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IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 14

By Matt Schauf | Updated on Tue, 05 Dec 2023 . 10:21 AM EST

Need a LB? You Might Find Some Help

This list of IDP waiver wire pickups is sorted by position, and then by priorty.

Of course, IDP leagues vary widely by depth, scoring rules, and lineup settings. So to get the best measure of who to pick up in your league, check your Free Agent Finder.

It's the best fantasy football waiver wire assistant you'll find.

Zach Sieler, Edge, Miami Dolphins

Sieler sits available in more than 90% of IDP leagues on Sleeper, despite registering 2.5 sacks over the past two weeks.

He sports a low scoring floor, with just 1 solo tackle in six of his last seven games. But Sieler's 7 QB hits since Week 8 tie him for a solid 25th in the league over that span, with an average of 1.4 per game.

Matchups with the Titans and Jets the next two weeks add upside. Sieler looks less good for games against Dallas and Baltimore the final two fantasy weeks.

Blake Cashman, LB Houston Texans

Sunday answered our question (at least for now) of who would lead Houston LBs after Denzel Perryman returns from his two-game suspension. It was Cashman.

He played every defensive snap in the win over Denver. He has played all but 2 snaps over the past three weeks, including the two games without Perryman.

Does that make Cashman a lock to lead the position the rest of the way? No. He previously did so for three straight games but then fell to third behind Perryman and Christian Harris in Week 10. Playing time has fluctuated throughout the season for these three and rookie Henry To’oTo’o.

But Cashman looks like the best bet for now. And he gets an upside matchup with the Jets in Week 14. If Cashman keeps his role, another good matchup with Cleveland awaits in Week 16.

Mykal Walker, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers lost LB Elandon Roberts in the first half of Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals. Pittsburgh ruled him out before halftime, which doesn’t bode well for his chances of playing Thursday night against the Patriots. 

Roberts’ continued absence would leave Walker as the lead LB. He tallied 10 tackles (7 solo) against Arizona. The Patriots have been a middling matchup for LB scoring. But they’ve supported a 9+ tackle LB for three of their past four opponents.

David Long, LB, Miami Dolphins

Jerome Baker left Sunday’s win over Washington with an MCL injury that has him “week to week.” That left the playing time lead among LBs to Long.

He responded with 8 tackles, including 5 solos and 1 tackle for loss. Long leads Miami in total tackles for the season but ranks just third in solos. 

He started stronger with 8+ total tackles in five straight games after playing sparingly in the opener. But Long has averaged just 5.2 tackles per game over the past six weeks. Sunday marked the first time since Week 6 that he tallied more than 3 solos.

The Week 14 matchup with the Titans might seem like a good spot for LB tackles, but Tennessee rates as a below-average scoring matchup for the position – both by actual fantasy points and by our adjusted fantasy points allowed.

Shaquille Leonard, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

Leonard agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles on Monday after visiting them and the Cowboys. Perhaps he – and the team – saw how poorly he fared in Sunday’s lopsided loss to the 49ers.

Philly already has LB Nakobe Dean on IR following foot surgery and LB Zach Cunningham nursing a hamstring injury that kept him out vs. San Francisco. That doesn’t necessarily mean Leonard will start right away, but it presents that opportunity.

Leonard, of course, hit the open market because he’s not having a great season (and asked the team to set him free). But his final three games with the Colts included his two best fantasy lines and his three largest tackle totals.

What's His Role?

We'll likely have to wait at least a game to see exactly what Leonard's role looks like, and it might be fluid the rest of the way.

Here's what HC Nick Sirianni told reporters Monday: "I did think [LB] Christian Elliss played a good game yesterday. But [Leonard] just gives us some more depth there. ... We still have confidence from the tape that he still can play."

Leonard's only worth a pickup in deeper leagues. It's getting a bit late in the season to wait on a guy with limited ceiling potential.

And he might not prove helpful at all. He sits outside the top 50 LBs in fantasy points per game.

Jordan Battle, S, Cincinnati Bengals

The rookie has elevated to a starting role over the past three weeks and spent more time "in the box" than S Dax Hill. and he's producing well.

Only four DBs in the league have more solo tackles over that span than Battle, and just two have more total tackles. Battle added his first sack and first pass defensed in Monday night's win over the Jaguars.

Next come matchups with the Colts and Vikings, who rank 14th and sixth -- respectively -- in fantasy points supplied to DBs.

About Last Week

Let's see who among our Week 13 IDP waiver suggestions still makes sense ...

• Calijah Kancey didn't give you helpful fantasy numbers in Week 13, but he did register 2 QB hits and 5 total pressures, his second-largest total of the season. Kancey gets another upside matchup with the Falcons in Week 14. You can dump him after that, if you'd like. (Reminder: He's just for DT-required leagues.)
• Andrew Van Ginkel has registered his two best Pro Football Focus pass-rushing grades of the season the past two weeks. He has also racked up 11 pressures over that span. Of course, you didn't need to be talked into him if you played him last week after the 33-yard INT return for a TD.
• Cody Barton delivered a helpful 11 tackles in the loss to Miami. But now he gets a Week 14 bye and will return to face a Rams offense that has supplied the second-fewest LB fantasy points in the league. You don't need to keep Barton this week if it'll strain your roster/lineup.
• Christian Harris ran third among Texans non-edge LBs in Denzel Perryman's return, playing three fewer snaps than Perryman. That 60% share isn't worth much.
  
• Nicholas Morrow is less likely than Christian Elliss to have his position threatened by Shaquille Leonard's arrival. But Zach Cunningham is expected to return at some point. So there are plenty of unknowns at play. And Morrow's been a limited asset.