Week 3 IDP Waiver Wire: Can't Deny This Guy Any Longer

Let's Start with a Breakout Candidate

It can be tough to hang on when the prospects who excite you fail to pay off early in their careers.

That's my relationship with the first guy on this week's list, a former first-round pick I touted early ... and then watched go quiet for his first three NFL seasons.

But he's still just 25 and might be putting it all together.

Let's get to it.

Week 3 IDP Waiver Wire Targets

This list of IDP waiver wire pickups is sorted by position, and then by priority.

Of course, IDP leagues vary widely by depth, scoring rules, and lineup settings. So to get the best measure of who to pick up in your league, check your Free Agent Finder.

Lukas Van Ness, DL, Green Bay Packers

Van Ness just might be opening his breakout season.

He followed a 4-solo, 1-sack opener with a monster outing against the Jets on Sunday. Van Ness amassed a team-high 9 tackles, notched 1.5 sacks, delivered 3 tackles for loss, and racked up 4 QB hits.

Next comes a matchup with an Atlanta offense that’s been a mess so far. But if Van Ness is ready to fully realize his potential, he could become a matchup-proof IDP option.

Derrick Barnes, LB, Detroit Lions

Barnes has opened his season with impressive cross-category production. He has delivered a sack in each game, defensed a pair of passes -- including an INT -- in the Week 1 win over the Saints, and is on pace for the most tackles of his career by a wide margin.

Alex Anzalone leaving for Tampa Bay in free agency should help that last aspect going forward. And Barnes’ DL eligibility on some platforms adds value.

He remains available in 87% of Sleeper IDP leagues as of this writing, though, despite that being one place where you might be able to play him at DL.

Demetrius Knight, LB, Cincinnati Bengals

Fine, I’ll give in to the first two weeks of results here. But I remain skeptical of this guy’s profile.

Knight benefited strongly from a fumble return for a TD in Week 1, but Week 2 included a team-high 12 tackles and a QB hit. It’s worth noting that just four of his tackles were solos and the QB hit was just one of seven for the team.

If you’re wondering why I’m still skeptical, it’s because this second-year LB didn’t deliver any worthwhile college numbers until his age-23 season at Charlotte (after 51 total tackles across four years at Georgia Tech). That’s a physically gifted adult playing against college kids at that point.

But like at RB, opportunity often trumps true ability when we’re projecting stat production. So I’ll roll with Knight for now, especially ahead of upside matchups at Pittsburgh in Week 3 and Miami in Week 5.

Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Indianapolis Colts

Davis-Gaither has taken advantage of the Colts’ muddled LB situation so far this season, logging two straight snap shares of 94%. The seventh year veteran has now reached 90% in eight total games for his career.

It’s worth noting that just one of those outings came with Arizona in 2025. Why’s that noteworthy? Because those Cardinals signed him to a two-year, $10 million contract with $5 million guaranteed in Davis-Gaither’s first trip to the open market. Arizona then rolled him out as a starter and played Davis-Gaither for just 37% of Week 1 snaps, 62% in Week 2, and 68% for the season.

The Cardinals then dumped him after the season, and Davis-Gaither found only a one-year, $2.725 million pact with the Colts.

He’s insurance. But Indy needed to put in a claim right away after second-round rookie CJ Allen missed basically the whole offseason with a pair of injuries.

Davis-Gaither has turned the opportunity into 22 tackles through two weeks, tied for third-most in the league.

He remains a limited player the Colts would probably like to not keep on the field more than they have to. But Davis-Gaither can help in tackle-friendly IDP leagues in the meantime. And he remains available in 95% of Sleeper IDP leagues as of this writing.

Dax Hill, CB, Cincinnati Bengals

Hill followed a solid fantasy opener with a strong Week 2. He tallied 7 solo tackles in the Week 1 win over the Buccaneers. Sunday, however, produced 10 tackles (second most on the team) and four passes defensed.

Hill might well be benefiting from D.J. Turner’s ascension on the opposite side. Turner’s strong coverage play naturally pushes targets in the other direction.

The next two weeks present matchups with a pass-leaning Pittsburgh offense and a Jacksonville O that likes running three receivers. Best of all, Hill sits available in 97% of Sleeper IDP leagues.

Want Some Waiver Targets on Offense?

Jared and I talked through some top offensive Week 3 waiver wire pickups in this video ...