Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 8
Antwione Williams, Strong-Side Linebacker
With the Detroit Lions’ trade of linebacker Kyle Van Noy to the New England Patriots, 2016 fifth-round rookie Antwione Williams gets a chance to slide into the Detroit starting lineup. There’s a possibility they start Josh Bynes or Thurston Armbrister over him, but Williams has the kind of well-rounded skill-set that allowed him the relief start for DeAndre Levy in Week 2 -- he earned four total tackles and a stuff that week.
The Lions’ opponents, the Houston Texans, will be looking to copy the Jets’ offensive game script this week too: do not let your quarterback pass if at all possible. This means a healthy dose of running backs Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue may be lined up for the linebackers to get after. The Texans have the third-lowest stuff rate allowed and a bottom-10 sack rate allowed, so be forewarned: this isn’t a big play situation. What we’re hoping for is volume of rushing attempts, which lead to volume of tackle opportunities. The Texans have attempted the eighth-most runs in the league this year, and rank 15th in pass-to-run ratio. You do the math.
Williams is available in 100.0% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 5.35 tackles, 0.02 sacks, 0.06 passes defended, and a total score of 5.63 fantasy points in Week 8.
