The fantasy football IDP report provides an early look at several waiver wire priorities for varying league sizes, along with preliminary Week 18 IDP rankings. Since all leagues are different and have differing IDP requirements, the weekly rankings might be more beneficial to some than the waiver list.
As usual, the rankings are a reflection of IDP Flex rankings for tackle-heavy formats. Let’s get you wins in your fantasy championships!
Joseph Ossai, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Championship week streaming can be a scary thing to do, but let’s talk first about the options because there are some good ones this week. Starting with Joseph Ossai, the Cincinnati Bengals’ new full-time defensive end opposite Trey Hendrickson, with Sam Hubbard done for the year.
Ossai had his best games of the year the last two weeks and might be earning himself this job (or one for a new team) with his recent performances. After disappointing as a former Day 2 pick, Ossai now has a new career-high 4.5 sacks, all of which have come in the last six games. He also totaled 13 tackles in Weeks 16 and 17.
Darius Muasau, LB, New York Giants
The New York Giants are a mess, but even messes can produce viable fantasy options given the right circumstances. Those appear to be aligning for Giants rookie LB Darius Muasau being a possible IDP league winner.
So far in the fantasy playoffs, Muasau has played every snap of all three games — the only three times all year. Now teammates Bobby Okereke is on injured reserve, and Micah McFadden is hurt, so Muasau is the top healthy linebacker on the team.
Over this three-game stretch, Muasau is averaging over eight tackles per game and is worth a look off waivers in Week 18.
Jacoby Windmon, LB, Carolina Panthers
Let me start by saying when I saw his name pop up, I had to go look up who Jacoby Windmon even was before I could determine whether to feature him here. Nevertheless, if you need an injury replacement for championship week, Windmon is looking like a great option.
The Panthers are beat up at linebacker, with their second, third, and fourth stringers all on IR. Enter Windmon, who, after playing just two total defensive snaps through his first 15 games, played over 75% in each of Weeks 16 and 17. He performed well with the opportunity, posting eight and 10-tackle performances, respectively, with 1.5 sacks and two passes defensed.
Will Harris, S, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints safety Will Harris has had a pretty good season in the NFL but an even stronger IDP asset for a few weeks despite not being highlighted here before or ranked highly by myself. If that’s left him on waivers and you might lose a starter due to resting guys, look no further than Harris in Week 18.
Harris has played 100% of snaps for the Saints this season when he’s been healthy. Over the last three weeks, he’s been playing some of his best football too. Harris has now posted eight or more tackles in each of those games, and with Tampa Bay on the schedule in Week 18, I’d expect more of the same.
Week 18 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings
1) Roquan Smith, LB | BAL (vs. CLE)
2) Zaire Franklin, LB | IND (vs. JAX)
3) Foyesade Oluokun, LB | JAX (at IND)
4) Brian Branch, S | DET (vs. MIN)
5) Kaden Elliss, LB | ATL (vs. CAR)
6) Derwin James Jr., S | LAC (at LV)
7) Budda Baker, S | ARI (vs. SF)
8) Zack Baun, LB | PHI (vs. NYG)
9) Daiyan Henley, LB | LAC (at LV)
10) Robert Spillane, LB | LV (vs. LAC)
11) Joshua Metellus, S | MIN (at DET)
12) Ernest Jones IV, LB | SEA (at LAR)
13) T.J. Edwards, LB | CHI (at GB)
14) Azeez Al-Shaair, LB | HOU (at TEN)
15) Jamien Sherwood, LB | NYJ (vs. MIA)
16) Blake Cashman, LB | MIN (at DET)
17) Brandon Jones, S | DEN (vs. KC)
18) Eric Kendricks, LB | DAL (vs. WAS)
19) Jordyn Brooks, LB | MIA (at NYJ)
20) Germaine Pratt, LB | CIN (at PIT)
21) Kyzir White, LB | ARI (vs. SF)
22) Kyle Hamilton, S | BAL (vs. CLE)
23) Grant Delpit, S | CLE (at BAL)
24) Josey Jewell, LB | CAR (at ATL)
25) Jessie Bates III, S | ATL (vs. CAR)
26) Kyle Dugger, S | NE (vs. BUF)
27) Lavonte David, LB | TB (vs. NO)
28) E.J. Speed, LB | IND (vs. JAX)
29) Nick Cross, S | IND (vs. JAX)
30) Xavier McKinney, S | GB (vs. CHI)
31) Kevin Byard III, S | CHI (at GB)
32) Bobby Wagner, LB | WAS (at DAL)
33) Fred Warner, LB | SF (at ARI)
34) Terrel Bernard, LB | BUF (at NE)
35) Edgerrin Cooper, LB | GB (vs. CHI)
36) Quentin Lake, S | LAR (vs. SEA)
37) Christian Harris, LB | HOU (at TEN)
38) Drue Tranquill, LB | KC (at DEN)
39) Jack Campbell, LB | DET (vs. MIN)
40) Frankie Luvu, LB | WAS (at DAL)
41) Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB | CIN (at PIT)
42) Christian Rozeboom, LB | LAR (vs. SEA)
43) Julian Love, S | SEA (at LAR)
44) Patrick Queen, LB | PIT (vs. CIN)
45) Dane Belton, S | NYG (at PHI)
46) Demario Davis, LB | NO (at TB)
47) Marist Liufau, LB | DAL (vs. WAS)
48) Jordan Battle, S | CIN (at PIT)
49) T.J. Watt, LB | PIT (vs. CIN)
50) Xavier Woods, S | CAR (at ATL)
51) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | PIT (vs. CIN)
52) Taron Johnson, CB | BUF (at NE)
53) DeShon Elliott, S | PIT (vs. CIN)
54) Justin Reid, S | KC (at DEN)
55) Jalen Thompson, S | ARI (vs. SF)
56) Tre’von Moehrig, S | LV (vs. LAC)
57) Daryl Worley, CB | TEN (vs. HOU)
58) Cody Barton, LB | DEN (vs. KC)
59) Jordan Hicks, LB | CLE (at BAL)
60) Chandler Wooten, LB | CAR (at ATL)
Top IDP Players To Start in Week 18
Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, Houston Texans
What Azeez Al-Shaair did to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was reprehensible, and he deserved to sit for a few weeks. But now he’s back, and don’t hesitate to plug the Houston Texans’ top LB right back in there.
Houston has missed its defensive leader in the last few weeks, and Al-Shaair should slide right back into a full-time role. He was sitting at about eight tackles per game in his three full games prior to the ejection, and with Tennessee coming in, Al-Shaair will see plenty more opportunities to make plays in Week 18.
Brandon Jones, S, Denver Broncos
Brandon Jones has been playing fantastic football over the last three weeks for the Denver Broncos and needs to be locked into your IDP lineups. He’s always had the talent — even when in Miami, the question was always his ability to stay on the field.
Jones is just balling out on defense and for IDP managers in his first year in Denver. Over the last three games, he’s tallied nine, 10, and 13 total tackles. He’s also gotten four passes defensed in that span.
With Denver playing the backups in Kansas City, Jones has an opportunity to post another strong game in Week 18.