The Guru and The Godfather: Week 1

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John Norton ("The Guru") and Gary Davenport ("The Godfather of IDP") are two of the most experienced and knowledgeable IDP analysts in the fantasy football industry. Every week during the 2024 season here at Footballguys, The Guru and the Godfather will come together to answer five of that week's most pressing questions.

It's finally here, folks—Thursday night's matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs popped the seal on the 2024 NFL season—and another season of IDP fantasy football with it.

With the season underway, The Guru and the Godfather are here to do what they do best—kick butt and chew Hubba-Bubba.

And wouldn't you know it? They are both fresh out of Hubba-Bubba.

Highs and Lows: Defensive Linemen

Let's dive right into Week 1. Which defensive lineman is set to start the season off with a bang? Who will kick things off with a fizzle?

GURU: I was torn between talking about Jonathan Greenard of the Minnesota Vikings here or as an answer to the sleeper question because so many managers undervalue him. No, he is not Danielle Hunter, but Greenard is playing the position that made Hunter a stud. Greenard had a great 2023, going 36-16-12.5 despite missing three games.

Then there is the matchup, which weighs heavily on my decision to call out Greenard. Surely the Giants will do a better job of protecting their QB but how much better can they be, one season removed from allowing 20 more sacks than any other team?

Byron Young had a breakout season in 2023 for the Los Angeles Rams, and I expect him to improve on it by the end of this season. I just don't see him getting off to a great start. The Lions go a good job of protecting Jared Goff.

Only three teams allowed fewer sacks than the Lions last year while edge defenders posted average tackle totals against them. Goff protects the ball, and we all know how often good players have great games versus their old teams.    

GODFATHER: For what it's worth, the Godfather didn't undervalue Greenard. In fact, in multiple leagues my two starters up front are Greenard and Montez Sweat of the Chicago Bears—and given that both have fantastic matchups to start the season, both should start the 2024 season off with a bang.

Sweat was great last year, posting a career-high in sacks despite switching teams mid-season and spurring a massive defensive improvement in Chicago. Sweat and the Bears host the Titans in Week 1, and Tennessee surrendered 64 sacks last year and the most fantasy points to edge-rushers.

Fantasy managers need to be patient if edge-rushers start slow—especially ones the wrong side of 30 coming off season-ending injuries. Matthew Judon of the Atlanta Falcons may well go on to a rebound season and a dozen sacks with his new team. But despite a shaky offensive line the Pittsburgh Steelers weren't a good pass-rush matchup in 2023. That's not going to change with Russell Wilson under center.

Highs and Lows: Linebackers

In news that should surprise no one, Linebackers are the foundation of success in IDP leagues. Identify a linebacker who will exceed expectations to kick off the 2024 campaign and another who will leave IDP managers disappointed.

GURU: There are a lot of managers and prognosticators who believe Junior Colson will eventually be the best fantasy option among the Los Angeles Chargers linebackers. That is a debate for a different time. It will be Daiyan Henley in the lead role against a Raiders offense that is built to run the ball and throw a lot of passes to their two talented tight ends. Henley has been impressive throughout the offseason. I think that continues in week one.

For the last few seasons, we've been trying to figure out if Jerome Baker's so-so production was on him or a result of the defensive scheme in Miami. My money is on the scheme. Jordyn Brooks was a tackling machine in Seattle but I'm not so optimistic about his chances of continuing that trend with the Dolphins. We will know a lot more come Monday.

GODFATHER: You know what? The Godfather will go a little farther down the list as well. K.J. Britt of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers garnered some IDP buzz this summer as Devin White's replacement (What? Too soon to mention Devin White?).

In Week 1 Britt gets a Commanders team that allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to linebackers last year. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn will all but certainly at least try to run the ball to keep the pressure off rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in his first professional start.

The New England Patriots are a terrible offensive football team. Truly just—bad. And they will most likely fall behind in Cincinnati Sunday and be forced to the air.

No way that ends badly.

Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson is already a better NFL player than fantasy option—the impact he makes in the Cincinnati defense doesn't always translate to stats, throw in an awful matchup with a dismal offense, and Wilson is more likely to have less than six tackles than to hit double-digits in Week 1.