Week 4 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups - NFL Fantasy Football 2011

Immediate Pickups

Defensive Linemen

(Some DLs to point out who were on this before and should no longer be on your Waiver Wire are Kyle Vanden Bosch, Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin and Derrick Morgan. If they are still on your wire, pick up those guys before anyone listed below.)

Jarius Wynn (DE, GB) – Wynn was a late add to this this waiver wire list based on his matchup with the Bears. He picked up 2 sacks and 2 solos Week Three and I’m happy that I not only write this stuff, but take my own advice because Wynn was the difference maker to help me win by 1.5 points in my IDP expert league. He’s here again because Denver has allowed 8 sacks in 3 games.

Brian Robison (DE, Min) – He looked fantastic vs. Detroit picking up 2 sacks and 3 solos and the best news is he gets the lowly Chiefs Week Four where he has a real good shot at another sack.

Jonathan Fanene (DE, Cin) – Full credit goes to staff member Tom Simons for this call. Filling in for the injured Geathers, Fanane picked up 2 sacks, 2 solos and an assist Week Three. Watch the injury report closely before you make this move, you can’t ignore a DE with this type of potential.

Defensive Backs

(Some DBs to point out who were on this list before and should no longer be on your Waiver Wire are Morgan Burnett, Sean Jones, Jon McGraw(if his injury isn’t serious) George Wilson, Justin King and Lardarius Webb. If they are still on your wire, pick up those guys before anyone listed below.)

Dashon Goldson (S, SF) – He was known as one of the more elite safeties coming into 2011 so perhaps a person in your league had enough patience to store him on their bench until he got over his injury that forced him to miss the first two games. However, I bet he was forgotten in some of your leagues and now is your chance to snag a high end safety off the waiver wire before his numbers in the box score speak for themselves. He’s a very solid tackler with the upside to make some big plays along the way. His next matchup vs. the Eagles may see a very unproven QB who just gave up 2 INTs in one quarter of play.

Eric Smith (S, NYJ) – Smith has been solid with 7 tackles/1 sack Week One, 5 tackles/1 INT Week Two and 8 tackles Week Three. Week Four he gets Baltimore and he should be solid again.

Rashean Mathis (S, Jac) – Mathis has a nice matchup vs. the Saints Week Four and he’s been at the top of his team’s box scores every week this year. His 15 tackles, INT & 3 pass deflections in 3 games are speaking for themselves.

Matt Giordano (S, Oak) – Michael Huff has been injury prone this year and he left Week Three with a head injury. Giordano has played solid through Week Three with an INT and averaging 6.5 tackles in both games he’s started. Most importantly, he takes on the Patriots Week Four where every safety who has faced them has significantly surpassed their average.

Reggie Nelson (S, Cin) – I’ve ignored this kid too long. This is the second time in 3 weeks that Nelson has posted 7 or more solos and 3 assists. He also had a sack Week One. Temper your expectations for him vs. Buffalo Week 4, but 5 solos are well within reach and if all you need is a solid guy with upside, then Nelson is a nice addition to your squad.

Linebackers

(Some LBs to point out who were on this list last week and should no longer be on your Waiver Wire are NaVorro Bowman, Rolando McClain, Ray Maualuga and Thomas Howard. If they are still on your wire, pick up those guys before anyone listed below.)

Donald Butler (ILB, SD) – He is a definite starter and probably not on your waiver wire, but I never know how deep some of your leagues are or how knowledgeable your league members are so if Butler is available on your wire, he’s your top pick up. He was listed pretty high on most IDP cheat sheets coming into the season and his Week Three solidified his worth 8 solos. Combine that with his 8 tackles and a sack in Week Two and it’s nice.

Jason Williams (OLB, Car) – The injury to Thomas Davis pushed Williams into an every down role. It also proved just how poor Dan Connor must be in coverage that they would immediately hand the every down coverage to such an inexperienced linebacker as Williams. To the credit of Williams, he made some great tackles and finished with 7 solos and an assist. I don’t know about you, but those are better numbers than what my starting LBs put up this week.

Daryl Smith (ILB, Jac) – Smith appears to be the busier linebacker between him and Paul Posluszny so far.  His 5 solos, 4 assists and 2 pass deflections certainly would have helped out my team this week and he’s facing the Saints Week Four who have become much more linebacker friendly then they ever were in the past.

