Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 2
De’Vondre Campbell, Middle Linebacker
Rookies almost always carry buzz and intrigue coming into the preseason, making the less “shiny new toy” veteran players look like they’re in danger of losing their starting jobs. Usually that buzz dies down once the pace of real NFL games picks up again and forces these mid-round projects into watch-and-learn mode. Atlanta Falcons linebacker De'Vondre Campbell has delivered on the buzz, though, coming out of Minnesota in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. All offseason, there were rumblings that Campbell’s speed and athleticism would vault him into the starting lineup over the likes of Paul Worrilow, and Campbell delivered in Week 1: four tackles and one stuff.
In Week 2, Campbell will take on the Oakland Raiders. They allowed New Orleans Saints' middle and weak-side linebackers (Campbell flips between these spots) 11 combined solo tackles and 2 stuffs in Week 1, and there’s little reason to think that Campbell won’t get to be the prime cover man on the running backs, who carried the ball 24 times last week.
Campbell is available in 98.8% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 6.30 tackles, 0.08 sacks, 0.18 passes defended, and a total score of 7.48 fantasy points in Week 2.