Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 3

Clinton McDonald, Defensive Tackle

It’s an odd week. Most of the top defensive line options that were sitting on the wire a few weeks ago -- Derrick Morgan and Jacquies Smith among them -- have been scooped up after two weeks of dominance in the sack column. In their stead, we’re left with a few high upside, higher variance plays like Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Clinton McDonald.

We’ve discussed in previous articles about how defensive tackles are much less consistent than their defensive end counterparts, but this is one scenario where I believe our big man in the middle can provide some good points. Due to the emergence of the aforementioned Smith, and the destructive presence of fellow defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, McDonald should see plenty of single teams against the Houston Texans’ offensive line this week. On top of this, Houston has given up the fourth-most total pressures (sacks, quarterback hits, and hurries combined), meaning there should be less resistance than normal for him.

McDonald is available in 88.2% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for around 4.5 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a total score of 5.57 balanced fantasy points in Week 3.