It’s Week 10 and the fantasy playoffs are just around the corner. By now you know what are your team’s biggest needs and glaring weaknesses? Whether you are a contender or a pretender I have something for everyone. Each week I bring you the IDP stock market, where I help you navigate through which stocks to invest in and which ones to liquidate. Let’s get right into it with three investments and three liquidations that can help you keep your IDP portfolios providing big returns.
Week 10 IDP Stock Market
IDP Investments
Demani Richardson, SAF, Carolina Panthers
My first IDP Stock Market investment, SAF Demani Richardson of the Carolina Panthers, has been one of the hottest stock options over the last two weeks. In his last two games, Richardson has registered 24 total tackles with 15 of them being solo stops. He went from being a special teams player to being a starter, playing every defensive snap (152/76%), and has awarded the Panthers and fantasy managers with big time production. Richardson is rostered in just 43% of Fantrax leagues, so there is a great chance he’s still available in your leagues. If you need help at the safety position, then Richardson is a great low-investment stock that is paying off with big returns.
DeForest Buckner, DT, Indianapolis Colts
For my next IDP Stock market investment, I want to look at the defensive line positions. After a short stint (5 weeks) on the injured list, DeForest Buckner of the Indianapolis Colts has returned with big back-to-back games the last two weeks. Since his return, he has played 98 defensive snaps (68%) with totals of nine tackles, six being solos, five QB hits, two TFLs, and two sacks. Clearly he didn’t get rusty during his time off. In fact, in the four games he’s played this season, Buckner has 3½ sacks and seven QB hits. The Colts desperately needed Buckner back on the field and he’s been a huge help since he returned. If you need help at the defensive line position, there is a chance he’s available in your league, as he’s rostered at a 73% clip in Fantrax leagues.
Kwon Alexander, LB, Denver Broncos
If the waiver wire is barren in your fantasy leagues and you desperately need help at the linebacker position, then my last IDP Stock Market investment for the week is one that you might want to look into. Back in Week 4 the Broncos signed Kwon Alexander but he didn’t play a snap until Week 7. He’s looked a little rusty but has shown flashes of what he can do. He’s started two of the last three games and had his best game (5 Tackles & 1 Forced Fumble) last week versus the Baltimore Ravens. He’s not going to be the Pro Bowl type player we saw him be in Tampa Bay, but he can be a serviceable fantasy option if you’re in a pinch. You won’t find a penny stock with more upside of a return than you can with Alexander. He’s only rostered in 4% of Fantrax leagues currently and can help navigate through injuries and bye weeks.
Check out all of our Week 10 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
IDP Liquidations
Kyle Van Noy, OLB, Baltimore Ravens
For my first IDP stock market liquidation of the week, it might be time we look at moving any shares of OLB Kyle Van Noy of the Baltimore Ravens. Van Noy was red hot to begin the season, with six sacks in the first four games (three straight games with two), but since then he’s had just one sack in the last six outings. When we were getting the sacks from Van Noy, it was easy to overlook the low tackle numbers (2.3 per game), but now that he’s not, it’s a glaring issue. I’m sure we’ll see some solid performances from Van Noy for the rest of the season but without the sack volume, he’s just not a player I want to have on my IDP portfolios right now. I’m okay with you stashing him on your bench to see if he bounces back, but the playoffs are around the corner and you need to get your rosters set for the run.
Kamren Curl, SAF, Los Angeles Rams
My next IDP Stock Market liquidation is one that I don’t have any shares of and if I did, I would be trying to move them now. Safety Kamren Curl of the Los Angeles Rams has seen a drastic drop in the volume of reps received on game day over the last two weeks. In the first six games of the season, Curl played every defense snap and chipped in on special teams, but in the last two games, he’s only gotten 62% snap share and barely a sniff on special teams. The Rams have some young players such as Jaylen McCollough (a great investment option by the way) and others who have been making an impact and receiving more time, which has cut into Curl’s. If it’s me I am trying to package Curl in some trades while he still has some value left.
Za’Darius Smith, DE, Detroit Lions
My last IDP stock market liquidation, DE Za’Darius Smith of the Detroit Lions, is a stock that could be seen as a buy but for me I’m selling now while the name still holds value. When the Lions lost star Aidan Hutchinson for the year, everyone knew that they would make some type of move. Right before the trade deadline they traded for Smith who is having a solid season. A great move for the lions imo! However for us in the IDP world I believe now is the time to sell those shares of him you may have. Smith turned 32 earlier this season and his best days are behind him now. He has five sacks on the season and three in the last five, but he was doing that playing opposite of star Myles Garrett. Now that he’s in Detroit he doesn’t have that luxury, as Hutchinson is hurt. Next year maybe, but I’m cautious. He’ll get a ton of reps in Detroit and be surrounded by talent but he’ll be the lead dawg of the pass rush group and I don’t see him succeeding in that role anymore.
*All stats provided by Pro Football Reference
Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy
Make sure to check out all of our Week 10 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!