IDP Stock Market: Week 13

This is the week where things begin to get weird. You have games at odd times and odd streaming services. You can't decide whether one more plate is enough or too much (it's never enough). Many are still fighting for seeding, or maybe a bye week. Others are staring the agony of defeat in the face. Fear not, my fellow pilgrims, this turkey is stuffed full of IDP nonsense. Whether you want to gobble up this info immediately or have it as leftovers for another time, the IDP Stock Market must roll on. There is no holiday for the grind of fantasy football, just more games at odd intervals, and you, the reader, must choose how you prepare your football feast! Ring the bell, and make sure you grab extra napkins; this one may get messy!

Fortune 5

Edge Myles Garrett, Cleveland

If Myles Garrett continues to produce at this extraordinary level, he will remain the standard-bearer among defensive players. His performance last week, registering three sacks, marked his second consecutive game with at least three, and his fifth multi-sack outing of the season. Through 11 games, Garrett has accumulated 18 sacks, placing him just five shy of breaking Michael Strahan's single-season NFL record of 22.5, with six contests remaining. Garrett is a singular talent in today's league, a disruptive force who combines elite explosiveness, power, and technical refinement in a way few defenders ever have. His current tear is not merely a hot streak; it is the continuation of a season-long masterclass that has reaffirmed his status as the most impactful defensive player in football. Playing with the intensity and consistency of a player determined to validate his record-setting contract extension from this past offseason, Garrett has separated himself from the pack. When the ballots are cast for Defensive Player of the Year, few campaigns in recent memory will match the dominance Garrett has displayed in 2025. Barring an unforeseen collapse, the award is his to lose.

LB Germaine Pratt, Indianapolis

Those who dismissed Germaine Pratt following the initial fervor surrounding his signing may have overlooked a gem in the making. The veteran linebacker has delivered four consecutive double-digit point performances, with none more commanding than his breakout showing against the Kansas City Chiefs last week. Pratt tallied a career-high 20 combined tackles, including 15 solo stops, along with a pass deflection. While 20-tackle outings are rarefied air, Pratt's emphasis on solo tackles is the true barometer of his value in IDP formats. Those 15 unassisted stops alone could equate to an 8- to 10-point swing in standard scoring systems, highlighting the subtle edges that separate contenders from pretenders in fantasy leagues. As a reliable LB2 option, Pratt offers matchup-altering upside without the volatility of boom-or-bust profiles, backed by a consistent floor that anchors weekly IDP lineups.

Pratt's resurgence is no fluke; it's the product of seamless integration into a scheme tailored to his instincts and range. For managers who scooped him off waivers or held firm through his early-season dip, the payoff is a battle-tested asset primed to fuel a late-season charge. In IDP circles, Pratt has firmly reestablished himself as a must-start, with the potential to propel rosters deep into the playoffs.

Edge Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas

Maxx Crosby's 2025 campaign has unfolded in an intriguing fashion, diverging from the explosive, turnover-forcing spectacles that have defined much of his career. Where past seasons showcased highlight-reel sacks and disruptive plays, this year has brought a steadier rhythm: fewer boom outbursts, but a reliable stream of consistent tackle production that underscores his versatility as a defensive end. Rest assured, this evolution is far from a decline; it's a testament to Crosby's adaptability. Even amid a relatively quiet stretch for elite edge rushers, he ranks among the top three at his position league-wide. Through 11 games, Crosby has logged 6 sacks, a tally that pales in comparison to Myles Garrett's blistering pace, yet is bolstered by 50 total tackles (31 solo) and 6 passes defended.

These numbers paint a picture of understated dominance, where Crosby excels in the trenches without the constant flash, delivering the kind of stable output that anchors IDP rosters at a notoriously volatile position. Fans crave the 10-12 sack seasons, but Crosby is redefining excellence for edge defenders: a floor of dependability laced with ceiling potential. At just 28 years old, he remains one of the NFL's premier talents, trailing only Garrett and Brian Burns, both enjoying career zeniths of their own. For Crosby, this season is merely a pivot point, not a peak, positioning him for even greater heights in the years ahead. In IDP terms, his blend of volume and efficiency makes him a weekly staple, a quiet force capable of tipping close contests.

LB Barrett Carter, Cincinnati

Amid the Cincinnati Bengals' challenging defensive campaign, one undeniable silver lining has been the emergence of reliable IDP contributors, and few have risen as dramatically as rookie linebacker Barrett Carter. Selected in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Clemson, Carter entered the season as an under-the-radar prospect, buried as the third or even fourth option in a crowded linebacker rotation. That narrative has flipped entirely. Carter has ascended to the pinnacle of the unit in both statistical output and snap share, logging 100% of defensive snaps in each of his last six games, the only linebacker on the roster to achieve such ironclad consistency over that stretch. His Week 11 performance against the Bears served as a career pinnacle: 10 tackles (five solo) and a pass breakup, until this week's 16-tackle explosion.

Advanced analytics offer valuable insights, but in IDP formats, victory hinges on raw opportunity and execution: snap volume and tangible production. Carter is delivering on both fronts, transforming from a rotational curiosity into a foundational every-down defender. For fantasy managers who invested early in his potential, he represents a cornerstone asset with a trajectory pointing toward a breakout rookie year, and beyond. In a league where depth at linebacker is king, Carter's ascent positions IDP rosters for sustained success down the stretch.

LB Blake Cashman, Minnesota

I'll own it: I did not handle Blake Cashman's ascent on the Minnesota Vikings defense as well as hindsight now allows. The man has been electric all season, and last week was simply the latest proof. Cashman posted 16 total tackles, giving him back-to-back weeks with 15 or more, and since returning to his full-time snap share, he has yet to record fewer than double-digit tackles in a single game. He isn't going to fill the stat sheet with sacks or turnovers, but that hardly matters when the tackle production is this steady. In a landscape where linebacker volatility can torpedo IDP lineups, Cashman has become one of the most dependable week-to-week options at the position. If this snap role and tackle volume hold, he is an absolute lock-and-leave LB2 you can trust without hesitation through the fantasy playoff stretch and beyond.

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