Streaming Matchups for IDL and Edge: Week 3

Photo: USA Today Sports

Streaming for Week 2 had mixed results. Our IDL streamers did not provide any big plays, making them irrelevant. With IDL, I shoot for big plays over a high floor. The edge streamers absolutely hit. Clelin Ferrell came up with his second sack in as many weeks, and Jared Verse was again a beast. Our sleepers, let's just say they stayed asleep.

Looking forward to Week 3, there are some interesting matchups. There already have been plenty of injuries around the NFL, causing teams to change up their game plans. Let's look at some great IDL and edge streaming options.

IDL and Edge Streaming Options

IDL Streaming Option, Braden Fiske, LA Rams

Matchup: San Francisco 49ers - Ranked 8th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

This is the second consecutive week I am pegging Fiske as a steaming option. He has shown some pass-rushing upside but is a brute in the run game inside. Fiske has been a virtual constant on the interior for the Rams, playing 78% of the team's defensive snaps this season. This has translated to eight total tackles and a fumble recovery in the first two games. Watch here how quickly he gets in the backfield, running the scheme to perfection:

Braden Fiske getting an education on what’s it’s like trying to bring down Kyler Murray… even with a straight shot and no blockers ? pic.twitter.com/m2BbobO7QK

— Alex and the NFL ?????? (@AlexandtheNFL) September 16, 2024

Fiske has a tasty matchup against the 49ers. The 49ers have tied for the league-most in sacks allowed (9), and will be down Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel Sr.. What does this mean? A heavy dose of Jordan Mason. This leaves Fiske with a high tackle floor, making him a solid streaming option for Week 3.

IDL Streaming Option, A'Shawn Robinson, Carolina

Matchup: Las Vegas Raiders - Ranked 21st in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

The seasoned veteran has been one of the long bright spots for an utterly terrifying start for the Carolina Panthers. Over the first two games, Robinson has accumulated 15 total tackles. He is a behemoth on the interior in run defense. His snap share is a healthy one as well: 68%. 

The Panthers' defense is down often, usually leading to plenty of opposing rush attempts. This is likely to happen again as the Panthers face the Raiders, who are fresh off of upsetting the Ravens. He also is facing the never-elusive Zamir White. Robinson will have his hands full, literally, making him a great streaming option.

Edge Streaming Option, Dayo Odeyingbo, Indianapolis

Matchup: Chicago Bears - Ranked 22nd in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Ranks

Odeyingbo is coming off of a career year in 2023. He posted career-highs across the board, including 38 tackles and eight sacks. His knack for getting to the quarterback was on full display last season. The Colts edge defender group seemed quite crowded to start the season with Kwity Paye, Laiatu Latu, Samson Ebukam, Tyquan Lewis, and Odeyingbo.

Ebukam is lost for the season due to injury, and Latu has yet to get a shot to crack the lineup. Paye is a constant and Odeyingbo and Lewis have been rotating. The Colts have been putting multiple edge rushers on the field as you can see here with the Odeyingbo sack:

It was a group effort from DeForest Buckner, Dayo Odeyingbo, Laiatu Latu, and E.J. Speed to get this third-down sack for the #Colts defense. pic.twitter.com/bTIu0axIqQ

— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) September 9, 2024

Odeyinbgo has seen a 41% snap share, which is fine, considering that most of those are pass-rushing snaps. They face the Bears in Week 3 who have given up a league-most nine sacks in two games. Odeyingbo is a high-upside streaming option for Week 3.

Edge Streaming Option, Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati

Matchup: Washington Commanders - Ranked 28th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

Hubbard stays silent but is a consistent contributor. He has not had fewer than 52 tackles in a season since his rookie year, where he still racked up 41 tackles. Hubbard also has at least six sacks in every season except from 2020 which I am writing off as an outlier. He has started slowly in 2024 but is ready for a get-right game.

That is this week's matchup against the Commanders. With Jayden Daniels under center, the Commanders will run plenty of read options and ground attack. Hubbard is a terrific run defender, leaving him a high-tackle floor edge defender. With Daniels scrambling so much, Hubbard also has the opportunity for easy cleanup sacks, making him a great Week 3 streaming option.

IDL and Edge Sleeper Options

IDL Sleeper Option, Solomon Thomas, NY Jets

Matchup: New England Patriots - Ranked 27th in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

Thomas was considered one of the worst top-three draft picks of all time just a few years back. He has quietly built himself a home in the NFL since he left San Francisco. Thomas even posted a career-high five sacks last season with the Jets. 

He seems to be picking up right where he left off. Thomas has seen the field on 49% of the team's snaps as one of their better interior pass-rushing options. He has responded with seven tackles, a sack, and a pass defended in his first two games of 2024. Although the Patriots have only allowed four sacks this season, they have run the ball at the third-highest rate in the NFL. That bodes well for interior defenders, making Thomas a sleeper streaming option.

Edge Sleeper Option, D.J. Johnson, Carolina

Matchup: Las Vegas Raiders - Ranked 21st in Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings

With the departure of Brian Burns and D.J. Wonnum being placed on the PUP list, the Panthers have become quite thin at the edge position. Insert D.J. Johnson. Last year's rookie produced only 16 tackles and had not accumulated a single sack as a rookie across 16 games. In two games in 2024, he already has six total tackles and half of a sack.

The Raiders offensive line has allowed nine sacks, tied for the league-most. The Panthers are likely to be on the field often. Add the fact that Johnson has averaged a 53% snap share, and he becomes a nice sleeper streaming option.

Final Thoughts

I generally go for high-upside IDL, but I decided to go with some high-tackle floor players for Week 3. With injuries across the NFL, being able to grab as many close-to-guarantee points as possible is critical to not falling behind too much early in the season. I am excited for Week 3, and hopefully, I have been able to help ease some of the early-season pain. Good luck and thank you for reading.