Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 6

​Steve McLendon, Nose Tackle

Nose tackles (0-technique) who only stuff the run can be fickle, fickle fantasy players. New York Jets nose man Steve McLendon is one such risky player, but he has strong upside in Week 6.

Despite playing a classic nose role in a clear 3-4 defense, McLendon actually has a higher ceiling of scoring than many of his peers. McLendon’s quarterback hit rate is 2.43 percent, the 19th-highest among interior defensive linemen. He also has two sacks on the year, and could add to that total for the Jets’ attacking defensive front in Week 6.

The Arizona Cardinals have definitely hit an offensive hitch this year, but the biggest gap in their armor that McLendon will benefit from is that Cardinals quarterbacks have been sacked at the 13th-highest rate in the league through five weeks. Running back David Johnson won’t get stuffed often, but with a fairly balanced play calling pattern (16th in pass-to-run ratio), the Cardinals will provide plenty of both sack and tackle chances.

McLendon is available in 95.4% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 3.10 tackles, 0.32 sacks, and a total score of 4.14 fantasy points in Week 6.