Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 16

​Andre Branch, Defensive End

Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake had an incredible week last week, but what got overshadowed is that defensive end Andre Branch has kept up his impressive consistency, playing at least 65 percent of the snaps for the ninth consecutive week. He’s rewarding fantasy owners, too, having been startable by our standards in 10 out of 14 games this year.

His tackle rate ranks a sturdy 19th among defensive ends, he has an about-average 32nd-ranked quarterback hit rate this year, and his 28th-best sack rate is a solid number as well. He’s also added 6.5 stuffs this year. Branch isn’t flashy, but he does just enough for the Dolphins and our fantasy teams.

This week, the Buffalo Bills will help him cross the startable threshold again. Their 9.2 sack rate allowed is the 2nd-highest in the NFL, and they’re dead-center at 16th in stuff rate allowed too. In a game the Dolphins should control, the Bills will have to drop back a fair amount, which will give big-play chances for Branch galore.

Branch is available in 95.2% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 1.37 tackles, 0.18 sacks, and a total score of 2.03 fantasy points in Week 16 -- a mark I believe he’ll easily surpass.