IDP Nerds! This comprehensive Week 2 guide will give you all the advice and information you need to stay ahead of the competition in your IDP dynasty leagues. Our goal is to give you the same information on the defensive side of the ball that is so easily available for the offensive players each week.
I look forward to helping you on this long journey to becoming a league champion by the end of the season.
IDP Start Candidates
Defensive Line (DL)
Dorance Armstrong | Washington Commanders
Dorance Armstrong could have shown better in his team debut with the Washington Commanders. However, he draws an excellent matchup this week against a familiar opponent. The former Dallas Cowboys EDGE rusher will face the offensive line of the New York Giants, who surrendered five sacks a week ago. Armstrong has had great success against the Giants, with four sacks over his last three games.
Dorrance Armstrong led all Commanders EDGE rushers in snaps (37) in Week 1. Despite not having a sack, he posted a 73.5 Pro Football Focus pass rush grade. He should have an excellent chance to record a sack this week and reward IDP managers who aren’t giving up on him after just one week. The Washington defensive line has many new faces, but Armstrong should be the top scorer by the end of the season.
Linebacker (LB)
Tyrel Dodson | Seattle Seahawks
The former Buffalo Bills LB found himself a new team this off-season. It didn’t take long for Seattle Seahawks fans to get familiar with Dodson; he finished with nine tackles. The Seattle system has been kind to IDP managers over the years , with Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks accounting for 14 individual seasons of 100+ tackle seasons between them.
According to PFF, Tyrel Dodson had an immense week, finishing as LB9 and grading exceptionally well in coverage (87.0). Dodson and the Seattle defense will have a plus matchup this week against the Patriots, who ran the ball the third most in Week 1. New England surrendered a top-12 finish at the LB position last week. IDP managers should get comfortable with Tyrel Dodson as a plug-and-play starter every week.
Defensive Back (DB)
Tyler Nubin | New York Giants
Tyler Nubin was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He didn’t take long to impact the Giants’ defense; Nubin played 100% of the defensive snaps in the opening game. Nubin saw 18 snaps in the box, which is encouraging for IDP managers. The rookie DB should be a solid contributor all year. He could see an increase in run defense snaps this week, increasing tackling opportunities.
The Giants will play the Washington Commanders this week; they are one of 11 teams that ran the ball 30+ times in week 1. The DB position is one that IDP managers tend to stream more than others, but there’s nothing like having a good young safety who can contribute consistently.
Defensive Tackle (DT)
A’Shawn Robinson | Carolina Panthers
The Defensive Tackle position in IDP leagues adds a problematic dynamic as required starters. The DT position is so thin that finding reliable starters in your lineup can be challenging. Don’t worry. We have you covered all season long. I’m going with A’Shawn Robinson this week, coming off a nine-tackle performance in Week 1.
The Carolina Panthers’ interior defensive lineman finds himself in an extraordinary situation after Derrick Brown was sent to injured reserve with a season-ending knee injury. Brown had 100+ tackles a season ago. Robinson is not the same caliber as the other players, but there should be opportunities. It’s challenging to find a DT who is a steady-volume tackler; Robinson should at least give you that in the short term.
Cornerback (CB)
Christian Gonzalez | New England Patriots
Christian Gonzalez played his first game since Week 4 of last season after missing the entire year due to injury. The former Oregon product averaged 11.75 ppg, which ranked 39th overall among all cornerbacks in 2023. Gonzalez gained the respect of some of the game’s best receivers as a rookie due to his length and technique.
Despite a tough opening game with just two tackles, the Patriots’ secondary has a plus matchup this week against the Seattle Seahawks, (who have allowed the most tackles to the position in Week 1). The Seahawks have three WRs with unique skill sets and will be without starting RB Kenneth Walker. I would expect the Patriots’ second-year CB to have a better game this week.
IDP Sit Candidates
Defensive Line (DL)
Joe Tryon | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions will square off in what’s expected to be one of the highest-scoring games of the weekend. Joe Tryon is in an exciting spot coming off a DL20 finish in Week 1. The Tampa Bay EDGE rusher has averaged 35 pressures per season over his first 3 seasons, racking up 14 sacks.
