IDP PLAYS & FADES (STARTS/SITS) FOR WEEK 1: THE ROAD TO IDP-MANIA
Welcome, everybody, to IDP Plays & Fades (Starts/Sits) for Week 1: The Road to IDP-MANIA!
Each and every week in the ring (football field), you’re going to be going up against some of the stiffest competition in the industry. Therefore, in order to win your match, hit your finishing maneuver, and keep your opponent down for the one, two, three, we’re going to provide you with our Plays and Fades at the various IDP positions, including defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs.
Think of our Plays and Fades as start/sit recommendations—but with an important distinction. A Play is someone you should definitely consider starting on your roster, whether they’re already one of your better players or someone with tremendous upside in that week’s matchup. A Fade, on the other hand, is someone whose expectations you should temper for the week. If you have a better option on your roster, don’t be afraid to sit them. If you don’t, you may still have to start them—just understand that the matchup, role, opportunity, or other factors could limit their usual fantasy production.
For some of you, this may be your first chance at climbing the ladder and reaching the top of the industry on your Road to IDP-MANIA. For others, you’ve reached the top before, and now you’re trying to get back there and capture that championship once again.
The fact of the matter is, there can only be ONE IDP Fantasy Football Champion in your league, and that will be YOU.
Now, let everyone in the crowd (your friends) see you walk down that aisle while confidently raising your finger to the sky, making them aware of the legendary performances they are about to see on the ROAD TO IDP-MANIAAAAAAA!
THE MATCH CARD FOR WEEK 1
PLAYS & FADES AT DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
PLAYS
Dallas Turner
Position: EDGE
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Dallas Turner is somebody I’m really interested in heading into Week 1 after what we saw from him last season. He led the Vikings in sacks while finishing second on the team in pressures, posting a 14.2% pressure frequency and converting 19.5% of those pressures into sacks. That sack conversion number may be hard to repeat, but the pressure frequency is what really gets my attention. Turner consistently got after the quarterback, and when he got there, he found ways to finish.
Now we get to the part I really like: opportunity. Jonathan Greenard is no longer in Minnesota, which leaves a pretty big hole in this Vikings pass rush. For a player who already led the team in sacks and finished second in pressures, I have to believe Turner is going to get every opportunity to take another step forward this season. If those additional pass-rush opportunities come while he maintains anything close to last year’s pressure frequency, we could be looking at a pretty nice year from Turner.
Then there’s the Week 1 matchup against Green Bay. The Packers finished last season 26th in pass-blocking efficiency and allowed 15 sacks, giving Turner a matchup I’m definitely willing to attack. Put together what he did last season, the opportunity left behind by Greenard, and a Green Bay offensive line that struggled in pass protection, and there’s a lot to like here. Dallas Turner is a PLAY for me in Week 1.
Chop Robinson
Position: EDGE
Team: Miami Dolphins
Chop Robinson’s numbers from last season aren’t exactly anything crazy to write home about. He finished with 15 solo tackles, three assists, two tackles for loss, and four sacks while posting a 7.7% pressure frequency. He did, however, convert 18.9% of his pressures into sacks, which definitely caught my attention. Overall production wasn’t great, but there was enough to show Robinson can get to the quarterback and finish when those opportunities come his way.
The bigger reason I’m interested in Robinson this week is opportunity. Bradley Chubb is no longer in Miami, and Jaelan Phillips was traded away last season. That leaves Robinson as the alpha of this Dolphins pass-rushing group heading into 2026. Regardless of what some of his overall PFF metrics looked like last year, there should be plenty of opportunities for him to get after the quarterback this season, and that starts in Week 1.
Then we get to Las Vegas. The Raiders finished last season with the lowest pass-blocking efficiency in the league and gave up a league-high 47 sacks. Now, to their credit, they knew they had a problem and made moves to address it. They added Tyler Linderbaum and Spencer Burford, while getting Kolton Miller back from injury, so I’m not going to sit here and pretend this is the exact same offensive line we saw last year.
But until they prove those changes have fixed the problem, I’m willing to take my chances with the guy who should now be leading Miami’s pass rush. Chop Robinson has tremendous upside in this matchup and is a PLAY for me in Week 1.
Chase Young
Position: EDGE
Team: New Orleans Saints
Chase Young is coming off a pretty damn good season from an IDP perspective, totaling 21 solo tackles, five assists, three tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and even a touchdown. What really caught my attention, though, were his pass-rushing numbers. Young had a 16.5% pressure frequency and converted 21.3% of those pressures into sacks. While I’m not expecting that sack conversion rate to stay that high, the pressure frequency shows Young consistently got after the quarterback.
