Welcome back to the NFL regular season! It is time to start IDL and edge streaming because the injury bug already hit us in the preseason. Haason Reddick is continuing his egregious holdout. Bradley Chubb, D.J. Wonnum, John Cominsky, Darius Robinson, Myles Murphy, Christian Barmore, Uchenna Nwosu, and Charles Omenihu are all starting the season on IR. B.J. Ojulari, Sam Williams, Drake Jackson, and Samson Ebukam have already been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Now that all of that is out of the way, we are here to help you through those struggles. Whether the injury bug hit your team or you waited too long on the position, there are still options. Here are your Week 1 IDL and edge streaming matchups.
IDL and Edge Streaming Options
IDL Streaming Option: Harrison Phillips, Minnesota
Matchup: NY Giants - Ranked 29th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings
Phillips is quietly coming off his best season as a pro in 2023, his second season in Minnesota. He became an interior vacuum cleaner, swarming ball carriers to a career-high 89 tackles. Phillips also showed some pass-rush upside as well. He posted three sacks in 2023, also a career-high. Phillips showcased picturesque run defense all season, which is highlighted here against the Broncos:
In love with this rep from Harrison Phillips@Beau_Allen | @horribleharry99 | @BetMGM pic.twitter.com/65Xst9dUCR
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) August 26, 2024
Phillips squares off with the Giants in Week 1. The offensive line in New York has been historically bad, and they have not done much to fix it. Saquan Barkley was productive because of his uncanny ability to make people miss. His replacement, Devin Singletary, is nowhere near as elusive as Barkley. He was one of the least efficient runners in 2023. Phillips should routinely win his matchups and gobble up the never-elusive Singeltary, making him a top-tier IDL streaming option in Week 1.
IDL Streaming Option: Sheldon Rankins, Cincinnati
Matchup: New England - Ranked 28th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings
Rankins is coming off his best season since 2018 in 2023. He posted 37 tackles and six sacks with the Texans, showing that he still has plenty of pass-rush upside. The Bengals are playing Rankins alongside B.J. Hill, who seems to be a supreme interior running mate to play alongside. While Hill is more of a run-stopper, he, like Rankins, shows a keen sense for interior pass rushing. Rankins will likely be the better pass-rusher of the two, making him a great streaming option.
They play the Patriots in Week 1, whose offense seems like a mess, at least for now. They do not have a true WR1, their offensive line was putrid in 2023, and they did not do much to improve it, and they are starting journeyman Jacoby Brissett to begin the 2024 season. This seems like a recipe for a Bengals defensive domination in Week 1.
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Edge Streaming Option: Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota
Matchup: NY Giants - Ranked 29th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings
Van Ginkel was graded as one of the league's top edge rushers in 2023. The Vikings approved and gave him a contract to start after the team lost its edge stalwart, Danielle Hunter. Van Ginkel still does not get the respect he deserves. Not only was he a productive pass rusher, but he was also an active run defender, posting 69 total tackles. Van Ginkel also posted a career-high eight passes defended. Watch how well he reads the quarterback here:
Andrew Van Ginkel out scoring the Commanders offense with this pick 6? pic.twitter.com/Lb1lIUtkG5
— King of Phinland?? (@KingOfPhinland) December 3, 2023
The Vikings play the Giants. As I mentioned above, the offensive line is atrocious. The two newly acquired Edge defenders, Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, are going to run a muck on the Giants in Week 1. The Giants offensive line is producing multiple streaming options in Week 1.
Edge Streaming Option: Jadeveon Clowney, Carolina
Matchup: New Orleans - Ranked 25th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings
Clowney had a career rejuvenation in 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens. He racked up 45 tackles and tied his career-high of 9.5 sacks. If anything, Clowney showed that he still has plenty left in the tank. He joined the Panthers this off-season and, oddly enough, is the team's top edge defender after they traded Brian Burns to the Giants. Clowney will be tasked with creating pressure while showcasing his elite run-stopping ability.
The Panthers take on the Saints, who have seen a bit of a shakeup in their offensive line. With Ryan Ramcyzk on the PUP list, Trevor Penning has moved to right tackle with rookie Taliese Fuaga meaning the left tackle position. Either way, matching up with Clowney will be tough, making him an elite Week 1 streaming option.
IDL and Edge Sleeper Options
IDL Sleeper Option: John Franklin-Myers, Denver
Matchup: Seattle - Ranked 24th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings
Franklin-Myers has been quietly productive for the past few seasons. He has not had less than 33 tackles over his past three seasons, and has averaged four-and-a-half sacks over his pat four seasons. Franklin-Myers plays next to lane-clogger D.J. Jones and opposite of standout defensive end Zach Allen. He is a great addition to this front line, adding a balance of run defense and pass rushing ability.
The Broncos take on the Seahawks in their Week 1 bout. Arguably the Seahawks' top offensive lineman, Abraham Lucas is on the PUP list to start the season, and the Seahawks have not addressed the issues they had last season on their offensive line. Franklin-Myers has sneaky appeal as an IDL streaming option.
Edge Sleeper Option: Dennis Gardeck, Arizona
Matchup: Buffalo - Ranked 11th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings
Gardeck may be the most underappreciated edge defender in the NFL. The 30 year old made a splash in 2020 coming up with seven sacks in 14 games as a part-time player. How did the Cardinals repay him? They put him back to the bench behind lackluster talent for the next three seasons. Gardeck started getting regular playing time as a starter in 2023 and broke out at 29 with 41 tackles and six sacks.
The Cardinals lost B.J. Ojulari for the season and are now stuck starting Zaven Collins, who seems to be a failed project, and Gardeck at the edge position. The matchup against the Bills is not ideal. Josh Allen may be forced to hold the ball longer, though, without a true WR1 on the team. This gives Gardeck appeal as a sleeper streaming option for Week 1.
Final Thoughts
If you are already looking for streaming options for the IDL and edge positions, then you either punted the position or injuries have already decimated your roster. Either way, we are here to help. There will be streaming options listed on a weekly basis to help guide you through the tough times of the year and help you still shoot for the stars and a championship. Good luck, and thank you for reading.
