2025 AFC EAST IDP DIVISIONAL PREVIEW
WELCOME TO THE FANTASY IN FRAMES’ 2025 AFC EAST IDP DIVISIONAL PREVIEW!
Today, we’re going to be taking a look at the four teams in the AFC 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
Jamien Sherwood (FIF Consensus LB5 & Jorge’s LB6)
Exploding on the scene last season in replacement of an oft-injured C.J. Mosley, Jamien Sherwood posted an impressive 154 total tackles for an average of 13.2 PPG using FantasyPros IDP scoring. He was tied for 4th in quality defensive stops on the season with only a 10.7% missed tackle rate, per PFF, and was in the Top 20 in terms of graded coverage linebackers, a rating that all but assures a three-down role on this defense. He is my favorite linebacker out of this division. Draft him, insert him into your lineups, and just walk away and let him do his thing.
Quincy Williams (FIF Consensus LB31 & Jorge’s LB36 )
Williams for seasons has always floated around the LB3/LB4 area for fantasy managers. His 2024 efficiency numbers certainly took a dip from his 2023 performance as his tackle effiencey dropped from 12% down to 9.7% while his missed tackle rate stayed steady in the low double-digits. In fact, this past season in 2024, his metrics were more aligned with his previous years of production outside his outlier year of 2023. I would avoid drafting him in your top 3 linebacker spots and draft him for depth only.
Jordyn Brooks (FIF Consensus LB13 & Jorge’s LB13)
Whether it was his time/success in Seattle or his continued success in Miami, Jordyn Brooks is still considered by some to not be a big enough household name, especially to those newer to IDP fantasy football. That being said, Brooks’ 143 total tackles and 13.4 PPG in 2024 had him finish as the LB11 in PPG using FantasyPros IDP scoring. If he wasn’t on your radar before, make sure he is now, as you could still grab him as a value, given his lack of name recognition by some of the less experienced IDP managers.
Tyrel Dodson (FIF Consensus LB39 & LB29)
Dodson is coming off back-to-back seasons where he excelled playing in coverage. While his tackling effiency numbers slightly decreased after going to Miami from Seattly mid-season his coverage abilities provided him with a three-down role more often than not and with a tackling efficiency of 12.1% and a missed tackle rate of 9.7, Dodson is a linebacker to add not only for depth but for a solid floor waiver wire fill-in.
Terrel Bernard (FIF Consensus LB23 & Jorge’s L31)
As we’ll see later on at other positions when discussing the Buffalo Bills, it’s pretty hard to find consistency across the board that can make IDP fantasy football managers happy from a stability standpoint. Terrel Bernard is not really one of those players.
Tallying only 104 total tackles, Bernard depsite leading the LB corps in snaps graded very poorly in coverage in 2024 making him on other teams a linebacker would more than likely come off the field on passing down situations. Fortunately, for IDP managers who roster him he doesn’t have much competition coming in the way of stealing away snaps away from him making him a suitable LB3.
Robert Spillane (FIF Consensus LB14 & Jorge’s LB14)
Spillane came over to New England from Lav Vegas in free agency and has firmly established himself as the LB1 on this Patriots’ defense. While comparing effienceny metrics from his time in Vegas to his situation now would be silly as they are two totally different teams and situatons, you cannot deny the production he’s had over the past two season where we’ve seen him post 158 total tackles in 2024 and 148 total tackles in 2023. Draft him as your LB1 and focus on other IDP positions in your draft
Best Value at LB
For me it’s Jordyn Brooks as your getting LB1 value at an LB2 price tag. I’ll make that draft transactions all day long!
Defensive Linemen
Greg Rousseau (FIF Consensus DL15 & Jorge’s DL17)
Among defensive linemen in 2024, Rousseau tallied the 5th most Tackles For A Loss, 7th in QB Hits, and 22nd in Sacks with Pressure Rate of 13.7%. While his sack numbers won’t blow you away from year to year, his ability to pile up other fantasy relevant metrics keep him in the DL2 conversation yearly
Chop Robinson (FIF Consensus DL23 & Jorge’s DL18)
Robinson came on strong dow the stretch of the 2024 season for the Dolphins, tallying 26 pressures from Week 12 and onward for a total of 56 on the season. Now, in his second year playing with the likes of Bradley Chubb, Zach Sieler, Jaelen Phillips, and now veteran Matt Judon, Robinson should have plenty of one-on-one opportunities to beat his opponent’s offensive blocking assignments and get to the Quarterback.
