2025 NFC EAST IDP DIVISIONAL PREVIEW
WELCOME TO THE FANTASY IN FRAMES’ 2025 NFC EAST IDP DIVISIONAL PREVIEW!
Today, we’re going to be taking a look at the four teams in the NFC East and telling you who the players are you should invest in for IDP fantasy football in 2025 and/or those you should potentially avoid.
Now, before we start going position by position, let’s break down the ins and outs of each team from this past season!
***Also, stats & info from all of our divisional previews are sourced from the following outlets: PFF, Fantasy Points Data Suite, FantasyData, FTN, & NFL Next Gen Stats.***
Now that we’ve seen where these teams left off in 2024, let us preview where their players at different positions can either help or hurt your fantasy football teams in 2025!
Linebacker
Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles (FIF Consensus & LB3)
The biggest surprise in football last year was Baun, who ended as the LB2. The question now is: was this a fluke? Or is Baun really, randomly now a top-5 LB? On the field, he seems to have sticky stats finishing tops in total defense and pass coverage for all LBs with more than 13 snaps. His tackling, run defense, and pass rush grades were middling. However, his range and efficiency allowed him to thrive in fantasy. In his last 10 games of 2024, he had 7 top-15 finishes, totalling 93 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two turnovers, and 4 PBUs. I am not as high as some on Baun, given the small sample size. However, the upside and opportunity keep him as a clear Tier-1 LB.
Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders (FIF Consensus & LB16)
Bobby Wagner is going to fall off one of these years. He is not the same player he was in his prime, but he is still a solid fantasy player. After being reunited with Dan Quinn, Wagner finished as a top-18 true-LB. While he is a liability in coverage, he is dominant against the run. Only 2 LBs had a higher run-defense grade in 2024, though their combined snaps were less than half of Wagner’s. Similarly, only 1 LB had a higher tackle grade en route to 132 total tackles. Wagner will wear the green-dot again and see the field for every snap, leading to a high floor. His upside may be gone without big-play potential, but his floor keeps him as a high-end LB2.
Frankie Luvu, Washington Commanders (FIF Consensus & LB28)
Luvu is a fun player, but not one I want to rely on for IDP leagues. In 2024, he had eight sacks, but did not hit 100 tackles. He is an elite rusher from the LB spot, but inconsistent in the true position. He had three games as a top-8 player, but also five outside of the top-250. If you can pick the hits, he is a game-changer. Luvu has consistently graded average-to-poorly in run defense, hinting towards continued struggles. He is too inconsistent to be a locked-in LB2, though the upside makes him draftable in that range.
Bobby Okereke, New York Giants (FIF Consensus & LB18)
Off of a poor 2024, how are we to feel about future Hall of Famer (iykyk), Bobby Okereke? Some missed time absolutely factors into lower counting stats, but his on-field play also regressed. Total and run-defense grades fell slightly, while his tackling and coverage grades plummeted by 15 points each. Those grades were more in-line with career totals, but a far cry from his career-best 2023 (where he finished as overall LB2). In 2024, we saw floor and ceiling collapse, with <8 tackles/game and only one instance as a weekly top-28 player. With that said coupled with the emergence of the next player on the list, where can we rank Okereke? Even as an on-field favorite, I have to have him as an LB2 for the time being. He should be the team’s LB1, but only if health and regression improve.
Micah McFadden, New York Giants (FIF Consensus & LB40)
The aforementioned Okereke teammate is McFadden, who finished as the better NYG LB in 2024. He also has limited upside, with only 3 games over 14 points. The floor is similar, with basically the same tackles/game as Okereke (roughly 7.67). McFadden did finish a few slots higher than Okereke on the back of more games played. Their underlying metrics were similar while regressing to a similar degree in total/run-defense. Even with some uncertainty, McFadden is behind Okereke now, with a lower PPG (almost a full point) and snap-share (13 less/game). There is a real chance Abdul Carter steals the LB2 snaps on early downs, while 2024 6th rounder Darius Muasau showed enough promise to increase his role. McFadden may be under-ranked in consensus, but there is also a real risk of fading out of the picture.
