Week 4 Takeaways
WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
This week’s waiver wire targets are listed by position, in order of priority.
LB Isaiah McDuffie, Green Bay Packers
With Edgerrin Cooper likely out for the year (Achilles), McDuffie should slide into an every-down role for the rest of the season. McDuffie made the waiver target list last week as a short-term fill-in, though he’ll now be an option in all formats with rest-of-season IDP value.
LB Wade Woodaz, Houston Texans
Jake Hansen remains the top option for most leagues with Henry To’oTo’o on IR, though if both Al-Shaair and Kenneth Murray miss next week, then Woodaz becomes an option for deeper formats. If Murray has a concussion, we’ll assume he won’t play in Week 5, which keeps him out of the mix right now.
LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Philadelphia Eagles
Trotter is really only going to be a late-week waiver add, if anything, and only if it looks like Zack Baun won’t clear concussion protocol, which feels unlikely. Otherwise, Trotter will be relegated to a backup role for the Eagles and serve no IDP purpose.
ED Harold Landry III, New England Patriots
Landry is eligible to return from IR as soon as Week 5 and would likely become the Patriots’ leading edge rusher sooner rather than later once he’s back in the lineup. IDP managers looking for a volume-based producer should add Landry where possible, and where you have the room.
S Chamarri Conner, Kansas City Chiefs
Conner returned to the lineup for the first time this season, and while he was eased in, he still played 75% of the snaps with an optimal deployment around the line of scrimmage. With the Chiefs getting a Week 5 bye, we should assume Conner gets back to an every-down role in time for his next game, making him an option in most IDP formats.
S Minkah Fitzpatrick, New York Jets
After missing the last two games, Fitzpatrick returned to the lineup and looked no worse for wear, coming up with a pick and playing an optimal role in the defense. He should be added anywhere he was dropped due to the missed time.
S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson/Wydett Williams, Arizona Cardinals
Andrew Wingard suffered a knee injury and is likely to miss time. Taylor-Demerson has missed the past two games, and if he is out for Week 5, we should turn to Williams, though Taylor-Demerson is the preferred option if both are available next week.
S Brian Branch, Detroit Lions
With Branch eligible to return from the PUP list at any point going forward, IDP managers can look to add him now, where he’s available and where you have room, as we’re likely getting an elite IDP at the position for the rest of the season once he’s back in the lineup.
S Malik Mustapha, San Francisco 49ers
Marques Sigle suffered an injury this week that could cause him to miss time. As a result, Mustapha should return to an every-down role and have some value in deeper formats.
CB Akayleb Evans, Carolina Panthers
Evans moved into a full-time starting role with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on IR, and was targeted 14 times in this game, leading to strong IDP production. He should be considered a volume-based pickup in CB-required formats.
Be sure to check out last week’s IDP waiver targets listed in the report here.