Jalen Phillips & Bradley Chubb (FIF Consensus DL44 & DL41 & Jorge’s DL42 & DL41)
Both of these defensive linemen come with upside as well as concerns. Phillips coming off of back-to-back seasons with season-ending injuries, and Chubb coming off of missing last season entirely after tearing his ACL late in 2023.
Just like I mentioned above how their prescence on the field should make things easier for Chop Robinson to perform well for fantasy managers, well…the same rings true for both of these EDGE rushers as work their way into true form over the course of the season. If Chop Robinson starts commanding attention in the way of double team blocks, more one-on-one opportunities should come both Phillips and Chubb’s way. Both of these players represent true value for fantasy managers during their IDP drafts.
Zach Sieler (FIF Consensus & Personal)
8th in Sacks, 10th in Tackles For A Loss, and 12th in FantasyPros IDP scoring PPG among Defensive Linemen even though Sieler is technically a Interior Defensive Lineman, Sieler was second on the team in pressures with a pressure rate of 9.8%. In Defensive Tackle starting leagues, he is a MUST DRAFT. Even in a just Defensive Linemen starting leagues he is solid DL2.
Harold Landry (FIF Consensus DL32 & Jorge’s DL13)
Two seasons removed from double-digit sack seasons, Harold Landry finds himself in a familiar coaching situation, reunited with former Head Coach Mike Vrabel. Too many people are still hung up on his lost 2022 season that they’ve ignored how he’s accumulated 20 sacks over the past two seasons. His upside is evident, his performances under HC Mike Vrabel is well documented. He is definitely someone you should target as a confident DL2
Will McDonald IV (FIF Consensus & Jorge’s DL39)
McDonald is coming off of a season where he posted a 13.2% tackle efficiency with 11 Sacks, 8th in QB Hits, but had 29 total tackles on the season. 29. He is purely a Boom or Bust player for fantasy managers and is not someone who you should emphasize as a starter in your drafts.
Best Value at DL
It’s Harold Landry, folks. Trust the talent, trust him being in a familiar scheme that helped make him so successful, and trust that this defense is going to be on the field a lot in 2025.
Defensive Back
Cole Bishop (FIF Consensus DB29 & Jorge’s DB34)
With the signing of long-time veteran Jordan Poyer my spider-sense is tell me Cole Bishop is on a short leash in Buffalo as the Strong/Box Safety for the Bills. In 2024, he had a poor outing as a rookie when on the field, but given the state of the linebacker corps in Buffalo, Bishop has the opportunity to assist big time in run support which explains where I have him ranked.
Craig Woodson (FIF Consensus DB30 & Jorge’s DB30)
The 4th round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of The University of California, has impressed the Patriots coaching staff so much this preseason that named him the Strong/Box safety over Kyle Dugger who has been the model of consistency among Defensive Backs in IDP Fantasy Football. Trust in the coaching staff and trust in the talent.
Ifeatu Melifonwu (FIF Consensus DB41 & Jorge’s DB41)
Melifonwu, a free agent coming over from Detroit where he had a shortened season due to injury, had been locked in a battle with former free agent Ashtyn Davis this offseason. Davis having dealt with an injury over the course of training camp has potentially handed Melifonwu the starting job, but given the lack of playing time over the course of his career as a starting safety I’m not excited to draft him.
Best Value at DB
Craig Woodson, the newest strong safety on the scene in the AFC EAST…the one with the lack of name recognition is one I am ALL ON BOARD FOR in terms of value for fantasy managers this season from the division. You should be, too!
Thanks for taking the time to read the FANTASY IN FRAMES’ 2025 AFC EAST IDP DIVISIONAL PREVIEW! You can follow me at @JorgeBEdwards 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.***