IDP Stock Market Week 4

Last week's story was about injuries, which, if not followed or prepared for, can derail your season. If you read last week, some gems in the pennies (Jalen Thompson and Brian Branch) made an immediate impact and likely either won your game or made your matchup more difficult for the opponent. We also chronicled the bitter injuries that occurred and had you shy away from some notable names while also throwing a little Carolina linebacker nugget for those that read in-depth! The good news for those who missed it, there are still plenty of weeks to get your team right and to learn from the information the NFL gives us each week. What you do with the information is on you! I am here to help contextualize what we are seeing and help rationalize what we should do. Here it is, the Week 4 bell! Make sure you're taking notes!

The Fortune 5

Zaire Franklin: Last season, we saw Franklin emerge as a very talented linebacker and likely a high pick for most teams. However, the looming return of the IDP great Shaquille Leonard had many people questioning what his true ceiling would be. Did anyone guess LB1 through three full weeks? He has yet to record a game with less than double-digit tackles and is helping anchor an Indianapolis defense that has been surprising, to say the least. Through Week 3, he has 45 total tackles, a forced fumble, and a sack. He has established himself as the lead linebacker for the Colts, and he is 27 years young! He is here to stay and is likely picking up right where Leonard left off prior to the injury. If you took the risk, you have been paid back mightily!

Jessie Bates III: If you are like me, you likely looked at Week 1 as a great game but failed to buy into the immediate hype that Bates would be able to put together multiple weeks of two interception-like games. Week 2 was a drastic back-to-earth game and was more along the lines of what we had seen from him over the last couple of years, but then this past week, he exploded again. He is a player that you're just going to have to live with the lows while happily accepting the highs. The lows are going to be maddening, but the highs have week-winning potential. When a player offers that, you must certainly accept it.

Jordan Whitehead: Last season was supposed to be the breakout year for young Jordan Whitehead, and many believed him to be a big IDP sleeper. While the year wasn't bad by any means, it was more of the same from Whitehead, and it left a lot to be desired. This season seems to be the year he will break out. Through Week 3, he has 21 total tackles and four defended passes, along with three interceptions! He has yet to score less than double-digit points and is a must-start until we see a change in his production. The Jets have a great defense and secondary, so opportunities for him to score will be readily available. Ride this wave while it is here and reap the rewards that are being afforded to you! This next week, he faces a Chiefs team that just so happens to LOVE passing the ball!

Brian Branch: If you read last week, then you are aware of the hype train I am riding for Branch. Unfortunately, it was due to injury that he got his opportunity, but he absolutely shined during it. 11 solo tackles and two defended passes were enough to pop off the screen and likely on your waiver wire as well. Hopefully, you got to him early as we mentioned! It is too late now unless you have that priority waiver order or if you spend an inordinate amount of FAAB. Branch is going to be a star in this league for a long time. Here is to many more week-winning efforts.

Matthew Judon: Judon has always been a consistent player but had the caveat of being coded as a linebacker for most of his career. Since the sweeping changes have occurred, he is a must-start at the defensive end position. Each week to start the year, he has had no less than three tackles and a sack. This type of player can be a foundational piece for your team even at the age of 31. His last two seasons have been double-digit sacks, including a career-high 15 last season, which he is well on his way to improving upon.

The Falling 4

De'Vondre Campbell: Quay Walker had already been my preferred option in dynasty leagues, but Campbell, to his credit, was performing well to start. This week, though, he will be a questionable designation for his game against the Lions. The worst part is that they are on a short week and will play this Thursday. Even if he decides to play through this injury, he must sit on your bench. As a dynasty asset, I would look to move him while he is still producing like he is. He is a valuable player but is aging and starting to accumulate injuries at a higher frequency. There's nothing wrong with moving off a player that is still performing well. This builds good trade faith within your league, and you can maximize your offer, seeing as he is still an elite LB1.

