IDP WAIVER WIRE FOR WEEK 2: THE SEARCH FOR FANTASY VALUE
Welcome to IDP WAIVER WIRE FOR WEEK 2: THE SEARCH FOR FANTASY VALUE.
One week of football can make people do irrational things.
We’re not quite at “steal the Enterprise out of Spacedock while the Excelsior gives chase” levels, like what happened in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. However, Week 1 certainly gave fantasy managers plenty of reasons to change course.
For IDP managers, the search gets interesting here.
The box score tells us what happened. Snaps, alignments, responsibilities, and opportunities can tell us what might happen next. Some Week 1 performances will disappear as quickly as they arrived. Others showed us players stepping into roles that could provide much more fantasy value than their roster percentages suggest.
Now we have to figure out which players are actually worth adding before our league mates do.
So while everyone else is admiring the shiny new Excelsior, we’re looking under the hood, following the data, and searching for IDP fantasy value hiding on the waiver wire.
Let’s Start The Search for IDP Fantasy Value!
*Fantasy points referenced in this article use Sleeper/IDP123 scoring. This balanced scoring format rewards consistent tackle production while also emphasizing impact plays such as sacks, interceptions, passes defended, and tackles for loss.
By accounting for production across tackling, coverage, and pass-rush metrics, IDP123 helps provide a more balanced representation of fantasy value across defensive linemen, linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks. For that reason, we believe it provides the best framework for evaluating the IDP waiver-wire options discussed in this article.*
Table of Contents
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
Kwity Paye | DL/EDGE | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Sleeper Rostership: 0%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Kwity Paye made quite the first impression in his Raiders debut. Despite playing just 32 defensive snaps, Paye consistently found his way into the backfield, turning eight pressures into four quarterback hits and two sacks.
The limited snap total deserves our attention, but so does how Las Vegas used him. Paye rushed the passer on 75% of his defensive snaps, giving him a role that could continue producing fantasy value even without an every-down workload.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 29.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 6 Total | 3 Solo | 3 Assists
Pressure: 8 Pressures | 4 QB Hits | 2 Sacks
Impact Plays: 2 TFL
Usage: 32 Defensive Snaps | 75% Pass Rush Snap Share
UNDER THE WARP CORE: 26.2 Pass-Rush Productivity Score | 29.2% Pressure Frequency | 28.6% Sack Conversion Rate
The Bottom Line:
Paye’s Week 1 efficiency jumps off the page. A 29.2% pressure frequency shows just how disruptive he was when given the opportunity to rush the passer, while his 26.2 Pass-Rush Productivity Score reinforces that the sacks weren’t his only contributions.
We shouldn’t expect a 28.6% sack conversion rate to continue, and his 32 defensive snaps are worth monitoring. However, Paye doesn’t necessarily need to maintain Week 1’s sack pace to provide IDP value if the pressure production and pass-rushing role remain strong. With virtually no Sleeper rostership, Paye is one of my preferred DL/EDGE waiver targets this week.
Will McDonald IV | DL/EDGE | New York Jets
Sleeper Rostership: 4%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Will McDonald IV didn’t deliver the same eye-popping fantasy total as some of this week’s other waiver options, but his Week 1 performance deserves a closer look. McDonald generated five pressures and a sack on just 18 pass-rush snaps, showing impressive efficiency in a limited role.
That limited role matters, though. McDonald remains part of an EDGE rotation, with Kingsley Enagbare playing 33 defensive snaps and recording 22 pass-rush snaps compared to McDonald’s 25 and 18. McDonald may not have the volume yet, but what he did with his opportunities puts him firmly on the waiver-wire radar.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 11.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 1 Total | 1 Solo
Pressure: 5 Pressures | 1 QB Hit | 1 Sack
Usage: 25 Defensive Snaps | 72% Pass Rush Snap Share
UNDER THE WARP CORE: 16.7 Pass-Rush Productivity Score | 27.8% Pressure Frequency | 20% Sack Conversion Rate
The Bottom Line:
McDonald’s Week 1 efficiency is much more exciting than his workload. His 27.8% pressure frequency and 16.7 Pass-Rush Productivity Score show that the sack wasn’t an isolated play—he consistently created disruption when given the opportunity to rush the passer.
