There were some all-time great performances from Week 2, including Aidan Hutchinson’s five-sack game with a forced fumble.

Fred Warner also recorded 9 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, and 1 interception, but oddly enough it was not enough for their teams to win.

 

 

 

2024 Fantasy Football Week 3 IDP Overview

However, even with that said, both were great for leagues with fantasy football IDP players, and they rewarded several fantasy football general managers with points and wins. 

There are several fantasy football Week 3 IDPs that need to be monitored, and others will be on rosters on the first day of waivers. IDP performances are volatile, but some players are putting together high snaps and excellent play. 

 

 

 

Fantasy Football IDP Risers

Blake Cashman, LB - Minnesota Vikings

Blake Cashman was a bit of a question mark heading into 2024 after a hit or miss season with the Houston Texans in 2023. He now has stepped in with high snap counts for the Minnesota Vikings as an inside linebacker in what is turning out to be an excellent defense. 

Despite having surgery in mid August he has shown no signs of letting that hinder him. Cashman recorded twice as many tackles in week 2 as he did in week 1, and he also added a sack against the San Francisco 49ers. He needs more consistency, but he is worth monitoring for Week 3. 

Of course in leagues with deep benches take a look at Cashman as a great depth option. However, do not spend FAAB on him in standard leagues, just know he is rising up the fantasy football Week 3 IDP board. 

Dennis Gardeck, DE/LB - Arizona Cardinals

Dennis Gardeck is in his seventh season of the NFL, and he has had some big games, and some really awful weeks. He is listed as a defensive end on some fantasy football platforms and a linebacker on others. 

If listed as a defensive end, he is definitely worth monitoring for the upcoming weeks, possibly worth an add. The Arizona Cardinals are looking great to begin the season, with several fantasy football IDPs worth rostering. 

If their offense can stay hot and force opposing teams to play with a passing game script, then Gardeck could have consistent performances. Last year he had two sacks the opening game, only to record four the rest of the season. This year could be different, and he is worth monitoring for Week 3.

Jamien Sherwood, LB - New York Jets

Most football fans and fantasy football managers have not heard of IDP Jamien Sherwood, as a backup to the great linebacker duo of C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams. Mosley exited the Tennessee Titans game in the first half and did not return. Sherwood came in and helped deliver a win for the New York Jets with 9 combined tackles. 

This is important as the Jets have a quick turn around, and divisional game against the New England Patriots on Thursday night. Although Head Coach Robert Saleh stated he hopes to have C.J. Mosley for Thursday’s game, the truth is Mosley may not be ready. If not Sherwood will more than likely have a 10+ tackle game. 

Keep an eye on Sherwood and an ear out for the latest C.J. Mosley Week 3 injury updates here at Fantasy Alarm. The Patriots are going to run and through several short routes, this will lead to a massive tackle game from a relatively unknown player… if Mosley does not play. 

 

 

 

Fantasy Football Week 3 IDP Waiver Wire Targets

Patrick Jones, DE/LB - Minnesota Vikings

Patrick Jones is off to a hot start in 2024, and he likely will not make it past this week in most fantasy football IDP leagues. Back-to-back games with two sacks is impressive, and it makes more sense why the Vikings let Danielle Hunter walk in free agency… they knew what they had. 

Jones is a big risk, big reward player with essentially only plays on those four sacks. But if he keeps this up, he will be on pace to shatter the sack record. Jones also has a very favorable sack schedule which could pave the way to a fantasy football championship. 

He is worth a waiver in standard leagues, but spend extra FAAB in IDP leagues which reward sacks with more points. He could finish with over 16 sacks on the season which would put him in the running for the most of the season. A sneaky value not many saw coming. 

Will McDonald, DE - New York Jets

The Jets’ defense is banged up and depleted at edge pressure, but they had an ace up their sleeve the entire time. With Jermaine Johnson out for the rest of the season and Haason Reddick on a hold out Will McDonald will take center stage. 

