We learned some things in Week 1 of the NFL season, but there is still plenty of fog to sift through in IDP land. We are still trying to determine who to trust and who to avoid. Let’s look at what might be in store for Week 2.
Below are my early educated guesses of players to our IDP Plays And Fades: Week 2 (2024) of the NFL season.
Here we go!
Defensive Linemen:
Plays
Alex Highsmith, Edge Steelers vs Broncos
- This is a total gut call on my part, and IDP owners know that Highsmith can be extremely hit or miss from week-to-week, but the Seahawks were able to pressure rookie QB Bo Nix at a nice rate in Week 1 despite missing Darrel Taylor, who was traded to the Bears, and without injured Uchenna Nwosu. Boye Mafe tied for a league-high nine pressures.
- Obviously, T.J. Watt is the go-to play here as he should be every week. Watt was an absolute menace on Sunday, and I can see the Broncos trying to figure out some way to slow him down. That should leave Highsmith with opportunities on the other side to bring pressure and get home.
Joey Bosa, Edge Chargers vs Panthers
- Bosa had a great Week 1 vs the Raiders with seven tackles – six solo – a sack, and a forced fumble. Now he gets an atrocious Panthers offense to harass.
- You never know how many healthy games a season you are going to get from Bosa, so you might as well ride the hot hand while he is available.
Fades
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE Giants vs Commanders
- The Giants pash rush was awful in Week 1 outside of DT Dexter Lawrence. Thibodeaux finished with zeros across the board with just one QB hit to his name to even show he played. It was ugly and I don’t see it getting better soon.
- Thibodeaux now has to chase around rookie Jayden Daniels, who rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns in his Commanders debut. I’m not buying it.
Anfernee Jennings, Edge Patriots vs Broncos
- Anyone who thought Jennings would step right in for Matthew Judon as the Patriots primary pass rusher is going to have to keep waiting for his breakout. Despite a prime role, Jennings only recorded one tackle in Week 1 with X amount of QB pressures.
- I’m staying away from the Patriots pass rushers who aren’t named Keion White until further notice.
Linebackers
Plays
Zack Baun, LB Eagles vs Falcons
- Baun was the surprise of Week 1. After major concern about the Eagles LB corps in the preseason, Baun was everywhere in Week 1.
- Baun had 15 total tackles with 11 solos and then chipped in two sacks to be the highest-scoring IDP player in Week 1. Why won’t he do that every week, Baun has become a must-play every week.
T.J. Edwards, LB Bears vs Texans
Edwards faces a Texans team that just gave RB Joe Mixon a career-high 30 carries for 159 yards against the Colts. Why I don’t see Mixon getting 30 carries again, I do see the Texans continuing to utilize the ground game, which plays into Edwards’s strengths.
Edwards had a great Week 1 in his own right, matching Baun’s tackle output with 15 tackles, 10 being solos.
Fades
Jack Campbell, LB Lions vs Buccaneers
- Week 1 was not what IDP owners wanted to see from the second-year linebacker. Campbell saw only 56% of the snap share and was the clear-cut third LB for the Lions.
- Campbell had seven tackles, which is solid, but only two of those were solo tackles. This is a situation to monitor moving forward.
Troy Reeder, LB Rams @ Cardinals
- Reeder was the Rams leading tackler in Week 1 with eight tackles, so this might seem like a strange fade pick. But I think IDP owners are hoping someone in the Rams locker room can all of the sudden become the same player as traded star LB Earnest Jones, and that isn’t going to happen.
- This is more of a long-term call from me. I don’t think Reeder holds onto this job all season, and if he does, I’m still tempering expectations.
Defensive Backs
Plays
Quentin Lake, DB Rams vs Raiders
- Lake played 100% of snaps for the Rams defense with a surprising amount, 78% in the box. With those types of numbers, Lake screams buy now and play.
- Lake had 10 tackles with a 16% missed tackle rate. He is going to be a player to have in your lineups most weeks if these numbers continue.
Julian Love, DB Seahawks vs Patriots
- Love played 100% of snaps for the Seahawks’ defense and filled the stat sheet with 12 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, and one pass defended.
- You won’t get this type of production every week from Love, but I’m riding the hot hand, especially against the Patriots, who allowed a few Bengals defenders to have good IDP days in Week 1.
Fades
Jason Pinnock, DB Giants vs Commanders
- Pinnock had two tackles in Week 1 and was outplayed by rookie Tyler Nubin who had seven tackles. I think that will be a theme this season.
- I don’t like this Giants team at all. I think the entire unit is going to be pretty hard to count on from week-to-week, so outside of LB Bobby Okereke and Edge Brian Burns.
Tre’Von Moehrig, DB Raiders vs Baltimore
- Moehrig had one solo tackle and two assists in Week 1 against the Chargers, and there wasn’t much to get excited about an increase in Week 2.
- I don’t foresee the deep safeties getting much action against the Ravens. It will be the front seven that will see most of the work throughout the day.
