Welcome to my 2025 IDP Plays & Fades for Week 8!
And now we are off, running down to the Ript-IDP! Let’s uncap our pens and discuss the IDP Plays & Fades for Week 8! Week 7 has us one-third of the way through 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 highlight some players who could surpass expectations or fall below 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 8!
*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 Lineman
Play: Jordan Davis, DT, Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants
- Davis has had a strong contract season thus far, nearly reaching DT1. He has averaged four tackles per game, while adding two sacks and one of the weirdest TDs of the season. Davis has been in a rotation with Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo; however should see a snap uptick this week as Ojomo is recovering from a concussion.
- Davis has been strong against the run and an opportunistic rusher (despite poor metrics). He faces a Giants’ team that allowed a sack to him 2 weeks ago while bleeding points to DTs overall. They have allowed more points to DTs than anyone this season while still being a top-5 matchup over the last 3 weeks. In a week with six teams and a handful of notable DTs on bye, Davis is a sneaky upside shot if Ojomo is out.
- Last Week’s DT Play Recommendation: Derrick Brown went absolutely nuclear, finishing as DT1 on the back of seven tackles and two sacks.
Play: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans
Every player with 30+ pressures coming out of Week 7
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) October 21, 2025
Aidan Hutchinson – 48
Jared Verse – 38
Micah Parsons – 37
Tuli Tuipulotu – 36
Will Anderson Jr. – 35
Josh Hines-Allen – 33
George Karlaftis – 33
DeForest Bucker – 30
Nik Bonitto – 30
Jonathon Cooper – 30
Laiatu Latu – 30
Byron… pic.twitter.com/tVQ8unJSJM
- What a trainwreck the Titans have been. Is it rude to continually mark opposing rushers as plays? Maybe. But does it hit? Oh yes, it does! The Titans have allowed (at least) one EDGE1 performance every. Single. Week. This season. After week 1, they have allowed a top-6 performance every week. Typically, that production goes to the team’s top rusher (though it was not the case in Latu’s first matchup with the Titans).
- Latu has not had great fantasy finishes thus far, but has been a great rusher. His metrics are right in line with IDP stars Byron Young and Nik Bonitto, though he has two sacks compared to their 17 combined. The 2nd-year pro has been a menace off the EDGE, averaging 3 tackles over the past month as an EDGE2. This is a massive swing for the fences, where we hope the final stats go to Latu over Tyquan Lewis (like in week 3) or Kwity Paye.
- Last Week’s EDGE Play Recommendation: Harold Landry finished as an EDGE2 after tallying a sack against his former team. In a massive week for EDGE players (including teammate K’Lavon Chaisson), he still was very good for your teams!
Play: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals vs New York Jets
- With this many studs on bye, we need to dig deep to get the edge on our competition. Ossai has been the second EDGE for the Bengals this season, with solid performances of late. He has 10 tackles and a sack over the past three games. Ossai’s metrics have shown better, performing as a top-35 EDGE against the run with decent rush metrics.
- The Jets have bled points to EDGE rushers this season, allowing more than all but three teams over the past 3 weeks. The Jets’ OL has played well, but both QB options have led to run-heavy game plans and numerous sacks taken due to holding onto the ball. Ossai does not have EDGE1 upside (even if Trey Hendrickson is out), but has a chance to sneak into EDGE2 territory if he can amass another 3-5 tackles and get to the QB.
- Last Week’s EDGE Play Recommendation: Jonathan Cooper amassed another 1.5 sacks en route to finishing as a top-18 EDGE in a loaded week for the position.
Fade: Bryan Bresee, DT, New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Bresee has begun to break out for the Saints over the past month. He has totalled 13 tackles with 1.5 sacks in the span, making him a low-end DT1. The metrics are not as strong, showing Bresee as merely solid against both the run and pass. The third-year pro has improved while playing a team-high 71% of snaps, though his production can still be heavily matchup-dependent.
- Over the past month, Bresee’s breakout was helped mainly by playing the three best matchups for DTs. Last week, he performed well against a bottom-8 matchup, but now faces a whole different animal in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have allowed the fewest points to DTs over the past month, despite playing some heavy hitters all season. You may need to play Bresee if he was a bye-week fill-in, but we cannot expect the statistical breakout to continue in this matchup.
