2025 IDP Plays & Fades for Week 10

Welcome to our 2025 IDP Plays & Fades for Week 10!

And now we are off, running down to the Ript-IDP! Let’s uncap our pens and discuss the fades and plays for Week 10! Week 10 has us halfway through the season (somehow!) as we continue our ascent up fantasy mountain, and we will try to lead you to the top of Mount Olympus!

In this series, I will help highlight some players who could surpass expectations or fall short of them. We will hit three plays and three fades at each position (DL, LB, DB) from varying positions in weekly rankings. While they will not be forced, I will also try to add in a DT and a CB from their respective position groups. The goal for each group will be to have at least one high-level name and a lower-ranked player, ones who could rise tiers based on matchups or falter a bit due to “empty” statistics. Now it is time to saddle your mount (horse, pegasus, dragon, etc) and ride into the fires (seas?) of IDP week 10!

*Rankings and Fantasy point scoring will be based on FantasyPros IDP scoring, which can be found here.* 

**Base metrics are provided by FantasyData, and advanced metrics such as Pass Rush Productivity (PRP), Pass Rush Win Rate (PRWR), and Average Depth of Tackle (AVDT) will be referenced via Pro Football Focus.** 

Defensive Linemen

Play: Vita Vea, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New England Patriots

• Let’s recycle the analysis from last week: “Even with Drake Maye playing like an MVP, the Patriots have been allowing ample points to DTs. They have allowed a top-5 total throughout the season, while being the best matchup over the last month. New England’s interior OL has struggled to hold the line, allowing multiple sacks and even more TFLs to DTs this season.” – Joseph Harlow (me), last week, before the Patriots allowed TWO top-3 DT performances against the Falcons.
• Now, onto the player himself: Vita Vea has been a dominant force for nearly a decade, though it does not always appear in the box score. Vea has been a bit hit-or-miss for fantasy, but this matchup may be one he can dominate. Vea has been a surprisingly strong rusher, with a top-20 pressure total and a top-12 rush grade from PFF. The stars may align here for him to have a blow-up week.
• Last Week: The process was correct here, as New England allowed TWO top-3 overall DTs the previous week. However, neither was Onyemata. LaCale London & Brandon Dorlus combined for nine tackles and four sacks despite being vastly out-snapped by Onyemata.

Play: Danielle Hunter, EDGE, Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars

• Hunter has disappointed in IDP leagues this season, with only 2.5 tackles per game and 4.0 total sacks. He has been a massive hit-or-miss player this year, with two top-6 finishes and two goose-eggs. Even with lower fantasy totals, he has remained an elite rusher by the metrics. He has a top-12 pass rush grade to go along with top-8 totals in pressures and win %. Hunter needs the right matchup to get back on track.
• This may be that matchup. Jacksonville was an opponent that goosed him earlier in the season, but they have been far worse against EDGE players as of late. In the last month, they have been a top-6 matchup, allowing 6.5 sacks to EDGE rushers in 3 games. With Will Anderson playing like a DPOY candidate, attention could shift from Hunter, allowing him to impact the game as we are accustomed to. He remains a low-floor/high-ceiling play, but he has real top-8 potential this week.
• Last week: Tuipulotu *just* missed out on being an EDGE1, finishing with a sack and forced fumble. He still was a boost to your squad last week!

Play: Uchenna Nwosu, EDGE, Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals

• The Cardinals have named Jacoby Brissett their starting quarterback going forward, which is great news for fantasy managers who have Cardinals’ weapons and front-seven players on their opponents. Brissett has started three games (over 4 weeks, including a bye) and has taken 13 sacks. Arizona has allowed more PPG by a massive margin over that stretch, and is 2nd in total points to EDGE players despite having a bye week!
• Nwosu has returned from (another) injury and has been more than serviceable for the Seahawks this season. Despite the heavy rotation, he has been the top EDGE rusher for Seattle, with very good metrics overall. Those metrics are pretty similar to those of budding superstar Byron Young (EDGE3), although he has a significantly lower snap share. Those snaps have been climbing, though (the blowout against Washington notwithstanding), giving the talented rusher an even higher floor in a great matchup. He appears to be able to maintain (or exceed) the three tackles and one sack average he has achieved in the last five games, with EDGE2 ability.
• Last Week: Ezeiruaku finished as a top-20 EDGE, tallying a sack and three tackles, while Kyler Murray missed another game

