Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 7
Daryl Smith, Strong-Side Linebacker
Speaking of “old goats”, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-year old strong-side linebacker Daryl Smith is by far the oldest player in his position group on the team. He’s only earned 3.0 fantasy points or more in two games this season, so if you are a risk-averse fantasy owner, Smith is not your guy for Week 7; he is, however, the perfect home run call for anyone in desperation mode this week. While he’s been certainly outpaced thus far by young bucks Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander, Smith has become a low-floor complement to them who still has upside enough to be a quality a bye week fill-in in good matchups.
This should be a good enough matchup for Smith, as he takes on the lagging San Francisco 49ers. With power back Mike Davis leading the charge and quarterback Colin Kaepernick rushing 6-10 times a week, tackle chances should come -- and the Niners rank 10th-highest in stuff percentage allowed. Also, one or two off-target Kaep passes means an interception for coverage maven Smith, not to mention that San Francisco also has allowed the ninth-highest sack rate to the opposition. This is a fantasy buffet.
Smith is available in 97.8% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 6.32 tackles, 0.08 sacks, 0.24 passes defended, and a total score of 7.04 fantasy points in Week 7.
