We have been waiting for the NFL season to get here since the April NFL Draft. Training camps and preseason games taught us a decent amount about what to expect this season, but we didn’t learn everything. It is going to take some time to figure out what to do with some players this season and who to trust.
If you are reading this article about IDP players, then congratulations. You have already taken the fantastic step of becoming an IDP Fantasy Football Player. You will love it!
Below are my early educated guesses of players to our IDP Plays And Fades: Week 1 (2024) of the NFL season. As the season progresses, we will get a better idea of who to lean on throughout the season. In the early going, play your studs. Don’t try to get too cute with it. But I will give you some players I think could have a better week than expected or a worse game than predicted.
Here we go!
Defensive Linemen:
Plays
Khalil Mack, DE Chargers vs Raiders
Mack was a big surprise last season. He looked like the dominant player he was when he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders a decade ago. Even at 33 years old, Mack is still a pass-rushing menace.
Mack set a career-high with 17 sacks last season. Gardner Minshew was sacked 34 times last year and was sacked three or more times in a game on seven occasions last season and now he has a worse offensive line.
Greg Rousseau, DE Bills vs Cardinals
I have to admit, this is more of a gut play. The Bills have had a ton of turnover on defense. Buffalo was fourth in the league with 53 sacks last season. They will need to get sacks and create turnovers this season with an entirely new secondary. Rousseau only had five sacks last season but he is entering his fourth year in the league and is set to become a big factor on the Bill’s defense.
Even though Kyler Murray is a versatile QB, he has taken a lot of sacks in his career. Part of this is him trying to extend plays and other times it is because he has consistently played behind a terrible O-line. This is a recipe for sacks.
Cam Heyward, DT Steelers at Falcons
Heyward just signed a new three-year contract with Pittsburgh after asking for an extension most of last season. At 35 years old, Heyward obviously isn’t ready to hang it up.
Heyward has continued to be productive despite his age. He is also the heart and soul of the Steelers defense along with TJ Watt. The Steelers have improved at every position around Heyward, which should make it easier for him to shine.
Fade
Bryce Huff and Josh Sweat, DE Eagles vs Packers
I don’t think I’m fading these guys all season, but I need to see the Eagles defense for a couple games before I’m starting anyone on this unit.
The Eagles’ LBs are very iffy and the secondary was bad last year, despite some nice additions in the draft. I just need to see how it is all going to work.
Jaelan Phillips, OLB/DE Dolphins vs Jaguars
I like Phillips long term, but coming off of a torn Achilles last season, I am cautiously optimistic about how well he can be expected to perform this season.
The Dolphins think he will be ready for Week 1, but I’m not putting a lot of stock in it.
Patriots pass rushers at the Bengals
Matt Judon was traded to the Falcons this offseason. DT Christian Barmore is out with blood clots. This isn’t ideal.
Keion White and Anfernee Jennings have a great opportunity but are unproven. They are both on my watchlist, but I can’t start either of them at this point in the season.
Linebackers
Plays
Patrick Queen, LB Steelers at Falcons
I usually want to see how a player responds to being on a new team before I start playing them in IDP, but Queen was all over the place in the preseason.
The Falcons want to run the football to mitigate the Steelers’ pass rush and keep QB Kirk Cousins from taking a lot of hits. Queen should be in the mix for a lot of tackles in this one.
Lavonte David, LB Buccaneers vs Commanders
David hasn’t slowed down despite being 34 years old. He had 86 solo tackles last season, his fourth best output in his career.
The Commanders are starting a rookie QB, Jayden Daniels who can run, but they also want to protect him. Washington is going to try to run the football to keep their young QB upright.
Pete Werner, LB Saints vs Panthers
The Panthers want to protect QB Bryce Young, especially early in the season. That means running the football, which should give Werner a chance to make quite a few tackles.
Werner has been inconsistent in his career, but he has played his best games against NFC South opponents.
Fade
Ernest Jones IV @ Bears
Jones just got traded to the Titans. He hasn’t had a long time to get acquainted with the defense. He should play a decent amount, but I’m starting someone else if I have similar options.
I think the Bears are going to throw the ball a ton. That doesn’t bode well for Jones making a ton of tackles on Sunday.
Rams LBs at Lions
Well, the Rams just traded their best defensive player away when they shipped off Ernest Jones. Now who becomes the beneficiary on the Rams defense? Right now we don’t know.
Christian Rozeboom was basically a part time player last year and wasn’t great when he got snaps. Jacob Hummel is also there, but I’m not inspired. Rookie Omar Speights had a really good preseason, he was rated as the top PFF LB, but he hasn’t faced NFL starters on a regular basis. I need a few weeks to see how this plays out.
Atlanta LBs vs Steelers
This has been one of the murkiest situations in the league. It looks like Nate Landman, who is dealing with a quad injury, could be limited. He is expecting to share time with Troy Andersen, who was primed for a breakout season last year, before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 2.
Kaden Ellis is the most probable start, but I want to see how this plays out before I feel comfortable starting any of these guys each week.
Defensive Backs
Plays
Devon Witherspoon, CB vs Broncos
Witherspoon was spectacular as a rookie. Set to be the slot corner for the Seahawks, Witherspoon has the ability to make impact plays. Witherspoon should be a regular play every week throughout the season.
Denver is going to throw a lot of short passes to the flats. Witherspoon should feast and could be in for multiple passes defense and a possibility of double-digit tackles.
Kevin Byard, S Bears vs Titans
Byard is going against his old Nashville teammates. He knows their tendencies.
QB Will Levis is a turnover waiting to happen. Byard knows Levis and has a chance to get an interception this week.
Julian Blackmon, S Colts vs Texans
Blackmon is starting to come into his own as a defensive player. His move to strong safety/box safety last season really helped his IDP value. I think he takes another step forward this season.
This should be an offensive game, but that doesn’t mean IDP players won’t score points. Blackmon should have the opportunity to make a lot of plays in the secondary during this one.
Fade
Jordan Poyer, S Dolphins vs Jaguars
Don’t get me wrong, I have been starting Poyer in IDP leagues for years, but he is on a new team for the first time in seven seasons. He has been plagued by a shin injury during camp.
The combination of being 33 years old, playing for a new team, and fighting through a preseason injury is not the combination I want to start a season. I’m waiting a few games before Poyer is in my lineups.
Jeremy Chinn, S Commanders at Buccaneers
Chinn needs to prove he can come back after a super disappointing season in Carolina last year. I’m not burying him yet, but I’m cautious.
Until I see how the Commanders use Chinn, I’m avoiding him in my starting lineups.
Antonio Johnson, S Jaguars at Dolphins
I like Johnson as a player, and I think he could have a good year, but we didn’t see a lot of him as a rookie.
Johnson has potential, but I need to see what he can produce as far as IDP scoring. I’m rostering him but giving him a few weeks before I plug him into my lineups.
If you have a question about starting a certain player over another from our IDP Plays And Fades: Week 1 (2024), please check the Fantasy In Frames IDP rankings and go off of those first for plays and fades decisions.
From there, check out my Plays and Fades for players I might like or dislike a bit more than the typical rankings in a given week. For individual start and sit questions or anything else fantasy football related, please follow and message Justin Taylor on X @jtorange.
