Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 4

Josh Bynes, Linebacker

Speaking of seizing opportunity, this player wouldn’t even be starting if not for the prolonged, undefined, fluky injury to star linebacker DeAndre Levy. Josh Bynes was ticketed to compete for the strong-side linebacker job for the Detroit Lions this year, but Levy’s absence from training camp and preseason with a hip injury allowed him to seize the starting weak-side -- or WILL -- linebacker job in his stead. He’s put up a steady stream of tackles so far, averaging nearly seven total tackles per week. Despite a lack of big plays, he’s contributed enough to rank as a top-50 balanced scoring linebacker. For a low-end tackle contributor, Bynes could be a fine play in Week 4.

His Lions get to visit the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, and this should make for a fun day for Bynes. With a likely coverage assignment on tight end Jimmy Graham, and having to clean up the wake that running back Marshawn Lynch will leave, Bynes should have a flurry of opportunities to keep him busy. In Week 2, Green Bay Packers’ linebacker Jayrone Elliott came across 12 points in a similar role, and the Rams’ Alec Ogletree had 7 points in Week 1 against the Seahawks.

Bynes is available in 100.0% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project Levy, if healthy, for around 6.5 tackles, potential for a sack, a pass defensed, and a total score of 7.57 balanced fantasy points in Week 4. That should be considered Bynes’ ceiling for this game.