Forget “defense wins championships”, in IDP fantasy, defense wins bragging rights and league titles.
Week 2 is here, and the waiver wire is buzzing with defensive playmakers ready to rack up sacks, stuff runs, and snag interceptions like it’s a Black Friday sale. Whether you’re chasing big‑play upside or rock‑solid tackle floors, we’ve got the names that can flip your matchup faster than a pick‑six.
Let’s dive into the defenders who can turn your lineup from good, to downright dangerous.
Edge
Rashan Gary (LB/DL – GB): 4% Rostered | Last Week: 70.1% TDSS
Rashan Gary is a strong Week 2 IDP waiver add after posting a 16.1% pressure rate, 5 pressures, and a 69.1 run defense grade in Week 1, ranking top‑10 in both sacks and pressures. His matchup against Washington’s shaky O‑line boosts his sack upside, with projections of 3–5 pressures and a solid chance to convert one. With DL/EDGE flexibility and consistent snap share, he’s a reliable option for managers seeking both floor and big‑play potential.
Haason Reddick (ED – TB): 4% Rostered | Last Week: 79% TDSS
Haason Reddick should be your top Week 2 EDGE waiver priority after a dominant Week 1 in which he logged 60 snaps (2nd-most among all EDGEs) and led the league with 8 total pressures despite not recording a sack. That elite workload and disruption rate signal imminent sack production, making him a prime positive-regression candidate. His Week 2 matchup against Houston is especially enticing, as the Texans’ offensive line struggled in pass protection and their quarterback tends to hold the ball, creating more sack opportunities. In IDP formats—especially those rewarding big plays—Reddick offers both a high floor from snap volume and a massive ceiling from his pass-rush efficiency.
Interior Lineman
Quinnen Williams (DT – NYJ): 8% Rostered | Last Week: 76.8% TDSS
Quinnen Williams is a strong Week 2 IDP waiver target after an elite Week 1 showing in which he posted a 92.0 overall PFF grade (2nd among all interior defenders), a league-best 93.0 run defense grade, and generated 5 total pressures on 32 pass-rush snaps. He added 4 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 5 stops, ranking top‑3 in multiple disruptive categories. Despite playing just 43 snaps, his impact was constant, combining high-efficiency pass rushing with dominant run defense to ensure every‑down viability. With a Week 2 matchup against Buffalo—whose offensive line allowed steady interior pressure in their opener. Williams offers both a safe tackle floor and big‑play upside, making him a high‑priority add in IDP formats that value sacks, TFLs, and forced turnovers.
Ed Oliver (DT – BUF): 2% Rostered | Last Week: 68.6 TDSS
Ed Oliver is a high‑upside Week 2 IDP waiver add after an outstanding Week 1 in which he earned a 92.1 overall PFF grade (1st among all defensive interiors) and a 92.7 run defense grade (2nd), while producing 5 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 5 stops. He also generated 4 total pressures on just 18 pass‑rush snaps, showing elite efficiency and disruptive ability in both phases. Despite playing only 35 snaps, Oliver ranked top‑10 in multiple impact categories, making him a rare interior defender who offers both a steady tackle floor and big‑play potential. With a Week 2 matchup against the Jets; whose offensive line allowed consistent interior pressure in their opener. Oliver a strong add in IDP formats that reward sacks, TFLs, and forced turnovers1.
Linebacker
Drue Tranquill (LB – KC): 7% Rostered | Last Week: 83.1 TDSS
Drue Tranquill is the kind of Week 2 IDP pickup that can swing a matchup. In Week 1, he looked every bit the heartbeat of Kansas City’s defense—until a brief injury scare forced him off the field. That moment dropped his snap share to 83%, but before it, he was pacing for a workhorse‑level 95% role. And when he came back? He didn’t just return, he erupted, racking up two sacks and flying around the field like nothing had happened. That blend of resilience, high‑impact playmaking, and near‑every‑down usage is gold in IDP formats. If he holds a 90%‑plus snap share going forward, you’re looking at a linebacker who can give you a rock‑solid tackle floor and game‑breaking splash plays in the same week. This is a rare, league‑tilting combination.
