Heading into Week 9 of your fantasy football IDP season . . . making the proper pickups at this point can really boost your team for a playoff run. Make sure to take the time to scour the waiver wire if you are in need of a bye week and/or injury fill-in or just need to add depth to your squad. As always, feel free to contact us via twitter @fantasycouch if you have any additional questions.

IDP Waiver Pickups

Brian Cushing, Houston Texans, LB - It's hard to imagine that after being named the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year that Cushing would only be owned in 26 percent of ESPN leagues this season. But that's what can happen when you get suspended by the NFL for the team's first four games after testing positive for a banned substance. Cushing went right back to work in Week 5 and 6 with nine and eight total tackles respectively and started at middle linebacker last week with only five total tackles, replacing DeMeco Ryans who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Playing in the middle now will boost Cushing's value a bit because of tackle opportunities he will have, but it may take a week or two for him to get his bearings, get used to calling plays and playing from a different perspective. Even with that being said, he is an IDP stud no matter where he plays and needs to be picked up in every format because of his high tackle clips and big-play potential although he will blitz less often than he did playing on the outside.

Clint Session, Indianapolis Colts, LB - The Colts' weak-side linebacker has played well in his last three games with 28 total tackles (23 solo) and a sack which came this past Monday on the Texans' Matt Schuab who got blasted after Session was untouched blitzing through the A-gap. He is a young and fast linebacker with a promising future and will make a consistent play each week for your fantasy team because of his above-average tackling ability. If you are in need of a No. 2 linebacker, a bye week fill-in or just want to add some depth to your roster, pick up Session who is owned in a little more than 25 percent of ESPN leagues. He would likely be a top-20 player at his position if it wasn't for the hamstring injury that kept him out of action in Weeks 2 and 3.

Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs, S - The rookie out of Tennessee is starting to make the impact that was expected eventually after being the first defensive back taken at No. 5 overall this past April. Berry, who is owned in just over a quarter of ESPN leagues, has managed an interception the past two games and had his best tackling game against the Buffalo last week with 10 total takedowns of the ball carrier (seven solo) and one pass defended. The physical tools are there, it was just a matter of time until he was able to adapt to the quickness and style of the pro game. Look for Berry to continue to get better over the second half of the season in defending both the run and pass, while having an outside chance of becoming a top-10 defensive back at the season's end.

IDP Sleeper

Matt Shaughnessy, Oakland Raiders, DE - Oakland's third-round pick from a year ago has been a surprising source of sacks this year with five in eight games. Shaughnessy suffered a minor concussion in Week 7 and passed all the required tests which allowed him to play last week's shutout win against Seattle when he recorded four total tackles and a sack. With 25 total tackles (20 solo) so far this year, don't expect him to blow you away with his tackle stats, but anybody who has gotten to the quarterback as frequently as he has is worth a look in deeper leagues. He is available in just about 90 percent of ESPN leagues.