Fantasy Football Week 13 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: D.J. Wonnum, Jimmie Ward, Tyrel Dodson and More
These are the players to target this week in your IDP leagues.
Linebackers
Tyrel Dodson, Miami Dolphins
Anthony Walker Jr. exited Sunday's game with what looked to be a significant hamstring injury and was not able to return. This allowed Tyrel Dodson to step into an every-down role with Walker sidelined.
Both Dodson and this role have proven to be valuable for fantasy production. With Miami playing the Thursday Night Football game on Thanksgiving, it's unlikely Walker is able to suit up on such a quick turnaround.
Assuming that is the case, Dodson should have a solid floor based on tackle production this week. There is a chance he could tack on a big play after picking a ball off in the second half in Week 12.
Malcolm Rodriguez, Detroit Lions
Rodriguez has moved into a near-every-down role since Alex Anzalone went down with a season-ending injury. He had a strong fantasy outing in Week 12, racking up eight tackles (seven solo). With Anzalone not looming over the situation, he should be able to maintain this current role, especially if he continues to play as well as he did on Sunday.
Isaiah McDuffie, Green Bay Packers
Although we don't fully trust McDuffie, he is worth mentioning in this article. With Edgerrin Cooper out with a hamstring injury, he saw an increased role and played just under 85% of the snaps. However, he didn't do all that much with the opportunity and we saw inconsistent production from him earlier in the season before he was demoted to a lesser role.
If Cooper is out again on Thursday against the Dolphins, then McDuffie is worth a look as a desperation play. With that said, be prepared for potential volatility.
Tyrice Knight, Seattle Seahawks
What we all assumed to begin with has become clear in Seattle. Dodson was cut loose to open up an opportunity for Knight and he has played well.
Over the past two weeks since taking over for Dodson, he has piled up 19 tackles (nine solo) and added a sack in Week 12. Dodson had been a productive IDP asset while in Seattle, and it looks like Knight is becoming a similar option for owners.
Malik Harrison, Baltimore Ravens
With Roquan Smith forced to miss Monday Night Football due to a hamstring injury, Harrison slid in and led all of their linebackers with a 72% snap share. Despite a lower snap count than we'd like to see, he racked up 13 sacks (seven solo), including a tackle for loss, and nearly added a sack.
Hamstring injuries are unpredictable and there is a chance Smith will miss additional time. If he does, Harrison could be a strong spot start option with significant upside.
Defensive Backs
Jimmie Ward, Houston Texans
Jalen Pitre was injured in Week 12 and was forced from the game. His chest injury is expected to be a multi-week injury that could even end his fantasy season.
Ward, who has been a massive disappointment this season, stepped into his role and had an explosive game. He managed six tackles (all solo), with three being for a loss, and added a pick-six to the stat sheet. With Pitre out for an extended period of time, Ward could become an important IDP asset for the fantasy playoffs.
Jonathan Owens, Chicago Bears
Owens has always been a productive player when given an opportunity and that was the case in Week 12. Jaquon Brisker landed on injured reserve and Elijah Hicks was also ruled out, which led to Owens getting the start. He managed to make eight tackles (four solo) and both force and recover a fumble. There is a strong chance he gets another start on Thanksgiving and he's worth starting if he does.
Ugo Amadi, New Orleans Saints
Amadi is coming off a bye week, but had been heating up prior. Over his past two games, in which injuries opened up playing time for him, he had racked up 17 tackles (12 solo). He is expected to maintain this role moving forward and is worth a look if you're in need of a safety.
Defensive Linemen
D.J. Wonnum, Carolina Panthers
Wonnum has only played two games this season after a long IR stint, and in those two games has amassed 11 tackles (six solo) and two sacks while also forcing a fumble. It's a very small sample size, however, he did have eight sacks in 2023 and has been impressive from what we've seen so far this year.
Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins' first-round pick has been coming on strong as of late. He has led the league in pass rush win rate the past two weeks and has racked up 3.5 sacks over his past four games.
In Week 12, he totaled four tackles (two solo) and 1.5 sacks in what proved to be the best game of his young career. There is no reason to believe he won't continue to get better as he gains experience as an NFL player.