The EDGE rotation limits his floor for now. Enagbare received more total snaps and pass-rush opportunities in Week 1, while McDonald recorded only one tackle, leaving him dependent on pressures turning into impact plays for much of his fantasy production. That makes McDonald more of an upside waiver target than a player I’m immediately comfortable starting. At only 4% rostership, however, this is exactly the type of pass-rush efficiency worth betting on before a potentially larger role arrives.
Dre’Mont Jones | DL/EDGE | New England Patriots
Sleeper Rostership: 2%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Dre’Mont Jones may not have produced the biggest fantasy performance among this week’s EDGE waiver options, but his Week 1 usage deserves our attention. Jones played 42 defensive snaps, leading New England’s EDGE group while Elijah Ponder followed closely behind with 39. The next closest EDGE rusher played just 19 snaps, suggesting Jones already has a significant role in the Patriots’ rotation.
Jones made those opportunities count, generating six pressures, four quarterback hits and a sack. That combination of playing time and disruption makes his Week 1 performance worth looking at beyond the box score.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 15.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 2 Total | 1 Solo | 1 Assist
Pressure: 6 Pressures | 4 QB Hits | 1 Sack
Impact Plays: 1 TFL
Usage: 42 Defensive Snaps | 54.7% Pass Rush Snap Share
UNDER THE WARP CORE: 15.2 Pass-Rush Productivity Score | 26.1% Pressure Frequency | 16.7% Sack Conversion Rate
The Bottom Line:
Jones’s 26.1% pressure frequency and 15.2 Pass-Rush Productivity Score support what we saw in the box score: he consistently affected the quarterback rather than relying on one sack to create his fantasy production.
His 54.7% pass-rush snap share is something to monitor, but the overall workload is encouraging. Jones played more defensive snaps than any other Patriots EDGE rusher in Week 1 and produced six pressures and four quarterback hits along the way. At only 2% rostership, that combination of opportunity and pass-rush production makes Jones an intriguing DL/EDGE waiver target, particularly in deeper leagues.
LINEBACKER
Anthony Hill, Jr. | LB | Tennessee Titans
Sleeper Rostership: 12%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Anthony Hill Jr.’s path to an expanded role opened after Cedric Gray suffered a concussion, and Hill wasted little time taking advantage of the opportunity. He finished Week 1 with 16 total tackles and two passes defended while playing 67 defensive snaps.
The 16 tackles will grab the headlines, but the playing time is what fantasy managers should be watching. With Gray’s status now worth monitoring, Hill has an opportunity to turn an impressive Week 1 performance into something much more valuable for IDP managers.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 24.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 16 Total | 2 Solo | 14 Assists
Coverage: 2 PD
Usage: 67 Defensive Snaps | 58.2% Run Defense Snap Share
UNDER THE WARP CORE: 20.9% Tackle Rate | 6.7% Missed Tackle Rate
The Bottom Line:
Sixteen tackles aren’t something we should project every week, but Hill’s underlying tackling numbers give us plenty to like. His 20.9% tackle rate shows how frequently he was getting involved, while a 6.7% missed-tackle rate suggests he was also finishing those opportunities efficiently.
The biggest variable going forward is Gray’s health and what Tennessee’s linebacker rotation looks like once he returns. If Hill continues seeing anything close to his Week 1 workload, he won’t need another 16-tackle performance to provide useful IDP production. At only 12% rostership, Hill is a priority waiver target while we wait to see how the Titans handle the position.
Ventrell Miller | LB | Jacksonville Jaguars
Sleeper Rostership: 17%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Ventrell Miller made his presence felt in Week 1, turning his opportunity into tackles and impact plays while emerging as one of Jacksonville’s primary linebackers.
