Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 10
Dee Ford, Outside Linebacker
Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Dee Ford was thought to be too thin and too small when he came out of college to be a hyper-effective pass-rusher in the NFL. The Chiefs had faith, though, and stashed him for a while. With injuries to their outside linebacking group this year, he’s gotten a chance to play 80 percent of their snaps, and is excelling at it. Ford’s quarterback hit rate is fifth-best among all linebackers, his sack rate is second-highest, he has 8.0 stuffs, and his tackle rate is surprisingly strong to boot, ranking 18th among the 38 3-4 outside linebackers. Investing in the project paid off.
It can pay off for you too this week, as Ford faces the Carolina Panthers, who are allowing the ninth-highest sack rate to opposing defenses. While the Panthers don’t pass a ton (eighth-lowest pass-to-run play call ratio), they will throw enough for Ford to make an impact. Plus, running back Jonathan Stewart has been stuffed on 11.4 percent of his attempts, the 16th-highest rate among runners.
Ford is available in 95.5% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 3.38 tackles, 1.13 sacks, 0.14 passes defended, and a total score of 7.03 fantasy points in Week 10.