Now, Detroit wasn’t exactly terrible in pass protection last year, but this isn’t exactly the same offensive line either. Taylor Decker is gone, which means Penei Sewell is moving over from right tackle to left tackle. Detroit drafted Blake Miller in the first round to help rebuild the offensive line, while free-agent addition Cade Mays, who was supposed to help stabilize the interior, is already on injured reserve. Throw in younger players like Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge, and there are just a lot of moving pieces here for Detroit heading into Week 1.
Does that mean Detroit’s offensive line is suddenly going to be bad? Not necessarily. There’s just enough uncertainty there that I’m willing to take my chances with a pass rusher who generated pressure at the rate Young did last season. With 10 sacks and a 16.5% pressure frequency already on his résumé, I like Young’s chances of taking advantage of a Lions offensive line that may need some time to get everything figured out. He’s a PLAY for me in Week 1.
FADES
George Karlaftis
Position: EDGE
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
George Karlaftis finished last season with 33 solo tackles, five assists, four tackles for loss, and six sacks, according to PFF. But beneath those numbers, a few things concern me. Karlaftis posted a 14.1% pressure frequency and converted only 9.2% of those pressures into sacks. His efficiency getting after the quarterback has been trending in the wrong direction in terms of conversion rate over the past three seasons, and he simply wasn’t turning enough of those pass-rush opportunities into sacks in 2025.
That brings us to a Week 1 matchup that certainly isn’t going to make things any easier. The Denver Broncos’ offensive line was just flat-out impressive last season. Denver finished with the highest pass-blocking efficiency in the league and surrendered a league-low six sacks. When you already have concerns about Karlaftis becoming less efficient as a pass rusher, facing one of the best pass-protecting offensive lines in football isn’t exactly where I’m looking for the turnaround to happen.
Yes, these divisional matchups can get weird, and Kansas City and Denver obviously know each other extremely well. But I’m not going to ignore what the numbers are telling me here. If Karlaftis is one of your better defensive linemen and you don’t have another option, you may still have to start him. Just temper your expectations. If you have another defensive lineman with a better matchup sitting on your roster, I’d seriously consider making the switch. Karlaftis is a FADE for me in Week 1.
Jared Verse
Position: EDGE
Team: Cleveland Browns
Jared Verse finished last season with 37 solo tackles, 19 assists, four tackles for loss, and eight sacks while playing for the Los Angeles Rams. He also posted a 15.2% quarterback pressure frequency, so getting pressure wasn’t necessarily the problem. The number that concerns me was his 9.4% sack conversion rate. Verse was getting into the backfield, but he wasn’t consistently turning those pressures into sacks.
Now, Verse finds himself in a very different situation after moving from Los Angeles to Cleveland. Last season, he benefited from playing opposite Byron Young, who was playing out of his mind and helped draw some attention away from Verse. Cleveland was expected to have Alex Wright as part of its pass-rushing rotation, but Wright ruptured his Achilles during a joint practice with Buffalo and is now out for the season. The Browns added veteran Derek Barnett after Wright went down, while Isaiah McGuire also remains part of the equation. Regardless of exactly how those snaps are divided, that supporting cast represents a pretty significant downgrade from what Verse had around him with the Rams.
Jacksonville did allow 22 sacks last season, so I’m not going to sit here and tell you this is some impossible matchup. My concern is more about Verse himself and the situation around him. If he was converting only 9.4% of his pressures into sacks while playing alongside a much stronger Rams pass rush, I’m not expecting things to suddenly get easier with less help around him in Cleveland. Verse is still talented enough to make plays, but for Week 1, I’m fading expectations. If you have a comparable option with a better situation, I’d be willing to sit Verse this week.
Gregory Rousseau
Position: EDGE
Team: Buffalo Bills
Gregory Rousseau finished last season with 29 solo tackles, seven assists, two tackles for loss, and seven sacks. His pass-rushing numbers weren’t bad either, as Rousseau posted a 14.7% quarterback pressure frequency while converting 13% of those pressures into sacks. There’s nothing terrible about those numbers, but there’s also nothing there that makes me feel like Rousseau is somebody I absolutely have to get into my lineup regardless of the matchup.
