The NFL is back everyone! Hello, this is the Fantasy Alarm fantasy football Week 1 IDP Report, a weekly report breaking down the most important and latest IDP news to help manage leagues with fantasy football IDP rosters.

The complexity of fantasy football IDP is what makes it fun, but there are 352 possible players to choose from on weeks without byes… and that is just the starters. Not to fear, Week 1 is a new beginning for everyone, and there are several IDPs to take note of.

 

 

 

2024 Fantasy Football Week 1 IDP Overview

I have been a lover of the defensive side of the ball for as long as I can remember, and if you are reading this you probably are too. Every week Fantasy Alarm will have IDPs to target in waivers, some must start candidates due to their matchups, and IDPs rising up the rankings. 

My love of football began with linebacker Mike Singletary, continued with Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White/LeRoy Butler, Zach Thomas, and Ray Lewis/Ed Reed. Almost all of those guys are known for being great defenders in the era of tough defense. Today’s era has a focus on scheme, big plays, and proper tackling. The celebrated players are those that sack the quarterback, disrupt the quarterback, or cause the quarterback to force a turnover. 

For fantasy football Week 1 IDP purposes, players with high tackle numbers are players that have the higher floor. While edge pressure ends, sacking outside linebackers, and ball hawking defensive backs usually have a boom or bust aspect to their scoring. As fantasy football managers, we greedily want all of the above.

 

 

 

Fantasy Football Week 1 IDP Waiver Wire Targets

Dorian Williams - Buffalo Bills

Matt Milano is injured and out for some time, which is a tough break for anyone who drafted him. For those that did, and even those that didn’t, put a waiver on Dorian Williams. The second-year linebacker from Tulane will be asked to start in Milano’s absence which could be the entire season. There are not enough playmakers for the Buffalo Bills defense, and Williams can be the one to make some of those big plays. 

Williams' stats do not jump out from his rookie season, but barring injury he should easily double if not triple his 40 combined tackles from last year and fill the stat sheet with big plays. More specifically Williams will have a great week 1. The Buffalo Bills have their home opener against the Arizona Cardinals and there is opportunity for a ten tackle game. 

The Cardinals will give James Conner several touches in week 1, likely 18 or more. Williams will be asked to plug the hole and tackle Conner as he comes through. Williams will also see man and zone coverage against one of the best receiving tight ends in the league in Trey McBride. Shallow dragging routes could result in tackles, passes defended, and even an interception for Williams. Put the waiver in on him, and in leagues with FAAB he is worth a low amount of the annual budget. 

Jordan Fuller - Carolina Panthers

Jordan Fuller went from one side of the country to the other, and finds himself in Charlotte Week 1 with the Carolina Panthers. It was an under the radar move that should work out well for both Fuller and the Panthers. It will also work out well for fantasy football managers who have Fuller on their roster. 

Fuller recorded 94 combined tackles last year, 8 passes defended, 3 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles. That breaks down to 5.5 tackles per game, a great average for a defensive back. However, Fuller should have more tackles and more passes defended in 2024, as the 2024 Carolina Panthers will not have the offensive success the 2023 Los Angeles Rams did. 

Fuller could be the best fantasy football Week 1 IDP on the Panthers roster and be in for a busy day at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Carolina Panthers offense has a new head coach, new terminology, new personnel, and will be trying to communicate in one of the loudest stadiums on earth. Oh, and they will attempt to find their rhythm in a divisional game to begin the season. Carolina’s defense should see more minutes than their offense… a good thing for IDPs. 

Elandon Roberts - Pittsburgh Steelers

Check the league waivers for Elandon Roberts, who should be available in most standard leagues. Although he’s not known and far from the most talked about player on the Pittsburgh Steelers, he is more than serviceable. The linebacker from Port Arthur, Texas has earned over 100 combined tackles in each of his last two seasons. That was with two different teams, two different philosophies, and two different coaches. 

He only started 15 games last season and with TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Patrick Queen and Cameron Heyward drawing most of the attention from opposing offenses, Roberts is free of gameplaning and scheming. He can simply fly to the football or execute his passing defense, which frees up mental pressure and avoids frustrating mental errors. 

The Steelers travel to Atlanta to play the Falcons for week 1, and Roberts should see a lot of Bijon Robinson. Kirk Cousins did not play one pre-season snap and tore his achilles just nine months ago. It would be wise of the Falcons to ease their multi-million dollar man into action, 

and lean on one of the greatest running backs in the NFL. This should allow Roberts the potential for double digit tackles which is an outstanding floor, and a bonus in several fantasy football IDP leagues.

 

 

 

Fantasy Football IDP Risers

Omar Speights - Los Angeles Rams

Omar Speights was not on anyone’s radar for 2024, not just fantasy football but NFL franchises too. Speights went undrafted, but now finds himself as the starting linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams. He is one of the most popular underdog stories of the young season, and should find himself in the mix of the Los Angeles Rams front seven. 

