Week 1 is in the books, and IDP managers are scrambling to address perceived holes on their roster. While it may be too early to give up on some young players expected to play significant roles this season, there are some names that did not see the roles many anticipated due to team depth charts. Here are some of the top names to target if you are not happy with your current IDP options.
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Chandler Jones (DL/LB – ARI): 7% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Chandler Jones is back. And with a vengeance. Pairing J.J. Watt and Chandler Jones may have elicited some jokes this offseason, but having these two future Hall of Famers on the same team lining up on the same side should be illegal. Case in point, Jones going bonkers with five sacks against the Tennessee Titans. Jones racked up six solos, five sacks, four tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles against an overmatched Titans offensive line. He has another plus matchup in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings and is in line for another multi-sack game. There is no way to contain Watt and Jones for four quarters effectively, and that fact should be on display again against Kirk Cousins and co.
Jordyn Brooks (LB – SEA): 7% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Brooks played a near every down role for the Seahawks and appears to be in line to finally make good on his first round draft capital. He will always be remembered as being a shocking first round pick, but Brooks showed that he indeed has high-level starter upside. He tallied a strong seven solos and four assists in Week 1 and is primed for another strong outing in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. Derrick Henry always presents a plus matchup for linebackers, and this week is no different.
Kenneth Murray (LB – LAC): 12% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Only in Kenneth Murray land is 107 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and one sack seen as a disappointing season, especially for a rookie, but that is the type of talent Murray possesses. Consistency has been his bugaboo, but he started his season off in the right way. Murray racked up six solos, four assists, and one fumble recovery in Week 1 and is set for another strong outing against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. Murray should have plenty of tackle opportunities against the run and the pass and boasts LB2 upside in a plus matchup. Add and start Murray where possible.
Eric Wilson (LB – PHI): 8% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Eric Wilson started his Eagles tenure with a bang, racking up nine total tackles (two solos and seven assists) on 85 percent of the snaps. Wilson was a quiet LB1 level performer in 2020 and looks set for another strong season in the middle for Philadelphia. The solo to assist ratio will get much better, so that is not something to get caught up on. Wilson can be counted as an LB2 with LB1 upside against the 49ers in Week 2 and will likely stay in that discussion all season. Add Wilson wherever possible.
Tracy Walker (S – DET): 4% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Tracy Walker was a disappointment for most of the Matt Patricia era but looks to have a new lease on life under Dan Campbell. Walker was a DB1 before Patricia and could re-enter the conversation in short order if he can keep up his strong play. Walker tallied seven solos, one sack, and one tackle for loss against the 49ers in Week 1. He looks to be in line for another strong outing against Green Bay in Week 2, regardless of gamescript. Count him as a DB2 with DB1 upside against the Packers. Add the talented safety wherever possible.
Nick Vigil (LB – MIN): 0% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Nick Vigil had a strong debut for the Minnesota Vikings, tallying eight solos, two assists, and two tackles for loss. He played 100 percent of the snaps and should still have a near every down role when Anthony Barr returns to the lineup. Vigil is an LB3 with LB2 upside against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. We will need to evaluate his snaps and tackle numbers once Barr is back, but the early signs suggest Vigil will be a valuable contributor this season. Add where feasible, but don’t cut a player with more upside.
Cameron Heyward (DL – PIT): 11% rostered in Yahoo leagues
The always consistent Cam Heyward is available in 89 percent of Yahoo leagues. While this likely means that only 11 percent of leagues have two or more DL spots or a DT slot, the fact remains that Heyward should be rostered in a much higher percentage of leagues. Heyward racked up two solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss against the Bills in Week 1 and is primed for another strong outing in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Steelers defense is going to wreak havoc on a daily basis and Heyward will be a big part of causing disruptions and pressures. Heyward should be rostered in any and every league where two or more DL’s or one or more DT’s can be started. Add him now.
Germaine Pratt (LB – CIN): 1% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Germaine Pratt had an excellent Week 1, racking up six solos, two assists, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He played just 45 percent of the snaps, with Logan Wilson seeing 78 percent. He was still well ahead of Akeem Davis-Gaither, who saw just 19 percent. We should see Pratt at closer to 60 percent most weeks which should help keep him producing like an LB2. He can be counted as an LB3 with LB2 upside for his Week 2 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Shaq Thompson (LB – CAR): 8% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Thompson went off against the New York Jets, piling up five solos, five assists, one tackle for loss, three passes defended, and one interception. Thompson has always been a steady contributor. He will not knock your socks off with production most weeks, but he will be consistent and will be in LB2 territory when the season wraps up. Add Thompson where needed. He can be counted as an LB2 option in Week 2 against New Orleans.