Miller played 33 defensive snaps, essentially matching Foyesade Oluokun’s 34 while finishing ahead of Dennis Gardeck’s 26. That usage, combined with his production, gives us reason to believe there could be much more here than simply chasing one big fantasy performance.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 29.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 6 Total | 3 Solo | 3 Assists
Pressure: 2 Pressures | 1 QB Hit | 1 Sack
Impact Plays: 2 TFL | 1 FF
Usage: 33 Defensive Snaps | 45.5% Run Defense Snap Share
UNDER THE WARP CORE: 24.2% Tackle Rate | 11.1% Missed Tackle Rate
The Bottom Line:
The biggest takeaway from Miller’s Week 1 performance may be his place in Jacksonville’s linebacker rotation. Playing essentially the same number of snaps as Oluokun gives us an encouraging early indication that Miller could be establishing himself as one of the Jaguars’ primary linebackers.
His 24.2% tackle rate adds another layer to the appeal, showing Miller consistently found the football when he was on the field. The sack, forced fumble, and two tackles for loss won’t be there every week, but they don’t necessarily have to be if the role and tackling production hold. At only 17% rostership, Miller is a linebacker I’d be willing to get ahead of on the waiver wire rather than waiting another week for confirmation.
Jacob Rodriguez | LB | Miami Dolphins
Sleeper Rostership: 13%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Jacob Rodriguez didn’t just produce in Week 1—he showed us the type of role IDP managers should be chasing on the waiver wire. Rodriguez finished with 14 total tackles while playing 68 defensive snaps and wearing the green dot for Miami’s defense.
That combination of playing time, green-dot responsibilities, and tackle production immediately puts Rodriguez on the radar. The box score was impressive, but his role may be the bigger reason fantasy managers should be paying attention.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 19.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 14 Total | 5 Solo | 9 Assists
Usage: 68 Defensive Snaps | 53% Run Defense Snap Share
UNDER THE WARP CORE: 23.5% Tackle Rate | 5.9% Missed Tackle Rate
The Bottom Line:
Rodriguez’s 23.5% tackle rate backs up the impressive Week 1 box score, while his 5.9% missed-tackle rate shows he was consistently finishing plays when he got to the football. More importantly, playing 68 defensive snaps while wearing the green dot gives us a strong indication of how significant his role could be in Miami’s defense.
Fourteen tackles shouldn’t become our weekly expectation, but Rodriguez doesn’t need to repeat that total to provide strong IDP value if this role continues. At only 13% rostership, the combination of playing time, tackling efficiency, and the green-dot role makes Rodriguez one of my favorite linebacker additions on the Week 2 waiver wire.
Josiah Trotter | LB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sleeper Rostership: 8%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
It’s hard to ignore a 39-point fantasy performance, and Josiah Trotter certainly filled the box score in Week 1. He finished with 10 total tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, an interception, and a touchdown while playing 58 defensive snaps.
That type of performance is going to attract plenty of attention on the waiver wire. Trotter’s playing time gives us a legitimate reason to add him, but fantasy managers need to separate his established role from a Week 1 fantasy total fueled by several splash plays.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 39.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 10 Total | 3 Solo | 7 Assists
Pressure: 1 Pressure | 1 QB Hit | 1 Sack
Impact Plays: 2 TFL | 1 TD
Coverage: 1 INT
Usage: 58 Defensive Snaps | 43.1% Run Defense Snap Share
UNDER THE WARP CORE: 14.0% Tackle Rate | 11.1% Missed Tackle Rate
The Bottom Line:
Trotter is an add, but don’t chase the 39 fantasy points. His 58 defensive snaps establish a strong foundation for future production, but the sack, interception, and touchdown that helped create his Week 1 explosion aren’t something we can project every week.
That makes his underlying tackling efficiency especially important. Trotter posted a 14.0% tackle rate with an 11.1% missed-tackle rate, numbers that don’t match the dominance suggested by his final fantasy score. The good news is that the playing time is there, giving him opportunities to improve upon that baseline.
Add Trotter for the role and the opportunities that come with it—not because you’re expecting another 39-point performance. He has legitimate IDP value, but Week 1 showed us his ceiling far more than it established his weekly floor.
Payton Wilson | LB | Pittsburgh Steelers
Sleeper Rostership: 10%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Payton Wilson turned a significant Week 1 role into 12 total tackles and two tackles for loss, giving fantasy managers plenty of reason to take notice. More importantly, his 57 defensive snaps essentially matched Patrick Queen’s 60, while Cole Holcomb played just three.