Joe Tryon can be very effective as a situational pass rusher, but he’s very ineffective as a tackler as, evident by his 20.8% missed tackle rate (PFF). The Tampa Bay defense has a tough matchup this week going against the Detroit Lions offensive line, which allowed only two sacks in Week 1 and allowed the fourth fewest tackles to the DL position. A few options on the waiver wire could provide more upside than the Tampa Bay defensive line as referenced in my waiver wire article this week; you can see that HERE.
Linebacker (LB)
Ernest Jones | Tennessee Titans
IDP managers were shocked by the late off-season trade of former Rams’ linebacker Ernest Jones. There’s reason to believe in Jones’s talent, but a trade this close to the season will come with a learning curve. Ernest Jones played just 46% of the snaps in Week 1.
The Titans’ LB situation will take a few games before we clearly see how the usage will play out. The Week 2 matchup with the New York Jets isn’t favorable for IDP managers. The Jets allowed 15 tackles in their opening game to the LB position. It may take some time, but Kenneth Murray and Ernest Jones are likely the full-time starters for the Titans. However, until the numbers back up, it’s not worth the risk.
Defensive Back (DB)
Minkah Fitzpatrick | Pittsburgh Steelers
Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the best safeties in the NFL. The Steelers DB is not a high-volume tackler; he’s only posted more than 65 tackles once over his first 6 seasons. Fitzpatrick does most of his damage as a fantasy scorer with impact plays, collecting 19 interceptions and 8 defensive touchdowns over that same span.
Minkah Fitzpatrick played 54 of his 56 snaps at deep safety in Week 1. This week’s matchup is against the Denver Broncos, who allowed 17 tackles from the safety position which were mainly due to the Broncos dropping two scores in the second half that forced rookie Bo Nix into 42 pass attempts. This game is expected to be low-scoring, with both teams looking to lean heavily on the run game and their defenses. Not many matchups will have Minkah Fitzpatrick as a sit, but this week is one of those rare occasions.
IDP Injury Updates
Antoine Winfield Jr. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It has been tough for IDP managers as we enter Week 2 with one of the most impactful defensive backs out. Winfield was the DB1 in points per game; he finished with 122 tackles and 19 impact plays in 2023. IDP managers will need to adjust quickly to start the season to replace a player who only failed to reach double-digit points in 4 of his 18 games last season.
Jordan Whitehead is Winfield’s running mate in the Tampa Bay secondary. He looks to benefit the most from this injury heading into a Week 2 shootout with the Detroit Lions. Whitehead had eight tackles last week and should have similar numbers this week. The Tampa Bay secondary is in trouble without their best player, but Whitehead should see a spike in tackle opportunities.
IDP Six Pack of Facts
- Six of the top 12 IDP scorers in week one were DL, Four being LB, and 2 being DB
- IDPs accounted for 23 INTs and 21 FF in Week 1
- 13 Different players accounted for at least 1.5 sacks, Two players with three each
- Four Cowboys players finished in the top 30 of IDP scorers in week 1
- Instant Impact: Jared Verse (DL18) and Dallas Turner (DL21) finished as top 24 DL
- The Bosa and Mack effect – 2.5 sacks, 4 QB hits, 1 FF and 1 FR combined
Weekly IDP Roster Management
IDP Tip of the Week
Is it too early to talk about IDP roster management? The easy answer is no. However, you never want to stress too much this early in the season. As IDP managers, you are looking for consistency. It’s hard to get that from a one-game sample size. On defense, there is far more depth to stream players, but make sure you are not using last week’s performance as a measuring stick for how good a player is. The reality is that it’s fantasy football; bad matchups at the RB, WR, and TE positions also exist on defense.
Lastly, ensure you are as flexible with your lineups as possible within your league’s rules. There’s more pressure in leagues that require specific positions vs. those that allow the ability to play flex positions. Use all the data we provide each week to play to your roster’s strengths. Look to start the players that have the chance to score the most points regardless of the position; starting an inconsistent LB because they tend to get more tackles will have you kicking yourself every Tuesday morning. Do your best to avoid it or you’ll find yourself planning for your rookie draft by Week 8.
IDP Final Thoughts
That will do it for this week, IDP Nerds; I’m looking forward to delivering you all the IDP data you need to get the most out of your lineups each week. Trust your research, stay flexible, and pay attention to those game-day updates to ensure your team is set for a winning performance. Until next week, continue to build those IDP dynasty powerhouses and enjoy this weekend’s slate of games.
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