IDP Stock Market: Week 12

Have you ever heard the phrase "out-of-body experience"? The simplest way to explain what this means is something so profound that you lose yourself in the moment and flow freely through the motion. While this may be a dramatic way to describe fantasy football, it isn't entirely incorrect. We are at the point in our season where we have likely made the bed, we must sleep in. There are still some gems, hidden talent, or emerging names who can and will contribute to both wins and losses. So, who do you get? Who should you avoid? Have no fear, we are here! Ring the bell for the IDP Stock Market Week 12!

Fortune 5

Stock Up: Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota

If you had Andrew Van Ginkel having a career year in 2024, I need to see your crystal ball! He has been a pleasure to watch all season and is well on his way to achieving career highs in all major statistical categories. When the Vikings allowed their best edge rusher, Danielle Hunter, to leave for Houston and drafted Dallas Turner this past April, many believed (myself included) that this was the contingency plan. In no universe did I see this coming: 46 total tackles and eight sacks with seven games to go! He is in rare territory and performing as the DE1 through Week 11.

Stock Up: Nik Bonitto, Denver

The "out of nowhere edge rusher" trend on the market this week continues with Bonitto from Denver. A lot of hype goes to Jonathon Cooper, and who can blame us? While he gets the majority of the IDP and real-life NFL attention, we can't forget about his running mate and what he is providing fantasy managers almost weekly. Bonitto is in the middle of his best season as a pro. Early in the season, he was likely viewed as a sack-dependent player who was feast or famine. In the last three weeks, he has flashed major potential to be a must-start player. The Broncos run a three-man rotation at the position, so there is always the potential for volatility. However, until this streak of greatness ends, Bonitto needs to be in starting lineups.

Stock Up: Zack Baun, Philadelphia

Baun is ascending into uncomfortable conversation territory. Not very often would I consider a player in his first real breakout year in the top three in dynasty formats, but I am prepared to make that assessment of Baun until the information changes in some way. He is doing exactly what top players in IDP do. Safe and effective tackle floors, has big play upside, and boom weeks, and he doesn't miss games. He's already over 100 tackles, has had four straight big games, and has some great matchups in the fantasy playoffs against teams that are in the bottom third of rankings against linebackers. If you can believe it, he's still trending up, and there's no end in sight.

Stock Up: Terrel Bernard, Buffalo

Buffalo always seems to have one of the best linebackers in the game, and Bernard is the next man on this list who fits the mold. Unfortunately for managers, he is on a bye week this week, so let's just glimpse at some of the high points of his game. He affects the game in all areas: pass rushing, defending passes, and tackling. He's 25 years old, signaling he is either entering his prime or already in it, and this is the floor for what his numbers could be over the next 2-3 years. He's a buy and a good one at that!

Stock Up: Braden Fiske, LA Rams

The Rams demolished the rest of the NFL when drafting defensively this past April. Not only do they have arguably the game's defensive rookie of the year in first-round pick Jared Verse, but they drafted Fiske in the second round. Fiske is also laying claim to the league's best interior defensive line rookie, and last week, we saw that on full display against a bad interior offensive line of the Patriots. Fiske had three tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. This puts him just under 30 total tackles and five sacks as a rookie. Maybe not Aaron Donald numbers, but I can assure you that no one in Hollywood is upset about the way Fiske looks early into his NFL career!