Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 8

​Shawn Williams, Safety

My defensive back recommendations this week come with one somewhat obvious name that should be vastly more owned, and one that is more a one-week streamer; pick your poison here.

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t been on top of the AFC this year, possibly due to the departure of former offensive guru Hue Jackson. More so, though, their defense has been lagging, as they come in at 24th by our adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points (NEP) per-play metric. The line has gotten no push and the linebackers are missing tackles, but that means good things for the safeties who have to clean up the mess from the back. That includes Cincy strong safety Shawn Williams, who has three or more tackles in every game this season.

He gets to take on the Washington offense in Week 8, and they are lagging from the loss of running back Matt Jones and tight end Jordan Reed to injury. Reed has a chance to return for this game, though, and Williams could get plenty of tackle chances against him. Backup runner Rob Kelley also is a more between-the-tackles runner than Jones, meaning Williams can creep down in the box and make stops at the line.

Williams is available in 98.6% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 5.68 tackles, 0.08 interceptions, 0.34 passes defended, and a total score of 7.22 fantasy points in Week 8.