Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 3
Nigel Bradham, Strong-Side Linebacker
Speaking of surprising every-down linebackers, most people believed that the advent of a new regime in the Philadelphia Eagles’ organization would lead to a resurgence for Mychal Kendricks, who was an IDP hero for a few years. That clearly hasn’t happened the way many expected, as offseason acquisition Nigel Bradham leads all Eagles linebackers in snaps played, with 114 (98 percent of the team’s defensive snaps). Bradham is the team’s primary sub-package linebacker -- the way Casillas is for the Giants -- and has six total tackles and an interception to show for it so far. He also has some sack upside, having picked up 2.5 in 2014 when he played with then-Buffalo Bills/now-Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
The Eagles go up against the last week of the DeAngelo Williams-led backfield of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Williams has averaged 36 opportunities over the first two weeks of the NFL season, and this provides a ton of short opportunities for Bradham to cover and clean up on. Cincinnati Bengals strong-side linebacker Karlos Dansby earned 10 total tackles and two stuffs last week against these Steelers.
Bradham is available in 98.2% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 6.73 tackles, 0.09 sacks, 0.14 passes defended, and a total score of 8.10 fantasy points in Week 3.
