5 IDP Players Who Will Exceed Expectations

Finding IDP players that will exceed expectations is one of the hardest things to do in fantasy football. IDP players who you can draft late that will exceed expectations. Being able to do so is vital to allowing yourself to take bigger swings on IDP players with potential, but yet to break out earlier than you would. In the most recent article, we discussed IDP players who will fail to meet expectations. Here are five IDP players who will exceed expectations.

LB Trenton Simpson, Baltimore Ravens

It is easy to want to fade Simpson after he lost his starting job down the stretch to Chris Board and Malik Harrison. Let's not forget that he was a rookie. The transition to the NFL is more challenging for some. The Ravens were competitive last season, and both Board and Harrison had knowledge and experience in the Ravens' defensive scheme. They were not just going to ride Simpson because of his draft capital. The Ravens would play the players who put them in the best spot to win.

Both Harrison and Board left via free agency. Rookie Teddye Buchanon is the main competition for Simpson's starting weakside linebacker spot. This leaves Simpson in a great position to reclaim his role as the starter next to Roquan Smith.

Ravens LB Trenton Simpson is expected to return to a starting role next to Roquan Smith, per @TheAthletic. pic.twitter.com/EQrQF4nbWt

— Ravens Nation ???? (@LIVERavenNation) April 7, 2025

There are snaps and tackles up for grabs. His IDP production before his benching was solid with 62 tackles, one-and-a-half sacks, and four passes defended in his 11 starts. He was recently drafted in the 19th Round, 222nd overall in an IDP-only Bestball. With low expectations, it is easy to see Simpson as one of the top IDP players who will exceed expectations.

EDGE Malcolm Koonce, Las Vegas Raiders

The beginning of Koonce's career was as smooth as the Himalayas—not smooth at all. The Raiders were blasted for "reaching" on Koonce, drafting him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Then, as a rookie in 2022, he played a part-time role. The Raiders then drafted Tyree Wilson with the 4th overall pick in 2023. Koonce was never going to get a shot, right? Wrong. He broke out and secured the starting spot across from Maxx Crosby in 2023 with 40 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles. He was one of the top value IDP players in 2023.

Koonce entered 2024 as the unheralded starting Edge across from Crosby, only to tear his ACL before the season began. 9 months removed, and he is back.

Best grabs of the day were from... defensive linemen?#Raiders DEs Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce were showing off the mits at minicamp. Crosby ended practice with a pick six on Geno Smith ? pic.twitter.com/x1fJRVq820

— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) June 12, 2025

The good news is that the ACL tear seems to have driven down his value. I recently drafted him as DL55 in an IDP-only Bestball league. That is an insane value for a player of his caliber and previous production. He had 36 pressures in his final eight games in 2023. Koonce is one of the IDP players I am scooping up at value all over the place, hoping he can reach the level of play he had in 2023.

S Tre'von Moehrig, Carolina Panthers

Moehrig started his career with the Raiders as a better NFL player than IDP producer. His numbers were fine, but his skill level was off the chart with range, ball skills, and elite last-level-of-defense protection. Meohrig is coming off his best year as a pro, where he accumulated 105 tackles (career-high), one sack, two fumble recoveries (career-high), two interceptions, and 10 passes defended (career-high). Unfortunately, the Raiders were unable to retain his services, and he signed with the Panthers in the offseason.

Raiders attacking the RB in the Buccaneers' protection by sending two defenders through the B-gap.

Newly signed Panther Safety Tre'Von Moehrig (7) was a menace around the box last year for Las Vegas & has hybrid skills that mesh with Evero's scheme in Carolina.
-- pic.twitter.com/c9tygjuttB

— Cody Alexander (@The_Coach_A) April 25, 2025

He can be one of the top IDP players at his position. Moehrig has 187 tackles, five interceptions, three sacks, and 18 passes defended over the past two seasons. He joins a safety group devoid of any real competition. The linebacker group in front of him is less-than-stellar, with Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace. Early camp reports say he is flying all over the field and intercepting passes. He was just drafted as the DB38 in the 17th Round of the Bestball draft I was part of. He is one of the most undervalued IDP players on draft boards. Scoop him up with confidence.

EDGE Mykel Williams, San Francisco 49ers

Williams is an interesting case for 2025. He was never overly productive in college, though he always showcased many tools. What has always been said is that Williams needs good coaching to reach his full potential. He now gets to be coached by one of the better defensive minds in football, Robert Saleh. Saleh loves prominent, strong, athletic, edge defenders. He took his shot on Williams and drafted him 11th overall in the 2025 draft. 

The 49ers also signed Bryce Huff in free agency. This may make it more difficult for Williams to see the field. Huff had his best season as a pro under Saleh with the Jets. Huff is far from a complete player, but more of a pass-rushing specialist. Williams is a high-level run defender, which should have him on the field on early downs. If he wins the starting edge position over Huff, his value is excellent, especially when he plays across from Nick Bosa. He was drafted in the 17th Round as DL67 in our recent Bestball draft. He could end up being one of the top IDP sleepers.

EDGE Patrick Jones II, Carolina Panthers

Jones quietly had a robust season as a reserve with the Vikings in 2024. He had 39 tackles and seven sacks on just 459 snaps. He was stuck behind Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkle in 2024, but still managed to see a strong enough specialist role to earn a potential starting role in 2025. The Panthers' edge group is nowhere near established. 

When he is healthy, D.J. Wonnum is their top edge rusher. Jones's only other competition for the starting spot is a pair of rookies, Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. It is no stretch to say that Jones could lead the Panthers in sacks in 2025. He was drafted as DL59, which is very low for a potential starting edge defender. Jones is one of the IDP players you can get crazy value on, a potential league-winning draft pick.

Final Thoughts

All of the draft positions of IDP players in this article were from my most recent Bestball, in which I participated. This article does not guarantee that these five IDP players will be excellent, but it shows that they hold immense value where they are being drafted. Being able to hit on your value picks is where you win leagues. These IDP players can be those value picks. Thank you again for reading, and good luck in 2025.