Jack Sanborn, Dallas Cowboys (FIF Consensus & LB26)
We needed to include at least one player from each team here, so I went with my pick for Dallas’ LB1. Kenneth Murray is a former first rounder, but has struggled often. Demarion Overshown shown (teehee) some flashes but is coming off of another injury. Sanborn has been steady in limited work as a Bear (with new Cowboy DC Matt Eberflus). His knowledge of the system and overall solid play (average/solid metrics across the board) give him a leg up on Murray and sophomore Marist Liufau. To be fair, this is a lot of vibes and extrapolation as Sanborn has not had the run to truly show out. The only data we really have is that of Kenneth Murray’s struggles, combining with Sanborn’s schematic knowledge for an LB2/3 projection.
Best Value at LB
Of the group listed, Sanborn is the clear best value. ADP has not fully caught up yet, with Fantasy Pros having him at true LB58 (76 overall). At that price, Sanborn is basically free while having top-18 LB potential with a full-time role. To go off-board, the Giants’ Darius Muasau (UCLA) showed flashes in a decent role as a rookie. He started the final 5 games of 2024 and totalled 41 tackles. As discussed, the LB room is far from set, so a big step could see a jump in snaps. Jeremiah Trotter Jr and Jihaad Campbell are in consideration, but the lack of clarity in Campbell’s position keeps them off in favor of Muasau. Muasau is not ranked on Fantasy Pros as of now, making him a free add who could produce LB3 numbers.
Defensive Linemen
Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys (FIF Consensus & EDGE1)
No matter how you slice it, Parsons is one of the top EDGE rushers in the league. He enters the season as my EDGE1 (and in serious contention for IDP1) even off a “down” 2024. He had a career low of 12 (insane) sacks while missing 4 games. He started the year slowly before missing those games as well. Over the back half, however, Parsons exploded with 29 tackles and 11 sacks in 9 games. Dallas should be better this year, allowing Parsons to pin his ears back even more. Easy first tier IDP player for this season!
Brian Burns, New York Giants (FIF Consensus & EDGE11)
Burns had a very good first year in the Big Apple last year. Even if his sack total was under 10, he did have a career high in tackles. The pass rush metrics showed better than the total numbers, with the 12th highest total Pass Rush Grade. Having more talent in New York helped Burns’ outlook, and that has only improved. Abdul Carter’s addition should not take snaps from Burns, but will instead add another threat to a room already anchored by Dexter Lawrence. Burns could easily see 10-12 sacks and 70 tackles, putting him as a borderline EDGE 1.
Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles (FIF Consensus & DT4)
Carter is one of 2 NFC East DTs I would be okay with selecting as a DL1. Carter is a bit more of a projection than the next name, but the talent is undeniable. He has been dominant in stretches, but needs more consistent playing time and play to hit his ceiling. With Milton Williams in Foxborough, Carter is the top dog and should see a massive snap-share. Carter graded as a top-10 pass rush DT, but saw some regression in run-defense and counting stats. With the flashes, the hope is that this was just due to an increased workload for the first time, but there is a risk. The upside places Carter firmly within my top-18 DL and a top-5 DT overall.
Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants (FIF Consensus & DT1)
If he is healthy, Lawrence will be my clear DT1 in 2025. In 2024, Sexy Dexy graded as the 2nd best run stopper and 8th best pass rusher amongst all DTs. He was a DL1 in PPG last season on the back of 4 tackles and 0.75 sacks per game. As mentioned with Burns, the room has only improved with the addition of Abdul Carter. Carter may take some stats away, but also may open up even more for the nose tackle. Lawrence is a worthy entry for the “best defender in football” conversation, and the fantasy stats should align again. Even with a bad offense and DT role, Lawrence is a DL1 for me.
Nolan Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (FIF Consensus & EDGE17)
Smith is one of the most popular IDP breakout picks in 2025 after a strong sophomore campaign. He tallied 7 sacks over his last 12 regular season games before exploding with 14 tackles and 4 sacks in the playoffs. With Josh Sweat out of the picture, Smith takes over the top EDGE role for the Super Bowl champs. The Eagles have a fantastic interior that will help free up Smith. He has a double-digit sack upside along with a great floor. Smith graded as a top-12 full-time EDGE against the run, which should translate to more tackles. Smith continuing with his steady pass and great run metrics while seeing an uptick in snaps (from 34/game to hopefully 50) would skyrocket his stock. With this and a strong Eagles offense, Smith lands firmly within my top-24 EDGE players for 2025.