- Last Week’s DT Fade Recommendation: Despite tying for the most interior defensive linemen snaps for the Chargers, Justin Eboigbe was completely shut out of the box score.
Fade: Rashaan Gary, EDGE, Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers (SNF)
- Gary has been fantastic for the Packers this season, especially when playing across from Micah Parsons. He has 5.5 sacks and over 3 tackles per game thus far, which has made him a top-15 EDGE on the season. The metrics are not quite as strong for Gary, who has metrics closer to Kwity Paye than other top-15 rushers. He has been very good against the run, which gives him a floor.
- Pittsburgh may be able to expose poor rush metrics, as they have been an awful EDGE matchup this season. Amongst full-time starters, only Tua Tagovailoa and fellow 40-year-old Joe Flacco have had a quicker time to throw than the former Packers’ MVP. Aaron Rodgers is taking a sack on only every 22 dropbacks due to the quick release, lowering any ceiling for the Packers’ secondary rusher. Add in the revenge-game factor for Rodgers, and Gary feels like he could underperform on this season’s totals.
- Last Week’s EDGE Fade Recommendation: Joshua Hines-Allen had only one tackle in an absolute beatdown by the Rams in London.
Fade: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos
- The 2nd-rounder had his first career sack last week, but the matchup with the Broncos does not give much hope that he can continue the breakout. Denver is a constant in this section, due to an outstanding OL and quick passing game that does not allow many sacks.
- The Broncos are also not allowing many tackles in the run game, which helps keep them a bottom-3 matchup for EDGEs over the whole season. Over the past month, Ezeiruaku has been an EDGE2 with 3 tackles/game. He has overperformed his run-game ability, making him a fade for this week with an awful matchup while still in a rotation.
- Last Week’s EDGE Fade Recommendation: Alex Wright truly is a breakout player after another stellar week. He did not get to the QB, but 5 total tackles (2 for loss) brought him into mid-EDGE2 territory.
Linebackers
Play: Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders @ Kansas City Chiefs (MNF)
- Wagner comes off a “Week 7 IDP Fade” to become a “Week 8 IDP Play”. Wagner had his worst game of the year in a bad matchup with the Cowboys, but now has a great matchup with the Chiefs. He still puts up box score numbers, even if the big plays are mostly gone.
- This is a rude inclusion because the Chiefs should absolutely annihilate the Commanders on Monday night. KC is on an absolute heater while Washington is down Jayden Daniels again. In last week’s dominant win over Las Vegas, Kansas City allowed two top-10 LBs and another in the top-36 as they leaned on the run and short passing game after putting the game out of reach. Wagner still can put up big box score numbers, and while they should not put on nearly as poor a showing as the Raiders did, a big tackle total feels in store.
- Last Week’s LB Play Recommendation: Jihaad Campbell was a miss for us last week, with only 3 total tackles in a victory over the Vikings.
Play: Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans vs San Francisco 49ers
- As you can see in the “last week” blurb, the process of attacking the 49ers matchup was spot-on for Atlanta. We will again attack a team that allowed two top-30 LBs (including one who came on in relief) with the Texans’ LB1. Al-Shaair has seen 97% of snaps, while E.J. Speed and Henry To’oTo’o (and notably not my guy Christian Harris…) split reps at LB2.
- Al-Shaair has a revenge game of sorts this week, playing against his first team for the first time. He has struggled for IDP teams this season, with just over six tackles per game thus far. He has remained strong against the run, while being solid all-around. He should blow past his season-long LB4 production, with top-24 expectations (and hopefully higher with so many teams on bye).
- Last Week’s LB Play Recommendation: The process was spot-freaking-on with Divine Deablo. However, he left early with an injury, while Kaden Elliss finished as a top-15 LB, and JD Bertrand tallied 10 tackles in relief of Deablo.
Play: Tatum Bethune, San Francisco 49ers @ Houston Texans
This play doesn’t count because of the penalty by DMO, but what a play by Tatum Bethune pic.twitter.com/85xSa3LifX
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) October 20, 2025
- We flip to the other side of the matchup now, to the 49ers’ new green-dot LB. Bethune has been an amazing story over the past 2 weeks, coming out of nowhere to be a reliable replacement for future Hall-of-Famer Fred Warner. Bethune has been a borderline LB2 over the last two weeks, with 20 total tackles on ~85% of snaps.
