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Welcome Back, IDP Nerds! Somehow, we’re already approaching the end of the first quarter of the NFL season. The Week 4 IDP Waiver Wire gives us another opportunity to improve our dynasty rosters as snap counts and defensive roles continue to take shape. Three games still isn’t a huge sample size, but we’re starting to get a better idea of which players are earning more opportunities and which early-season production we can actually trust.
Injuries are also starting to pile up, especially at linebacker, where the waiver wire can dry up quickly. That’s opening the door for some new names, while a few younger players are starting to earn their way into bigger roles. As always, we’ll use the data we have to find value without chasing every big performance from Sunday. Let’s get into the top IDP waiver wire targets for Week 4.
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Best Defensive Line Waiver Pickups | Week 4 IDP
David Walker | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-5% FAAB
David Walker is exactly the type of defensive lineman I want to take a chance on before the snap count fully catches up with the production. After not playing a defensive snap in Week 1, Walker has worked his way into the rotation and played 32% of the snaps in Week 3. The second-year defender has made the most of those opportunities with a sack in each of his last two games while averaging 15 fantasy points per game over that stretch.
The snap count still isn’t where we want it, and the injury to Rueben Bain Jr. certainly helped create more opportunity in Week 3. That doesn’t take away from what Walker has done with those snaps. His 2 sacks already lead Tampa Bay and account for 33% of the team’s sacks through three games. Getting after the quarterback is nothing new for Walker, who piled up 31 sacks in 34 career games over his collegiate career. Walker is still more of a dynasty stash than a player I’m looking to start right away, but that’s what makes him interesting. He’s producing before earning a significant role, and if his snaps keep rising, he could be much harder to add a few weeks from now.
Keion White | San Francisco 49ers | 3-5% FAAB
Keion White hasn’t been much of a fantasy contributor throughout his career outside of his 2024 season with New England, when he recorded 56 tackles and 5 sacks. He’s getting another opportunity in San Francisco and has made the most of it. White ranks as the DL37 over the past two weeks and has scored at least 13 fantasy points in back-to-back games. With injuries already piling up along the 49ers defensive front, he’s becoming a player IDP managers should have on their radar.
Nick Bosa missing Week 3 certainly helped create more snaps, but I don’t think White suddenly becomes irrelevant when Bosa returns. The 49ers need healthy bodies up front, and White is producing when given the opportunity. There’s likely not much long-term dynasty value here, but that doesn’t mean he can’t help your roster right now. If you’re looking for defensive line depth, White is a veteran I’m willing to add and ride as long as the production is there.
Best Linebacker Waiver Pickups | Week 4 IDP
Glosser’s No. 1 Add
Kain Medrano | Washington Commanders | 5-10% FAAB
We talked last week about how quickly the linebacker waiver pool dries up, and here we are again. Kain Medrano is my No. 1 add after stepping in for an injured Leo Chenal in Week 3. The second-year linebacker made the most of his opportunity, finishing as the LB11 while adding a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The touchdown obviously helped the fantasy finish, so I’m not chasing the LB11 next to his name. I’m chasing the opportunity. Washington is already dealing with multiple injuries at linebacker, and we don’t know how long Chenal will be sidelined. Medrano showed enough when called upon to put himself in position for more work if Chenal misses time. There might not be a long-term starting job waiting for him, but that doesn’t matter right now. Linebacker depth disappears quickly in IDP leagues, and Medrano has a chance to give dynasty managers valuable production while the opportunity lasts.
Jake Hansen | Houston Texans | 0-3% FAAB
The Houston Texans LB2 role isn’t one I’m usually chasing. As I covered in my defensive coordinator research this offseason, the position hasn’t given IDP managers much production to get excited about. However, when we find a linebacker playing 100% of the defensive snaps, we have to pay attention. Jake Hansen did just that in Week 3 and finished as the LB45, giving us a respectable fantasy performance in his first game with an expanded role.
