Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 2

Allen Bailey, Defensive End

One of our favorite streamers from last year, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey is still criminally underowned in IDP leagues despite being the seventh-highest paid 3-4 defensive end in the league. It’s not like he hasn’t earned his payday either: each of the last two years, Bailey has generated a full-season pace of 6 sacks and 45 to 50 total tackles. That kind of production isn’t the sexiest for a defensive lineman who you hope might win you a week with a bundle of sacks, but Bailey has a surprisingly high floor of weekly consistency at the position while providing some upside and room to grow.

Owners might be concerned about the Chiefs drafting defensive end Chris Jones in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft as well, but he’s simply not there to steal snaps from the highly-paid Bailey. Per Pro Football Reference, Bailey was in on the second-most snaps among defensive linemen in Week 1, 71 percent of the time. Jones is a pass-rushing complement to Jaye Howard; that’s all.

In Week 2, you should have more faith in Allen Bailey, as he gets to take on the Houston Texans. Bailey could have some success rushing the passer again, as the Texans rank middle-of-the-pack in sack percentage allowed after Week 1 -- right about where quarterback Brock Osweiler ranked in 2015. His elongated throwing motion will give Bailey time to get to him and possibly even a chance to force a fumble. This may be a boom-or-bust week for Bailey, however, as a Texans running back was stuffed just once last week.

Bailey is available in 98.8% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 3.70 tackles, 0.53 sacks, and a total score of 5.37 fantasy points in Week 2.