2024 Fantasy Football Week 2 IDP Report: Risers, Waiver Wire & Matchups
Week 1 was full of so many great fantasy football IDP performances, several of which were surprises.
Do not panic on less than expected performances from IDPs drafted, as seventeen great performances from any one player rarely happens.
2024 Fantasy Football Week 2 IDP Overview
Even with that being said, there are some players on the waiver that should be considered for roster selection. Some of the biggest risers could be names very few have heard of, and their snap count and stats needs to be monitored next week.
If the success continues, they should be added to IDP rosters, whether it be for Fantasy Football Week 2 IDP or beyond.
Fantasy Football IDP Risers
Keion White - New England Patriots
White of the New England Patriots was a large part of their underdog victory over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. 4 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble are impressive numbers. If he can keep his numbers up, even without any sacks or turnovers, and maintain 5.5 tackles per game he will have value in leagues for Fantasy Football Week 2 IDP.
At 6’ 5” and 285 pounds he will be a difficult task for several offensive linemen. The question is can he sustain the tackles to make him a worthy start for the boom days with sacks? The Patriots could be a much better defense than given credit, and White could be a big part of it. He is available across almost all IDP leagues, and could be a good free agent add, or for a very low percentage of FAAB in the future.
Tyrique Stevenson - Chicago Bears
Stevenson played 98% of the Chicago Bears defensive snaps and rewarded the team with a “pick-six”. A play that ensured a come from behind win in what was a bad offensive performance from the Chicago Bears. The Bears could be due for several more bad performances due to having a rookie quarterback, and Williams did not look good.
Stevenson could therefore have several more big plays than believed prior to the season. His snap count indicates they trust him for almost any scenario and have plans on using him. Although a touchdown or interception a game is not sustainable, four to six tackles and a pass defended is. He is available in most leagues and should be monitored.
Julian Blackmon - Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts’ Blackmon had 13 tackles in Week 1, 10 of which were solo. Those are very impressive numbers for a defensive back, as the Houston Texans were getting to the third level with Joe Mixon running behind an effective offensive line. Blackmon could see a dip in production if their Week 2 opponent, the Green Bay Packers, can not sustain drives with consecutive first downs.
This could in turn lead to Blackmon having fewer tackles then he did in Week 1. If the dip is only moderate, it would be noted that the Colts should have more offensive time of possession than the Packers. If it is a massive drop it could be an indicator that Blackmon is not as much of a riser as initially thought. Either way he is worth monitoring as a playmaker on a good defense.
Fantasy Football Week 2 IDP Waiver Wire Targets
There’s a Fantasy Football Week 2 IDP or two that skip immediately past the riser section and become instant targets for Week 2 waivers. Oftentimes Week 2 waiver additions provide plug and play starters for the rest of the season, and 2024 is no exception to that statement.
LB Zack Baun - Philadelphia Eagles
Zack Baun came out like he was shot out of a cannon, and never slowed down. He made crucial defensive plays in big moments to help win the first ever NFL game in South America. Although the spotlight and attention were on Saquon Barkley’s first game, he was the Eagle that had a league leading performance.
Baun matched his season high in sacks in his first game with the Philadelphia Eagles, and currently leads the NFL in combined and solo tackles. It will be difficult to maintain a “wire-to-wire” lead on tackles, but he could remain the top linebacker for Eagles even after Devin White comes back. He is worth a waiver selection and worth whatever FAAB deemed necessary. He will continue to be an important fantasy football IDP in Vic Fangio’s defense.
DB Keisean Nixon - Green Bay Packers
Keisean Nixon is a back-to-back All-Pro selection who is making big plays on the defense. He is an All-Pro return specialist that has led the league in kick return yards the past two seasons. He also earned 7 tackles and 1 sack in addition to his return yards in Week 1. This could be the beginning of a new usage for Nixon who continues to shine as a versatile defender who can play in and out of the box.
In leagues which give points for return yards (and truthfully all leagues should), Nixon gets an even greater bump in value. He has led the league in returns the past two years in addition to the yardage, a large part of that is his willingness to return the ball from the endzone. Which helps boost other fantasy football IDPs, but Nixon has proven he will take it out of the endzone.
