IDP Stock Market Week 3

Photo: USA Today Sports

When evaluating the league and attempting to identify who the risers and fallers are each week, you must go in with a level head. This is likely the hardest skill to acquire in IDP Fantasy Football because we all love this game and root for certain players, teams, or stories, but judgment can be clouded if we allow these emotions to take control of decision-making. That is why you've come here to Footballguys: to get analysis that is to the point, contextualized, and, above all else, trustworthy. So RING THAT BELL!

Fortune 5

These players are on everyone's radar but performing even better than expected.

Stock Up: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit

Is there any other player worthy of our top spot this week? My goodness did Hutchinson remind us of his status in this league! He's on a shortlist of players who are truly cornerstones not only of their real-life team but of fantasy teams as well. This week against Tampa Bay, he had an astounding 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He's 24 years old, a hometown kid living his dream in the community he's belonged to nearly his whole life, and he is steadily making his case for the top player in all IDP Fantasy Football. Through two weeks, he has half of his career-high season sack total and is well on his way to having a career year.

Stock Up: LB Zack Baun, Philadelphia

Boy, do I hope you read last week's edition of the IDP Stock Market. From penny stock to the penthouse, Zack Baun has done exactly what I have been saying he would since preseason. He popped off week one in a primetime spot, but anyone can do it one time right? Well, in Week 2, he added to this performance with what I believe will be his floor production throughout the season. Seven solo tackles and two assists. He was a bonafide league winner and if you were savvy enough to get him off waivers, you need to sit back and just breathe easy. You've found an LB1 who has played all but one snap for his team, and he is producing on the stat sheet. You see what happens when you take our advice?

Stock Up: S Nick Cross, Indianapolis

Sometimes the diamonds are easy to spot, other times you need to dig. The Indianapolis Colts have a monster in their secondary, and if you haven't heard of him until now, it may be too late. The former 2022 3rd-round pick out of Maryland is getting some playing time this season and he is making the most of it, specifically in the tackle department. For those who have followed these articles for a while now, you know that the calling card of winning IDP fantasy football is tackle floors and consistency. Safeties at times can be afterthoughts or not valued to the level of edge rushers or linebackers, but getting one who puts up linebacker tackle numbers is a huge advantage over your competition. Cross is immediately a set-and-forget guy for your lineups and as a bonus, he's just 23 years old! If he's still available somehow, you need to swoop him up now. 29 tackles in just two games doesn't happen too often.

Stock Up: DT Keion White, New England

Another player starting to make his presence known in the league in his first real opportunity is defensive tackle Keion White. White last season tied for the third most snaps at his position as a rookie, but this offseason and preseason he has proved to the coaching staff he can make a difference on the field. Through Week 2, he has played the most snaps at the position and the fifth-most on his entire defense. This signifies how important he is to the team and their identity on the field, and he has the stats to prove it. Thus far he has 11 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble at a position that we largely forget about on the defensive line. I can assure you that we will not forget what is happening on the interior defensive line of New England from here on out.

Stock Up: Edge Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas

Is it a stock market if you don't talk about Nvidia? Maxx Crosby is the Nvidia of all the edge rushers in the NFL. The cost to acquire him is expensive and a lot like Nvidia can carry the NYSE at times, Crosby carries the edge rushers in this league. He is the epitome of set and forget. Not only does he give you the sexy plays we all love to see, but even the boring games have week-winning upside. So far, even though teams scheme against him specifically, he has three sacks and five TFLs. This proves that no matter what you do, or who lines up against him, he simply wins the matchup at one point or another. He has no weakness in his game. He's fast, powerful and he finishes plays. He is 27 years old, arguably at the peak of his powers, and has a defensive head coach. How can you not be romantic about IDP Fantasy Football and the beauty of the game's best edge rusher?

Falling 4

The players are highly thought of, but we might need to be worried about their 2024 production.

Prepare yourself Cowboys fans, I am going to pile on…