Fade: Dexter Lawrence, DT, New York Giants @ Chicago Bears 

• We have some weird corollaries with the DT of this and last week. The two Dexters face off against each other this week after finishing with the same total points last week. Now that that is out of the way… Dexter Lawrence has been a bummer for IDP leagues this season, with only 2.5 tackles per game and 0.5 total sacks. He has not looked quite like himself coming off a serious injury that ended a potential DPOY 2024 season early. He is still showing out as a pass rusher, but has been awful against the run, killing his floor.
• Chicago has been an atrocious matchup for DTs lately, as Caleb Williams and Drew Dalman have picked it up over the past month(s). Only 2 DTs have scored more than 6 (SIX) points against them all season: B.J. Hill last week and Javon Hargrave in week 1. Aside from those two performances, the Bears have locked down DTs. This is not the week to project Sexy Dexy returning to DT1 territory. 
• Last Week: Gervon Dexter recovered a fumble, but was otherwise held out of the box score! 

Fade: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles @ Green Bay Packers (MNF)

• Phillips was a brilliant addition to the Eagles’ roster, providing them with more size and talent in the rush room. He has performed incredibly well this season, despite coming off another serious injury that ended his 2024 campaign. With the recent addition, there are concerns about how he will be utilized early on, though he has recently played for Eagles DC Vic Fangio. 
• If this were a great matchup, Phillips would be in consideration for “Play” territory even if there are usage concerns. However, this matchup is not favorable. The Packers have allowed one sack to EDGE players since week 6 and have allowed the 2nd lowest PPG to them in that stretch. The matchup and potential usage raise concerns about Phillips’ floor and ceiling, making him a risky play and a reasonable fade this week.
• Last week: Pearce was shut out aside from a fumble recovery. This near-goose kept him outside of the top-50 EDGE players for the week.

Fade: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills

• The final Fade up front this week is Phillip’s replacement in Miami. Chop Robinson was an offseason darling of mine, based on a prospect profile I loved combined with bonkers underlying metrics as a rookie. In his sophomore season, Robinson has not come close to delivering on the hype. His metrics have been middling at best and have not been helped by being in a snap-share. 
• Even with Phillips out of the room, Robinson is not a safe play this week. Buffalo has been an atrocious matchup for EDGE players, allowing the third-fewest points across the season. Only one opposing EDGE has finished as a top-12 play against the Bills, who have a tremendous offensive line and a QB who avoids sacks like no other. Chop has a chance to turn his season around if he can see the field more often, but this matchup is not the one to bet on.
• Last Week: Young snuck into the top-24 EDGE rushers on the week, tallying a sack despite only two tackles. 

Linebackers

Play: Jamien Sherwood, New York Jets vs Cleveland Browns

• Sherwood gave IDP managers a scare recently when he did not start the last game. However, that seemed to be a punishment, as he returned and played the rest of the game. He has been a borderline LB1 this year, with over nine tackles/game. Over the last month, he has been more impactful in the passing game, adding some PBUs and moving into the top 10. 
• We will make Sherwood a play with the combination of the season-long production and a great matchup. The Browns have leaned heavily on rookie Quinshon Judkins, which has led to their status as the best overall matchup for linebackers. Cleveland has allowed high tackle totals and big plays to LBs all year, giving Sherwood high-end LB1 potential.
• Last Week: Greenlaw was just outside of LB2 territory, as 7 of 8 tackles were assisted. The sack he added saved the day and your lineups!

Play: Derrick Barnes, Detroit Lions @ Washington Commanders

• We have a fun play here with the Lions’ hybrid LB/EDGE Derrick Barnes. Barnes has been an LB3 throughout the season, with six tackles/game and 4.0 total sacks. The hybrid player has seen almost 90% of snaps this year, giving him a solid baseline, no matter where he lines up. 
• Washington is an excellent matchup for Barnes, who has been a top-8 matchup to both EDGEs & LBs over the past month. Barnes is well-positioned to record tackles and/or sacks, regardless of his position in this game, which gives him LB2 potential.
• Last week: Shaq Thompson was out, so we pivoted to Matt Milano. Milano was still limited and totaled only four tackles. 