Joe Mays (ILB, Den) – Although he won’t post eye-popping numbers, he has been more consistent than a lot IDP linebackers I’ve seen this year. I’d feel better about having him over Paul Posluszny for instance.

Jo-Lon Dunbar (MLB, NO) – IF Jonathan Vilma can’t go in Week 4, pick up Dunbar and smile happily knowing his matchup against Jacksonville will yield you some very nice points. His numbers Week Three against Houston were better than any numbers Vilma has posted any game this year.  Dunbar had 6 solos, 4 assists and 2 pass deflections Week Three.

Jacquian Williams (OLB, NYG) – Williams 10 solos have to mentioned and, of course, the next question is if he can do that again. Unfortunately, that answer has to be “it depends”. This was a special “speed package” the Giants defensive coaches put together specifically to stop Michael Vick & contain LeSean McCoy in Week Three. They may use it again next week vs. Arizona to contain Beanie Wells and keep Kolb under constant pressure. If that is the case then Williams will be on the field a lot again.

Watch List

(Give them 1 more week, unless you’re in a deep IDP league)

Defensive Linemen

Jayme Mitchell (DE, Cle) While Clifton Geathers is out, it looks like you use Mitchell and he’s going to produce just as well, if not better. The key is to watch the injury report closely and make sure you start the correct Cleveland Brown defensive end.

Jarvis Moss DE, Oak) No, he didn’t retire as he’s only 27. Yes, it seems like a long time ago that he was so highly drafted from the Florida Gators. But what really matters is he was hustling hard Week Two and now his continued hustle paid off in Week Three with 2 sacks, a pass deflection and 4 tackles. I’m not totally ready to add him because of all the other amazing pass rushing talent that Oakland has in Seymour, Shaughnessy, Houston, Wimbley, Scott and Kelly.

Defensive Backs

Kyle Arrington (CB, NE) – Arrington has 3 interceptions in three weeks. He’s also had 6 tackles two weeks in a row. No matter who they face, New England is going to force the other team to throw in order to keep up with their offence and Jason Campbell is his next opponent. You’d be depending on his chances to pick up another INT in order to get your full “bang for the buck” out of him, but if you’re in a large league and need a second CB with upside, he may be your guy.

Charlie Peprah (S, GB) – As we mentioned last week, Peprah will still have less value then Morgan Burnett and we mentioned Burnett would be fine after the Nick Collins injury.  That absolutely proved true with Burnett’s two interceptions and all around amazing IDP numbers this week. However, even though Peprah will not impact Burnett’s value, it does not mean he won’t have IDP value moving forward.  The Packers are going to dominate many games this year forcing other teams to throw deep desperation balls late in the game to catch up. Peprah will benefit from this and it’s something to watch.

DeWayne Washington (S, KC) – If Jon McGraw is out next week, Washington looks like the real deal as he stepped in and got 7 solos and an assist in his place. Watch the injury reports.

Linebackers

Wesley Woodyard (OLB, Den) – OK, we’ve learned one thing for sure. Woodyard is to D.J. Williams what David Hawthorne was to Lofa Tatupa.  And that is an very good backup IDP linebacker that you want to plug into your lineup immediately if anything should happen again to D.J. Williams.  However, Williams should be back Week Four and this will greatly decrease the amazing tackle numbers that Woodyard has been posting.

Jovan Belcher (OLB, KC) – His Week Three performance looks like it was more based on situational play, but his 8 solos and 2 assists are something to watch moving forward.

LeRoy Hill (OLB, Sea) – I’ll make this short. Hill shows up in the box score once a year. The numbers look sensational, but it’s not even worth telling you what they were for Week Three because it’s not worth thinking about. He’ll be back to his usual 2 tackle performance next week and we can pretend it never happened. Don’t get me wrong, when a man puts up the numbers he put up, (like he does once a year) I’ll watch him for you and let you know if he’s finally turned the corner into a consistent LB.

Kavell Conner (OLB, Ind) – Conner is quickly becoming the “assist king” so if assists don’t count in your league then you can stop reading now. However, if your league counts assists, Conner has 16 in two weeks. Unfortunately, he only has 6 solos within that same time span. For now, he continues to be a watch until he can start getting to the ball faster than Pat Angerer who finished Week 3 with 12 solos and 9 assists. You saw that right. 21 total tackles. Oh, by the way, Angerer should NOT be on your waiver wire. If he’s there, drop your worst performer and pick him up immediately.