- The Texans have been a fantastic matchup for LBs recently, allowing more points to the position than anyone since week 5. Houston has allowed 2 top-12 LBs in each of their last two games, as their OL and run game are still broken. Bethune is a deeper cut to play in week 8, but with so many on bye and a great matchup, he can be started confidently as an LB2.
- Last Week’s LB Play Recommendation: Trevin Wallace was again the LB1 for the Panthers, but this did not translate to fantasy success. He finished just inside the top-50 LBs with 4 total tackles.
Fade: Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts
- The Colts have been LB weekly fades for the past few weeks, with mixed results. Charger LBs were atrocious for IDP in week 7, with 7 total tackles (2 solo). Indy has been an awful matchup for LBs, allowing only one LB to record more than 7 tackles (Mack Wilson two weeks ago).
- Gray took over the LB1 role after the first Colts-Titans matchup in week 3. Since week 4, Gray has been a top-5 LB, averaging just under 13 tackles per game. He has been Grayt (see what I did there???) in that span, being PFF’s 6th rated overall LB, 3rd against the run, and 5th in coverage. However, the Colts matchup has been a graveyard for LBs, so Gray should have lower expectations than most weeks. You cannot bench him (especially with 6 teams on bye), but do not be surprised if he has his worst game since week 3.
- Last Week’s LB Fade Recommendation: Troy Dye did not suit up.
Fade: Bobby Okereke, New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
- Okereke started the season hot, with 34 tackles in the first three games. Over the past 4, however, he has made only 26 total tackles while facing a long stretch of bad matchups. Despite seeing almost every snap, Okereke is on a cold streak that makes him a fade in week 8.
- In the last matchup with Philadelphia 2 weeks ago, Okereke was held to 6 total tackles, finishing outside of the top-50 LBs. Philly has been a bottom-3 matchup to LBs all season. They have allowed a few decent games by LBs, but those have mostly come with a sack (Eric Wilson last week and Alex Singleton in week 5). Okereke has been used as a pass-rusher on only 4% of snaps in the previous three games, and has never had that skill in his repertoire. Okereke is a safe bet to not land within the top-24 LBs this week.
- Last Week’s LB Fade Recommendation: Zaire Franklin continued his disappointing season, with only 5 total tackles. He again finished outside of the top-40 LBs.
Fade: Alex Singleton, Denver Broncos vs Dallas Cowboys
- With Dre Greenlaw suspended after one game back, signs would point to playing Singleton in week 8. However, a surprisingly awful matchup with the Cowboys makes Singleton a Week 8 IDP Fade. Dallas made Bobby Wagner a fade last week, which proved correct (see below). They have been a bottom-10 matchup all season, while being a bottom-5 one in the previous 3 weeks.
- Singleton himself has been fine for fantasy, with 59 tackles and a sack in 7 games. His tackle total is boosted by assists, which account for over half of them, lowering the overall IDP points. The overall player, combined with a bad matchup, is not a recipe that gives us the warm fuzzies this week!
- Last Week’s LB Fade Recommendation: Hall-of-Famer Bobby Wagner did not have a good fantasy week, as we correctly faded an 8 total tackle performance that did not finish within LB3 territory.
Defensive Backs
Play: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers (SNF)
- At face value, the Packers have not been a great CB matchup this season. However, the best games they have given up have been to opposing slot CBs, with 15 tackles in their last two games against teams with a true slot. Arizona (last week’s opponent) does not have a true slot CB with Garrett Williams on IR, but Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson combined for 12 tackles while splitting box and slot reps.
- Ramsey has been strong this year, averaging over 4 tackles per game while adding an INT and 2 sacks. He is currently a mid-CB2, but has blow-up potential every week. He has 12 tackles in the last two games, giving him a bit of a streak coming into a good matchup for his primary slot role.
- Last Week’s CB Play Recommendation: Byron Murphy was merely OK, with 5 total tackles that did not get him close to CB1 territory.