Play: Ventrell Miller, Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

• With Devin Lloyd out, the Jaguars have needed to lean on Miller as their LB2. Miller has totalled 14 tackles in the two games he has started in relief, despite facing two bottom-10 LB matchups. Miller has been great in the run game, with top-25 metrics in overall grade and stop %, giving him a high floor for an LB2 in the right matchup.
• Houston has allowed the second-most points to LBs over the past month. They have allowed multiple top-36 LBs for five straight games, including a handful of LB1 weeks. With C.J. Stroud out this week, the Texans will need to rely more on their awful run game, which will open up more opportunities for Miller to tally clean-up tackles. He is a safe LB3 play this week with upside to LB2.
• Last Week: Thomas had a spectacular game, with eight tackles and a sack as he took over the LB1 roles when Ernest Jones left the game early. Thomas was a borderline LB1 against Washington.

Fade: Quay Walker, Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles (MNF)

• Walker started the season incredibly hot, but has cooled as of late. He has averaged 7 tackles/game over the last 4. That production has kept him as a borderline LB3, even with a random 1.5 sack game against Arizona in there. 
• In the same span, Philadelphia has been an awful matchup for LBs, allowing fewer points than any other team. They have given up some solid performances to team LB1s, but Edgerrin Cooper still has that slot locked down for Green Bay. They have given up a few LB sacks, but the tackle totals have been minuscule in most matchups, killing the floor for Walker, which has already been in flux. The big play ability makes Walker hard to bench, but he is not a reliable LB2 this week.
• Last Week: Queen’s day was saved by a forced fumble; however, he had only five assisted tackles, keeping him outside of the top-30 LBs

Fade: Dee Winters, San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams

• Winters has been a good LB2 for the 49ers this year, averaging 6.5 tackles/game. When Fred Warner went down, there was hope that Winters could fill some of the production, but Tatum Bethune has entirely usurped that role. In a good matchup, Winters could be viable as an LB2/3, but this is not a good matchup.
• The Rams have been a bottom-3 matchup for LBs over the last month, including a matchup with Winters, where he totalled four tackles. Los Angeles has allowed some decent performances to the team’s LB1s, but has completely shut down the secondary tacklers (4 total tackles between Foye Oluokun & Pete Werner in their last two games). Winters is a benchable piece this week.
• Last Week: Al-Shaair had one of his best games of the season, although he still did not finish as an LB2. Nine tackles give us hope for the future, and he did not tank your week; however, we should still not trust him until we see more.

Fade: JD Bertrand, Atlanta Falcons vs Indianapolis Colts (Dublin)

• The Colts have been fading the LB weekly for the past few weeks. They have held multiple incredible IDP LBs (Cedric Gray, Daiyan Henley, Patrick Queen, etc) far below their seasonal averages recently. Even with a run and short-pass heavy game plan, the Colts have shut LBs down all season. 
• Bertrand has been good for the Falcons in relief of Divine Deablo, but this matchup may put the quality IDP play to an end. Bertrand has averaged eight tackles in those three games, but has not added any big plays, limiting the ceiling. If this matchup threatens Bertrand’s floor and he offers no upside, he should be faded towards the bench.
• Last Week: DeMario Davis was a perfect “fade but do not bench”, as he finished just outside of the top-24 LBs on the back of 13 total tackles (9 assists). 

Defensive Backs

Play: Jalen Pitre, CB, Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars

• At first glance, Jacksonville may not seem like a great matchup for Pitre. However, the line between CB & S gets blurred when talking about nickel players. Jacksonville has allowed great success to opposing slot/box DBs over the past few weeks, regardless of positional label. Isaiah Pola-Mao and Quentin Lake were the overall S2 against Jacksonville (their last two matchups), while Nick Emmanwori (slot in place of Devon Witherspoon) also put up a top-8 performance. Pitre is labelled as a CB but plays the same role as that group, giving great hopes for success. 
• Pitre himself has remained the maniac that made many IDP & film junkies fall in love with him. He has six tackles/game this season and 7/game over the last month. He is now being used almost exclusively in the slot/box, which highlights his tenacious run defense. He has DB1 potential this week with an excellent matchup for the slot!
• Last Week: My guy McCreary did not suit up for the Rams, taking time to learn the system before being activated. 

Play: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills 

• Fitzpatrick has not lived up to IDP hopes this season, as he has been a borderline S2 on the year. He has not had a big play since week 5, dropping him outside of the top-50 safeties over that span. His usage (60% slot/box) and play (strong overall and run defense grades) give hope that the right matchup can kick an IDP slump.
• Buffalo has been a great matchup for slot players as of late. In 3 of Buffalo’s last four games, the opposing slot-CB has had a top-3 finish amongst CBs. Fitzpatrick is notably not a CB, but he is the Dolphins’ leading slot player, giving hope that he could also be a beneficiary of this recent stretch. Unlike most slot players, Fitzpatrick does play every snap, giving him an excellent floor to go with the matchup ceiling. 
• Last Week: A Raiders’ safety did, in fact, have top-5 potential this week. However, it was not Jeremy Chinn, but Isiah Pola-Mao. Chinn had a solid game still, but Pola-Moa out-tackled him 9 to 7, while adding an INT. 

