Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 8

Christian Kirksey, Linebacker

Everyone knows that Karlos Dansby is one of the best inside linebackers in the game, even going on age 34, but he’s playing next to one of the most intriguing up-and-comers at the position. Christian Kirksey was a third-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and was expected to take over one of the starting inside linebacker spots from the time he entered the league. He sat most of last year behind Craig Robertson, however, and many began to believe we had misjudged his talent. In the last two weeks of 2015, though, he’s accrued 17 total tackles and really started to come into his own. He’s currently on pace for around 85 total tackles but could see 100 if he continues to thrive at his current level of production.

In any format, you want a strong tackle base for value. Kirksey’s skill set can capitalize on opportunities presented to him, and will the Arizona Cardinals ever present him with opportunities. Over the last three weeks, inside linebackers playing the Cardinals have racked up an average 5.5 tackles and 1 stuff per player. The Cardinals are allowing the seventh-highest stuff percentage in the NFL, so this should sustain. There’s little sack upside, however, as they have the seventh-lowest sack percentage allowed. The Cardinals don’t run the ball a ton, but they are in the top half of the league for both play calling ratio and total rushes attempted.

Kirksey is available in 98.5% of ESPN IDP leagues. We project him for around 7.0 tackles, a good chance for a pass defensed, and a total score of 7.37 balanced fantasy points in Week 8.