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.