SirVocea Dennis (LB – TB): 2% Rostered | Last Week: 94.7 TDSS
SirVocea Dennis came out of Week 1 looking like a man on a mission, and that’s exactly why he deserves your attention on waivers. Thrust into a major role for Tampa Bay, he logged 72 snaps (8th‑most among all linebackers) and racked up 8 solo tackles and 5 stops, flashing the kind of sideline‑to‑sideline range that jumps off the screen. His 86.3 run defense grade (6th at the position) shows he’s not just cleaning up tackles—he’s meeting ball carriers head‑on and winning. Yes, his coverage grade lagged, but that only underscores how much of his value comes from being in the thick of the action, where fantasy points pile up fast. This is a player who plays with urgency, who doesn’t shy from contact, and who clearly has the trust of his coaches to be on the field nearly every down. In IDP formats, that combination of heavy snap share, high tackle volume, and physical edge makes Dennis a high‑energy, high‑floor pickup who could quickly become the heartbeat of your linebacker corps.
Pete Werner (LB – NO): 4% Rostered | Last Week: 90.0% TDSS
Pete Werner came out of Week 1 looking like the steady, high‑floor linebacker IDP managers crave. Playing 90.9% of defensive snaps, he piled up 9 tackles with an impressive 15% tackle efficiency, showing he was always around the football. The Saints’ shift toward more zone coverage (up from roughly 65% last season) played right into his strengths, boosting his opportunities to read and react rather than chase in man assignments. While it wasn’t quite a full 100% workload, it was close enough to lock him in as a near‑every‑down presence alongside Demario Davis. Werner’s combination of snap volume, improved scheme fit, and proven tackling chops makes him a reliable weekly starter in most IDP formats — the kind of player who won’t just fill a lineup spot but will bring a sense of stability and consistency to your defense.
Defensive Backs
Jaylinn Hawkins (SS – NE): 0% Rostered | Last Week: 100% TDSS
Jaylinn Hawkins delivered one of Week 1’s most surprising IDP storylines, seizing a starting role over veteran Kyle Dugger, who played just seven defensive snaps before being replaced. In his unexpected debut as a top safety option for New England, Hawkins logged 63 snaps, grabbed an interception, and posted a 73.5 pass‑rush grade (2nd among all safeties) while turning his lone blitz into a sack. The Patriots clearly trusted him to handle a full workload, and he rewarded that faith with splash plays in multiple phases. While his coverage grade lagged, his ability to generate pressure from the safety spot adds a rare, high‑impact dimension to his fantasy profile. If New England keeps him in this elevated role, Hawkins becomes a compelling waiver add with the upside to be one of the season’s early breakout defensive backs.
Jourdan Lewis (NB – JAX): 0% Rostered | Last Week: 100% TDSS
Jourdan Lewis made a statement in Week 1 as Jacksonville’s primary nickelback, playing 100% of defensive snaps and thriving in the high‑traffic chaos of the slot. He lined up inside on over 70% of his snaps, blitzed at a 6.3% rate, and still held up in coverage while facing six targets. This is proof the Jaguars trust him to be both a disruptor and a stabilizer in the middle of the field. That nickel role is gold for IDP in CB‑required formats: it puts him closer to the action, increases tackle opportunities, and gives him chances for splash plays on well‑timed blitzes. Lewis’s combination of full‑time usage, aggressive slot deployment, and willingness to mix it up in run support makes him a high‑energy, high‑floor pickup for managers looking to squeeze every point out of the cornerback position.
Players to Drop Heading into Week 2
It’s time to rip the Band‑Aid off on some IDP names that just aren’t worth the roster spot anymore. E.J. Speed, once a trendy sleeper, saw a laughable 5% snap share in Week 1 and is buried behind Houston’s locked‑in starters — there’s no path to relevance without an injury.
Nick Emmanwori’s season started with promise but was derailed almost instantly by a high‑ankle sprain, and even healthy he was looking at a fringe role; you can’t afford to burn a bench spot waiting. Kyle Dugger’s fall from grace was even more jarring — just 11% of snaps after losing his starting job to Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson — a clear signal the Patriots have moved on.
Rookie Jalon Walker is stuck in Atlanta’s EDGE rotation with under 45% usage and no impact plays, making him a dynasty‑only stash.
Logan Wilson is still a good real‑life linebacker, but his 84% snap share, brief injury exit, and middling tackle efficiency are red flags in shallow leagues when full‑time, higher‑volume LBs are sitting on waivers. In short, these are the kinds of cuts that free you to chase players who can actually swing a matchup, not just take up space.
