Raiding the IDP Waiver Wire: Week 12

Our luck with injuries among fantasy-relevant IDPs could not last. The grim reality of NFL football conspired with the worsening pandemic to thin out the pool of impact players for our lineups. These factors together with a season-low 13 games this past weekend make this a particularly challenging week to mine the waiver wire for quality options for the rest of the season. 

Players leaving the field with injuries in Week 11 include Titans linebacker Jayon Brown, Jags defensive end Josh Allen, and Eagles end Derek Barnett plus three players I’ve previously recommended: Chargers end Uchenna Nwosu, Browns safety Ronnie Harrison, and Texans defensive tackle PJ Hall.

The players recommended below are available in at least two-thirds of IDP leagues on MyFantasyLeague.com (MFL). Recommendations are position-specific for lineups requiring including cornerbacks and defensive tackles (or interior defensive linemen) unless noted otherwise.

Tyquan Lewis, DE – Indianapolis Colts

The first edition of this column in 2020 included Indy’s, Denico Autry. He’s an edge-setting defender with some interior pass-rush punch. His value to IDP gamers is that he carries a ‘DT’ position tag on some fantasy football platforms, making him a cheat code. Autry has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been replaced by Tyquan Lewis. 

Lewis is basically a younger version of Autry, complete with the inaccurate position designation of defensive tackle on MyFantasyLeague.com. The 7-3 Colts’ offensive and defensive units are coming together, affording its defensive linemen opportunities to play downhill. Lewis nearly doubled his season-high snap count in Week 11 for a healthy 82% share of the Colts’ defensive work. 

Oshane Ximines, EDGE – New York Giants

The Giants desperately need a pass-rushing presence off the edge. Kyler Fackrell is playing virtually full-time and is averaging under one QB hit per game. Oshane Ximines flashed in 2019, his rookie year, collecting 4.5 sacks. 

Designated to return from the injured/reserve list, Ximines should step into a significant role as soon as he’s healthy enough to play. In Week 12, the Giants draw statuesque Ryan Finley and the sad-sack Cincinnati Bengals, who have taken more QB sacks than all but one team (Eagles) this season. Ximines carries the added benefit of a ‘DE’ position tag on MyFantasyLeague.com despite the Giants’ 3-4 base defense.

Will Compton, LB – Tennessee Titans

Following a season-ending injury to Titans defensive play-caller Jayon Brown, Will Compton will reprise his role as a late-season fill-in. He’s a sound run defender who’s demonstrated efficiency in tackles per opportunity in Washington, Oakland, and Tennesee despite only a single year as a season-long starter in his seven-year career. He’s a plug-and-play option for the rest of the season provided he can hold a near-full-time role. 

My colleague Doc (@DocFFFN on Twitter) and I agree there’s a risk that Daren Bates, a converted college safety, or David Long eats into Compton’s workload given his limitations in pass defense. Tennessee’s other starting linebacker Rashaan Evans isn’t great in coverage either, thereby pressing Titans’ coaches into some difficult decisions for personnel packages. With 9 or more tackles in 16 of his 39 career starts, Compton is worth the gamble going into Weeks 12 and 13 versus Indy and Cleveland, respectively.

Donovan Wilson, S – Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys’ pursuit of an impact safety has been in and out of the headlines for a couple of years. Former Pro Bowlers Eric Berry, Jamal Adams, and Earl Thomas were all rumored to be headed to Dallas at some point. 

In the meantime, the Cowboys might have hit on a couple of late-round picks in Xavier Woods and Donovan Wilson. They’re developing inconsistently but are flashing in some big spots. 

Wilson, the enforcer of the duo, is the IDP fantasy target. When he’s been afforded a significant role, he’s filled up the stat sheet with tackles, turnovers, and sacks. His Week 11 heroics will be noticed by even the most casual of observers – two forced turnovers seen across much of the nation in the late afternoon window. 

Gamers with remaining FAAB dollars and a need at safety should jump at the youngster rather than wait on an injury substitute. It’s crunch time!

Happy Bidding!

Going into Week 12, we’re running out of time to add young players and wait for them to emerge. We’ll hopefully have two weeks to watch Lewis, Ximines, and Wilson prove they’re worth starts in the fantasy playoffs.

Fantasy gamers’ best bets going forward are players stepping into lucrative roles behind injured or ill starters. This double-edged sword can fell reliable starters and yield productive waiver-wire options simultaneously. The astute gamer gains an edge by staying abreast of health news in 2020 more than ever.

Clemson and Michigan alum…Panthers and Cowboys fan…I try to see both sides of every debate and each trade. Find me on Twitter @DynastyTripp.