There’s nothing flashy about this recommendation, and Hansen likely isn’t going to win you a week by himself. What he can give you is snaps and tackle opportunities while Henry To’oTo’o remains on injured reserve. With bye weeks approaching and injuries already starting to pile up, those players become harder to find at linebacker. Hansen is someone you can plug into your lineup when needed and take the production for as long as the opportunity lasts.
Best Defensive Back Waiver Pickups | Week 4 IDP
Taron Johnson | Las Vegas Raiders | 1-5% FAAB
Taron Johnson got off to a slow start with his new team, but we’re starting to see the player IDP managers have become used to over the years. Johnson has averaged 16 fantasy points per game over his last two and has a long history of producing when given the opportunity. During his final five seasons in Buffalo, he averaged nearly 85 tackles per year. Those are linebacker-type tackle numbers from a defensive back, which has always been a big part of Johnson’s value in IDP leagues.
Johnson will still have some matchup-dependent weeks, but there aren’t many cornerbacks I trust to pile up tackles the way he has throughout his career. I’m willing to bet on the track record here, especially after seeing the production pick up over the past two weeks. Johnson isn’t a player I’m looking at for long-term dynasty value, but if you need help at defensive back, he’s proven he can give you useful weeks throughout the season.
Chris Johnson | Miami Dolphins | 1-5% FAAB
We featured Chris Johnson as a streaming option in last week’s IDP Start/Sit article, and the rookie delivered for us. Johnson has now recorded at least 8 tackles in two of his first three NFL games while playing 94% of the defensive snaps this season. That type of tackle production is going to get my attention at defensive back, especially when it’s coming from a rookie who already has a significant role in his defense.
I’m willing to go right back to Johnson this week, and at this point, I’d rather roster him than continue treating him as a weekly streamer. Tackle-heavy cornerbacks can be extremely useful for IDP managers, and Johnson is getting plenty of opportunities early in his career. He’s going to have weeks where the production isn’t there, as most cornerbacks do, but I’ve seen enough through three games to keep him around. He’s an even stronger add in formats that require you to start a cornerback.
| Player | Pos | Team | Priority | FAAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Walker | DL | TB | Strong Add | 3-5% |
| Keion White | DL | SF | Strong Add | 3-5% |
| Kain Medrano | LB | WAS | Must Add | 5-10% |
| Jake Hansen | LB | HOU | Streamer | 0-3% |
| Taron Johnson | DB | LV | Strong Add | 1-5% |
| Chris Johnson | DB | MIA | Strong Add | 1-5% |
Just Missed
- Malcolm Koonce, DL, Las Vegas Raiders: Koonce continues to make his presence felt with impact plays, recording 2.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles through three games. He’s playing just 45% of the defensive snaps, but there’s an opportunity to earn more work opposite Maxx Crosby if the production continues.
- Isaiah McDuffie, LB, Green Bay Packers: McDuffie is a solid depth add, especially for Edgerrin Cooper managers while he deals with an injury. McDuffie has recorded at least 85 tackles in three straight seasons despite never playing more than 65% of the defensive snaps, giving us a veteran linebacker who has proven he can produce without an every-down role.
- Lathan Ransom, DB, Carolina Panthers: Ransom played 100% of the defensive snaps with Nick Scott sidelined in Week 3 and responded with a DB30 finish. We don’t know how long Scott will be out, but Ransom has shown he can produce when given opportunities and is worth a look as long as he remains in an every-down role.
Final Thoughts
Keep working that waiver wire, IDP Nerds. Every add isn’t going to turn into a player you keep on your dynasty roster for years, and that’s okay. If a player can help you win for a few weeks while someone is injured, that move still matters. We’re only three weeks into a long season, and there are going to be plenty of players who earn bigger roles or come out of nowhere along the way. Stay active and keep giving yourself chances to find them.
We’re also just one week away from the first in-season update to my Dynasty IDP Rankings. A lot has changed through the first month of the season, and there will be plenty of movement when the new rankings go live next week. Until then, keep grinding those waivers, and as always, feel free to reach out to me on X @Glosser13 with any dynasty or IDP questions.
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