Welcome back, IDP Nerds! Week 13 is here, and with just two weeks left in the fantasy regular season, every move you make carries added pressure. IDP waiver wires are getting thin across every league, but this is the time of year when the smallest edges can make the most significant difference. Whether you need immediate production or a strategic stash, the Week 13 IDP Waiver Wire report focuses on the players who can keep you one step ahead of the competition when it matters most.
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Top Dynasty IDP Adds | Week 13 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups
🏈 Week 13 IDP Adds | Top Waiver Wire Pickups Table
| Player | Position | Team | FAAB % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Ossai | DL | Bengals | 1-5% | Third straight double-digit fantasy performance. |
| Dennis Gardeck | DL | Jaguars | 1-5% | Top 12 DL in Week 13. 1.5 sacks on 63% of defensive snaps. |
| Shaq Thompson | LB | Bills | 1-5% | Expected to replace Terrel Bernard; multiple 20-point games this year. |
| D’Marco Jackson | LB | Bears | 3-8% | 15 tackles in first every-down role; short-term value with Edmunds on IR. |
| Thomas Harper | DB | Lions | 0-1% | Three straight double-digit games; starting while Kerby Joseph is out. |
| Antonio Johnson | DB | Jaguars | 0-1% | DB13 over the past month; role continues to expand. |
🧱 Best Defensive Line Waiver Pickups | Week 13 IDP
| Player | Team | FAAB % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Ossai | Bengals | 1-5% | Third straight double-digit fantasy performance. |
| Dennis Gardeck | Jaguars | 1-5% | Top 12 DL in Week 13. 1.5 sacks on 63% of the defensive snaps. |
Joseph Ossai | Cincinnati Bengals | 1-5% FAAB
The options are thin for IDP managers looking to be aggressive late in the season. Joseph Ossai is a name to target ahead of the fantasy playoffs. The Bengals EDGE rusher continues to see increased opportunities with Trey Hendrickson sidelined. Ossai has three tackles or more in four straight games and has delivered for managers with double-digit fantasy points in all but one of those games. Looking at the fantasy playoff schedule, the Bengals will face the Bills, Ravens, and Dolphins, all of whom have allowed two or more sacks per game this season. While he’s not likely to be the difference maker to win your matchup, Ossai can be good enough to avoid a single-digit performance in your lineup.
Dennis Gardeck | Jacksonville Jaguars | 1-5% FAAB
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense has been a frustrating one to predict from week to week. I do know that nobody had Dennis Gardeck as the team’s leading scorer at the DL position through 12 weeks. The veteran pass rusher has seven games of 10 fantasy points or more and is coming off a 1.5 sack performance last week. Gardeck is not a player who offers much long-term value, but fantasy managers could take advantage of his consistent play to improve their teams as they approach the playoffs. The veteran pass rusher could give you just enough to feel confident if you are hurting for DL depth late in the season.
IDP Trivia | Which Week 13 linebacker pickup stepped into an every-down role and recorded 15 tackles in his first full-time game of the season?
💪 Linebacker Adds (LB) | Week 13 IDP Waiver Wire
| Player | Team | FAAB % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaq Thompson | Bills | 1-5% | Terrel Bernard is likely going to IR. Thompson could step in as a top LB option. |
| D’Marco Jackson | Bears | 3-8% | Injuries to starting LBs. 20-point performance in first start. |
Shaq Thompson | Buffalo Bills | 1-5% FAAB
The Buffalo Bills’ defense is sending a new starter to injured reserve every week. Terrel Bernard is the latest name to join that list and a devastating one for fantasy managers. I would expect Shaq Thompson to see an increased role. The veteran LB is the only Buffalo linebacker with multiple 20-point fantasy performances this season. Sean McDermott loves his veteran players and will likely turn to another to try to fix a defense that has been very poor for much of the 2025 season. Thompson should step right in with the opportunities to be a high-volume tackler, and could be a massive boost to managers who need an LB, as the injuries are impacting this position the worst over the last couple of weeks.
D’Marco Jackson | Chicago Bears | 3-8% FAAB
As I mentioned, the linebacker injuries have been piling up for managers. No team felt that more than the Chicago Bears this weekend, who were without all three of their starters. Veteran LB D’Marco Jackson found himself in an every-down role and delivered with 15 tackles; he had just 25 tackles combined over his previous two seasons. Jackson offers value as a handcuff to the managers who have Tremaine Edmunds or T.J. Edwards on their rosters. Edmunds will head to IR and miss some time, which gives Jackson some short-term value. IDP managers looking for late-season linebacker help have to take advantage this week with a few options that can offer a boost. These options are rarely available this late in the year.
🛡️ Defensive Back Adds (DB) | Week 13 IDP Waiver Wire
| Player | Team | FAAB % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Harper | Lions | 0-1% | Top-20 DB since Week 10 while starting for DB Kerby Joseph. |
| Antonio Johnson | Jaguars | 0-1% | Averaging 16 FPPG. His role has expanded in the Jaguars’ defense. |
Thomas Harper | Detroit Lions | 0-1% FAAB
The defensive back position always offers the most value weekly on the waiver wire. Thomas Harper has been producing as of late after being inserted in the starting lineup for injured DB Kerby Joseph. Harper has racked up double-digit performances in three straight games and has just one fantasy point less than star DB Brian Branch over that span. Kerby Joseph is nearing a return but is unlikely to suit up on another short week with an early Thanksgiving game. Thomas Harper can provide another week of value for managers riding the hot hand at the DB position.
