With Cincinnati, Seattle, Buffalo and Philadelphia all on their bye, there are some high caliber players missing from IDP teams this week.
Top scoring linebackers Vontaze Burfict (mentioned in this year’s IDP sleeper article), Kiki Alonso (mentioned in IDP Waivers Week 2 article) and Demeco Ryans all have the week off. Bobby Wagner owners will be without a great talent as well. He would have been mentioned as a top producer if it weren’t for an ankle injury that sidelined him in both Week 6 and 7.
I’ve already mentioned guys like Paul Worrilow, Thomas Davis, Jon Beason, Kevin Burnett, Jon Bostic and Pat Angerer in past IDP Waiver articles and all are worth an add in the order they are listed. If you can’t get any of those guys, go for someone listed below.
2013 IDP Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
Darryl Sharpton, Hou ILB
The Houston defense suffered a major loss when Brian Cushing went down with a broken left leg and torn Lateral Crucial Ligament (LCL) in Week 5, landing him on the injured reserve. It was the second straight season Cushing was lost to a season-ending injury after he torn his Anterior Crucial Ligament (ACL) in the same season in Week 4 of 2012.
Cushing has been replaced by the 25-year-old Sharpton, a former Miami Hurricane selected by the Texans’ in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. Sharpton has been pretty solid since joining the starting lineup as the inside linebacker with 28 tackles, 21 of the solo variety, over the past four games. He has matchup this week against Jacksonville and middle/inside linebackers have done fairly well statistically against the Jags this season.
Demario Davis, NYJ WLB
The Jets’ former third-round pick in 2012 is their starting weakside linebacker with 70 total tackles (37 solo), an interception and a sack through 10 games. It is obvious that Davis needs to get more solo stops and/or additional ‘big plays’ to be more valuable in IDP leagues and that may be coming soon.
The Jets will travel to Baltimore this weekend after the Ravens run game came back to life in an overtime win over Chicago last week. Davis plays the weakside in the Jets’ 4-3 defense and had 10 combined tackles last week against Buffalo, with only three being solos. Owners shouldn’t expect Davis to have any outstanding games going forward, but the second-year pro should have a solid game this week and a couple more along the way.
Manti Te’o, SD ILB
It might sound crazy, but the rookie out of Notre Dame isn’t a terrible play this week against Kansas City. The Chiefs figure to run the ball often with Jamaal Charles and that should spell plenty of tackle opportunities for the San Diego defense.
Te’o has shown improvement each week even if it doesn’t show up in the box score. Owners in deeper leagues might want to give him a go if there is no better choice on the waiver wire.
IDP owners won’t have top tier defensive linemen such as Kyle Williams (mentioned in the IDP Waivers Week 3 article), Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson in their lineups.
Defensive tackle Dontari Poe and end John Abraham have already been discussed in past IDP articles and are worth adding if available in your league, in that order. If they aren’t on the waiver wire, look for these guys to pickup.
Sheldon Richardson, NYJ DT
The 22-year-old is having a great rookie season so far having registered 50 total tackles, two and a half sacks and one forced fumble in 10 contests. Richardson was taken No. 13th overall by the Jets for good reason as the former Missouri Tiger has been able to contribute right away. Fantasy owners can pick him up as a fill-in, but may end up using him as their starter as the season goes on.
Star Lotulelei, Car DT
The Panthers were a slot behind the Jets in last year’s draft and they also took a defensive tackle with their first round pick. It was Lotulelei out of Utah and the rookie has been vital to Carolina’s success this season on the defensive side of the ball swallowing up double teams, although it hasn’t fully shown statistically. IDP owners in deeper leagues can use Lotulelei for mostly tackles even though he had his first sack of the season against New England on Monday night.
Olivier Vernon, Mia DE
Here is a guy you haven’t heard much about unless you are a Dolphins fan, but Vernon is quietly putting together very nice season with five and a half sacks and 32 total tackles (23 solo). Vernon has been overshadowed by teammate Cameron Wake even though he has only six and a half sacks himself. IDP owners who pick up Vernon can expect a relatively consistent output from him on a week-to-week basis and that goes a long way.
Last but not least, owners will be without regulars in the secondary with Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Jairus Bryd, Da’Norris Searcy, Aaron Williams and Brandon Boykin. Others like Antrel Rolle, Ryan Clark, Prince Amukamara, James Ihedigbo, Duke Ihenacho, Eric Reid and Tashaun Gipson have been talked about in previous IDP waiver article and should be considered before players listed below.
Andrew Sendejo, Min FS
When Harrison Smith went down with a severe case of turf toe in Week 4, it was thought that Jemarca Sanford would step up in the Vikings secondary and get most of the tackles. Sanford has been in and out of the lineup himself with a groin injury and has been somewhat productive when healthy.
Sendejo has been the safety to own as of late though with 27 total tackles the past two weeks. The Packers will host Minnesota this weekend, which isn’t a great matchup without Aaron Rodgers leading a pass-heavy attack. Even still, Sendejo should have a pretty good game racking up tackles especially if running backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks to the second level with regularity.
Tramon Williams, GB CB
Speaking of Green Bay hosting Minnesota, Williams is also a useful play for IDP owners this weekend and beyond. The 30-year-old veteran is one of the better cover corners in the NFL at this point in his career and is a very capable tackler as well with a combined 50 (35 solo) this season.
The only thing that hurts his chances to perform statistically this Sunday is the fact that the Vikings don’t have a very good passing attack, so there won’t be a ton of tackle opportunities theoretically. Williams had only two stops when the two teams met in Week 8. He does however make for a great pickup for the rest of the season.
Tracy Porter, Oak CB
The six-year veteran has bounced from the Saints, to the Broncos and now the Raiders this season. Porter has 48 combined tackles (36 solo), two interceptions, one for a touchdown, one and a half sacks and 11 passes defensed.
The Raiders will host the Titans this weekend and that likely means that Porter will be assigned to Kendall Wright, Tennessee’s top wideout. Wright typically gets lots of targets and that will probably be the case with backup Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. Porter makes for a good play because he has a knack for being around the ball and can make the occasional big play.