That usage establishes Wilson as one of Pittsburgh’s primary linebackers and gives his Week 1 production a much stronger foundation. The tackles were encouraging, but the underlying efficiency shows room for improvement.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 13.9 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 12 Total | 5 Solo | 7 Assists
Impact Plays: 2 TFL
Usage: 57 Defensive Snaps | 51% Run Defense Snap Share
UNDER THE WARP CORE: 15.8% Tackle Rate | 25.0% Missed Tackle Rate
The Bottom Line:
Wilson’s role is the biggest reason to pursue him on waivers. Playing 57 defensive snaps alongside Queen’s 60 gives us a strong indication that Pittsburgh intends to keep both linebackers on the field, providing Wilson with the opportunities necessary to produce consistently for IDP managers.
His 15.8% tackle rate was solid, but we need to monitor his 25.0% missed-tackle rate. Wilson still finished with 12 total tackles despite those misses, so cleaning up that part of his game could make his tackle production even more reliable.
At only 10% rostership, Wilson is an add. The playing time and tackle opportunities are already there; now we’re looking for improved efficiency to turn an encouraging Week 1 performance into a sustainable weekly IDP floor.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Quentin Lake | S | Los Angeles Rams
Sleeper Rostership: 8%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Quentin Lake started the season by reminding us exactly why his versatility can be so valuable for IDP managers. Lake finished Week 1 with 10 total tackles, three passes defended, and an interception while lining up all over the Rams’ defense.
The alignment really catches my attention. Lake spent 29 snaps in the box and another 23 in the slot compared to only 12 at deep safety, consistently putting him in areas of the field where he can get around the football.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 32.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 10 Total | 7 Solo | 3 Assists
Coverage: 3 PD | 1 INT
Snaps & Alignment: 29 Box Snaps | 23 Slot Snaps | 12 Deep Safety Snaps
The Bottom Line:
Lake’s interception helped boost his Week 1 fantasy total, but this isn’t simply a case of chasing a splash play. Ten tackles provide a strong production baseline, and his alignment gives us reason to believe those tackle opportunities can continue.
With the majority of his snaps coming in the box or slot rather than at deep safety, Lake is consistently being deployed closer to the action. That versatility has been a major part of his role in the Rams’ defense before, so Week 1 looks much more like a continuation of how Los Angeles wants to use him than a one-game anomaly.
At only 8% rostership, Lake is one of my preferred defensive back additions this week. Don’t add him expecting an interception every Sunday. Add him because the role gives him multiple paths to producing fantasy points even when the splash plays don’t arrive.
Amani Hooker | S | Tennessee Titans
Sleeper Rostership: 3%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Amani Hooker didn’t need a collection of splash plays to put himself on the waiver-wire radar in Week 1. The veteran safety finished with 10 total tackles and a tackle for loss, providing fantasy production primarily through his ability to get around the football.
His alignment makes that performance even more interesting. Hooker spent 41 snaps in the box compared to only 22 at deep safety, putting him in position to consistently get involved closer to the line of scrimmage.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 18.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 10 Total | 6 Solo | 4 Assists
Impact Plays: 1 TFL
Snaps & Alignment: 41 Box Snaps | 2 Slot Snaps | 22 Deep Safety Snaps
The Bottom Line:
Hooker’s Week 1 production is the type I’m willing to chase because the role helps explain the box score. He reached 10 tackles without relying on an interception, sack, forced fumble, or touchdown to inflate his fantasy total.
The 41 box snaps are what really stand out. Tennessee consistently deployed Hooker closer to the line of scrimmage, giving him opportunities to get involved as a tackler rather than spending most of the game patrolling deep. We shouldn’t expect 10 tackles every week, but that type of alignment can give him a path to consistent tackle production.
At only 3% rostership, Hooker is an add for me. There wasn’t anything particularly flashy about how he got there in Week 1, and that’s part of the appeal. We’re adding him for the role and the opportunities that come with it, not because we’re chasing one big play.
