Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 6

Ron Parker, Strong Safety

The defensive back is a necessary evil in fantasy IDP leagues, but – as you can tell by my 30.0% prediction rate so far – no one is particularly great at calling when one will explode or fizzle. That said, remember that the strong safety is your best friend in balanced scoring for defensive backs. Ron Parker is one of these boom-lowering heavy hitters, starting for the Kansas City Chiefs with a solid amount of job security. The Chiefs seem to be using their safeties interchangeably, also, as both Parker and Eric Berry have similar production numbers in tackles (26 to 19, respectively) and coverage (3 passes defensed each), but Parker is getting preference in the box, meaning he’s getting better tackle production.

This will be great for him against the Minnesota Vikings this week, as that offense has struggled in almost every way except when they put the ball in running back Adrian Peterson's hands and let him plow through a defense. Safeties going against Minnesota this year have average 10.25 fantasy points, and they aren’t likely to go away from this game plan for a while: the Vikings are seventh-highest in run-to-pass ratio. If you need any more convincing, Parker may get sent on some blitzes, and the Vikings have given up the third-highest sack percentage allowed this season.

Parker is available in 93.4% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for around 6.5 tackles, a chance for an interception, a good chance for a pass defensed, and a total score of 7.54 balanced fantasy points in Week 6.