Another week down, and with twice the information as we had last week, we can start to see which IDPs are for real and which were one-week fool’s gold. Two weeks in, and unfortunately injuries are already starting to take a toll on IDP rosters. You never like to see injuries, but there’s no doubt that they provide opportunities for new players to step in, which can make a big difference for your IDP leagues. You know what they say, “next man up!” Let’s dig into my top waiver wire target at each position heading into Week 3.
*To qualify for this article, player must be under 50% rostered on Fantrax.
Defensive Line/EDGE
John Franklin-Myers, New York Jets
When the New York Jets signed Carl Lawson this off-season and made him their highest paid player, they did so with the belief that he would be the missing link to for their defensive line. In his time in San Francisco, the D-Line was one of the strengths of that roster, and the Lawson signing was a step in that direction. A ruptured achilles ended that vision for 2021, so someone had to fill the void at defensive end. Enter John Franklin-Myers. JFM has led Jets pass rushers in snaps for Week 1 (69%) and Week 2 (72%), and he’s registered a sack in both games. He’s added 6 combined tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble during that span, and looks locked in as New York’s top rusher. At only 12% rostered on Fantrax, chances are he’s available in your league. If you need some help in your DL/EDGE spot, look no further than John Franklin-Myers.
Linebacker
Justin Strnad, Denver Broncos
Another player whose role will increase due to injury, Justin Strnad is my top linebacker target this week at the linebacker position. Strnad is no stranger to injury himself. The Broncos selected him in the 5th Round of the 2020 Draft, and he was available on Day 3 largely because a torn bicep tendon forced him to miss the majority of his senior season at Wake Forest. Reports were positive during camp last year, but he landed on Injured Reserve with a wrist injury that cost him his entire rookie campaign. A year later, he looks to be on the positive side of the injury bug. Starting LB Josey Jewell had a nagging groin injury in the preseason, which allowed Strnad to get reps with the starters. Many expected 2021 3rd Rounder Baron Browning to challenge for a starting role, but he also missed several weeks of camp, and fell way behind the learning curve, according to Head Coach Vic Fangio. When Jewell left Week 2’s game against Jacksonville, it was Strnad who took the snaps, not Browning. In those 23 plays, he registered 6 combined tackles, just a taste of the production he can provide with a full complement of snaps. Jewell has since been diagnosed with a torn pec, so we won’t see him on the field again this year. Strnad is in line to start in Week 3 vs. the Jets, and has the opportunity to seize a starting job for the remainder of 2021 and beyond. It’s worth mentioning that the Broncos did sign Micah Kiser off the Rams’ practice squad, but it appears to be a depth move, not to replace Jewell as a starter. He’s not worth the add yet, expcept in the deepest of leagues; Strnad is the one you want.
Defensive Back
Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks
We all know that Jamal Adams is a stud, top 3-5 safety in the league, etc., but I’m here to advocate for the other Seattle safety, Quandre Diggs, who has quietly outproduced Adams through two weeks. Like Adams, Diggs has played 100% of the Seahawks’ league-high 154 defensive snaps. I can already hear the doubters: “Of course he’s producing now, but those snaps are due for regression.” Honestly, that’s not a bad point at all, but keep in mind, these high snap numbers are not a fluke for Seattle, as they also played the most defensive snaps in the league in 2020. While they may not remain the highest throughout all of 2021, the Seahawks defense is a safe bet to be on the field A LOT, and that’s good for Diggs. Thus far, he has at least 9 tackles in each of the first two games, and his 19 combined tackles are #1 in the league among defensive backs and tied for 5th overall among all defenders. Elite production thus far, no other way to say it. Until further notice, he’s a safe bet to put into your lineups on a weekly basis, and at only 26% rostered, he’s readily available in most leagues, but not for long. He will have plenty of opportunities in Week 3 against Minnesota, so don’t miss out on that production!
Thanks for checking in, and as always you can find me on Twitter @CantALoupe_FF. Good luck in Week 3!
