Fantasy Football Week 16 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Christian Harris, Ugo Amadi, Chauncey Golston and More
These are the players you should be targeting on the waiver wire in your IDP leagues.
Linebacker
James Williams, Tennessee Titans
It's been the perfect storm for Williams. Jerome Baker was a healthy scratch last week, which led to Luke Gifford sliding in next to Kenneth Murray as an every-down linebacker. Gifford suffered a concussion, which ended his game and will likely hold him out for Week 16.
After entering the game, Williams went on to lead the team in tackles with eight (six solo). Another interesting stat is that when you combine both Williams and Gifford into one full game they combined for 16 tackles (11 solo). This role has proven to be a high-volume fantasy producer and Williams proved he can slot in nicely.
Eric Wilson, Green Bay Packers
Quay Walker went down with an ankle injury in Week 15 and it was Wilson who stepped into an every-down role and wore the green dot while Edgerrin Cooper split snaps with Isaiah McDuffie.
There is a chance that it's Cooper who sees that role in Week 16, but Wilson is much more widely available and the team has now shown that they do trust him enough to call upon him if needed. However, keep an eye on practice reports this week because a lot can change in this situation between Walker's health and Wilson's role between now and game time.
Justin Strnad, Denver Broncos
Strnad has seen his snaps steadily increase and played 91% of the snaps in Week 15. This allowed him to finish with nine tackles (two solo), which was tied for the team high. It looks like he is locked in for at least 85% of the snaps each week, which should allow him to consistently produce for fantasy owners. There is some worry here, but his floor has been raised significantly over the past three weeks.
Christian Harris, Houston Texans
After missing the entire season, Harris made his season debut on Sunday and surprisingly played more than 80% of the snaps. He made an impressive eight tackles (four solo) and looked good out there.
We only expect his snaps to increase moving forward as he ramps up for the playoffs. When he's a full go, Harris has the potential to be a high-end fantasy producer as an every-down player in this defense.
Marist Liufau, Dallas Cowboys
With DeMarvion Overshown out for the season, Liufau was projected to slide into a heavy workload and that's exactly what happened. In Week 15, he played 87% of the snaps and we expect that trend to continue moving forward. Not only did he make five tackles (two solo), but he also dragged down the quarterback for a sack as well in the game.
While there is no replacing what Overshown has been able to do for both this defense and fantasy owners this season, Liufau is looking like a solid streaming option who can be plugged in for a few weeks if needed.
Defensive Backs
Dane Belton, New York Giants
With Tyler Nubin now on injured reserve, Belton stepped into a starting role in Week 15. Belton had a monster game, piling up 15 tackles (seven solo) and a sack. This is been a highly productive fantasy role in the Giants' defense all season and it looks like Belton will be manning it for the remainder of the season. He's a great option if you're looking for a safety for the next few weeks.
Ugo Amadi, New Orleans Saints
Amadi just continues to produce. He should now be considered a high-end CB1. In Week 15, he once again had a big game, with seven tackles (five solo) and a sack.
Over the past five weeks, he's amassed 41 tackles (31 solo). Those are monster numbers for a cornerback. This man should be owned in every single fantasy league and if he's still on your waiver wire, then you need to pick him up.
Jeremy Chinn, Washington Commanders
After a couple of down weeks, Chinn was back at it again in Week 15, leading the team with seven tackles (five solo) and tacking on a sack. He's been a bit of a streaky boom-or-bust IDP option, nevertheless, there is no denying his upside.
Defensive Line
Chauncey Golston, Dallas Cowboys
Golston has seen his life made much easier by the return of a healthy Micah Parsons. It's evident how much it freed him up to make plays of his own this week. He made four solo tackles, sacked the quarterback, and recovered a fumble. In leagues where he is DT eligible, he has massive upside at the position.