He was an easy rookie to root for in last year’s Hard Knocks documentary, and like several second year players, he will have an opportunity to shine. A matchup against the run heavy Patriots may not be the best game, but he will earn tackles and possibly get a sack. He enjoys having defensive line teammates Quinnen Williams and Javon Kinlaw draw coordinator’s attention and double teams. 

This should allow him to be free for more one-on-one matches on passing downs. McDonald will also have the rest of the season to bring in sacks and tackles as Reddick doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to come back, and Johnson will not be back in 2024. Put a waiver on McDonald if you need edge pressure, but do not blow all of your FAAB on him. 

Germaine Pratt, LB - Cincinnati Bengals

It is difficult to tell which of the Bengals interior linebackers will have the better week and/or season. Germaine Pratt has jumped off to an early lead and is in the running for a Pro Bowl selection. He is having an excellent start and should be rostered in most leagues after waivers clear. 

He earned 16 tackles in the playoff-like atmosphere of the Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs week 2 match. A last second field goal, back and forth lead change, and solid play from both teams. Pratt also recorded one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, to finish as one of the top scoring linebackers across all formats. 

He has shown he has value in standard fantasy football IDP leagues, and of course large single game tackle bonus leagues. For teams in need of a solid linebacker, put the waiver in for Pratt. He is worth a considerable amount of FAAB in IDP leagues with the Bengals looking to climb out of their 0-2 hole. 

 

 

 

NFL Week 3 IDP Matchups To Capitalize On

Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings - 1:00 PM ET 

The pass rush specialist had an excellent game Sunday Night against the Chicago Bears, 5 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He could also have another great game in Week 3 versus the Minnesota Vikings. 

The Vikings are playing well and are sitting in first place in the NFC North division. Hunter is familiar with everything about the Vikings, and will have a ‘revenge game’ against the team that drafted him almost a decade ago. 

Hunter recorded 87.5 sacks in the purple and gold, much to the delight of Vikings fans. However his next sacks will cause them dismay. The Texans were my prediction for the best defense of 2024 and they played like it Sunday night. Look for Hunter to bring the same kind of energy and replicate his numbers from week 2. 

Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts - 1:00 PM ET

The Colts are not having the best defensive season, and it’s only 2 games in. They have made Joe Mixon of the Houston Texans and Josh Jacobs of the Green Bay Packers look like a cross of Jim Thorpe and Jim Brown. The lack of run defense is truly outstanding. 

This has benefitted Nick Cross who is tackling running backs in the second and third level. So much so that he leads the NFL in tackles with 29 in two weeks. Double digit performances in each, which is difficult to come by for defensive backs. 

Should he keep this pace it would likely be a franchise record, if not an NFL record. Though that is a bit unrealistic, 10+ tackle games for the remainder of the season is not. That is not something to be ignored, and something to take advantage of this week against the Chicago Bears. 

The Bears have a chance to have their most run plays in one game of the season, but in addition to that Cross could be the benefit of a rookie quarterback's mistake. Another big game is in store for Cross in Week 3. 

San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams - 4:25 PM ET 

Leonard Floyd has gone under the radar for most of his career, despite leading the league in safeties and fumble recovery touchdowns as a rookie. He is on his fourth team in nine years, and one of those teams he won a super bowl with. 

The team he won the Super Bowl with is the team he is playing against in Week 3, the Los Angeles Rams. Floyd led the Buffalo Bills in sacks last year with 10.5, and already has 1 this season. The Rams looked terrible against the Arizona Cardinals as quarterback hits and sacks seemed to come from every angle. 

The Rams are depleted offensively, as are the San Francisco 49ers, and this game between division rivals could be determined by defensive play instead of the offenses they are known for. Look for Floyd to earn at least one sack in Week 3. Go get Floyd off of waivers and put him in your starting roster. 

Make sure to go back and check out the Fantasy Injury Report and the weekly projections and rankings while there!