Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire Targets for Week 1

Curtis Lofton, Oakland, Linebacker

This would have been an interesting situation to watch in Week 1 even if we weren’t recommending Curtis Lofton as a waiver-wire candidate.

New head coach of the Oakland Raiders Jack Del Rio is a defensive wizard, the same one who masterminded the Denver Broncos’ efforts from 2012 to 2014. He’s come in and made sweeping changes to the Raiders’ defensive schemes since his arrival, shifting the team from an oddly-used zone-blitz hybrid scheme to a two-gapping 4-3 that will ask its interior linemen to hold the front instead of blitz, allowing his linebackers to do the heavy lifting in the tackling game.

What all that jargon means for Lofton is that his diminishing coverage skills will be hidden and his chase-and-tackle ability will be highlighted in this scheme. He’ll have the perfect test of this against the Cleveland Browns, who figure to run the ball an inordinate amount with between-the-tackles bruiser Isaiah Crowell. Lofton should thrive -- even in a two-down role.

Lofton is available in 81.1% of ESPN IDP leagues, and we project him for 9 tackles and 9.63 total fantasy points in Week 1.