IDP The Guru and the Godfather: Week 6

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.

We're five weeks into the 2024 season, which means that no one's treading water. You're either under .500 or over it. Winning or Losing. Riding high or in the dumps.

It's too early to despair, though. The Guru and the Godfather have you hooked up for Week 6—right after they discuss this year's biggest and baddest IDPs to date.

The Three Kings

In The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring, the No. 1 scoring players at each position after Week 5 are Minnesota edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (aka "The Mad Viking") on the defensive line, the great Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers at linebacker and Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross at defensive back.

Can any of these players hold on to the top spot? And if not, do you see them fading enough that IDP managers should move them while their value is at its apex?

Guru: I foresee all three of these guys holding good value and finishing in the top ten at their respective positions. However, the only one that I believe has a legitimate shot at staying on top is Fred Warner. There is no weakness to his game. He's a tackling machine and a big play threat rolled into one shiny package. In recent years, the 49ers have been an excellent defense that was not on the field a lot, and Warner had to contend with Dre Greenlaw, among others, for stats. The defense has slipped a bit overall and De'Vondre Campbell has proven to be no Dre Greenlaw. 

Van Ginkel's value is exaggerated by the two defensive scores he's already had. He makes a lot of plays and gets after the passer, but I don't see him holding off guys like T.J. Watt, Maxx Crosby, Aidan Hutchinson, and Nick Bosa for the entire season.

Likewise, Cross jumped out to a head start with 29 combined stops over the first two games. He has 23 in the three games since. Those are strong numbers, especially if he can continue contributing in the splash play columns as in Weeks 4 and 5. I'm just a little concerned that his role will eventually catch up to him.    

Godfather: I'm in lockstep with Norton here for the most part.

That Van Ginkel has two pick-sixes in five games is awesome—and the last one was 60-plus yards. But it's not sustainable. Given his pressure numbers and win rate though, his coming into his own as a legit force is. He could wind up bumped from the top-10. But the top-15 feels like his floor. He has outplayed Jonathan Greenard and Van Ginkel is becoming one of my favorite players.

I have a soft spot for "hair on fire" guys.

Fred Warner is Fred Warner. I don't know if he tops my personal list of the best off-ball linebackers in the league, but if he tops yours, you won't get a big argument from me. There have been times when Warner's IDP production hasn't matched his on-field prowess, but this isn't one of those seasons apparently. He could absolutely hang on to the top spot.

Where Cross is concerned though, I have my doubts. He's been both productive and consistent, but his tackle numbers are already dipping and there have just been too many Jonathan Owens in the past to trust defensive backs that come from nowhere. Just enjoy the ride while it lasts.