Speights may be the target of man and zone coverages as he is a relatively unknown rookie. This should only boost his stats, and he should be monitored in leagues with massive bench spaces he should be scooped up sooner rather than later. 

Christian Rozeboom - Los Angeles Rams

Christian Rozeboom is in his fourth NFL season, but really only experienced playing time last season. He played 17 games with five starts for the Los Angeles Rams in 2023. He earned 79 combined tackles, 4 passes defended, and 1 interception in those games, not bad but not great either. 

With the Los Angeles Rams’ single season tackling leader being traded, Rozeboom is getting the signal as the top linebacker, and potential leader after the departure of Aaron Donald and Jordan Fuller. There is a major void for the Rams to fill defensively, and there are three rookies on the starting defensive roster. Rozeboom will be at the center of all of it, and asked to do most of the “heavy lifting”. Take a look at Rozeboom as his ceiling is truthfully not known. 

Ernest Jones IV - Tennessee Titans 

It is an all Rams riser for week 1… well sort of. Ernest Jones IV set the Rams single-season tackle record last season with 145, and did that in 15 games. The Rams must have felt he was replaceable or at minimum wanted to avoid his upcoming contract which should be amongst the top 20 of all linebackers. Either way the Tennessee Titans were more than happy to have him, as he joins fellow first year Titan Kenneth Murray at linebacker. 

Jones IV would have performed great in Los Angeles, but he could perform better in Tennessee. The Titans have a much more complete defensive line, even with their rookie nose tackle. The Titans also have veterans everywhere, and a secondary that could be a top three in 2023. Jones IV will be free to flow to the football and continue his high tackling ways. He also had 6 passes defended and 4.5 sacks last season, so it will be interesting to see if he is used to rush the quarterback more this season. 

Jones IV may be rostered in several leagues, but not in the starting lineup. Although new, a source informed that he will be wearing the green dot once he is up to speed on the playbook, a sign that he will be the three-down linebacker. Perhaps wait this week if a linebacker was drafted higher, but if not get Jones IV back in the lineup.

 

 

 

NFL Week 1 IDP Matchups To Capitalize On

Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Brazil): Fri 7:00 PP ET

The first NFL game in South America takes place Friday with the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. What an environment that should be! The Eagles are somewhat in a state of change, as they are in the first year without Jason Kelce since 2010. It's not easy replacing a six time All-Pro, and they recently added more WR depth as the roster continues to be finalized. 

This should lead to more carries for Saquon Barkley, in fact, an “old school” 25+ touches day could be in store for the former Penn State great who will be leaned on heavily in his Eagles debut. This bodes well for Quay Walker who should easily have 10 or more combined tackles in this match. 

His projections are around 8-10 tackles, but with a new center Jalen Hurts will have to check into protections, not Kelce. Walker should expose this as well as earn tackles in pass coverage. He has earned 9 before the third quarter before, and if Barkley gets as many touches as predicted Walker could be the leading tackler of week 1. 

New England Patriots vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Sun 1:00 PM ET

Two teams at opposite ends of the AFC projections battle in week 1, and the Bengals could have a blowout victory in the return of Joe Burrow. The Queen City anxiously awaits the return of the king, but Trey Hendrickson is the ever-steady knight. He has registered 39.5 sacks in his three years with the Cincinnati Bengals. Several delivered on the opponents last drive, killing the hopes of opposing foes and fans. 

Look for Trey Hendrickson to deliver on a sack, or two, this week as the Bengals will play with a positive game script for all of the second half, if not more. A strip, sack, fumble, is not out of question for the 6’ 4” defensive end either. Hendrickson will start the NFL season with a great game. 

Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts: Sun 1:00 PM ET 

Azeez Al-Shaair is reunited with his former defensive coordinator, and it should be a perfect match for fantasy football IDP leagues. Al-Shaair recorded 163 combined tackles last season and 2 sacks in his one year stay in Tennessee. Now he joins a loaded Houston Texans defense with a high-powered offense, and a defensive minded Head Coach in DeMeco Ryans. 

Azeez Al-Shaair could be linebacker #1 on the season, but also has a great matchup for week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. He played the Colts twice last season, and Indianapolis’ backfield duo of Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson could have 35 or more carries. This would put several tackling opportunities before Al-Shaair, who could have a 15 combined tackle performance as the man in the middle of this 4-3 defense. 

Thanks for reading! While you are here, click on our other great Fantasy Alarm articles to help you start your fantasy season with a win. Also, join the Fantasy Alarm Discord where I will be popping in with fantasy football Week 1 IDP news on game days. You can also find me on Twitter/X @IDP_Iggy if you have any fantasy football Week 1 IDP questions or concerns.