Abdul Carter, New York Giants (FIF Consensus & EDGE28)
Rookies on defense are always hard to value for fantasy. Add in an unusual role and we have even more murkiness in a projection. Carter expects to be used similarly to fellow Penn State-alum Micah Parsons with an early-down off-ball role followed by shifting down on passing downs. This usage could give Carter a higher floor for tackles while lowering his sack ceiling. The conservative rankings suggest the positional murkiness, with Carter outside of my DL3 rankings. Much like Nolan Smith, Carter is strong against the run despite a smaller stature. The upside is similar to that of Micah Parsons, though a poor offense makes that ceiling less attainable. Carter is more of a dynasty and flex smash than surefire 2025 starter at this time.
Dorrance Armstrong, Washington Commanders (FIF Consensus & EDGE34)
Armstrong was one of the biggest embodiments of Washington’s shocking success in 2024. He was a solid secondary rusher for Dallas and continued with similar production for the Commanders. His pass rush metrics were top-24 amongst all EDGE players, similar to those of Khalil Mack. Even though he only had 5 sacks in 2024, the playoff run with 4 in 3 games shows some more upside to tap into. Armstrong still should be the top rusher on the team in 2025, as Von Miller has not looked like himself over the past few seasons. The upside may not be double-digit sacks, but he is still worth a roster spot as a depth EDGE. He does not land in my top 40 DL when adding in poor performance against the run (116th graded EDGE of 127).
Osa Odighizuwa, Dallas Cowboys (FIF Consensus & DT8)
Odighizuwa was a favorite DT play of mine in 2024, where he racked up nearly 50 tackles and 5 sacks. He affected the Quarterback constantly, with 60 pressures leading to high-level rush metrics. He graded as a top-12 DT in most categories, with multiple rush metrics having him as a top-5 rusher. If Dallas’ offense is better and the defense more cohesive (which could easily be true), Odighizuwa will have more opportunities. Currently ranked outside of the top-100 DL, Odighizuwa is a steal in DT leagues, where he projects as a borderline DT1 this season.
Von Miller, Washington Commanders (FIF Consensus & EDGE46)
Finally, we have to bring up the future Hall of Famer Von Miller. Miller graded out surprisingly well last season, but that was in a very limited role (279 regular season snaps). The 6 sacks are nice for the role, but it will be difficult to find your spots to start him. Even with a weak room, Miller should not see more than a designated-pass-rusher (DPR) role. Now, maybe Miller is able to return to form in Dan Quinn’s defense! That alone is worth a late round dart throw. But how likely is it? For a 36 year old rusher who has steadily declined over the years… not very likely at all.
Best Value at DL
In mixed leagues, the DTs are (understandably) going much later than they should. Dexter Lawrence especially should be going closer to a DL1 than a borderline DT1 after his performance in 2024 with upgrades in the team as a whole. If we are looking at just the EDGE, Nolan Smith is the best value of the group. I am on board with the breakout, with strong pass rush metrics and elite rush defense ones. As the top threat outside, he should be in line for double digit sacks and could see ~60 tackles with an uptick in snaps. Or maybe Von Miller returns to his 26 year old form, in which case… that’s a league winner! But, it also probably does not happen.
Defensive Back
Tyler Nubin, New York Giants (FIF Consensus & DB18)
Nubin had a strong rookie season, finishing tied for DB18 on a PPG basis. His tackle totals (despite only ~53% of snaps in the box) with 7.5 per game. His metrics against the run suggest the tackles will be sticky. He was a top-20 safety in most PFF metrics; stop%, overall grade, and depth of tackle. Against the pass, Nubin struggled, but this could allow for more targets, which would lead to more production. Nubin is boosted by the Giant improvements in the secondary, keeping him as a firm DB2 with DB1 upside.
Reed Blankenship, Philadelphia Eagles (FIF Consensus & DB30)
Blankenship regressed in 2024, from 108 tackles in 2023 down to 78. The fall is part of why deep safeties (and corners) are so volitaile. Not much changed with Blakenship’s metrics or usage, so why did his numbers drop? The most likely explanation is variance; he is a ~70% deep-aligned player, so had less chances this year. The ceiling of 2023 makes him a reasonable bet for your second DB spot. However, the usage and emergence of slot-corner Cooper DeJean (who will take away clean-up tackles) drops him into DB3 range for me.
