IDP Waiver Wire for Week 6
We’re officially into October football, and Week 6 brings no shortage of waiver-wire intrigue. Injuries continue to reshape depth charts, and defenses across the league are starting to settle into form—creating new opportunities for sharp IDP managers to get ahead of the curve.
We’ll cover every defensive tier, including DTs and CBs for those in deeper five-position formats. Ownership rates (in parentheses) are pulled from Sleeper, with fantasy production measured using IDP123 scoring. Any player rostered in over 30 percent of leagues won’t be included.
The goal remains the same each week: highlight at least one waiver target that fits your specific league format. Let’s dive into the top defensive pickups to consider heading into Week 6.
Defensive Linemen (DL)
Former first-round pick Jaelan Phillips (26% rostered) finally broke through with his first sack of the campaign, rewarding his consistent pass rush efforts in 2025. He and Bradley Chubb have locked down the starting edge spots and regularly log significant snap counts. For managers in medium-sized leagues, check if Seattle’s Boye Mafe (23%) is available. Last week, I highlighted his teammate Uchenna Nwosu (13%), and both are benefiting from heavy workloads with roughly 75% snap shares due to injuries to Demarcus Lawrence and now Derick Hall.
Managers seeking defensive line depth in shallow formats could do worse than Dallas’s James Houston (5%). The positive is his efficiency with limited opportunities, though that efficiency is necessary for fantasy relevance since he just surpassed 30% snap share for the first time this season. San Francisco edge rusher Bryce Huff (17%) also isn’t in an ideal situation as the third option in the 49ers’ pass rush rotation. Still, he delivered a sack against the Rams and now has three through five games. He should still be available in plenty of leagues.
Other options: Dorance Armstrong (26%), Commanders; Derrick Brown (26%), Panthers; Leonard Floyd (21%), Falcons; Tavius Robinson (16%), Ravens; Cameron Jordan (12%), Saints; A.J. Epenesa (9%), Bills; B.J. Hill (9%), Bengals; Patrick Jones (7%), Panthers; and Jalen Redmond (7%), Vikings.
Linebackers (LB)
Carolina switched their defensive play-caller from Christian Rozeboom (29%) to Trevin Wallace (26%). His promotion to every-down duties only resulted in four tackles (two solo). There are likely better days ahead, and he’s an intriguing LB3 pickup to target as long as he maintains the green dot. Tennessee’s Cedric Gray (19%) managed 82% of defensive snaps against the Cardinals and turned it into 12 tackles (six solo). His role seems secure after Kyzir White scared us with a cameo in Week 3. He ranks in the top 10 for linebacker fantasy points and has a high weekly ceiling.
Another priority pickup this week is Chargers linebacker Troy Dye (9%). He’s logged an 85% snap share in back-to-back games, producing 25 tackles (10 solo) during that stretch. The fill-in for Denzel Perryman is even outperforming elite IDP asset Daiyan Henley in fantasy scoring. While the production is likely temporary, he’s worth adding to ride this tackle hot streak.
Other options: Derrick Barnes (26%), Lions; Teddye Buchanan (25%), Ravens; Eric Wilson (25%), Vikings; Trenton Simpson (18%), Ravens; Justin Strnad (18%), Broncos; Shemar James (14%), Cowboys; Elandon Roberts (13%), Raiders; and Francisco Mauigoa (Kiko)(6%), Jets.
Defensive Backs (DB)
The 49ers’ safety Marques Sigle (11%) tallied a career-high 13 tackles (seven solo) against the Rams. Granted, the game went into overtime. He also saw an incredulous 62% of his snaps in the box, which helped beef up his IDP output. A shorter-term alternative is the Cowboys’ Juanyeh Thomas (3%). He stepped in for Malik Hooker, who Dallas placed on injured reserve. His 10-tackle (five solo) stat line offers appeal to most formats.
Managers in CB-required leagues can prioritize Jacksonville’s Tyson Campbell (20%). His season total of 79 fantasy points ranks fourth for cornerbacks and fifth for defensive backs. He’s targeted often, and the resulting 34 tackles (22 solo) in the first five games give him the leg up on even his teammate Jourdan Lewis, an early-season favorite of ours.
Other options: Cole Bishop (25%), Bills; Coby Bryant (21%), Seahawks; Amani Hooker (16%), Titans; Evan Williams (16%), Packers; and Andrew Wingard (9%), Jaguars.
CB options: Dax Hill (27%), Bengals; Tyson Campbell (20%), Jaguars; Tyrique Stevenson (20%), Bears; Zyon McCollum (19%), Buccaneers; Marcus Jones (13%), Patriots; Josh Jobe (10%), Seahawks; Kamari Lassiter (9%), Texans; Brandon Stephens (7%), Jets; Jaylen Watson (7%), Chiefs; Kyu Blu Kelly (5%), Raiders; and Reddy Steward (3%), Cowboys.
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