IDP Stock Market: Week 7

We're deep into the grind, folks! If this were baseball, it'd be late June, too early to call it quits, even if your early performance has left you scrambling down tougher roads. But don't pop the champagne yet; fortunes flip in a heartbeat. The real key? Adapting to the season's trends rather than banking on a hot start. As the NFL evolves, so must your league. Navigating IDP's shifting sands is tricky, but this market lights the way. Move quick, hit that buy button (or dare I say ring the bell), and snag those linebackers before the injury bug bites again...

Fortune 5

LB Mack Wilson Sr., Arizona

Mack Wilson Sr. has long been a reliable LB2 or quality LB3, solid depth for any roster. Who pegged him as a top-10 linebacker through six games? Preseason, you could've snagged him for a ham sandwich; now, he's serving up Thanksgiving feasts. Wilson's delivering a stable tackle floor at nine per game, while disrupting the pass game with six defended passes and a recent interception. He's deeply embedded in the Cardinals' passing defense, impacting plays both on the field and on the stat sheet. At his preseason acquisition cost, he's been a steal. If you're in a win-now scenario, try to grab him before the market catches up.

Edge Jared Verse, LA Rams

Remember Weeks 1 and 2 when Jared Verse posted a combined five tackles? Smart managers held the line; those early dips were just a blip. It was only a matter of time before his talent shone through, and now we're witnessing the extended run of greatness that's becoming the norm. Since then, he hasn't dipped below five total tackles in any game, delivering sacks and forced fumbles in three of four. Holding "diamond hands" on young edge rushers is crucial; ups and downs come with the territory, but Verse, a former top-20 NFL draft pick, is elite. He's on the short list of the league's best young EDGE talents. Despite the slow start, he's pacing for an All-Pro caliber season, delivering massive dividends for patient IDP managers who weathered the storm.

Edge Nick Herbig, Pittsburgh

Hands up if you pegged Nick Herbig as a one-hit wonder during Highsmith's injury stint? Think again! This guy's the real deal, and we're witnessing his full breakout season. It might sound like hyperbole, but here's the stat line: Herbig tops all edge rushers with 4.5 sacks, all while logging the second-most snaps behind T.J. Watt and sitting out Week 1 entirely. The lazy analysis screams that Highsmith's return spells doom for Herbig's roster spot, let alone starting lineup value. Wrong. The Steelers are evolving into a true three-man EDGE rotation, cementing Herbig's extended role all season. Dynasty managers: Stash him now for dynasty upside. And for the cherry on top? He's flashing a stable tackle floor with 12 in just four games as the backup. Herbig's a must-add IDP stud.

LB Jordyn Brooks, Miami

Hot take alert: Jordyn Brooks is edging into GOAT territory among IDP inside linebackers. Yeah, it's just six games in, and his last couple of non-rookie years were rough; it's fair to call this a stretch. But let's not forget the back-to-back 160+ tackle monsters he unleashed early in his career. Now? He's pacing for 160+ again this season, even sharing the field with Tyrell Dodson, a top-five linebacker in his own right. If this holds, and Brooks shows zero signs of fading, he'll snag his third 160-tackle campaign in six pro years. At 27, he's roaring back as a dynasty LB1 frontrunner and the clubhouse leader for overall IDP1. The king is back, better than ever.

LB Drake Thomas, Seattle

I was late to the Drake Thomas party, but lesson learned—this won't happen again. The 25-year-old deserves all the praise headed his way. Through Week 6, he's second on the Seahawks in LB snaps, with a clear usage shift starting around Weeks 3-4. Pre-Week 3? Just 22 total snaps. Since then? No fewer than 25 per game, eclipsing Tyrice Knight for the LB2 gig behind Ernest Jones IV. Stats are exploding too; last outing marked his career-high nine tackles. It's not just volume; he's thriving in coverage and run support. Short-term IDP gem, long-term dynasty hold: If he locks this role, the dividends could be massive for patient managers.

Falling 4