Jevon Holland, New York Giants (FIF Consensus & DB22)
Holland is one of the aforementioned Giant acquisitions that boosts the whole room. Typically deep safeties struggle to produce for IDP, however Holland has been able to do just that historically. For his career, he is a sub-40% box player, but has still averaged 5 tackles per game. 2024 was a struggle, with injuries and the whole Dolphins of it all, but his previous 3 seasons make that feel like a blip. In 2022 and 2023, Holland was one of the best safeties in the league and a high-end DB2 for IDP. In a new environment with a good core, Holland should get back on track. He is a mid-level DB3 in my rankings, largely based on my belief in the player and system.
Donovan Wilson, Dallas Cowboys (FIF Consensus & DB16)
Unlike Blakenship, Wilson had a much better IDP season in 2024 than 2023 despite similar metrics. He has had 90 tackles/season over the past 3 years with consistent snap percentages and box usage. In 2023, however, Wilson was not used as a rusher, totalling sacks while having 9.5 in 2022 and 2024 combined. With no competition added, Wilson should be poised for another 90ish tackles giving him a DB3 floor. The question is now with the ceiling: will he have 0 or 5 sacks? I am projecting Dallas to have a significantly better 2025 than 2024, so must do so for Wilson as well.
Will Harris, Washington Commanders (FIF Consensus & >DB50)
The new Commanders’ safety enters his third year as an NFL starter in 2025. In his first two starting seasons, Harris was solid, with over 160 total tackles. He would not have been a fantasy starter in either season, finishing outside of the top-50 DBs in both. However, does the role that saw Jeremy Chinn finish as a DB2 in 2024 make a difference? While the role is strong, it is hard to project massive improvement. The 29 year old has had merely decent metrics throughout his career, making it hard to see massive upside. He fits in as a matchup/injury/bye week fill-in unless we do see surprising improvement.
The Slot Corners!
CBs tend not to be very useful in most leagues, but they are still important and fun to talk about! We will be brief here, as each team has a potential top-10 CB on their roster. When it comes to IDP, I am not interested in boundary corners due to lack of potential tackles, so we stick to the slots!
Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles: After the bye, DeJean came on strong, with 50 tackles and 6 PBUs in 12 games played. Extrapolating that over a full season would put him as a borderline CB1. Following a dominant playoff run, we see even more upside in DeJean’s game, especially with a healthy offseason.
Mike Sainristill, Washington Commanders: Sainristill was a menace for Michigan as their slot corner. He had a solid rookie year in Washington, despite playing mostly on the outside. He expects to move back inside in 2025, where his tenacity and ball skills will be on full display.
DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys: This is all about big plays. In 2023 Bland was a menace, with 9 interceptions and 5 returned for scores. His 2024 was cut short due to injury, but showed the hit-or-miss nature of his game. His tackles went up, but he did not record an interception. His game is too volatile for me to bet on with the rest of the CB room in flux, but the upside is clear.
Dru Phillips, New York Giants: The last player in this article is one of my favorites. Kentucky’s Dru Phillips was an absolute maniac for the Wildcats, which translated to the Giants. He was top-12 in both run-stop % and average depth of tackle, showing elite run-game upside. Phillips is aggressively ranked as a CB1 for me, with no threat to his slot role added. He should see his 5 tackles/game improve with more snaps and NFL experience.
Best Value at DB
Of the listed safeties, Donovan Wilson is the clear best value. His floor has been established as a high-end DB3, which is higher than where he is currently going. Wilson could be taken safely 10 DB slots higher and feel like a good pick with his tackle proficiency and sack potential. Even if you do not believe in Dallas, Wilson has shown proficiency in IDP leagues for years!
Thanks for taking the time to read the FANTASY IN FRAMES’ 2025 NFC EAST IDP DIVISIONAL PREVIEW! You can follow me at @JoeLow63 on Twitter/X. Feel free to reach out for any fantasy football questions you might have!
***For more 2025 Fantasy Football Divisional Previews, click here.***