Cole Bishop | S | Buffalo Bills
Sleeper Rostership: 17%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Cole Bishop’s NFL career got off to a rocky start as injuries and inconsistent play limited him as a rookie, but 2025 showed us a much different player. After leading Buffalo with 85 tackles and three interceptions last season, Bishop opened 2026 with seven tackles despite briefly leaving Sunday’s game with a left knee injury.
Bishop returned and finished the game, and his role immediately caught my attention. He logged 43 snaps in the box compared to only 18 at deep safety, putting him in exactly the type of alignment we want to see for IDP production.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 9.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 7 Total | 2 Solo | 5 Assists
Snaps & Alignment: 43 Box Snaps | 9 Slot Snaps | 18 Deep Safety Snaps
The Bottom Line:
Monitor the knee injury this week, but Bishop’s return to the game is encouraging. Assuming he’s healthy, I’m more interested in where Buffalo is playing him.
Bishop spent much more time at deep safety last season, but his Week 1 alignment moved him closer to the action, with 43 snaps coming in the box. That’s an intriguing development for a player who already proved he can produce tackles after leading Buffalo with 85 last season. If this becomes his regular role under Jim Leonhard, Bishop could take another step forward as an IDP option.
At 17% rostership, Bishop is an add for me. We already saw the Year 2 breakout; now we may be getting an even more fantasy-friendly role in Year 3. Keep an eye on the knee this week, but if he’s healthy, I want to get ahead of this usage rather than wait for another big fantasy performance.
Dillon Thieneman | S | Chicago Bears
Sleeper Rostership: 36%
Why He’s On The Waiver Wire Radar:
Dillon Thieneman was one of my favorite rookie safety values coming into the season. I viewed him as a poor man’s Caleb Downs coming out of Oregon and believed Jaquan Brisker’s departure for Pittsburgh could open the door for Thieneman to immediately step into an IDP-friendly box role in Chicago.
The Week 1 fantasy production checked out. Thieneman finished with eight tackles, a quarterback hit, and a pass defended. The alignment, however, gives us something to watch. He led the Bears with 20 box snaps, but spent considerably more time at deep safety with 37.
WEEK 1 PRODUCTION — 18.0 IDP123 Fantasy Points
Tackling: 8 Total | 6 Solo | 2 Assists
Pressure: 1 Pressure | 1 QB Hit
Coverage: 1 PD
Snaps & Alignment: 20 Box Snaps | 7 Slot Snaps | 37 Deep Safety Snaps
The Bottom Line:
Thieneman’s Week 1 performance gives me reasons to be encouraged, but his alignment wasn’t quite what I expected coming into the season. He still led the Bears in box snaps, which is important, but his 37 snaps at deep safety compared to 20 in the box suggests Chicago may not use him as the predominantly box-oriented safety I envisioned after Brisker’s departure.
That matters for his IDP ceiling. Thieneman still produced eight tackles despite spending more time deep, but consistently playing farther away from the line of scrimmage could make it more difficult to maintain the tackle floor we want from a fantasy safety.
I’m still adding Thieneman where he’s available. The talent, playing time, and fact that no other Bears defender came particularly close to his box usage keep me interested. At 36% rostership, though, I’m watching the alignment closely over the next few weeks. If Chicago starts moving him into the box more frequently, the upside I saw coming into the season could really start to show.
More IDP Fantasy Football at Fantasy In Frames
That’ll do it for our IDP Waiver Wire for Week 2: The Search for Fantasy Value. Hopefully, we helped you find a few players worth adding to your roster as we keep learning more about defensive roles, usage, and opportunities across the NFL.
Thanks again for reading! For more IDP fantasy football content, including our weekly IDP Waiver Wire, IDP Plays & Fades, rankings, sleepers, analysis, and more, click the IDP Fantasy Football tab at the top of FantasyInFrames.com and check out our IDP Hub. You’ll find everything you need to manage your IDP rosters throughout the season there.
Want to take your analysis even further? Join the Fantasy In Frames Premium Membership for $4.99/month for access to our premium fantasy football content and advanced tools, including new tools launching this week designed to help you dig deeper into the data behind both offensive and IDP fantasy football.
The search may be over for this week, but there’s always more fantasy value out there to find.
Until next time, keep your eyes on the waiver wire and, as always…
KEEPING 4-EYES ON THE PRIZE!