That brings us to Houston. The Texans finished last season 13th in pass-blocking efficiency and 19th in sacks allowed, so this wasn’t exactly an offensive line we were attacking every week to begin with. Houston then spent the offseason trying to improve things even further, adding players such as Braden Smith, Wyatt Teller, and Evan Brown, while also drafting Keylan Rutledge. Now, Smith is on injured reserve and won’t be there for Week 1, so I’m not going to pretend everything is perfect along this Texans offensive line. Still, Houston clearly made protecting C.J. Stroud a priority this offseason.
The other part that interests me is the addition of David Montgomery. Houston has talked about wanting a more balanced offense and taking some of the pressure off Stroud, and Montgomery gives them a legitimate running back who can help them do exactly that. A stronger commitment to the running game could mean fewer obvious passing opportunities and, ultimately, fewer chances for Rousseau to get after Stroud. Rousseau is still a player you may have to start depending on your roster, but between Houston’s offensive line investments and what could be a more balanced offense, I’m tempering expectations for him in Week 1. Rousseau is a FADE for me.
PLAYS & FADES AT LINEBACKER
PLAYS
Jihaad Campbell
Position: Linebacker
Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Jihaad Campbell finished last season with a 10.5% tackle rate, which wasn’t anything spectacular, but there were definitely some encouraging signs. According to PFF, Campbell recorded 75 tackles while posting just a 7.4% missed-tackle rate. He also showed that he could contribute in coverage and generate some pressure when asked. The biggest thing holding him back from consistent IDP production was the split role Philadelphia gave him.
That shouldn’t be as much of an issue this season. Campbell enters 2026 as Philadelphia’s MIKE linebacker, giving him a much more defined role in the middle of this Eagles defense. With Zack Baun also heavily involved in coverage, Campbell should have plenty of opportunities to help against the run and pile up tackles.
That brings us to Washington. With the concerns surrounding the Commanders’ offensive line, I expect them to lean on the running game to help take some pressure off Jayden Daniels. That potentially puts a lot of tackle opportunities directly in Campbell’s path. Between the more defined role, his ability to finish tackles, and a matchup that could feature plenty of rushing attempts, Jihaad Campbell is a PLAY for me in Week 1.
Kendal Daniels
Position: Linebacker
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Kendal Daniels is definitely one of the more interesting rookie linebackers heading into Week 1. When Divine Deablo went down with an ankle injury during training camp, Daniels stepped into the first-team defense and was even given the green dot, putting the rookie in charge of calling the defense and making adjustments. What really caught my attention was that Daniels continued getting work alongside the starters even after Deablo returned. There’s still some uncertainty about exactly how Atlanta divides these linebacker snaps, but everything we’ve seen this summer suggests Daniels has earned himself a legitimate role in this defense.
Deablo’s health makes Daniels even more interesting this week. He’s still dealing with that ankle injury and enters Week 1 with some uncertainty surrounding his status. I’m not going to sit here and guarantee Daniels plays every defensive snap or keeps the green dot if Deablo is fully available, but we already know Atlanta trusts the rookie enough to handle those responsibilities when needed. If Deablo is limited at all, Daniels could find himself with an even bigger opportunity right out of the gate.
Pittsburgh actually threw the ball 61.1% of the time compared to a 38.9% run rate last season, so I’m not going to sell this as some incredible run-heavy matchup for Daniels. What interests me is the addition of Rico Dowdle, who gives Pittsburgh an established option between the tackles and could add balance to the offense.
Ultimately, though, this Play is much more about Daniels than Pittsburgh. He’s a rookie who earned first-team work, was trusted with the green dot when called upon, and could be looking at a significant role immediately, especially with Deablo’s health still worth monitoring. There’s some risk involved, but there’s also tremendous upside. Kendal Daniels is a PLAY for me in Week 1.
DeMarvion Overshown
Position: Linebacker
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Injuries have obviously derailed DeMarvion Overshown at different points throughout his career, but when he’s been on the field, he’s shown us that he can produce from an IDP perspective. Overshown enters this season with a 12.2% career tackle rate (Which, again, is nothing stellar, as we typically look for 15% tackle rates and above), but now he’s stepping into an even more important role in the middle of this Cowboys defense. Dallas has spent the offseason working Overshown at MIKE linebacker and with the green dot, putting him in position to be one of this defense’s leaders. If he can finally stay healthy, the opportunity should certainly be there for him to put up numbers.