Play: Cole Bishop, S, Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins

• The 2024 2nd-rounder may have finally been unlocked. He has been a borderline S1 over the past month, including his best (on-field) game as a pro against Kansas City last week. He has averaged over five tackles/game throughout the season, with the number closing in on seven over the past month. This stretch coincides with Jordan Poyer’s return to Buffalo, which has allowed the Bills to use Bishop’s athleticism in the box/slot more.
• Miami has been an excellent matchup for safeties over the past month, allowing 5 top-24 performances in their last three games (plus another 2 top-30 ones). Miami has allowed more points to safeties than anyone, and allowed a decent performance to pre-breakout Bishop earlier in the year. Bishop should be able to post a borderline S1 performance again, against this struggling Miami offense.
• Last Week: The Lions did not end with a run-heavy game plan, as they trailed Minnesota in their matchup. This did not allow Josh Metellus even to approach S1 territory, as he finished with just five tackles.

Fade: Upton Stout, CB, San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams

• Stout has had a strong mid-rookie season, during which he has been a high-end CB2 over the past month. He has 28 tackles in his last four games while playing a near full-time role in the slot. Despite his size, Stout is stout (teehee) against the run, throwing his body out there to make stops. 
• The Rams have been stout (teehee x2 against slot players lately, shutting some high-level players down. Alontae Taylor had a CB2 performance last week, but Jourdan Lewis, Kyle Hamilton, and Stout himself have had decent-to-poor performances over the previous weeks. None of that trio scored double-digit points or had a big play. 
• Last Week: An early Forced Fumble put fading Kenny Moore (which still feels so wrong) in jeopardy. However, he ended the game outside of the top-30 CBs as he only had 3 total tackles.

Fade: Malakai Starks, S, Baltimore Ravens @ Minnesota Vikings

• Starks is another rookie who has turned his season around lately. Since Alohi Gilman came to Baltimore, both he and Starks have been borderline S2s. Starks has had five tackles in each game, including an INT last week. However, he is still primarily a deep safety, which does keep his floor relatively low.
• Minnesota has not allowed an S2 performance since week 5, posing a challenge to Baltimore’s rookie. Even in J.J. McCarthy’s return last week, the Lions’ safeties were unable to post IDP points, with Brian Branch and Thomas Harper combining for eight total tackles. Starks is a risky play most weeks due to his alignment, but this is not the matchup to take a chance on.
• Last Week: James was fine this week, but predictably did not land within the top-20 safeties. He did total eight tackles, but no big plays kept him down.

Fade: Jaquan Brisker, S, Chicago Bears vs New York Giants

• While still having a solid season, Brisker has not quite lived up to the IDP status we had hoped for. He is averaging five tackles per game, which is a fine but not great total. The IDP production has been slightly improved over the past month, where he has been a borderline S2. While Brisker has been effective on the field, his usage has shifted to roughly 50% of snaps in the box/slot, reducing his floor and weekly upside.
• The Giants have also been a bad matchup for Safeties over the last month. They have not allowed a single S2 performance since week 5, with most opposing safeties finishing in the same S26-32 range that Brisker has sat in. Jaxson Dart is still a highly erratic passer, but he has not put the ball in harm’s way with an INT% similar to Dak Prescott and Josh Allen. Brisker does not have a great big-play chance with the bad matchup, nor does his new role allow for a safe floor.
• Last Week: Wingard went from a borderline S2 to borderline S4 with the bad matchup. He totalled only six tackles with no big plays.

Thank you for taking the time to read my 2025 IDP Plays & Fades for Week 10!

I hope you enjoyed it and took some information from it, helping to win your IDP matchups. You can find my past & future work here, and can catch me on the Ride or Dynasty Podcast (@RideorDynasty) every week, live at 7pm EST with JJ Wenner (@JJWenner) and Jameson Hutchison (@Jamesonrulez). Feel free to reach out to me directly @JoeLow63 on Bluesky, X, or in Discord, where you can also find and follow @FantasyInFrames!