Antonio Johnson | Jacksonville Jaguars | 0-1% FAAB
Another player thriving after taking over a starting position has been Jacksonville’s Antonio Johnson. I’ve been a fan of the former Texas A&M DB since the 2023 NFL Draft process. He’s slowly been getting better and earning more opportunities as a starting safety in the NFL. Johnson is the DB13 over the past month of the season and continues to deliver for fantasy managers. The defensive back position remains one of the easiest to navigate and find value for IDP managers. A defensive back as effective as Johnson has been could see himself as a starter next season if he finishes the year strong.
Are your Playoff chances over? Looking to scout which IDP Rookies to get excited about? Check out the 2026 IDP Rookie Big Board
📉 Drop Candidates | Week 13 IDP Waiver Wire
| Player | Position | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyree Wilson | DL | Raiders | Low tackle volume and just 2 sacks in 2025; fantasy managers can’t wait any longer. |
| Trenton Simpson | LB | Ravens | Unable to carve out a role; becoming a roster clogger at this point. |
| Mekhi Blackmon | DB | Colts | Production sharply declined after Sauce Gardner trade; no 10+ FP since Week 9. |
💼 Top Week 13 IDP Trade Targets | DL, LB, DB Must-Adds
| Player | Position | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Herbig | DL | Steelers | Sell-high candidate after breakout season—7 games of 15+ FP; unlikely to repeat next year. |
| Cody Simon | LB | Packers | Smart acquisition for rebuilders; buy low rookie with long-term upside. |
| Kyle Dugger | DB | Steelers | Filling in for injured DeShon Elliott with 3 straight double-digit games; cheap veteran add. |
🔍 Dynasty Scouting Notes | Week 13 IDP Watch List
| Player | Position | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Nolan | DL | Cardinals | DT11 in total fantasy points since becoming a starter in Week 9. |
| Zaire Barnes | LB | Giants | Next man up for the LB2 role; injuries stacking up ahead of him. |
| Kevin Winston | DB | Titans | 32 fantasy points on 16 tackles over his last two games; emerging late-season breakout. |
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🧠 FAQ | Week 13 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups
Q: Who is the top DL add for Week 13?
A: Joseph Ossai (DL, Cincinnati Bengals) is the strongest Week 13 defensive line pickup. He has delivered three straight double-digit fantasy performances and continues to see expanded playing time with Trey Hendrickson sidelined. Cincinnati’s fantasy playoff schedule is highly favorable, with upcoming matchups against the Bills, Ravens, and Dolphins—three teams allowing two or more sacks per game.
Q: Who is the linebacker I should prioritize in Week 13 IDP fantasy football?
A: Shaq Thompson (LB, Buffalo Bills) is the priority add. With Terrel Bernard likely headed to IR, Thompson should immediately step into a full-time role and has already shown upside with multiple 20-point weeks earlier this season. For managers needing deeper help, D’Marco Jackson (LB, Chicago Bears) is a valuable alternative after posting 15 tackles in his first every-down role. With Tremaine Edmunds heading to IR, Jackson offers short-term stability at a time when linebacker injuries are crippling IDP rosters.
Q: Who are the best defensive back adds for Week 13?
A: Thomas Harper (DB, Detroit Lions) is the best immediate option. With Kerby Joseph unlikely to return on a short week, Harper should retain his starting role, and he has already produced three straight double-digit performances. Antonio Johnson (DB, Jacksonville Jaguars) is the ideal longer-term add. He has been a top-15 defensive back over the last four weeks and continues to earn an expanded role, making him a legitimate candidate to enter 2026 as a full-time starter with DB2 upside.
Q: Who are the top drop candidates for Week 13?
A: Tyree Wilson, Trenton Simpson, and Mekhi Blackmon are the players managers should feel confident dropping at this stage of the season. Wilson’s low tackle floor and minimal pass-rush production make him too risky to hold. Simpson has been unable to carve out any meaningful defensive role and has become a roster liability. Blackmon’s role declined significantly after the Sauce Gardner trade, and he has not reached double-digit fantasy points since Week 9. Moving on from these players opens much-needed roster space for late-season breakout candidates or injury replacements.
Q: Which players are the best Week 13 IDP trade targets?
A: Nick Herbig, Cody Simon, and Kyle Dugger are the primary trade names to monitor. Herbig is a classic sell-high candidate for rebuilding managers after posting seven games of 15 or more fantasy points, with production that is unlikely to sustain next season in a crowded Pittsburgh front. Simon is a smart buy for non-contending teams who can flip a veteran LB for a rookie with long-term upside. Dugger, now producing consistently for the Steelers while filling in for DeShon Elliott, is a savvy acquisition for contenders who need a reliable DB for the playoff stretch.
Q: What deep dynasty stashes should managers monitor heading into the IDP fantasy football playoffs?
A: Walter Nolan, Zaire Barnes, and Kevin Winston are the most intriguing long-term stashes. Nolan has been a top-12 defensive tackle since earning a starting role in Week 9 and continues trending upward. Barnes is well-positioned to take over the LB2 role for the Giants after several injuries decimated their depth. Winston has been exceptionally productive with 32 fantasy points over his last two games and is emerging as a potential late-season breakout in Tennessee’s secondary. All three players have a realistic chance to see expanded roles heading into 2026.
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Trivia Answer | D’Marco Jackson, Chicago Bears LB (click to return)
