Week 16 IDP Free Agent Focus

By Matt Schauf 11:33am EST 12/20/22

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I make these waiver-wire recommendations with a variety of league formats in mind. Make sure to check your Free Agent Finder for the best available options in your specific league.

Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Giants

Ojulair has spent most of this season dealing with injuries. But he finally made it all the way back for the 1st meeting with Washington in Week 13, delivering a sack among 2 QB hits, a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a recovery. Ojulari then supplied 2 more sack against teh Eagles and another half-sack Sunday night in the Commanders rematch.

That gives him 2 QB hits in each of 3 games since returning from IR. Ojulari has tallied at least half a sack in 4 straight appearances – dating to before his IR stint – and forced fumbles in 3 of those 4 contests.

He’ll carry intriguing upside into meetings with the Vikings this week and the Colts in Week 17.

Romeo Okwara, EDGE, Lions

Okwara saw his 1st game action of the season in Week 14, playing 25 quiet snaps in the win over Minnesota in his return from the Achilles’ tendon tear that ended his 2021 in the 4th game. He stepped it up Sunday against the Jets, delivering 2 sacks in the Detroit win, though the playing time remained near-identical (26 snaps).

Week 16 brings a Carolina offense that has fared well in limiting pressure rate. But Sam Darnold took 4 sacks in losing to Pittsburgh on Sunday. After that comes a Chicago offense that entered the week allowing the NFL’s 3rd-highest pressure rate.

Nicholas Morrow, LB, Bears

Chicago watched rookie LB Jack Sanborn leave the field Sunday with a left-ankle injury that got him ruled out before the end of the game. As of this writing, HC Matt Eberflus has said only that the team is awaiting MRI results on the ankle, but we’d plan for now as though Sanborn will miss Saturday’s game against the Bills.

That would leave Morrow as the position’s likeliest tackle leader. He stepped up to tie his season high with 11 tackles against the Eagles and set a new personal best with 9 solos.

Buffalo has been a negative scoring matchup for LBs on the year. But the Bills have come down on their passing rate vs. earlier in the season, and QB Josh Allen is averaging 2 yards less per completion over his past 4 games vs. the previous 10. That all should put more plays in Morrow’s range.

Damone Clark, LB, Cowboys

The 5th-round rookie had been working his way into the defense over the past month and a half. Sunday accelerated the process with a shoulder injury that knocked Leighton Vander Esch out of the game. Clark took advantage, leading the team with 9 tackles. Clark should keep LVE's role this week, with the vet already ruled out for Saturday's game against the Eagles. The rookie makes for an upside tackle bet in deeper IDP leagues.

Troy Andersen, LB, Falcons

Andersen appears to have taken over for Mykal Walker in Sunday’s loss to the Saints. He played 82% of snaps, his 2nd largest share of the season and easily the largest in any game that Walker played. Andersen finished 2nd on the team with 7 tackles.

The rookie had been seeing his playing time increase leading up to the Week 14 bye. Walker had been heading the other direction and fell to a season-low 24% vs. New Orleans.

Next comes an upside tackle matchup with the run-heavy Ravens and then an overall upside LB matchup with the Cardinals.