can help teams out with their fantasy secondaries. The third-round rookie has solidified himself as a necessary component of Tampa Bay’s defense. He played 99% of snaps against the Falcons and registered 11 tackles (nine solo), forced a fumble, and defended a pass. I expect his ownership only to skyrocket from here. Add him while you can, especially in cornerback-required leagues! (unfortunately, he is listed as a safety on MyFantasyLeague)
Marte Mapu (<1%), Patriots
Kyle Dugger did not suit up for the Dolphins game as he still recovers from an ankle injury. Reports are that it’s not a long-term problem. However, the other safety starter, Jabrill Peppers, did not play either as he was arrested on a variety of serious charges. I’m not going to speculate on the veracity of that situation.
What we do know is that Marte Mapu wore the green dot and played a great game against Miami. He racked up seven tackles (two solo), forced a fumble, and defended a pass. In IDP123, that was good enough for 15 points! I’d pick up Mapu and monitor whether either starter returns next week. If not, I’d be comfortable starting him as a S2/3 in 16 team leagues.
Other options: Montaric Brown (2%), Jaguars; Ja’Quan McMillan (2%), Broncos; Marcus Maye (3%), Dolphins
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