Then we get to this Week 1 matchup against the Giants, and this is where things get interesting. I’m not really concerned with what the Giants’ offense did last season because this is a completely different coaching staff. John Harbaugh is now the head coach, Matt Nagy is the offensive coordinator, and Greg Roman is a senior offensive assistant on the staff. Nagy brings plenty of influence from the Andy Reid coaching tree, while Harbaugh and Roman have extensive experience together from Baltimore. The Giants themselves have described this offense as a blend of those different systems, so I’m expecting elements from all of them rather than simply assuming it will look like Nagy’s offense from Kansas City.
That’s important for Overshown because Harbaugh and Roman bring a history of physical football and an emphasis on the running game. Baltimore finished last season with the second-highest run percentage in the NFL, and while I’m not expecting the Giants to suddenly become the Ravens overnight, I do expect Harbaugh’s philosophy to influence how this offense operates. If New York comes out looking to establish the run and Overshown is healthy in the middle of this Dallas defense, this will give him plenty of opportunity to pile up tackles. Between the role, the tackle production we’ve already seen when he’s been on the field, and the potential matchup, DeMarvion Overshown is a PLAY for me in Week 1.
FADES
Quincy Williams
Position: Linebacker
Team: Cleveland Browns
Quincy Williams is somebody I’m definitely concerned about heading into this season. When you look at his PFF numbers over the past few years, his play has continued to trend in the wrong direction. His coverage grade has gotten progressively worse, while the quarterback rating he’s allowed when targeted has kept climbing. Things haven’t exactly been much better against the run either, where Williams has graded poorly. At this point, we’re not talking about one bad season or one area of his game. We’ve seen enough of a downward trend that I have legitimate concerns about what Williams can give Cleveland consistently.
Then there’s the role. Carson Schwesinger is the LB1 in Cleveland, and that’s where I really start questioning Williams’ fantasy ceiling. Given Williams’ struggles in coverage, I’m not expecting him to be the linebacker Cleveland wants on the field for every passing situation. With Schwesinger being the three-down linebacker and Williams starting to come off the field in subpackages, we’re immediately putting a cap on his snap volume and, ultimately, his opportunities to produce for our IDP lineups.
That becomes even more concerning in Week 1 against Jacksonville. The Jaguars project to be a pass-heavy offense, and that’s exactly the type of matchup where Williams’ role could work against him. If Cleveland is regularly forced into passing situations and Williams is coming off the field because of his limitations in coverage, there simply may not be enough opportunities for him to pile up tackles or make plays on the football. Between the declining efficiency, the presence of Schwesinger, and a matchup that could limit his snaps, Quincy Williams is a FADE for me in Week 1.
Quay Walker
Position: Linebacker
Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Quay Walker is coming off a season in which he found plenty of IDP success in Green Bay, but I think we need to be careful about assuming that production will automatically follow him to Las Vegas. Last season, Green Bay used Walker in a role that played to his strengths. He could work around the middle of the defense, attack the football, and rack up tackles without constantly asking him to do things in coverage that aren’t necessarily the strongest part of his game.
That’s where my concern starts with his new role in Las Vegas. Nakobe Dean is handling the middle linebacker and green-dot responsibilities, which should keep Dean on the field consistently, while the Raiders have talked about using Walker in a more versatile role. That can mean lining him up in different places, blitzing him, rushing the passer, and asking him to work more in space. Versatility sounds great for real football, but I’m not convinced it’ll translate to Walker’s IDP production. He was at his best last season when Green Bay allowed him to do what he does well: rack up tackles.
Then there’s Miami and De’Von Achane. We know how dangerous Achane can be both as a runner and coming out of the backfield, and that’s exactly the type of player who can test Walker in space. If Walker struggles with those coverage responsibilities, there’s also the possibility that his playing time becomes less secure in obvious passing situations. I’m not saying Walker suddenly isn’t a good linebacker, but between the change in role, Dean controlling the middle of the defense, and a matchup that could force Walker to do more of the things I’m concerned about, I’m tempering expectations right out of the gate. Quay Walker is a bold FADE for me in Week 1.
Terrel Bernard
Position: Linebacker
Team: Buffalo Bills
Terrel Bernard played 12 games last season, finishing with 51 solo tackles and 13 assists while posting a 10.3% tackle rate. Again, we look for tackle rates above 15%, but what concerns me more is his 17.9% missed-tackle rate. Bernard also struggled in coverage, so while the Bills still have him positioned in the middle of their defense, there are enough efficiency concerns here for me to question how much I want to rely on him for IDP production.
