Five IDP Players To Trade For

In our last article together, we covered five IDP players to trade away before their value drops. In this article, we will hit the other side of the spectrum. Being able to acquire players before their peak value is pivotal to being a successful dynasty manager. Some players have seen their value drop due to injury, some have not quite broken out yet, and there are a handful who are just constantly looked over no matter how well they play. In this article, you will find ADP references pulled from the IDP Show. They have been running best ball drafts, over 50 of them, since January, accumulating data for the upcoming season. Here are five IDP players to trade for before their peak value.

EDGE Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles

• ADP - DL27 and EDGE21
• Consensus Rank - EDGE22

Josh Sweat, especially looking at his ADP, is one of the most under-appreciated EDGE defenders in the NFL. He has drastically improved over his first five seasons in the NFL, finishing 2022 as a legitimate DL1. Sweat was a huge part of the Eagles' elite pass-rush success in 2022, coming away with 48 total tackles and 11 sacks. The pass rush for the Eagles should see a success rate close to what they did in 2022. They still have Haason Reddick and Brandon Graham, plus they added Nolan Smith.

Sweat currently holds an ADP of EDGE 21 and DL27. That pushes him down to the DL2 range which is crazy for a man who just finished as a DL1 and is ascending. Add the fact that Sweat is 26 years old, he could just be scratching the surface of potential. He is ranked at just EDGE22, showing that he is still disrespected and his value is still low. You could trade aging veterans like Matthew Judon and, to a lesser extent, Z'Darius Smith to land a player like Sweat. You should trade for ascending talent and trade away your descending talent.

LB Shaquille Leonard, Indianapolis Colts

• ADP - LB21
• Consensus Rank - LB8

Leonard may have the most widespread opinion across the IDP world. When on the field, he is an absolute terror. Across Leonard's first four seasons, he had 16 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, 15 sacks, 11 interceptions, and 30 passes defended. He is an absolute playmaker. His tackling ability is tremendous as well, accumulating 531 total tackles across that same span. Needless to say, when healthy, Leonard is a menace.

However, Leonard has had issues over the past year-plus staying healthy with a lingering back issue. Because of this, his value has tanked. Back issues are always tough to gauge, especially ones that have required surgery and a long recovery time. His ADP has dropped all the way to LB21, which is crazy, given his obvious ability. Our consensus rank shows as much at LB8, but his perceived value is low. He is already back at camp and has minimal restrictions. His value may be back on the rise, but it is definitely worth kicking the tires on Leonard managers to see if his value is still in the toilet.

LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns

• ADP - LB45
• Consensus Rank - LB45

Owusu-Koramoah seems to be settling in right where the consensus views him. It is rare to see ADP and rank by experts match spot on, but everyone seems to feel the same about him. I am a little higher on Owusu-Koramoah, ranking him at LB32. He has had issues staying healthy for the Browns, and conditioning and strength have been areas of concern for the Browns coaching staff. Still, all signs show that Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver has confidence in Owusu-Koramoah.

Tarver challenged Owusu-Koramoah to hit the weight room this off-season. In an article from SI.com, Tarver stated, "He needs to continue developing his body, especially in this little off-time. He's got a nice window right now that if he takes care of business, he can get his body to play, game zero, the extra preseason game then however many of those we get. Then 17+, because that's the goal, right? That's the goal, so that's his challenge now to be productive pro and know the scheme so well that he gets to stay on the field." The Browns only move this off-season to the linebacker group was re-signing Anthony Walker Jr. They made numerous additions elsewhere. This shows confidence in Owusu-Koramoah. He could be an incredibly cheap LB1 to acquire.

EDGE Azeez Ojulari, New York Giants

• ADP - DL36 and EDGE25
• Consensus Rank - EDGE44

Ojulari has immense pass-rushing potential. As a rookie, he trod the line of DL1/DL2. 49 total tackles and eight sacks as a rookie is incredibly impressive. It usually takes edge defenders a little extra time to acclimate to NFL game speed, but not Ojulari. Injuries held Ojulari to just 12 games in 2022. He still came away with five and a half sacks and three forced fumbles. It was the four-game stretch from Weeks 13-16 where Ojulari went off.

Over that span, he racked up 11 tackles, four and a half sacks, and two forced fumbles. Unfortunately, he was injured again for the last two games of the season. The two injuries may have Ojulari managers sour. IDP managers get spooked by the injury bug easily. His ADP of DL36 and EDGE25, as well as our consensus rank of EDGE44, show how spooked everyone is. Still, he holds monumental pass-rushing potential on a stout defensive line. He is one of the best IDP players to trade for right now.

S Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons

• ADP - DB26 and S22
• Consensus Rank - S28

Bates had a terrible year in 2022 with regard to his tackle numbers. Over Bates' first four seasons, he averaged 101.25 tackles per season. In 2022, he accumulated just 72. He did set a career-high in interceptions with four. Bates' role in the defense did not change much. He still predominantly lined up at deep safety; the difference was that his linebackers were much more efficient tacklers in 2022.

Bates just signed a lucrative four-year and $64 million contract with the Falcons this off-season. The Falcons are putting Bates in a situation he faced early on in his career; a young and unproven linebacker unit. The Falcons are starting Kaden Ellis and Troy Andersen as their inside linebackers. Both played well when inserted into the lineup, though neither player has played an entire season as a full-time starter. This could lead to ample tackle opportunities for Bates. Bates' IDP fire could be reignited with the Falcons. Bates is still an easy S1 and could be acquired for pennies on the dollar, making him a top IDP player to trade for this off-season.

Final Thoughts

All of the players listed above have the potential/opportunity to finish 2023 in the upper tiers of their respective positions. What else do they share in common? Their ADPs and consensus ranks are at an all-time low, respectively. This would be the most opportune time to strike and acquire these players before their value spikes. Being able to do this without launching off too many assets is what dynasty champions are best at. Stay on top of perceived value and find gems while their value is ice cold. Thanks again for reading, and good luck in 2023.