Discover Week 3 IDP waiver wire gems with full‑time snap shares and see which big‑name defenders to cut for better production.
Whether you’re rebuilding after a rough start or just looking to sharpen your edge, these low-rostered defenders are ready to flip your matchup faster than a strip sack in the red zone. Let’s dive into the Week 3 IDP waiver wire pickups that bring both volume and heart.
Devin Bush (LB – Cleveland Browns) Rostered: <2% | Snap Share: 76%
Devin Bush may have been left for dead in fantasy circles, but Week 2 showed signs of a revival. He played 76% of snaps for the Browns and looked sharp in both run support and short-zone coverage. With Cleveland’s front creating chaos, Bush found himself in prime position to rack up tackles and disrupt passing lanes. He’s not the LB1 he once was in Pittsburgh, but in deeper leagues or as a matchup-based LB3, Bush offers a blend of volume and veteran instincts that could quietly swing a matchup.
Pete Werner (LB – New Orleans Saints) Rostered: ~4% | Snap Share: 90.9%
Pete Werner is the kind of linebacker who doesn’t need hype. He earns respect through consistency. In Week 2, he logged over 90% of defensive snaps and piled up 9 tackles with a 15% tackle efficiency. That’s not just volume, it’s impact. The Saints’ shift toward more zone coverage plays directly into Werner’s strengths, allowing him to read, react, and clean up without chasing mismatches. He’s not flashy, but he’s the kind of IDP asset who brings stability to your lineup. If you’re tired of chasing boom-or-bust linebackers, Werner is your antidote.
Mack Wilson (LB – Arizona Cardinals) Rostered: <5% | Snap Share: 100%
Mack Wilson demonstrated not only his presence but also effective leadership. With the green dot on his helmet and 100% defensive snaps, Wilson anchored Arizona’s defense like a seasoned general. He racked up 8 tackles and looks every bit the part of a three-down linebacker. In deeper IDP formats, this is the kind of volume you chase. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable and right now, reliability is a luxury.
Terrel Bernard (LB – Buffalo Bills) Rostered: ~10% | Snap Share: 100%
Bernard is quietly becoming one of the most dependable IDP assets in Buffalo. He’s playing every snap, showing range in coverage, and cleaning up in run support. His tackle efficiency is climbing, and with the Bills’ aggressive front creating chaos, Bernard is free to roam and rack up stats. Add him before your league mates catch on.
Divine Deablo (LB – Atlanta Falcons) Rostered: <5% | Snap Share: ~80%
Deablo is the perfect complement to Elliss. He’s aggressive, instinctive, and always around the ball. Deablo’s seeing consistent nickel usage and has flashed sideline-to-sideline range. If Atlanta’s defense continues to lean on this duo, Deablo could be a weekly LB3 with upside.
Zach Harrison (EDGE – Atlanta Falcons) Rostered: <1% | Snap Share: 70%+
Harrison exploded in Week 2 with 2 sacks, 3 pressures, and a strip sack that turned heads. He’s raw, but the Falcons are giving him real snaps and he’s converting them into impact plays. In big-play scoring formats, Harrison is a high-upside stash who could become a weekly disruptor.
Juan Thornhill (FS – Pittsburgh Steelers) Rostered: <1% | Snap Share: 70%+
Thornhill isn’t grading out well on film, but fantasy doesn’t care about style points. He’s on the field, he’s making tackles, and he’s getting chances to make plays. In deeper leagues or DB-required formats, Thornhill is a volume-based pickup who could stabilize your secondary.
Clean-Up Crew: IDP Players to Drop
It’s time to cut bait on names that aren’t delivering. If your linebacker is playing under 50% of snaps or your safety is stuck in a rotational role, move on. Roster spots are precious don’t waste them on hope when you can invest in production.
Zaire Franklin (LB – Indianapolis Colts) Rostered: ~70% | Snap Share: 81% | Low Tackle Output
Franklin’s snap share isn’t terrible, but his production has cratered. Accumulating just five tackles in Week 2 despite heavy usage. In shallow leagues, you can pivot to hotter hands like Pete Werner or Mack Wilson, who are converting snaps into points.
Nick Emmanwori (DB – Jacksonville Jaguars) Rostered: ~30% | Snap Share: 0% (Injured)
A high‑ankle sprain has sidelined Emmanwori, and even when healthy, he was projected for a rotational role. In competitive leagues, you can’t afford to wait weeks for a “maybe.”
T.J. Edwards (LB – Chicago Bears) Rostered: ~65% | Snap Share: 46% | Status: Week‑to‑Week (Hamstring)
Edwards made his 2025 debut in Week 2 after missing the opener with a hamstring injury, only to aggravate the same injury in the second half against Detroit. He played just 30 defensive snaps before exiting, leaving fantasy managers with a near‑zero return. With the Bears labeling him “week‑to‑week”, his availability for the next few games is in serious doubt. In redraft formats, you can’t afford to hold a linebacker with both a reduced snap share and a high re‑injury risk, especially when full‑time options exist.
Final Word: Add Heart, Not Just Stats in IDP
These defenders aren’t just waiver wire pickups. They’re stories of redemption, grit, and opportunity. They played 70%+ of snaps in Week 2, and they’re ready to do it again. If you want to win in IDP, chase volume, chase urgency, and chase players who refuse to leave the field.
Add them now. Before someone else does.
