Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 6

​Whitney Mercilus, Outside Linebacker

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus was a target of ours in Week 2’s edition of this column, but I underrated just how ineffective the Texans front-seven would be with injured defensive end J.J. Watt in the state he was in. That vacuum of effectiveness rippled outward and damaged everyone’s fantasy production, Mercilus included. Since Watt hit the injured reserve after Week 3, however, the pass-rush has returned for Houston. Mercilus himself has produced 10 total tackles and 1.5 sacks in the two games since, and appears poised to wreak more havoc in the coming weeks. Mercilus is playing 95 percent of the team’s snaps and has the seventh-highest quarterback hit rate among 116 linebackers playing 30 or more snaps per game.

Week 6 should be rewarding for him, as the Texans earn a matchup with the scattershot Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have the second-most pass-heavy play calling ratio in the league as of this week, which will give Mercilus plenty of chances to pin his ears back and rush. On top of that, they are allowing the second-highest sack rate of any team in the league and have already given up 20 quarterback takedowns through five weeks. Everything is lined up for Mercilus to be, well, merciless for your fantasy roster.

Mercilus is available in 95.1% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 4.31 tackles, 0.83 sacks, 0.18 passes defended, and a total score of 7.90 fantasy points in Week 6.