Planting Flags: Ridiculously Early IDP Predictions for 2025

Gary Davenport makes some early predictions about the 2025 IDP season

Gary Davenport's Planting Flags: Ridiculously Early IDP Predictions for 2025 Gary Davenport Published 05/06/2025

© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Planting Flags

From the time he released Les Prophéties in 1555 until his death 11 years later from eating an undercooked Whopper, Nostradamus was known as one of the greatest seers of the future the world has ever known. Since that fateful day at Le Burger King, the legend of Nostradamus has only grown.

Here's a fun fact about Michel de Nostredame--he was a chump.

Sure, Nostradamus allegedly foresaw the Great London Fire, the French Revolution, both World Wars, the moon landing, the September 11 attacks, and the Apocalypse. (No, really--people actually believe that nonsense). But could Nostradumba** tell you in early May who would be the biggest value of 2025 along the defensive line? Which linebacker was going to be the biggest fantasy disappointment?

Well? Neither can I! But that isn't going to stop me from trying.

Kidding aside, there's a lot of time between now and the heart of fantasy draft season, let alone the kickoff of Week 1. But this writer isn't about to let little things like facts and reality get in the way of making definitive declarations that are absolutely 100 percent guaranteed to be totally correct.

If they aren't, blame the French. Or Burger King. Whatever.

RELATED: See Ridiculously Early Offensive Player Predictions here.

Aidan Hutchinson Will Lead the NFL in Sacks and All DL in Fantasy Points

Last year, Detroit Lions edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson was on a tear to open the season, with 7.5 sacks over the first five games of the season. A broken leg cut Hutchinson's third NFL season short, but while speaking to Marty Smith on the Thursday at the Masters podcast, Hutchinson said his rehab from the injury has progressed on schedule.

"It felt pretty long," Hutchinson said. "The early stages were pretty rough, but just being out of that now, like we were talking about earlier, you just have this appreciation for your body, you have appreciation for no pain and running. I'm happy to be done with that. People were loving that sprinting video, too. I didn't think people would love it as much as they did. But I got a lot of text messages, a lot of people DMing me. It was cool, the support has been amazing."

At the time of his injury last season, Hutchinson was leading the NFL in sacks, and no defensive lineman averaged more fantasy points per game in 2024 in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring than the 6-foot-7, 268-pounder. Internet hand-wringing aside, there's been nothing to indicate that Hutchinson won't be ready for Week 1. Use the concerns about his injury to your advantage this summer.

Among DL1s, Trey Hendrickson Will Be the Biggest Disappointment of 2025

The Bengals handed out massive contract extensions to wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, but so far, 2024 sack king Trey Hendrickson has been left out in the proverbial cold. While speaking to reporters, the 30-year-old most assuredly did not sound like a player who was happy with how contract negotiations are going.

"Through this process, communication, when I say it's been poor, it's been, like, here and there," Hendrickson said. "And respect to Ja'Marr [Chase] and Tee [Higgins]. I don't want to take anything from all the great things they've accomplished in their careers. They deserve everything that they've gotten, and no doubt in my mind they're going to excel in the National Football League. I have a tremendous respect for both of them. But when it comes to my situation, it would have been nice to know in some ways, like, 'Hey we're going to put you in the queue,' no problem with me."

Until Hendrickson signs a new deal, there will be no shortage of trade rumors, but the reality is that he's not going anywhere--the Bengals aren't going to trade him for 60 cents on the dollar, and Hendrickson isn't going to leave over $18 million on the table at his age. With that said, all this nonsense affecting Hendrickson's performance is possible; he has always been a low-floor IDP option because of his lack of tackle numbers, and rookie Shemar Stewart is far from a sure thing as Hendrickson's new batterymate.

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