Houston actually makes this an interesting matchup. The Texans threw the ball 59.4% of the time last season, compared to 40.6% on the ground, but I don’t necessarily expect the same split this year. Houston brought in David Montgomery, giving them a running back who can handle significant volume and making the offense more balanced. That should theoretically create additional tackle opportunities for Buffalo’s linebackers.
The problem is that more opportunities don’t necessarily mean more production if you’re not consistently finishing those opportunities. With Bernard missing tackles at a 17.9% rate last season, I’m not convinced an increased Houston rushing workload automatically translates into a big fantasy day for him. He may still give you tackles simply because he’s playing in the middle of this defense, but if I have another linebacker with a cleaner matchup and better tackling efficiency, I’m willing to go in that direction. Terrel Bernard is a FADE for me in Week 1.
PLAYS & FADES AT DEFENSIVE BACK
PLAYS
Jalen Thompson
Position: Safety
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Jalen Thompson is somebody I’m really interested in, given his move to Dallas, especially when you look at how the Cowboys’ defense is constructed. Thompson is expected to spend plenty of time working closer to the line of scrimmage as a box defender, and outside of DeMarvion Overshown in the middle, there aren’t a lot of linebackers behind him who exactly scream confidence. That could put Thompson in a position where he’s asked to play a significant role in run support.
The Week 1 matchup makes that role even more interesting. As we’ve already discussed earlier in this article, I expect the Giants to make a much bigger commitment to the running game this season. Between the coaching changes they’ve made and the tendencies we’ve seen from John Harbaugh throughout his career in Baltimore, there’s plenty of reason to believe New York will try to establish the run and take pressure off the rest of the offense.
Then throw in Cam Skattebo, who is basically a bowling ball with legs coming out of the backfield. If the Giants start pounding the football, Dallas may have to bring Thompson down and crowd the box to help shut it down. That’s exactly what I’m looking for when identifying defensive backs with tackle upside. A safety playing close to the line of scrimmage against an offense I expect to run the football gives me plenty to work with. Jalen Thompson is a PLAY for me in Week 1.
Rayshawn Jenkins
Position: Safety
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
With DeShon Elliott on injured reserve, Rayshawn Jenkins becomes somebody I’m really interested in for Week 1. Elliott’s absence leaves a significant role to fill closer to the line of scrimmage, and Jenkins should have more time working in the box and helping the Steelers’ defense against the run.
That’s particularly important this week against Atlanta. The Falcons have made it pretty clear that Bijan Robinson is the centerpiece of this offense, and with less competition behind him for touches this season, I expect Atlanta to lean heavily on Robinson and give him the majority of the work out of the backfield. That potentially puts a lot of tackle opportunities right in Jenkins’ direction.
Pittsburgh may need that additional help, too. Patrick Queen gives them a presence at linebacker, but I’m not completely sold that the rest of this Steelers defense can contain Atlanta’s running game without bringing additional help closer to the line of scrimmage. If that means Jenkins spends more time crowding the box in place of Elliott, I’ll gladly take my chances on the increased tackle opportunities. Rayshawn Jenkins is a PLAY for me in Week 1.
Devon Witherspoon
Position: Cornerback
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Devon Witherspoon is somebody I’m really interested in for Week 1 because of all the different ways Seattle can use him. We’ve seen Witherspoon line up in the slot, play closer to the line of scrimmage, and even get after the quarterback as a blitzer. That versatility already gives him multiple ways to produce for us from an IDP perspective, but the injuries around him in Seattle’s secondary could make his role even more interesting this week.
Nick Emmanwori is still working his way back from ankle surgery, which could put even more on Witherspoon’s plate against New England. The Patriots have also added more weapons to their passing game, potentially creating additional opportunities for Witherspoon while he’s working out of the slot and around the line of scrimmage. Rather than relying on an interception to give us fantasy production, I’m looking at the potential for tackles, passes defended, and even some blitz opportunities.
That’s what I like about Witherspoon this week. He doesn’t need a specific event to produce. If New England attacks him through the slot, he has tackle and coverage opportunities. If Seattle brings him down closer to the line of scrimmage, we get additional opportunities against the run and as a blitzer. With the versatility of his role and some uncertainty surrounding Seattle’s other defensive backs, Devon Witherspoon is a PLAY for me in Week 1.
