Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 4

Alex Okafor, Defensive End/Linebacker

We profiled Alex Okafor in our Week 2 column, and he put up an unfortunate 2.5 fantasy points for us. I have faith, though, in the young Arizona Cardinals pass-rusher being able to muster the kind of sack total he showed capable of in Week 1. Okafor left Week 3’s action against the San Francisco 49ers with a dislocated finger and ended up playing just 67% of the team’s defensive snaps. His health is the real question about his status for this week, but if active, he should get himself right back on track to best his eight-sack 2014 campaign.

The Cardinals’ stellar defense gets to tee off against the St. Louis Rams in Week 4, and they couldn’t ask for a better matchup this week. The reeling Rams -- riding a two game losing streak -- will likely ask quarterback Nick Foles to step up to the plate and deliver; they have run the third-fewest rushing plays in the league in 2015. This will play right into the Cardinals’ hands, as the Rams have allowed a fair 14th-most total pressures among all offenses. If Okafor is healthy enough to go, he should get a lot of wide-open chances for sacks.

Okafor is available in 87.8% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for around 3.5 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a total score of 5.39 balanced fantasy points in Week 4.