Play: Jessie Bates, S, Atlanta Falcons vs Miami Dolphins
The one ball Kittle actually got his hands on, there's Jessie Bates making the correct read once again staying home and tight, ready to make the play. pic.twitter.com/mn4RDyxmCr
— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) October 22, 2025
- Bates has been tallying great tackle totals, with 6.5 tackles per game. Unfortunately, he has not had a single big play this year, which has nerfed his IDP production. 62% box-usage has helped that production and continues to give him a high-floor.
- A matchup with the disaster-class that is Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins just might be what is needed to add some upside to Bates’ production. Miami has been the best matchup for safeties all season, including 5 top-15 finishes over the last four games (2 top-8 finishes last week). Tagovailoa has tossed 6 INTs in the previous two games, with three of those going to safeties. If Bates is going to add his 11th Falcon INT (or another fumble force/recover), this week is your best bet!
- Last Week’s S Play Recommendation: Andre Cisco did, in fact, finish with 6 tackles. Unfortunately, he did not have nearly an S1 finish because he did not record any big plays.
Play: Jaquan Brisker, S, Chicago Bears @ Baltimore Ravens
- Without Lamar Jackson in the lineup, Baltimore has been an excellent matchup for Safeties, yielding more points than all but a couple of teams. If Jackson misses another game, we can expect that to remain true. Even if he returns, he will most likely not be at 100%, giving hope that this will still be a good matchup.
- Brisker himself has been on a heater after a slower start. He has averaged 5 tackles per game, while adding a sack and INT over the past few weeks. Over the Bears’ last three games, Brisker has been in the box/slot over 60% of the time, giving him a great production floor. The matchup and uptick in usage provide great hope that Brisker can outperform the borderline S2/3 he has been thus far.
- Last Week’s S Play Recommendation: Thomas Harper did play the lion’s share (teehee) of snaps for Detroit, but saw most of his work deep. The correct call would have been Erick Hallett, who recorded 8 tackles in his NFL debut.
Fade: Tyson Campbell, CB, Cleveland Browns vs New England Patriots
- Over the last two weeks in Cleveland, only 2 CBs have scored more points than Campbell. He has 7 tackles, a forced fumble, and an INT (returned for a TD) in that span, giving him a great start to his time with the Browns.
- The big plays are not sustainable, especially against QB Drake Maye, who is on an absolute heater. Maye has not thrown an INT since week 3, and only 1 Turnover Worthy Play in that same span (on 96 attempts). Aside from the big plays, New England has been a bottom-5 matchup overall for CBs on the season, not allowing a double-digit performance to the position since week 3. Campbell has been a great story, but he should be faded this week, especially without having a true tackle floor as he is on the outside.
- Last Week’s CB Fade Recommendation: Alontae Taylor finished outside of CB1 territory, but just barely. He recorded 7 tackles against a Bears’ team that became surprisingly run-heavy.
Fade: Nick Cross, S, Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans
- Here is our (seemingly) weekly “fade but don’t bench” selection. The Titans’ offense has been bad enough not to allow safeties to score high IDP totals. Over the last 3 weeks, Tennessee has been a bottom-5 matchup, including a week 7 matchup with only 5 total tackles to the position.
- Cross has had a nice 69% of snaps in the box/slot areas, though the return of slot-superstar Kenny Moore may drop that total enough to lower Cross’ floor. In week 3’s matchup, Cross had a good game, with 7 total tackles. The matchup and potential usage shift takes Cross from a top-5 play to a potential S2. This is one to note and adjust lineups accordingly!
- Last Week’s S Fade: Amani Hooker finished the Patriot Games with 6 total tackles. No big plays kept him just outside the top-50 at the position.
Fade: Andre Cisco, S, New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals
- Welp, from plays to fades. Cisco was a play last week with a good matchup against the Panthers. However, he has seemingly been replaced in the box by Malachi Moore, while Cisco moved to his more natural deep role. Cisco maintains a fine tackle floor, but will need big plays to have real IDP relevance.
- The Bengals are not a great matchup for safeties, especially now that the Flacco-elite (Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins) are getting peppered with targets. In both of Flacco’s starts with Cincinnati, opposing deep safeties have struggled, with 10 total tackles and no big plays.
- Last Week’s S Fade Recommendation: Xavier McKinney did finish with 8 total tackles. However, 6 of those were assisted, keeping his total score lower and outside the top 30.
