IDP Stock Market Week 8

Have you survived the season thus far? Fantasy Football, at times, is a giant survivor pool of players that either contribute to or clog up your roster. When you get to the end of the single-digit weeks, it gives you that sense of urgency that the season is closer to playoff time than Week 1. Do you have the horses to finish the race? This marathon is coming into its third of four turns. Are you a front-running Mustang or biding your time navigating a fast field? Now is the time to begin taking those risks you've been putting off. It's chips in the middle time here! Here we go with the Week 8 Stock Market! Ring that bell!

The Fortune 5

Camryn Bynum: While it may be too early to predict the demise of Harrison Smith, IDP fans will note that the true leader of the safety position on the Minnesota Vikings is currently Bynum. While the margin is close with his counterpart, Bynum has played all but one snap this season. With more snaps, we get more opportunities for points, and Bynum has been no stranger to that. He has 69 total tackles and four defended passes to his name and is currently far and away the #1 safety in IDP. He hasn't yet had his bye week, to be fair, but my money is on him to be hovering around that top spot for weeks to come.

Bradley Chubb: After what was a pedestrian start for Chubb, he has exploded over the past three weeks. Through Week 4, he was sitting at 14 total tackles and just one sack. A modest opening quarter for a man viewed as the team's elite pass-rushing threat. In the three games following these stats, he has 20 tackles and three sacks with two forced fumbles. He is on a tear and has admittedly benefitted from three straight games against offensive lines that have given points up to defensive ends in bunches (ranks 30th, 25th, and 20th, respectively), but faces a statuesque Mac Jones next week. This tear should continue for a bad, bad man!

Tremaine Edmunds: In the first Edmunds breakdown of the week, I present LB1 for the Chicago Bears, Tremaine Edmunds to you. Edmunds has had a great season, a season in which he is pacing for career highs in tackles, interceptions, and recovered fumbles. That may be a lot of fluff from “boom” stats, but the tackle numbers speak for themselves. He is the no doubt best linebacker option for the team (sorry Sanborn fans, that train has left), and is showing us that new teams can be even better for a player than we once thought. Considering last season was his worst as a pro, it is good to see Edmunds reach above where he once was in just his first seven games with his new team.

Jerome Baker: A very under-the-radar performer in IDP has been Jerome Baker. He has consistently been a quality LB2 with LB1 potential throughout his five-year career. He is the type of player that will not lose you games but can win you one now and again. One of these games happened last week. Sure, he benefitted from a pick-six, but that was in addition to his 11-tackle performance. He is just 26 years old and may be a great sell-high player if you want to rebuild. He is one of those unique players who could win both managers a trade he is involved in. Baker isn't a guy to build around but a quality piece to have as a compliment to your star players.

Terrel Bernard: When Tremaine Edmunds left to have his career year with the Bears, Bernard was a sneaky IDP acquisition for those savvy enough to get him in the offseason. When Matt Milano went down at the beginning of the year for Buffalo, he became a must-start player. Even before the unfortunate circumstance that befitted Milano, he was having an insane start to the year. He is everything you want in a dynasty IDP player. He is young, has a clear path to snaps, and can do everything on a stat sheet well. He defends the pass at a decent clip, is a tackle-heavy player, and even can get to the quarterback. Something tells me even when Milano returns, we may see Bernard more and more as the focal point of the Bills' defense.

The Falling 4

Nakobe Dean: When a highly publicized rookie gets drafted to a good team, it is easy to get drawn into the hype that inevitably follows. Dean was getting all the praise this offseason and even once had the coveted green dot (the signal that he is the man calling the shots). He started slow, as most rookies do, but then he got hurt. Since he has returned, it hasn't been super flashy, and considering the Eagles' defense is loaded with talent around him, it could continue to be boring. He isn't a must-start at this point, but there should be hope that he will one day be a future contributor. He belongs on your bench for the time being.

Elandon Roberts: There may not be a position more up in the air than the linebackers in Pittsburgh currently. One thing I can tell you is that I wouldn't trust Roberts to produce consistently for your team. Last week, he played his second-lowest snaps of the year and was consistently the third linebacker for this team. Although it was touch-and-go to start, it appears Cole Holcomb has finally claimed the inside linebacker position, followed by journeyman Kwon Alexander. Roberts is no more than a depth guy for you at this point. Roberts hasn't played 30 snaps in a game this season and is trending toward the high teens in recent weeks.

Aaron Donald: It appears we are at the twilight of Aaron Donald's interior defensive line dominance. It was only a matter of time before Father Time showed his head, but we shouldn't be sad that it's over; be happy that it happened. Okay, I know we don't do that here. The reality is that his name is the only reason he is on a fantasy roster currently, but he has no business being in your lineups until we see something change. To date, he has had just two big games, the rest being very much “meh” quality. The tackle numbers are giving him good depth potential, but there are better options available, likely cheaper than Donald is. I would look to trade him before your deadline.

Uchenna Nwosu: It is always a bummer to see someone have a season-ending injury, but I especially feel bad when that player is in a contract year. Nwosu wasn't exactly tearing the world apart this season, but now that he has a torn pectoral muscle, it is over altogether. He is just 26 years old and likely will get another chance somewhere other than Seattle, but I wouldn't stash him on my roster unless your league is super deep. Last season was his best yet, but playing a position with explosive upper-body strength doesn't give me a good vibe that he will return a better version of himself. Today is a good day to cut bait and move forward.

Premiere Pennies

Terrell Edmunds: We have a relevant IDP trade, folks! The second Edmunds we mention today is Terrell Edmunds, the newly acquired Tennessee Titans' safety. They have moved one of their best IDP options to the Eagles in exchange for Edmunds and a couple of later draft picks. Edmunds now moves into more relevant territory than he was in Philly. He is a penny for a reason, considering a mid-season trade only adds to the ever-growing confusion that is IDP fantasy football. Still, since Kevin Byard left, the safety position is just as open for him to take as it is anywhere else. He is worth keeping your eye on in deeper leagues.

Isaiah McDuffie: The Green Bay Packers can't seem to get everyone on their defense healthy for an extended period, and so far this season, it has benefitted Isaiah McDuffie. McDuffie has now out-snapped the injured De'Vondre Campbell on the season due to the unfortunate ankle injury, but even when he returns, I would keep McDuffie. He is just 24 years old, and Campbell isn't a spring chicken anymore. Eventually, there will be a changing of the guard at linebacker in Green Bay. Who is to say that McDuffie hasn't done well in his impromptu tryout? 35 tackles in just four weeks feel like… A LOT!

David Mayo: When injuries are incurred, there is opportunity awaiting. Everyone, may I reintroduce to you David Mayo? Mayo is 30 years old and has been mostly a depth linebacker in the NFL, but this past week, when the Commanders lost Cody Barton, Mayo entered the game and immediately made his presence felt. He had 11 total tackles. I am not saying this is sustainable long-term, but he is definitely a viable option while the Commanders are short Barton. He will be available in almost every league on the waiver wire.

There you have it, folks, another wonderful market to view. Is this the week that you make your mark? Does anyone on here over the needle for you? Make sure you act now to capitalize on the league movement! 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!