Week 15 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups - NFL Fantasy Football 2011

Immediate Pickups

Linebackers

(Some LBs to point out who were on this list before and should no longer be on your Waiver Wire are NaVorro Bowman, Rolando McClain, Ray Maualuga, Donald Butler, Daryl Smith, Wesley Woodyard, Paris Lenon, Thomas Howard, Brooks Reed, Kevin Burnett, Chris Chamberlain, Colin McCarthy, Perry Riley, Jordan Senn, Larry Grant (if Patrick Willis is out again), D.J. Smith (as long as Desmond Bishop is out), Justin Houston. If they are still on your Wire, pick up those guys before anyone listed below)

Kelvin Sheppard (LB, Buf) – He finally showed his full potential that we knew he had in him. His whopping 11 solos and 3 assists gives us a glance of his future. Those are big time numbers and we can’t expect that again in Week Fifteen vs. Miami, but he’s definitely worth picking up if you’ve been playing “Russian roulette” with your LB5 spot.

Jameel McClain (LB, Bal) – In all probability, Ray Lewis will be back for Baltimore’s Week Fifteen game vs. the Chargers. That’s exactly why I think you’ll be able to pick up McClain, because he’ll be dropped in a lot of leagues. However, keep in mind that he plays ILB next to Lewis, which is the same position Kelvin Sheppard played this past week next to Nick Barnett. All Sheppard did was pick up 14 tackles in Week Fourteen. On top of that, McClain has been playing like an animal over the last few weeks and that won’t just stop.

Rob Francois (LB, GB) – Francois has proved to be consistent enough to be a consideration. In Week Fourteen, he had 7 solos, 2 assists, an INT and a pass deflection.  He also had an INT in Week Twelve.

Jacquian Williams (LB, NYG) – The Giants linebackers are depleted and Williams is the best cover linebacker they have so he’s not coming out of the game on any snaps. In Week Thirteen, he had a respectable 5 solos, 3 assists and a pass deflection. In Week Fourteen, he had even better numbers and he gets division rival Washington Redskins next, who are also linebacker friendly.

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, Jabaal Sheard, Ahtyba Rubin, Andre Carter, Aldon Smith, Jeremy Mincey, Isreal Idonije, Greg Hardy, Carlos Dunlap, Chris Long, DT Phillip Taylor, DT Antonio Garay, DT Geno Atkins, DT Henry Melton, DT Jurrell Casey, DT Vince Wilfork DT Linval Joseph, DE Robert Quinn. If they are still on your Wire, pick up those guys before anyone listed below)

Desmond Bryant (DT, Oak) – He has 4 sacks on the season, including a sack in each of his last two games. He faces Detroit next, who gives up a minimum of two sacks a game every week. Last week, they gave up 5 sacks. Two of those sacks were by defensive tackles.

Kevin Williams (DT, Min) – If you are like me and just can’t find a permanent defensive tackle to get the job done for you, Williams might be worth a long look. Over the last four weeks, Williams has had a sack in three of those games. In addition, he’s put up 17 tackles during that 4 game stretch. Those are nice numbers from your DT.

Dwan Edwards (DE, Buf) or Chris Kelsay (LB/DE, Buf) – I’ve been covering fantasy long enough to know that a lot of sacks always seen to occur when the Bills take on Miami. If Kelsay is a DE in your league, he has the best record of racking up sacks against Miami, but Dwan Edwards is just as good to take a chance on in this matchup.

Dave Ball (DE, Ten) – He pops up in the box scores with a two sack day a few times a year, but it’s hard to predict which games he will get a sack. He faces the Colts in Week Fifteen and his probability of a sack in that matchup are as high as they’ll get all year.

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, Kam Chancellor, Dashon Goldson, Jon McGraw, Eric Smith, Sean Jones, George Wilson, Reggie Nelson, Amari Spievey, Charles Godfrey, Justin King, Charlie Peprah, Tanard Jackson, Ryan Clark, Lardarius Webb, Craig Steltz (if Major Wright is out), Glover Quin (as a CB). If they are still on your wire, pick up those guys before anyone listed below.)

Alterraun Verner (CB, Ten) – If Jason McCourty is out again, Verner is a must start and the highest CB to target on this list. He’s even higher than any cornerbacks list above in bold.

Daniel Manning (S, Hou) – Manning just put up 8 solos and 3 assists and he’ll be facing the Panthers next, who are solid for opposing safeties.

Jacob Lacey (CB, Ind) – His 8 solos, 3 pass deflections and an assist vs. Baltimore in Week Fourteen are impressive because Baltimore is not a very good matchup for cornerbacks. However, the Colts secondary is so depleted, every team is going to throw on the Colts this year. I like Lacey as a CB2 in Week Fifteen.

Malcom Jenkins (S/CB, NO) – Jenkins has really come on strong lately and he’s known to finish each season strong. What makes Jenkins interesting, besides the fact that he can put up 8 solos and 2 assists like he did in Week Fourteen, is that he is a safety who also counts as a cornerback in many leagues. So that makes him a strong play as a CB2 vs. Minnesota in Week Fifteen vs. the Vikings, who threw 3 INTs in Week Fourteen.