He is relatively unknown outside of Green Bay Packers fans and should be available in most leagues. He is worth a waiver add, and a significant percentage of FAAB as he will see more snaps with starting quarterback Jordan Love expected to miss three to six weeks.
DL Jonathan Cooper - Denver Broncos
Jonathan Cooper had an impressive game and is part of the reason the Broncos almost upset the Seattle Seahawks on the road. Cooper recorded 6 tackles and 2 sacks in Week 1, and could be due for a great season in addition to Week 2.
Cooper had 72 tackles and 8.5 sacks last season, and started hot this season indicating this is not a fluke. Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix also displayed the ability to sustain drives, which should only improve and aid the defensive numbers of Cooper with positive game scripts.
A 14+ sack season is more than achievable for the Ohio State product. He is available in most standard leagues and has a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2. Not only is it the Broncos home opener, it is also a game against two quarterbacks who could easily be sacked.
Justin Fields takes too long progressing through his receiving options, and Russell Wilson is older ... plus a few teammates would like the opportunity to sack their former quarterback. Cooper is worth a small percentage of FAAB, and a waiver wire add.
NFL Week 2 IDP Matchups To Capitalize On
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos - 4:25 PM ET
Alex Singleton’s first play of 2024 was an interception of Geno Smith, not a bad start. He also had a pass defended and a tackle for loss, with 9 combined tackles. He is always going to produce points as long as he is healthy, but has an opportunity for a massive game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week.
The Steelers have the second road game of the season, and this time at the mile high city. They didn’t score one offensive touchdown despite winning the game. The Steelrs rushed the ball 41 times in Week 1 and if they run it that many times in Week 2, Singleton could have 25 tackles, not an exaggeration.
He has recorded 19 tackles and that was with other playmakers around him. In Denver he is the man, and oftentimes gets to the running back before linemen can get to the second level. Singleton is likely not available in several leagues, but could have his high scoring game of the season, in Week 2 against the Steelers.
New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans - 1:00 PM ET
Kenneth Murray played 100% of the Tennessee Titans defensive snaps in Week 1, and as predicted wore the ‘green dot’. He should do both of those things in Week 2 against the New York Jets. The Titans will host the Jets for the home opener after a disappointing loss in Week 1, and the crowd will be loud. They should be looking to iron out the wrinkles, but truthfully their defense played well.
The defense wasn’t the reason the Titans lost the game, and in fact did not give up a touchdown. K. Murray is the leader of that good defense and will be asked to deliver against the Jets, who are playing back-to-back road games on a short week.
Murray finished with 6 tackles in Week 1, and should see more in Week 2 versus a good running back in Breece Hall. Murray should match up well with Hall, and probably be tasked with covering him in passes in addition to tackling him in runs.
10 or more tackles are well within reach and Murray is available in some standard leagues. The former 23rd overall pick could surpass his total of 107 tackles of last season, and is worth starting in Week 2.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Green Bay Packers - 1:00 PM ET
Kwity Paye’s numbers do not jump off the page from Week 1, 2 tackles and 1 sack, but the Colts continue to impress with pressure on the quarterback. C.J. Stroud was visibly uncomfortable in the season opener and Paye was a large part of it.
The Colts now go to Lambeau Field for the Green Bay Packers home opener, and they will have a clear advantage. The Packers will be without their starting quarterback, who prior to Dak Prescott’s new contract yesterday, was the highest paid NFL player and leader of the Packers.
Now Green Bay will be starting a quarterback who wasn’t on their roster week 3 of the preseason. Malik Willis is still learning the playbook in addition to the position at the NFL level. He played in 2 snaps to close the game against the Philadelphia Eagles and had a throw that was not even close to the target, and a sack. Not promising.
Kwity Paye could have two or more sacks in Week 2 which could lead to high point turnovers, always a goal for a defensive lineman. Paye is in line to lead the Colts in sacks in 2024 and constant quarterback pressure is why the franchise picked up his fifth year option. Look for at least one sack and a possible strip-sack-fumble from Paye against a young and inexperienced back in Green Bay.