Justin Hollins (LB – LAR): 0% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Hollins went bonkers on Sunday night, racking up six solos, two assists, two sacks, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. He played a surprising 74 percent of the snaps on the edge and should provide solid DL3/LB4 value going forward. Hollins is the starter opposite Leonard Floyd at outside linebacker, and his performance all but ensures that he will hold off the talented but limited Troy Reeder. He will have a much tougher test against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, so while the suggestion is to add him where possible, he is also a recommended sit against Indy.
Nick Bolton (LB – KC): 2% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Bolton had a strong start to his career, putting up four solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss against the Cleveland Browns. He is the future of the position for the Chiefs alongside the injured Willie Gay but is still going to be used in a rotation once Gay returns. The positive news here is that Bolton saw more snaps than Ben Niemann in Week 1, which is a possible sign that it will be Niemann and not Bolton who sees the sharp snap reduction when Gay is ready to return. Add Bolton wherever possible ahead of his plus matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.
Josh Allen (DL – JAC): 7% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Josh Allen had a strong start to the season, racking up three solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss against the Houston Texans. Allen is expected to take a significant leap this season, and that is saying something for a player with 10.5 sacks as a rookie in 2019. He played in just eight games last season, puttering to just 2.5 sacks. The Jaguars upgraded their secondary this season, something that should buy the pass rushers more time to generate pressures and pick up coverage sacks. Allen is too talented to be on the wire in competitive IDP leagues. Add him wherever possible.
Marcus Davenport (DL – NO): 1% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Davenport started his season off strong, amassing two solos, one assist, one sack, and two tackles for loss against the Green Bay packers. Davenport is looking to make the most of the extra snaps afforded him due to the departure of Trey Hendrickson. He will need to be stashed as he will be sidelined for three to five weeks but is worth the I.R. spot if you have the space.
Jadeveon Clowney (DL – CLE): 6% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Clowney was highly impressive in his Browns debut, racking up two solos, two assists, and one tackle for loss. He seemed to have more pass rush juice than he has shown since his Houston days, and if he can continue to win across from Myles Garrett, the Browns defensive line will quickly become the most feared in the league. Clowney can be counted as a DL2 option going forward. Add Clowney ahead of his revenge game against the Houston Texans.
Taylor Rapp (S – LAR): 3% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Taylor Rapp is back to an every down role and the early results are promising. He racked up six solos and four assists against the Bears in Week 1 and should be among the total tackle leaders at safety on a weekly basis. Rapp is going to be knocking on the DB1 door before long and will be doing just that for his Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Rapp should be rostered in all competitive IDP leagues.
Jordan Fuller (S – LAR): 2% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Fuller had six solos and five assists in Week 1. The tackle count is surprising and could mean big things if they are a sign of things to come. The main gripe with Fuller last season was that despite sending Taylor Rapp to the bench, he did not come close to making a similar IDP impact. 11 total tackles has our attention. Fuller is worth a stash in deeper leagues ahead of another plus matchup. The Rams get the Colts in Week 2, which should give Fuller the opportunity for another strong outing.
Juan Thornhill (S – KC): 0% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Thornhill had five solos, two assists, one pass defended, and one forced fumble against the Browns in Week 1. Thornhill looks set to take a step forward in 2021, but we will need to see how well he performs when Tyrann Mathieu is active. Thornhill is a talented safety but is still more of a deep league target. Add him where needed ahead of a plus matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Kyle Dugger (LB/S): 1% rostered in Yahoo leagues
Dugger racked up six solos, one assist, and one tackle for loss against the Dolphins in Week 1. There was some worry about Dugger’s snap counts with so many players returning to the fold for the Patriots, but New England solved that problem by playing Dugger primarily in the box and slot corner. He played 93 percent of the snaps in Week 1 and should see a similar snap count all season. Dugger qualifies as a safety on most platforms, making him even more valuable due to his tackle upside as a linebacker. Add him wherever possible ahead of a tasty matchup against Zach Wilson and the New York Jets.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.