Josh Allen: Allen perfectly exemplifies why Week 1 can sway anyone. I was very high on him to start, even being bold enough to say he was fantasy football's best Josh Allen (HA!). To be fair, how often do we see a 10-tackle and three-sack performance right out of the gate?!?! Since this masterpiece of a game, Allen has just three total tackles. He is too notable of a player to drop, and in dynasty leagues, he is way too young to trade. He is the player who you will need to live with as he goes through the highs and lows. It's time, I don't anticipate this to last long.

Za'Darius Smith: One of the more notable additions this offseason was Smith joining the Cleveland Browns. Smith had a prime opportunity to feast in situations that Myles Garrett drew the attention, which would be ALL THE TIME. It's too bad that, to this point, he has accumulated just five total tackles and a defended pass in the first three weeks of the year. Until otherwise proven, he must be on your bench and likely is your week's first cut if you can get any of the darlings of the week. Smith is too risky to play and too old to trade. A combination that gives me too much heartburn to endorse.

Leighton Vander Esch: Back in my day (the 2010s), the Cowboys had dominating linebackers that were weekly must-start, and you rarely even entertained any other ideas about them. Vander Esch was drafted to usher in the new crop of talent as the team phased out IDP legend Sean Lee. He burst onto the scene immediately with 143 tackles his rookie year but has failed to reach more than 90 in the following four seasons. Unfortunately, he is an injury-prone player who is in a position that requires collision for success. This season, he has been as healthy of a player as he has been in his career yet has disappointed. He is averaging just under five tackles a week, which is okay, but in dynasty leagues, I am looking to move off him if anyone is even willing to trade for him. He's too good for waivers and not good enough to start. Keep him on your bench as a pretty name for depth on a bye week or due to injury (if it isn't him that falls victim).

Premiere Pennies

Rashan Gary: I was so high on Gary coming off the ACL injury last season and even touted him as one of my favorite players to rebound this season. Through the first two weeks, managers were seriously disappointed. This past week, though, the hope sprung eternal. He exploded for three tackles, all of which were sacks! Now, is it time to put him in your starting lineup? No. He is a player that is worth monitoring, though, as the season goes on and as he progresses even more through recovery. He has all the potential in the world and is 25 years old, but we need to see it consistently before starting him. He could be a late-season sleeper for your team.

Jevon Holland: Who doesn't love a good safety? Holland has always been a consistent player that no one really talks about. This season, he seems to have reached another level. He has 33 total tackles, has forced two fumbles, and has defended two passes on the young season. His next three matchups are against a pass-happy Bills team, a rudderless New York Giants team, and the Carolina Panthers, who will either start a rookie who has already been injured or the Red Rifle Andy Dalton. Holland is 23 years old and is making a case for this year's Talanoa Hufanga "come from out of nowhere" player of the year. Holland is a dynasty must-have if you can pry him away from the lucky managers who have him.

Micah McFadden: McFadden has had a very weird start to his career. He came into last season as a dynasty sleeper darling and put up a decent rookie season. The problem with what he showed us was that it was inconsistent and too frequently left us with zero-point games. This year, he seems to have carved himself out as the sidekick to Bobby Okereke and is likely helping you build great depth at the linebacker position or, even better, contributing to winning weeks. He has 26 tackles and is one of very few fantasy-relevant New York Giants fantasy players on either side of the ball. The bottom line here is that he is a second-year player playing a premiere position in IDP and is starting to accumulate stats. If you're looking for a long-term sleeper, try trading for him before he pops. He is still the second-best linebacker there, but it wouldn't shock me if he began to steal more and more stats, contributing to more points.

There you have it. Another week down and another group of players to watch, learn from, or avoid! It is never too late to hit the reset button on your team and how they're performing. So make those waiver moves and trades, and make sure you continue to follow me on Twitter (X) @mattmontyff for more IDP and fantasy football content as always, make sure you're following @footballguys to get all the great content from your favorite analysts!