FADES
Jaquan Brisker
Position: Safety
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
I’ve liked Brisker from an IDP perspective in the past, especially for what he could do closer to the line of scrimmage. He was a good run defender and tackler last season and could even generate pressure when Chicago sent him after the quarterback. The problem is that Brisker is now in Pittsburgh, where he’s expected to take on more of a free safety role. From an IDP perspective, that’s immediately concerning because you’re potentially taking him away from the part of the field where he’s been most productive.
Then we get to his coverage numbers. Last season, Brisker allowed a 118.1 passer rating when targeted, along with a 75.6% completion rate. Coverage has never been the part of Brisker’s game I’ve wanted to bet on, and now Pittsburgh could be asking him to spend considerably more time doing exactly that.
Throw in the matchup against Atlanta, and I’m even less interested. As we’ve already discussed, I expect the Falcons to lean heavily on Bijan Robinson and the running game. That’s potentially great news for a safety playing down in the box—it’s one of the reasons I like Rayshawn Jenkins this week—but it doesn’t necessarily help Brisker if he’s spending more of his time on the back end of the defense. We’re potentially looking at fewer tackle and pressure opportunities while asking Brisker to play more in the area where he’s struggled throughout his career. Bad alignment, bad matchup. Jaquan Brisker is a FADE for me in Week 1.
Tyler Nubin
Position: Safety
Team: New York Giants
Tyler Nubin is normally someone we can look at for IDP production because he can work closer to the line of scrimmage, but last season’s numbers were definitely concerning. Among box safeties, Nubin finished DB21 in points per game; among all defensive backs, he finished DB52 overall in IDP123 scoring. In 13 games, Nubin graded in the 47–48 range as both a run defender and tackler while posting a 16.9% missed-tackle rate. Even more interesting was his usage.
Nubin played 315 snaps in the box, but he also spent 348 snaps at free safety and another 115 in the slot. He’s not simply living around the line of scrimmage and piling up tackles.
That’s where the matchup against Dallas starts to concern me. I expect the Cowboys to come out throwing the football with Dak Prescott and a passing attack built around CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Dallas also has the personnel to lean heavily on 11 personnel—one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers—which can force defenses into more nickel looks and add coverage responsibilities for their defensive backs.
That doesn’t automatically mean Nubin will be pulled out of the box on every snap, but given how often he played free safety and slot last season, there’s a real possibility he’ll spend more time in coverage rather than consistently coming downhill against the run.
That’s not necessarily where I want Nubin living. When targeted in 2025, he allowed a 77.1% completion rate and a 119.0 quarterback rating. Against a Dallas offense that I expect to spread things out and attack through the air, those numbers concern me. Throw in the missed tackles and the possibility of fewer opportunities around the line of scrimmage, and there are too many things working against him for me this week. If you’ve been counting on Nubin as a starting defensive back, I’d temper those expectations and look for another option with a better role and matchup. Tyler Nubin is a FADE for me in Week 1.
A.J. Haulcy & Cam Bynum
Position: Safety
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Normally, I’m not going to give you two players for one Fade, but I’m making an exception here because I have absolutely no idea what Indianapolis is going to do with A.J. Haulcy and Cam Bynum in Week 1. And until Lou Anarumo shows us how these two safeties will be deployed, I’m not particularly interested in guessing.
The big question is who gets the IDP-friendly work closer to the line of scrimmage. Haulcy would seem like a candidate to inherit some of the opportunities left behind by Nick Cross, but his preseason usage didn’t exactly confirm that. He played seven snaps in the box compared to 14 at free safety, while also posting a 50.7 coverage grade. Bynum gives Indianapolis another versatile veteran safety, and Anarumo has emphasized moving his defensive backs around rather than simply assigning one player to the box and the other to the back end.
Could one of these guys emerge as a really useful IDP option? Absolutely. We may know our answer immediately after Week 1. But that’s exactly the point: I’d rather see it first than guess. Until we know which player is consistently getting the box snaps, run-support opportunities, and other IDP-friendly responsibilities in this defense, I’m tempering expectations for both. A.J. Haulcy and Cam Bynum are FADES for me in Week 1.
That’ll do it for our first stop on the Road to IDP-MANIA. Good luck in your Week 1 matchups, and hopefully these Plays & Fades help you pick up that first victory and start heading down the road to the main event of IDP-MANIA!!!!
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Good luck this week, and keep those 4-EYES ON THE PRIZE!