We’re cruising along with two weeks of the NFL season already in the books. I am here to help you with your IDP portfolios. Every week I will bring you my IDP Stock Market which suggests which players you should be starting or investing in and which ones you should be sitting or liquidating. Nothing is more important than staying ahead of the market and making the right decisions as you embark on your championship quests. No matter what type of IDP format you play, I am here to guide you. Let’s get right into it with three investments (and a bonus investment) and three liquidations that can help you keep your IDP portfolios providing big returns.
Week 3 IDP Stock Market
Investments
Patrick Jones, DE, Minnesota Vikings
The best time to invest in a rising stock is when you see it trending up but before the buying boom by fantasy managers. That perfectly sums up my first IDP stock Market investment, Patrick Jones, DE, of the Minnesota Vikings. With star pass rusher Danielle Hunter no longer in town, the Vikings needed someone to step up and make a presence opposite of rookie phenom Dallas Turner. Through the first two weeks, that someone has been Jones. Entering year four it finally looks like his stock is about to take off. Jones has played 68 defensive (48%) in two games this season.
While those percentages of reps aren’t very high, he’s making the best of what he’s being given and that will surely increase if he keeps playing the way he has to start the season. I know it’s only been a two-week sample, but can you afford to gamble and wait another week before you invest? Patience is always key, but opposing fantasy investors may not be willing to wait. If you need help at DE, then invest now before it’s too late.
Season Totals: 9 Tackles, 4 Solos, 4 TFLs, 4 QB Hits, 4 Sacks, 1 FF
Baylon Spector, LB, Buffalo Bills
My next IDP stock market investment is MLB Baylon Spector of the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have already been hit with bad luck at the linebacker spot as both starters Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard have suffered injuries. That makes an already thin unit even thinner! Bernard will be back at some point this season but until then Spector will step in for him, barring a roster move. Backups Nicholas Morrow and Joe Andreessen could also see some time, but it was Spector who got the call this past week when Brenard had to leave the game.
With only 16 career games played and 12 tackles in three seasons, Spector performed well on short notice. He recorded ten tackles, seven being solos, and one TFL. Linebacker is one of the top-scoring positions and the volume that Spector should receive makes him a great short-term investment stock. Spector will be a solid band-aid for your team if you are looking to cover up some injury issues on your team. He will be a hot stock investment this week, so make sure you get your claim in now.
Season Totals: 10 Tackles, 7 Solos, 1 TFL
Alontae Taylor, DB, New Orleans Saints
For my next IDP stock market investment, I’ll give you a name that has all of IDP buzzing! Alontae Taylor, CB, for the New Orleans Saints is off to a fantastic start to the season and yes I expect it to continue. Taylor is entering his third season and his progress continues to grow. So why is he better this season than the previous two? It’s simply how the Saints have been using him this season. We saw glimpses of it last year, but this year it all has come together for Taylor.
Taylor had a huge Week 1 (6 tackles, 5 solos, 3 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 PBU) that grabbed everyone’s attention and backed that up last week (9 tackles, 8 solos, 2 TFLs) with another big game. The role he’s playing with the volume of opportunities to make plays equals a fantasy stock that is paying a big return. Why would you not want that type of return on a buy-low stock? The cornerback position is deep and most fantasy managers stream it, but Taylor is a stock that I want in all of my IDP leagues.
Season Totals: 15 Tackles, 13 Solos, 87% solo rate, 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 PBU
Daniel Ekuale, DT, New England Patriots
Before we get to this week’s liquidations, I have a bonus investment for you: Daniel Ekuale of the New England Patriots. This stock is for those of you who play in position-specific or super deep roster-sized leagues where the waiver wire is thin at best. The Patriots lost starter Christian Barmore for the season and the immediate question is who would replace him? Ekuale so far looks to be that someone. Defensive tackle is such a hard position to get consistent production from, so grabbing even an average option is difficult.
Ekuale won the starting job this off-season and has done well through the first two games of the season. After a lackluster performance in his first career start in Week 1 (2 tackles, 1 solo), Ekuale upped his game and his fantasy stock in Week 2 with four tackles, two solos, and ½ sack outing. If he can consistently get you close to those types of numbers, then he can be an investment that can help your IPD portfolios. This is his first opportunity to be a starter, which makes him a terrific penny stock investment.
Season Totals: 6 Tackles, 3 Solos, ½ sack
Liquidations
Lavonte David, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
My first IDP stock market liquidation is linebacker Lavonte David of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It can be hard to let go of a player that has been good for a long time, but you never want to be that fantasy manager that holds on too long. David is entering his 13th NFL season and has done it as well as anyone. As with any aging player, knowing when to sell their stocks can be tricky. While David is still performing at a high level, age (34) and over 12,000 career defensive snaps suggest now is the perfect time to liquidate your shares of him. Trade him now while the value is still there. Maybe hit up the team that lost a player or has an underwhelming unit at linebacker and see what you can get in return.
Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
My next IDP stock market liquidation, is Cameron Heyward, a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is very similar to the Lavonte David breakdown above but just a tad different. The big difference is that I believe that we have already begun to see the drop-off with Heyward. Entering year 14, the Steelers gave him an extension but at age 35 and over 10,000+ snaps, how much can he have left? We saw the decline begin last year when he played in only 11 games and recorded just two sacks. He had back-to-back 70/10 tackle sack seasons in 21’ & 22’ but that type of return is long in the rearview mirror. Any type of value he might have left comes in position-specific leagues where being a DT helps. Before you cut ties, I would use him as an add-in piece in any trade discussions.
Jack Gibbens, LB, Tennessee Titans
My final IDP stock market liquidation is linebacker (LB) Jack Gibbens of the Tennessee Titans. Gibbens was a waiver wire darling a year ago with his 95 tackle season, but the addition of Ernest Jones had the impact that we thought it would, which is taking his job. Gibbens has some value as a backup on a team that has no depth at all at the position, so he’s worth a hold in really deep leagues. With that, I will liquidate my shares of Gibbens and look for an investment (Spector above) that will have a more immediate impact. Gibbens has been serviceable but you don’t get points if he’s not on the field.
*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 IDP Nation 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. I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy
Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!